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Japan Trip Recs

Joined
4 January 2007
Messages
919
Location
DFW/Conesus Lake NY
I have some time off next month and was thinking of going to Japan for vacation. If I go, it will probably be for 8 nights and we'll also be taking our then 9 month old. I've never been there so I would welcome any suggestions for itineraries. I'm pretty flexible, in that I can really go anywhere, but think that this will be a unique experience.
 
A few things you might want to consider:

Twin Ring Motegi (in Tochigi) - Honda Museum (Collection Hall), Twin-Ring circuit, etc

Tokyo/Yokohama
MACS - large dealer of used NSX
Autobacs - large shop in Yokohama (aftermarket parts)
numerous small garage/aftermarket shops in Yokohama and metro Tokyo
- Backyard Special, Taitec, Advanced, etc
Mr Craft - great toy store in Tokyo (lots of cool toys, models, etc)

Since the NSX is now out-of-production, no "assembly plant" to visit :(
 
Bring me back a set of the NSX-R Tires please!

Bridgestone Potenza RE070 H0s sizes 215/40/17 & 255/40/17 :D THX lol :tongue:

U can check them as luggage on the return trip :)
 
Thanks for the pointers...will try to check out MACS as I've heard alot about it on this site. I have yet to own an NSX, so I'll have to wait on the goodies.

What bout sight-seeing, what are the must-go's? I'm thinking Tokyo, Kyoto, Mt. Fuji. I'll admit I know very little about Japan so any vacation tips would be helpful.
 
What bout sight-seeing, what are the must-go's? I'm thinking Tokyo, Kyoto, Mt. Fuji. I'll admit I know very little about Japan so any vacation tips would be helpful.

- Before leaving, make sure you bring at least a decent guide book. Most people here do not speak English. Friendly people, but not that helpful if you can't communicate with them.

- This is a cash oriented country, so bring plenty (exchange booth at the airport is a big No-No), use the ATM at the Narita airport would save you a lot...Not all ATM you see accept US card, however, most 7-11 would have ATM that accepts US ATM cards. With the current exchange rate, you should brace yourself.

- Taxi is tricky unless you are going to a landmark/well known location, since most drivers do not understand English

- Street address is really tough to use, the common street number / street name system does not apply here

- Don't expect any US cell phone / blackberry / iphone to work here even if you use an int'l plan...tried it and failed with numerous carrier / devices

- If you do not want to pay ~US$250 of taxi bill, take the airport express train / bus, research the route before you leave the US.

- Shopping, depends on what you want to buy, try not to buy anything import, you'll be paying a premium compared to the US. Clothing in Japan prob won't fit you guys as well, unless you're skinny with narrow shoulders...

- Watch "Lost in Translation" and expect EXACTLY the same when you're in Japan...even if you've watched it, watch again. I did after living here, totally different feelings :rolleyes:

- Lodging - If you stay in a service apartment like Oakwood, you should be able to save 10-15% compared to hotel and they're more spacious.

Point of attractions:

Tokyo:
- Tsukiji fish mkt - nothing beats going to fish mkt and having great sushi meal when most people are still sleeping.
- Asakusa Temples - great tourist attraction with the one of the most famous Buddist temples in Tokyo
- Ginza - The premier shopping district
- Shinjuku - Great restaurants / shopping / entertainment districts.
- Shibuya - Too much to list here, take a walk thru the area and you'll be amazed. This is where a lot of the scenes in "Lost in Translation" took place.
- Odaiba - Popular spot to spend a day/afternoon
- Yokohama - Chinatown (cleanest C-town ever, I'm Chinese), old buildings with lots of western influences...
- Tokyo Tower - it's worth a trip if you happen to tour around Roppongi.
- Roppongi - Food / entertainment / bar district. I assume w/ your 9-mo old, hard core drinking is out of the question? BTW, I live here.
- Kamakura - old coastal city that is 1-hr from Tokyo center, worth a trip...


Kyoto - Never been there, heard many great stories about the city. You will enjoy it if you like old Japan. Quiet with numerous temple and Shinto shrines.

Hokaido - Northern island, great time to visit the fields that are covered with flowers...great seafood.

Hope that helps...let me know if you need more info/help. :smile:
 
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- Before leaving, make sure you bring at least a decent guide book. Most people here do not speak English. Friendly people, but not that helpful if you can't communicate with them.

- This is a cash oriented country, so bring plenty (exchange booth at the airport is a big No-No), use the ATM at the Narita airport would save you a lot...Not all ATM you see accept US card, however, most 7-11 would have ATM that accepts US ATM cards. With the current exchange rate, you should brace yourself.

- Taxi is tricky unless you are going to a landmark/well known location, since most drivers do not understand English

- Street address is really tough to use, the common street number / street name system does not apply here

- Don't expect any US cell phone / blackberry / iphone to work here even if you use an int'l plan...tried it and failed with numerous carrier / devices

- If you do not want to pay ~US$250 of taxi bill, take the airport express train / bus, research the route before you leave the US.

- Shopping, depends on what you want to buy, try not to buy anything import, you'll be paying a premium compared to the US. Clothing in Japan prob won't fit you guys as well, unless you're skinny with narrow shoulders...

- Watch "Lost in Translation" and expect EXACTLY the same when you're in Japan...even if you've watched it, watch again. I did after living here, totally different feelings :rolleyes:

- Lodging - If you stay in a service apartment like Oakwood, you should be able to save 10-15% compared to hotel and they're more spacious.

Point of attractions:

Tokyo:
- Tsukiji fish mkt - nothing beats going to fish mkt and having great sushi meal when most people are still sleeping.
- Asakusa Temples - great tourist attraction with the one of the most famous Buddist temples in Tokyo
- Shibuya - Too much to list here, take a walk thru the area and you'll be amazed. This is where a lot of the scenes in "Lost in Translation" took place.
- Odaiba - Popular spot to spend a day/afternoon
- Yokohama - Chinatown (cleanest C-town ever, I'm Chinese), old buildings with lots of western influences...
- Roppongi - Food / entertainment / bar district. I assume w/ your 9-mo old, hard core drinking is out of the question? BTW, I live here.
- Kamakura - old coastal city that is 1-hr from Tokyo center, worth a trip...


Kyoto - Never been there, heard many great stories about the city. You will enjoy it if you like old Japan. Quiet with numerous temple and Shinto shrines.

Hokaido - Northern island, great time to visit the fields that are covered with flowers...great seafood.

Hope that helps...let me know if you need more info/help. :smile:

Hey Brian how are you doing? I'm sure you'd be happy to know your former baby is doing great! How are things in Japan?

(sorry for the off topic guys)
 
- Before leaving, make sure you bring at least a decent guide book. Most people here do not speak English. Friendly people, but not that helpful if you can't communicate with them.

- This is a cash oriented country, so bring plenty (exchange booth at the airport is a big No-No), use the ATM at the Narita airport would save you a lot...Not all ATM you see accept US card, however, most 7-11 would have ATM that accepts US ATM cards. With the current exchange rate, you should brace yourself.

- Taxi is tricky unless you are going to a landmark/well known location, since most drivers do not understand English

- Street address is really tough to use, the common street number / street name system does not apply here

- Don't expect any US cell phone / blackberry / iphone to work here even if you use an int'l plan...tried it and failed with numerous carrier / devices

- If you do not want to pay ~US$250 of taxi bill, take the airport express train / bus, research the route before you leave the US.

- Shopping, depends on what you want to buy, try not to buy anything import, you'll be paying a premium compared to the US. Clothing in Japan prob won't fit you guys as well, unless you're skinny with narrow shoulders...

- Watch "Lost in Translation" and expect EXACTLY the same when you're in Japan...even if you've watched it, watch again. I did after living here, totally different feelings :rolleyes:

- Lodging - If you stay in a service apartment like Oakwood, you should be able to save 10-15% compared to hotel and they're more spacious.

Point of attractions:

Tokyo:
- Tsukiji fish mkt - nothing beats going to fish mkt and having great sushi meal when most people are still sleeping.
- Asakusa Temples - great tourist attraction with the one of the most famous Buddist temples in Tokyo
- Ginza - The premier shopping district
- Shinjuku - Great restaurants / shopping / entertainment districts.
- Shibuya - Too much to list here, take a walk thru the area and you'll be amazed. This is where a lot of the scenes in "Lost in Translation" took place.
- Odaiba - Popular spot to spend a day/afternoon
- Yokohama - Chinatown (cleanest C-town ever, I'm Chinese), old buildings with lots of western influences...
- Tokyo Tower - it's worth a trip if you happen to tour around Roppongi.
- Roppongi - Food / entertainment / bar district. I assume w/ your 9-mo old, hard core drinking is out of the question? BTW, I live here.
- Kamakura - old coastal city that is 1-hr from Tokyo center, worth a trip...


Kyoto - Never been there, heard many great stories about the city. You will enjoy it if you like old Japan. Quiet with numerous temple and Shinto shrines.

Hokaido - Northern island, great time to visit the fields that are covered with flowers...great seafood.

Hope that helps...let me know if you need more info/help. :smile:

Thanks for all the great info, this is exactly what I was looking for. I realize that language will be an issue, but I guess that is part of the adventure of international travel. I saw Lost in Translation awhile back but just put in my Tivo list for a refresher. Appreciate all the help. Also, what is the best way to see Mt. Fuji?
 
Thanks for all the great info, this is exactly what I was looking for. I realize that language will be an issue, but I guess that is part of the adventure of international travel. I saw Lost in Translation awhile back but just put in my Tivo list for a refresher. Appreciate all the help. Also, what is the best way to see Mt. Fuji?


Glad that helps.

- BTW, from 4/29 to 5/7 is the so-called golden week in Japan (public holidays lining up together), and you will find tourist attractions are packed with local tourists. You might have to pay premium as well...

- Couple great resources for dining / drinks: http://metropolis.co.jp/ and http://www.bento.com/tokyofood.html

- Mt. Fuji - Stand on top of any tall bldgs in Tokyo and look west...:biggrin: J/K...official climbing season starts in july but there is a bus that goes up halfway through out the year. Go to Hakone (about 2-3 hrs outside Tokyo), you should have a nice view of Fuji; or you can choose to go up.

Cheers :smile:
 
Hey Brian how are you doing? I'm sure you'd be happy to know your former baby is doing great! How are things in Japan?

Thanks for the update. I am glad you're enjoying the car. It's exciting and challenging living here but my wife and I are somewhat settled.

I casually checked on the NSXs here and cannot believe the price here :eek: . I found "my" car and it's 30% more for same year with slightly less miles.

Color plays a huge factor in Japan, a white NSX cost at least 10% than a comparable ones with different color. Amazing :rolleyes: An NA-1 NSX Type R runs for about US$ 65K - 75K :eek:

Sorry for OT....
 
for another car related attraction, from the threads ive seen on h-t if you go to spoon sports(big name in honda racing civic/accord/integra/etc) "mr spoon" seems to be a very nice guy, saw a thread where he took some honda-tech'rs to autobacs with him in his van thingy
 
Definitely a lot of cool "conventional" tourism too (most of this is just Tokyo)
- Ride the bullet train;
- Get to the train station early - the downtown Tokyo shinkansen station is a zoo (albeit a very clean and polite one!)
- Check out the cool electronics at Akihabara (Electric Town)
- Cruise the Tokyo river
- Gardens at the Emperors Palace
- See the Asakusa temple (score culture points with the SO)
- Walk the Ginza district at night (credit card limit might need an upgrade)

A few tips (lots more):
- Get a couple of business cards from your hotel - easy to show the taxi driver where to go
- Memorize a few key phrases (hello, thank you, please, cheers, can I have a beer, yes, no, etc)
- Learn the basic protocols - business card exchange, sake drinking, tea ceremony, sake drinking, etc... note: Suntory whiskey is not bad; neither is Kirin Ichiban. Also - the better sakes are served cold
- Speaking of tips - no tipping in Japan. NOT a way to win friends and influence people.
- Enjoy the food - be open-minded, and throttle the Western tendency to deconstruct everything. Trust the force, but choose your fugu wisely :wink:
 
I purchased tix a few days ago, so will be looking forward to Japan. By chance, got to see some cool pics posted by nsxsupra on his thread.
 
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