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On Friday, I leave for an international conference in Kyoto, Japan. I have several immediate questions about Japan:
1) What do I eat? Warning: I am allergic to something in American sushi (something in California Roll; herring also causes problems);
2) Can I get by with English?
3) Is there anything to do there?
4) Given that airfare and hotel expenses are covered, will I go broke with food and transportation costs over there?

I'm a little scared of the stories of high prices over there.

If memory serves, I think you need to call on Bob Green.

captmojo wrote:If memory serves, I think you need to call on Bob Green.

He no longer lives there.

Lavabe wrote:

captmojo wrote:If memory serves, I think you need to call on Bob Green.

He no longer lives there.

He might remember a thing or two.

Ya think...

The above was my thinking. ;)

I wish I could be more help but my experience in Japan is, unfortunately, much further in the past than I think it is. I would look at a couple of guide books for some ideas. I don't know if there is a Far East equivalent for Rick Steves, but I would ask around. I would suggest learning a few Japanese words - thank you, your welcome, good morning, etc. My guess is that you will find quite a few people that speak English.

The train/subway system in Tokyou was easy to use when I was there - signs were in Japanese and English. The lesson I learned quickly was to not look out the front window of a taxi as I didn't really want to see what was in front of us. I doubt traffic has improved in the last 40 years. In Tokyo, there was very little going around the block as the city was built back up around bomb craters after WWII.

Fortunately, I'll be in Kyoto. I really don't like big cities like I used to. I am thinking that I'll be walking a lot over there. I think my hotel is something like half a mile from the university.

I've PM'd Bob Green. Hopefully he'll say something that might make me feel a little less uneasy about going. At this point, you can summarize my knowledge of Japanese cuisine in two words:

IRON CHEF.

OK, I also have heard the term sashimi, I know what some sushi is, and what tempura is. Oh yeah... and miso soup (or whatever it is they bring out at the Japanese steak house restaurants in the US).

I REALLY don't know squat about tourism in Japan, except from what I remember about Tokyo in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (circa 1967 ish). Wrong city, wrong time.

Surely for a primate conference they might have SOMETHING to do with Japanese snow monkeys in those spas, right?

Do I need a visa or anything to get into the country? Should I bring my camera?

I am as unprepared for this trip as I have ever been.

We were there in November 1984 for a week, and we got 242 yen to the US dollar. Now it's less than half that exchange rate. We had a great time. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Narita (the airport city for Tokyo) and took a train into Tokyo most every day. The city is divided into (I think) five districts - shopping (Ginsa), business, etc. and if you have time you'll want to visit each. Lots of shrines and temples to see. The food was good, and we never touched the sushi - not our thing. The one time I had beef it was both expensive and not very good. Most of the restaurants put "models" of each dish on the menu in the window, and they have a number next to them so you can order #16, etc.

We took an overnight trip to Kyoto on the Shinkansen - the bullet train. That was fun.

Even back then we were advised by someone who knew not to buy electronics to ship back home - you can get stuff cheaper here.

We flew from RDU to NY and then nonstop to Tokyo the next day. Flight over was ~14 hours, taking the northern route over the NW Territories of Canada, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, etc., and the last two hours were pretty rough bucking head winds. Coming back, with the tail winds and taking a more southerly route (we flew past Mt. Rainier at dawn) it was only 12 hours. We left Tokyo (Narita) on Tuesday at noon and got into JFK on Tuesday at noon! Scotty, beam me up!

Have a great time. And yes, Bob Green would be your source for first hand recent knowledge!

Things I've learned from others and from my own searches over the years (One of these days I'd like to visit Tokyo)

The best thing to do when you get there is to pick up a copy of Tokyo Journal; their neighborhood guides are very detailed. I have copies of all of them from the late 90s. Better than any travel book.

And Avoid Chinese food in Japan.
Don't be fooled. Yakiniku is not Korean BBQ, though the Japanese might want you to think so.
Often Pizza comes in interesting toppings, like corn, Squid ink and more imaginative (and not very appetizing) things.

When in doubt.... go to Mos Burgers!

As for things to do/see.....

Things to do when in Japan:

Sumo wrestling
Watching sumo wrestling is an exciting and very traditional Japanese experience. Six major tournaments are held throughout the year in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka (www.sumo.or.jp/eng).


Japanese tea ceremony
Arrange to take part in a traditional tea ceremony through the tourist information centres in Kyoto and Tokyo. The elegant ritual takes place in a room designed and designated for tea, a chashitsu, and is steeped in symbolism.

Hot springs (onsen)
When the Japanese want to relax, they head to a natural hot spring resort, or onsen. Famous ones include Dogo in Matsuyama, Shikoku, one of the oldest in Japan; and Ibusuki, on the southern tip of Kyushu, renowned for its hot-sand saunas.

Cherry blossom parties
From April through May, cherry trees start blossoming across the country, and lively parties are held underneath the pretty blossoms. The most famous are in Ueno Park in Tokyo and Maruyama Park in Kyoto.

Traditional Performing Arts
In Tokyo or Osaka book a seat to see some bunraku, a unique form of puppet theatre, or the dramatic forms of noh and kabuki theatre which feature participants dressed in colourful traditional costumes (www.ntj.jac.go.jp).

Tsukiji Fish Market
Get up early to witness the world's largest fish market at Tsukiji (www.tsukiji-market.or.jp) in Tokyo. The action kicks off around 4 am and winds down around midday. Afterwards, feast on the freshest of sushi and sashimi at the restaurants beside the market.

Theme Parks
Universal Studios Japan (www.usj.co.jp) in Osaka and Tokyo's Disney Resort (www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp) are both enormously popular with families. Even better is Tokyo's delightful Ghibli Museum (www.ghibli-museum.jp) based on the animated movies of Studio Ghibli.

Kabukiza Theater
Traditional Japanese Kabuki performances can be seen at this refurbished theater in the Ginza district.

National Science Museum, ("Tokyo Version of "Natural History Museum")

Tokyo National Museum,
This famous museum houses the largest collection of Japanese artifacts and artworks in the world. With over 100,000 pieces and room to display only 4,000, exhibits are rotated constantly.

Ueno Park,
This large park is a favorite destination of Tokyo residents, and within can be found many of the city's main attractions including the Tokyo National Museum, Ueno zoo (They have Lemurs, and Sloths and all sorts of cool and funky, far-east creatures) and the National Museum of Western Art.

Haunted Tokyo Tours
Dare to walk through old sections of town where ancient spirits prowl. Visit secret “power spots” that locals have known about for centuries. Listen to tales of ghosts and goblins, blood lust and revenge. Our walking tours are led by experienced guides in English, and are part legend, part art/architecture, and part spooky fun! Custom tours available for your group. Come find out why Tokyo is the most haunted city in the world!

Suijo Bus Sumida River Line
Ferry; Marina; Ship

Tokyo Tower
Observation deck/tower; Lookout over major Tokyo.
this 333m (1,092ft) red and white tower is an almost exact replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. But standing several meters taller than the original, it also includes an aquarium, numerous gift shops and a waxwork exhibit. The 250m- (820ft-) high observation tower offers views as far as Mt Fuji.

Hama Rikyu Gardens
This popular park is located next to Tokyo Bay and contains one of the most beautiful gardens in the city.

Beer Museum Yebisu

Hakone - onsen and Kaiseki cuisine - ultimate experience, relaxing and the FOOD is glorious. Hakone has lovely nature sights- volcanic vents, bubbling springs and on a clear day it has a SPECTACULAR view of Fuji-san and was easy to get to around with the Hakone rail pass.

Harajuku and Shrine - The sunday Harajuku crowd is something to be seen. The kids are dressed up to be photographed and play it to the max - Goths, barmaids, Borg, superheros. The shrine next door is very calming. We were fortunate to witness a traditional temple wedding and it was also the 3,5,7 festival so it was filled with kids dressed in kimonos

Shinjuku at night is busy if you want to see neon lights. The government building has a lookout on the top floor to see tokyo at night.

Ueno - has a fantastic street market selling everything from food, to shoes, golfclubs and retro gear!!! You do see the poor around the lake there... but it is another side of tokyo to check out.

a few other things to remember:
MONEY
1.00 USD = 84.3568 Japanese currency (¥)

Here is a rundown of some average prices:

List of some regular Tokyo items and their prices

Buy a lunch set menu for ¥1,000 ($11 USD) or less at many high street locations. Well worth the investment and sets you up for the day.
Narita Express ticket (single) from Narita Airport to Tokyo area, approximately ¥3,000 ($35 USD), depending on destination.
There are a range of Tokyo Disney tickets available. A one day pass to Disneyland or Disneysea costs: for adult ¥5,800, ($70USD)
A movie ticket ¥1,800 ($21 USD)
The cheapest ticket for a sumo match in Ryogoku for the Grand Sumo Tournament -
one day ¥3,500. (about $40USD)
A trip to the Shinjuku Government building Observation floor - ¥ free.

A pint of beer in a British style pub ¥700 ($8USD) - 1,000 ($11USD)
A can of beer from the local store ¥250 ($3USD)

You get the idea.

My rent for a 37m² apartment - ¥90,000 per month

Cheap Tokyo (Guide to Tokyo on a shoestring)
To save cash in Tokyo, the most important thing to remember is to try and make friends. Typically, drinking and entertainment will gobble up cash quicker than any other activities. What better way to save dough than spreading the check? This will no doubt save cash, but will also be added incentive to bring you closer to people from the land you came to visit. Don't be shy—most Japanese savor the opportunity to speak with a foreign traveler. At the end of the night, please don't forget that the trains stop running at 12:30am (no use saving cash just to blow it all on an over-priced taxi fare).
Additionally, try to get your hands on any of the following magazines: Tokyo Time Out, Tokyo Journal, and Xine or Metropolis (Tokyo) at most large bookstores. These magazines provide endless bargains and cost-cutting strategies.

Quick Tips:
For general items, travel goods, gifts, and housewares, search out the nearest 100-yen shop. For about 85 cents per item, you can load up on quirky Japanese souvenirs, valuable everyday items, and all sorts of other knick-knacks you have never dreamed of, but certainly can't do without. 100-yen shops also carry dry and canned foods and even Japanese sake. Keeping with food, 100-yen sushi shops abound, but if raw fish isn't part of your diet, hopefully noodles won’t pose a problem. 100-yen ramen and udon shops, along with cheap sushi, have recently become a fad in Tokyo in response to Japan's sustained economic recession. Supermarkets sell prepared box lunches for reasonable prices and they will even provide eating utensils and a straw for your drink. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to avoid buying anything from convenience stores, as the prices are inflated and supermarkets have the same goods, but at a fraction of the price.
Best Way To Get Around:
If cash is tight, transportation should be limited to public transit, walking, and bicycles. Hitchhiking isn't unheard of in Japan; however, the Japanese almost never resort to this method of transport. Luckily, foreign travelers in Japan are very likely to be picked up after only a few minutes of waiting. As always when hitchhiking, exercise common sense and caution, and practice a passable pathetic facial expression in the mirror beforehand.
When you are picked up, remember that it is customary to provide a gift of some kind for the driver. Cigarettes or chocolate from your home country, or perhaps a free in-car English lesson, are more than acceptable. Hitchhiking differs in Japan from most other locales, as one typically needs to prepare a clearly written sign in Kanji characters with the term ((Houmen) = bound for)) written after your destination. Who knows, maybe your new best friend from paragraph 1 will even help with the writing of the sign. (Please view the photo file for example signs.) Always remember, Tokyo on a shoestring should be fun, challenging, and adventurous. Who knows, maybe Tokyo-on-the-cheap could become the next travel-cult adventure!

I have Japan overload. I will be hitting up my kid brother, who is in the Army and was stationed in South Korea for years and often "escaped" to Tokyo, and see what he may suggest.

Just a reminder... KYOTO, not TOKYO.

Lavabe wrote:Just a reminder... KYOTO, not TOKYO.

Kyoto is an anagram of Tokyo.

The restaurants do put plastic "samples" of the menu in the windows. You will find spring rolls, a variety of soba (noodle) dishes, etc. Sukiyaki (ski-yaki) is a beef dish. There is also shabu shabu. It seems that each country has a version of this dish - Genghis Khan in Korea. It is cooked at the table - beef in broth, with cabbage, various sauces (Korean memory here).

You will find various castles and temples. The Imperial Family had a home there until the late 1860s.

Are you flying into Kyoto? Of course, if you have time to travel to Tokyo, I can give you directions so you can visit my childhood home.

Lavabe wrote:Just a reminder... KYOTO, not TOKYO.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto

The "kyo" means capital.

I just sent a message to a friend of mine from my Duke days who has spent the last oh I don't know.... 3-5 years living full time in Japan as an English teacher in Japanese schools. I've asked for any quick pointers she can give or books/resources she can point you to.

DukieInKansas wrote:The restaurants do put plastic "samples" of the menu in the windows. You will find spring rolls, a variety of soba (noodle) dishes, etc. Sukiyaki (ski-yaki) is a beef dish. There is also shabu shabu. It seems that each country has a version of this dish - Genghis Khan in Korea. It is cooked at the table - beef in broth, with cabbage, various sauces (Korean memory here).

You will find various castles and temples. The Imperial Family had a home there until the late 1860s.

Are you flying into Kyoto? Of course, if you have time to travel to Tokyo, I can give you directions so you can visit my childhood home.

I am avoiding the mess of Tokyo, and I am flying Seattle to Osaka/Kyoto (KIX). I then have to take a train from the airport to Kyoto. Beats me how I get from the train to the hotel.

Can I get the noodles whole grain? I've been very diligent with sticking to a cardiologist recommended adjustment to my diet.

Thanks Usul!

I do know this, when you're ready to leave, do exactly as the Japanese do. Fly to a gambling holiday in Las Vegas with a stop-over in Honolulu for shopping at Hilo Hatties.

captmojo wrote:I do know this, when you're ready to leave, do exactly as the Japanese do. Fly to a gambling holiday in Las Vegas with a stop-over in Honolulu for shopping at Hilo Hatties.

Alas, I'm flying to Seattle, waiting a few hours there, then flying to Atlanta, where I'll hopefully stay with Wilson overnight. Who knows? Maybe we'll have a mini-Mafia reunion. Still working on arrangements.