Japan! Tokyo!
- Thread starter mwgdrwg
- Start date
Cid
Proper break this time
I mean just wander around and you'll find some interesting shit. Particularly Higashiyama and surrounds. The most touristy places (Kinkakuji, kiyomizu-dera etc) can get rammed, but presumably quieter this time of year. And places like Fushimi Inari are big enough that crowds aren't too bad, simply because they're more dispersed. Denjiro Okochi's house and garden is nice if you end up west (Arashiyama, where the bamboo grove, monkey park and various temples are), although iirc a bit more expensive for entry. But again, design, joinery, landscape nerd here. Good knife shop/maker (shigeharu) near Nijo castle if you're er... into spending too much money on kitchen knives that you have to look after properly.
mwgdrwg
Be a Pisces. Jam.
I was there in September and the highlight was just sitting by the river eating and drinking. Though it's not the right time of year to do it now.
RainbowTown
Well-Known Member
If you can take the short day trip to Enryakuji, it's pretty amazing. It's only a short train journey from Kyoto and you're in the mountains and nature, and the temple is near the summit of Mount Hiei. Beautiful views of Kyoto and Lake Biwa and the walking trails are lovely and peaceful. There's several other temples to visit there as well. We took the train from Kyoto to Sakamoto station (only about 30-40mins) and from there just ask for guidance. It's pretty easy. They have a cable car facility as well (though all this was back in 2014). Enjoy.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
I need to visit in spring (and might be this year if lucky) but Japan definitely feels best in autumn to me.
Kyoto might be ramping up to full tourist levels again, wish I’d been able to visit when it was quieter.
The entire area is full of temples, Nara and Kyoto easy to explore and worth lingering in for days. You should be able to head out to natural areas from there though. We spent time (and I seriously brained myself on a low roof there) at mount Koya-san and the old shrines which were stunning
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Had a look around a temple today. I'm pretty much done if I'm honest. Not really my bag. I hate crou My wife and daughter have a massive tourist schedule for tomorrow, but I'm bailing. I'm going to just go for a run around in the morning and see what I can find. Probably go to some record shops in the afternoon.
How much Japanese do you reckon you need to know? The message I've been getting from YouTube seems to be not much in Tokyo but definitely some if you're heading outside the city to a rural area. Given learning it is such a big undertaking, especially with the writing system, it would be good to know.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
You don't at all, unless your going somewhere super rural and I mean middle of bum fuck nowhere.
Its handy for restaurants and the odd sign but you can manage without.
Ted Striker
Foot's on the other hand
I know/knew absolute zero, and whilst my 3 weeks there were "The Greatest Hits" of Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto/Hiroshima/Mount Fuji/Mount Koya...I did not have any troubles.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
I personally think I would get a bit freaked out if I didn't know anything. I'm not that easy going though. I still get freaked out and I know a fair bit of Japanese.
It's probably much much easier these days with translation systems, GPS and google maps etc.
It's probably much much easier these days with translation systems, GPS and google maps etc.
I watch some of the YouTube channels like Abroad in Japan and apparently a lot more English signs etc have been used in Tokyo since the Olympics. I'd probably learn a bit of Japanese though as I hate going abroad and not being able to say anything in the local language.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Yeah, it's probably much easier these days. When I first started going none of the JR maps in station had anything other than kanji (apart from shinjuku). Getting the internet meant finding and paying for an internet cafe which in itself was a massive pain in the arse (and all the computers were in Japanese).
This time I just downloaded the whole of tokyo in google maps to use offline. GPS just tells me where I am. It's incredible. Wish I'd had that before. All the trains and buses stop at 12 so if you don't know where you are you are a bit fucked.
This time I just downloaded the whole of tokyo in google maps to use offline. GPS just tells me where I am. It's incredible. Wish I'd had that before. All the trains and buses stop at 12 so if you don't know where you are you are a bit fucked.
Starting to wonder how much Japanese I should learn. Have done hiragana and katakana and basic greetings but suddenly struck me it's a hell of an investment for somewhere I might only end up visiting once a year. I always try and know a few basics for any country I visit but barring watching anime I'm probably not going to use it much apart from visits, especially as it's not really a global language with the vast majority of Japanese speakers living in Japan.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Well don't bother then.
When I first came there was almost no english anywhere and little automation so just knowing how much money people were asking you for or just to ask for a bill in a restaurant was useful. You may have needed to go to a train station and ask for an english language map, but now you can just get that on line and see where you are on google maps etc.
Not every restaurant has pictures or english language, but unless you are planning on taking advance courses basic Japanese language knowledge isn't going to help anyway.
. . . and there is google translate (with a camera which seems to work very well) if you have a wifi . . . which I don't, but you can buy a one off monthly data sim at the airport for reasonable price (seven gig for maybe £30).
When I first came there was almost no english anywhere and little automation so just knowing how much money people were asking you for or just to ask for a bill in a restaurant was useful. You may have needed to go to a train station and ask for an english language map, but now you can just get that on line and see where you are on google maps etc.
Not every restaurant has pictures or english language, but unless you are planning on taking advance courses basic Japanese language knowledge isn't going to help anyway.
. . . and there is google translate (with a camera which seems to work very well) if you have a wifi . . . which I don't, but you can buy a one off monthly data sim at the airport for reasonable price (seven gig for maybe £30).
Winot
I wholeheartedley agree with your viewpoint
Just fixed a work trip there for May - last time I was there was Feb 2020 just before the shutter fell.
Going to go straight to Kyoto and have Saturday and Sunday nights there then have my meetings in Osaka/Tokyo on the Monday. Never been to Kyoto before - what’s the highlight? Realistically will be pretty jet lagged so nothing too hectic. Staying at the Sowaka in Gion.
Going to go straight to Kyoto and have Saturday and Sunday nights there then have my meetings in Osaka/Tokyo on the Monday. Never been to Kyoto before - what’s the highlight? Realistically will be pretty jet lagged so nothing too hectic. Staying at the Sowaka in Gion.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
Er I guess that massive hill climb with all the red gates. I would recommend that but then I quite like running/walking.
I wasn't mad keen on any other sight seeing I did there. I went to a nice record shop.
A friend recommended a pizza place. This sounded a bit dull to me but when I got back to tokyo some Japanese friends all excitedly asked me if I had gone, so I assume there is something weird/cool/interesting about it. I will dig out the details if you are interested.
What I did like about Kyoto (after staying in tokyo so long) was that is sooo small. You could max it out in no time.
I wasn't mad keen on any other sight seeing I did there. I went to a nice record shop.
A friend recommended a pizza place. This sounded a bit dull to me but when I got back to tokyo some Japanese friends all excitedly asked me if I had gone, so I assume there is something weird/cool/interesting about it. I will dig out the details if you are interested.
What I did like about Kyoto (after staying in tokyo so long) was that is sooo small. You could max it out in no time.
Winot
I wholeheartedley agree with your viewpoint
If you only had time for one temple which would you do?I was in Kyoto in September and the temples are a must, this was my third time there, and the things I enjoyed most were the Manga Museum, and laying out around the river and going to little outside restaurants like this (not my pic):
Dr. Furface
One small step for me
I'm just booking now for Sept/Oct
mwgdrwg
Be a Pisces. Jam.
That's hard...I'd probably try and do at lease these 3 in this order:
Fushimi Inari is iconic (it's a bit of a hike right to the top!)
Kiyomizu-dera, because it's great and the area around it is also has lots to see and the location is good.
Kingaku ji (golden temple) is beautiful.
I'd also recommend Ryoan ji...it's a zen garden...I felt incredibly, umm, zen when I went there! Could've sat there for a long time.
Winot
I wholeheartedley agree with your viewpoint
Bookmarked. Many thanks.
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Member Since: 1985 Post Count: 3
I went for a run along there and around Kyoto one day, but was feeling a bit dodgy. I was on the other side. I do like Japans riversides.I was in Kyoto in September and the temples are a must, this was my third time there, and the things I enjoyed most were the Manga Museum, and laying out around the river and going to little outside restaurants like this (not my pic):
I didn't know about the Manga museum, my daughter would have been very interested. . . actually my wife too. Maybe they did go. . . we were only there two days.
Cid
Proper break this time
There's a fairly high likelihood they'll be rammed in May though... Ginkaku-ji (silver temple) is similar to Kinkaku-ji but generally quieter, has very nice gardens too. Fushimi Inari generally ok simply because it's big and you can't get a bus up it.
The Tofuku-ji complex is massive and has a good variety of interesting things iirc; massive wooden architecture, zen gardens and more parky gardens (including a cool bridge over a canyon, though that can get busy).
Sanjusangen-do is pretty cool - it's a hall with more than 1000 full size buddha statues.
Philosopher's walk is nice, but forget what's around it.
That said Winot seems to be staying near Kiyomizu-dera, so just wandering around there will be interesting. I just didn't like how busy that area got, equally didn't particularly enjoy Kiyomizu-dera; crowds and a bit too heavily modified to cater for them. Lot of scaffolding when I was there though. For me the greatest joy was just going on long walks, with a few points of interest and checking out random places. But that obviously needs a more extended trip.
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Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
When are you going in May because if you go at the start it’s golden week and you will not be able to move…
Kyoto is a lovely city to get lost in, the old neighbourhood with the ryokan and maiko areas is cool. The main temples are amazing but I’m guessing rammed again now. Last time we just tooled around some of the quieter parts towards the north and it was nice.
Winot
I wholeheartedley agree with your viewpoint
I'll be there the weekend of 13/14 May - so looks like after the end of Golden Week.
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Yeah lucky one.
We were aiming to go around then but it’s probably autumn now unless we get an unexpected windfall
We were aiming to go around then but it’s probably autumn now unless we get an unexpected windfall
