What would you do?

[jay]

I'm faced next week with no specific plans in Japan, other than being in Nara on May 19-23 for the conference. If anyone reading this cared to offer advice, it would be appreciated. What would you do, if you were given an evening, then half-day in Tokyo? Followed by train travel (most direct bullet train, or an alternate routing) down to Nara, which is full of temples, history and tame deer?

Then at the end of the week in Nara, maybe an overnight somewhere in Kyoto before returning to Tokyo for another 24-hour stay there?

Comments

Tokyo 3?

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

purplecthulhu and I spent about 10 days in Kyoto, at the International Astronomical Union congress there in ... 1997? We very much enjoyed exploring Nara, even the long walk in the hills where we became a bit lost: the huge dish of udon soup noodles at the little family restaurant that we stumbled into on our way down was one of the most delicious meals we have ever eaten. There is much to see in Kyoto too. But we didn't make it to Tokyo!

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm planning to take a walk in those hills (weather and evil deer permitting ;).

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

For the evening in Tokyo, you should go to Shintoku. It is Tokyo in all of its stereotypical glory - neon lights, crazy punk-ass kids who are really nice, great restaurants (although don't order unless there is a menu with prices), electronics shops, massage parlors, sex shops, love hotels...

Another place I enjoyed in Tokyo is Ueno Park and the surrounding area - it's a much older area of Japan. Other than that, I can't really give you too much advice as I don't know Tokyo all that well.

As for Nara, you have my email for advice. Fushimi Inari is a definitely highlight if you can make it up that way towards Kyoto. Other than that, Nara Park is big and easy enough to just enjoy.

As for those "tame" deer, they are evil. They aren't really tame, just used to people feeding them. If you don't feed them, they can get quite irate. What really pisses me off is parents who give them children the food to feed the deer and then laugh as their children flee if fear as the dear practically attack them for the food. How cute, eh. Be careful around them.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

For the evening in Tokyo, you should go to Shintoku

Hmm... is that the same place (diff. Romanized spelling) of Shinjuku? It sounds similar... on the east side of the peripheral railway line? In any case, that sounds perfect for the first night (saturday), enough activity to keep me awake until bedtime ;-). I may try Ueno on Sunday morning, there's some kind of biannual festival nearby. And I'll watch out for the deer :-).

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

Oops - you're right. Shinjuku it is. Shintoku is actually a town around my area.

[sisterfish125.livejournal.com]

No suggestions on things to see, as I've never been anywhere exciting, but, is there any chance I could suck up enough to get a postcard from you??? I adore getting mail that isn't a bill!

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Certainly! But I don't have your mailing address, just email. Send me the former by Thursday and I'll happily drop one in the mail.

[p3aches.livejournal.com]

I would ask Scott H for sugesstions.

[sonicsuperslide.livejournal.com]

i would ask myself about SARS ....then i would make up my mind :)

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

Uhm, there have been absoluely no cases of SARS here in Japan. I think it's pretty safe.

As for actual violent crime, it is so much safer than North America. I, a single female, have never felt unsafe walking alone at night. It's definitely one of the safest places I've lived (other places being Canada and England).

stuff to do in Kyoto and Nara

[kokoro43.livejournal.com]

It's been quite a few years since I went to Japan, when I spent 10 days mostly in Kyoto and Nara (My Japanese teacher put on a cultural field-trip to Japan...). I'd have to hunt for some of the details, but basically:

There's easily enough stuff (museums, Buddhist temples, Shinto Shrines,etc) to do in Nara Park area to keep you busy for a couple of days. Watch out for the dear! They are very aggressive if they think that you have any Deer Cookies... They've got keen eyes, and will see you put them in pockets or purses, and then stick their noses in to get them... We didn't leave ourselves enough time to check out much of other parts of Nara.

We spent ~5 days in Kyoto, and had to pick-n-choose what we saw. There are a lot of temples and museums in Kyoto... They are all sufficiently different that I didn't get close to being bored. There's a famous "Philosopher's Walk" (or something like that) that we missed. But check out Ginkakuji (the Golden Temple), Mizu??ji (the Water temple). I'd have to look up the name of the temple that has the most famous of Japanese Zen rock gardens, which is definitely worth seeing.

I've never been to Tokyo, so I can't help you there.

Re: stuff to do in Kyoto and Nara

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

Ginkakuji is actually the Silver Pavilion (which was suppose to be silver but isn't because they ran out of money while building it). Ginkakuji is actually at one end of the Philosopher's Walk and has a lovely zen garden and bamboo grove.

Kinkakuji is the Gold Pavillion and definitely worth a visit. There is another famous zen garden close to it but I can't remember the name right now. Minor issues about visiting Kinkakuji, though, is that is in northern Kyoto and you need to take the bus there - its a little time consuming.

Kinkakuji is what you see in my photo.

Re: stuff to do in Kyoto and Nara

[kokoro43.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for the correction. My Japanese is rather rusty, and I forgot which Gin/Kin was Gold/Silver...

I found Kinkakuji the more interesting of the 2, though.

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

I agree - Kinkakuji is gorgeous.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Thanks -- by the way, what's the level of appropriate dress when visiting temples or shrines? For men, is a jacket and tie recommended, or are more-casual clothes OK?

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

Japan isn't as strict as other Asian countries about the clothes you can wear. Since you are just being a tourist, you can get away with just about anything. I might recommend NOT wearing tank tops - you should wear tops that go over the shoulder; that's about the only taboo I can think of. See what the Japanese are wearing when you arrive and go with that.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Heh. So much for the famous "tame" deer... I'm staying in a hotel that is just outside the park in Nara. If I make it to Kyoto, I'll just have one night and about a half-day there before I'll have to catch the train back to Tokyo... thanks!