Which areas/cities/towns should i visit while in Japan? Also, what's the best way to travel around japan? by train or by plane? We're planning to go around March next year for 10 days so that we may catch the Cherry Blossoms blooming. When's the best time to go? Thanks for any advice!!
2007-03-19 16:01:49 · 6 answers · asked by sirch 3 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
oh! and does anyone know which city sells good quality handmade pots and plates?
2007-03-19 19:13:37 · update #1
This depends very much on what you want to do and where you want to go. If you are going to be in southern Japan Nara and Kyoto are really great. They both have temples and shrines on nearly every corner. The atomic bomb museum in Hiroshima is interesting too.
You could spend a month in Tokyo. Harjuku is a great if you're interested in the Japanese youth counter culure. Ropongi and Shinjuku have great night spots (although Ropongi can be a little seedy after dark). The Tokyo Museum is interesting and there is great shopping in Shibuya, Akihabara, and Ginza. You could also go see an act of a Noh or Kabuki play (most people can't tolerate more than one act and a whole play is REALLY expensive, but just seeing one act is reasonable).
Other interesting places in Japan would be Nagano for skiing or Yamagata prefecture for hotspring spas (they're WONDERFUL and the public one's are crazy cheap). The nicest one in Yamagata I think is Ginzan Onsen. It's a very small, quaint resort town in the mountains near an old silver mine (which you can tour) and one of the owners of the Japanese Inns in town is an American married to a Japanese man. I also recommend Yamadera. It's an 800 year old temple complex built on a mountain top. It's not very far from Ginzan and is really beautiful.
As for travel in the big citries (and honestly between the major cities) the train might be better. If you are going farther away from Tokyo/Kyoto area however a plane is usually better but you should compare the rates and see. JR, Japan Rail, might have an english web site up so you should google it to see. The major airlines in japan are JAL and ANA. They have english sites as well I think.
Anyway, where ever you go you will have a great time. Japan is a great country and the people are really nice.
2007-03-19 18:40:10 · answer #1 · answered by David M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best way to travel in Japan is by train. There is a Japan Rail Pass that can buy before you enter Japan as a tourist. Go to this website for more details. The cities I have found the best are Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Hiroshima. Each city offers you something different. The Cherry Blossom season or (Sakura in Japanese) is different each year. Their are forcasts you can find on the web but it can range from the end of March to beginning of April. This year they are coming early.
2007-03-19 18:04:09 · answer #2 · answered by C-Ray 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just got back from a trip to Japan. We travelled with train, and I can highly recommend it. It's fast, reliable and relatively cheap with a Japan Rail Pass.
End of March is the best time to go, if you want to see Cherry Blossoms.
2007-03-20 03:59:43 · answer #3 · answered by Kari L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends on what you are coming to Japan to see. If you are coming to Japan to see the culture and tradition, I totally recommend Kyoto, and Nara. They are probably the most culturally rich cities in Japan. They show the true heart of Japan, and their collection of temples and shrines is unparalleled anywhere in Japan. Other places in Japan have temples and shrines, but if you are into that part of the culture, Kyoto and Nara are the place to be.
If you wish to see the developed socity of Japan, I highly recommend Tokyo and/or Osaka. They are a true mix of traditional and modern. They show the beauty of traditional architecture and strength of the modern mode of thought. The colorful display the youth show in their fashion sense and street entertainment is something to see. The nightlife of these cities is also something to experience first hand. You can dance and sing all night IN ENGLISH!
If you want to see a nice cross-section of traditional, modern, and classic Japan, without the crowded congestion of the huge metropolises I wholly recommend the city of Fukuoka. Its quaint temples, its large shopping centers, its friendly citizenship are things that Japan can boast as being the purest and the best. It is also only a few hours away from Osaka via the bullet train if you decide you wish to see some of the bigger areas of Japan.
If you would like to rough it and see the natural beauty of Japan, I would recommend a jaunt up to the northern areas of Japan. Their mountain vistas are second to none. And the people are so friendly.
As to mode of travel, I recommend their train system. You can get to virtually anywhere in Japan via train, and the places that are not accessible by train, they are only a short bus ride away from the train station. If you get the rail pass that should be sold in your home country, you can save tons of money on transportation.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Japan!
2007-03-19 18:49:29 · answer #4 · answered by Looking for the truth... 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If is to one city to another, "shinkansen" (bullet train) is most ideal. Tokyo, Osaka is a must. march is probably the most ideal time to go and see the cheery blossom blooming (some bloom late ans some early). you can find it easily, its everywhere
2007-03-19 16:17:13 · answer #5 · answered by anderson 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html
2007-03-19 16:09:59 · answer #6 · answered by Al 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋