Japan Trip Report (Kyoto, Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Hakone)

[turtledude]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Wow!... [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/notworthy.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70458-applaud.gif[/img] a lot to take in!

[Tropicana]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Sat by the pond for a long time in the cool of the late afternoon. The fish were HUGE and they kept pushing up above the water wanting to be fed.



I was sad to be leaving Japan the next day but I guess all wonderful experiences have to end. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]

I went back to where I was staying, packed. Then I had a fantastic sushi dinner and I wish I could remember the name of the place. Then tea and cake before I had another fabulous Japanese bath.

[Tropicana]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Day 8

The next day, I got up early and lined up for Kabuki. It was the first day of the month so the reasonably priced seats for the whole matinee were sold out. Besides, I had to head off and catch the Narita Express at 2:30.

There were more parks, gardens and temples but a lot of it is a blur. Man I didn't even tell you about Kamakura and my walk to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and stroll around the outer garden before I headed off to Kamakura. I'll try to go back and fill it in.

Oh well. Suffice it to say, it was a great trip and I highly recommend Japan if you're looking for some place to travel with a totally foregin culture and a lot of variety.

[Serenity82]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Well when I visited one school in Osaka there were:

Bathroom slippers
Hallway slippers
Classroom slippers
[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif[/img](but yes I still love Japan)

Kimberley, in the home you can have your own personal pair however in public places like schools you share. (public slippers)

[Tropicana]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

One of the places I stayed had a large meeting room downstairs. I was there whene some Japanese business people arrived for the meeting (about 25 of them). I noticed that some of them had shoe bags. They brought their own slippers, took them out of the bag and slipped into them. Then, they put their shoes in the shoe bag and took the shoe bag into the meeting with them. They didn't leave the shoes at the front door. So I guess in some situations it may be okay to bring your own but I haven't a clue when it's okay to do so.

[Tropicana]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

These sites cover some of the basics of Japanese ettiquette:

http://www.jma.or.jp/CONVENTION/en/guide.html

http://www.jpinn.com/menu/fq.html]

Your travel agent will help you with 4, 5, and 6 star Western style accomodation and luxury Ryokans (traditional Japanese style inns). Some of the big hotels also have Japanese style rooms. Here is where you can find affordable accomodation at Ryokans (traditional Japanese style inns).

Japanese Inn Group

http://www.jpinn.com

Welcome Inn Group

http://www.itcj.jp

Japanese Guest Houses

http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/index.htm

Tours can be arranged here:

http://www.japanroads.com/index.htm

Sunrise Tours

http://www.jtbgmt.com/sunrisetour

More tips:

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/attractions/affordable/stay.html

If you decide to go, enjoy your trip and be sure to post and tell us about it.

Sayonara

[Kimberley24]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Uhm i don't like the idea of sharing slippers with anyone worst a bathe [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img] i suppose in the event that we all get to visit in 2009 i will try to avoid public bathrooms.

[Tropicana]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Or bring your own slippers and discretely slip into them after you have gone into the toilet. These slippers are not so much in public toilets like hotels, stations, airports, and restaurants. It's more the toilets in the places you are staying or when you visit homes. Remember, I have seen business people bring shoe bags with their own slippers, put their shoes in them and take them into the meeting. I have no idea if this is considered polite but it must be okay as I say a lot of people doing it at that meeting I told you about. Kingston? Serrenity? Evanovitch? Can you help us out here? I have reached the limits of my knowledge about slippers.

[ohliz]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Very interesting Tropi. The extent of my Japan experience has been two six hour layovers at the airport and spots in Taiwan that retain their Japanese colonial feel...so reading and seeing this was an eye opener for me [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

PS: They have the squat toilets in Taiwan too...if there was an option I used the other kind but sometimes that was it. I noticed older people (who lived when Taiwan was a Japanese colony) tended to prefer them.

[Serenity82]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kimberley25</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Uhm i don't like the idea of sharing slippers with anyone worst a bathe [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img] i suppose in the event that we all get to visit in 2009 i will try to avoid public bathrooms. </div></div>

U don't need slippers in public bathrooms. Only like businesses, schools, homes,etc you would share slippers

[Sendnuluv]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Wow,

Thank you soo much Tropi and all who have contributed! This was a wonderful report, definitely different that what the usual reports entail.

[blackberryrain]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Love, LOVE this report Tropi [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]. Thanks for sharing.

[Jah_Mamma]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

Nice, nice!! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

The pic of the Bamboo Temple is awesome! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bannana_purple.gif[/img]

[Tropicana]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jah_Mamma</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nice, nice!! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

The pic of the Bamboo Temple is awesome! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/bannana_purple.gif[/img] </div></div>

It WAS awesome and SO peaceful. There were some fall waterfalls and streams there too.

[DC]

Re: Japan Trip Reports

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img] nice..
That pond pic seems so tranquil and peaceful....I like that pic.. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]