I know jlaughs is going to Japan in August and is busy doing last minute planning, but who else is planning a trip? There haven't seemed to be a lot of posts for help on trips to Japan lately so I am just wondering...

Anyone?

Bonjour Emd,

I'm planning to spend either Xmas-NewYear there alone, visiting my kendo teacher and friends, or/and go later in the Spring with my best friend of 40 years, his wife and their two kids (10 and 8).

In the first case, the plan would be to land in Osaka-KIX around Dec 15, spend some days in Kyoto (the last fleamarket of the year at Toji is particularly spectacular), then Tokyo, lots of kendo practice followed by good food and karaoke, and most likely a trip up North with my sensei and a few friend over the NewYear.

In the second case, I'm planning to introduce Victor and his kids to their Japanese heritage. His mom is Japanese and has been living in Europe with her British husband for the last 50 years. Vic unfortunately doesn't speak the language and has never visited the country. He'll turn 50 next year and this trip would be his present from me and our families.

At the moment, nothing's set in stone ...

Bonjour Florence- long time no see!

Toji at new years, how awesome that would be. I have been giving out the beautifully colored natural knife sharpening stones that I bought at Toji market in April as gifts. Everyone loves them.

I had no idea you do kendo or that you take lessons in Japan when there. That is cool.

Love the idea of possibly introducing your close friend to his heritage, esp. at age 50. And the kids will love it. That is how old I was on my first trip there. It's a good age for everything, especially travel. Wow, you must have met this friend when you were little kids. I also travel with my closest friend but we didn't meet til our early 20s.

Anyone else?

I'm in the contemplation stage of planning. I'm looking at a trip sometime next year, either in the spring (April) or in the Fall (Oct-Nov). I'm leaning toward a short spring trip at this point. Believe me, as I'm clearer about my plans, I'll be asking for lots of advice from all of you Japan experts!

emd

We are planning an April trip to Tokyo and areas north and west of Tokyo. We will be spending 10 to 12 days in Japan after 2 weeks in China.

Are you planning another trip to the inland sea area next year?

Kathie:
maybe we'll bump into you on th Ginza

Aloha!

hi emd, i will be in tokyo during the third week of oct for about five days.

i am also planning to go to the matsuri in takayama next april. a trip i cancelled this past year. hope to get good notes from mrw.

hi florence, wow! kendo!

hi kathie, hows hnl looking?

emd - good question.
As you know I am hungry for Japan questions and trip reports. It seems like there are very few lately.

HT, that would be amazing to run into you in Japan!

Ken, the prices for tickets to HNL still are pretty steep. I looked into a couple of packages (hotel + air) and they turned out to be just as high. Maybe I'll find some better fares as the time gets closer.

I'm contemplating as well.

Thinking about the end of March if fares are affordable. This time after basing myself in Tokyo then Kyoto on my previous two trips, I am planning to get a JR Pass and travel a bit more around the country. I am interested in going to places in two different directions so I am not sure how that will work or if it is doable at all. Also I see from japan-guide that there is now a low cost airline with an English website - air-do, I think.

My main caveat is that I will never again change planes in the US. I did that this year going from LGA to DTW to KIX and it was horrible - just too much wasted time and aggravation. I will just fly direct to NRT and stay over one night in Tokyo and go on from there.

I am doing constant research here and on japan-guide. Would like to go to Okayama, Kurashiki, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Fukuoka, possibly Shikoku as well. Guess I will have to save Kanazawa amd the area around there for another trip or vice versa. ;-)

ht, we all may be in tokyo at the same time next april. maybe we can go get some sake at a natto bar one day. lol.

sounds like a plan ken

GOOD to hear that so many people are planning trips. I was beginning to wonder since (like thereader) I have noticed so few reports and questions lately. But maybe that is because it is hot in July and August and no one is going.

Although you know, I have been watching the weather every day and it has been 75 to 80 degrees in Tokyo consistently throughout June til now. How bad can that be, even with humidity? I am thinking maybe the end of June wouldn't be too bad, when my kids get out of school next yr.

Yes, I am thinking of the Inland Sea for next trip along with the Ise Peninsula also. But I have to wait til mr. emd gets back from his trip to Ireland w/my son in order to "sweeten him up" to the idea of me taking another Japan trip. He is not crazy about me going anywhere at this point, but then I did travel a lot for work the first half of this year, weeks at a time. He'll come around.

Although I also am thinking of Peru and Machu Pichu next June, haven't decided yet. I want to go there before my knees get much older.

Leaving Sunday for two weeks, but I've been all consumed with trying to get my work done so I don't have to take it along (unfortunately, I think that will have to happen, anyway). I think I'm set for our first four days in Tokyo, but you all might hear from me with questions somewhere along the way.

ms_go, you know my husband's passport came this morning, right? Thanks for that number.

I didn't know you were going to Japan. Have fun! Where else besides Tokyo?

I will be posting my trip report sometime next week. My sister and I visited Tokyo, Takayama and Kyoto (with a side trip to Nara) June 16-June 25. We had a fantastic time but the weather was not the best. I live in Manhattan and my sister lives in South Florida so we are no strangers to hot, muggy summers but the weather in Japan was awful- sweltering, humid and rainy.

We walked around like wet noodles most of the time due to perspiration, rain or a combination of both Based on my experience, I would not go back at that time of the year. In fact my Japanese host and her family told me the best time to visit is in the fall. When I asked about visiting in the Spring during Cherry Blossom season they said it's spoiled by too much drinking and Karaoke!

I will be in Tokyo fo 3 nights in September - en route to New Zealand for a month.
Have found researching tokyo and surrounding areas far more difficult than other cities.

carylspal - You have come to the right place!!

I started by buying 2 guide books to Japan (there are some for just Tokyo if that is the only city in Japan you will visit) and then came here to this wonderful forum to get specific questions answered.

Going to Miyajima, Hiroshima, Okayama, Kurashiki, Hakone, and Tokyo for 10 nights at the end of October/beginning of November. Last time just did Tokyo/Kyoto during cherry blossom time in April 2005.

I'm in the final stages of planning, but it's so hard because there are so many places I want to go! I've just about convinced my husband that we should go to Kyushu for a week in 2007.

kello -
I hope you hit the Japanese Maples changing color.
I have a son in Hiroshima right now and he said the leaves last fall were amazing!

kelloo
Cool, those are some of the places I am super interested in - please post some info when you return. Enjoy!!