Japan

[PeteyD]

Thanks to stupidly cheap airfares from JetStar me and the fam are off to Japan for 10 days in September!!

We are going to Miyajima/Hiroshima/Kyoto/Osaka areas due to people we can stay with cheaply.

Anyone that has interesting things to do that are not in all the travel brochures let me know!

[TheTrueReview]

The temples in Kyoto are worth a look. Kyoto wasn't bombed during the war so it has a lot of history. Very interesting.

I didn't get to Osaka when I was in Japan but I understand there is a parochial type of rivalry between Osaka & Tokyo. I understand that Osaka was flattened during the war so there aren't any historical buildings there. I understand it's very cosmopolitan.

[PeteyD]

Definately a huge rivalry. I went to Osaka on exchange many moons ago and lived there for 3 months. Kyoto is definately on the list. There is a universal studios at Osaka that the kids want to go to, so that takes a day too. Bet it is the main thing they will remember from the trip ... ;)

[Jarro]

You should be able to get a game of golf in over there too, at a cheaper rate.

The price of golf rounds has cheapened in recent times (supposedly)

[PeteyD]

Yea it is getting the time to go and play golf. Hopefully I'll manage something.

[henno]

Leave the wife and kids at Universal Studios, and go snowboarding.

[PeteyD]

With my knees snowboarding is not an option. Chasing snowbunnies could be though ;)

[Kotogoshu]

You won't find any snow in Japan in September so snowboarding is not really an option.

The Cup Noodle museum in Osaka is very good. You get to make your own custom noodle flavour and packaging.

http://www.pref.osaka.jp/koho/brand/01/en/ramen/ramenmuseum.html

Osaka also has a very good aquarium but I guess that's in the guide books.

http://www.kaiyukan.com/eng/

[mikezone13]

Maybe bring some Japanese golf gear back with you pete ;)

[PeteyD]

Not on poverty airways mate.


The Cup Noodle museum in Osaka is very good. You get to make your own custom noodle flavour and packaging.

http://www.pref.osaka.jp/koho/brand/...menmuseum.html (http://www.pref.osaka.jp/koho/brand/01/en/ramen/ramenmuseum.html)


Thanks for that. I have never heard of it.

[Rusty]

a sō desu ka. nihon e ikimashita.

Lonely Planet is your friend. get the whole country + the Kyoto city guide. worth every penny.

consider stopping in Okayama and/or Himeji (Himeji-Jō only, if only stopping during the day) in between Hiroshima and Osaka. consider buying train passes here before you go. Miyama's great. very tame deer walking around also. in Kyoto definitely go to Inari (Fushimi-Inari-taisha) 10 minute train south of the city - tunnels of orange torii make this a magical spot, especially in the morning.

[PeteyD]

Yea have lonely planet, although the older versions. Definately stopping at Himeji and Inari is on the list. I think we'll see enough deer at Nara.

[gazgolf1]

Not on poverty airways mate.


Petey the way you've been Hoing lately I don't think you'll be able to resist.
Here's a taste.

http://www.tourspecgolf.com/proshop/Drivers/c4/index.html

[PeteyD]

I bee nselling not buying. But I may come back with a sexy Japanese issue bag and some of the assorted crap they sell you can't get here.

[mike]

Climb Mt Fuji.

[PeteyD]

Not going that far north.

[Baz]

I agree with rusty, definitely buy rail passes brfore you go. I didn't and really regretted it when I got there, mucho $ you'll save

[PeteyD]

I don't think our train trips etc are enough for the rail pass. We are only going from Osaka to Hiroshima and back. I wil lget the costings sorted out as we get closer.

[PeteyD]

Arrived back this morning, I hate overnight flights ...

Had a great time. Highlights were Fushimi Inari in the evening, as the sun set and the lights came out through the gates, and staying on Miyajima and getting to walk under o-Torii at low tide. Kids had a ball, suckers are back at school tomorrow :D

[DracZ]

Arrived back this morning, I hate overnight flights ...

Had a great time. Highlights were Fushimi Inari in the evening, as the sun set and the lights came out through the gates, and staying on Miyajima and getting to walk under o-Torii at low tide. Kids had a ball, suckers are back at school tomorrow :D

C'mon, where's all the JDM gear you ho'd? :mrgreen:

[PeteyD]

I saw no golf gear at all, family holiday. I have another email here for cheap fares in December .... maybe a golf gear trip is on the cards ;)