Zooooooooom

[talktooloose]

Holy shit, we just booked our direct flight from Toronto to Tokyo, August 21.

Please join us in hoping that typhoon season doesn't come too early this year.

Comments

[kuriadalmatia.livejournal.com]

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Sounds absolutely wonderful! I'm so happy for you. Besides Tokyo, where else are you planning on visiting?

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

We don't know yet! We started by commiting ourselves to the trip. Now we'll plan it! Just two weeks in Japan, so we're not seeing everything. A mixture of ancient and modern, natural and urban, I think.

[ayumie.livejournal.com]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

But even if there is a typhoon, it shouldn't be too bad. One day with lots of rain and maybe a few hours in which the trains don't run, but that's it. You can go to a museum and the next day the sky will be really pretty and all the smog is gone, so it's a great opportunity to go up on a skyscraper and see Mount Fuji.

Uhm, yeah. I lived in Tokyo for one year...

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

That is extremely comforting; thank you for allaying my worries. The guide books give you two 6 week periods as being "ideal". That kind of narrows things, neh?

Were you teaching in Japan or what?

[ayumie.livejournal.com]

I studied there - an exchange year at university.

Late August in Tokyo should be fine - the weather will probably be pretty hot. Is there anything in particular you want to see? If you have any questions, I'd be happy to help.

[shawnsyms.livejournal.com]

If you want any advice or suggestions on places to go or things to do, let me know.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Did you travel all over the country? How long were you there? We have only two weeks, so we'll have to pick and choose carefully. I imagine something very modern, something historical, and something of natural beauty. Contrasts.

[shawnsyms.livejournal.com]

We were there for 2 weeks and opted to spend the entire time in Tokyo. We will be going back.

As for outside Tokyo, Kyoto seems to be recommended by many. When we return, I want to try and see more of the country. I think I will take a language course first though.

When you are in Tokyo, my biggest recommendation would be this -- at the airport, there is a desk where you can buy discounted subway passes -- a 2-day pass is 1000 yen (roughly $10). This gives you full access to the Tokyo Metro -- the fully bilingual and most orderly and easy-to-use subway system I have ever experienced -- for $5/day. This will get you to any neighbourhoods or sightseeing destinations you want, easily.

My other recommendation in the city would be to have delicious, addictive ramen noodles for lunch every day from a different restaurant. Most restaurants have an English menu, and almost all menus include pictures. One more thing to look out for in restaurants -- a good number but not all of them have a vending machine at the entrance which you use to purchase your meal -- it provides you with a ticket that that then present to your server (again, the vending machines are usually bilingual and feature pictures).

[painglass.livejournal.com]

I will keep my fingers crossed for perfect weather for you while you are in Japan! I hope you have an awesome vacation! How very exciting! I am also sad though, since this means you'll be missing my wedding!

[lux-apollo.livejournal.com]

:-)