Travel in Japan

I was in Japan for 10 days in 2008. We stayed at a college in Nishiyomia (between Kobe and Osaka). I had a lot of time to visit Osaka and went to the Osaka Museum and Osaka Castle, as well as visiting Dotonbori (a famous shopping district in Osaka). I also went to Kyoto (another excellent destination if you want to see a lot of really old culture and shrines). Check out Nijo Castle and gardens, The Golden Pavilion and probably thousands of other shines, there's also Geisha Town and some great shopping and eating.

In Hiroshima and Miyajima Island (part of Hiroshima I believe) I would tell anyone interested in history to go and see the Peace Memorial Gardens and museum, the Atomic Bomb Dome etc. Miyajima is where the famous Torii is in the water. We also went to Himaji and visited the castle and gardens there, but didn't see much of the town except on the strip from the bullet train station to the castle.

I also took a bus to Tokushima Island to vistit Naruto City and see the Onaruto Bridge and the whirlpools there.

Pretty much anywhere in Japan is going to be awesome, but it is quite costly. We never got to go to Tokyo because of time constraints, plus the bullet train ride to Tokyo from Kobe would have cost $300 US dollars.

That said, I would probably tell you that if you want to go one place and stay there, then go to Tokyo and spend your time exploring the city. Traveling around is difficult without a guide or someone to let you know what to do and where to go in advance. The Japanese are very friendly and helpful to travelers, but the language barrier makes being lost very difficult, and maps? HA! All I can say about that is, "directions" do not work the same there as they do in America and finding a place by an address is um...I never could do it, and neither could my Japanese host on at least one occasion.

well, I guess I'm not very useful, but those are some suggestions of places you could visit at least. I hope your trip is a fun one!

i recomend kyoto for giesha and there is a small town nearby ( i forget the name, gomen) which is like samurai town. the entire place looks like something from the warring periods, complete with guys walking around as samurai. i think there's a ninja theme park, too >_>;

if you wanna go to tokyo, everyone knows akibahara is geek central; the train stop labeled tokyo has got the imperial palace, among other sights. Roppongi has a lot of clubs and nightlife, massage parlors (some happy ending, some not, pay attention to prices. if it is really high, its happy ending.), and its the closest exit to Tokyo tower, tho its still a bit of a walk. shinjuku and shibuya are also kinda famous, for the bussiest foot traffic in a road in the world, and the skyscrapper district.

not to far down the lines from tokyo is yokohama, a city with lots of malls, and the "sky garden", the veiwing deck on the tallest building in japan. on a clear day, you get a great view of mount fuji. it is beileved that if you dont climb mount fuji while you are here, you will come back. a bit further is kamakura, with lots of famous temples and shrines, including the giant buddha, and after kamakura is yokosuka, where i am :) not much here compared to all the cities, but there is a lot more american stuff, and the two things near every base: bars and... okay, there are no strip clubs (that i know of) but lots of happy ending message parlors. oh, and shore patrol might think you are a sailor (if you're american, or american looking), and try to stop you from drinking after 11.

the subways are very easy to navigate, and if you have trouble, most people speak some kind of english. if you can pronounce where you are going, they will help. hell, if you so much as look confused, they might try and help, with or without you asking. there are also guys threwout the train stations at desks that can help you (they usaully even have little pocket maps of the train systems you can use). there are two major train companies ( i dont know thier names, its like jp and kiekyu, or something like that. theres almost always a store near the train stations, when you first get to the station, you would wanna go to the store, and ask the cashier for a "suica (su-ee-ka) card". there is another card for the otehr company, i dont know what its called, but they are interchangable. both railways accept the other's card. it will cost a little more than 2000 yen (like $20 give or take), and you can use it to get into/out of train stations. i recommend putting another 2000 or so yen on the card at the things that look like atms near the train station entrance. depending on which station it is, there will either be a red button to ask for help, or a little thing on the bottom left you can push aside, with a push-for-help button under it. if it is this kind, i warn you now, a guys head WILL pop out of the wall right next to you. dont push it just to see it. theres also a push for english button, but i couldnt tell you where it is offhand. i beleive its on the upper left side. when you get to the the turnstiles, there is a a little square display with a picture of a suica card on it, you tap the card on this, and it will read the card and let you in. you exit the next station the same way. two last things, around seven-ish is rush hour on the trains. you will be packed in like a sardine, with guys wearing white gloves pushing everyone in. i'd avoid it, especially if you are a woman, and most definiatly if you are a blonde woman. the other thing is be aware of your surroundings. most japanese are extreamly polite, and try to act as the best hosts as they can (even if they must go way out of their way to help you, i've heard of them even going to a train station with you to make sure you get on the right connection) but there are always bad apples. im sure everyone knows of the groppers on the train; there are also hi-tech theives that can steal money off your suica card by waving a reader near your wallet (this nearly happened to me in shibuya)

It's true, many people do speak English well enough to communicate and help, and most will go to extreme lengths if they feel you need it. Also, the service industry has been perfected for ease of use without much communication needed.

And I have to add that I laughed really hard about the head popping out in the previous post...that didn't happen to me, but it isn't something that I would never expect. :XD Always beware of pushing buttons. You may set off an alarm. Or a head may pop out... :)

it happened to my gf at the time. i heard about it before then, so i knew it was coming and she didnt. i wish you couldve seen her face. i litterly was on the ground rolling

I previously lived in Tokyo for years.. It was great..
I was lost in Ginza once and walked up to a lady and gave her my phone..
and my friend told her where I was trying to go, the lady walked me the whole way there... Another time I left my laptop in a cab... he brought it back later on...

I was amazed, then I tried to get on a train at Shinjuku station at 9 AM....
OUCH!

My friend and I went to a restaurant one night without realizing it was very close to closing time and by the time we were done eating it was way past time to close, so we felt bad and decided to leave a tip...bad idea. The woman chased us down the street to give it back to us.

Traveling in Japan tip? Easy. Never leave a tip. ;)

Conversely, while at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago we were in line next to a Japanese couple and their tour guide and she was having a lengthy discussion with them about who they had to tip and who they didn't, and I thought, wow, it must be a nightmare coming here from there. Not only do most Americans not know any kind of Japanese, or could even recognize the language spoken as Japanese in the first place, but our customs must seem outrageously convoluted.

oh yea, forgot to mention that. its actually insulting them if you leave a tip (sorry, dont mean to make you feel bad). the way they see it, if you give them a tip, it's because you think they are about to fired. it always makes me uneasy about given the japanese cab drivers on base a tip. they have signs saying that tips are appriciated, but still...

i am sorry for not answer or response ...

i decide to post my travel in japan at summer due to lack of money and personal reason

sorry for try help me ... but thank you for help ...

English Translation by Subito
http://mangahelpers.com/forum/showth...83#post1897483

英語が苦手なので日本語で書くよ。
（誰か訳してくれると嬉しいです。→　Subitoさん、ありがとうございます）



質問した人には、もう必要ないみたいだけど、他の旅行者に役立つかもしれないから、書き込んでおくよ。

もっと細かいアドバイスが欲しい人は、滞在期間と日本で使える予算ははっきりさせて、質問した方がいいんじゃないかな。

秋葉原
（Akihabara）
マンガ、アニメ、ゲーム、コスプレ、メイド喫茶、フィギュアが全部好きで、それらの店をしっかり見て回りたいなら、秋葉原だけで、一週間ぐらい必要だと思う。
おすすめの店は、まんだらけ。
でも、時間の許す限り、できるだけ多くの店に行くべき。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_yMkBttqo0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha5lzDm9evc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMUfRw1W_74
http://www.mandarake.co.jp/shop/index_cmp.html

池袋（Ikebukuro）
乙女ロードは腐女子向け。
乙女ロード以外には、ジュンク堂書店、サンシャイン60くらいしか思いつかない。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r74i5Wy9vbw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEvCAq3dxjU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X4SJvv5KoA

渋谷（Shibuya）
渋谷センター街でストリートファッションを見たりできるが、オタクにとって楽しい街かは疑問。
オタク向けには、まんだらけ渋谷店がある。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtOdSgf6Ic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC1ThHxHocA
http://www.mandarake.co.jp/shop/index_sby.html

原宿（Harajyuku）
週末の晴れた日には、原宿のストリートファッションを見に行ってもいいだろう。
その後で代々木公園に行くのもいい。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATXxuEqr5p8

皇居（the Imperial Palace）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_KUIhm8Pwg

浅草（Asakusa）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taBxjvtpCAg

江戸東京博物館（Edo Tokyo Museum）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57nHrOqL36w

築地には行くな！（Don't go to Tsukiji）
マグロの競り市が外国人観光客に人気だが、見学中止になることが多い。
マナーが悪い人がいるせいで、市場関係者は困っている。
結局、見学者全員を追い出すしかないようだ。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N7biyHCY0Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzBwtylHiqo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flkGDrAeDqs

山谷（Sanya）
安い宿屋がある街。秋葉原から近い。英語ができればok。部屋は狭いぜ！
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8_VXlWCNhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbBGeaUfXfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNWt4nx3Vk8
http://www.newkoyo.jp/index.html

大阪（Osaka）
春日歩の出身地。日本で2番目の大都市。お笑いの本場。食い物が美味い。
大阪日本橋にはオタロードがある。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69A3aL3Yrs0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud2M_iMifFo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdZpBaGH9zc
http://www.chuogroup.jp/kita/index2.htm

京都（Kyoto）
神社や寺がいっぱいある。有名なのは清水寺、金閣寺、銀閣寺。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5njZhbhL9s

奈良（Nara）
奈良といえば、鹿と大仏くらいしか思いつかない。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV3d3qUUk7o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIb8f53230E

ブックオフ（Book off）
古本屋チェーン店。日本中にある。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzFRgkTL2wQ

サンリオピューロランド（Sanrio Puroland）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-s2LryyC0Q
http://www.puroland.co.jp/english/welcome.html

ポケモンセンタートーキョウ（Pokemon Center Tokyo）
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/que...y.html?0+37042
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ThqWRht6lE

三鷹ジブリの森美術館（GHIBLI museum,Mitaka）
http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/

新幹線（Shinkansen,Japanese bullet train）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn5wjOvZiVo

Comiket
年に２回ある祭り。
コミックマーケット７８は、東京ビッグサイトにて2010年8月13日(金)～15日(日)に開催の予定です。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AtKqEZ8Kdk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNdQMoRxfeg

漫画喫茶（Internet Cafe）
漫画が15,000冊～60,000冊ある。普通の店は20,000冊くらい。
分煙がいい加減な店が多く、タバコを吸わない人には厳しい。
パック料金をうまく使えば、宿屋に泊まるより安いこともある。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScOfA_y_Hmc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPaXNG-dbzU

聖地巡礼
アニメや漫画の舞台に行く遊び。
短期滞在者には無理だと思う。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bzaR3HZ0Qc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g5mTllPpvE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeRFhE2Rj1U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfmDm_MKGv0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab_LMMRHw8M

日本のトイレ（Washlet）
日本では当たり前なんだ。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJazvumHNyk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM4nP7khZ5k

スーパーマーケット（Japanese Supermarket）
MyNutsがある店はここだけだと思って欲しい。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHzyLrtvBY

100円ショップ（100 Yen Shop,$1 shop）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEb0b1GEaE8

コンビニ（convenience store）
基本的に24時間営業。お菓子を買ったり、弁当を買ったり、漫画雑誌を立ち読みしたりする。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J2ZTdMRfRM

容器（containers）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlwoCWIeYtU

弁当（Bento）
日本では当たり前。
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qkSh5ylLDQ

明治きのこの山（Meiji-Kinoko-Chocolate-Mushroom-Cookies）
食ってみろ。
http://www.amazon.com/Meiji-Kinoko-C...dp/B000W4OQRW/

メロンパン（Melon Bread）
日本以外には無いって本当？
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTXZqPHDfmk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHrfjbQujto

吉野家（Yoshinoya）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39MILG4txBk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOCxF1_DpTc

キューピーマヨネーズ（Kewpie Mayonnaise）
http://www.amazon.com/Uwajimaya-Kewp...dp/B00023T3IA/

日本のストレートパーマ（Japanese Straight perms）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nHvvtT37FY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4HXWK2ceGE
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/que...y.html?0+16576

What Not To Do In Tokyo: The Top Five Tourist Mistakes
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/...urist+Mistakes


（追記）
http://wikitravel.org/en/Japan
http://wikitravel.org/ja/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC

What's Your Favorite Japanese Food?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kmrf2ED_N8

Otaku from USA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIbPgEyOGs4

Lucky Star otaku in Japan... NO MAID NO LIFE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEkvxaD8MYk

痛車（Itasha: Cars for Anime-fans）
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4peiI4TIqWQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RRX4VCY1sE

For people who been to Japan, what misconceptions did you have about Japan that you were surprised were untrue when you actually visited?
http://www.reddit.com/r/japan/commen...isconceptions/

Japanese eye-drop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya-FfsooBkU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay77EIqi2hc

Japanese Curry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6WZ6W73FoA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pns-_DS724Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSTK1IILYEg

Japanese Noodle(ramen,soba,udon,soumen,hiyamugi)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIQ5ODLSGns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8DQhyncWnE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYQnCdrSTSI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3dRosLUi9c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k35vJ4gltU8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0Cd7IvEHKQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykyXbAj1quk

TRIP in JAPAN 2009 TOKYO AKIHABARA INSIDE VIEW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4XsRKaaLgY

Culture:Japan Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZtvYEgyXTg

Tips about travel to Japan?
http://ask.metafilter.com/15128/Tips...ravel-to-Japan

この投稿にコピーする価値があるか分からないが、一応コピーレフト（Copyleft）を宣言しておく。

日本語を勉強する方法(Japanese thread 日本語)
http://mangahelpers.com/forum/showth...68#post1897668

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabb

Spoiler show

i recomend kyoto for giesha and there is a small town nearby ( i forget the name, gomen) which is like samurai town. the entire place looks like something from the warring periods, complete with guys walking around as samurai. i think there's a ninja theme park, too >_>;

if you wanna go to tokyo, everyone knows akibahara is geek central; the train stop labeled tokyo has got the imperial palace, among other sights. Roppongi has a lot of clubs and nightlife, massage parlors (some happy ending, some not, pay attention to prices. if it is really high, its happy ending.), and its the closest exit to Tokyo tower, tho its still a bit of a walk. shinjuku and shibuya are also kinda famous, for the bussiest foot traffic in a road in the world, and the skyscrapper district.

not to far down the lines from tokyo is yokohama, a city with lots of malls, and the "sky garden", the veiwing deck on the tallest building in japan. on a clear day, you get a great view of mount fuji. it is beileved that if you dont climb mount fuji while you are here, you will come back. a bit further is kamakura, with lots of famous temples and shrines, including the giant buddha, and after kamakura is yokosuka, where i am :) not much here compared to all the cities, but there is a lot more american stuff, and the two things near every base: bars and... okay, there are no strip clubs (that i know of) but lots of happy ending message parlors. oh, and shore patrol might think you are a sailor (if you're american, or american looking), and try to stop you from drinking after 11.

the subways are very easy to navigate, and if you have trouble, most people speak some kind of english. if you can pronounce where you are going, they will help. hell, if you so much as look confused, they might try and help, with or without you asking. there are also guys threwout the train stations at desks that can help you (they usaully even have little pocket maps of the train systems you can use). there are two major train companies ( i dont know thier names, its like jp and kiekyu, or something like that. theres almost always a store near the train stations, when you first get to the station, you would wanna go to the store, and ask the cashier for a "suica (su-ee-ka) card". there is another card for the otehr company, i dont know what its called, but they are interchangable. both railways accept the other's card. it will cost a little more than 2000 yen (like $20 give or take), and you can use it to get into/out of train stations. i recommend putting another 2000 or so yen on the card at the things that look like atms near the train station entrance. depending on which station it is, there will either be a red button to ask for help, or a little thing on the bottom left you can push aside, with a push-for-help button under it. if it is this kind, i warn you now, a guys head WILL pop out of the wall right next to you. dont push it just to see it. theres also a push for english button, but i couldnt tell you where it is offhand. i beleive its on the upper left side. when you get to the the turnstiles, there is a a little square display with a picture of a suica card on it, you tap the card on this, and it will read the card and let you in. you exit the next station the same way. two last things, around seven-ish is rush hour on the trains. you will be packed in like a sardine, with guys wearing white gloves pushing everyone in. i'd avoid it, especially if you are a woman, and most definiatly if you are a blonde woman. the other thing is be aware of your surroundings. most japanese are extreamly polite, and try to act as the best hosts as they can (even if they must go way out of their way to help you, i've heard of them even going to a train station with you to make sure you get on the right connection) but there are always bad apples. im sure everyone knows of the groppers on the train; there are also hi-tech theives that can steal money off your suica card by waving a reader near your wallet (this nearly happened to me in shibuya)

---

Is this suica card something like the Oyster card in London?Don't know if you know it,but it sounds similiar....

Well, that's weird. I could swear I posted a translation a few days ago, but it looks like it didn't go through. jmkdljakshdjbs Anyway:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peroyama

I don't think it's necessary anymore, but I'll put this up in case it will help anyone else traveling to Japan.

People who want more detailed advice should make it clear how long they plan on staying and what their budget is.


秋葉原 (Akihabara)
If you want to visit manga, anime, game, cosplay, figurine, and maid shops, you ought to spend at least one week just in Akihabara.
I recommend the store "Mandarake." You should go to as many stores as time allows, though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_yMkBttqo0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha5lzDm9evc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMUfRw1W_74
http://www.mandarake.co.jp/shop/index_cmp.html

池袋 (Ikebukuro)
乙女ロード (Otome Road) is aimed at (female) yaoi fans.
Pretty much the only other things I can think of are ジュンク堂書店 (Junkudo Bookstore) and サンシャイン60 (Sunshine 60).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r74i5Wy9vbw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEvCAq3dxjU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X4SJvv5KoA

渋谷 (Shibuya)
You can see the street fashion on 渋谷センター街 (Shibuya Center-Gai), but its value to otaku is questionable.
There is an otaku-oriented Shibuya Mandarake store.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtOdSgf6Ic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC1ThHxHocA
http://www.mandarake.co.jp/shop/index_sby.html

原宿 (Harajuku)
You can see Harajuku's street fashion on sunny weekends.
You can also go to Yoyogi Park.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATXxuEqr5p8

皇居 (the Imperial Palace)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_KUIhm8Pwg

浅草 (Asakusa)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taBxjvtpCAg

江戸東京博物館 (Edo Tokyo Museum)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57nHrOqL36w

Don't go to 築地 (Tsukiji)!
The tuna markets are popular with foreign tourists, but are often closed off to said foreigners, as the market officials are hindered by people with bad manners.
All in all, it seems like they can do nothing but drive out all the visitors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N7biyHCY0Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzBwtylHiqo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flkGDrAeDqs

山谷 (Sanya)
There are cheap inns here. It's close to Akihabara. You're fine if you can speak English. The rooms are small!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8_VXlWCNhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbBGeaUfXfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNWt4nx3Vk8
http://www.newkoyo.jp/index.html

大阪 (Osaka)
Osaka is the birthplace of Ayumu Kasuga. It's the second largest city in Japan. It's the center of comics. The food here is delicious.
オタロード (Ota Road) is located in 大阪日本橋 (Nipponbashi, Osaka).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69A3aL3Yrs0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud2M_iMifFo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdZpBaGH9zc
http://www.chuogroup.jp/kita/index2.htm

京都 (Kyoto)
There are lots of temples and shrines here. Some famous ones are 清水寺 (Kiyomizu-dera), 金閣寺 (Kinkaku-ji), and 銀閣寺 (Ginkaku-ji).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5njZhbhL9s

奈良 (Nara)
Pretty much the only things I can think of here are deer and large Buddha statues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV3d3qUUk7o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIb8f53230E

ブックオフ (Book off)
It's a chain store for used books. They're all over Japan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzFRgkTL2wQ

サンリオピューロランド (Sanrio Puroland)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-s2LryyC0Q
http://www.puroland.co.jp/english/welcome.html

ポケモンセンタートーキョウ (Pokemon Center Tokyo)
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/que...y.html?0+37042
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ThqWRht6lE

三鷹ジブリの森美術館 (GHIBLI museum, Mitaka)
http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/

新幹線 (Shinkansen, Japanese bullet train)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn5wjOvZiVo

Comiket
It's a festival that's held twice a year.
Comic Market 78 will take place at 東京ビッグサイト (the Tokyo Big Sight) from Friday August 13th 'til Sunday the 15th.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AtKqEZ8Kdk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNdQMoRxfeg

漫画喫茶 (Internet cafes where you can read manga)
They have between approximately 15,000 and 60,000 manga books. Usually, a shop will have around 20,000.
The division between smoking and non-smoking sections are often poorly managed, and may be tough for non-smokers to handle.
It can be cheaper than an inn to stay here if you use the bundle fees to your advantage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScOfA_y_Hmc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPaXNG-dbzU

聖地巡礼 (Pop-culture tourism)
A pastime where people visit places from anime and manga and such.
I wouldn't recommend it for people who aren't staying long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bzaR3HZ0Qc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g5mTllPpvE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeRFhE2Rj1U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfmDm_MKGv0

日本のトイレ (Japanese toilets -- Washlet)
These are commonplace in Japan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJazvumHNyk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM4nP7khZ5k

スーパーマーケット (Japanese Supermarket)
I'd like you to think this is the only store that carries "MyNuts."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHzyLrtvBY

100円ショップ (100 Yen Shop, Dollar Store)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEb0b1GEaE8

コンビニ (convenience store)
They're generally 24-hour stores. You can buy candy and bento boxes, and stand around reading manga and magazines among other things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J2ZTdMRfRM

容器 (containers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlwoCWIeYtU

弁当（Bento）
These are common in Japan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qkSh5ylLDQ

明治きのこの山(Meiji-Kinoko-Chocolate-Mushroom-Cookies)
Try eating some.
http://www.amazon.com/Meiji-Kinoko-C...dp/B000W4OQRW/

メロンパン (Melon Bread)
Is it true you don't have this outside Japan?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTXZqPHDfmk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHrfjbQujto

吉野家 (Yoshinoya)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39MILG4txBk

キューピーマヨネーズ (Kewpie Mayonnaise)
http://www.amazon.com/Uwajimaya-Kewp...dp/B00023T3IA/

日本のストレートパーマ (Japanese Straight perms)
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/que...y.html?0+16576

What Not To Do In Tokyo: The Top Five Tourist Mistakes
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/3/...urist+Mistakes

---

Hi Guys,

Me and a bunch of friends are going to Japan on September..

We're arriving there @ around 6pm.. We're trying to book an overnight bus from Osaka to Tokyo.. Anybody here has experience with online bookings for JR Buses (http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/)?

It's all in japanese and google translator isn't very helpful.. :(

http://www.japan-guide.com
We planed our 3 weeks in Japan using this site for hotels and we found really cheap and great places ( even in tokyo)
Also the rail pass is compulsury if you plan to stay a few weeks. Plus japan trains are quite an experience in itself
We went in october and the weather was perfrect, we even bath on a beach of shikoku ( well we were the 5 only guys in the water )
And the food is quite cheap if you don't plan eating suchi at every meal.

The only time I can go to Japan is in the summer, which is the rainy season over there. :(

Hi ShunketsuXZ :), welcome to this thread and to the OC!

But rainy season doesn’t necessarily have to mean no fun. Visiting Japan can be enjoyable in every season of the year. Below is some info and some activities you can do during the rainy season:

Quote:

---

From the beginning of June, the rainy season (tsuyu) visits most parts of Japan, except Hokkaido. While it does not rain every day, the weather tends to be overcast and dreary. The duration and intensity of the rainy season can vary quite strongly from year to year.

Hot spring resorts like Hakone and the wooded temple mountain Koyasan are some of the places which can be quite attractive in rainy weather. Least affected by the rainy season, Hokkaido is an attractive destination in June.

---

If you would like to read for information about introductions to each month of the year with respect to travel in Japan, here’s the link. ^_^

Btw, what are some of the reasons that make you want to visit the “Land of the Rising Sun”?