PHX787 From Japan, joined Mar 2012, 4976 posts, RR: 14 Posted (10 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 2160 times:
As you may know, I'll be there by Friday. I have two weeks to pretty much get as much tourism and sightseeing in as I can.
I wanna know where a lot of you have gone on your trips to Japan's Big Apple.
Some notes before you start telling me where to go:
Hotel in Shinjuku, been to Kichijoji, Akiba, Asakusa, Roppongi (hated it) Shibuya, Harajuku, and Yokohama during my trip last year. I want to see different places this year, but I want to know what to expect, you know?
I already intend on seeing:
Sky Tree, Ikebukuro, Ueno Zoo (if I can get in), A game at the TYODome, Daiba, and if I can, HND.
Where's the spotters location for HND?
Also: Rumor had it that most of the games at the Dome are usually sold out. Is that true?
Any Japanese members on here want to give me advice too? I love seeing ancient stuff too, traditional, unusual,
I have 14 days to burn off, so have at it
(If you're in Tokyo during this time, let me know too!)
Aaron747 From Japan, joined Aug 2003, 7646 posts, RR: 28 Reply 4, posted (10 months 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 2119 times:
If you really have that much time, it's worth getting down to Hiroshima and Osaka at the very least. There's an incredible castle in Himeji, and one of the last remaining original samurai castles that wasn't destroyed in the war is a very interesting multi-transfer train ride away in Matsumoto. Closer to Tokyo, you could have a look at Japanese-style wineries in Yamanashi, or go and visit some of the tea gardens in all along the Shizuoka coast. If you want to see how counterculture Japanese spend their weekends, you can go to the beach resorts on the SW side of the Izu peninsula, or hop on a 25 minute flight from HND down to Ooshima or Hachijojima, islands to the SE of Tokyo. They are known for magic mushrooms, among other things. Plenty to see and do, that's for sure.
If you need someone to blame / throw a rock in the air / you'll hit someone guilty
Faddypainter From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2010, 126 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (10 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 2112 times:
Quoting Aaron747 (Reply 4): There's an incredible castle in Himeji
Isn't Himeji castle still undergoing major restoration? At least it was when I visited last year, you could still tour around the inside however. Amazing views from the top.
Zentraedi From Japan, joined Jun 2007, 649 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (10 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2072 times:
Quoting PHX787 (Thread starter): I already intend on seeing:
Sky Tree, Ikebukuro, Ueno Zoo (if I can get in), A game at the TYODome, Daiba, and if I can, HND.
I wouldn't bother with Sky Tree. Hear it's still too crowded. Might be better off sticking to Odaiba as a tourist.
Another option is hiking up Mt. Takao.
Quoting PHX787 (Thread starter): Any Japanese members on here want to give me advice too? I love seeing ancient stuff too, traditional, unusual,
I have 14 days to burn off, so have at it
Then you need to get out of Tokyo. Try heading up to Nikko, down to Kamakura.
If you're willing to travel further, Osaka and Hiroshima are definitely worth visiting.
I don't know about outside, but there's two (three?) great observation terraces in the terminal, with seating places and vending machines and all that (how I love Japan and vending machines everywhere).
mt99 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 6354 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (10 months 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 2026 times:
Tokio is an amazing experience.
I cant say that the city has many "sights" - but it such an amazing "experience". Parts of Tokyo make Time Square in NY look like a dimly lit village..
Personally, one of my favorite memories of Tokyo was going on Sunday evening to Harajuku and see all the kids dresses up as anime characters!
Quoting 757MDE (Reply 7): I don't know about outside, but there's two (three?) great observation terraces in the terminal, with seating places and vending machines and all that (how I love Japan and vending machines everywhere).
757MDE From Colombia, joined Sep 2004, 1753 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (10 months 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2001 times:
Quoting PHX787 (Reply 9): Which terminal/monorail station do i get off at?
The pictures were taken from Terminal 2 observation terrace. The light is good there in the afternoon.
There is another observation terrace good in the morning at Terminal 1, so use the monorail stations accordingly (they are called Haneda Airport Terminal 1, Haneda Airport Terminal 2, Haneda Airport International Terminal... pretty straightforward).
I don't know if there's an observation terrace in the international terminal, I think there is but not sure.
[Edited 2012-07-24 15:10:50]
I gladly accept donations to pay for flight hours! This thing draws man...
757MDE From Colombia, joined Sep 2004, 1753 posts, RR: 7 Reply 15, posted (10 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1875 times:
Quoting PHX787 (Reply 14): Alright thanks! I'll make sure I stop by there. How often do they depart?
I can't really say, but I was there about 5 hours that day and I saw three of them coming and going and one that was parked when I arrived which subsequently departed.
I also saw one two days later but in Osaka Itami. If you are visiting Osaka pay a visit to the Sky park opposite to the terminal!
I gladly accept donations to pay for flight hours! This thing draws man...
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7696 posts, RR: 5 Reply 16, posted (10 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 1862 times:
I wonder did PHX787 get a Japan Rail Pass. If you're wanting to visit a lot of sights away from Tokyo a Japan Rail Pass is a must, because otherwise riding trains on the JR system can be a fairly complicated experience if you're not fluent in Japanese. For example, if you want to visit the historic town of Matsumoto, you'll have to get tickets to ride the Super Azusa limited express train from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Matsumoto--and I'm not sure if the ticket agent are reasonably fluent in English or the train ticket dispensing machines have English instructions.
gocaps16 From Japan, joined Jan 2000, 4298 posts, RR: 23 Reply 17, posted (10 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1790 times:
As mentioned, Izu Islands is very nice in the summer with good beaches and surf aswell. Oshima, Nijima, Hachijojima, Kozushima to name a few.
Tis the season to climb Fuji-san or I recommend heading to Aomori and participating in Nebuta Festival from Aug.1-7 but probably very difficult to book hotels since it's "summer break" for school. I will be travelling to Sendai tomorrow morning after I get off from work to pick up my wife and daughter and drive back to Yokohama.
PHX787 From Japan, joined Mar 2012, 4976 posts, RR: 14 Reply 18, posted (10 months 4 hours ago) and read 1733 times:
Quoting RayChuang (Reply 16): I wonder did PHX787 get a Japan Rail Pass. If you're wanting to visit a lot of sights away from Tokyo a Japan Rail Pass is a must, because otherwise riding trains on the JR system can be a fairly complicated experience if you're not fluent in Japanese. For example, if you want to visit the historic town of Matsumoto, you'll have to get tickets to ride the Super Azusa limited express train from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Matsumoto--and I'm not sure if the ticket agent are reasonably fluent in English or the train ticket dispensing machines have English instructions.
MadameConcorde From San Marino, joined Feb 2007, 10243 posts, RR: 40 Reply 19, posted (9 months 4 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1706 times:
Quoting PHX787 (Reply 12): So where's the best place to spot a 787?
The original first 787 JA801A I took to Hiroshima before I flew on the inaugural long haul to Frankfurt 21 January was parked at Gate 64 Terrminal 2. That is Haneda of course. She was brand new at that time and I must say very well taken care of. There is also JA802A doing domestic runs so you might be lucky with the two.
From that same spot you will probably see one or more Pokemon painted 747s aka "Pokemonjets". I got to see two on the tarmac that same day. I think there are 3 total... maybe even 4. They are very colourful and nice looking.
My inaugural to Frankfurt on board another brand new international configured ANA 787 (JA805A) left from the International terminal very late at night from gate 108A. I am sure they displace them during the day putting them at a remote stand. The return flight from Frankfurt lands at HND about 6.20 early morning.
The JAL 787s fly daily from Narita so you might very well see one or two when you are there. Not sure how many they got. There is one flying to Delhi. Not sure about others.
If you hold a good number of Star Alliance FF miles you should not hesitate to book yourself on a day return to where the domestic ANA 787s fly - just for the fun. They probably still do runs to HIJ and back several times a day and it won't take you too many FF miles for a domestic return flight and taxes won't be too outrageous either.
[Edited 2012-07-28 10:26:07]
There was a better way to fly it was called Concorde
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