Robreen1

We are are from Chicago and will be leaving June 16th for 10 days in Japan. We are planning on 3 days Tokyo, overnight at Hakone, and use Kyoto as a base for the next 6 nights (day trips to Kobe, Nara, and Hiroshima).

We have read the typical guidebooks, are there any unusual places to see or eat that the boys will especially enjoy? I am curious about the monkey park and would appreciate any and all comments and suggestions anyone has.

Thanks to all!

Myszka

I am not famaliar with a monkey park per se. I do know there are a lot of monkeys when you go north of Tokyo. Nikko has quite a few. ( You will see the original painting of the See no Evil, Hear no Evil and Speak no Evil monkeys here.) But if it is too warm for them, they move further north and won't be seen around the shrines and expressways. You do have to keep your windows rolled up because they will steall baby bottles or jump in your car to snatch other things.
Nara has the sacred deer. That the boys will really like. If you buy a deer cookie and hold it above the deer's head before giving it to them, they bow their heads. Sort of neat and fun too.
I think your boys will enjoy many things. Lots to do and think about. I sent you some notes of mine too and I hope they help.
Myszka who lives in Tokyo

mrwunrfl

It is baseball season. There are a couple of teams in Tokyo area. Might be able to combine a visit to the Peace Park with a Hiroshima Carp game. Your guys will probably love riding the shinkansen. You'll run into uniformed school kids who would probably enjoying practicing their Engrish with you. Learning a few words of Japanese would be worthwhile.

There's no grand sumo tournament in June, but you can visit the sumo wrestlers. There is a ninja museum, or something, in Tokyo.

Florence

Bonjour Robreen,

First, don't forget your copy of "Toyko for Free" by S. Pompian (Kodansha). More suggestions than you can dream of, but you of course run the risk that your kids will never want to leave Tokyo ... ;-)

on a Sunday, take your boys to Harajuku (same name station on the Yamanote loopline) to see the youth scene: the latest in fashion (aka outrageous clothing and makeup for any normal parents ;-&gt, loud music in the street along Meiji Jingu park (unless you like out of tune hard-rock in Japanese, bring earplugs), and you can visit the beautiful and quiet park.

On a rainy day, don't miss the Edo-Tokyo Museum, just next door to the Sumo arena (Ryogoku station on JR Sobu line). The Japanese restaurant on the 7th floor offers superb value for money and a great view over the roofs of Tokyo.

I've had real good breakfeasts and lunches in "Jonathan's" at different locations in Tokyo (both western and Japanese food).

In Kyoto, you might all be interested in visiting Nijo Jinya, a "mystery house" full of secret passageways and trapdoors, built for lodging daimyos who needed a secure accomodation while travelling. You can book a visit at the TIC in Kyoto.

LeslieC

We made our first trip to Japan in April, with children aged 12 and 14. We visited Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Takayama. These were highlights for our kids:

Tokyo -
Sony Building Showrooms (Ginza)
Kabuki Theatre - Kabuki-za
Figuring out the subway system
Ginza district at night
Tokyo-Edo Museum
Asakusa shopping arcade and temple area
Ueno Park Zoo
Water bus ride up the Sumida River from the Hinode Pier
The new Yurikemone line monorail to the Mega Web & Ferris Wheel on Tokyo Bay

Kyoto -
Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji)
Nijo Castle
Nishiki Market
Performance of the Miyako Odori (Geisha performance - seasonal for Sakura)
Meeting lots of junior high aged school kids at all the shrines and temples.

Nara - Nara deer park (wild deer that bow back when you bow to them)

Hakone - naturally, the Hakone Free pass cirle tour (mountain railway, cable care, aerial ropeway, and dragon boat across lake Ashi)

Also, we enjoyed staying in a traditional Japanese Inn, complete with big hot (private) tub soak and traditional dinner. Our kids loved trying to communicate with a few Japanese words - and learning the courtesies such as bowing and saying thank you in Japanese. The people were so very kind and helpful!

Have a wonderful trip.

kite

Florence, you are such a great source of informations! I'm actually taking a note of the places you suggest for when I take my friends around Tokyo in the futur.

stevecat

Add the Ghibli museum in Mitaka -- even if they aren't into japanimation, it's a really neat place.

emd

topping for ghercz