I'm going to be in Tokyo this January and need some ideas of places to see/things to do. Since it's winter, the gardens are probably not the best thing to see. Any suggestions?
2006-11-20 07:02:20 · 5 answers · asked by ? 3 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
If you're interested in visiting Japanese gardens, why do you think Winter makes any difference?
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/12d1eb/
Most Japanese gardens make little (or NO) use of flowers - and many trees have interestingly coloured leaves that slowly fall throughout Winter. A layer of snow or frost can be a great boost for photos too!
However, if you like flowers, the rare Winter peony has it's own show - see the top article on this page (which also has other things you might find useful..!)
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/webmaga/2004winter/asobu/index.html
Of course, there are always the shrines and temples - but you'll still need to wrap up warm for that (they're not famous for their central heating..!!)
The Winter lights will still be on too - you can call them Christmas lights if you like, but they're really Winter lights. Someone asked a question about those recently, I'll see if I can find the link for you...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkM8jt.muFzFz6haBGQg2B_zy6IX?qid=20061109202715AA8pDjx
Not many answers, but most busy tourist areas (except the shrines and temples) will have lights throughout the Winter, so you'll probably find a few more while you're out shopping etc.!
2006-11-20 12:22:57 · answer #1 · answered by _ 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I lived in Japan for many years and I think winter is a great time to visit (better than summer which is too hot and humid) - it will be cold but winters are usually quite dry so you may find you have lots of those lovely crisp sunny winter days.
Visit Kyoto and Nara, all of the temples and shrines look beautiful against the blue winter skies (and even better is there is a thin layer of snow) and there are far fewer tourists in winter. You may also find some of the shrines have winter festivals (we saw a great fertility festival at one shrine) (or of you are in the Tokyo area try Nikko). Japanese coming of age day is in January (15th) when all of the girls who have reached 20 dress up in their best kimono and visit their local shrine so you may get some great photo opportunities there. It is also great to visit an onsen (spa resort) in winter. Many have outdoor baths which are wonderful to sit in when it is cold all around. The really traditional one to visit is Dogo onsen in Hikoku (made famous in traditional Japanese stories).
2006-11-20 20:38:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine/Park, shopping. It'll be cold but since you are in Tokyo, you should at least try to see some of these places.
http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/
2006-11-20 11:45:34 · answer #3 · answered by Adam 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Go check out the scene in the different parts of Tokyo-Akihabara for electronics and otaku culture, Harajuku for cosu-play, Shibuya for the shopping, Asakusa for the shrine, etc. Yokohama is good fun too, the ferris wheel, Chinatown, Rainbow bridge, etc.
2006-11-20 18:22:05 · answer #4 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is COLD, COLD, COLD in Tokyo in January! Why are you coming then?! The weather is just miserable - cold, rainy, wet, grey.
Whoever said the weather was crisp and dry in Tokyo in January, has never lived here! In November & December that is sometimes true, but by January it is grey & rainy and sometimes snow, ice and blowing cold wind. Not to mention the city is literally a concrete jungle with no green, no parks and perhaps the worst city planning of any major city in the world. Enjoy!
2006-11-20 08:47:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋