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It's a very beautiful country...clean and well organized.
There is a wonderful service called Tokyo free guide. 2 free guides met me at the bus when I arrived, showed me how to use the subway and trains and helped me find my first Ryokan and get settled in. Then we went to what was once the Shogun's garden.
So far, I have been to Tokyo (spent 2 nights at a Ryokan - traditional inn) which was basically a family home with the top floor converted to an inn.
I took a tour to Mount Fuji and was fortunate that it was visible on the day I travelled. We went way up to the 5th station. Mount Fuji hasn't erupted in a long time but there has been some activity.
We took a boat cruise on Lake Ashi and then cable cars WAY UP in Hakone where the view was spectacular.
The next day I went to Kyoto for 2 nights. I took the Shinkansen (bulllet train). I have taken it 3 times.
Talk about fast!! When you are on it you don't feel like it's going that fast but when it speeds by it is like WOW!! You get much more leg room than on a typical economy class airline seat. There is a little hook for your jacket or umbrella, and a tray with cupholder for your meal. Everyone takes these tiny bento (box) lunches on the train. I did too. When in Japan, do as the Japanese do...or as they call it over there....Japanese style.
In Kyoto, I stayed at a beautiful inn with extensive gardening on the outskirts of the city going into the mountains. My only regret is that I didn't stay longer.
The first night I was in Kyoto, a young American couple invited me to join them for dinner and a tour of the Gion district. they had rented a car that came equipped with a GPS unit. There was a female voice that provided detailed instructions in Japanese about how to travel to your destination. Some of them have cartoon animations and the woman bows and says arigato when you make the correct turn. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img] The guy had been to Japan many times so he showed us many things.
For example, you can always tell a geisha tea room or house as it looks like a restaurant but there is no signage, very private. We did see some apprentice Geisha but they were not dressed traditional style other than the kimonos. We had dinner at a wonderful Japanese restaurant in a tatami room with seats on the floor.
On the way back to the car, we did stumbled across some evening establishments (clearing throats). At one there was a guy at the door with a top hat and formal attire. 2 women were with him, one dressed in an evening gown and the other dressed like a bride. He was calling out to the men as we passed. A few blocks later there was a young lady in a French bar maid's outfit giving out flyers to men.
My next day in Kyoto I took a tour and got to see the old Imperial Palace, the Gion Geisha district the Shogun's castle, tons of gardern, shinto shrines and buddist temples. I had no idea that the shrines and temples were more like parks with extensive gardens and ponds. I was pretty wiped by the end of that day so I retunred to the Ryokan, had tea in the garden and went for a walk (it was a country area so I did a lot of walking). Then I had one of those incredible Japanese baths before dinner....very soothing.
There is a wonderful service called Tokyo free guide. 2 free guides met me at the bus when I arrived, showed me how to use the subway and trains and helped me find my first Ryokan and get settled in. Then we went to what was once the Shogun's garden.
So far, I have been to Tokyo (spent 2 nights at a Ryokan - traditional inn) which was basically a family home with the top floor converted to an inn.
I took a tour to Mount Fuji and was fortunate that it was visible on the day I travelled. We went way up to the 5th station. Mount Fuji hasn't erupted in a long time but there has been some activity.
We took a boat cruise on Lake Ashi and then cable cars WAY UP in Hakone where the view was spectacular.
The next day I went to Kyoto for 2 nights. I took the Shinkansen (bulllet train). I have taken it 3 times.
Talk about fast!! When you are on it you don't feel like it's going that fast but when it speeds by it is like WOW!! You get much more leg room than on a typical economy class airline seat. There is a little hook for your jacket or umbrella, and a tray with cupholder for your meal. Everyone takes these tiny bento (box) lunches on the train. I did too. When in Japan, do as the Japanese do...or as they call it over there....Japanese style.
In Kyoto, I stayed at a beautiful inn with extensive gardening on the outskirts of the city going into the mountains. My only regret is that I didn't stay longer.
The first night I was in Kyoto, a young American couple invited me to join them for dinner and a tour of the Gion district. they had rented a car that came equipped with a GPS unit. There was a female voice that provided detailed instructions in Japanese about how to travel to your destination. Some of them have cartoon animations and the woman bows and says arigato when you make the correct turn. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img] The guy had been to Japan many times so he showed us many things.
For example, you can always tell a geisha tea room or house as it looks like a restaurant but there is no signage, very private. We did see some apprentice Geisha but they were not dressed traditional style other than the kimonos. We had dinner at a wonderful Japanese restaurant in a tatami room with seats on the floor.
On the way back to the car, we did stumbled across some evening establishments (clearing throats). At one there was a guy at the door with a top hat and formal attire. 2 women were with him, one dressed in an evening gown and the other dressed like a bride. He was calling out to the men as we passed. A few blocks later there was a young lady in a French bar maid's outfit giving out flyers to men.
My next day in Kyoto I took a tour and got to see the old Imperial Palace, the Gion Geisha district the Shogun's castle, tons of gardern, shinto shrines and buddist temples. I had no idea that the shrines and temples were more like parks with extensive gardens and ponds. I was pretty wiped by the end of that day so I retunred to the Ryokan, had tea in the garden and went for a walk (it was a country area so I did a lot of walking). Then I had one of those incredible Japanese baths before dinner....very soothing.
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