heading to Japan this weekend, must sees?

[Dr_Smith]

Hey X5ers,

We're off to Japan this weekend for a couple of weeks. Will be staying with my brother who lives in Yokosuka, 30 minutes outside of Tokyo. Of course we'll spend a few days in Tokyo, head down to Kyoto and Hiroshima, but any other suggestions from others who have travelled there?

thx

[bozo]

Cool!! Tokyo? Forget it!! If youre in Yokosuka, head to the mall and watch all the ships/subs in port..The blossoms are out and it is absolutely beautiful now....The Kitty is in port now, so Yokosuka will be packed as usual, but that also means a lot more going on...I dont believe they have had their cherry blossom festival yet, so thats always a must...

I presume you'll be taking the shin to Hiro? Im so jealous!!...Right before you get to Kyoto on the ride from Shin Yokohama to Hiro, and your ears are about to explode, the little LCD sign reads "This train is now travelling at 306Kph"...might be more if its not a windy day...Take a LOT of pics!!

[Dr_Smith]

I will take lots and lots of pics. Thanks for the tips. I'll be touring the Kitty next week, getting to check out the bridge etc. I'll also be touring one of the subs currently in port, not sure which one. We will be taking the shin, looking forward to that experience!

[bozo]

Youll have a blast Im sure..Will you make it to Iwakuni for the Kintai Bridge? A stones throw from Hiro, and a lot of "juicy" bars if youre into that sort of thing.. Just make sure you eat until you drop...sushi-go-round!!

[Quicksilver]

Please do take those pictures. I haven't been to Yokosuka in many years and would love to see how it has changed.

[AutoXer]

It's been so long since I have been there. Remember they drive on the wrong side of the street. First thing I noticed was that the cars are so small, and the people are smaller than we are used to over here.

Very nice culture, people are extremely friendly, especially towards foreigners. Toyko has lots of shopping, nice night clubs. Kyoto has famous temples and palaces. The smaller towns feel very quaint and a rollback in time.

It is very beautiful over there. Have fun and snap lots of pictures. Oh yes, bring lots of money! It's very expensive over there.

[motordavid]

Hey Doc, late to the suggestion box, but here's my "hit list"
of places that I enjoyed over the years during 3+ dozen trips
to Tokyo and Nihon:

-Electronics: Akihabara section, aka Akihabara Electric Town, (Denkigai), espc on Chuo Dori (Dori=Street). Even if you don't buy, it is remarkable to window shop and see.
-Harajuku section: crazy kids and teens in crazy teen getups and "fashions".
-Ueno, ("hill" in Nihonji), jes' north of city if you are into m'cycles. A few block area has more sleds and m'stuff than most cities in US.
-If you wake up early,(which happens w/the time lag), leap into a taxi or take subway to Tsukiji Mkt: it makes the old Fulton Fish Mkt in NYC, look like a Long John Silver resturant by comparo; get there by 5ish am and it's winding down, but still remarkable.
-Ginza section by day to see the outrageous stores, prices and shoppers; by night to see the neon and multitude of lil' side streets bustling w/activity by the "salarymen".
-Roppongi: For Nihon-style posers, rock&roll, action some Americanized food joints, HardRock, Spago, kids, luxe cars, the "Cavern", a remarkable Beatle mimic joint, (right around corner from Hard Rock), etc., etc.
-Some eve after dark, hit a hotel with a "high" bar for a 15-20 buck cocktail but worth it to see Tokyo at night. Rec'd is 40th floor of Park Hyatt in Shinjuku or top bar in Imperial Hotel near Ginza, across from Hibiya Park.
-any large supermarket just to see the diff. assortment of stuff and the persnickidy Nihon shopper.
-Any decent park, (there are hundreds), for a tranquil stroll and some fine, timeless&ageless gardening.
-Hit one of the Kabuki theaters or the main one in Ginza; one could walk in, nearly anytime, and watch...doesn't matter as the plot is thin, to a Yank, you cannot understand a word, but the "spectacle" is worth seeing for an hour or less.
The Place names above are "sections/areas" of the greater Tokyo area; all easily reachable by subway and/or taxi.

Other stuff/tips:
-grab the std subway pamphlet/map in hotel or in subway: routes are really easy, fast, cheap and not hard to figure out.
-taxis are quite pricey, though clean; most drivers can get you "close", though a specific address is tough as the numbering/address system is chaotic. Few taxi drivers speak any English.
-Tokyo is, imo, THE Safest big city on the planet;(well, maybe 2nd behind Singapore of the '90s). You and yours, will Never be accosted or wolf whistled or barely noticed, day or night, in nearly any part of the metro area.
-The food, Everywhere, is pure, tasty, different, sometimes Very expensive, but outstanding. Try Everything, imo!

My Qtr's up!
Enjoy your trip...
GL,md

[Dr_Smith]

thx md. Quite a few things you mention are already on the list. We're staying at the Park Hyatt for two nights just to get the experience, and because I'm a Lost in Translation fan (Scarlett helped with that). Looking forward to my first holiday (real) in 5 years of solid work to pay for those houses!

[Bavarian]

Make sure to rent a fast car, as you will enjoy the highways in Japan. I've lived there for 3 years, and to this day I have not seen better marked and lit highways in my life. They are perfectly smooth, too!

Just a tip: when entering Tokyo, do NOT take the Shuto Expressway, it's gridlock like you won't believe. You'll be stuck up there on the raised road for hours. No kidding.

You unfortunately missed the bloom of the sakura there. If you ever see a cart selling "Yakimo", try that. It's sweet potato, unique there. I loved that stuff.

[bozo]

Are you going to stay ON CFAY at any time? The atmosphere is great there..makes you wonder why "we" cant get along the same way while in the states..Its like a community of 6000 people who actually really care and respect for one another...

Spent many a night on that Kitty in '04, all over the place...Its a lot better when you can actually "walk" off...lol...