Just back from our second trip to Japan - Highs and lows...

[kevin_cambs_uk]

What can I say except it was a truly tremendous holiday again. We felt more at home this time than last year as there is much less culture shock and really settled in very quickly to the Japanese way of things.

Cannot get over just how truly wonderful it was again, if last year we were in the padding pool, then this year we just jumped in the deep end!

Highs

British Airways, still my choice of carrier, and two excellent flights which when they are 12 hours long you want it good. Dreamliner again and paid for the seats right at the back of the plane.

The hotel, not cheap, (£2600 for 13 nights, no food) but the location was better for us than Shinjuku, due to the fact that I paid for a view of Tokyo Tower so I could see the railways, and we were not disappointed. I saw the hotel on Soarin Fans trip report and thought that's our next one!

Location was better for us, as we end up at Tokyo station A LOT for the Shinkansen and so much easier and quicker back to the hotel. Finally you could walk to the Tamiya shop, something I did on quite a few occasions!

Plus they had laundry facilities in the hotel, and get this, washing machines that put the detergent and softener in for you! So you don't have to worry about getting the wrong product, you put the washing in and it did all of it! That is Japan to a T.

We had one and a half days of rain other than that it was hot, not humid which was better.

So in no particular order...

Day trip to Hokkaido and Hokdate - Lovely, long way but a great day

Travelling on more Shinkansen trains - Hyabusa E5 which reached 200 mph!

Osaka so different to Tokyo it was like learning it all again

We went to a Bonsai museum in the suburbs of Tokyo, and it was wonderful, we had tea with the Bonsai apprentice, met the Bonsai master and had our first proper chat with a Japanese person who spoke English

Went Kobe to Steak land for Kobe beef!

Got the Shinkansen to Kanazawa, outstandingly lovely Garden and Castle, we were interviewed by Japanese school children who were learning English, really lovey and they wanted a photo with us

Went to Tamiya again, which was great, and got even more Tamiya stuff, in fact one case was full of it.

In Tokyo, did all the usual again, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ueno Park, Ameyocho Market, Odiaba, Venus Fort.

Visited the Big Buddha at Kamakura, the Enodin Electric railway

A morning in Yokohama

The list just goes on...

I did more research on model shops in Tokyo and because I cannot read Japanese, last year we had actually walked past them and never knew! So they were in Akihabara and we visited and they were great.

Food! We ate much more adventurously, choosing what we wanted to eat rather then whether we felt they were better for tourists! So we ate at the one of many restaurants where you order from outside and then go in!

We only had one issue with smoking which was on our last day in the last restaurant, but we had forgot to check really, so again, before you go in, if you cannot see if it says no smoking look for ash trays, luckily it was not that bad but its just something to look out for. Many more restaurants have no smoking times posted outside, and generally it a lunch time spot that is safer.

Finally...

Just being there, the Japanese way of everything working, everything is done properly,
things work,
people clear up after themselves,
they are courteous,
polite,
they don't swear in public or get abusive,
You don't have to worry about safety in general or security,
people still reserve their seat at McDonalds with they bag.

They are welcoming and helpful beyond belief, and when we were at the Airport, a Japan Airlines plane left, the staff that escorted it out to the apron from the gate, they bowed as it left, and the waved it goodbye... That is them to a T, its wonderful to see and experience, I love it, I really fit in!

Lows

Coming back to Britain, the trains are a shambles, graffiti, small and dirty, no consideration shown to people, its a bit ≈≈≈≈≈ to be honest. The toilet on the train from London, oh dear...

The noise, you don't realise how quiet the Japanese are as a culture.

Foreign tourists who have done no research into even a little Japanese etiquette, its really embarrassing to see and I found it annoying. Is ignorance as excuse?

Loud foreigners, not cleaning up after themselves in restaurants, shouting louder as if that will make them more understood. No idea how to behave on public railways... and finally, you're in a train station, there are thousands of people, why not stop right in the middle to work out where to go?, it helps everyone to block the way with all your luggage.

So there you have it, a trip report will be along soon, plus I will be fixing the one from last year, after Photo bucket got the hump with everyone!

Any questions, please ask, on any topic I may be able to offer advice. I helped out so many foreigner tourists who were lost. You spot them a mile off, looking glazed over, I would pop over and ask if they were lost, and the relief when they know you speak English! One person thought I actually lived in Tokyo.


And I forgot! Vending machines you become to love them!

[Rae21]

Wow sounds amazing! Can't wait for your trip report.

Have one question so far ( I'm sure they'll be more ) I'm thinking of doing Kamakura and Enoshima, which way round would you suggest?

We'd be travelling from Ikebukuro station - I'm thinking into Kamakura then get the electric railway to Enoshima, visiting the caves lighthouse etc. Then back to Kamakura see the big Buddha and various temples and shrines, then back to Ikebukuro. Also I've heard they do a Kamakura Free Pass which would cover the trip from Tokyo including the electric railway is this correct?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Omega1]

We loved it on the Shinkansen when the guard in full uniform (inc cap and white gloves) came into the carriage, bowed to the passengers and as he/she left, turned, and bowed again.
I did email Virgin Trains suggesting they adopt the practice but didn't get a reply.

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Originally Posted by Rae21

Wow sounds amazing! Can't wait for your trip report.

Have one question so far ( I'm sure they'll be more ) I'm thinking of doing Kamakura and Enoshima, which way round would you suggest?

We'd be travelling from Ikebukuro station - I'm thinking into Kamakura then get the electric railway to Enoshima, visiting the caves lighthouse etc. Then back to Kamakura see the big Buddha and various temples and shrines, then back to Ikebukuro. Also I've heard they do a Kamakura Free Pass which would cover the trip from Tokyo including the electric railway is this correct?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

See more...

It's such a little railway that as long as you get there in good time then either way would work

We rode it right to the end then rode it back and stopped where we wanted to have a look round

My only advice is dontbgo at the weekend!

We got to kamakura on the JR rail pass on the Yokosuka line then bought the all day ticket as it was only 600 yen

You can use Suica but I decided against that as the ticket was easier in terms using it as if you start going back and forth you may use more cash on the suica

When we went it was a public holiday but no where is Tokyo is quiet on a public holiday!

But it was still great but do your research as I did not do as much as I should have and wasted a bit of time at enishima

Hope that helps!

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Originally Posted by Omega1

We loved it on the Shinkansen when the guard in full uniform (inc cap and white gloves) came into the carriage, bowed to the passengers and as he/she left, turned, and bowed again.
I did email Virgin Trains suggesting they adopt the practice but didn't get a reply.

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It is the politeness and cleanliness that make them such a pleasure to use

[Mexy02]

Oo looking forward to reading this one. Sounds like you had an amazing time

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Originally Posted by Mexy02

Oo looking forward to reading this one. Sounds like you had an amazing time

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The second time around the shell shock has gone!

I will make a start next week!

[Rae21]

Thanks for that - yeah I'm realising its all about the research! Lol

Just wish I didn't keep finding more and more places I wanted to see and things to do.

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Originally Posted by Rae21

Thanks for that - yeah I'm realising its all about the research! Lol

Just wish I didn't keep finding more and more places I wanted to see and things to do.

See more...

That is a large problem
That's why we cancelled WDW to go back to sweep up all things we wanted to see!

YouTube is a hinderance at times!

[Melbatb]

So glad you had such an awesome trip!

Looking forward to your report