Tropics

I would like to receive recommendation where to travel with my son in Japan: sights, destinations, hotels. I have taken my daughter to Tokyo for her HS graduation present and did much shopping, but for my son that would not be fun at all. I appreciate any ideas, thank you!

emd3

Exactly how old is he? A 13 yr old likes different things than an 18 yr old. Although either of them would enjoy a sumo match and a Japanese pro baseball game.

I took my son when he was 14, so let me know.

hawaiiantraveler

Howzit Tropics!

emd has great ideas above about baseball and sumo(depending on the time of year you arrive) fantastic outings for you and your son as you will see if done.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2080.html

http://baseballguru.com/bbjp1.html

I am assuming your son is graduating hs also? You might want to take him to Harajuku

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3006.html

and next door to Shibuya to see the sites

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3007.html

Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea are very well done and offer another venue for both the young and old to enjoy

http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdl/index_e.html

If he is into electronics, manga, anime or the like don't miss the Akiharaba neighborhood with enough electronic stores to keep a teenager mesmerized for days

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3003.html

Are we on the right track yet?

Aloha!

Tropics

Aloha Hawaiiantraveler,

Thank you for all your handy advice and insight. I do appreciate it and fortunate you saw my question.

Yes, you are right he will be a high school graduate when we travel, eighteen. He is not a shopper or into anime like my daughter was, so it's good to hear what a guy would like. Not sure if he would appreciate going to Ghibli museum; went there last year and it was amazing, even met our Tokyo friends there.

Do you think we should venture to Kyoto and other places? He maybe interested in all the sword and fighting related. Maybe join a tour group for that?

Also, I don't know if he would feel comfortable at the Keio Plaza Hotel (stayed there because just girls last time), too fancy... what would you suggest nearby the JR train?

I am hoping after three years of learning Japanese he will be able to understand and use his Japanese. I am not able to speak the language well at all but can read hiragana.

Mahalo,
Tropics

Tropics

Emd,

Thank you for suggesting a sport, good idea. He will be eighteen, so if you have any more suggestion, please share.

emd3

He's 18, so my guess is he would probably would get a lot out of going to Hiroshima to the Peace Memorial Museum there.

Does he like the feudal aspects of Japan's history? He might enjoy the castles, like Himeji, etc.

It is pretty hard not to enjoy Kyoto as a teen, esp. if you can get there during a good festival. At 18, he might like the temple markets that happen once a month at Toji and Kitano shrines. Very colorful, lots of handmade items and lots of different food stalls to try.

We went to two baseball games- one at Tokyo Dome and one at Osaka Dome. Both were amazing, don't miss that, and try to see the Hanshin Tigers play as they have the most rabid fans. Definitely sit in the outfield fan $10 seats where they do the different cheers for each batter, etc. And try to go during a sumo tournament, they are at different times of the yr in different cities, at least Tokyo and Osaka.

Does he like hiking (and are you willing to do some w/him)? Nice hikes to do just outside both Tokyo and Kyoto.

Japan is a hard language to learn to speak. My son has 3 yrs now (two in high school and one in college) and still can't say too much really useful, he has to think a long time about it. They spend a lot of time learning to write the different styles in classes, not as much emphasis on practical travel-related speaking as I would like to have seen for him.