Japan

[Doobs]

Jap is offensive, hence Japland must be offensive? 

is Brit Offensive then? 

No, don't take my word for it, read a dictionary, or Wikipedia, or maybe just go to Japan and try shouting it out in a few places?

Well this is the first time I've heard anyone say this in 44 years, so my experience is different to yours...

Anyway, I'd like to know about Japan, a place I am really looking forward to visiting, do you have any info?

I was just trying to explain why Japland may be offensive.  I have only been to Tokyo and as Kiniboshi says, it is bloody massive.  Not sure I'd say that is a reason to spend more time there though, but I haven't seen the other side!

[Woodsey]

Cheers Dan will read it all properly later. 

[Woodsey]

Tokyo is massive. I'd argue that three days isn't enough.

You want to go to places like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku and Ueno to see the standard Tokyo sights and sounds. Like London, each area is different and offers a different experience. It's a busy place, but other than the size and the number of people it's easy to get round. All the signs at the stations are in English as well as Japanese, even out in the sticks. The trains are amazing there, and even though you have heard about how on time they are and how well run it is, it still surprises you!

If you're into your electronics, a trip to Akihabara is a must. Saying that, it could be a lot different now as it was fifteen years since I was there. But it used to be the place to go for the latest consumer electronics stuff and it was an amazing place, especially in the evening when it's all lit up.

When are you going? The best time is Spring or Autumn as the weather is fantastic then and the scenery looks the best. Autumn probably my favourite time there.

Kyoto is a great place to go for the temples and shrines, some of the gardens are amazing. Nara is also good, but you probably don't need to do both.

Osaka is also worth seeing, and more interesting as Japan's second city than Birmingham is here

Hiroshima is definitely worth a visit. The Peace Memorial Park and museum is an experience I'd recommend. There's lots more to Hiroshima as well, and again wherever you go there's amazing scenery to enjoy.

Depends exactly what you're after. I was out there for a few years and didn't see all the places I wanted to see, the same as in the UK I guess. I'd say make time to go to an onsen (hot spring baths), ideally one in a mountain area, possibly near Fuji. Even better if you go when there's snow on the ground.

Try and stay in some traditional ryokan as well as western style hotels. I know you like your food, and the food there is amazing. Obviously sushi and sashimi should be on the menu, but there's a massive range of food available.

Never went to Okinawa, but it looks amazing. Quite a journey out to Naha though if you're only there for twelve nights. It's like a different country I've been told.

It's also worth looking at visiting some of the other main islands of Japan. Honshu is the main one where Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima are. But Hokkaido in the north is breathtaking in terms of the scenery, as are Kyushu and Shikoku. But as your time's limited you might want to stuck to Honshu.

Ok sorted and have a rough plan, going end of Aug, not booked my outbound flight from japan back to Bangkok yet so may actually stay up to 14 days. I'm basically gonna get a 14 day rail pass and just wing it when I'm there, not going to plan specific numbers of days in each city just go with the flow and see what happens, which what I normally do on my trips. Will go through Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima and depending on time either just keep going south to Kyushu or divert to Shikoku en route to Hiroshima depending on time and which way the wind is blowing on the day I need to make a decision. Will look for flights back from either Osaka or one of the other cities down there back to bangkok in the meantime so I can make a quick dash to the airport when time runs out. Gonna bin Okinawa this trip, not really practical for a first trip there, wax on wax off lol.

Couple of Q's

Driving in japan....might rent a car the odd day to get out into the rural and scenic areas as i really don't want to spend all my time in the cities. I assume driving is easy enough there? I know I need an international permit to drive...

Signs....I know English isn't spoken by most there, that is not a problem used to that. But I assume for trains and renting a car etc there are some English signs to help me out?

Best area for a night on the piss in the cities I've mentioned? lol (gonna be expensive for that so might have to limit my nights out doh!)

Any other money saving tips so I don't blow the bank? Is the street food food ok? Pretty sure I can do it for £100 a day including hotel when there as I'll have paid for train etc in advance.

[kinboshi]

Driving is dead easy. Right hand drive cars, they drive on the left like us. Driving in the busy parts of Tokyo isn't fun, definitely stick to the trains. Petrol stations are serviced. You just pull up (you'll enjoy the welcome) and ask "man-tan ni shi-te kudasai" which means "fill her up!" They'll ask if you've got any rubbish and they'll clean your windscreen for you. Then come to get the money from you so you don't have to move a muscle.

Toll roads are expensive, but empty. Probably because they're expensive. But use your rail pass for long journeys anyway.

[kinboshi]

Signs at the stations are in English as well as Japanese, even in the sticks. You can ask people at the station if you're not sure which train or platform, and people will be very helpful. The rail pass is for JR trains and trains running on JR lines (I think), so be aware that there are other operators. Again, just ask, and the staff at the stations are most helpful. If you go to Shinjuku station expect to get lost. It's massive. There's also more than one. Think there are over a dozen platforms just for the shinkansen (bullet train) never mind all the normal trains.

Most have rudimentary English, they all study it at school.

Larger road signs are in English as well, but in more rural areas, some of the signs won't be. There's always sat-nav I guess.

[kinboshi]

Roppongi in Tokyo is the ex-pat area for bars and stuff. I avoided it on the whole. Much better to find some isakaya instead (Japanese pub) elsewhere in Tokyo. They tend to be eating and drinking establishments though, but I'm sure you'll cope

A quick search on the web will probably serve up more places than I could recommend, and the places I went to might not exist anymore!

Not sure what it's like now, but some good bars and other places (apparently) in Kabukicho in Shinjuku.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabukich%C5%8D,_Tokyo

[kinboshi]

Oh and the best thing in the world are Japanese vending machines. They have them for virtually anything. I had one outside my house that sold beer and whisky. Was well used.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jidohanbaiki

[kinboshi]

Not much in the easy of street food, but any stalls or shops on the streets will be perfectly fine.

I'd probably avoid "fugu" sashimi from anyone other than a licensed restaurant though!

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugu

[Woodsey]

Cheers for all that. Strange as it sounds the food is the thing I'm least excited about, not gonna be eating any raw fish (I'm pretty picky about cooked fish even) and I've never been grabbed by it when seeing it, hence have tried very little of their food. Anyway, at least this trip will force me to have a go with it and maybe have my opinion swayed somewhat...

[Woodsey]

£2.50 for a hot dog and £1.50 for a big can of beer, think I'll be ok 

http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/24-things-you-can-buy-from-a-Japanese-vending-machine

[kinboshi]

Cheers for all that. Strange as it sounds the food is the thing I'm least excited about, not gonna be eating any raw fish (I'm pretty picky about cooked fish even) and I've never been grabbed by it when seeing it, hence have tried very little of their food. Anyway, at least this trip will force me to have a go with it and maybe have my opinion swayed somewhat...

The food is immense. So much variety, and even if you're not into cooked fish don't rule out sashimi.  But you don't need to touch it and there are so many other things to choose from.

[kinboshi]

£2.50 for a hot dog and £1.50 for a big can of beer, think I'll be ok 

http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/24-things-you-can-buy-from-a-Japanese-vending-machine

No mention of porn there, maybe there aren't (m)any around any more because of the internet?

[Woodsey]

Wouldn't mind going to see some sumo, I'm aware of the big tournaments which aren't on when I'm there and I can't seem to find any local fights to go and watch, is there anything or is it confined to the big tournaments? I'm guessing there must be stuff for the up and coming fighters but can't seem to find any info about it online.

[bergeroo]

Jealous. Love Japan. Spent 7 weeks in Tokyo a few years back. Just a few quick bullet points, will try to write more later.

- train pass is essential, you need to get it before you go
- Much more to Japanese food than sushi. Try Ramen, Okonomiyaki (spelling?!), Japanese curry - it's different from Indian
- You can go to an 'izakaya' for cheap drinks and cheap food
- I really enjoyed the sumo. You can also go to see a sumo training centre (like a boxing gym) if you plan in advance
- If you go to the Onsen (sauna) and you have tattoos, there are gonna be scenes!
- Kamakura and Nara are really nice day trips
- My favourite bar in Tokyo. It is about the size of a wardrobe, I made some great friends there. https://www.facebook.com/beatcafe
- Japanese people mega polite. The bowing is out of control and you will do it too after a while. most speak some English but you really have to coax it out of them
- taxis are ridic expensive

[Woodsey]

Cheers for all that. I've read about the training centre but it's nearly 100 quid to go from what I've seen online, do know anything to the contrary? Not sure I am willing to pay 100 quid...

Deffo doing the Izakayas, some of the drinking areas seem a bit sketchy for a first timer who doesn't know where they should or shouldn't be going, I don't want to get massively ripped off or worse.

Deffo don't have tattoos, I'm not Mafia