Just booked a trip to Tokyo, Japan: TME

FanOfFanboys

I have never been to Japan, bucket list trip. Going for 9 days end of Sept/beginning of October 2021. Assuming most of this Covid stuff is cleared up by then and I don't have to reschedule or cancel.

So anyone who has been I would love advice and tips. As an English-speaking tourist, places to eat and visit, where to stay, where to take day trips outside of Tokyo, etc

FanOfFanboys

daytime bump. I assume a few of y'all have been there

dmchicago

I’m currently vacationing in Mexico with a couple that has been and raves about it. 

Personally, it’s not on my trip radar but our friends are making me rethink that. 

SamIAm2

You might want to give NHK World for English language programming. There are videos in different categories you may find interesting. If you are close to a railroad terminal in Tokyo, you might want to plan a trip on the Shinkansen to other prefectures you may find interesting. Never been, just a Japanophile who has been watching since I discovered Begin Japanology hosted by Peter Barakan. Here is a link to Japanology+
:https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/japanologyplus

northGAcock

Nope.....didn’t know they let us South Carolinians in there. 

FanOfFanboys

northGAcock said:

Nope.....didn’t know they let us South Carolinians in there. 

I wore a camo beanie in Paris. Don't think I'm allowed back lol

HeavyG

I was going to suggest the same thing @SamIAm2 mentioned - NHK. Lot of interesting shows. Youtube also has quite a few channels of English speaking folks that are living in Japan that offer their experiences.

I lived in Japan for a few years many many years ago (so long ago that the yen was still fixed at 360¥=$1) so most of my knowledge is woefully out of date.

I would second taking a ride on a "bullet train". It kills me that many decades after the Japanese put their "bullet trains" into service the US does not have a single leg of high speed rail in place anywhere (even where it would make economic sense).

If you are into cameras or electronics a visit to Akihabara is worth a few hours.

I know there are at least a couple of forum members ( @sumoconnell ?) that have recent experience in Japan so maybe they'll chime in.

One place I would suggest as an easy and good day trip out of Tokyo is to go to Kamakura and see the temple with the Great Buddha. Just your run of the mill 800 year old, 40 foot tall bronze statue.

Anyway, Japan is a wonderful country and I hope you have a great time!

bradleya123

Was stationed there back in the early 80's, I had a great time, i think...

GATraveller

FanOfFanboys said:

I have never been to Japan, bucket list trip. Going for 9 days end of Sept/beginning of October 2021. Assuming most of this Covid stuff is cleared up by then and I don't have to reschedule or cancel.

So anyone who has been I would love advice and tips. As an English-speaking tourist, places to eat and visit, where to stay, where to take day trips outside of Tokyo, etc

I have not been but it's a bucket list trip for me. Really want to go skiing in Honshu or Hokkaido.
Book marking this. Best of luck with it! 

Eggdicted_Dawgfan

One of my crews leave 1/3/21 to camp Zama via Tokyo. We have 4-5 hours worth of work to do there. They have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Can not go outside the room for 14 days. All meals brought to them. I don’t think I could do it without going insane. 

FanOfFanboys

Eggdicted_Dawgfan said:

One of my crews leave 1/3/21 to camp Zama via Tokyo. We have 4-5 hours worth of work to do there. They have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Can not go outside the room for 14 days. All meals brought to them. I don’t think I could do it without going insane. 

Yeah I read about the quarantine but I am betting it'll be gone by next September, especially with the vaccines and the Olympics this coming summer. At least that's my hope

Eggdicted_Dawgfan

Yes hopefully so. I read about delta starting a couple international flights where there would be no quarantine. Japan is not one at this time but maybe soon. It sounds like negative COVID tests before leaving and negative tests once arriving and you are free to move around. As I sit on a delta flight as I type this, I truly hope the vaccine will get life back to some type of normal. Hopefully by the time you travel to Japan you can enjoy it for what it is, a beautiful country. 

thetrim

There's a great place called jade Spa right in downtown that I highly recommend.

SamIAm2

thetrim said:

There's a great place called jade Spa right in downtown that I highly recommend.

 @thetrim- Did you get the Men's Down to Earth Facial?