« Bonk (What I've been Reading) | Main | Sir, you have quintuplets »
Japan bleg
Come mid-May, Yana, Natasha and I have time to do three things in Japan. Tokyo and Kyoto are on the agenda for sure. What should the third visit be? Preferably it should not be too far from the rest. Afterwards, I am going to Nagasaki for sure, so no need to recommend that.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on March 23, 2008 at 07:57 PM in Travels | Permalink
Comments
Akihabara, to buy technology that won't be for sale in the US until 2020. :-)
Posted by: Jacob Oost at Mar 23, 2008 8:05:23 PM
as long as you get to nagasaki, you'll be good.
If you like the warring states period of Japanese history, you'll be across the Ariake Sea from Kumamoto and its castle, Kumamoto-jou. Worth a look.
Posted by: scott clark at Mar 23, 2008 8:26:53 PM
I have just returned from Hokkaido, a nice and quiet place, quite untypical of Japan. Osaka is another place where you might want to visit and it is very close to Kyoto. Though a city like Tokyo, Osaka has a different character from that of Tokyo.
Posted by: Gary Shiu at Mar 23, 2008 8:38:29 PM
If you're into history and temples, I'd recommend the former capital Nara to the south of Kyoto or the temple complex on Hiei-zan to the northeast of Kyoto. Be sure not to miss the thousands of torii gates at Fushimi-inari in Kyoto either. If you want something more modern you could check out Amerika-mura and Spaworld in Osaka, but generally I'd avoid Osaka.
Posted by: Eric Heien at Mar 23, 2008 8:47:16 PM
Hokkaido is too far from the rest. And do keep in mind Kyoto is quite large, so it would take more than a few days to just cover the basics. Nara is smaller and easier to look around. I would also recommend Kamakura, which is about one hour by train from Tokyo.
Posted by: Masazumi Wakatabe at Mar 23, 2008 8:57:40 PM
If you are going to Kyoto, go to Nara. In many ways the Todaji temple in Nara is more impressive than anything in Kyoto.
Just north of Tokyo is Nikko, which is the other big temple city. You can do a day trip from Tokyo to Nikko easily.
http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/12/19/the-shrines-and-temples-of-japan-part-2-horyuji-and-nara/
http://everything-everywhere.com/2007/12/17/the-temples-and-shrines-of-japan-part-1-kyoto/
Posted by: Gary at Mar 23, 2008 8:59:17 PM
- Himeji-jo is one hour west of Kyoto (right on the shinkansen line), it's the best-preserved castle in all of Japan
- Miyajima is also on the way, it'd be a great non-city sight
- If Nara is not included in your Kyoto list, it should be =)
- The Miho museum isn't too far from Kyoto, it looks like the lair of James Bond villain (carved into the mountain by I.M. Pei) and the small art collection is really neat
- Kanazawa is a good two hours from Kyoto, it's got one of the great stroll gardens (Kenrokuen), a style which is very rare in Kyoto
- Nikko and Kamakura are both reasonably close to Tokyo
- Mashiko is also reasonably close, it's one of the hotspots of contemporary pottery-making
Posted by: Kimon at Mar 23, 2008 9:04:53 PM
-Nara if you want to see more of historical Japan (although if you've done your job in Kyoto, you'll be sick of it by the time you're ready to go)
-Osaka if you want to visit an even more futuristic-looking city than Tokyo
Personally, I'd suggest going to Osaka and checking out Dotonbori:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C5%8Dtonbori
Posted by: Mike at Mar 23, 2008 9:15:48 PM
My advice, spend the extra time in Tokyo. Unless you have the time for a rural adventure, none of the other major cities can compare. I found Kyoto to be largely ugly and its temples gaudy. Gion is nice for a stroll, though.
Posted by: Ben at Mar 23, 2008 9:25:13 PM
Nara as a day trip from Kyoto and Nikko or Kamakura as day trips from Tokyo are good for more historical/traditional Japan. The outdoor sculpture museum or park at Hakone as part of a day trip to the Hakone/Mt. Fuji area is a good modern excursion from Tokyo. The sculpture, however, is primarily major modern European masters. If I recall correctly, there is little or nothing by Japanese, modern or otherwise. Still, it is a great museum.
See: http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/eng/
Posted by: Acad Ronin at Mar 23, 2008 9:25:36 PM
If you want exposure to natural Japan head to the Japan Alps. You can hit the castle in Matsumoto, which is one of the only japanese castles to not be bombed in WWII. The rest os the castles in Japan are reconstructions. I've been to Japan twice and the Alps area is easily the most scenic part that I have been to. The Tateyama-Kurobe high route uses trains and buses to get you into the high country. The town of Kamikochi is the Telluride/Aspen of Japan with tons of hiking possibilities. Matsumoto, the gateway city is a few hours train ride from Tokyo.
Posted by: Matt at Mar 23, 2008 9:39:15 PM
Himeji-jo is one hour west of Kyoto (right on the shinkansen line), it's the best-preserved castle in all of Japan
Yes, unlike the concrete replicas built to replace castles destroyed or damaged in WWII that are most Japanese castles, Himeji-jo (Himeji Castle) is almost all the original castle, as while it was bombed twice, the castle itself was undamaged. It's gorgeous, if you're into that sort of thing.
I think you'd like Osaka as well.
The Hakone area is nice if you're interested in the hot springs (onsen) experience at all, together with a few other things.
I hope when you say mid-May that it'll be after the 7th or so. With May 4th on a Sunday, Midori no Hi gets moved to the 6th. The first week in May is *the* Japanese vacation season, "Golden Week," with several holidays from April 29th to May 5th.
Obviously in your case you should check out the food. Kushi katsu, yakitori, the Tsukiji fish market area in Tokyo (and some of the sushi places there like Sushi Dai), etc., etc.
Posted by: John Thacker at Mar 23, 2008 10:17:58 PM
If you like modern art, I would strongly recommend a trip to see the two museums on Naoshima Island in the inland Japan Sea: the Benesse Art Site and the Chichu Museum. It's a significant detour from the current route you've mentioned, but this is worth significant consideration.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naoshima,_Kagawa
http://www.naoshima-is.co.jp/english/index.html
http://www.chichu.jp/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichu_Art_Museum
Posted by: Gen Kanai at Mar 23, 2008 10:23:59 PM
Nikko is lovely, with a wonderful mix of history and natural beauty. I would go there over Nara, but the latter is also a good choice. Only there can you determine your spiritual status by shimmying through a hole in a wooden pole.
Posted by: Amber at Mar 23, 2008 10:44:38 PM
I loved Kamakura when I was there last year. Had more of a small town feel to it, though there was a lot of walking (which I enjoyed). In comparison, I wasn't very interested in Tokyo. It's just another big city. Kyoto was fun since their transit system is based around tourism, so everything is in multiple languages and the ability to get around is pretty easy.
Posted by: kdp at Mar 23, 2008 10:55:30 PM
I think I'd go with Kamakura/Enoshima as well. They're close to Tokyo (easily doable on a day trip), worth the visit, and you get to ride on the Enoden - the closest to a Toonerville Trolley I found in my times in Japan. Alternatively, go with Miyajima with a brief stopover in Hiroshima to see ground zero there.
Posted by: Don K at Mar 24, 2008 12:10:36 AM
There is good advice above.
When you visit Kyoto, you should take a day trip to Nara. That is a MUST SEE.
Also:
The Sumo Tournament will be in Tokyo from May 11, 2008 to May 25, 2008. That is an extremely fun thing to see.
Since you have jetlag anyway, going to Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo and eating sushi at 6 in the morning is an amazing experience.
A trip to Himeji castle from Kyoto is very easy and it is a fun castle.
Posted by: KenF at Mar 24, 2008 12:18:19 AM
You must visit Chigasaki, surf capital of Kanagawa prefecture. Ozu (famous great Japanese film director) once had a summer home here, near the sea shore. It is still there, now a clinic, and you can see. And there is Starbucks too.
Posted by: Uzaibaka at Mar 24, 2008 12:32:51 AM
You must visit Chigasaki, surf capital of Kanagawa prefecture. Ozu (famous great Japanese film director) once had a summer home here, near the sea shore. It is still there, now a clinic, and you can see. And there is Starbucks too.
Posted by: Uzaibaka at Mar 24, 2008 12:34:12 AM
Go to Hiroshima and see the peace museum.
Posted by: Andrew at Mar 24, 2008 2:13:55 AM
Go to Hiroshima and see the peace museum.
Posted by: Andrew at Mar 24, 2008 2:13:59 AM
To be honest, Nikko bored me. May would be a better time to visit than December and early March, when I went, but I didn't see much to do there.
If you're interested in castles, Himeji-jo is easily worth a visit, and can easily be done in a day trip from Kyoto. It's the site of the "ninja training ground" in "You Only Live Twice."
Nara is in some ways a more tourist-able version of "old" Kyoto. If I had a one day recommendation for Kansai viewing of "old Japan," I'd recommend a day in Nara over Kyoto. Less of a modern city, but easier to see what's to be seen in a day. My favorite stops in Kyoto were Nijo-jo (much more of a palace than castle) and Kiyomizu-dera.
I'm glad we don't have to try to convince you to add a trip to Nagasaki.
Posted by: Tom at Mar 24, 2008 2:36:22 AM
Peace museum is a good idea. They have a guest book you can sign - name / home country / date / comment. Make sure to put "USA is #1" in the comment.
Posted by: mts at Mar 24, 2008 3:47:59 AM
This is mostly repeating good advice from above, but for what it's worth: Nara is a must for a day trip if you're in Kyoto. The shika (deer) that have free reign of the city are fun (particularly for kids, but adults enjoy them as well) and Todaiji is magnificent. Otherwise, I agree with Ben that you should spend the extra time in Tokyo, with maybe a day trip or overnight trip thrown in - no matter how much time you have in Tokyo, you'll end up missing out on a lot of things. My favorite short trips from Tokyo are Hakone, Nikko and Kamakura. Their virtues have been described above, except that in addition to having many of the best high-end hot spring resorts in Japan, Hakone also has a number of good museums (such as the outdoor sculpture museum mentioned above) and magnificent views of Mt. Fuji over Ashinoko Lake (if the weather is clear). In Tokyo, take KenF's advice and see the sumo and take a trip to Tsukiji.
Posted by: bcw210 at Mar 24, 2008 4:52:23 AM
1) I must disagree with bcw210: a trip to Hakone is best avoided. The transportation is heinous. I have furthermore never come across anyone who has ever seen the view of Mt. Fuji over Ashinoko.
2) Nikko is difficult to appreciate without contextualization. If you do go, of course see the temple and the shrines, but also pass by the Imperial Villa where the present emperor lived during the war years, while his parents stayed in Tokyo.
3) Kamakura is by far the easiest day trip out of Tokyo.
4) If ceramics is someone's passion, the time to go Mashiko is May 1-5, during the spring festival (there is a matching festival in the fall). While Mashiko reputedly has 300+ kilns of its own, some 1500 potters and other artisans will be in town during the festival displaying their wares at booths all over town. The steam train will be making a daily run and the street entertainment can be fairly good.
5) Given your previous stated admiration of the River Rouge Plant and Magnitogorsk, perhaps a visit (weekdays only) to the Edogawa Underground Flood Control Project would be your cup of ocha.
English tour info:
http://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/edogawa/works/saigai/sonae/gaikaku/g-cans/english/index.html
Photo gallery:
http://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/edogawa/works/saigai/sonae/gaikaku/g-cans/intro/07photo/index.html
Posted by: MTC at Mar 24, 2008 6:14:54 AM
Indeed, I spent nearly one and a half weeks in Tokyo and still left many things undone. Albeit on a relaxed schedule.
Posted by: Ben at Mar 24, 2008 6:37:47 AM
Spend as many days as possible at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Mid-May means you have a chance to see the May Basho in Tokyo. Will Asashoryu be able to defend the championship he won just yesterday? Will Hakuho come back and take the title? Will Baruto finally be able to have a good basho in high Makuuchi (my guess...no!)?
Posted by: TheMatt at Mar 24, 2008 8:03:19 AM
Himeji/Nara/Miyajima/Kamakura are all good ideas, but I'd suggest going for somewhere less well known. Japanese towns, even smallish ones, go really overboard for festivals, so you could try to aim for some of those.
If the dates work, the River-Opening festival at Hita, in Oita Prefecture, on 24-25 May has some of the most spectacular fireworks I've ever seen. Hita is also a lovely, well-preserved old town (pretty rare in Japan). If you're taking the train to Nagasaki, you could get there by hiring a car or changing trains in Kitakyushu. Other things worth visiting in the area are the Mt Aso volcano, the huge Hachiman shrine at Usa, and the onsen town of Yufuin.
Posted by: MarkA at Mar 24, 2008 8:39:24 AM
Many have already recommended Nara. I agree completely. I would also recommend Kobe, kids may love the bridge. Kyoto, Nara and Kobe are all beautiful cities. Osaka, not as pretty.
Posted by: AndrewA at Mar 24, 2008 10:51:32 AM
Tyler,
If want to get a real sense of "old Japan," go to Sado Island in the Japan Sea -- 3 hours by ferry, 1 hour by hydrofoil from Niigata. It's where the Shogun would exile political prisoners like Nichiren, and it has become a center of traditional arts and crafts. The world-famous performance ensemble, Kodo, holds its annual "One Earth Celebration" there usually in August, with all kinds of world music but huge crowds can make it a zoo. (BTW, you really can't get a bad meal in Tokyo.)
Posted by: Sandy Ikeda at Mar 24, 2008 10:59:05 AM
I agree with KenF about Sumo.
Here's a good article about sumo for the uninitiated.
Posted by: Biomed Tim at Mar 24, 2008 11:35:51 AM
Wherever you go in Japan, take the train. In Kyoto, you can spend a day in the station. During the first hours after your arrival, you can look for the exit and after you found that, look up to enjoy the ceiling, the panorama terrace and the shops.
Hokkaido is together with Tokyo the best part of Japan, but the Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum and the very modern, quiet and "low" park around it, and Hiroshima belong to the best parts of the South I have seen.
Posted by: Paul at Mar 24, 2008 11:49:33 AM
The three essential stops are Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
I don't list Nagasaki because I've never been there, and honestly don't have much interest in going; after all, as a U.S. citizen, I'd be very uncomfortable. I might be more inclined to go were I Canadian or British.
Posted by: Caliban Darklock at Mar 24, 2008 1:37:16 PM
Tokyo is by far the world's largest city, and while much of it is not pretty,
there is no end of fascinating things to do there, quite aside from it having
twice as many Michelin stars for its restaurants as Paris. A few odder things
not mentioned so far for Tokyo.
Mitsukoshi Department Store, the flagship store by the actual Nihonbashi,
"Bridge of Japan," at the center of the district of that name, and the
location from which all other locations are oriented to. This is the
largest store of the oldest of all the keiretsus, Mitsui, which was a zaibatsu
before the war and dates back to a dry goods store from 1673. My wife and
daughter say that the womens' clothing selection on the fourth and fifth
floors simply blow away any competition anywhere in the world, including
in Milan, Paris, London, and New York. Wako in Ginza is more upscale, in
one of the few buildings in Tokyo to survive the US firebombing in WW II,
but is much less varied.
For you, Tyler, the basement of Mitsukoshi has one of the most varied and
interesting food shops in the world, and the free samples can easily turn
into a meal in otherwise pretty expensive Tokyo.
The Sword Museum, near a metro stop one to the west of the world's busiest
metro station, Shinjuku. This is a place Uma Thurman and the gang from
"Kill Bill" would kill to take from. Besides the swords themselves, there
is a very revealing discussion of the fascinating techniques of their
construction and as an aside a lesson in the history of technology in Japan.
Yasukuni Shrine. Yes, the one that people all over Asia riot whenever a
Japanese prime minister visits there (the most recent two have avoided doing
so officially, precisely to avoid setting off such riots). The interest here
is the historical exhibit, which creepily gives one the Japanese version of
the "Great Pacific War." Pretty darned interesting for visitors from Russia
too, as the history also covers the Russo-Japanese War, indeed, covers the
whole era from the arrival of Commodore Perry's "black ships" in the 1850s
until MacArthur left and Japan "regained its independence" (hack,cough).
Yasukuni's gardens are prettier than most in Tokyo, and it is in general
a fairly spectacular Shinto shrine, although that is not its main interest.
Food. Again, there are too many great restaurants to pick any, including
several excellent French-Japanese fusion ones that are the clear inspiration
for the world's greatest chef, Pierre Gagnaire, now operating in Paris. However,
the must-not-miss thing, especially as it is about to disappear, and is also a
tourist attraction unto itself, is the Tsukiji fish market, world's largest,
and for eating, the cheapo, hole-in-the-wall sushi joints near it. This market
is about to be closed down and moved into the harbor, so this is the time to
see this unique place. What to do is to go very early in the mornng to see the
fish being brought in and sold, and to go into one of these small joints at that
time; the fish will never be fresher anywhere. Just ask for them to give you
their best. You will be spoiled for sushi anywhere else forever. (I have been
told by old Japan hands that there are better sushi joints in Tokyo than these,
but they cost an arm and a leg.) I also note that sushi is a Tokyo, Edo really,
invention, fed to construction workers in the Edo period so as not to waste time
or valuable firewood on them.
Regarding seafood, I would avoid the famously dangerous fugu fish. Overrated
and overpriced. However, if one is willing to be briefly ecologically incorrect,
I recommend sampling whale meat, although only once. However, it is not all
that easy to find, but very distinctive.
Yes, Nara is simpler than Kyoto, and the latter's center is not at all attractive.
But several of the world's greatest temples are there, although the justly more
famous ones tend to be overrun with tourists, which can also happen in Nara.
Two in Kyoto that are not so crowded but are of interest are Nanzen-ji and Koyru-ji.
The former is in the eastern hills, not too far south of the southern end of the
Philosopher's Walk. It is only moderately crowded, but what is of interest there
is not so much the temple itself as the gardens contained within its ground on the
right hand side, officially a separate entity, Konchi-in, among the finest in all
Japan, and very few people. Amusingly, Scarlett Johanssen visited Nanzen-ji in
the movie, "Lost in Translation." Anyway, it is the gardens that are to see there.
Nanzen-ji is HQ of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.
Koryu-ji is in the western hills and much less visited than Nanzen-ji, very few
people there. It is very old, having been originally built by Korean (hence the
name) Buddhist missionaries who brought Buddhism to Japan. The buildings are
only so-so. What to see here is the sculptures contained in one building. Most
outstanding is the single most revered work of art in all of Japan, its Number One
National Treasure, the Miroku Bosatsu, about as sublime as sculpture gets. Given
its status, I am surprised there are not more visitors. There are claims that it
was originally made in Korea, which is strongly denied by most Japanese. But there
is nothing like it anywhere.
Regarding food, Kyoto is home to the haute cuisine of Japan, kaiseki, and this is
the place to have it. But it is pricey, indeed, Kitcho, in the western hills, has
long been reputed to be the world's most expensive restaurant (no, I have not eaten
there, but maybe you can afford to now, Tyler, with that book of yours doing so well).
A very traditional one with tea gardens and all that in the eastern hills that is
very fine is Minoko, but with prices a good deal lower than Kitcho, if still very high.
Less scenic, but utterly unique and fabulous, and a bit cheaper than Minoko actually,
is Mankamero in ugly central Kyoto, a few blocks from the old imperial palace. And
that is the trick: this is the only restaurant in the world that serves yusoku ryori,
the actual imperial cuisine that kaiseki is a takeoff from. This restaurant has been
in operation since 1714 and has been run by father-to-son imperial chefs since then,
a national treasure indeed, and fabulous.
For more reasonable restaurants, there is a funky narrow street whose name I think is
Ponto-cho, but someone there will know it, and you might want to double check there. I
can explain where it is. It is just off the river to the west, more or less downtown.
It has lots of shops also, and is a bit touristy, but a lot of fun, and plenty of good
places to eat that are not so pricey. Someone in your hotel or a host, if you are lecturing, Tyler, will be able to tell you about it. Its southern end is just across the main bridge
that goes into the center from the main Geisha district, Gion. You would go to the right,
from there, if you enter it there. It is strictly for pedestrians and pretty narrow. Enjoy.
Posted by: Barkley Rosser at Mar 24, 2008 1:40:19 PM
We have been to Japan a number of times, including Nara, Kyoto, Osaka... One of the most engaging places is Mount Koya (Koyasan). It can easily be reached by train from Kyoto and then a 45 degree cog rail up to the plateau. (see http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4900.html). You can make a reservation to stay at one of the many temples on the plateau and to fully explore on foot the temples and the cedar tree and incense laden memorials there
Posted by: Ronald Cook at Mar 24, 2008 1:49:47 PM
Kyoto is highly depressing. The quarantined pocket of old structures just highlights how mind vlowingly ugly and unpleasant the city is.
Osaka is also mindblowingly ugly, but is at least friendly and culturally vibrant.
It's a choice I guess between a poorly mummified section of past Japan and part of Japan as it exists today.
Posted by: Richard Green at Mar 24, 2008 3:35:09 PM
In Kyoto, Ponto-Cho is neither mind-blowingly ugly, is vibrant, and not the mummified past.
I do think that vehicles are allowed on it, though. I would also recommend getting a foot
massage in Kyoto.
Posted by: Barkley Rosser at Mar 24, 2008 4:31:39 PM
Osaka
Posted by: Mike at Mar 24, 2008 6:57:06 PM
I second the earlier post recommending Naoshima. It's a small island transformed by two museums, numerous sculptures, and several renovations of traditional homes into art installations. It is possible to sleep in rooms in the museum itself, so you can pad around after-hours in your yukata (bathrobe) through the exhibits. Meals are taken in the museum, too, and the food is excellent.
After traveling all over Japan, Naoshima is far and away the most memorable trip out of Tokyo and Kyoto I've taken.
Given your food interests, make time for a quick trip to the Shin-Yokohama ramen museum, where you can get lots of half-size bowls of some of the country's best ramen and give yourself a crash-course in comparative ramen styles.
Posted by: at Mar 24, 2008 7:05:57 PM
Mie if you want to shop for some their famous pearls (for the wife?).
Posted by: CB at Mar 24, 2008 7:06:46 PM
If you've only got time for one trip outside of Kyoto and Tokyo you should make it to Nikko; you'll get to sample the beauty of Japan's interior and experience architecture which you won't easily find at your other two stops. Also, one night during your time in Kyoto you should consider a train trip to Osaka to sample street food in the Dotombori (esp. around Ebisubashi) area where the cheap eats are probably better than anywhere else in Japan (even Nagasaki).
Posted by: Jim Corcoran at Mar 24, 2008 10:41:23 PM
Oh, one other thing in Tokyo. One can get a good view of the imperial palace (not so easy to see from above, and one can only visit the most outer of the grounds) from the top of the Imperial Hotel, where there is a pleasant bar and some eating places. There is a bar lower in the hotel that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is a remnant of the previous (second) structure that served as the Imperial Hotel, which was totally designed by Wright, which has since been moved to some park outside of Tokyo.
Posted by: Barkley Rosser at Mar 25, 2008 2:55:36 AM
I'll go out on a crazy limb and suggest a stopover in Nagoya - it is halfway between Kyoto & Tokyo. It's my wife's hometown, so that's usually my base of operations when I am in Japan. Think of it as Japan's Detroit, in function rather than form - being the home of Toyota, Mitsubishi and other main Japanese industrial concerns. And if you're a car buff it has the Toyota museum (kinda fun), Nagoya Castle & the Atsuta Shrine which is known as the second-most venerable shrine in Japan, after Ise Shrine. It is said to enshrine the Kusanagi sword, one of the three imperial regalia of Japan.
It was also recently the host of the World's Fair and just opened a international airport. If you want to see the face of modern Japan outside of Tokyo, Nagoya would be a neat stopover for a day.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Nagoya
It IS not touristy and is in fact simply a modern Japanese city, but a nice one.
Posted by: Brian at Mar 25, 2008 10:47:40 AM
Himeji castle is great and easy to get to from Kyoto. It features in the great Kurosawa film Ran.
Posted by: Mark.Koyama at Mar 25, 2008 12:36:08 PM
Plenty of good suggestions, I can only include one, especially since you'll be in the Kyoto area... Fushimi Inari-taisha, the head shrine of Inari in Japan. It was fairly unique compared to the other Shinto and Buddhist temples/shrines that I toured throughout Osaka, Kanazawa, Noto Penisula, Kyoto, Nara... be forewarned, though, if you're walking through the thousands of torii leading up the mountain (to the point where it's more like walking through a tunnel than just passing through many gates) as daylight is fading, it gets quite spooky, especially with all the smaller shrines and cemeteries scattered around.
If you're interested in some, ummm, unique cuisine, there are some options available in the various booths near the shrine. The one I remember distinctly, because I sampled it and decided it was definitely not for me, was barbecued sparrow.
Posted by: Scott at Mar 25, 2008 2:11:29 PM
I agree with everyone about the Fushimi Inari shrine. It is definitely one of my favorite places in Japan and I think it will really appeal to you (Tyler).
However, it's a bit out of the way, so it depends on how much time you have in Kyoto total.
Posted by: KenF at Mar 25, 2008 3:50:15 PM
Come to Osaka! Not only is it a wonderful city with a long rich history that you can read about on Wikipedia, but we are also hosting the upcoming G8 summit! Talk about an opportune moment for an economists' visit!
You'll be sick of temples from Kyoto, so come to Osaka and enjoy delicious food and the genuine free market of our shopping arcades. Tenjinbashi-shotengai, the longest shopping street in the country, is right here and perpetually changes shops as owners win and lose in the market. How can you not love that?
Posted by: Nanani at Mar 25, 2008 9:40:53 PM
Stay in Osaka and make day trips to Kyoto and Nara. Osaka is a modern city, but it is very ugly. However it is famous throughout Japan for having great food and friendly people. It's only a few hundred yen and less than an hour to both Kyoto and Nara by the so-convenient trains. If you are interested in seeing Japanese nightlife, Osaka is the best because it is far more compact than Tokyo and less expensive.
Also, if you drink whisky I recommend a tour of the Yamazaki Whisky distillery inbetween Kyoto and Osaka as well! Free tour and free whisky.
Posted by: Mike at Apr 11, 2008 1:28:02 AM
