GRcade

Lotus wrote:I've recently become slightly obsessed with the idea of visiting Japan (along with reading and watching pretty much anything I can find to do with Japanese culture etc - genuinely find it fascinating). Looking at visiting for probably 2 weeks late this year/early next. Just trying to persuade a friend or two to come with me...

For anyone who has been, or is there now, would Tokyo > Kyoto > Osaka work over a 2 week period? Or would it be better to focus on just one or two of those? In terms of getting from one to another, train or plane?

I haven't been so hyped about visiting somewhere in...well, ever. I haven't even booked anything yet.

I am planning to go back, from April 13th for about a week to see in laws as my wife is Japanese.

I went once before and I enjoyed it a lot.

I feel like Osaka would be a better base of operations as it's more in the centre of the country, and from there it's pretty easy to go to Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara, which I all enjoyed, especially Nara.

Nara in addition to having a huge park filled with deer that just roam around like squirrels in most other places, also has a really big temple which was interesting to see...



I'm sure you've been reading loads of guides and the like so here is my expert view on the country that you won't get in guides, along with some photos I took while over there.

First the bad:



Now onto the good:



Some other notes, Hiroshima was good, I forget what that island off the coast is but I enjoyed that place, has a big temple that becomes partially submerged when the tide comes in. There's also a glass museum in the area which I enjoyed as well, it had very few people too, so in case the crowds get a bit too much for you it might be a place to go.



Another place I really enjoyed was Sapporo, I liked the beer museum, and I don't even really drink, the food was also really top notch there. They are in the North and get some very fresh and tasty fish, one of the sushi restaurants I went to had whale though

8 days into our Orlando holiday and its strawberry floating amazing. Tiring, but amazing. Have visited 5 of the 6 Disney parks (8-10 hrs each day) plus Disney Springs and both Universal theme parks. Fantastic place and it's very hot (85-95 F each day).

Taken hundreds of photos ranging from the Mickeys, Plutos, Goofys etc to a ton of Star Wars characters like Vader, BB8, Chewy. Kids are loving it as am I. Off to Typhoon Lagoon water park tomorrow then SeaWorld and Aquatica later in the week.

Orlando

Rightey, I can't believe you complained about the soft drinks not being refillable, in the land of nomihodai.

Not only does that give you unlimited soft drinks for 90 mins/two hours, but you get them in bars and they include a fuckton of unlimited booze.

Parksey wrote:Rightey, I can't believe you complained about the soft drinks not being refillable, in the land of nomihodai.

Not only does that give you unlimited soft drinks for 90 mins/two hours, but you get them in bars and they include a fuckton of unlimited booze.

I've heard about that but never seen it myself as I never went to any bars while I was over there.

It isn't just bars. Quite a lot of restaurants have them too, and not just Japanese ones. I went to an Indian restaurant on Friday that was all you can eat (tabehodai) and all you can drink. Then the okonomiyaki place on Saturday also did it. A lot of places, especially what the Japanese call family restaurants, all have drink bars too. Just the soft drink ones are usually self-service.

It's really easy to eat and drink cheaply here if you avoid tourist haunts and can eat things other than stable Western meals. They tend to be a bit pricier, but still not too bad.

There is almost always a "set" option where you can refills and the like in, and izakayas almost always do nomihodai.

Also, all you can drink karaoke. A black hole of pure pleasure.

Parksey wrote:It isn't just bars. Quite a lot of restaurants have them too, and not just Japanese ones. I went to an Indian restaurant on Friday that was all you can eat (tabehodai) and all you can drink. Then the okonomiyaki place on Saturday also did it. A lot of places, especially what the Japanese call family restaurants, all have drink bars too. Just the soft drink ones are usually self-service.

It's really easy to eat and drink cheaply here if you avoid tourist haunts and can eat things other than stable Western meals. They tend to be a bit pricier, but still not too bad.

There is almost always a "set" option where you can refills and the like in, and izakayas almost always do nomihodai.

I went to some family restaurants and did see the self serve drink machines but the drink flavours were not really to my taste. I can't remember what they were off the top of my head but I can't recall any sort of caffeine free soda (like Sprite, 7UP or Ginger Ale) being offered at any of them. I seem to recall them having grape soda.

Going back to Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure in 9 hrs time! Just cause why not? Looking forward to doing some of the rides we didn't do last week, plus a few repeats where possible.

This holiday

KingK wrote:Going back to Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure in 9 hrs time! Just cause why not? Looking forward to doing some of the rides we didn't do last week, plus a few repeats where possible.

This holiday

If you're in Florida I hope you went to see the Kennedy Space Centre. I was in Florida to see one of the last space shuttle launches, but sadly was unable to actually go to the centre.

I've previously visited KSC about 20 yrs ago. My wife felt our kids aren't old enough yet to fork out £200 for 4 tickets to go there so I'm saving that trip for next time whenever that is

Greetings from Medellin!

How's the cocaine?

Back home. Slept 15 hrs last night after managing just 90 mins on the 8hr flight. Body clock all over the place and off to London tomorrow for a meeting

Just copied 1465 photos from cameras, phones and off the Disney Memory Maker site (an ace addition and a must have for anyone going to Disney). Just got 100Gb worth of video to copy off the Go Pro and I'm done. But not tonight I feel.

Need another holiday to get over this one

On hold now with United, hoping I can get some seats with more leg room as my wife is pregnant. I called them once and they told me sure thing and changed them for me, but then I found a shorter flight, so I cancelled my original itinerary as it was still within 24 hours and I could get a refund. I called them again to ask for the same thing and then they said it would cost $250/person

WTF!

So I'm trying to call them again to see if they'll give me these seats, you know seeing as they should probably focus a bit on customer service now what with that whole tasering the poor old guy in Chicago, which is where I will also be flying out of.

Rightey wrote:On hold now with United, hoping I can get some seats with more leg room as my wife is pregnant. I called them once and they told me sure thing and changed them for me, but then I found a shorter flight, so I cancelled my original itinerary as it was still within 24 hours and I could get a refund. I called them again to ask for the same thing and then they said it would cost $250/person

WTF!

So I'm trying to call them again to see if they'll give me these seats, you know seeing as they should probably focus a bit on customer service now what with that whole tasering the poor old guy in Chicago, which is where I will also be flying out of.

twitter.com/zenmasterchris/status/851671884085174272

Well United gave me the seats with extra leg room with no hassle. I wonder if it was because of what happened, or I just got lucky. Hopefully we don't get bumped off.

Rightey wrote::lol:

Well United gave me the seats with extra leg room with no hassle. I wonder if it was because of what happened, or I just got lucky. Hopefully we don't get bumped off.

I imagine it's a pretty good time to try and get something out of United's customer services

Can't see them bumping a pregnant woman from a flight right now either...

First day in Japan and I've already seen people driving round Tokyo in go karts dressed like Mario characters. Good to see Japan is exactly how I imagined it to be

Off to Krakow in a month, so any recommendations? Not been to Poland before but hear very good things about Krakow.

On the list are Auschwitz and probably the Salt Mines.

Tomous wrote:First day in Japan and I've already seen people driving round Tokyo in go karts dressed like Mario characters. Good to see Japan is exactly how I imagined it to be