suggestions for a 4th trip to Japan?
#16
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,634
The showroom at Nissan HQ never struck me as all that fancy, although it always has a dozen or so cars on display... The Ginza gallery on Harumi (as mentioned by IMOA) is more "fancy", but smaller: http://www.nissan.co.jp/GALLERY/GINZA/access.html
#17
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Riding the rails
Programs: Japan Forum, Skyteam Elite Plus, BW Diamond Select, HHonors Gold, NWA, DL, NH
Posts: 1,936
If you are also into anime and manga, then Nakano Broadway (Nakano Station, in Tokyo is a must visit).
Since you're not an outdoorsy person, then Mount Takao or Mitake might not be to your taste, though it is different from Central Tokyo, while still being Tokyo.
Since you're not an outdoorsy person, then Mount Takao or Mitake might not be to your taste, though it is different from Central Tokyo, while still being Tokyo.
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 165
BTW, the Tokyo Tourist Office on the basement floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku offers FREE walking tours of many parts of Tokyo, including some not often visited by noisy tourists. They provide them for groups of up to 5, and in English, German, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Italian and even French. I have gone on 2 and the guides were fluent in English, gracious and extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend these tours.
If Japan is getting old (and it can, quickly, I know), how about Pusan and the rural parts of southern South Korea?
If Japan is getting old (and it can, quickly, I know), how about Pusan and the rural parts of southern South Korea?
Nonono, Japan isn't getting old. It's just that I feel I've been to a large % of the tourist attractions there already. It looks like I'm just going to have 3 full days at TMS, 1 leftover for other sightseeing then I'm going to go to South Korea, including a day trip to the DMZ.
Thanks but I'm not into anime or manga.
#19
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
cwerdna, I'm getting the feeling you haven't really been anywhere "off the beaten track" in Japan? No obscure hot springs in the middle of the mountains or overnight stays at temples? There's more to the country than big cities and temples inundated with tour groups...
#20
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: Tokyo Monorail Diamond-Encrusted-Platinum
Posts: 9,634
I guess, basically, my negative attitude throughout this thread is because I have the impression that if someone has been to Japan three times and thinks she's seen most of what there is to see ... then there's a fair chance that she's seen most of what she'd be interested to see.
I think that most people who "dig" Japan, tend to have a better idea of what they could do on their next visit (e.g. " ...on this trip I'd like to explore the mountains/theater/music/pottery/textiles/history/food in greater depth" or "I've got a plan to tour Tohoku. What are the best onsen up there?"). The corollary to that is that if someone with experience of Japan is struggling to think of ways to kill a few days in the country ... it's time to go somewhere else.
FMNSHO
(Forgive my not-so-humble opinion)
#21
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 87
And Tohoku seems so over!
I love Shirakami Sanchi for its stunning natural scenery but so many of the towns in Tokohu have renovated themselves and feature hideous mini mall architecture and there is minimal Japanese essence to them; and many of the seacoast towns on the Japan Sea side have few if any traditional Japanese districts left - due to storms and rebuilding.
It is hard if not impossible to 'find' any quaint, untouched, traditional towns and villages anymore in Japan - the Japanese have destroyed most of them in the name of convenience and modernization (Nakai, Hida Takayama, Shirakawa-go and a few others wear their 'history ' on their sleeves but are still very touristy and full of non Japanese milling around, always a visual problem), and I suggest people still pursuing that lost dream go on to places like China, rural Korea (very underrated) and rural Taiwan.
The 'real' Japan is, like it or not, places like Daikanyama.
I love Shirakami Sanchi for its stunning natural scenery but so many of the towns in Tokohu have renovated themselves and feature hideous mini mall architecture and there is minimal Japanese essence to them; and many of the seacoast towns on the Japan Sea side have few if any traditional Japanese districts left - due to storms and rebuilding.
It is hard if not impossible to 'find' any quaint, untouched, traditional towns and villages anymore in Japan - the Japanese have destroyed most of them in the name of convenience and modernization (Nakai, Hida Takayama, Shirakawa-go and a few others wear their 'history ' on their sleeves but are still very touristy and full of non Japanese milling around, always a visual problem), and I suggest people still pursuing that lost dream go on to places like China, rural Korea (very underrated) and rural Taiwan.
The 'real' Japan is, like it or not, places like Daikanyama.
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 165
thanks guys! some of you have hit inthe nail on the head
Fine, not much in the way of cars and technology out on Okinawa, but plenty of the OP's 3rd interest, "Japanese culture". I'd also associate "outdoorsy" Japan with climbing mountains and bathing in waterfalls, while Okinawa's more along the lines of walking on the beach, listening to sanshin and quaffing awamori.
cwerdna, I'm getting the feeling you haven't really been anywhere "off the beaten track" in Japan? No obscure hot springs in the middle of the mountains or overnight stays at temples? There's more to the country than big cities and temples inundated with tour groups...
cwerdna, I'm getting the feeling you haven't really been anywhere "off the beaten track" in Japan? No obscure hot springs in the middle of the mountains or overnight stays at temples? There's more to the country than big cities and temples inundated with tour groups...
I definitely haven't been to "obscure" hot springs. I've seen the steam coming out of the ground while doing the Hakone loop and have been to Yellowstone Park in the US. Hmmm, I don't think an overnight stay at a temple would be my thing.
Okinawa wouldn't be very close to the top of my list of places to visit for "Japanese culture" , although I suppose there's Japanese culture wherever there are Japanese people. But that's beside the point...
I guess, basically, my negative attitude throughout this thread is because I have the impression that if someone has been to Japan three times and thinks she's seen most of what there is to see ... then there's a fair chance that she's seen most of what she'd be interested to see.
I think that most people who "dig" Japan, tend to have a better idea of what they could do on their next visit (e.g. " ...on this trip I'd like to explore the mountains/theater/music/pottery/textiles/history/food in greater depth" or "I've got a plan to tour Tohoku. What are the best onsen up there?"). The corollary to that is that if someone with experience of Japan is struggling to think of ways to kill a few days in the country ... it's time to go somewhere else.
FMNSHO
(Forgive my not-so-humble opinion)
I guess, basically, my negative attitude throughout this thread is because I have the impression that if someone has been to Japan three times and thinks she's seen most of what there is to see ... then there's a fair chance that she's seen most of what she'd be interested to see.
I think that most people who "dig" Japan, tend to have a better idea of what they could do on their next visit (e.g. " ...on this trip I'd like to explore the mountains/theater/music/pottery/textiles/history/food in greater depth" or "I've got a plan to tour Tohoku. What are the best onsen up there?"). The corollary to that is that if someone with experience of Japan is struggling to think of ways to kill a few days in the country ... it's time to go somewhere else.
FMNSHO
(Forgive my not-so-humble opinion)
Anyhow, thanks for all the suggestions. The points are all mostly moot now as I've decided to have 4 full days in Japan and 3 full days in Korea (first time to Korea for me, too bad Seoul Motor Show was 1/2 year ago). I bought airplane tix the night before. This trip was almost spur of the moment so I was trying to decide on whether to go to Japan at all, for how long and where else I should go if I were to make the trip.
At least, I'll have some more info for the 5th visit to Japan.
#25
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 698
Don't know if the OP is still following this, but I'd enthusiastically recommend a trip to Takayama. The train trip there goes through wonderful Japanese Alps scenery, and the town is unspoiled and traditional, has a number of attractions like a folk museum, traditional houses that you can visit, etc., and there are other traditional villages in the area.
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 165
Don't know if the OP is still following this, but I'd enthusiastically recommend a trip to Takayama. The train trip there goes through wonderful Japanese Alps scenery, and the town is unspoiled and traditional, has a number of attractions like a folk museum, traditional houses that you can visit, etc., and there are other traditional villages in the area.
I was feeling out canceling my trip but having to forfeit $250 as a penalty is not appealing so the trip's still on.
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 165
The showroom at Nissan HQ never struck me as all that fancy, although it always has a dozen or so cars on display... The Ginza gallery on Harumi (as mentioned by IMOA) is more "fancy", but smaller: http://www.nissan.co.jp/GALLERY/GINZA/access.html