Explore Japan

[Adventurer17]

Hi Everyone!
My name is Trixie, and I have been wanting to go to Japan since I was 16 (I'm 22 now.) I'm slowing saving up my money to go over there. I've finally got my passport and now I'm doing some research about the cities and places I can visit when I am over there. But I would love to get some people's opinions on the best places to go besides the obvious (Tokyo, Kyoto.)
And it doesn't just have to be just cities. It could be the countryside, resorts, beaches, zoos, anything! Any help you give me is much appreciated! Thanks for your time! biggrin

[WaRori-Chan]

Stick to western Japan if you wanna experience Japan in it's entirety. Tokyo mostly has the flashy stuff... Everywhere out west has the culture.

Just my two cents c:

[Adventurer17]

Thanks! Your two cents is worth a lot for me. biggrin

[Adventurer17]

What about Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku? Are they a good place to get the real feel of Japan?

[Tennants]

That depends on what you mean by "real" Japan. Kyoto and Nara are the historical capitals of Japan and is home to much of the high art that the rest of the world sees of Japan. Tokyo has a unique history and has much to offer in history, although it's a very different kind from what you get in the other cities I mentioned already. Hokkaido is relatively new in actually being a part of Japan, but you'll still experience an environment and culture there. Kyushu and Shikoku are as old as historic Japan, but they have their regional flavors.

If you're from the US, the best example I can give is that these different places are like unique places in the country. It's all part of the country, and it's all partly the same, partly different, like going from Boston to NYC to Chicago to Texas. You'll see different things both in people and in culture, but it's all under the umbrella of what constitutes "Japan."

[Adventurer17]

Okay. I never thought of it that way.
But, it makes sense. Thank you!

[Azure Ax]

Stay out of Yokosuka, aint nothing there... if you come to japan try the Green tea ice cream and sweet potato, sounds weird but they are actually amazing. Yokohama has a cool Buddhist temple and ice cream. Also, Try CoCo's curry...
Try to come over when your allowed to climb Mt. Fuji, while physically demanding, its one of the coolest/best things you can do IMHO.

If your Looking for a place to party I recommend ageHa, Shibuya, or Roppongi.

What all are you trying to do/see in japan.

[Lady Leopardess]

I had tons of fun when I visited Kyoto, Nara and Osaka!
Favorite things : Kiyomizudera temple (super pretty)
Fushimi Inari Shrine ( steep climb though!)
Osaka Castle (also cool)
Feeding the deer/ checking out Todaji
Osaka Aquarium (expensive but very cool!)
Tempozan Ferris Wheel (Osaka)
In Tokyo I enjoy Harajuku, Ikebukuro and Minato (which has the pokemon center! and Tokyo Tower)

Akihabara is fun if you like anime

[I Eat Dictionaries]

If you want traditional stuff come to Kyoto... I loves it here ^^ But I also love Osaka. Pretend to shoot people. I wanna do that one day ;~;

[Adventurer17]

You want to pretend to shoot people in Osaka? eek

Interesting.... sweatdrop

[Adventurer17]

Thanks everyone! All this information is very helpful! I'm learning a lot!

And keep going if you want to keep recommending stuff. I'm always interested.

[Nettaiya]

Well, I'd say, since it'll be your first trip to Japan, stick with Tokyo, Kyoto, and their surrounding areas. Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, Okinawa etc. are obviously worth going to, but are quite out of the way--so basically, you'd have to plan a much longer trip or just pick one area to go to exclusively. (I assume you don't want to do the whole stop-photo-leave-say I've been there sort of thing. I also assume you're not rich.)

Tokyo and Kyoto are no less "authentically Japanese" than any other areas, and in fact there are plenty very nice things to see there. It really all depends on what kind of things you like. Museums, nature, landmarks, architecture, history, pop/fashion culture, food, clubs/bars...? I mean, why Japan? What specifically about it interests you?

In any case, I would also like to throw Hiroshima out there as a suggestion. I feel everyone should take a look at its Peace park and museum. It's a bit south, but easily reachable by Shinkansen (definitely DEFINITELY look into the JR pass if you haven't already, by the way). I took a night bus from Tokyo and it wasn't so bad, either. There is also a island nearby called Miyajima that I really liked.

[Adventurer17]

Nettaiya

Well, Id say, since itll be your first trip to Japan, stick with Tokyo, Kyoto, and their surrounding areas. Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, Okinawa etc. are obviously worth going to, but are quite out of the way--so basically, youd have to plan a much longer trip or just pick one area to go to exclusively. I assume you dont want to do the whole stop-photo-leave-say Ive been there sort of thing. I also assume youre not rich.)

Tokyo and Kyoto are no less authentically Japanese than any other areas, and in fact there are plenty very nice things to see there. It really all depends on what kind of things you like. Museums, nature, landmarks, architecture, history, pop/fashion culture, food, clubs/bars...? I mean, why Japan? What specifically about it interests you?

In any case, I would also like to throw Hiroshima out there as a suggestion. I feel everyone should take a look at its Peace park and museum. Its a bit south, but easily reachable by Shinkansen definitely DEFINITELY look into the JR pass if you havent already, by the way). I took a night bus from Tokyo and it wasnt so bad, either. There is also a island nearby called Miyajima that I really liked.

Hahaha! You assume right. Im hoping to spend at least two weeks over there. I guess the biggest part of my interests in Japan is their culture. Everything is so different over there and I love it. Plus, it would be awesome to converse with people in Japanese. I probably will hit Tokyo and Kyoto. I was just wondering if there were any other amazing places that I didnt know of.

[The Fair Knight]

Ｉ　ｌｉｖｅｓ　ｉｎ　Ｏｓａｋａ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｙｅａｒ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｏ　ｓａｙ　ｉｔｓ　ｏｎｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｂｅａｕｔｉｆｕｌ　ｃｉｔｉｅｓ．
Ｉｔｓ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｃｌｓｏｅ　ｔｏ　ｎａｒａ，　Ｋｙｏｕｔｏ　ａｎｄ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｈｅａｖｙ　ｔｏｕｒｉｓｔ　ｒｅｇｉｏｎｓ　ｏｆ　Ｊａｐａｎ．
Ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｈｏｐｐｉｎｇ　ｉｓ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｔｏｏ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ｈａｖｅ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｓｍａｌｌ　Ａｋｉｈａｂａｒａ　ｃａｌｌｅｄ　Ｎｉｐｐｏｎｂａｓｈｉ．
Ａｎｄ　Ｏｋｏｎｏｍｉｋｙａｋｉ　ｉｓ　ＡＭＡＺＩＮＧ

[The Fair Knight]

Adventurer17

Nettaiya

Well, Id say, since itll be your first trip to Japan, stick with Tokyo, Kyoto, and their surrounding areas. Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, Okinawa etc. are obviously worth going to, but are quite out of the way--so basically, youd have to plan a much longer trip or just pick one area to go to exclusively. I assume you dont want to do the whole stop-photo-leave-say Ive been there sort of thing. I also assume youre not rich.)

Tokyo and Kyoto are no less authentically Japanese than any other areas, and in fact there are plenty very nice things to see there. It really all depends on what kind of things you like. Museums, nature, landmarks, architecture, history, pop/fashion culture, food, clubs/bars...? I mean, why Japan? What specifically about it interests you?

In any case, I would also like to throw Hiroshima out there as a suggestion. I feel everyone should take a look at its Peace park and museum. Its a bit south, but easily reachable by Shinkansen definitely DEFINITELY look into the JR pass if you havent already, by the way). I took a night bus from Tokyo and it wasnt so bad, either. There is also a island nearby called Miyajima that I really liked.

Hahaha! You assume right. Im hoping to spend at least two weeks over there. I guess the biggest part of my interests in Japan is their culture. Everything is so different over there and I love it. Plus, it would be awesome to converse with people in Japanese. I probably will hit Tokyo and Kyoto. I was just wondering if there were any other amazing places that I didnt know of.

Ｌｉｋｅ　Ｉ　ｓａｉｄ，　Ｎａｒａ　ａｎｄ　Ｏｓａｋａ　ａｒｅ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｔｏｏ．