zac495

Hello All,
My daughter will be in Taiwan all next year studying abroad. The plan was to meet her in Asia from the US. She's finished last few days in June.
I really want to see Tokyo (obviously) but I hate the rain. That said, I can deal with it for a few days.
I was thinking maybe starting in Hokkaido where I hear it will be nice and better early July (I read other posts here). Then go to Tokyo afterwards. I would love to see Hiroshima - but again - I don't want to be in a monsoon.

I toy with the idea of skipping Japan and going to Indonesia area instead. I just don't know and starting to think about it.

What do we like to do? We enjoy good restaurants, the best sights (we will sight-see, but not for hours on end), shopping, the beach.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Ellen

Kathie

Japan in July will be hot and humid. Indonesia (I'm guessing you mean Bali) will be hot, bur won't have as much rain. Either location has a lot to offer.

Adastra2200

If you are interested in beaches, the best in Japan are in the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa). You could easily fly from Taiwan to Okinawa, or maybe even take a ferry from Keelung to Ishigaki.
https://www.starcruises.com/us/en/de...japan/ishigaki
https://goo.gl/RywFTE
From there you can also easily get a cheap flight to Osaka or Tokyo on a low cost carrier (about $50 per person). Or use ANA's Experience Japan Fare.
http://ana.ms/20Xtf8t
It's very easy to fly on to Sapporo in Hokkaido for about the same fare. And July in Hokkaido is superb. None of the soul killing humidity, some of the best ramen you will ever eat, and the lavender in Furano is breathtaking.
goo.gl/3M5yc8

You have a great chance to see some of the best of Japan - especially many things few tourists see. Although if you could fit in Kyoto & Nara also, it would be very much worth it.

zac495

Well this sounds perfect. But will it be more than beach - as in - will we see Japanese culture? We do have great beaches in the USA, so I don't just want to see the beaches. It's just that this will be the time my daughter is already in Taiwan. I don't want to go to Taiwan as I hear July is monsoon season. I thought I'd fly from USA and meet her. Maybe I fly to Tokyo and then on to Okinawa - meet her there - then we go to Tokyo because we can't miss it - even if it rains.

What other areas are a must if this probably will be the only time I ever see Japan? Hiroshima? Even if the weather isn't perfect, I can handle it for a day here or there.

I'm thinking 2 weeks in Japan. Where would you start, go, end? THANKS!!
Ellen (and Zoe)

kja

For information on Japan, consult japan-guide.com -- spend LOTS of time with that website!

2 weeks is little time for the highlights of Japan, so you would need to be selective.

zac495

Thanks. I can make it 3 weeks no problem.

Kathie

For me, the absolute "must-see" location is Kyoto, but I am interested in traditional culture and in Buddhism. Your interests will dictate what your must-see places are.

zac495

I love traditional culture. And my daughter is interested in Buddhism. So I think that may be a must for us too! THANKS

I like hearing people's MUST SEE ideas.

Adastra2200

On some of the smaller islands in Okinawa you can ride a cart pulled by a water buffalo, if that's your thing. Otherwise, culture usually deals more with the people than a beach.
Just for ease of transport though, if you are interested in Okinawa I suggest you concentrate on the main island, Miyakojima or Ishigaki, because these have the best air routes to Tokyo and Osaka.
Since you mention traditional culture, then Kyoto and Nara are the cultural jewels of the country. There is also Koyasan and Ise, if you want to experience more.

Asking for must-see places is like asking 10 people what the best restaurant in their city is - you may get 10 different answers, and none of them wrong. You should be able to see quite a number of good places in 2 weeks, if 3 then you have quite an enviably long trip.
It would be better for you to nail down more precisely what parts of Japan you will visit before giving lots of places you could visit. Running all over the country just to see one place here and there is not the best use of your time.

shelemm

Talking about relative humidity is so relative.....

certainly don't forego Japan to escape the heat and humidity in Indonesia. It will be hotter there. Taipei is both more humid and hotter still.

Although high, precipitation in Japan goes down in July. It's higher in May, June, August, and September.

Personally, I find the heat really bad if you stay out in the sun for long. Under cloud cover or in the shade, Japan is pleasant in the summer, and I had no problem walking and hiking at that time of year. It is nowhere near the humidity of Shanghai, Hong Kong, and the South of China in general.

I've been three times in the summer, and I'm gald I did not let the weather dissuade me. In some places the humidity is ghastly, but not in Japan.

Only go to Hakkaido if there is something there that interests you. Do the research.

crellston

I wouldn’t discount Taiwan for parent of your trip. We were there for a week this July and absolutely loved it. Can’t wait to go back! Yes it was hot but the humidity wasn’t too bad at all. The weather systems there are complex, more so than anywhere else in Asia but we only had rain one evening.

Japan and Taiwan would make an excellent combination. Some photos from our time in Taipei and Hualien on our blog https://accidentalnomads.com/category/taiwan/

zac495

Oh well.... wow.... All of these thoughts and blogs and websites are so wonderful. Thank you all so very, very, very much.