Travel Tips Japan
Narita Airport
Uppon arrival in the airport, be sure to ask the airport TIC (tourist information counter) about anything you can think of, they are VERY helpful and competent: Addresses of temples where you can sleep in Kyoto, or English Zen lessons, any off the track activities. (Of course, pick up free maps: Tokyo city and subway - English ones come in handy later on - entire Japan etc.) Naturally, TIC knows everything about hotels, so there is no need to book in advance. I've hardly ever slept in a Japanese hotel, so I can't give you much advice here.
Don't forget to equip yourself with cash from an ATM machine and a 1000 yen phone card in the airport lobby right away. Cash machines in Japan do not work on Sundays and at night, with few exceptions!
Next, take Keisei line local train from the basement into town (to the terminal Ueno, to be precise). If you are not too tired, get off for a stroll in Narita City. They have a gorgeous temple which is a great attraction to Japanese but not well known to foreigners. A short walk also brings you to rice fields and bamboo forests. Narita will give you quite a different feeling of the place than popping straight up in downtown Tokyo on the airport express.
Tokyo
Tokyo is intresting if you live here for some time and know the secrets.
For a short visit, the countryside is much easier to understand. (I am saying easier, not easy!) The best place to experience the atmosphere of old Tokyo is, no kiddin', my dormitory. We even have an official guest room, and you are welcome to stay here for 300 yen a night. Don't expect luxury for that price, nor clean sheets!
Travel
Travel is expensive, especially by train. Highway buses are often a cheaper alternative, but my favorite are ferry boats - ask about the lines at TIC.
A very cheap deal is the seishun juhachi kippu, on sale during students' vacation time but not limited to students: For about 12 000 yen you get five tickets, each valid for one person and calendar day of unlimited travel on local JR trains. On offer March 1 - April 10, July 20 - Sept. 10, and Dec. 20 - Jan. 20. But doublecheck prices and dates at any JR station, they may change.
If you want to climb mountains other than Fuji, be sure to check Masumi's mountain page.
Special Recommendations
- Youth hostel Takayama (Gifu ken), inside a temple. From Tokyo by train to Matsumoto and on by bus - be sure to stop in the mountains near Kamikochi.
- Yoshida Ryo, Kyoto University: Afterwards, you will know what "ayashii" really means. 200 yen a night, I am not sure they admit females.
To contribute a travel tip, please mail me at xarmin@rump-net.de.
Back to my real home.