The Japan Trip Resource Thread!

[Zanza]

I could quite easily spend two weeks in Kyoto, especially during the festival seasons when it comes alive. Pleanty to see and do, I must of spent close to two weeks there during my last two trips, and I still havn't seen and done everything I would like to.

If you think Kyoto has no heart then visit during the festival seasons, July - August. The Gion and Daimonji Gozan Fire Festival festivals are especially interesting, the latter being the one where they burn the huge kanji characters into the side of Mt.Daimonji. The Gion festival lasts around a month and the highlight is the float parade, which might sound boring, but it's pretty spectacular. Gion Matsuri is especially interesting if you visit the city the night before the parade, as you can view the floats stationary as they are spread out across the city, the atmosphere is amazing and its a great way to explore the city.

If you go during July-August you also have a chance to see a great fireworks display, not to sure when the big ones are in Kyoto, I think they have a couple. If you are interested in that kinda thing you should make the trip to Osaka which brags one of the biggest fireworks displays in the world, using over 120,000 fireworks, and is usualy the begging of August. It's best viewed from the parklands around the river (Tondabayashi Station) were thousands of people congregate to get wasted and watch the fireworks, the atmosphere is great.

[Darwock]

Walking out of the huge JR station to see the huge bus terminal and seeing the huge crowds... it was as far from mellow and unassuming as one can get.

Well that's train stations for you.

[suicidepirate]

Well that's train stations for you.

Ok, i'm not sure how to respond to that. Yes it's a station and stations are busy - but Kyoto (aside from the aforementioned area far up north) never stopped being about the huge crowds and the lifeless tourism industry. Kamakura station is busy and has a bus terminal - but it didn't feel as soulless and cynical.

Again, this is not something i actively thought about while i was there - it just occurred to me afterwards, and even now when i think back to it.

[canuhavebabies]

first of all, thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread!, i read the whole thing the other day

i'm moving to tokyo early next year and am going for a month soon, just to sample the area before taking the plunge. I've got a few questions that i hope some people can help....

What is the weather like in december?, will it be too cold to walk outdoors most of the time?

How easy is using the post office / sending ems parcels for non japanese speaking people? i earn my money from ebay, so will be in the post office everyday (yes i know some people don't like ebay capitalists, but so what!)

thanks in advance!

[Richard.John]

canuhavebabies,

It's the winter so expect the same kind of temps. as the UK, i.e 5-10C during the day and chillier at night. The good thing about Tokyo though is that it's dry, really dry. This is due to the mountains around Tokyo protecting it from rain and snow, so while the Japan sea region and Hokkaido gets buried under snow throughout the season, we get glorious sunshine. The result? Only a couple of rainy days during during Dec. and Jan., which beats grey, overcast UK winters.

In regards to the Post Office, I think you'll be OK as it's not too hard as long as you clearly mark the packages.

[canuhavebabies]

canuhavebabies,

It's the winter so expect the same kind of temps. as the UK, i.e 5-10C during the day and chillier at night. The good thing about Tokyo though is that it's dry, really dry. You might only see one or two days of rain during Dec and Jan, which beats grey, overcast UK winters.

In regards to the Post Office, I think you'll be OK as it's not too hard as long as you clearly mark the packages.

thanks very much!, and cheers for your past notes on this thread, they have been really helpful!

i think i can live with that weather, now time to book my trip!

[Richard.John]

thanks very much!, and cheers for your past notes on this thread, they have been really helpful!

i think i can live with that weather, now time to book my trip!

No probs. Enjoy your trip.

[Bleeders]

canuhavebabies,

It's the winter so expect the same kind of temps. as the UK, i.e 5-10C during the day and chillier at night. The good thing about Tokyo though is that it's dry, really dry. This is due to the mountains around Tokyo protecting it from rain and snow, so while the Japan sea region and Hokkaido gets buried under snow throughout the season, we get glorious sunshine. The result? Only a couple of rainy days during during Dec. and Jan., which beats grey, overcast UK winters.

In regards to the Post Office, I think you'll be OK as it's not too hard as long as you clearly mark the packages.

Thanks for that mate, I intended on buying some bits whilst I'm out there and would rather take my chances shipping em' back via EMS than storing them in my luggage given the current situation en' all.

[Darwock]

I'm leaving next Tuesday, bound for Osaka, and won't be coming back any time soon. I have to hand back my work laptop after today though, which means I will no longer have any means of getting online.

So I guess this is goodbye to NTSC-UK for now, although I don't expect I'll be internetless for very long.

[Bleeders]

Have a good one mate, safe travels.

[suicidepirate]

Yeah - have a safe journey dude

[Supergoal]

I have a question to any folk in Japan with an interest in mobile phones.

I recently bought a P902i FOMA and just wondered if at all possible, how to connect to my computer via the blue tooth device. The phone does have bluetooth, however in Japan there seems to be a slowness to adapt to the technology fully...

Much help appreciated!

[gingerj]

Can anyone recommend a means to learn the basics of the lingo, I'm going over some time over christmas and I dont wanna be stuck. So I think it's best to start as early as possible.

[Bleeders]

Download the Survival Phrases mate.

Been brushing up on these myself for when I'm due to go in about 4 weeks.

[gingerj]

Download the Survival Phrases mate.

Been brushing up on these myself for when I'm due to go in about 4 weeks.

Ahh you're a superstar mate!