30?C is what we get here in Italy during the same period, probably it will feel cooler thanks to the sea...I'll gather some more info on Sapporo to see where to go and then I'll set my plans.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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There's a chocolate factory a short ride outside of the centre of Sapporo city, they make the Hokkaido-only "Shiroi Koibito" biscuits. There's a nice cafe/restaurant in there too with a nice mountain view.
The next time I go back to Japan will probably/definitely be winter, and Sapporo will be one place I go back to. I loved it with all the snow. And escaping -30 here in Calgary would be nice as well.Comment
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It's very humid in Japan maybe not as much as in Italy.Originally posted by briareos_kerensky View Post
Anyway, good luck putting your trip together, if you need any more info please shout up.Comment
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Bumpage!
Hotel booked for next year. Staying here:
Grand Fresa Akasaka
Very happy with the price we've got, can't wait to get back on the 'plane!!
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Next year? And I though I was in advance when booking in April for August
Booked for Osaka and Tokyo. Through Expedia I've found an hotel right behind the train station at half of its price and I'll be staying at Sakura Hotel Shibuya when in Tokyo.Comment
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The hotel was too good a deal to pass up. Used Booking.com as Expedia seem to have cut the amount of hotels they list. The best thing with Booking.com is that you pay the hotel upon arrival rather than the website upfront.
Had full confirmation and there's no cancellation fee either should I need to.
Groovy.Comment
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Going to Japan for the first time in October for two weeks and I'm looking for some basic advice. We've already booked our flights. I''d like to do 1 week in Tokyo (game shops, arcades
) and my gf wants to go somewhere else the second week to see some sights, bamboo forests, shrines, that sort of thing.
Can anybody recommend a good place to spend the second week? Also, for the first week, I guess I want Akihabara, Super Potato, Hard Offs (?), that sort of place, right?
So much information to mine and I really have no clue where to start. We're going to be doing the Ghibli museum and have already enquired about booking tickets in advance. Can anybody recomment a cheap but fairly decent hotel in Tokyo? Any 'must see' places of interest in Tokyo or anywhere else?
As you can see, I have no clue so all advice very much appreciated.Comment
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Kyoto and the sorrounding area. I went there two years ago during April and the weather was perfect for sightseeing, both in and outside the city. The Fushimi Inari shrine is absolutely gorgeous, I would love to see it during Autumn; it can easily take a large portion of the day to visit the whole shrine, so pack lunch and water.
The city itself isn't as busy as Tokyo and much easier to visit and two of its best tourist sposts (Kinkakunji and Ryoanji temple) are close together and are wonderful views.
I stayed in a cheap hostel styled as a ryokan 200 or so meters from Kyoto station, can't remember the name, very comfy and extremely well placed for public transports; plus there's an excellent yakitori restaurant just in front.
This August I'll be in Osaka (not that far from Kyoto) so I'll update with nearby locations...mount Koya looks an interesting place to visit.
In Tokyo I stayed at Sakura Hotel in Jimbocho and this year I've already booked at an other Sakura Hotel, this time near Shibuya. The Sakura are more hostles than hotels and the Jimbocho branch had shared bathrooms, but the service was excellent...also it was two or three stops from Akihabara
Unfortunately when I was in Tokyo the weather wasn't particularly good and I've got more than my allowed shares of temples in Kyoto, so I mostly wandered around Akihabara between arcades and shops.
I also chose to visit Kyoto before Tokyo and I'll do the same this year with Osaka: the return airplane was at 10 in the morning and the trip between the two cities is only 3 hours in a comfortable Shinkansen, but that's up to you.Comment
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Nara is also good for temples, not that far away you have Himeji Castle - best in Japan and World Heritage Site. The National Ninja Museum and castle at Iga-ueno is also in the area but is a bit off the beaten track.Comment
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Kyoto seconded, its a great place, and if you have a rail pass Osaka and Horishima are also near enough for a day trip.Comment
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Originally posted by Jay View PostGoing to Japan for the first time in October for two weeks and I'm looking for some basic advice. We've already booked our flights. I''d like to do 1 week in Tokyo (game shops, arcades) and my gf wants to go somewhere else the second week to see some sights, bamboo forests, shrines, that sort of thing.
Can anybody recommend a good place to spend the second week? Also, for the first week, I guess I want Akihabara, Super Potato, Hard Offs (?), that sort of place, right?
So much information to mine and I really have no clue where to start. We're going to be doing the Ghibli museum and have already enquired about booking tickets in advance. Can anybody recomment a cheap but fairly decent hotel in Tokyo? Any 'must see' places of interest in Tokyo or anywhere else?
As you can see, I have no clue so all advice very much appreciated.
Pretty much same as me... October, 2weeks, first time, 1 week in Tokyo.
From the reading i've done (and backed up already by the responses above) Kyoto seems to be the place to go.
I was hoping to go to see the Grand Prix but it all seems a bit of an extra hassle so I'm going to leave that this time.
Here's some notes I've copy/pasted so far from various threads that might come in handy:
Akihabara
Guide to shops here: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3003.html
The Softmap near Club Sega has lots of secondhand stuff (retro incl.) on the 3F.
Also try Liberty, they have several shops around and the one vaguely opposite Messe Sanoh on Chuo Dori has lots of stuff on the 2F.
Next door to Segafredo (coffee shop)? That's Friends.
Don't forget SuperPotato!
Shinjuku is good for the following
Kabukicho - red light area - not as seedy as it sounds though especially if you are with your wife. Worth seeing as there is lots of neon.
GoldenGai - about 5 streets with 200 bars in them. Worth seeing
There are a ton of clothing shops so good for your wife.
Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera are two big electronic stores.
There's only 1 Taito arcade worth looking at in Shinjuku which is the one right in front of the South Exit near the Gap. High level SSF4 AE is played there but the # of players have dwindled significantly
Uh, that's the Gigo in Akiba and it sucks for gaming. The 2nd newest Club Sega in Akiba has a retro floor which you may find appealing. Club Sega Nishi Shinjuku (Nishispo for old timers and VFers like myself) is well known to be a fighting game haven. The basement floor has every current fighter as well as popular older fighters like ST. They even have MVC2 on rotation which is a rarity in Japan. The first floor is mostly UFO catchers with some deluxe driving/gun cabs. The second floor has retro stuff but not a big selection.
Kyoto
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Kyoto is of massive historical importance to Japan, and certainly not "rubbish". Places of main interest I'd recommend are:
Nijo-jo (The castle of Tokugawa, worth it to see the ninja traps, the fortress walls, great if you're a fan of Samurai culture)
The Imperial Palace (Not to be missed. They do a brilliant English-language tour. Remember though you need to book a long time in advance; if you're on JET then make sure you mention that too, I don't remember why but there was a good reason. You get to walk around the normally closed palace grounds).
Fushimi Inari-taisha (The Fox Shrine. All over Japan there are small shrines with orange gates dedicated to foxes, which hold special place in Shinto lore. Sometimes these are tiny, perhaps only really a statue of an arch is present, or sometimes larger - Fushimi Inari-taisha is the centre of this Shinto belief and is incredibly impressive, with archways that go on for miles, I think. This was actually my favourite place in all of Kyoto, it shows how early Shinto links into beliefs in animism and is very visual. Most Buddhist and Shinto shrines are very similar to the casual observer, such as the Asakusa temple and Zenkoji in Nagano. Fushimi Inari Taisha is very striking and different)
The Golden Pavilion (yes, it's a replica, but it's still a sight to behold and it's just something you need to do)
Kiyomizudera Temple
Gion and the Gion Corner club (Gion is a traditional area of Kyoto with the small streets and historic buildings still intact. If you go to the Gion Corner club, and you'll need to book, they do a performance for foreigners where they perform demonstrations of several famous Japanese stage entertainments. These can include things like Kabuki, Kyogen, Bunraku, and also Miko/Geisha performances of the arts of dance and music. You can see these in many places in Japan but the important thing here is you're given an earpiece to wear which gives you general info about what is going on, without being too intrusive. It's presented very well, the club is trying to share Japanese culture with the visitors, not merely rape it for a quick attention-deficit friendly profit. This was superb)
Check out Kinkakuji and Ryoanji in the north-west of Kyoto, stroll around in Arashiyama if you have time and continue with Gingakuji (my favorite), walk on the Path of Philosophy (tetsugaku no michi), see Kiyomizudera and then walk around Kawaramachi and Gion in the evening. Each temple is a completely different experience and well worth your time and attention.Comment
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Oh I should add a disclaimer... I don't know how accurate some of the statements are... I'll find out when I get there I guess.Comment
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Check the weather forecast before you go
All the guide books say that October is a good time to go because it's cooling down and less muggy. Pfft. We were getting 30 degrees C last October when I was out there. I'd packed jumpers expecting 10 - 15 degrees and couldn't believe it when we got there!!
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Friends is up the stairs next door to Segafredo. Get ready for some crazy prices though. I got my SRW (GB) and Super Robot Pinball (GBC) there for a steal though.
TokiwaMusen (my previous favourite shop in Akihabara) is right in the bottom left pic of Yamada Denki in that article and gave me many discount treats over the years including a WonderSwanColor for 2500yen with 2 games (admittedly 6-7 years ago now).
MediaLand is between Gamers and RadioMarket under the Sobu line, sort of opposite ClubSEGA. They have some of the best prices you will find for games IN THE WORLD. Website has all current deals: http://m-land.co.jp/ and the do have a secondhand section up on the 3rd floor. 2nd Floor is some new age hippy shop for some reason.Comment
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Some excellent information in here. Thanks for the replies. I'm sure I'll have plenty of other questions once we've done a bit more digging
Cheers.
When in October are you going, nuskool?Comment
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