Tokyo Disneyland
Topic: Baloo's Japan Trip Planning

#	Author	Message
1	davewasbaloo Fri 10/16/2009 12:39a	Hi folks, I do not know when we will do it yet, but we are starting to save, research and learn some of the language for our foray to Japan and TDL. In reality I would love to take a sabbatical and travel for a year around the country (maybe 6 months), but that is not going to happen. It will more likely be 2 or possible 3 weeks (we could go longer in summer, but I do not get on well with humidity, high heat or crowds). WE are also sadly stuck with school vacation times - so Christmas, Valentine's week, Easter, last week May/1st week June, August, or Halloween week, so a steer would be good on the best time. I have started my own company, so I am trying to secure another good contract before we book, but also, my parents are about to lose everything, so I have to prioritise helping them. What scares me is my health is getting worse, so I want to do this sooner rather than later before i become too ill to travel. It is not great psychologically, but this gives me something to really look forward to. We are considering the following potential places and I would love the advice of people who have been: Thanks Malin, I do welcome your views from your trip in March. At the mo, it is up in the air as to exactly what we do, whether we just stay in Toyko and TDL, or whether we go to Osaka (Universal Studios and the Castle), Kyoto for 3 or 4 days and stay at a Ryokan (we don't tend to get bored of temples, shrines and castles), and then go to Tokyo and TDL. In Tokyo, so far the musts seem to be (in no particular order): Shopping in Ginza Imperial Palace Tsuiji Fish MArket Tokyo Tower? No so sure if this is a priority Ueno Park (maybe the zoo - Sarah is panda obsessed and we do not have any in Europe anymore) Tokyo National Museum Senso-ji Temple Trying a little Pachinko Harajuku district Maybe a baseball game As well as 5 days of TDL/TDS Also of possible interest are: The great Bubbha of Daibutsu Chichibu-Tama National Park Matsumoto Castle Todai-ji Temple and the giant Buddha - Nara Himeji Castle (though this is supposed to be under tarps for the next couple of years for refurbishment) Kyoto seems a must - Toji Temple, Nijo castle, Gion district, the Philosopher's Walk,Gold and Silver Pavillions, Ryoan-ji Temple, I am a huge fan of electronics, and the boy and I love games. I also quite like Manga, but my brothers are obsessed with it, so that is likely the presents we would be buying. At TDL, I am tempted to do a few nights harbour view in the Mira Costa and a few nights in the DLH. But another part of me is considering the cheaper options to go sooner. I am confused really. Another part of me is considering starting and ending the trip at TDL. Or fly in to Osaka and leave Tokyo (or visa versa) or with so much in Tokyo, just concentrate on seeing TDL and the city. Hard call. High on the priorities is seeing our wonderful LP friends in Japan too and enjoying some time hanging out. I doubt we will fit it all in, so I would love the steer of other LPers. Thanks in advance for your help guys.
2	davewasbaloo Fri 10/16/2009 12:40a	As for Ueno park, if the panda's are gone, then we probably won't bother. Another perameter of this trip might be a stop over in Hong Kong (city, Buddha, HKDL, Ocean Park) - but again we could easily spend a week in Hong KOng too. It's a hard call.
3	Mr X Fri 10/16/2009 1:30a	Thanks for posting this, I will think about it some more and give you some thoughts soon. :) As for the zoo, I was there a couple of months ago and yup they're definitely gone (unless something is in the works). In fact, they had big signs out front reading "there are no giant Pandas at Ueno zoo", a response to many customer complaints I would imagine. And it's definitely something to be skipped. Aside from the former Panda exhibit the zoo is quite small, old, and frankly a little depressing. Don't skip Ueno park because of that though, the park is large and cool and there are many museums and Ueno is a great zone to check out in any case (many street venders selling interesting things like fruit on a stick, octopus balls, and belts).
4	davewasbaloo Fri 10/16/2009 1:32a	Ueno park will still be on the list due to the Tokyo National Museum which seems like a must do in Tokyo.
5	Mr X Fri 10/16/2009 1:35a	X recommended zones in Tokyo; Ueno Ginza Asakusa Akihabara Harajuku Shinjuku Shibuya Also X recommended, a half-day trip to Yokohama and Kamakura and, if possible, overnights to Nikko and Hakkone (Hakkone can be done on the way to Osaka if you're heading that way).
6	davewasbaloo Fri 10/16/2009 1:35a	I meant to say, we are likely to go to the park, but not the zoo (unless there are some very rare species not in Europe, San Diego zoo or DAK).
7	davewasbaloo Fri 10/16/2009 1:37a	Hmmmm, we were wondering about Yokohama. And I was worried that Hakkone is out of the way, but if it is not too difficult, that sounds great. This is really hard as there is so much we want to do, but we do not want to kill ourselves and it is also supposed to be a vacation ;-)
8	Mr X Fri 10/16/2009 1:40a	Sorry this is coming in spurts, but I'm sure to think of other stuff later. :p As for Ginza, I wouldn't shop there if I were you. Just window shop and decide what you want, you'll be able to find all the same goods at much lower prices virtually any other place in the city (Ginza is Rodeo Drive, fun to look at but only the rich shop there :p). Don't miss the Mitsukoshi department store, it's a Ginza institution. As for the Imperial Palace, skip it in Tokyo and add it to your Kyoto list...in Tokyo you can only look from afar, whereas in Kyoto you can actually enter and take a tour.
9	davewasbaloo Fri 10/16/2009 1:40a	We really want a mix of the old and Edo culture, some of the uber modern, cosplay and Otaku is high up the priority list. We considered an Onsen, but wondered how appropriate that would be with little ones. And of course on one level 5 days at TDL seems a little high, but I want to do it justice, riding virtually everything, seeing all the shows, dining in the finer restaurants, and not killing ourselves. Difficult. Very difficult. If only summer were not so humid (or is it?). You see, we could possibly rangle 5 weeks in summer, but I do not want to queue for 3 hours for each attraction either (90 mins for an e is our limit, 20 is preferable ;-)
10	davewasbaloo Fri 10/16/2009 1:43a	We are not real hard core shoppers - but Mitsukoshi is the draw for Ginza. Really for shopping, we are interested in traditional decor, kimonos, some manga, charms and religious relics, and cool electronics as well as Nintendo related merchandise. We want to try key japanese cuisine, but I also get a buzz of seeing how american food experiences are modified by different cultures. Thanks for the tip on the Palace, Kyoto it is!

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