Posted: 2006-04-15 01:05:00
Tokyo is a great place for high technology and modernity. You'll see all sorts of fun stuff and there are plenty of traditional sights to see like sumo, Kabuki/Noh theatre, etc. Kyoto on the other hand is full of shrines and temples and plenty of fantastic traditional sights.
Both cities are full of great restaurants from plenty of different cuisines (Italian food is very popular in Japan). Japanese curry is much more mild than Thai or Indian curry. Japanese noodles (soba, ramen, udon, etc) are tasty, cheap and available just about everywhere. Check out my tips for more info on restaurants.
Hotels are very expensive in Tokyo if you stay in a western hotel like a Westin/Hyatt, etc. Try looking for a smaller hotel or a ryokan (japanese inn). The Japanese Inn group runs dozens of them across the country.
If you're looking for hiking/nature, it's a pretty rare thing in Japan. The only thing close to Tokyo is to go hiking in Saitama prefecture near Chichibu city. It's about a 2 hour train ride NW of Tokyo. Otherwise, the best place to see is nature is in Hokkaido, a long train ride or short plane flight from Tokyo. Of course, if you visit in the summer, there are plenty of beaches to spend your time at as well.
The other obvious option is to climb Mt. Fuji. It's not real mountain climbing, but rather hiking single file up well-worn trails in time for sunrise. Be sure to spend some time in an onsen (hot springs). They are a great way to soak away muscle stiffness.
It an obvious thing, but get a Japan Rail (JR) pass BEFORE you leave your country. Most travel agencies sell them and they can be used on almost all train lines across the country, including some of the Shinkansen (bullet train).
If you have any specific questions that my reports/tips/photos do not answer, feel free to ask. ---
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." – Mark Twain
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