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!

[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.

[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!

[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 :)

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.