tokyo

[greyzie]

for transpo, you can save a lot if you avail of the day passes:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2017.html

[fabulosity]

I think $100/pax would cover meals and transpo, no prob.
but obviously, souvenirs, fine dining, cab rides, attraction tickets, etc. is another story.

[chinita8]

sis fabulosity, sorry to bother you again ... but would you know what are the must-do and must-go places at Osaka and Kyoto?

We're thinking since we're in Japan na rin, to also hit those two other places besides Tokyo. Nice din daw dun! 

[fabulosity]

hi chinita8! I don't mind at all!

I'm afraid I can't be of much help though because I haven't been to both places yet.

However, I know Osaka is a must for foodies. I suggest going to a DIY okonomiyaki place, yum!
shop at the best sanrio store ever (Osaka)!
If you haven't been to the one in Orlando Fl., the Universal Studios in Osaka might be worth checking out.
For a bird's eye view of the city, go to the umeda sky bldg.
I know there's a castle to check out in osaka as well, not sure of the name...
I know in Kyoto, there's a bunch of temples and castles to see and notably, the golden pavillion is a must (it's a world heritage site)

the others GTers may have more suggestions... hope this helps

[Sushi Bb]

chinita8

I highly recommend na mag spend ka ng a night or two sa Kyoto.  I love Kyoto! Kinkakuji Temple at Kiyomizu Dera ang dalawang place na dapat puntahan mo kung wala kang mashadong time.

Sa Kiyomizu, mafefeel mo ang atmosphere ng Old City.  On your way up to the temple, maraming tindahan for souvenirs at the same time if you're lucky makakakita ka pa ng maikos and geishas.  If you love to dress up, may opportunity ka pang mag dress up as a maiko complete with make up and traditional japanese dress.

I love the serenity of Kinkakuji temple naman.  Pag bungad mo pa lang sa Temple ma papa wow ka na kasi it is picture perfect. I'm sure you'll love it there.

Tama si fabulosity.. Osaka is perfect if you're adventurous sa food.  Osaka Castle is also worth visiting especially pag Cherry Blossom season.

Universal studios is ok but be warned na walang translation sa mga shows doon If I were you I'd just spend more time in Kyoto...

Hope I helped!

[dgca]

any recommendations for restaurants in tokyo?

[chinita8]

to sis fabulosity and SushiBb, THANKS so much for the very informative inputs on Kyoto and Osaka. It seems like Kyoto is such a beautiful place and will surely put it in my list.

Sisses, i have a few more questions pa sana ...

How about the places Kobe and Nara? Is it nice there? Are these places near Kyoto, or Osaka or Tokyo? Our route will start in Tokyo. Any suggested route that we can take? We might be driving kasi.

Hope you could help me on this ... Thanks again!

[vain_kixie]

i wanna go on a week tour sa japan this march or april. but i only need land arrangement package. cause i get 90%off from airfare do to my work. may kilala ba kayo that offers land tour for march or april?

[greyzie]

My colleagues & I spent our New Year`s break in Tokyo, I`d like to share our itinerary for 3 days, 2 nights.

1st Day
Shinjuku
   Very busy station! Interesting are the skyscrapers and the malls surrounding the station. We came here for the Winter Illumination but even if it`s not winter, the place are well illuminated and very lively at night.

Shibuya
  * Hachiko statue photo op.
     - didn`t spend much time here except for the photo op with the Hachiko Statue (It was featured in an Amazing Race episode and there`s also a movie about the dog). If we have more time, we might have explored this place also.

Harajuku-Omotesando
   * Takeshita Dori for the famous teenage fashion. We went here on a weekday but I read it`s more interesting to go on a Sunday, that`s when a lot of cosplayers go to strut their stuff.
    * Stores like Forever21, H&M and Gap are also there.
    * La Foret Shopping Mall
    * Meiji Jingu (Famous Shrine)
    * Yoyogi Park   
    * Biggest LV Store in Japan is in Omotesando Hills
    * Kiddyland - toy store, along Omotesando Hills din.

2nd Day
    * Tokyo Disneyland
       - near Maihama Station is the IKSPIARI, disney-inspired mall.

3rd day
     * Odaiba - getting there in Yurikamome line is an experience in itself. You`ll get to see the famous rainbow bridge. Must see: Fuji TV, Miraikan Museum, The Venus Fort.

Some other interesting places:

Ghibli Museum (anime museum)
Asakusa Sensoji Temple
Instead of shelling out entrance fee at Tokyo Tower, you can go to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for a bird`s eyeview of the city or the Sumitomo Building in Shinjuku.
 
     
       

 

[greyzie]

For Kyoto, there`s a day pass available in Kyoto Station,
￥５００　(can be bought in vendo machine).

http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/transport.html

there`s a pdf file where you can download the map but it was also available in the station. the bus is very convenient and cheaper if you want to see many temples in a day. the farthest is the Kinkakuji. My personal favorites are Kiyomizudera, Nanzenji & Kinkakuji. When we went there (October), Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) is still under renovation, you might want to skip it. But Sis Jappsie said that most travelers complete the 3 sets: Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji & The Path of Philosophy. You can take the Path of Philosophy from Ginkakuji to Nanzenji, very peaceful.

Heian Shrine (from the movie Lost in Translation), Sanjusansendo & Fushimi Inari (need to ride the JR train) are other interesting places.

In Nara, there`s the Todaiji Temple. Too bad we weren`t able to go there. But you can feed the deer in the park.

[chinita8]

^kyoto really seems interesting ... thanks sis for all the info. 

[Sushi Bb]

hello again!
I didn't get the chance to visit Nara but I've been to Kobe for a number of times.  Wala masyadong galaan sa Kobe.  I love the city but aside from ilang shrine at herb park wala nang mapupuntahan don.

chinita8, gaano ka ba katagal sa Japan? Kung one week ka lang suggest ko mag concentrate ka na lang sa Tokyo and Kyoto. 

Maraming sights to see doon.. for sure ikaw susuko

 

[Lilacs]

chinita8

Sa Kiyomizu, mafefeel mo ang atmosphere ng Old City.  On your way up to the temple, maraming tindahan for souvenirs at the same time if you're lucky makakakita ka pa ng maikos and geishas.  If you love to dress up, may opportunity ka pang mag dress up as a maiko complete with make up and traditional japanese dress.

uyy, mukang ok to ah. feeling geishas. any ideas how much kaya ang dressing up like a maiko and geisha na ito for photo-op purposes?

[luckypal]

uyy, mukang ok to ah. feeling geishas. any ideas how much kaya ang dressing up like a maiko and geisha na ito for photo-op purposes?

when i researched before, the cheapest i came up with was PHP10k. i think it included 3 shots: outdoor, indoor and i don't remember na  sorry! but it's expensive noh? just thinking about going to japan is making me a pauper 

[charlottemarie]

Don't forget to stop by Tsukiji market. You have to be there really early around 6am to enjoy fresh sushi!!!

[greyzie]

^^i think there are around 10K-yen...

[Lilacs]

^ sis luckypal and sis greyzie, 10K!?? maryosep.  sabagay mukang madugong makeup-an talaga yun para maging mukang authentic na maiko or geisha, plus the dress pa.

really expensive talaga sa japan.

[greyzie]

^hahaha! you pay for the experience eh. when we visited the nansenji temple, there are 5 girls dressed up as maiko and wearing the traditional japanese sandals. sobrang hirap nila maglakad! pinagkaguluhan sila even ng mga locals for photo op.

[krock]

question about tourist visa, is it really hard to get a tourist visa?
in my case kase, i am 27, lived and studied in the US for 2 years. tapos been to a lot of asian countries na din. got a new zealand tourist visa and applying for an australian visa.

with all those, would it be easier for me to get a tourist visa??

[chinita8]

sisses Fabulosity and SushiBb ... another Q ... is Naha and Nara the same place? Naha i believe is in Okinawa, how about Nara? Ok ba dun sa places na yun? Thanks for your time! Im still fixing our IT kasi ...