The Japan Thread

[Chopper 17247]

posted today https://www.ft.com/content/5ec13d57-6bee-4e44-ab34-77370b0ec59c

 

Edited June 26 by Chopper

[midtown 3348]

The low yen is so perfect for my trip in 10 days

 

[TheBryMan81 2515]

22 hours ago, Chopper said:

Thanks so much! Very helpful.

Anytime! Hope you have a great trip.

 

4 hours ago, midtown said:

The low yen is so perfect for my trip in 10 days

 

It was around 100 yen per dollar when I was there. Made the conversion in my head easy when I was trying to figure out how much I was spending.

If you need cheap and easy souvenirs, hit up a Daiso; it's basically a Japanese Dollar Store. If no price on it, then it's 100 yen, some things will be 200 or 300 yen. We bought Japanese fans, chopsticks, coloring/sticker books, all sorts of stuff. Now everything will be cheaper than a dollar given the conversion rate. 

Also, don't convert money at the airport. They will not give you the best conversation rate. If you want the cheapest rate, take American cash and use the exchange machines at 7 eleven/Lawson's/Family Mart.

[Chopper 17247]

24 minutes ago, TheBryMan81 said:

Anytime! Hope you have a great trip.

It was around 100 yen per dollar when I was there. Made the conversion in my head easy when I was trying to figure out how much I was spending.

My trip doesn't begin until the end of September so I'll be here asking questions and hoping the dollar doesn't slide too much against the yen in the meantime!

[texasfight2025 145]

On 6/25/2024 at 1:28 PM, TheBryMan81 said:

Gosh this makes me miss Japan. 

For dinner, Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki is my favorite food of all time.

 

 

 

If it's baseball season, definitely catch a Carps game. The energy around Japanese baseball is DIFFERENT. Tickets can be hard to find, but if you plan far enough in advance, can maybe buy some online. This might be tough because when I did this, they mailed the tickets, so might need a Japanese address to mail these to. The baseball stadium is walkable from Hiroshima station.

If you want the history, Hiroshima peace memorial Park, the atomic bomb dome, and the museum. Very well done and somber museum about the atomic bomb from the Japanese point of view. Think Holocaust museum. Can easily take up a full morning or afternoon. When I took my wife to Hiroshima for the first time, this was a must. One stop down from Hiroshima station, but maybe a 30-45 minute walk instead if it's a nice day

For shopping/souvenirs, Hondori area is a must. Massive shopping area with multiple malls and souvenir shops. The PARCO mall there has a Shonen Jump Store and a Pokemon store for the kids or anime nerds in your life. This area is right next to the Peace Memorial Park and Hiroshima Castle. Took my wife shopping here after the museum.

Mazda museum is in Hiroshima as well. Never had a chance to go, but I've heard really great things.

Definitely had my fair number of days going to the castle/memorial Park, followed by Hondori, then night baseball game, just in time to catch the train back to Iwakuni.

Spoilered for length, but here's a list of restaurants in the area a friend and I put together (includes Sake breweries in Saijo and things to do on Miyajima Island)

  Reveal hidden contents

Miyajima- 
Mt Misen Hike – allot >3h, go up by Daishoin Temple and down by the Deer Park, incredible views https://goo.gl/maps/3jWtj3q1hyF3DVqR7
Daishoin Temple https://goo.gl/maps/uEnbRS12kuf4qsaZ7

Floating Torri Gate https://goo.gl/maps/QuVTnWubjuGWfWtm8
Aquarium https://goo.gl/maps/1F7hdX5pTYikuSiM8
Miyajima Brewery https://goo.gl/maps/wAgnNsXJBcUdquty8
Gators Cajun https://g.page/miyajimagators?share

Hiroshima:
Castle https://goo.gl/maps/j2SAgMKxsQ89TQaw5
Atomic Dome https://goo.gl/maps/XUHj3aJNAs3r3m4G6
Peace Museum https://goo.gl/maps/iPqt3dEKGgpyLZTL9
Shrines worth visiting
https://goo.gl/maps/Di7E9ecvfHfosu3S7
https://goo.gl/maps/QkbBz5uLP2dzJCvn6
https://goo.gl/maps/Zd1LZMSigE4DHRRz9
https://goo.gl/maps/ESk8GNcEXfvag6Pa8
https://goo.gl/maps/mqfBYptkcYESfMA99
https://goo.gl/maps/dE3FTAFEon22iVsX8

Okonomiyaki https://goo.gl/maps/p74p9Y9zHYvdKuxb9
Graffity tacos and margs https://goo.gl/maps/kSunNu7c3qEx9Ug47
Happy Hour Drinks https://goo.gl/maps/vnuoTJUnv2Z9dUaC8
KeMBY’s Brew Pub https://g.page/kembyshiroshima?share
PizzaRiva https://goo.gl/maps/rJ22LyM7swbskwiV9
Soba https://goo.gl/maps/xhJi79VNDV7Yqmo57
Mac Bar https://goo.gl/maps/Bp7w3RqkLUxgncFJ8
Bar Revolucion https://goo.gl/maps/6B4Yf1TkCLkN9x7E6
Borrachos (good tacos, terrible margs) https://goo.gl/maps/6DEyxdCcUqLsDDHo9
Spicy Ramen https://goo.gl/maps/GWarocftB3fWSZvB8
Café Ponte https://goo.gl/maps/pqtEnefGiwtRME6E9
Rooftop Bar https://g.page/orizurutower?share
Bar Eight https://goo.gl/maps/5Ed1Z4fuhfr33TJj8

Saijo- small mountain town 1.5h north of Hiroshima on the local train line, most prolific sake brewing town in Japan. All have free sake tasting rooms and you can see how sake is made. 7 breweries within walking distance of the train station
Breweries:
https://goo.gl/maps/thDhQp8kgSP68rRE9
https://goo.gl/maps/zeNyy9GvedMRydyz8 (famous because Obama went here)
https://goo.gl/maps/AMtSbujieHFG4jm16
https://goo.gl/maps/71LZS2HAPX4igU4x9
https://goo.gl/maps/SopwvjRjYPvAbhLL7
https://goo.gl/maps/h63W8qXgeaowihNX8
https://goo.gl/maps/AU7BifqHyTvYoCrz6

decent ramen place https://goo.gl/maps/Qvs5EKPqnk81bWHg8

 

 

At the Hiroshima bomb dome, spend some time talking to the teacher outside and reading his materials.  He is a survivor en-utero and has all sorts of materials/accounts that haven’t been white washed. 
 

and damn; now I want some okonomiyaki Hiroshima style. One of the best things I ate all trip, despite how relatively simple it is

 

[Sweetnsourpoke 171]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned in this thread (maybe I missed it).....if you have extra time in the Kansai area, you might check out Mt. Koya and staying at a monastery with the monks. If you're into photography, it's a pretty cool place. They're up in the mountains surrounded by 1000 years old cemeteries. One of the cooler things I did while living over there. 

 

Edited June 29 by Sweetnsourpoke

[Borachio 417]

On 6/26/2024 at 11:49 AM, midtown said:

The low yen is so perfect for my trip in 10 days

 

I get there the 13th thru the 28th. First time in Asia. Looking forward to it!

[HornPhD 1368]

On 3/31/2023 at 12:52 PM, Helobious said:

None of you idiots went and took a photo with the godzilla statue at Toho studios? Why even go to Japan then? 

I didn’t make it to Toho Studios; however, I did see Godzilla.

[HornPhD 1368]

1 hour ago, Borachio said:

I get there the 13th thru the 28th. First time in Asia. Looking forward to it!

If you’re staying near the Shinjuku area, go to Edy’s Bar. 

[midtown 3348]

So in a crazy turn of events my son has decided he is not going to Japan.   Typical 17 yr old decided last min that missing 8 days of work was too much and some people just dont enjoy being away from home for that long. Shouldnt make a huge difference in what I do but now will have a slightly more adult slant.  
Deos anyone know what those indoor float shows where the actors are dressed really cartoonish?  Lots of lights and confetti, ,etc  Its hard to describe. I screenshoted these from a YouTube video

[midtown 3348]

I have no idea what this is but it looks pretty tempting.  My hotel just emailed this to me.  SHould I do it?

[midtown 3348]

Just back after 9ish days.  Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo.  Won't rehash.  3rd time visiting.  Will not be my last 10/10

[Borachio 417]

In the middle of our two weeks here in Japan. (Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo) been pretty hot but still enjoying our time here. 
 

Had a Kobe (A5) sirloin here in Kyoto last night at Mouriya. Kobe on the left, Wagyu on the right. Pretty, pretty good!

[Chopper 17247]

Just returned from Japan. What an amazing country to visit. Scratched the surface of 8 cities. I'd go back to any of them but first pick to return would probably be Hiroshima - a gorgeous setting and a compact city with great transit and easy walking.

Hakodate was also fantastic. I'd love the opportunity to further explore Hokkaido Island. Hakodate is scenic and hilly, and a great food city. Had one day there but would make a great weekend visit. I found Tokyo the most fantastic once we wondered into the least touristy parts of the city, which are often hidden in plain sight just behind the gleaming office towers on the main boulevards. 

Kyoto was a disappointment: Overrun by tourists and much more spread out than I anticipated. Had less than 2 full days there but should I return, it will be with a better plan than put in 30,000 steps and see as much as possible. 

OTOH it's very easy to find refuge in Kyoto, even if you have to go to the roof of a high-end department store. 

I was amazed by the lack of sound pollution in each city due to the quiet of the streets. Each city is pedestrian friendly, of course, but in particular the quiet engines of 99.9% of the cars, trucks and even motorcycles made city walking a joy.  Finding good restaurants was incredibly easy. Navigation of the bullet trains was simple. I'd go back tomorrow if I could.

Best meal photos:

sushi in Hiroshima

ramen in Fukuoka

breakfast in Hakodate

lunch at a Kyoto eel specialist

 

Edited October 20 by Chopper
photos

[Chopper 17247]

nm wtf

Edited October 20 by Chopper

[naija 2869]

what do you guys think about going there with a 7 year old? planning a 2 week trip to Asia, and thinking about stopping at 2 countries, Japan being one high on the list

[Chopper 17247]

On 11/23/2024 at 10:46 AM, naija said:

what do you guys think about going there with a 7 year old? planning a 2 week trip to Asia, and thinking about stopping at 2 countries, Japan being one high on the list

I don't have a kid but Japan seemed especially child friendly to me. It seems like a haven for kids and nerds. Their kids seemed esp well-mannered. 

[Borachio 417]

My girlfriend and I took her 9 and 10 year old sons with us for two weeks back in July. They love Pokémon and had the time of their lives in Tokyo, especially Akihabara.