Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hi folks, I do not know when we will do it yet, but we are starting to save, research and learn some of the language for our foray to Japan and TDL. In reality I would love to take a sabbatical and travel for a year around the country (maybe 6 months), but that is not going to happen. It will more likely be 2 or possible 3 weeks (we could go longer in summer, but I do not get on well with humidity, high heat or crowds). WE are also sadly stuck with school vacation times - so Christmas, Valentine's week, Easter, last week May/1st week June, August, or Halloween week, so a steer would be good on the best time. I have started my own company, so I am trying to secure another good contract before we book, but also, my parents are about to lose everything, so I have to prioritise helping them. What scares me is my health is getting worse, so I want to do this sooner rather than later before i become too ill to travel. It is not great psychologically, but this gives me something to really look forward to. We are considering the following potential places and I would love the advice of people who have been: Thanks Malin, I do welcome your views from your trip in March. At the mo, it is up in the air as to exactly what we do, whether we just stay in Toyko and TDL, or whether we go to Osaka (Universal Studios and the Castle), Kyoto for 3 or 4 days and stay at a Ryokan (we don't tend to get bored of temples, shrines and castles), and then go to Tokyo and TDL. In Tokyo, so far the musts seem to be (in no particular order): Shopping in Ginza Imperial Palace Tsuiji Fish MArket Tokyo Tower? No so sure if this is a priority Ueno Park (maybe the zoo - Sarah is panda obsessed and we do not have any in Europe anymore) Tokyo National Museum Senso-ji Temple Trying a little Pachinko Harajuku district Maybe a baseball game As well as 5 days of TDL/TDS Also of possible interest are: The great Bubbha of Daibutsu Chichibu-Tama National Park Matsumoto Castle Todai-ji Temple and the giant Buddha - Nara Himeji Castle (though this is supposed to be under tarps for the next couple of years for refurbishment) Kyoto seems a must - Toji Temple, Nijo castle, Gion district, the Philosopher's Walk,Gold and Silver Pavillions, Ryoan-ji Temple, I am a huge fan of electronics, and the boy and I love games. I also quite like Manga, but my brothers are obsessed with it, so that is likely the presents we would be buying. At TDL, I am tempted to do a few nights harbour view in the Mira Costa and a few nights in the DLH. But another part of me is considering the cheaper options to go sooner. I am confused really. Another part of me is considering starting and ending the trip at TDL. Or fly in to Osaka and leave Tokyo (or visa versa) or with so much in Tokyo, just concentrate on seeing TDL and the city. Hard call. High on the priorities is seeing our wonderful LP friends in Japan too and enjoying some time hanging out. I doubt we will fit it all in, so I would love the steer of other LPers. Thanks in advance for your help guys.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo As for Ueno park, if the panda's are gone, then we probably won't bother. Another perameter of this trip might be a stop over in Hong Kong (city, Buddha, HKDL, Ocean Park) - but again we could easily spend a week in Hong KOng too. It's a hard call.
Originally Posted By Mr X Thanks for posting this, I will think about it some more and give you some thoughts soon. As for the zoo, I was there a couple of months ago and yup they're definitely gone (unless something is in the works). In fact, they had big signs out front reading "there are no giant Pandas at Ueno zoo", a response to many customer complaints I would imagine. And it's definitely something to be skipped. Aside from the former Panda exhibit the zoo is quite small, old, and frankly a little depressing. Don't skip Ueno park because of that though, the park is large and cool and there are many museums and Ueno is a great zone to check out in any case (many street venders selling interesting things like fruit on a stick, octopus balls, and belts).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Ueno park will still be on the list due to the Tokyo National Museum which seems like a must do in Tokyo.
Originally Posted By Mr X X recommended zones in Tokyo; Ueno Ginza Asakusa Akihabara Harajuku Shinjuku Shibuya Also X recommended, a half-day trip to Yokohama and Kamakura and, if possible, overnights to Nikko and Hakkone (Hakkone can be done on the way to Osaka if you're heading that way).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I meant to say, we are likely to go to the park, but not the zoo (unless there are some very rare species not in Europe, San Diego zoo or DAK).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmm, we were wondering about Yokohama. And I was worried that Hakkone is out of the way, but if it is not too difficult, that sounds great. This is really hard as there is so much we want to do, but we do not want to kill ourselves and it is also supposed to be a vacation ;-)
Originally Posted By Mr X Sorry this is coming in spurts, but I'm sure to think of other stuff later. As for Ginza, I wouldn't shop there if I were you. Just window shop and decide what you want, you'll be able to find all the same goods at much lower prices virtually any other place in the city (Ginza is Rodeo Drive, fun to look at but only the rich shop there ). Don't miss the Mitsukoshi department store, it's a Ginza institution. As for the Imperial Palace, skip it in Tokyo and add it to your Kyoto list...in Tokyo you can only look from afar, whereas in Kyoto you can actually enter and take a tour.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We really want a mix of the old and Edo culture, some of the uber modern, cosplay and Otaku is high up the priority list. We considered an Onsen, but wondered how appropriate that would be with little ones. And of course on one level 5 days at TDL seems a little high, but I want to do it justice, riding virtually everything, seeing all the shows, dining in the finer restaurants, and not killing ourselves. Difficult. Very difficult. If only summer were not so humid (or is it?). You see, we could possibly rangle 5 weeks in summer, but I do not want to queue for 3 hours for each attraction either (90 mins for an e is our limit, 20 is preferable ;-)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We are not real hard core shoppers - but Mitsukoshi is the draw for Ginza. Really for shopping, we are interested in traditional decor, kimonos, some manga, charms and religious relics, and cool electronics as well as Nintendo related merchandise. We want to try key japanese cuisine, but I also get a buzz of seeing how american food experiences are modified by different cultures. Thanks for the tip on the Palace, Kyoto it is!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***This is really hard as there is so much we want to do, but we do not want to kill ourselves and it is also supposed to be a vacation ;-)*** Agreed. I'd be happy to help you prioritize as well, when the time comes. You mentioned wanting to stay at a Ryokan. Might I suggest making that your Hakkone day (the scenery is wonderful and you should really take a whole overnight there) and then proceeding to Kyoto/Osaka (or back) from there? You mentioned health issues, so I should warn you that Ryokan can be very uncomfortable for the Western body (I almost broke my back!), it's nothing but floor furniture and low, low tables and floor bedding. If you're concerned about that, there are other options (like a B&B type of place) which include all the good stuff like Japanese meals and Onsen baths, without the floor stress. Oh crap, and add Roppongi to your list, it's funky and interesting though not really for kids. You can see Tokyo tower from there though, and Roppongi Hills is very upscale and cool to check out. I wouldn't bother actually going to Tokyo Tower if I were you, you can view it and take pics easily enough from Roppongi and the place itself is nothing but a tourist trap.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***We considered an Onsen, but wondered how appropriate that would be with little ones.*** Wha? It's completely appropriate and fine. That's your uptight Western values talkin. In Japan, EVERYONE goes from infants to elderly. If you miss out, you're missing, absolutely, THE quintessential joy of Japan and the ultimate in relaxation on planet Earth as far as I'm concerned. If you're worried about strangers, find a place that has private Onsen, it's completely normal for the whole family to enter together.
Originally Posted By Mr X Or, if that seems like too much, it's fine for you to go in shifts as well, or even by yourself (perhaps MomBaloo could take the kids?).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I'm cool with it, even if mixed. I just wondered if the Japanese would frown on loud western kids at them (sadly in northern Europe and parts of the US, kids are frowned on). Otherwise, that would be cool. I am not very uptight at all. Nudist beaches and all, fine (though others may not want to see me ;-) Who knows, they may think I am a western Sumo.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo But my kids love Jacuzzis and the sort, so I suspect they would adore an Onsen if welcome.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I thought that might be the case for the tower. WE have been up the Eiffel Tower many times, but the view is awesome. I wondered how the Tokyo Tower rated or if there were alternatives for good views (like how San Francisco the Top of the Mark for Breakfast is the best way to see that city).
Originally Posted By LindsayC Dave, X suggested Roppongi Hills as place to visit - and that does include “Tokyo City View” which is really great for panoramic views of the city (I haven’t done the Tokyo Tower though). I love the original story/creature art by Takashi Murakami done for the complex. <a href="http://www.roppongihills.com/en/facilities/#tcv" target="_blank">http://www.roppongihills.com/e...ies/#tcv</a>
Originally Posted By Mr X ***But my kids love Jacuzzis and the sort, so I suspect they would adore an Onsen if welcome.*** No worries. There are plenty of noisy Japanese kids too. Still, I would recommend a place that has privacy, it's so much nicer not to have to share your bath with strangers (the trade-off is that they are often occupied so you have to keep checking back unless you go late night or early morning...shoes outside means someone is using the facilities and, in a private setting, you should not enter. As for kids not being welcomed, perhaps you're thinking of the handful of rural Onsen that are "Japanese only"? If so, they wouldn't let you in with or without kids (it's a big controversy, but I'm sure you'd never even find one unless you searched it out).
Originally Posted By Malin The first thing I see when viewing the places you would like to visit is that I think you would be better considering two trips. Your schedule for Tokyo looks fairly packed at it is and traveling Japan with a young family in tow could be a bit hectic. I think you could easily fill about three weeks in Tokyo if you consider a few day trips outside the city. I think adding in destinations like Kyoto and Osaka could be done, but at the same time its meant to be a vacation and could be to much trying to see so much in only three weeks. I know thousands of Westerner's visit Japan every year and manage it, but these people also usually only spend a couple of nights in each location and I don't see how anyone can visit Tokyo and fully experience what it has to offer in only a couple of nights. You seem to indicate you could probarely visit Tokyo a lot sooner by changing accomendation, and I would seriously consider this and maybe with the money saved work in a future trip a bit further down the line, this time seeing Kyoto, Osaka, Nara etc. *** Another perameter of this trip might be a stop over in Hong Kong (city, Buddha, HKDL, Ocean Park) - but again we could easily spend a week in Hong KOng too. It's a hard call. *** Hmm thats a very tough call and Ocean Park has recently opened a new Panda exhibit. Macau is also an interesting place to visit full of history and Vegas style casino's. As much as I want to say go with Hong Kong, I also know your a Disney fan and the expansion at Hong Kong Disneyland will be on going until 2013. What sort of time frame did you have in mind for the Baloo's trip out to Japan? Mr X recomended Shibuya and I would agree, LeeMac advised me to visit it while in town and its a must see, even if you do no shopping. Just seeing a million people walk over the crossroads is an experience.
Originally Posted By Malin *** I wouldn't bother actually going to Tokyo Tower if I were you, you can view it and take pics easily enough from Roppongi and the place itself is nothing but a tourist trap. *** Yeah I would have to agree another good observation deck can be found in Shinjuku at the Govement Building. Not only is admission free but you can also if your lucky see Mt Fuji.
