What do you all think of this:

I am very concerned about the crowds in Hakone that monkeyrhino/angelsix66 refers to. I hate crowds, and structured both our trip to Japan last spring and this spring to avoid them (ie., we could have gone to Takayama's spring festival this April but declined due to crowds).

So I am thinking of dropping the Sat. and Sat. night in Hakone. This would put us in Kyoto on Sat. 4/15 by mid-day instead of Sunday 4/16 by mid-day. With the extra day, we could spend an extra day and night on Shikoku (haven't decided what to do w/that extra day there yet, maybe Matsomoto? or another day in Takamatsu/Kochi area? Our one day so far is planned in Takamatsu...)

Of course, we'd miss staying at Ichinoyu royokan in Hakone and that great room we have w/the private outdoor soaking area, and we'd miss the Open Air sculpture garden and Yunessen. I've been looking forward to that as down time after Tokyo, Nikko, and Disney Sea, but it won't be down time if it is as terribly crowded as monkey/angel has indicated.

Thoughts? I respect this group and would really like to get your thoughts.

Kanazawa?!? You even know someone there who can show you around.

Weekends are the times to be going to the city and weekdays for going to the country, the opposite of most people. It should be quiet on Sunday late afternoon and evening. One of the troubles mentioned earlier was waiting in line for the rides on the tourist circuit (boat, ropeway, etc.) but you are skipping that, I think. I think the stay at your lodging will be ok as the city people/day-trippers will be returning. I spent two nights in Hakone at the end of Nov. a couple of years ago and remember seeing a long line of cars leaving in late afternoon. e, please send me an e-mail, I have lost your address.

Please don't skip Hakone. The open air museum is AWESOME. Just leave a little early and expect delays only on that first bit from the shinkasen to the museum. I bet if you go on Sunday, you'll be better off. I imagine people will be coming back rather than going that day. Remember, we were there in summer, so the crowds were enormous. I have been to some of the best modern museums in the world and this place took my breath away.

Hello all, this is a great thread particularly the diary post from emd in other areas.

My wife and I will be in Japan on the 11th Mar. I thought I would post a comment as the discssion on crowds made me laugh as I have a made a bit of an error in timing. I thought I would share it.

We thought we planned our trip very well understanding that Hakone will get busy on weekends and having a wife who has been to Japan lots of times (Except Hakone). We planned to arrive on a Sunday and leave on the Wednesday.

So confident were we, we booked all our accomadation and left the Hakone booking last only to find out that March the 21st is a Public Holiday and we had to pay and extra 5000yen per day extra :-)

Ohh well! all the threads sound very positive on Hakone so we are still very much looking forward to it.

We are staying at a Ryokan called Kansuiro - which doesn't appear to have any reviews, we got some tips on japan-guide though- I wanted to make this part of the trip special as it sounds fantastic. Any tips for food or locations would be great (or if you have stayed at Kansuiro).

Hi Beagle. March 21 is equinox day- I know because I was in Japan last March 21. I was concerned about it being a holiday but I posted a question on it and KimJapan on this forum said equinox day is no big deal at all. She was right, it realy isn't an observed holiday and it had no meaning for our trip - everything was open, business as usual. It seems ridiculous to me that they are charging you extra for staying over equinox day.

That's the only thing about national holidays...while everything is open and business as usual, except for schools and companies, hotels sometimes charge an extra bit for the night before the holiday.

Thanks for the info on the crowds. That's a relief, I had visions of battling thousands of people.

We are leaving Australia for some R&R and to escape the Commonwealth Games which is in our city of Melbourne (The games are a mini version of the Olympics with, I think 70 countries taking part). We love sport but we are looking forward to some down time and escaping crowds.

The extra room rate charge is per person per day. We - reluctantly - accepted the charge as the web site looks and reads like it 'may' be a fantastic experience. May consider an alternative Ryokan experience if you can suggest one.

I wanted to spoil Jennie with decadence in Hakone, seemed to be the right place for it, views, onsen, food & traditional atmosphere. www.kansuiro.co.jp

It looks lovely, with lots of history, like where we are staying (but our place is a bit less spectacular I think).

We have a room w/private outdoor rotenboro bath at Ichinoyu Hankon, the rm. in the left picture here:

http://english.ichinoyu.co.jp/honkan/index.html

Thanks for that emd, actually tried there first but they were full. I think I will stick with Kansuiro and worry about counting the days down -which I am down to 42 ;-)


In your diary entry you mentioned Ninja Asakusa? I have tried to google it with no luck. Your entry left me wanting to know more and visit it. Can you provide more info ?

Thanks again.

Oops, if I put Ninja Asakusa in the report then I got it worng - it is Ninja Akasaka!! Sorry!

Their website homepage is in Japanese, but if you click the 1st red icon on the right at top of page it takes you to English page. There is a map you'll need to get there. If you click on the menu you can see a picture of the bonsai tree dessert I had, etc., and the Interior Design section has pics of the inside - it has a kind of cave-like feeling.

http://www.ninja.tv/

It was a real unique experience. I think I covered the gist of it in my report - dark on the inside, very mysterious place w/lots of "fog" inside, lots of twisted turns in the bldg., false walls, etc. You eat in a little separate room w/a sliding door, japanese style, sitting on the floor but the floor under the table has cut outs so your legs actually hang down under the table (instead of having to sit on your legs or yoga-style or having hyour legs out to the side). Smallish portions and it is is relatively expensive, esp. if you are a drinking alcohol. But the food was nicely prepared and delicious, melt in your mouth fish and meat entrees and very creative desserts (mine was an edible bonsai tree). Ninja comes and does tricks at the table during or after dinner. I don't think too many gaijin go there - they only have one menu avaialable in English; it is a long scroll that you unwind (bring a little keychain flashlight and a magnifying glass if you travel w/one to read maps). It was cool, and my son liked it also. I probably wouldn't go again unless someone else was paying, but it was fun once. Just be prepared for the smallish portions and the cost and then let go and have fun.

Here is a review from www.virtualtourist.com that I saw before we went:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...okyo-BR-3.html


Akasaka area where it is is a hopping area (I think the embassies are around there if my memory is right, and a lot of restaurants and clubs on the small streets) and I wished we could have had some time around there after dinner, but we were on our way to Shibuya.

BTW, I read recently that a sister restaurant to Ninja Akasaka has opened in NY - called Ninja New York. For anyone interested in that:

http://www.lowermanhattan.info/news/...show_18226.asp

Thanks emd, thought it was somewhere where I could get ninja stuff for my nephew. From the sounds of it I wouldn't mind seeing the look on the wifes face if I took her there... :-)

Hey EMD,

I just read your trip report from last year very carefully. I see that your son found a capsule toy store in Kyoto. It was the day you split up and you went to Takashimaya. Do you or emd son have any recollection of where it was? I can't bear the thought of going all the way back to Japan and not going to a toy store !

Thanks!!!

I didn't pay attn. as we had split up and I wasn't w/him. I know he went to a Book-Off store for anime- I'll ask him if he recalls where else.

I do know that Osaka has some famous stores for capsules. I have seen many posts on them at the www.japan-guide.com forum, under the general "questions" forum. If you put gachupan (or however it is spelled) or capsule and Osaka, you should get some hits there.

after reading emd's previous trip report regarding Ghibli Museum, I am so interested in going there. anyone has any suggestions how I can get the tickets, as I am residing in Malaysia.

lina: people on www.japan-guide.com forum say you can walk into LAwson's stores in Tokyo and get them. Here is the info. I was very surprised about that.

See:
http://www2.lawsonticket.com/pc/P54/.../ghibli_e.html

also see:

http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/que...y.html?0+19666

thanks emd! you've been so helpful...

don't know whether we'll be able to get the tickets for our trip next march because it seems that the tickets sells out pretty fast... oh well... I still have 3 extra days in Tokyo with no activities... any ideas for fun & quirky places that a 3 yr old might enjoy? We are going to cover Disneyland & Sea, & pretty much everything around the Yamanote line loop :)

Boy, with a three yr old, flexibility is key. How about some of the toddler/kiddie attractions - like Sanrio Puroland?

See:
http://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/spl/spl.html

Really, thinking back to when my kids were 3, I would just want to know where the parks are in whatever area I am going to in order to keep a park/play time close at hand if the kid starts to get really restless and needs a kid break. When it comes down to it, the kid won't really remember much if anything - what he/she (and you) will be left with is how relaxed you are and how you deal w/him/her in the environment you are in. So as long as you don't overdo it or overplan and build in time for kid's sleep whenever it is needed, whatever you do will be enjoyable.

One thing: Are you saying you don't think you can get tickets for Ghibli for March 2007 ("next March")?

sorry.. its supposed to be next month (March)... :-p