Me and my husbard want to go to Japan on a holiday soon. Just wondering if anyone has been to Japan and what they saw? How did you like it? What did you see? What would you recommend seeing or doing? We are a young couple so we don't really like long tours where you just go from town to town and see all the sights while following a tour guide with an multicoloured unbrella. How easy is it to travel with out a tour? We would go on one though if it was younger and not to restrictive.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
2006-08-09 00:15:53 · 6 answers · asked by Constant_Traveler 5 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
I am Canadian but we live in Denmark so we would be leaving out of Copenhagen.
2006-08-09 00:26:55 · update #1
I actually live there. I think it would be a better idea for you two to go on your own. Most foreign guides, no matter how good they are, have pretty muddled up information on Japan. Here are a few places you should definately visit:
-Tokyo, well duh. Not many particular places to see or anything, but seeing that you're young, you'd love going to Harajuku or Shibuya. To get around in Tokyo, the metro would be the best system to use (if you know a solid amount of Japanese). Taking a taxi for english only's might be a better idea, but have the location's address and etc.
-Hiroshima. It's an odd feeling to visit a city your country nuked about 61 years ago. There's a lot of history in this city, and the peace park is absolutely beautiful. Treat yourself to a nice Okonomiyaki too (a pancake like food).
-Kyoto, not to be confused with Tokyo. Kyoto, as the original capital of Japan, is rich in culture and history. If you don't like those kind of experiences, it could be a bugger of a place to visit in the summer.
Hmm, those three cities would be a good starter. Be sure to visit Hokkaido as well if you have the time though (the notrther Island).
Most Japanese people have a LIMITED english vocabulary, so study our language too. Curiously enough, most people in every country except for the USA know basics of a foreign language... Interesting, ehh?
Good luck on your trip!
2006-08-09 00:26:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
HI I went with my then fiance to Tokyo 2yrs ago & stayed with her uncle. We saw Mount fuji, Kyoto, Mei jing shrine, fish markets, rappongi & the bullet train. My recommendation is to get an AA city guide which tells you the main sites & where they are. Tokyo is gr8 to move around - noone really speak english but if you can read a map u should b ok....its a really safe place! We got lost on the first day but still sussed the metro and got back home! In Kyoto we went on a 'flag tour' and although not exactly relaxing was very interesting and saw many of the sites. The coach tour (which I would normally never do) was good and what we saw in one day would take you a week to do the same and probably u would get the same out of it. If you really like a place then you can always go back in your own time.... Most of the people on tour were around our age 30's or older but many different nationalities so fun. Have fun!! & soak up the culture
2006-08-09 00:25:45 · answer #2 · answered by bigbrother 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've travelled quite a bit around the world, though I've never been to Japan.
Tours are nice and organized, but very expensive. Everything is paid for up front, which can be quite a bit of cash outlay.
You can go to Japan and see the sites at your own leisure if you go by yoursel, and you can even take a day tour if there's an interesting spot that you'd like to have more info on than you could get by going alone. Plus you'll have more money for cool stuff to bring back to the states -- like a key chain for my collection :-)
Have fun!
2006-08-09 00:22:35 · answer #3 · answered by Rebecca 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess either way is ok.
However, I have seen some tourists are standing in front of the restaurant often.
Because they can not read Japanese menu and don't get what kind of restaurant is it.
If you wanna enjoy and don't want to miss Japanese meal, find tour or travel agency which know Japan very much.
(I wonder Denmark agencies hold various tours for Japan)
And from Europe, you will feel jet lags.
If the tour has any bus for transportation, you can sleep in it.
2006-08-09 03:50:53 · answer #4 · answered by Joriental 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By tour cost a lot of money, but its much arrangable. Go by yourself, you can badgeted the cost but you have to lookout by yourself.
2006-08-09 14:48:05 · answer #5 · answered by sangbayan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go alone, it is much more fun
2006-08-09 05:43:48 · answer #6 · answered by Japan_is_home 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋