Has anyone traveled to/vacationed in Japan?

[mom2grace]

I am obsessed with going to Japan!

Has anyone been to Japan? Tips, advice, etc?

 

[mom2grace]

Anyone?

 

[Kath816]

My son, who teaches English in China, just spent the last three weeks there and loved it. I do not know the details of the trip, other than he was in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and I believe one other town. He is on his way back to his school in China now. He did say he didn't want to leave and the people were very nice to him, as part of the time he travelled alone.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I spent time in Tokyo and Kyoto......not my favorite trip. My tip would be to not miss the Golden Pavillion in Kyoto. And if you are going to ride any form of public transportation, sharpen your elbows and throw everything you have learned about good manners out the window.

 

[Barbossa]

Japan is a fascinating place to visit. It's extremely expensive, though. I spent about 5 weeks there on business. It was a great experience, but I'm sure glad my company picked up the tab!

 

[Wishing on a star]

...And if you are going to ride any form of public transportation, sharpen your elbows and throw everything you have learned about good manners out the window.

The couple of people that I know who have traveled to Japan seem to have come back with a bad aftertaste...

They agree with the above poster... the wall-to-wall jam packed public transit system is used as a place/opportunity to, shall we say, accomplish unwanted intimate contact with the unsuspecting person jammed up next to you...

(I have heard this from two or three separate sources)

 

[Katy Belle]

We went to Japan for Spring Break last year. DH, me, and sons ages 13,11,9. Fantastic!!! We traveled by train and subway all the time and had no trouble. We did tend to not be on during rush hours, but it wasn't ever that crowded. We saw the "Honorable Pushers" but it was never crowded enough for them to have to push anyone in.

Have you vacationed in other countries? I would say Japan would be really hard as a first overseas visit. The language is a problem and the culture shock is pretty major We've traveled to many places and we were overwhelmed at first. The first evening was the most challenging, partly because we were exhausted. We took the train from the airport to a station near our hotel. We tried to get a taxi to the hotel, but never could communicate well enough so we walked. It wasn't bad, about 10 minutes, with luggage. Then we were going to eat dinner in the hotel and it was CRAZY expensive, so we headed out the door in search of a restaurant. Oh, this was in Osaka, by the way. Anyway, there were lots and lots of restaurants, but we were too intimidated to go in! So many were tiny, our family of 5 wouldn't fit. Lots had the plastic food models outside, but no English menus. We finally went to an Outback Steakhouse! Felt like a total cop out, but necessary at the time. The next day we successfully mastered the Japanese Restaurants.

Oh, ATMs are tricky. Most are not compatible with cards from the USA. The ATMs in the post office ARE! So plan accordingly! Even at DisneyLand Japan we couldn't get the ATM to work!

We loved it Feel free to ask any specific questions!
Katy

 

[nrsldy]

I have been to JApan twice. We have traveled in Japan without any problems. I could always find someone that spoke English. I love traveling by train and subway there. I am planning on going back in 2 years. Loved the gardens. Traveled to Kyoto and stayed in a traditional Japanese Inn. It was wonderful. So much history and beauty. It is expensive.