The following pictures were taken during my tour of Japan in
2008. For those aged 18 - 39 (apparently that's the age range
that will stay in a capsule hotel), check out G Adventures
for an organized tour that would be similar. I stayed in in a capsule hotel on my trip, which was
fun, but most tours will stay in hotels. These 3 cities are the most
commonly visited in Japan, so there are many tour possibilities.
Days
1 - 3 Tokyo - There are a number of places to
visit in Tokyo. Ginza has department stores with the latest
fashions. Shibuya is another fashion district that is also famous
for Shibuya Crossing, where all traffic is stopped for pedestrians to simultaneously
cross the street in multiple directions. Akihabara has the latest in
technology. Shinjuku is the place to be for night life. Yoyogi Park
is the largest park in Tokyo. Visit a temple such as Senso-ji (also
known as the Asakusa Kannon Temple) where women often still wear
kimonos. A visit to the grounds of the Meiji Shrine will often
provide the opportunity to witness a traditional Japanese wedding
procession. You can also take a day trip to the Japanese Alps, to visit
Nikko, and the Toshu-gu Shrine complex. The shrine is a World Heritage
site and includes the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu's mausoleum. For those
who want something more familiar, a trip to Tokyo Disneyland may be
perfect.
Day 4 & 5 Kyoto
- Take the Shinkansen Bullet train to Kyoto. The train runs at
300kph or 180mph. You can catch glimpses of Mount Fuji on the trip
that takes just over 2 hours. Kyoto was the Imperial Capital of
Japan and has thousands of temples, shrines, gardens and pagodas.
The Ryoan-ji Temple and the Silver Pavilion are well known. Take a
day trip to Nara to see the buddhist Todaiji Temple.
Day 6 Osaka
- It's a 40 minute train ride from Kyoto to Osaka. A highlight was a
chance to stay in a capsule hotel. The Kita area has museums and city landmarks,
the Minami
area for people watching Amerikamurais known for teen fashion in, electronics shopping in Den-Den, or a night out in Dotomburi. You could also check out the Osaka
Aquarium, check out a Bunraku puppetry play, or head to Universal Studios
Japan.
Day 7 Return Home
