Job Discussion Forums

[nomadder]

Inspired by the other post on here about tourism in Japan, how about some names of places the daring tourist should visit. We all know about Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, Nara, Kamakura, Izu peninsula and Fuji.

What are some other must see places? I've heard of Takayama and that hiking area-kamikochi. Heard also about Matsumoto and of course Nagano. Kurashiki sounds interesting.

As someone said in another post, with the low yen and high Cdn. dollar it makes more sense to take a trip there now. Same could be said for many others living outside of Japan too.

[seanmcginty]

Koya san in Wakayama prefecture is worth the trip. Himeji for the castle and Mount Shosha is also a good destination.

[JaredW]

In no particular order,

1. Amakusa Island, Kumamoto-ken

2. Ogasawara-jima

3. Enoshima, Fujisawa, Kanagawa-ken

4. Shuri Castle, Naha, Okinawa-ken

[User N. Ame]

I would second Koyasan. I spent a night at a temple lodging there, and the overall experience of the place was sublime. And from Koya, I would head due south thru Wakayama prefecture, where you'll find some amazing hot springs, beaches, hikes, waterfalls and lovely coastal scenery.

Naturally, you're gonna have a JR Rail pass for your duration here, so make good use of that. And don't think you need to take the Shinkansen everywhere. The slow train along the Sea of Japan from Kinosaki Onsen to Hagi is absolutely gorgeous, and has lots of excellent tourist stops - The Tottori Sand Dunes, Japan's second most important shrine at Izumotaisha, Matsue Castle & the famous 7 dishes from the lake, and down the line to ceramics mecca Hagi there are great stops all the way.

Most of the best stuff I did and saw was not listed in Lonely Planet guide. Keep that in mind. It's worth venturing off the beat & track.

[nonsmoker]

I've always wanted to see Hokkaido in the winter. Something about the northern island just seems so serene and wonderful. Also, I think Sapporo is the only city in Japan to be modeled on a western-like grid system of parallel streets.

Plus, I want to see those monkeys that hang out in the natural hot spring pools

[bshabu]

I third Koyasan. I went with a friends family. Easy day trip from Osaka. I liked all the interesting gravestones.

Also I recomend Hikone Castle and garden. Lots of history. Then go to Nagayama a few stops away. There is a place where you can try your hand at glass blowing.

Another place I would recomend would be Sekigahara. Where one of the biggest battles accured. Also is where they still make swords.

[Glenski]

[furiousmilksheikali]

Yes, as Glenski says, Kyoto was built as a grid of parallel streets but it wasn't based on any Western system but on an ancient Chinese model.

Also, as Glenski says posting "places worth seeing" can be easily rebuffed by people who have no interest in that sort of thing. So what are you interested in?

[nonsmoker]

[kdynamic]

Yaeyama Islands
Hokkaido
Miyajima
Kanazawa
I have heard good things about the Iya Valley but haven't been myself

[japanman]

It's always a good way to wind up Kyoto people by saying that the city is very similar to the American layout, always gets them going. They go on about how it was based on Xian but then you have to say that that's not Japanese either is it, always leads to an amusing one.

I would go with the koya-san option too. A couple is nights there is excellent and the food that they served in the temple I stayed at was absolutely fantastic.

A great part of Himeji that alot of people miss isa walled garden near to the castle. It is a new thing but very attracive artisticaly done. It has many sepearte gardens next to each other, each with its own feel.

Also i love the Japanese style country them parks. Maybe not great for tourists and more interesting for long termers. i have never seen the Japanese look so happy and contented ever. The fantasy trip of looking at what they think foreign lands are like but with the security of still being in Japan is absolutely fascinating. I have yet to convince any of my friends about this one though. Pure cheese on an unprecedented scale is amazing to see. I've only been to the danish one in Kurashiki and the Dutch one near Nagasaki.

Also, Kurashiki is a great city for a day trip. Loads of lovely art galleries and restaurants etc. One museum, the Ohara was Japan's first European style gallery in the meiji era. The founder was the first Japnese to go to Euope and study art and become friends with the top boys at that time.

[seanmcginty]

[wintersweet]

Kurashiki and Koyasan seem to be off the beaten path for many non-Japanese tourists, and I really loved both. Kurashiki was fun, with all its little museums (there was an automata/music box museum that was just wonderful). Like japanman said, the food at our monastery on Koyasan was excellent.

Going up to north country in the winter really is an experience. We went to Niigata, which I don't specifically recommend or not recommend (we had particular reasons to go there). It was very memorable, though--different and cold and beautiful.

Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto, Himeji, and Tokyo are obvious choices, and all were worth the visit as far as I was concerned.

[seanmcginty]

Part of the cool thing about Koya san is that it is off the beaten path. The train ride out there, through the mountains with the quaint little stations in small villages, is part of the fun!

[Sage]

Climb Iwate-san!

Go down the JR Mugi Line in Tokushima for: The Mugi Seashell Museum, the Hiwasa Turtle Conservation Center, Unagi Land (See オオウナギ!!! But not eat them ;_;), and the Shishikui Glass Bottom Boat tour (See sea creatures in their natural habatat!)

The waterfall walk of Akame (赤目) in Mie and see GIANT salamanders!

Go to the Osaka Kaiyukan, the Suntori Art Meseum + IMAX, the Osaka Food Village, and a really big kanransha.