2 Weeks in Japan?

[krtek a houby]

Popular enough to get on my nerves? If there's somewhere similar (coast is nice) that's even less touristy and a bullet train ride from Tokyo - I'm open to it!

When we went there it was very quiet - but that was more likely because of COVID. Anywhere that has the ancient vibe is going to be packed out nowadays. Places like Nara and Kamakura, etc.

What do you want from your time here? Do you like mountain hikes or big buddhas or patting capybaras or coastal walks with stunning scenery?

 

[Favelado]

When we went there it was very quiet - but that was more likely because of COVID. Anywhere that has the ancient vibe is going to be packed out nowadays. Places like Nara and Kamakura, etc.

What do you want from your time here? Do you like mountain hikes or big buddhas or patting capybaras or coastal walks with stunning scenery?

Tokyo will take care of itself by having so much to offer - so that's fine. I guess I want to get away from that for about three days and be somewhere that is beautiful (in any interpretation of the word), in a town or city where I can feel a little lost and away from the crowds. Culture of a contemporary or traditional kind is fine, I'd like to eat well, and I'd like to people watch a little too. The sea is always welcome.

So Kanazawa is most of those things right?

 

[krtek a houby]

Tokyo will take care of itself by having so much to offer - so that's fine. I guess I want to get away from that for about three days and be somewhere that is beautiful (in any interpretation of the word), in a town or city where I can feel a little lost and away from the crowds. Culture of a contemporary or traditional kind is fine, I'd like to eat well, and I'd like to people watch a little too. The sea is always welcome.

So Kanazawa is most of those things right?

Yeah, I reckon so.

Izu peninsula is nice for the coastal walks, parts of Chiba, too. But if you want a combination of the best things (like Kanazawa) you will find crowds.

Hiroshima is a great place to visit. It's 5 hours on the shinkansen, which flies by. The food (okonomiyaki), the people, the peace museum. And Miyajima, a ferry ride away is an absolute must. There be deer, a massive torii in the sea, temples and shrines.

 

[shakespearegirl]

We loved Kanazawa. It was the place we had the most interaction with locals. Very fuzzily memorably involving a lock in in a sake/shozu bar and a lot of falling over..

 

[Favelado]

Yeah, I reckon so.

Izu peninsula is nice for the coastal walks, parts of Chiba, too. But if you want a combination of the best things (like Kanazawa) you will find crowds.

Hiroshima is a great place to visit. It's 5 hours on the shinkansen, which flies by. The food (okonomiyaki), the people, the peace museum. And Miyajima, a ferry ride away is an absolute must. There be deer, a massive torii in the sea, temples and shrines.

Good advice and gratefully received.

We loved Kanazawa. It was the place we had the most interaction with locals. Very fuzzily memorably involving a lock in in a sake/shozu bar and a lot of falling over..

Okay i think this has swung it!

 

[krtek a houby]

The beautiful Noto peninsula isn't too far away from Kanazawa. (The area was hit by a large quake this time last year.)

Noto Peninsula | Tourism Information | Official Ishikawa Travel Guide - Ishikawa Travel

Explore Noto Peninsula's rugged natural scenery on a scenic drive or cycling tour. Stay at a traditional farmhouse and immerse yourself in rural hospitality.

www.ishikawatravel.jp

Noto Peninsula

Travel guide for the Noto Peninsula, a rural area that juts out into the Sea of Japan and is famous for its coastal scenery.

www.japan-guide.com

 

[krtek a houby]

The crowds, the crowds!

Japan urges Australians to head off the beaten track as record numbers flood tourist hotspots

About 807,800 Australians visited Japan between January and November last year, nearly 200,000 more than the previous record in 2019

www.theguardian.com

Tldr?

Try Kanazawa and avoid the obvious places.

 

[sim667]

Has anyone traveled to Japan with medications, and specifically venlafaxine? I'm finding the information about the import of medications quite difficult to understand.

 

[mwgdrwg]

Has anyone traveled to Japan with medications, and specifically venlafaxine? I'm finding the information about the import of medications quite difficult to understand.

I worry about taking paracetamol with me!

I do take some blood pressure tablets, and make sure to take the box and my doctor's prescription in case it's questioned.

In the UK I take co-codomol for migraines, but I decided to not take them because apparantly anything with codeine or some recreational possibility is a major no-no.

Sorry, not much help!

 

[sim667]

I worry about taking paracetamol with me!

I do take some blood pressure tablets, and make sure to take the box and my doctor's prescription in case it's questioned.

In the UK I take co-codomol for migraines, but I decided to not take them because apparantly anything with codeine or some recreational possibility is a major no-no.

Sorry, not much help!

They actually have a list of meds and it doesn't appear on there, so my understanding is you don't have to fill out the form, but I've emailed them to ask just in case as I'm struggling with the terminology on the website. I'm going to get my wife to get a GP letter, take the box and the prescription with her. Apparently the don't email you back if you don't need to do an import form according to their automated email reply.

The list is pretty weird though, furosemide (which is for water retention), levetiracetam (and other familial drugs), which are anti seizure meds. - https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/dl/Ingredients_name.pdf

 

[Artaxerxes]

I take levothyroxine and ibuprofen in my hand luggage, no issues so far

Took some prescription antibiotics last time (didn’t take em in end) just incase my tooth infection showed up again