Good news everyone! Due to some generous gifts from my family, combined with my ability to live without spending any money, it looks like I’m going to be able to afford to go to Japan for a few months in the summer! Hurrah!
Whilst I don’t know much about the trip yet, I wanted to talk about what I plan to do, and I urge anybody who reads this blog to post any suggestions they have for trip activities. If all goes to plan I will be staying in Oji in Tokyo again, hopefully staying with Junten school for very little. Whilst this does limit my travel slightly I am planning to travel. Here’s a quick list of my plans.
1. Visit Kyoto & Osaka
I am 100% going to do this. My mother will be on my trip with me, and I would be a terrible son if I didn’t show her the amazing sights of Kyoto. Visiting Osaka is something I wanted to do in my gap year but for one reason or another I couldn’t make it. What made it worse was that Nate managed to make it there and told me it was fantastic. So I blame him.
2. Visit Nikko
Considered the “other Kyoto”, Nikko isn’t too far from Tokyo and plays host to some of the most beautiful shrines in the country. Long term readers will know I am utterly obsessed with shrines, so I will definitly be making a trip here.
3. Visit Kyūshū?
This again was a plan I thought about in my gap year but sadly I couldn’t make my funding stretch far enough to cover it. Hopefully being able to just pack up all my belongings in one bag will allow me to get there. I may even hitchhike, as I hear Japan is the only country really safe enough nowadays to do so. Plus I hear you can meet some great people doing so. If I do hitchhike, I’ll post about it on here before going. If you don’t hear from me in a few days, call the blog police and they’ll come find me.
4. Get horribly drunk
Obviously.
5. Ascend the Tokyo Tower
Something I never did, even though my volunteer partner Matt did it twice (I think). I’ve been in an apartment that looks onto it which was about half it’s height, and even from there the view was huge. I would love to get a couple of photographs from the top of the tower, then spend a good hour or so trying to find my old flat on it.
6. Return to Tsukiji Fish Market
My mother absoloutly loves seafood, so even if I din’t want to this is pretty much guaranteed.
7. Make a wish at Meiji Shrine
Last year I wished for good luck at university, something that I’ve had so far, so I think another journey would be in order.
8. Ride the Odaiba Wheel Again
In daylight this time.Even though it was nearly pitch black when I rode it last time the view was spectacular, particularly the rainbow bridge.
So there you are. Add to this the obvious ones like eat lots of sushi and look like an idiot in Karaoke, and you have my basic plan. This is where you guys come in – please comment with suggestions. I want to know what to do, and who better to tell me than strangers over the internet?
Roll on summer 2008!
Possibly Related Content:
Hmm, that’s tought because there is a lot to see.
1. Nikko. My mom liked it here more than Kyoto.
2. Kamakura/Yokohama.
3. Ueno/Asakusa/Yakata. There are some really interesting things when you get lost back in the alleys.
Fukuoka was interesting.
Don’t forget your JR railpasses!
Tom: Thanks for the suggestions :) I actually meant to write “Nikko” not “Nara” for #2… I’m dumb. I’ve been to Kamakura and Yokohama before but I will definitly make it there again. Ueno has one of the best Irish pubs in the world so I’ll be there too! I’ve never been to Yakata, what’s there? Never been to Fukuoka either.
As if I’d forget my lovely SUICA!!
I want to see these launtic readers you have been talking about lol!
Justin: Look at some of the comments from the older posts…there’s a few spots of insanity out there!
So I am like MAJORLY しっとしん.
I think my funds and lack of generous faily means that it won’t be until next summer that I can make it over to Japland.
And I am right, Osaka is amazing, kicks Tokyo all the way down to Okinawa in my opinion.
And anyways, have an amazing trip in the summer, and while you’re over there make sure you go and see PERFUME live in concert! ;)
Nate: Haha :) Unlucky about not coming, but I’ll be on my year abroad then so we can have hilareous Shibuya shenanigans once more! I can’t wait to get to Osaka but if it’s not awesome you’re in trouble.
…and there is no way I’m going to see PERFUME. Never!!
Apparently Kuyshu is very beautiful. I’m studying at a uni there next year and the propaganda brochure they’ve given me makes it look pretty cool.
Kumamoto has one of japan’s best preserved castle’s and some sort of large volcano. There’s loads to do in the area if you’re worried about boredom.
Rory: You had me at “best preserved castle”. Kumamoto is on my list now. Now to rob a bank…
Haha, Robbing a bank is high on my list as well. Working for money is just so primitive, stealing is the way of the future.
Luckily for me I get cheap dorm accomodation.
Rory: I’m batting for cheapo dorm accomodation too… are you going to be in Japan in the summer? I sense shenanigans!
By JR railpasses I meant the unlimited travel tickets. http://www.japanrailpass.net/
The SUICA is necessary too!
I read somewhere recently that Tsukiji is planning to stop letting the public in for the Tuna auctions… not sure on the details but might be an idea to check before getting up at 4am!