How About Japan (tokyo, Kyoto, And Other Cities

[oracle_man]

I have stayed in Hokkaido, Saitama, Nagoya, Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama.

 

Overall, Yokohama is the best for me. It has everything - Chinatown (the one and only in Japan - try the huge siopao (Nikuman) there), Yokohama Baseball Stadium (one of the first built in Japan and the first to hold a night game), Landmark Tower - the tallest building in Japan (in MM21), a big Ferris Wheel (it takes 15 minutes for one revolution - enough time for ahem...) also in MM21 near Landmark, Kamakura, Sea Paradise, Golden Bridge, Ramen Museum, among others. They have the best ramen houses - Ippudo, Ichi-ran, Yoshimura. Plus, I believe this is the port of entry of our national hero (Yokohama port).

 

Electronics

Others might be surprised, but based on experience, if you are staying long in Japan, IMO it is better to purchase online than to go to Akihabara. You won't get tired (only when canvassing/browsing online) and you'd save on fare (and foods/drinks). Also, you won't get distracted on what to buy unlike when you are in Aki, you'd be tempted to buy other things that you did not intend to originally (oi! maganda ito ah, mabili nga ito, teka may pera pa kaya?).

 

One of the best sites to canvass/order is

 

http://kakaku.com/

 

On this site, you can have comparative listings of stores with their respective prices on various items. Various modes of payments are credit card, bank, convenient store, COD. Most often than not, you can specify the date and time of the delivery when you order.

 

Foods

You should try the various Ramen, Sushi (try a Kaiten Sushi - sushi on a conveyor), Yakitori, Yakisoba, Yakiniku, etc. If you want to impress your Nihonjin boss/es - try natto (only for the strong willed ).

[oracle_man]

^^

Addendum about the online shopping.

 

It should be noted that most of the stores listed are also based in Akihabara. And yes, the prices are the same.

[Duckie4120]

I have stayed in Hokkaido, Saitama, Nagoya, Tokyo, Chiba, Yokohama.

 

Overall, Yokohama is the best for me. It has everything - Chinatown (the one and only in Japan - try the huge siopao (Nikuman) there), Yokohama Baseball Stadium (one of the first built in Japan and the first to hold a night game), Landmark Tower - the tallest building in Japan (in MM21), a big Ferris Wheel (it takes 15 minutes for one revolution - enough time for ahem...) also in MM21 near Landmark, Kamakura, Sea Paradise, Golden Bridge, Ramen Museum, among others. They have the best ramen houses - Ippudo, Ichi-ran, Yoshimura. Plus, I believe this is the port of entry of our national hero (Yokohama port).

 

Electronics

Others might be surprised, but based on experience, if you are staying long in Japan, IMO it is better to purchase online than to go to Akihabara. You won't get tired (only when canvassing/browsing online) and you'd save on fare (and foods/drinks). Also, you won't get distracted on what to buy unlike when you are in Aki, you'd be tempted to buy other things that you did not intend to originally (oi! maganda ito ah, mabili nga ito, teka may pera pa kaya?).

 

One of the best sites to canvass/order is

 

http://kakaku.com/

 

On this site, you can have comparative listings of stores with their respective prices on various items. Various modes of payments are credit card, bank, convenient store, COD. Most often than not, you can specify the date and time of the delivery when you order.

 

Foods

You should try the various Ramen, Sushi (try a Kaiten Sushi - sushi on a conveyor), Yakitori, Yakisoba, Yakiniku, etc. If you want to impress your Nihonjin boss/es - try natto (only for the strong willed ).

 

Natto DOES take awhile to get used to. It took me 17 years before I got used to it and am half Japanese! I love Japan and love it whenever we go there to visit family. To see old Japan though, Kyoto is a must see.

[Guest lustfortravel]

To see old Japan though, Kyoto is a must see.

 

I agree. It is worth the ticket price of the shinkansen to go to Kyoto. However, given the chance, I would avoid going to Kyoto on weekends since the tourist buses cause traffic in the narrow streets leading to the temples.

 

The maikos ( apprentice geishas) are also a sight to see in Kyoto.

[Duckie4120]

I agree. It is worth the ticket price of the shinkansen to go to Kyoto. However, given the chance, I would avoid going to Kyoto on weekends since the tourist buses cause traffic in the narrow streets leading to the temples.

 

The maikos ( apprentice geishas) are also a sight to see in Kyoto.

 

Might actually get to see it this time. There's a tentative plan to visit this October so am keeping my fingers crossed. Always been a Tokyo boy for the simple reason that my family lives there but Kyoto is a place I've always wanted to visit.

[Guest lustfortravel]

Might actually get to see it this time. There's a tentative plan to visit this October so am keeping my fingers crossed. Always been a Tokyo boy for the simple reason that my family lives there but Kyoto is a place I've always wanted to visit.

 

It's really worth the trip and the long hours in the shinkansen. I love Kyoto- well, actually I love Japan! I got lost on my first day since I didn't count on their intricate subway system plus I couldn't speak a word of Japanese but I actually enjoyed getting lost since I wasn't in a hurry and I eventually got to my destination, anyway.

[mayk_bam]

Hey guys just curious on who on the forums has been to Japan.

 

What sites and tourist areas would you recomend? How can you get cheap hotels or ryokans, plus which air carier would be more reasonable? Also what can you expect in terms of food and other stuff. Para naman we could easily calculate our expenses and plan our trips to Japan.

:thumbsupsmiley:

 

I was in Japan last year for only a week but I'm telling you, it's the best country that I've visited so far, and I would go back there again if i have the moolah. I stayed in Yokohama at the Bay Sheraton Hotel and I was only able to go to Tokyo, to Shinjuku and Akihabara.

[Duckie4120]

It's really worth the trip and the long hours in the shinkansen. I love Kyoto- well, actually I love Japan! I got lost on my first day since I didn't count on their intricate subway system plus I couldn't speak a word of Japanese but I actually enjoyed getting lost since I wasn't in a hurry and I eventually got to my destination, anyway.

 

You are far more adventurous than I am! I never ventured farther than a station or two from our house there on my own. I would always go with my mom and I can speak SOME Japanese. Ikebukuro for example, scares the hell out of me. Can't figure which line to take. lol

Last time I visited (2000), there were more english signs which made it slightly easier so it might be better this time.

[Duckie4120]

I was in Japan last year for only a week but I'm telling you, it's the best country that I've visited so far, and I would go back there again if i have the moolah. I stayed in Yokohama at the Bay Sheraton Hotel and I was only able to go to Tokyo, to Shinjuku and Akihabara.

 

Have to agree with you on that one. Japan is quite different from other Asian countries in a very unique way. Akihabra can be a very confusing place simply because there is so much to see and buy.

[Guest lustfortravel]

You are far more adventurous than I am! I never ventured farther than a station or two from our house there on my own. I would always go with my mom and I can speak SOME Japanese. Ikebukuro for example, scares the hell out of me. Can't figure which line to take. lol

Last time I visited (2000), there were more english signs which made it slightly easier so it might be better this time.

 

there are english signs, yes, but if you get in a wrong train, some trains don't have english translations at all on what stations they are going to ; that's part of the fun and i was carrying a railpass so it didn't matter to me how many trains i had to take to get to my destination.

 

i actually enjoy the adventures that come with getting lost. i remember getting off on one station and i dropped by the ladies room to pee. when i entered the cubicle, there was no toilet bowl - just this ceramic thing on the floor where you had to squat to pee. as soon as my pee hit the water, the darn thing started talking to me in japanese ! i had no idea what it was saying but i deduced it had something to do with flushing. i tried to check for a button to press to flush but couldnt find any. then i noticed this red sensor by the wall with the picture of a hand. as soon as i waved my hand over it, lo and behold! it flushed! awesome! you have to hand it to the japanese to come up with such things

[Duckie4120]

there are english signs, yes, but if you get in a wrong train, some trains don't have english translations at all on what stations they are going to ; that's part of the fun and i was carrying a railpass so it didn't matter to me how many trains i had to take to get to my destination.

 

i actually enjoy the adventures that come with getting lost. i remember getting off on one station and i dropped by the ladies room to pee. when i entered the cubicle, there was no toilet bowl - just this ceramic thing on the floor where you had to squat to pee. as soon as my pee hit the water, the darn thing started talking to me in japanese ! i had no idea what it was saying but i deduced it had something to do with flushing. i tried to check for a button to press to flush but couldnt find any. then i noticed this red sensor by the wall with the picture of a hand. as soon as i waved my hand over it, lo and behold! it flushed! awesome! you have to hand it to the japanese to come up with such things

 

I know exactly what you speak of! Hahaha. I think we need to warn people here about how technologically advanced Japan is with respect to their rest rooms, particularly their toilet bowls. What you want to do when you get in one (it's commonly referred to as Otearai by the way) is to look for a sign that says WESTERN STYLE. This is means the bowl is what we are more accustomed to. Should you make the mistake, you will end up squatting on the floor. The one we have in the house has a bidet with a water spout that adjusts the temp of the water and angle! Much like you, I had to learn the hard way how to operate it. No need to tell you what adventures I got into in there with that damn bidet.

[dencio]

It's only in Japan where i've encountered toilet bowls with buttons for the bidet, for piped in music and for a cubicle deodorizer. :thumbsupsmiley: :thumbsupsmiley: :thumbsupsmiley:

[Guest lustfortravel]

The one we have in the house has a bidet with a water spout that adjusts the temp of the water and angle! Much like you, I had to learn the hard way how to operate it. No need to tell you what adventures I got into in there with that damn bidet.

 

 

It's only in Japan where i've encountered toilet bowls with buttons for the bidet, for piped in music and for a cubicle deodorizer. :thumbsupsmiley: :thumbsupsmiley: :thumbsupsmiley:

 

 

and don't forget, guys, only in japan can you get heated toilet bowl seats so you don't freeze your butt when you pee in the middle of the night. well, at least for us females!

[MTBfreaK]

I was in Narita area last Monday...just a overnite layover/stay...i was planning to go to Tokyo...but got rained out and I forgot to get yen errrrr :glare:

 

I stayed in Radisson Narita, highly recommended hotel, daming stewardees doon...lol...I think the NWA crew stay there...I met up some pinay stewardees from northwest and they showed me around Narita...went to Naritasan Temples and the train stations...and ate at this ramen place, forgot the name...

 

thats about it...my Narita experience...lol

 

hopefully next layover...

[RuinasLasCorazon]

i love japan,, but ive never been there..