Advantages: Great places to visit, many things to do, new technologies
Disadvantages: some things are pricey especially the latest technologies, jet lag

...it was a "must see". We took a tram to the Peace Park. The first thing that we discovered in this part of the city was how much it looked like a British Columbian city with the backdrop of snow capped mountains and water all around. Hiroshima is effectively a series of islands. The water which borders the Peace Park helps to give it an air of tranquillity. The "A-dome" was at the epicentre of the bombing. It had been a municipal convention centre when it was struck. Now, a bricked wall leading upwards to the skeletal frame of the dome is all that remains. A sense of poignancy and sympathy is induced by the sculpture of two children sitting on a wall overlooking the river. It symbolised the innocence of youth. It is easy for anyone in the early part of the 21st Century to forget the horrors of the war in the Far East some 60 years earlier... Read review

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Advantages: Successful communication feels like an achievement
Disadvantages: It pays to invest some time and effort

...and to some extent that is true. However, any visitor to Japan will soon notice that the Japanese seem to be bowing to each other constantly, certainly far more than we would shake hands in the west. The commonest occasions for the Japanese to bow are when they meet or greet someone, when they say goodbye, when they apologise and when they thank someone. The depth of the bow is very important in that some situations require a deeper bow than others. A "standard" bow to suit most occasions means bending your body about 15 degrees. When bowing to a friend of similar age and social standing the bow need often be little more than a nod of the head but a deeper bow should be given to someone older or of higher social status. The deeper the bow and the longer it is held, the more strongly it will convey a person's gratitude, respect or apology, right up... Read review

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Advantages: Exotic for people from the west, it is a very safe place, toilets :-)
Disadvantages: Expensive accommodation, language barrier can cause problems, a bit crowded

...and it got even worse when we reached Hakone and Lake Ashi. We took a boat ride across Lake Ashi to Hakone (known for its hot springs) where the bad weather prevented us from taking the cable way to get a spectacular view of Fuji. Instead we got access to a small aquarium. Soon we were on our way back to Tokyo and the 2 hour drive gave us time for a little nap. At about 7 pm we got dropped at the very busy Shinjuku station. Babbling about Tokyo and Japan It was quite interesting to walk around in Tokyo. In many ways Japan is like Norway…and in many ways it is far from Norway :-). Japan is really a strange mix between east and west for sure. First of all we noticed that Tokyo was a bit more crowded (to say the least) than Norway. Norway and Japan are more or less equal in size….Norway has about 4.5 million inhabitants while Japan has about 130... Read review

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Advantages: A great adventure
Disadvantages: Leave that handkerchief at home!

...'t be surprised to see a lot of people wearing these in the winter. If they need to blow their noses the Japanese will discreetly slip away to the toilet or somewhere else where they can't be seen to do it. I have to admit that I have seen people (usually youngsters) blowing their noses in public in Japan but the impression that blowing your nose in public will leave with the average Japanese person is much the same as if you had spat on the floor or deliberately and loudly farted. My advice on this subject is simple - don't do it! That concludes Part 2 of these traveller's tips. Thank you for reading thus far. Tip number 10, in splendid isolation, will follow soon in Part 3. Copyright © 2007 David (Mitsudan on Ciao)... Read review

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Advantages: Location
Disadvantages: Slightly higher air ticket costs

...of years ago. From Kyoto it is easy to branch out to the various other historic and interesting centres. A 40 minute train ride to the South is Nara, containing the largest wooden building in the world and also one of the largest Bhuddist statues. Just half an hour on another train is Osaka. If you want to taste the busy, bustling side of Japan, Osaka is probably a better place to do this in than Tokyo. There are just as many garish electronics stores and an equal amount of nightlife. Furthermore, a trip to Japan really has to include a stopover in Hiroshima (reviewed elsewhere) and this is a mere 2 hours from Kyoto on the bullet train. In summary, while travel companies may steer you towards starting and finishing your journey in the East of Japan, the Kansai region in the West has more to offer, is more centrally located... Read review

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Advantages: Enormous temples, exciting centre & good wooded walks.
Disadvantages: Disappointment if you let the guidebooks build it up too much & expensive.

...KEY TO KYOTO I went to Kyoto determined to dislike it. Everyone had said I should go – parents, employer, students and friends had all told me how wonderful it was. However, I’d also heard several things that put me off. For example, Kyoto does not have a baseball team. Apparently you must live in Kyoto for three generations before you’ll be accepted as a “Kyoto person”. When I met other westerners working in Japan those that worked in Kyoto would always tell me so in a declaiming air that smacked of a fat baby born into riches, talking to the poor, confused cousin. I was even told that “Kyoto was proudly waiting for the Emperor to return” by some, and all in all it sounded like a snobby town of overcrowded, over exaggerated attractions. Looking at the map it was an unbroken grey... Read review

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Advantages: Mazda Factory tour, Centrally located Baseball stadium and sights & incredible Miyajima daytrip.
Disadvantages: Expensive of accomodation!

...in a small war, and the miltary precision with which it is carried out would put even the USA (Bay of Pigs?) to shame. Also, be warned - literally tens of thousands of people from all over Japan descend to view them (it is Obon holiday too, so plenty of people will be on vacation and visting Miyajima anyway - I saw numberplates from as far away as Nigata and even Hokkaido). This year it kicked off at 19:30. USEFUL NUMBER - 0088 224800 can be dialed into any yellow, blue or green public phone. It is the very helpful English language Japan Travel Phone. It is free, and your money comes back after the call. Hope this helps anyone planning a trip, or stimulates the odd armchair traveller somewhere. Drop me a note if you can think of anything I've missed. Sorry about the long op, just trying to cover it all!... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting
Disadvantages: Not enough of the "old" history of the East end

...East End Through The Ages is a Green Umbrella release. The video is a production by the famous and somewhat controversial actor, playwright, film star and director, Steven Berkoff. Why? Because Steven Berkoff is an east Ender and he returns to the place of his birth to tell its fascinating and exciting story. He describes the East End as the stomach of London, with the limbs of London, as it were, taking the "food" that is brought in from the stomach. It is a somewhat strained metaphor, but I think I can understand where Berkoff is coming from on that one. Though his attempt to explain that the East end has become tired of being the stomach and wants to grow into a head, is an analogy too far. As with many places, I would contend that the East End is changing not because it particularly wants to, but because other people... Read review

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Advantages: With a short visit you'll still be gagging for more and you get better value for money than London
Disadvantages: Some may find it impersonal, my feet were so sore by the end and its another long review!

...Originally known as 'Edo', meaning 'Gate of the River', Tokyo first became a significant city in 1603 when Tokogawa Ieyasu based his military government, or shogunate in the then unimpressive little town. Over the following years the city became a base from which the whole of Tokogawa clan ran the country, but only earned the term 'Tokyo' ('Eastern Capital') when the clan was deposed and the Emperor's power was restored towards the end of the 19th century; relocating from Kyoto. Despite two massive tragedies, the earthquake and subsequent fires of 1923 and the Allied bombing of 1944/45, Tokyo has flourished. It is now one of the most modern and impressive capital cities in the world, with little of the old Tokyo or even Edo remaining. My biggest regret in visiting Japan is that I couldn't spend more time in Tokyo. My friend and I... Read review

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Advantages: Very efficient, very courteous
Disadvantages: None

...Constant traveling has permitted me to sample different airlines. So far, Japan Airline (JAL) has been my favourite. I have flown with JAL to Narita, Sydney, New York and San Francisco numerous times, and they have never disappointed me once. The ground crew are extremely efficient and courteous. On one of our frequent trips in and out of Australia, we always have to fly to Sydney because its the main hub for JAL. Our baggage would have been checked all the way to Narita in Japan and in Sydney, there is always a special queue for passengers without check-in baggages. This allowed us to obtain our boarding passes very quickly. On one occasion, they gave us seats in the economy plus section and I must say, it was the best flight I ever had. The seats were like business class seats, we actually had to stand up to take a step in order... Read review

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