| |
 Traveller's Tales: Places to go and see in Japan
Take a tour of the top places to go in Japan. You may read about must see places and activities in the area. Also, you might want to read our
city guide.
Pages (3 of 10):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
| K Sim |
25 October 2004 |
Stayed at Osaka Airport Hotel - Osaka, Japan.
|
Osaka's sights are well-documented but one attraction relatively close to the airport is worth noting (especially if you have a lazy day to spend watching planes). Skyland Harada is a park where you get great views of planes landing at Itami Airport, great place to people-watch or enjoy a practice game of softball.
|
| H Seiffhart |
04 October 2004 |
Stayed at Kyoto Hotel Okura - Kyoto, Japan.
|
We selected a JTB Sunrise morning tour as an orientation to Kyoto. We visited the Golden Pavillion, The Imperial Palace and the Nijo Castle. The tour was rushed and should have gone for at least another hour. The two Tokyo JTB morning tours (Edo Tokyo and the Tokyo Bay Lunch Cruise) we went on by comparison were enjoyable, well-paced and relaxing.
The transport system in Kyoto is so easy to navigate that we spent the rest of our week stay travelling on our own. We recommend the following places as must-sees -- Kyoto station's rooftop observatory, Takashiyama and Hankyu Department stores, the 400 year old Nishiki market and the covered shopping arcades around Teramachi. If you are going to see temples you must limit yourself as there are so many. We went to the Silver Pavillion which has a beautiful garden, Nanzenji, which is huge and has a fantastic Zen dry stone garden for contemplation and the beautiful Kiyomizu. One of the more impressive temples and the most accessible as far as photography was concerned is the atmospheric Chion-in. Also you must visit the very unusual Sanjusangendo Hall.
We went to the Gion corner and found the traditional entertainment to be virtually incomprehensible. Wait until you witness the Ikebana demonstration!! Most visitors were bemused. This entertainment is rather expensive so think twice before you go. At dusk the Pontoncho and Gion offer a number of restaurants available to foreigners, just look for the English menus outside. We dined at two Pontoncho restaurants Kaiyoutei (French style, located directly on the river) and Ka-Shin-tei (Japanese style - reasonably priced and marvellous food). At dusk it is possible to witness geisha or maiko walking around in Gion and the Pontoncho. It is not necessary to book yourself onto a tour to see this. You should be neatly and smartly dressed to eat here.
If you have children we would recommend a day trip to Osaka from Kyoto. Time wise we took in three sites - the Umeda Sky Building, the Osaka Aquarium - which houses a whale shark, the nearby ferris wheel and the Osaka Castle. Again, transporation in Osaka is OK and we even met some very kind locals who went out of their way to assist us.
If you wish to buy souvenirs you must visit the Kyoto Craft Centre near Gion. Do not confuse this place with the Kyoto Handicraft Centre, which sells tacky stuff by comparison. The Kyoto Craft Centre is the best place to buy quality handicrafts. In fact we found no better place to shop for traditional wares even in Tokyo, and that includes the Oriental Bazaar.
We recommend that you stay for at least one week in Kyoto. We ran out of time and would have loved to have gone on other day trips.
|
| S Whitehurst |
02 October 2004 |
Stayed at Grand Mer, Hotel - Okinawa Island, Japan.
|
Rented car just outside airiport. Note that the major familiar rental car companies seem to have pickup transportation at airport, but HERTZ is administered under Toyoto Rental car, so dont stand around waiting for a bus labeled Hertz. Very impressive Prefectural Peace Museum in Naha overlooking ocean with sculpture garden dedicated to those who lost their lives in the WWII Battle of Okinawa. Well appointed displays in the museum.
|
| J Ong |
10 September 2004 |
Stayed at Mansions at Roppongi, The - Tokyo, Japan.
|
Tokyo is still an expensive city despite years of struggling under a deflationary economy. The best way to move around is by subway, and taxi is a no-no (use it as a last resort) as it's ridiculously expensive. For foreign tourists, best to buy a JR Pass (Japan Railway Pass) before leaving home as it's not for sale anywhere in Japan. This pass will cover most if not all trains going to different cities in Japan, plus the JR lines running within Tokyo. Japanese food is generally good but the best could only be found by chance or recommended by locals as most speak Japanese only. Also, set lunches are better value for money vs a-la-carte menu at dinners. Akasaka temple is a good place to visit and Disneyland is definitely enjoyable for family. Other than that, there are more interesting venues in cities outside Tokyo.
|
| T Elswick |
18 July 2004 |
Stayed at Grand Mer, Hotel - Okinawa Island, Japan.
|
Comprehensive Park is right down the road...it has tennis courts, large grass fields, a pond with fish and ducks, and also a small water park. Then the Shoppers mall is almost right across the street with a Toys-R-us.
|
| K Ingley |
25 May 2004 |
Stayed at Sunroute Hiroshima, Hotel - Hiroshima, Japan.
|
We found it convenient to take a taxi to the hotel from the main Hiroshima station: about 1,000 yen.
We had a fascinating dinner at the Okonomiyaki-mura (within walking distance; the hotel staff can explain how to get there), where there are several floors of small restaurants serving okonomiyaki, a pancake-like meal -- with layers of batter, cabbage, noodles and whatever other toppings you want -- that's prepared to order on the grill built into the counter.
After our night in Hiroshima, we went to the nearby island of Miyajima, a must-see spot with a tori and shrine built onto the tidal flats, so they seem to float in the water at high tide. It's definitely worth staying the night (we chose a hotel-ryokan). We also climbed Mt. Misen, a fairly long and steep trail that offers a great view. There's normally a ropeway part way up the mountain, but it was out of service when we were there.
|
| M Huth |
10 May 2004 |
Stayed at Park Hotel Tokyo - Tokyo, Japan.
|
We has a great trip to Japn over 8 days in early May 2004. We pre-booked Hotels in Tokyo, Harkone and Kyoto. We also prebooked one day tours in Tokyo and Kyoto and Japan Rail Pass before travelling which saved us approx 50% on the bullet trains. We found all the people we meet very friendly and helpful, the food and accommodation was great and the trains excellent.
We stayed at the Fujiya Hotel at Miyonshita during our stay at Hakone which is the oldest resort hotel in Japan - no wonder royalty and John Lennon stayed there. We also used the 7 day Hakone Free Pass to use the trains, buses, boats, cablecars and ropecars all on the one ticket - excellent value and easy to use.
|
| D Maughan |
07 May 2004 |
Stayed at Nikko Narita, Hotel - Tokyo / Narita, Japan.
|
We flew in to Narita in the pm and the next day took the express to Tokoyo station where we booked on the Nozomi bullet train for Fukuoka. Fantastic experience on the train and Fukuoka a must as it is a most cosmopolitan city and the residents very helpful. Travelled to Yamaga a small town where our son married a lovely Japanese girl and the whole experience with the Shinto wedding and reception and staying in a traditional Onsen and meeting all her family was fabulous. Travelled by car to Kumamoto, then by air to Osaka, then bus to Kyoto which is another must city to visit. Two days there then bus to Osaka, then air to Tokyo for 2 days. Not enough time to take all of it in and will definitely return.
|
| L Cohen |
21 March 2004 |
Stayed at Sunroute Hiroshima, Hotel - Hiroshima, Japan.
|
Hiroshima is definitely worth a visit. One day should do it. The Peace Museum is a very sobering experience and something everyone should see. Miyajima Island is less than an hour from Hiroshima and I highly recommend staying there for a night in a ryokan. We stayed at the Momiji-so, in the middle of a forest. The island is beautiful and there are deer roaming around all over the place. They are very tame & friendly and not afraid of people since they are protected and not hunted.
|
| J Mitchell |
08 March 2004 |
Stayed at Radisson Miyako Hotel Osaka - Osaka, Japan.
|
Tennoji is an older part of Osaka. There isn't a whole lot to do in the immediate vicinity (although Tennoji park is supposed to be quite nice). However, it is a very easy train ride to Nara or Kyoto from the Kintetsu station directly under the hotel. Great site seeing at both (I prefer Nara, but Kyoto is the more popular choice). And only two subway stops away (at Shinsaibashi) are the bright lights and youth culture of Osaka. Again, the subway is located just below the hotel. Get directions from the staff.
The Miyako staff can also make excellent recommendations for food. You have to eat okonomiyaki when in Osaka. There is an up-scale okonomiyaki restaurnant underneath the hotel in restaurant row that is excellent. Also some good "dives" in the nearby neighborhood. If you are a bit more adventurous, get takoyaki, another famous Osaka dish.
Access to the airport was easy via "limousine", which is really just a charter bus. The stop is directly outside the hoel.
|
|
Pages (3 of 10):
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Book a hotel in Japan
|
