Japan

[sirensfall]

Depending on a number of factors, I'd like to go to Japan in May or June of this year. For about three weeks. Most likely going the youth hostel route. I want to go all over Japan, not just to Tokyo. Despite the fact that I am about to turn 22, that I am a legal adult and will be paying for this out of my own money, my mother wants me to bring

Comments

[withinity]

Avoid coming during Golden Week because that's when everyone in Japan travels and everything would be more expensive.

Definitely get a rail pass before you come, they are invaluable. But remember that Osaka and other cities do not all use JR and paying for the subway can eat up quite a lot of money. (¥200+ for every short trip.)

If you want to see Japan, see it - don't spend two weeks in Tokyo and give yourself a week for the rest of the country. I am sick to death of people doing that!

Kyoto is a modern city with multi-lane highways and pollution. It has some beautiful sights but they take some traveling to get to; Kyoto is not a daytrip. Nearby Nara is more traditional and has some of the most beautiful temples. And deer.

Bring money. Everyone who comes here laments not bringing enough money.

Koyasan is lovely

[winged_wolfpup]

Having lived in both the Kansai area and the Kanto area, I have to say that for sightseeing Kansai is the way to go. Of course, a trip to Tokyo is also necessary for at least part of your trip, but I agree that more than a week would probably be too much. Of course, *I* live in Tokyo now so it is growing on me

[team_jessie]

Actually, Dan and I have been talking about going to Japan for about 9-14 days in June for our first wedding anniversary. We're staying in a hotel though. The problems with youth hostels are numerous, not the least of which being the fact that everything you bring with you needs to be carried with you at all times. There are no closets there and certainly no safes. That means that everything you're bringing with you... every outfit, every pair of shoes, every toiletry and every souvenir either has to be on your back or crammed into a small locker

[sirensfall]

Thanks for the advice..While i haven't stayed in any hostels in other countries, I stayed in one in NYC this summer for a few days. . . It was actually a four person room, but many of the hostels I have looked at in Japan have two person and four person rooms. Thank you for the advice though, I will look into those!

Guess who

[anonymous]

If you go next year, don't bother with Suzuka, it's been taken off the F1 calendar in place of Fuji Speedway. I imagine the backdrop is pretty breathtaking in Shizuoka Prefecture, but there's no Honda Museum or Suzukaland theme park.

Also, when booking a ticket for a friend's wedding in Arizona, make damn sure you know whether you'll need a hotel and rental car. If you book them and then find you won't need them, you'll be S-C-R-E-W-E-D if you book with Travelocity.

[alate]

My roommate is talking about going there to teach, also. I told her I had a friend who wanted someone to go with at what is the end of our school year. Maybe you could be traveling buddies.