Hey all,
From July 11 to July 25, I’ll be hitting up Japan again for a 3rd round of sight-seeing, good eating, adventure, and all-around good times!
My current itinerary is the 12th-13th in Tokyo in hotels and maybe with a penpal, the 14th to 16th in Shizuoka with an ex-girlfriend and her family, the 16th night to the 20th with a lady in Nara that I met on www.couchsurfing.com, and from then until the 25th is a mystery
I’m sharing my trip experience for two reasons. One, I know there are many dopers in Japan, and I’d be pleased as punch to hang out with any of y’all. Two, I’m happy to accept a moderates number of requests for souvenirs and/or postcards for dopers who ask nicely. I’m on a student’s budget, so it’s fair to say things such as an original Hokusai woodblock printing is out of the question
Oh, make that three reasons. Any recommendations for extra cool things to see on my free five days? I’ve explored Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Nikko, Yokohama, Yokosuka, and Ise on previous travels, although I only hit the major hotspots in each. I will have a JR pass.
楽しみしてる＾＾(Looking forward to it!)
Autolycus
For such an apparantly expensive place to travel, a great many people from my old town of Strabane have ended up there, including two mates. One of them is there teaching English, the other went with a band that promptly disbanded on arrival, leaving him some free time to look around.
I lived in Aomori ken for 7 years, so only visited down south as a tourist. I see you haven’t checked out the Noto hanto - I remember really enjoying this area as the houses are all so cute and really small terraced rice fields. We hired a car to see it and stopped in small ryokans along the way. Have fun.
Enjoy the trip (well duh). When I was there I had no trouble getting by without knowing much Japanese other than what I could read off the back of a guidebook. I know you know a lot of Japanese, but I was wondering how well you spoke it? Give yourself a 1 - 10 score (bad -> superb).
Oh wow, I didn’t actually look at the date you were leaving. I won’t ask for any souvenirs, I get a lot of good stuff in a Christmas gift exchange with three families in Japan (two of my best silk ties came from Japan). But how connected to the net will you be? Will you still be hanging around this place?
I went to Europe for three weeks last fall and wished everyone goodbye here. The unanimous response was “Um, dude, they have the internet over there you know?” But really, I took that time away from being online.
Mods, can members other than the OP request a title change? I was thinking about something like “Hey, let’s tease and make fun of **Auto **while he can’t be around to defend himself!”
I’m taking the trains to Tachikawa next weekend, arriving after work Friday, 20 July, then leaving Sunday morning or afternoon, depending upon boredom level. All I’m tasked to do is find A3+ photo quality paper, so I’ll have some free time, if you want to hook up. If you want something from here, I’ll be glad to bring it down. Should you make it up my way, I can certainly put you up. Don’t hesitate to ask.
MelCthefirst, I’m in Aomori-ken. I’m on my eight month. Not the rockingest place. Is there anything I must see? My friends don’t leave base much, so they’ve know less about the area than I. Autolycus, sorry for the digression. I’ve not known anyone else on this board who’s been to this area.
So you must be in Misawa? I went there a few times - the taxi drivers don’t like taking foreigners after dark! I lived in Fukaura and Inagaki (near Goshogowara).
There is a temple in Fukaura (sea of Japan coast) with a mural made of seamen’s hair. There is a town closer to you starts with an S I think, where they reckon Jesus and his brother are buried. The Nebuta festival is worth seeing.
Lake Towada is very pretty especially in autumn. The onsen in Kurosaki mountains is fantastic, especially in winter when you have to get there by snow mobile.
There is actually heaps to see, just not along the lines of ‘Disneyland’ type attractions.
I had a great life because I was adopted by a village and always was being invited to do stuff. There is a book on Aomori things to see and do written by a foreigner who lived there, but I can’t remember what it is called - should be able to find in the book shop with English books.
