Travel? Why Not! Japan (ReVisited)

In 2003-2004, I made 3 trips to Tokyo and spent a total of 8 weeks working there for a large telecommunications company. On one trip, my better half was able to travel with me and we visited a temple and shrine complex Nikko, a bit north of Tokyo. On my first stint I spent a weekend in Kyoto. Kyoto is full of temples, shrines and gardens and was such a pleasure to explore. I had lunch one afternoon in a German bar, "Munich Haus" that was down this dark narrow alley off the main strip Shijo Dori, I just barely noticed the sign and decided to check it out. Lunch was wursts, sauerkraut and German beer, a break from all the Japanese cuisine, but not quite German food. Kyoto was the capital of Japan until replaced by Tokyo in the late 1800s.

The flight to Japan is very long, but the flights seem less onerous the more trips you make. You watch all the movies, read all your magazines, read a book or two, try to sleep, eat and drink and finally there you are.

If the kids were able to come along,  I would revisit Tokyo and Kyoto and maybe include a day trip or two from each. If the trip was just the two of us, then I would spend less time in Tokyo, more time in Kyoto and add a third city like Osaka or Nagoya or Matsumoto.

Travel

• 14 hours non-stop NYC to Narita Airport just outside Tokyo, Japan
• Narita Airport to Tokyo, depending on your hotel location.
• 55 minutes by bus to Tokyo City Air Terminal, (TCAT)
• 53 minutes by train to Tokyo Train station (JR Narita Express, NEX)
• under 3 hours hours Tokyo to Kyoto via Hikari Shinkansen (2nd fastest Bullet Train on this line)
• 1 hour to Himji from Kyoto via Osaka

Sights
Tokyo

• Tokyo National Museum at Ueno Park
• gardens, a few listed here
• Sensoji Buddhist Temple (Asakusa station)
• Sumo wrestling (January, May and September in Tokyo) 
• Edo Tokyo museum in Ryogoku, next to the Sumo Hall
• Kirin Beer Village, brewery tour in Yokohama
• food 
• Yakitori (chicken on a stick) in Ginza under the train tracks.
• sushi near the Tsukiji Central Wholesale Market
• odon noodles
• shops
• Oriental Bazaar (in Harajuku/Omotesando)
• Tokyo Hands (crafts, hobby, housewares, tons of stuff)
• china shops down little alleys

Kyoto

• stay in a Ryokan (traditional guest house, sleep on a tatami mat)
• Imperial Palace (Palace tour requires advance request)
• Imperial Palace Park, open to the general public
• Nijo Castle, it has Nightingale floors and beautiful gardens
• Minimiza - Kyoto's Kabuki theater
• over 1000 temples and shrines to see so says this website
• Gardens, an overview by Bowdoin College (most are in or near Kyoto)
• Kyoto National Museum
• Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts

Himeji (day trip from Kyoto)

• Himeji Castle (UNESCO site) has multiple moats, gates and confusing paths all protecting the central keep. 15 minute walk from the train station.
• Harimanokuni Main Shrine (near Himji Castle) 

Osaka - 20 minutes from Kyoto, Our favorite Japanese Restaurant is named Osaka.

• castle (reconstructed)
• Maritime Museum
  
• Shitennoji Buddhist Temple and treasure house

Nagoya - another port city like Osaka, an hour from Kyoto towards Tokyo

• castle (reconstructed)
• Atsuta Shrine
• Shirotori Garden
• Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

Matsumoto - in the Japanese Alps (3 hours from Kyoto, 2.5 hours to Tokyo via Nagano)

• Matsumoto Castle (original construction), 15 minutes from train station.
• Timepiece Museum, 10 minutes from train station in the castle direction.
• Jorinji shrine, 5 minutes from train station in the direction of the castle.
• Kametaya Sake Brewery, short train ride needed

Souvenirs

• sake in a special bottle
• Japanese mon (family crests), brass, ceramic or on a flag
• Japanese roof tiles for the walls of my Zen garden
• bowls and cups
• katana samurai swords (good luck getting that home)