Help with planning a vacation?

Gaijin69 · 3 Mar 2013

Hey guys,
I've been interested in going to Japan for quite a few years, and I've saved up about $5,000, going by myself(possibly). Would anyone care to help me try and decide what I should do with my time? I can go basically anytime during or after August of this year. I'm highly anxious, and very excited for this would be my first trip outside of the states. I simply can't decide what I should do and would love to hear suggestions from the community.
I've been talking to a travel agent, and to be honest she hasn't helped me out much besides tell me the basics of the vacation packages they have. I want to go for a week, that would be my goal personally. I've been taking Japanese courses online for the past 2 months, and linguistics is one of my finer points (I've taken Mandarin Chinese for 2 years, so this is a cakewalk).
I have 1 friend who has been saving up as well, and he is interested in coming with me. We simply don't know yet because of his job, but we both want to do the exact same thing ironically. We love anime, not to sound like a regular otaku fanatic. We also both would like to visit Tokyo, and we would like to go to a nice authentic Japanese festival. I was highly interested in the Sapporo Ice festival, but I couldn't make it We are also looking to go to a nice nightclub, just for fun. And staying in a Ryokan hotel would be so nice as well.
Any suggestions for me to tell my agent would be wonderful! If you know anything good going on in August-November, It would be highly appreciated.
Honto arigatou gozaimasu!

zoomingjapan · 3 Mar 2013

Hello!

I understand why you are a bit anxious, but there's really nothing to worry about!

Well, one week is not much, but the good news is that there are a LOT of summer festivals during August, so you might be able to see a lot of people wearing yukata and Japanese fireworks!
My favorite summer festival is the "Gujo Odori", but that's a bit far from Tokyo as it's in Gifu Prefecture.

Do you want to stay in Tokyo the whole week or would you be willing to do a few day trips as well?
If so I can recommend Kawaguchiko (you could even climb Mt. Fuji if you come in August!!) or more common are Hakone, Kamakura and Nikko.

If you come in November you'll be able to see beautiful autumn colors!
In autumn I can recommend Mt. Koya! You can even stay over night in a real temple lodging!

Glenski · 3 Mar 2013

Aside from anime (shiver!), why have you chosen to visit Japan? You really didn't express a lot of interests. I can see why a travel agent would find it hard to recommend anything.

epigene · 3 Mar 2013

Gaijin69 said:
Hey guys,
I've been interested in going to Japan for quite a few years, and I've saved up about $5,000, going by myself(possibly). Would anyone care to help me try and decide what I should do with my time? I can go basically anytime during or after August of this year. I'm highly anxious, and very excited for this would be my first trip outside of the states. I simply can't decide what I should do and would love to hear suggestions from the community.
I've been talking to a travel agent, and to be honest she hasn't helped me out much besides tell me the basics of the vacation packages they have. I want to go for a week, that would be my goal personally. I've been taking Japanese courses online for the past 2 months, and linguistics is one of my finer points (I've taken Mandarin Chinese for 2 years, so this is a cakewalk).
I have 1 friend who has been saving up as well, and he is interested in coming with me. We simply don't know yet because of his job, but we both want to do the exact same thing ironically. We love anime, not to sound like a regular otaku fanatic. We also both would like to visit Tokyo, and we would like to go to a nice authentic Japanese festival. I was highly interested in the Sapporo Ice festival, but I couldn't make it We are also looking to go to a nice nightclub, just for fun. And staying in a Ryokan hotel would be so nice as well.
Any suggestions for me to tell my agent would be wonderful! If you know anything good going on in August-November, It would be highly appreciated.
Honto arigatou gozaimasu!

Everything depends on whether you want to stay in the Tokyo area for most of the week to explore Akihabara, Nakano Broadway, etc., for anime culture and other parts of the city for modern and traditional stuff OR make the most of the week by hopping from one place to another each day or every couple of days.

I'm imagining you want to stay in Tokyo for the most part. Then you can explore the areas mentioned. There are many summer events in Tokyo in August. This is a Tokyo summer festival calendar for 2012. I assume the same ones are held every year.
Tokyo's festivals 2012 - Yahoo! JAPAN
I think you can figure out the dates (months are represented in numbers, e.g., August is 8). Some have links to pictures, I believe. Most of them are local events but are enjoyable. You might be able to see a fireworks festival.

While you stay in Tokyo, you can arrange a one-night stay in a hot spring ryokan in Hakone. This is sold as a two-day tour package, including transportation. This can be arranged before or after you arrive in Japan.

If you are planning to go to as many different places as possible, you'll need to plan around the national festivities calendar:
Japanese Festivals (Matsuri)

Also, remember that July to early September is the hottest time of the year, not only in terms of temperature but in humidity.

Gaijin69 · 3 Mar 2013

Glenski said:
Aside from anime (shiver!), why have you chosen to visit Japan? You really didn't express a lot of interests. I can see why a travel agent would find it hard to recommend anything.

Ah, but you were also not on the phone with us. You do not know what shes asked me and what I have told her. I asked for specifics, and got "uh, I'll have to get back at you with that".
Japans history and culture are a top of my list.
Any museums on their history would be golden for me, especially the Meiji era. I have also taken a large interest in Buddhism, any sites for meditation or very spiritual areas would also be nice.
As I said prior, I do enjoy anime. Maybe not as extreme as others. It has played a major role in my childhood. I watched anime, then I became interested in the larger picture of what Japan really .
Technology, I Love tech. Amusement parks are fun, but I am also looking for a nice massage while I'm out there. I can't stress over the food, I'm willing to go to most places, none to expensive but I am willing to spend a good amount of cash. I want to try all sorts of new things.
I mentioned the Fairs, but I'm not really so sure how specific to go with that..
I am very much into art ( I was a tattoo artist) , I am also looking to go get a tattoo done out there. Either by machine , or the old school method of stick and poke with a bamboo shoot as the samurai once did( And all warriors who got ink if you really think about
I hope I gave some better information.
I could keep going if you'd like, but I'd really have to think xD

epigene · 3 Mar 2013

Just posting links.

Museums in Tokyo (includes Ghibli Museum (reservation required)::
List of museums in Tokyo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edo Tokyo Museum
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Tattoo shop in Roppongi:
刺青芸術工房龍元洞/TRADITIONAL JAPANESE TATTOO ART STUDIO RYUGENDO
Another tattoo artist in Adachi:
東京刺青彫師彫正赤羽タトゥーアーティスト

Disclaimer: I don't know how good they are. They simply have nice-looking websites.

I am very much into art ( I was a tattoo artist) , I am also looking to go get a tattoo done out there. Either by machine , or the old school method of stick and poke with a bamboo shoot as the samurai once did( And all warriors who got ink if you really think about

If you have tattoo and are thinking of an onsen ryokan stay, you'll have to make sure the ryokan accepts guests with tattoos. They might not allow you to get into the large and open-door baths with other guests.

Help with planning a vacation?

Gaijin69

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zoomingjapan

Japan Travel Expert

Glenski

Just me

epigene

相変わらず不束者です

Gaijin69

後輩

epigene

相変わらず不束者です

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