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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.

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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!

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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

 

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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 by Sweetnsourpoke
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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

Screenshot_20240702-080108.jpgScreenshot_20240702-080133.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

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!IMG_3006.thumb.jpeg.b234fb90d1457191e73d72277c876c30.jpegIMG_3009.thumb.jpeg.5804e9753ace133e68ef538e706697b6.jpeg

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  • 2 months later...

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.

PXL_20241005_005239888.thumb.jpg.02a58fa2a4818961239cf5b11e119b14.jpg

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. 

PXL_20241016_052133946(1).thumb.jpg.3fa01b07feef34f693f99447ca622343.jpgPXL_20241016_045400556.thumb.jpg.cad161ba1a6cb94d1ecb78ecb71eae02.jpg

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. 

PXL_20241016_053445716(1).thumb.jpg.96577513c96c8e5362acd23f76fab5da.jpg

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

PXL_20241005_033106140.thumb.jpg.23484ddef725e4837ee019992149a537.jpg

ramen in Fukuoka

PXL_20241006_045807312(1).thumb.jpg.461e7fa1d339258d0b4c79a58bdacfcb.jpg

PXL_20241006_045628528.thumb.jpg.61fab713116014669d74bd8c964f4f8c.jpg

breakfast in Hakodate

PXL_20241012_234008060.thumb.jpg.2072feea7ef2482704404af70f81bf98.jpg

PXL_20241012_231922208.thumb.jpg.d69e1ef256b43435c2e31f16db014c66.jpgPXL_20241012_232125292.thumb.jpg.0914fa711270132bb2812e4b1025aa29.jpg

lunch at a Kyoto eel specialist

PXL_20241016_0600100672.thumb.jpg.c3cc1f284d2a7972fae7f0a56daffded.jpgPXL_20241016_063310374-EDIT.thumb.jpg.0d598172f6d0b35f3647e3151755c3a6.jpg

 

Edited by Chopper
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  • 1 month later...
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. 

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  • 1 month later...

Not sure if this has already been posted but some advice for budget travelers.......JAL has a budget airline called Zip Air so they're quality. They only have US flights out of - I think - San Jose, San Francisco and maybe Seattle - but they have great budget connections around Asia. Starting in March, they're have flights out of Houston. They might be worth checking out. Granted, with the yen at 157 right now, you're going to save some yennies anyway......but why not more. 

https://www.zipair.net/en

Edited by Sweetnsourpoke
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15 hours ago, Sweetnsourpoke said:

Not sure if this has already been posted but some advice for budget travelers.......JAL has a budget airline called Zip Air so they're quality. They only have US flights out of - I think - San Jose, San Francisco and maybe Seattle - but they have great budget connections around Asia. Starting in March, they're have flights out of Houston. They might be worth checking out. Granted, with the yen at 157 right now, you're going to save some yennies anyway......but why not more. 

https://www.zipair.net/en

The GF's DIL flew Zip from LAX and she liked it and would do it again.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 7/2/2024 at 7:56 AM, midtown said:

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

Screenshot_20240702-080108.jpgScreenshot_20240702-080133.jpg

That's either the new incarnation of Robot Restaurant (It reopened in 2024!) or Samurai Restaurant which is directly across that small street facing them on Sakura-dori Street in the Kabukicho area of Shinjuku, Tokyo.

They seem to both do these type of shows, so I'd check to see which one I want.


Both Robot Restaurant and Samurai Restaurant are reviewed in this article.

https://www.travelcaffeine.com/robot-restaurant-review/

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On 10/20/2024 at 5:46 PM, Chopper said:

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.

PXL_20241005_005239888.thumb.jpg.02a58fa2a4818961239cf5b11e119b14.jpg

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. 

PXL_20241016_052133946(1).thumb.jpg.3fa01b07feef34f693f99447ca622343.jpgPXL_20241016_045400556.thumb.jpg.cad161ba1a6cb94d1ecb78ecb71eae02.jpg

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. 

PXL_20241016_053445716(1).thumb.jpg.96577513c96c8e5362acd23f76fab5da.jpg

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

PXL_20241005_033106140.thumb.jpg.23484ddef725e4837ee019992149a537.jpg

ramen in Fukuoka

PXL_20241006_045807312(1).thumb.jpg.461e7fa1d339258d0b4c79a58bdacfcb.jpg

PXL_20241006_045628528.thumb.jpg.61fab713116014669d74bd8c964f4f8c.jpg

breakfast in Hakodate

PXL_20241012_234008060.thumb.jpg.2072feea7ef2482704404af70f81bf98.jpg

PXL_20241012_231922208.thumb.jpg.d69e1ef256b43435c2e31f16db014c66.jpgPXL_20241012_232125292.thumb.jpg.0914fa711270132bb2812e4b1025aa29.jpg

lunch at a Kyoto eel specialist

PXL_20241016_0600100672.thumb.jpg.c3cc1f284d2a7972fae7f0a56daffded.jpgPXL_20241016_063310374-EDIT.thumb.jpg.0d598172f6d0b35f3647e3151755c3a6.jpg

 

Now I'm going to have to post Japan photos here. 

Been twice already, going for more.

I was stunned that Tokyo, the largest city in the world by population (for now), was packed into the same relative metro area size as Houston, but had barely noticeable city noise compared to Houston/Austin/Dallas. I like train noise, so even that's never a bother.

 

Kyoto wasn't so bad on my first trip in '16 (The Golden Pavilion was maxed out, but I was head and shoulders taller than everyone, so I didn't consider that much of a problem. Lulz.), but 2 years ago Kyoto Station was a mob scene even in the middle of the humid summers there-- more people like me who grew up in hot, no-wind humidity and could handle it. Thankfully, I have a plan to see what I want to see in Kyoto for my next wandering and then get OUT and back to Osaka.

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12 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

Forgive me if I repeat myself, but, Robot Restaurant is the goofiest motherfucking thing I've ever witnessed, or ever will witness.  It's indescribable.  You MUST go.  

And the beers were cheap...at least they were in '15. 

 

 

I knew about it because I saw Anthony Bourdain's food/travel episode on it where he went to the original Robot Restaurant and described it in his own unique storytelling way.

Well, now there's TWO of those things, right across the street from each other.  Indulge yourself!  Lulz.

Edited by BachelorTrek
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6 hours ago, Gil Bang said:

I've got to find that Bourdain episode 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3344306/ "Tokyo After Dark"

Clip of that ep:
 

 

 

Hilariously enough, I didn't decide to visit Japan because of this episode. 

I wanted to see a whole bunch of things in addition to the modern and traditional stuff.

Edited by BachelorTrek
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20 hours ago, BachelorTrek said:

 

I was stunned that Tokyo, the largest city in the world by population (for now), was packed into the same relative metro area size as Houston, but had barely noticeable city noise compared to Houston/Austin/Dallas. I like train noise, so even that's never a bother.

A lot of this is just a great example of the common courtesy of Japanese people. Always think about how your actions impact others. Wish we had that kind of thinking in the US. 

Having said that, when you stumble upon one of those black vans driving around Tokyo shouting crazy, Right-wing political silliness over a loudspeaker, you might rethink that noise thing. 

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A little budget accommodation rec for people traveling on a shoestring or backpacking and need a place to crash for a night or two from a Japan veteran. 

One place you can crash is La Qua onsen by the Tokyo Dome overnight, quite comfortable.....or you can find an APA hotel one night for around 6,000-7,000 yen. Then there's always the capsules. 

Another idea is the internet cafe with padded mats, blanket, and pillow. All you can drink bar. Get in around 11pm and do their 12-hour night pack for 2,700 yen. You're going to drop a 1,000 yen on internet anyway. Did this several times during my gaijin days. Although it is a far cry from the JW Marriott. 

However, if you're only visiting Japan once or twice in your life, spend the yennies and get a nice hotel/ryokan. And for fun, try one night at a love hotel. 

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3 hours ago, Sweetnsourpoke said:

A lot of this is just a great example of the common courtesy of Japanese people. Always think about how your actions impact others. Wish we had that kind of thinking in the US. 

Having said that, when you stumble upon one of those black vans driving around Tokyo shouting crazy, Right-wing political silliness over a loudspeaker, you might rethink that noise thing. 

but all bets are off in an elevator. They will keep shoving and shoving.

1 hour ago, texasfight2025 said:

It closed a few years ago

yeah, we're discussing the fact that it's reopened. 

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4 hours ago, Sweetnsourpoke said:

A lot of this is just a great example of the common courtesy of Japanese people. Always think about how your actions impact others. Wish we had that kind of thinking in the US. 

Having said that, when you stumble upon one of those black vans driving around Tokyo shouting crazy, Right-wing political silliness over a loudspeaker, you might rethink that noise thing. 

That's already happened more times than I can count there.

However, I don't understand enough Nihongo to know what political orientation those candidate speaker-cars/vans were. They just reminded me of the 70s when we had those vehicles here, too.

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