Planning A Trip To Japan...

[jwinges]

Looks like I'm getting the chance to visit Japan . My wife is attending the World Haptics Conference in Tsukuba Science City, in March and I get to tag a long.

Since I won't be attending the conference myself can anybody give me some ideas of things to do or see in Tsukuba Science City or any nearby areas? I plan on spending some time in Tokyo too.

What is the weather like in march in Japan?

Are there any festivals or events worth seeing this time of year?

Are there anything that would be considered a 'must see' for travelers?

Does anybody know of some nice but reasonably priced hotels in Tokyo or

Tsukuba Science City?

Anybody know of great places to buy macross toys or well made swords?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Sumdumgai]

If you go to Japan, go to Akihabara for toys and doujinshi. There's a number of toy shops there, as well as a Mandarake, Toranoana, and I think a Melon Books.

Don't eat at restaurants where you order from a vending machine, the food sucks. Combinis rule.

And you'll maybe hear the cicidas. Man they really sound like in anime, and they're so damned loud!

[Beltane70]

What is the weather like in march in Japan?

Depends on what part of Japan you're visiting. I was in Tokyo this last March towards the end of the month. The temperature was in the mid-50s with little rain.

[sketchley]

If you go to Japan, go to Akihabara for toys and doujinshi.  There's a number of toy shops there, as well as a Mandarake, Toranoana, and I think a Melon Books.

Don't eat at restaurants where you order from a vending machine, the food sucks.  Combinis rule.

And you'll maybe hear the cicidas.  Man they really sound like in anime, and they're so damned loud!

417533[/snapback]

Mandarake is a good place to hit for old stuff. Animate is a good place for the new stuff.

To be honest, convenience store (konbini) food sucks rocks. It was cooked prolly 'sometime' last night and has been sitting around since then. The fare from restaurants where you pay at the front via a vending machine is actually pretty good - if you consider it to be the Japanese version of fast-food (aka McDonald's.) Fast-food is, well, fast-food.

One thing to keep in mind about Japan is that there are basically two types of restaurants: specialists, and those that don't (which usually have loads of set menus.) You'll want to hit up the specialists if you want a truly gourmet experience (udon/soba, okinomiyaki, fugu, to name but a few.) Be warned that Japan is a place where you can blow your entire life's savings in less than a week (maybe a day or two, if you're really unfruggal.) But with care, you can probably get by with a food budget of 5,000 yen per day. (Maybe, and that's a big maybe, for less than 3,000. Of course, if you cook your own meals and buy only instant noodles...)

Anyhow, go get yourself a travel guide book (lonely planet, Eyewitness, etc.) They have loads of useful information that is better presented (and better organized, and carryable in your pocket) than anything any of us can provide. The Lonely Planet one has a good breakdown on the different classes of restaurants, as well as a rough idea of the prices AND some Japanese words for ordering food. highly recommended.

As for Cicadas - they haven't come out yet here in Osaka. They generally don't come out en masse until after the monsoon rains (which are here, now, in Osaka - about a halfmonth to a month later in Tokyo.)

March will probably be chilly - but it all depends on where you're coming from (If it routinely gets to around -40 (C, F, doesn't matter) where you at, than it'll feel like a sauna. )

So hurry up and get a guide book!

Edited July 20, 2006 by sketchley

[rnurmin]

Here I am wondering about what Cicadas is. After searching for an image via google, I finally realize what it is

I can see now where the idea of "Kamen Rider" came from

[sketchley]

Some corrections:

Monsoon rains basically hit Osaka and Tokyo at around the same time. I was thinking of Seoul - the rains arrive their about a half-month to a month later.

The first of the Cicadas came out today (maybe has something to do with their big drink of rain (we're averaging 100 to 150 mm of rain per day. Which is good compared to the places that are getting 300+ mm and are having trouble with landslides and flooding (12 people have died so far from it... serious stuff!)

Cicadas are up there on the interesting list. They're the only insects that sweat...

[ly000001]

If you go to Japan, go to Akihabara for toys and doujinshi.  There's a number of toy shops there, as well as a Mandarake, Toranoana, and I think a Melon Books.

Don't eat at restaurants where you order from a vending machine, the food sucks.  Combinis rule.

And you'll maybe hear the cicidas.  Man they really sound like in anime, and they're so damned loud!

417533[/snapback]

Mandarake is a good place to hit for old stuff. Animate is a good place for the new stuff.

To be honest, convenience store (konbini) food sucks rocks. It was cooked prolly 'sometime' last night and has been sitting around since then. The fare from restaurants where you pay at the front via a vending machine is actually pretty good - if you consider it to be the Japanese version of fast-food (aka McDonald's.) Fast-food is, well, fast-food.

One thing to keep in mind about Japan is that there are basically two types of restaurants: specialists, and those that don't (which usually have loads of set menus.) You'll want to hit up the specialists if you want a truly gourmet experience (udon/soba, okinomiyaki, fugu, to name but a few.) Be warned that Japan is a place where you can blow your entire life's savings in less than a week (maybe a day or two, if you're really unfruggal.) But with care, you can probably get by with a food budget of 5,000 yen per day. (Maybe, and that's a big maybe, for less than 3,000. Of course, if you cook your own meals and buy only instant noodles...)

Anyhow, go get yourself a travel guide book (lonely planet, Eyewitness, etc.) They have loads of useful information that is better presented (and better organized, and carryable in your pocket) than anything any of us can provide. The Lonely Planet one has a good breakdown on the different classes of restaurants, as well as a rough idea of the prices AND some Japanese words for ordering food. highly recommended.

As for Cicadas - they haven't come out yet here in Osaka. They generally don't come out en masse until after the monsoon rains (which are here, now, in Osaka - about a halfmonth to a month later in Tokyo.)

March will probably be chilly - but it all depends on where you're coming from (If it routinely gets to around -40 (C, F, doesn't matter) where you at, than it'll feel like a sauna. )

So hurry up and get a guide book!

417651[/snapback]

Just wanted to agree with everything that Sketchley said, although to keep expenses down I survived mainly on kobini food the last time I was there. Jwinges, to give you some perspective, kobini food is of the same quality as the stuff you'd find in a western 7-Eleven (although you'd never find spaghetti alla vongole in a western 7-Eleven ). If you get a chance to visit Tsukiji Fish Market and like sushi, then you should have a sushi lunch at least once while you're in the area (IIRC, I paid 2500 yen back in '99). Also, the Tokyo Anime Fair is usually held at the end of March, so you may be in time to attend.

And here's a picture of what the weather was like in March '04 (this is in a park beside the Ghibli Museum):

[sketchley]

Erm... please take the picture with a grain of salt. That's what it can be, but what it may not be.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2273.html (scroll down to March.)

Of course, weather being weather... prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

[jwinges]

Erm... please take the picture with a grain of salt.  That's what it can be, but what it may not be.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2273.html  (scroll down to March.)

Of course, weather being weather... prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

418439[/snapback]

Thanks for the idea guys keep'em coming.

Jim