japan

has anyone ever been?

DH and I are planning to go in December 2007 as a stopover when we fly back to NY for xmas (for 2 weeks) from sydney.

we arent sure how long of a stopover we should have, but we were thinking a week. we were thinking tokyo and kyoto, but i have no idea on how much time we would need.

TIA.

Message edited 10/14/2006 12:53:20 AM.

Re: japan

me me me me me I love Japan!
We went a few years ago for almost 3 weeks, with a few days in Hong Kong thrown in for good measure!

We did a week in Tokyo and another in Kyoto and it was FANTIDDLYTASTIC!!!
You can do like 4 days in Tokyo and than 3 in Kyoto, flying out from Kansai Airport (the one built on a manmade island) I would suggest that you get on some kind of tour which will take you to Mt Fuji...I think its tricky to get there on your own, but on the bus tour, they will take care of you. The food is fantastic, if not unidentifiable! We love to eat and will eat pretty much anything, but we found it hard to eat for the first few days...

You can spend AGES just wandering around Tokyo, doing nothing in particular. So my husband and I would pick an area and spend the whole day just wandering around the backstreets, going into lots of record shops, book stores etc. We bought a package tour because we were kind of intimidated by how alien Japan is (and it is like being on another planet) and it was great because we got our bearings in the city, but the trains are really easy to take, most things are signed in English and Japanese.The Yamanote line is really great, you could ride it around and around the city and just watch people. We were there in March so there were LOADS of Cherry Blosoms and the parties were fantastic, lots of drunk salarymen who made us laugh!!!

We did Mount Fuji on a cloudy day (didn't see a thing)took the Shinkansen to Kyoto (fantastic) Went up Tokyo Tower, walked through Kabuki-Cho and laughed at the sex shows, took lots of sticker pictures at the Photo Club (the first rule of photo club, you do not talk about photo club!) We laughed at the Engrish, talked to homeless people in Ueno Park, Were called Gaijin by Taxi Drivers, ate lots of Kaiten Sushi, spent lots of money on records and Books (Pizzacato Five...Tokyo Mon Amour...)I ate sweets that were pink but tasted of fish, and we spent a lot of time being bewildered at Sanrio Puroland...The Hello Kitty Theme Park...

Come to think of it, we spent a lot of time just being bewildered and LAUGHING and observing Japanese people and just loving it!

I am thinking of selling my son to go back for a few weeks....any takers!

So yes, I LOVED Japan and can't wait to go back!!!

eta..oh yes, Kyoto...fun, We loved Isetan and stuff, but my husband and I are more of consumers that history buffs, but Kyoto has some beautiful things to look at, for about $500 you can get dressed up as a Geisha and they will take your picture, Pontocho is lovely, just like in Memoirs of a Geisha, but Tokyo is just MILES more exciting!!!

Message edited 10/14/2006 5:37:15 AM.