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 Traveller's Tales: Things to do in Japan
Learn about leisure and recreation in Japan. You may read about their travel activities and adventures. Find out their travel tips and guides and discover fun things to do in Japan.Also, you might want to read our
city guide.
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| S Louie |
01 September 2005 |
Stayed at Mansions at Roppongi, The - Tokyo, Japan.
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We went to the Tsukiji fish market two days in a row (my boyfriend is a chef). The place is fascinating, and has the best sushi in the world (if you like sushi, this is the place to go). That was one of our highlights. We visited friends in Kagurazaka, which is in NE Shinjuku. This is a little known, but wonderful section, full of fantastic restaurants, bakeries, and great shopping areas, but with very few tourists and crowds. It is an ex-pat area with a lot of French and German people living amongst the locals. They all speak Japanese fluently as well. I highly recommend it.
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| M Sussman |
26 May 2005 |
Stayed at Sunroute Hiroshima, Hotel - Hiroshima, Japan.
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We visited the A-Bomb Dome and spent several hours at the visitor center at the Peace Park. We went to a Hiroshima Carp baseball game, a movie, and ate at a Chinese Restaurant on Peace Avenue. There were always taxis waiting outside the door.
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| G Gascon |
16 May 2005 |
Stayed at Osaka Airport Hotel - Osaka, Japan.
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Took JTB Sunrise one day tour to Kyoto. You have to get into the hotel nearest Osaka Station, which is the Granvia. Probably easier to take the airport limousine bus to Shin-Osaka station (only about 440 yen.)
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| H Suh |
10 May 2005 |
Stayed at Nagoya Marunouchi Tokyu Inn - Nagoya, Japan.
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I visited the World Expo in Nagoya. It was a fascinating experience. However, I felt that the whole experience was very commercialized and the organizers could have been better organized. At times the Expo seemed a little bit chaotic. If you are going to the Expo, I would recommend that you go for more than a day. The waiting lines for the various exhibits are tremendously long. Wait times greater than 30 minutes are the norm and they give out reserved tickets for exhibits at designated times which you must obtain if you want to visit them.
Nagoya Castle is a destination you must visit if you are in Nagoya. It's an impressive destination and there's a lot to see and experience.
Nighlife in Nagoya is pretty quiet. Don't expect late night drinking sessions and much frenzied action like you would find in Tokyo. Compared to Tokyo, Westerners and foreigners are not that many and visible in Nagoya. I'm not sure if this is a benefit to you or not, but I found it refreshing not having so many Westerners and foreigners around.
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| M Chalkley |
05 May 2005 |
Stayed at Hiroshima Hotel Central - Hiroshima, Japan.
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Hiroshima is a place that any traveler to Japan should visit. Experiencing the tragic history of Hiroshima is an important experience, and one the Peace Memorial Park with its chilling Atomic Bomb Dome and sobering Peace Museum will make sure you never forget. The city itself is very affordable and easy to get around. It is an easy walk from Hiroshima Station to anywhere in the city you would like to go, and if you don't feel like walking the tram system will take you anywhere you want to go for a flat rate of 150 yen: a steal if you are familiar with the costs of traveling in Japan.
Hiroshima is also a day-trip away from several must-see sights in Japan. One of the more popular destinations is Miyajima Island where Itsukushima Shrine and its famous floating torii can be found. The boat ride out and back to the island is amazing. Also, a Shinkansen stop down, is Iwakuni: a town that to me captures the old-time essence of Japan. Kintai Bridge, the oldest standing of its kind in Japan, leads the way to Iwakuni Castle which is well worth the hike. A few more stops down on the Shinkansen line is Shimonoseki. Little known to the guidebooks, Shimonoseki is home to one of Japan's most famous, and reportedly haunted, shrines: Akama Shine. The view of Dan no Ura, the Inland Sea, and even Kyushu are breathtaking, and the fresh fish from the market on the beach are well worth the wait in line. The best thing to remember about visiting Hiroshima and Southern Honshu is to pace yourself. There is a lot to see, even if most guidebooks only devote a few pages to the area. Try to devote a day to each major sight, and it might be wise to plan a second stop to places like the Peace Museum, which can be hard to take the first time through.
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| G Straight |
04 April 2005 |
Stayed at Dai-Ichi - Osaka, Japan.
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Visited Osaka Castle, the Osaka Aquarium (fantastic), Kyoto (about 25 minutes by train), went to Gion district and saw a Geisha show, tea ceremony, there are over 1,500 temples to see in Kyoto. The cherry blossoms in April are something you should not miss. Nara is a remarkable city, bring food to feed the deer that walk around free. Plenty of museums, shopping. Wear your walking shoes as you do plenty of walking. In Kyoto, get an all day bus pass so you can get on and off the bus at different locations for one price. Trains and subways are pretty easy to learn. Food is great almost everywhere. Don't miss the shopping underneath the Hanshin Dept store. The pastries made each day are beautiful. Fun to see all the different food.
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| M Cicci |
01 April 2005 |
Stayed at Park Hotel Tokyo - Tokyo, Japan.
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Tokyo is exciting and fun. there is a lot to see and do. Try to take a water bus down the Sumida River for an interesting way to see Tokyo.
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| S Olofsson |
29 March 2005 |
Stayed at Sunroute Hiroshima, Hotel - Hiroshima, Japan.
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We didn't have a lot of time in Hiroshima so decided to visit Miyajima on the afternoon we arrived and save the Memorial Park and museum for the following morning. Would definitely recommend Miyajima, so quite and peaceful after the hustle and bustle of many of the cities we visited...the tame deer, the temples, the wooden buildings and the atmosphere. Unfortunately we didn't have time to take the forest walk as well. The following morning we visited the Hiroshima Memorial Park, Hall of Rememberance and the A-bomb Museum. Also, consider using a JR railpass if you intend to travel around. Our children had a great couple of hours at 'Edo Movie Land' in Kyoto, 10mins by JR from Kyoto main railway station. It is a smaller japanese version of Universal Studios, with lots of traditional houses and sets used in japanese costume dramas, soap operas, films etc. The children really enjoyed the stunt show featuring the samuri and the ninja. You can also dress up as a geisha or a samurai warrior and have your photo taken (for a fee!). Could be an excellent bribe if the younger ones are all 'templed out'!
Universal Studios Osaka is wonderful but the queues are long, you need a full day or try to go on a weekday which is not a school holiday and remember to check the information boards in the park for attraction queue times...Also I would recommend Himeji Castle...we were lucky and had an english speaking guide who explained the history of the castle including all the secret defense mechanisms much to the delight of our sons who couldn't wait to discover the whereabouts of the next 'booby trap! For me, strolling around Kyoto's Gion district at dusk and catching a glimpse of the Geishas/Meikos on their way to their engagements was definately one of the highlights of my stay. I was reading *Memoirs of a Geisha* at the time and it was literally as though the novel was brought to life in front of me. Oh and don't forget Nara, full of history,culture and easy to walk around.
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| G Kaminsky |
25 January 2005 |
Stayed at Mansions at Roppongi, The - Tokyo, Japan.
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I did the tourist thing all over Tokyo for a week. I was a little dissapointed with the Sega Joypolis in Odaiba. I did the skydiving ride but it wasn't what I had hoped for. The Edo-Tokyo museum was interesting. I saw a Sumo match which I highly recommend at least once if they're going on when you're there. Shibuya and Shinjuku are interesting areas as is Asakusa. I did a Sumida Gawa river cruise down to Hinode pier and it was very relaxing and informative. If you're around Shibuya or Harajuku on a Sunday, definately go see the costume play kids on the bridge over Harajuku station in the afternoon. It's like Halloween only better.
Akihabara has tons of electronics of course but what I didn't realize was this is the place to go for DVD's as well. They have huge selections of every genre including the naughty ones. Meiji Shrine in Harajuku is a definite must, especially if there are some weddings going on. Tokyo Tower was a mediocre experience for me, I didn't go all the way to the top since I had previously gone to the top of the Tokyo Metro Gov't Building for free and got almost the same view.
Palette town with the Venus Fort and Toyota Mega web were worth visiting but my favorite on Odaiba was the Oedo Onsen. Definately go there if you get a chance. It's a traditional Japanese hot spring public bath. You change into a yukata (like a bathrobe sort of) and walk around a public area with food and gifts. The hot spring areas though are separate for males & females, each with indoor and outdoor sections. I found the hot tubs outside to be a wonderful contrast to the cold temperatures, plus you get the added benefit of walking around without clothes on along with lots of other people. Great experience though and I felt rejuvenated afterwards. I also did a day trip to Kamakura which I highly recommend if you get the time. There's a ton of shrines and temples and a big buddha too. The day I went to the shrine there was a big ceremony going on with hundreds of people and imitation samurai swords. Very exciting stuff.
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| C Alafriz |
31 December 2004 |
Stayed at Kyoto Royal Hotel - Kyoto, Japan.
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If you only have 1 day, like we did, walk around the immediate vicinity of the hotel and you will get a good feel of Kyoto. Don't miss Pontocho Street by the river (line of traditional restaurants), the streets of Gion (the old Geisha district) and Higashiyama Area where there are many temples to boast of.
If you have more time, then do the temples off the city center... I think the Kinkakuji and Ryoanji area is the next best.
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