Originally Posted by
RichardInSF
What is lacking in Japan is a good tourist infrastructure. Don't expect to have everything organized for you and don't expect group tours to be a good way to go. There are few destinations in the world which reward advance planning as much as Japan. So before you go, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
This is a really good point, and can't be emphasized enough. I travel a lot, and am a very comfortable traveler. I have to do a lot more prep work for Japan than elsewhere. I can't go out for the day and plan things on the fly. For example, taxis are quite expensive, while public transport is good value. I need to have planned how to get to where I am going, and then to the next point, and then to the next point. I'll often have the hotel concierge write things out in characters and English, so that I've got something to show other people to ask if need be.
I've been to Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Tokyo in the past year. I've done my research in advance, and gone knowing what I hope to see. This has paid off richly.
Originally Posted by
RichardInSF
The Osaka Hyatt seems to be in a poor location for tourism, but why would you stay in Osaka when Kyoto is an option?
For 1/2 a FFN credit at a cheap rate, of course!
It worked well for that, with a limo bus straight from Kansai, free transport from the Osaka Hyatt to the train station, and then a quick train the next day to Kyoto. (The hotel is very convenient to Universal Studios Japan iirc, though I doubt most Americans go to Osaka for that.)