anyone been to japan?

ellahrairah · Post by **ellahrairah** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:26 -0700

I was wondering if anyone on this board has traveled or lived in Japan? I returned to America about 7 months ago and I have found myself missing Japan a great deal. Especially Matsuri....

estee · Post by **estee** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 8:30 -0700

Never. But I would like to go, even though I heard it was expensive.

Does anyone know where I could get a street-map of Tokyo?

ellahrairah · Post by **ellahrairah** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:54 -0700

Tokyo is quite expensive, but in the end its worth it just for the experience. The salary is higher than it is here though so it kind of balances out.

You can buy a tokyo map at almost any bookstore. I got mine from barnes and nobles

Angelcake the Fox · Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:47 -0700

If I were given the chance, I'd go to Japan in a seacond. Unfortunantly I can't afford it.

If I were to go though....there would be a few places I'd have to go to. One of them is the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum......there is also supposed to be a Go Nagai Manga Museum in the near future. I'd also like to visit Nipponbashi and shop around for manga and games. I'd like to pray at some shrines to.

But I absolutely MUST visit the Hiroshima Memorial Park one day. That's a definite must right there.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 16:32 -0700

Angelcake the Fox wrote:
....there would be a few places I'd have to go to. One of them is the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum......there is also supposed to be a Go Nagai Manga Museum in the near future.
But I absolutely MUST visit the Hiroshima Memorial Park one day. That's a definite must right there.

The Tezuka Museum in Takarazuka is a wonderful place. It is right next to an amusement park, and just down the street from the Takarazuka Theater.

Fanfan told me that he went to the Miyazaki Museum. That is someplace I would like to go.

My family on my father's side comes from Hiroshima, so I would like to visit there. The town they were from no longer exists, but it was just across the strait from Miyashima, regarded as one of the three most beautiful places in Japan.

ellahrairah · Post by **ellahrairah** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 19:29 -0700

Miyajima was one of my favorite places in Japan. The only problem is the famous temple there always gets damaged during typhoon season, so its almost in a constant state of repair. The whole area is like a resort. It was so much better than the memorial park, which I didnt think was particularly interesting. Miyajima is a must though... I highly recommend it. If your in Tokyo though, you should definately go to jibli no mori bijutsukan. It has alot of studio ghibli stuff. Including a life sized robot from castle in the sky, just standing around outside.

Miyajima definately takes the prize though...

ellahrairah · Post by **ellahrairah** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 19:31 -0700

by the way... if its manga and anime your interested in... Akihabara is definately for you... there is a 5 story anime/manga store next to the train station called gamers.... and if your inner otaku-ness should sway you... there are several maid cafes around.

Leonardo-san · Post by **Leonardo-san** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 22:22 -0700

I have been there once, almost two years ago. I am going again in a couple of months. Both of these trips are/were with my iado dojo group, trips organized by my sensei. We get to train two days with his sensei, then go sight seeing. Two years ago we went around the Tokyo area, this year it will be to Kyoto and Nara.

ellahrairah · Post by **ellahrairah** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:31 -0700

Kyoto is definately a great place to go. I would recommend a little known shrine called Jizoin. Its not a major tourist attraction and most japanese dont know about it, so its really peaceful. Of course the other temples are really cool too... just very very crowded.

your sensei probably already knows this... but get a one day bus pass for Kyoto. It will save you a fortune.

best temples to visit; Kiyomizudera, sanjusangendo, kinkakuji, ginjakuji, nijo-jo, ryoanji, the gion district, Arashiyama, and the museums. If there are flowers blooming I would recommend Heian jingu, if not I would skip that one.

Neswizard2 · Post by **Neswizard2** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 13:25 -0700

What is a maid cafe?

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 14:36 -0700

Neswizard2 wrote:What is a maid cafe?

A maid cafe is a small restaurant, such as Cure Maid Cafe, where the waitresses serve customer while dressed in French maid outfits. There is a glut of them now, particularly in Tokyo's Akihabara district.

For some particular reason there is a sudden interest in maid uniforms, particularly among the "otaku". There are even maid foot massage palors and maid photo development stores. The fad seems to be on the decline now.

ellahrairah · Post by **ellahrairah** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 15:58 -0700

Ok, the maid thing has always existed, but ever since the movie densha otoko (train man.. which i recommend), the Otaku have become more popular and it has become trendy and not so taboo for a gorgeous girl to date an absolute nerd. So they became more mainstream now... Now they have maid cafes and maid haircutteries. The girls there act like they are about 12 years old and have an incredibly high pitch voice, so they sound more like anime characters. They also address their customers in such a manner that makes them seem like they are addressing an emperor.... In the cafes they often have shows where all the girls get together and do a little ditty.. I personally found it curious but so overly sweet, that I almost went into a diabetic coma. Akihabara definately abounds with those.

Post by **Maka** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 0:42 -0700

My whole family (parents, sister, her family, and my immediate family) leave for a 10 day Japanese vacation today. I am visiting relatives on both parents side. I'll share pictures when I get back.

The food is going to be good!

Peace,

maka

Neswizard2 · Post by **Neswizard2** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 17:11 -0700

I never would have guessed that about the maids. I guess everything is different.

Maka , you have a favorite japanese food? I like sashimi a lot. Sea urchin roe especially. Of course soups and noodles too. Also the candy!

Too bad nobody can make a movie about a fat guy who likes to eat choco and make it become fashionable. Cause I would be happy to start dating!

Have fun on your trip!

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 21:18 -0700

Maka wrote:My whole family (parents, sister, her family, and my immediate family) leave for a 10 day Japanese vacation today. I am visiting relatives on both parents side. I'll share pictures when I get back.

The food is going to be good!

Peace,

maka

Here is a look at Maka's last trip to Japan.

http://usagiyojimbo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1260