Japan

Ever since seeing You Only Live Twice, the 1967 James Bond spy epic, I’ve been fascinated with the idea of visiting Japan. Yes, I know that it won’t be anything like the movie. It was shot over 50 years ago, and by now I’m sure a lot has changed. As with so many other destinations, the romance and adventure is more in your imagination than in the location. While I don’t expect to be picked up at the airport by a beautiful spy in a white convertible, there is plenty of reasons to make the long flight across the Pacific. Japan offers a fascinating mix of ultramodern and traditional, not to mention considerable natural beauty that will keep me busy with the camera. Japan is a bigger challenge for me than most places. For one thing, I discovered like everyone else that Japan is among the most expensive tourist destinations in the world. The cost of escorted tours is prohibitive and is at the moment a little out of my budget. I am considering a cruise of the Japanese islands, which may be more affordable, but requires booking up to a year in advance. For the short-term, my only option is a self-directed trip. Up until recently, this would’ve been unthinkable for me, especially when you consider I don’t read or speak Japanese. However, Google Maps, YouTube, and numerous translation apps make it much less intimidating. Still, it is an ambitious idea, and one which requires considerably more detailed planning than anything I’ve done before. So far, my itinerary is focused mostly on Tokyo, but would ideally include a rail trip through several cities.

The planned itinerary will include:

Tokyo:

Among the world’s largest cities, Tokyo can appear a daunting vacation challenge at first. Made up of several large spread out districts, you could easily spend a month and not see it all. Each district has its common denominators including shopping, shopping still more shopping. Some have more cultural sites than others, but all have restaurants and bars in abundance. So you have to check out each and be selective. (estimated 7 days):

• Ueno: primarily known for Museums and City Zoo
• Asakusa: Near Ueno and featuring Tokyo’s most famous Shinto Temple as well as plenty of shopping
  • Tokyo Skytree, Sensoji Temple, Asakusa Shrine, Dempoin Temple, Sumida Park
• Akihabara (Electric Town): Shopping District for electronics, games and toys
  • Maid Cafes, Tsukumo Robot Kingdom, Don Quijote, Yodobashi Camera, Akky
• Shinjuku:  Commonly seen as Tokyo’s primary bar zone, but also has plenty of shopping and some museums also.
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office (Twin Tower), Shinjuku Gyoen (Park), Shin-Okubo Koreatown, Omoide Yokocho, Golden Gai, Shinjuku Skyscraper District (Lost in Translation)
• Ginza: Tokyo’s leading upscale shopping district
• Roppongi: upscale nightlife district with bars, nightclubs, and restaurants catering more to Western travelers.
  • National Art Center Tokyo, Suntory Museum of Art
• Shibuya: Central Tokyo shopping district with massive department stores, featuring its massive train station City Hall and the Imperial Palace Gardens

Options

• Mount Fuji Day Trip
• Nikko Shrine Day Trip
• Yokohama: Just a short train ride from central Tokyo, Yokohama’s Waterfront has much to offer including a three-masted tall ship in the Nippon Maru Memorial Park and the NYK Hikawa Maru, a retired ocean liner. Additionally, the waterfront also features the Silk Museum, the Yokohama Marine Tower, and the NYK Maritime Museum.

Kyoto:

Formerly, the capital of the Japanese Empire, Kyoto is usually considered the most picturesque of all of the major cities in Japan. It’s Gardens and shrines and many other cultural sites attract millions of tourists every year.

Osaka:

Japan’s second-biggest city offers much of the same nightlife as Tokyo but on a smaller scale. Considering doing Osaka as a day trip from Kyoto

Hiroshima:

Completely restored after its destruction in 1945, Hiroshima has now become a popular place, and not just because of its place in history.

Highlights: Peace Park, Hiroshima Museum, Miyajima Island, Mazda Field Toyo Carp game

Fukuoka:

Ultramodern Japanese port city and the gateway to Kyushu.
Highlights: Canal City Hakata, Fukuoka Tower, Dazaifu Tenmangū, Fukuoka Castle, Nokonoshima Island, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

Nagasaki:

Like Hiroshima, Nagasaki’s evokes images of World War II to most Western travelers. However, the port city has a great deal more to offer than the history of this tragic event. The harbour and the immediate area around it is among the most beautiful in Japan, or anywhere. Additionally, Nagasaki was once the principal entry point for western trade, and as a result, it has a higher proportion of Christian architecture and dwellings than most Japanese cities

Highlights: Nagasaki Peace Park, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum,  Hashima (Gunkajima) Island trip, Mount Inasa, Glover Garden, Spectacles Bridge, Ōura Church, Huis Ten Bosch, Nagasaki Chinatown, Mt. Nabekanmuri Park, Urakami Cathedral

Resources

websites

Japan Guide: Essential guide for planning a trip to Japan

YouTube Channels