Japan travel tales

Our customers share their travelling experiences in Japan. Read about first hand stories on travel tips and guides, events, entertainment,shopping, food, business and transportation. Also, you might want to read our city guide.

Book a hotel in Japan

Pages (7 of 25): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 More »

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.
W Cheong	12 May 2004
Stayed at Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo - Tokyo, Japan.
It was very easy to get around in Tokyo by subway. In fact, the prices of subway in Tokyo, are way cheaper than in other cities of Japan. However, you can always connect between subway station to final destination by taxi...anywhere between 700 to 1100 Yens for a short ride of about 10 - 25 mins.
L Tessa borbridge	12 May 2004
Stayed at Mansions at Roppongi, The - Tokyo, Japan.
My first recommendation (being a map freak) is to buy Kodanshas "Tokyo city Atlas a bilingual guide". I bought mine online for around $25 which seem like a lot for a short visit but it is worth twice as much for how much it empowers you. You will always know where you are! You will even know which subway exit to take eg Roppongi has 5or 6 and Sinjuku has around 30(maybe more). The address system is strange but the guide makes sense of it. Most of the smaller streets don't have names! I also carry a small $3 compass (no I'm not completely neurotic I just like to know where I'm going) because sometimes you find you're heading in the complete opposite direction. The subways were fantastic - don't be intimidated learn how to use them immediately ask the attendant for a Tokyo subway guide in English. Sometimes, especially for 3-4 people and short trips cabs are more efficient but you never know what traffic is like and subways are pretty predictable and the come every 3-5 minutes. Coming from Narita we took the Keisei Skyliner to Ueno then walked for 3 minutes underground to the Hibiya (gray)Subway Line and took it to Roppongi and then it was a 5 minute walk to the Mansions. We each had a small wheeled suitcase and a day backpack - anything more and the subway method might prove a little awkward and arduous. There are space considerations on the subway plus although there are escalators you do have to walk up and down some stairs. Make sure when you get your ticket at Keisei to get a schedule for your return trip to Narita. I neglected to do this but went on line to get the times - the trains leave every 40 minutes and the on line scheduled departure time was 12 minutes later than the actual- don't worry we didn't miss our train but it was close. A more civilized way (there is still the unpedictability of traffic) is to take the ANA Hotel Airport Shuttle to the ANA Hotel which is a brief cab ride ( 10 minutes on foot) from the Mansions. We were going to use this method of getting to the airport but my wife preferred the predictability of the subway train. I recommend a walk to the ANA hotel which is next to Suntory Hall and near the US Embassy-while there you can check-out the shuttle and times etc Good Luck and Have a safe and enjoyable trip. And another thing - bring cash or an ATM card as many places do not take plastic. There is a 24 hour Citibank on th 2nd floor near Almond - not the same building- that accepted my Visa Plus and Visa Cirrus cards. ATMs are easier than going to a bank waiting in line filling out forms and twiddling your ears while the tedious and officious process crawls along - obviously you can see that I've filed my Japanese Bank experience under "I won't do that again"
R Rogers	12 May 2004
Stayed at Osaka Airport Hotel - Osaka, Japan.
Best way to get to the centre of Osaka is by the airport express bus from the airport.
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.
J Huang	01 May 2004
Stayed at Kinki, Hotel - Osaka, Japan.
Great location for restaurants and shopping.
M Howe	29 April 2004
Stayed at Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto - Kyoto, Japan.
One word about Kyoto, visitors may find less of an opportunity for late night dining compared with other cities. Do not bother venturing out from the hotel much past 9PM and expect to discover or stumble across a new dining location in the midst of Kyoto - many establishments will be closed by the time you arrive at your newly found oasis. This is where the Rihga Royal can come into its own again because of its varied internal selection of restaurants most of which take a seatings up until 10PM. If you are running late or unsure of where you will be going, it would be better to stay in & take advantage of the facilities. It's not worth missing out an evening meal through deliberation or paranoia.
D Mok	29 April 2004
Stayed at Kinki, Hotel - Osaka, Japan.
Osaka is a lively city - but it's edginess might wear you down a bit after a while. At night, wander around the overhead bridges or train stations and listen to passionate Japanese musicians performing 'live'. From Osaka, take day trips to beautiful Kobe (try Kobe beef - it ain't that expensive if you scout around - about $10,000 Yen for truly scrumptious teppanyaki steak meal at "SteakLand"). Or venture out to Kyoto, just 30 minutes away - in Spring and Summer, you can easily spot geishas and maikos trotting about the lovely streets of Gion.
R Cho	26 April 2004
Stayed at Kinki, Hotel - Osaka, Japan.
Some travel directions is needed for this hotel. I was tired, this being my last night for the 3 week vacation I had (solo). I jumped into a cab and he was unable to find it, so asked another driver then went into a Police Station for advice. If you at the Osaka JR station walk north or south (unsure) when you come out, go left pass the tourist info centre and a Burberry Shop, you see an overbridge for the pedestrian walk - walk on it (there are escalators and staircase), once on top go left. You would walk straight and walk past the other rail station (not JR) and maybe some homeless selling wares on the pavement, you would also walk past KFC fast food restaurant. A half minute or less walk, you come to a corner at the traffic lights. Across the road there is a mall and in front of that, an adult shop with color posters on its walls etc .. walk towards that, then turn left and walk straight keeping an eye on the left side which is an enclosed mall with restaurants, pachinko parlors, etc etc. The hotel is in there if unable to get map. Get the map from info tourist centre and there is a KFC centre south east of the JR station, then follow the instructions above - makes following my directions a lot easier. Hope this helps. Reason I wrote so much is the info here on this site was insufficient and hence I went to those troubles with the cab driver et al..