Last minute questions about Japan
 

Hello,

Ive got 3 weeks till I leave for Japan, and I have a few last minute questions

- November 3 is a national holiday (Culture Day). Im in Tokyo at this time and as it's my first full day was planning on going to the Fish Markets, the Hama Rikyu Teien gardens and catching a boat to Asakusa to visit Senjo-ji etc. Are these places open on this day? Or will places close the following Monday (in which I'll be in Nikko)?

- Ive read about the Shichigosan festival which falls on November 15, where children dress up in kimono's and visit their local shrines. I'll be in Kyoto at that time, which shrine should I go to to experience this? Also, apparently they visit the shrines on the closest weekend.I'm assuming this would be November 17 (Sat)?

- I'll be getting a shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanazawa. For this route, what side of the train (or seat number) should I try and reserve in order to see Mt Fuji?

Thanks so much to everyone on this forum who has given me invaluable advice so far. I will repay you with a trip report when I get back!

Tsukiji is closed on November 3 and 4. http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/etc/calendar/2007.html

Hamarikyu is no problem any day, and temples are OK any day.

November 11 or 18 will be the days when you might see the most children doing shichi-go-san, as Sunday is the day that the whole family can be together. Most fathers work on Saturday. You could ask at your hotel or the tourist information where you might be best to go...we did our daughter's in Kanazawa a few years ago at the temple where she attended preschool.

Shinkansen doesn't go all the way to Kanazawa....you'll have to change in either Nagoya, Maibara or Echigo-yuzawa.

You won't see Mt Fuji on a train from Tokyo to Kanazawa, period.

It's for the Tokaido bullet train going westward from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto. They use different tracks/routes.

Checking Tokyo to Kanazawa on

www.hyperdia.com

I see that the transfer points are either, as Kim says, Maibara, Echigo-yuzawa or Kyoto. Each route will afford a Mt Fuji view soon after leaving Tokyo. Sit on the right hand side of the train. That is if it's a clear day. Good luck!

Aloha!

Correction to my previous posting.
If you're taking the Tokaido shinkansen and trasnferring at Maibara or Nagoya, Mt Fuji is on the right side of the aisle travelling westward from Tokyo. (and on the left side travelling to Tokyo.)

Echigo Yuzawa is on Tohoku Shinkansen, so no Mt Fuji.

Thanks for checking, KimJapan and hawaiiantraveller.

ooops....sorry your right W9London, no Fujisan viewing to Echigo-yuzawa via the Joetsu not Tohoku Shinkansen

Aloha!

Echigo Yuzawa is on Joetsu Shinkansen, on the way to Niigata. No view of Mount Fuji, as it travels north from Tokyo towards Takasaki, whereas Fuji-san is to the west.
BTW, if you are using JR Pass to get to Kanazawa, the connecting train at Echigo Yuzawa travels in part on non-JR tracks and you have to pay a supplement (1450 yen, collected on the train). Supplement-free travel is via Nagaoka.