Holiday destinations

[skippy]

I thought I'd start this for some feedback as I know AIA in particular has lived in Japan.
I've never been there but I'm thinking of going later this year and wanted some feedback on what is worth seeing and where is worth going. I figured I'd spend a couple of weeks there half of that in Tokyo and at least some time in Okinawa as my boy is into karate and he is keen to go there and check out one of the Kyokushin dojo to train in. Plus it is supposed to be a good holiday destination for the Japanese. Does anyone have any suggestions of the best places to stay in Tokyo for price and location? what is worth doing while you're there?

[IQS.RLOW]

Tokyo is really expensive, well it was when we went there on our honeymoon.

We mainly stayed around Honjo and Kyoto but booked a hotel in Tokyo to stay a few nights and do some sightseeing. 4 star hotel but couldn't swing a cat in it.

Best memory was Mount Fugi where we stayed for a couple of nights.

Great people and great country. Public transport is second to none. I recommend learning some of the language because although they are all taught English, very few can communicate and any attempt to do so will result in wonderous fascination that a gaijin is trying to converse with them and nothing else but polite smiles and nodding of the head.

[IQS.RLOW]

Don't forget to try the dolphin, whale and squid marinated in its own guts.

[AiA in Atlanta]

I have only used airbnb in the States and have been only pleased but have looked at the airbnb properties in Japan and have been mostly impressed. that is the way i would go.

Also, i suspect that dojos that do welcome foreigners would have dormitory-like facilities and temples might have inexpensive facilities as well. You can do Japan inexpensively if you stay mostly in the countryside and do your homework when going to more populated areas.

[IQS.RLOW]

So where would you suggest skip visits?

I forgot to mention Hiroshima which for a lefty would be a fantastic experience. You can revel in guilt of the west and not even contemplate the atrocities of 731.

[AiA in Atlanta]

Depends on what Skip wants to do and see. Why Aussies visit beaches overseas is a mystery to me when you have great beaches at home ... so why go to Okinawa? If I were choosing something to do in Japan I would go to a traditional guest house with an onsen (hot springs) somewhere in the mountains ... with snow, lots of snow.

[skippy]

Depends on what Skip wants to do and see. Why Aussies visit beaches overseas is a mystery to me when you have great beaches at home ... so why go to Okinawa? If I were choosing something to do in Japan I would go to a traditional guest house with an onsen (hot springs) somewhere in the mountains ... with snow, lots of snow.

Okinawa is the home of karate, and the founder of Kyokushin karate which my my boy does created that form in Okinawa.
I'll have a talk to his sensai before I go as he has been there to train before and would know which dojo to go to.
I'll have a look at Airbnb I have never used it but a couple of people from work that are going to Europe for holidays say it's great. One of them are staying in a nice place in Rome for a week for seven hundred bucks.
What places are worth seeing in Tokyo?
Thanks for your feedback IQ. I'd like to mourn at Hiroshima. So do you think just a few days may be enough to check out the sites of Tokyo and then head for some other places? I never thought of Mt Fuji, is Kyoto worth spending a few days in?
My son can speak a bit of Japanese as he's been doing karate for seven years and his Sensei runs the entire class in Japanese so he has learnt a bit of the language. I can count to ten in Japanese

[IQS.RLOW]

To be honest, I didn't find Japan a great "holiday" destination. Tokyo was just like any other busy metropolis and only good for shopping if you like paying top dollar.

It's the type of country I'd prefer to go and spend 3-6 months and immerse in the culture. If I only had a week or two I'd prefer to go to Thailand. Fuck your gentle art of karate, kickboxing transsexual midgets rock!

[skippy]

To be honest, I didn't find Japan a great "holiday" destination. Tokyo was just like any other busy metropolis and only good for shopping if you like paying top dollar.

It's the type of country I'd prefer to go and spend 3-6 months and immerse in the culture. If I only had a week or two I'd prefer to go to Thailand. Fuck your gentle art of karate, kickboxing transsexual midgets rock!

I actually spent a few months in Thailand when I was in my twenties. Some of those trannies can kickbox pretty good themselves.
I remember my first night in Bangkok getting lured into a bar down a back ally and when I went in the beer was 40 baht on the sign but when it came time to pay it was 100 baht. I was with a couple of other Aussie blokes and we thought fuck you we're not paying that you're ripping us off and started heading for the door. By that time the door was blocked by half a dozen bouncers which included a couple of boy girls that were swinging some mean looking stilettos in our direction. We returned to the bar paid the bill then left having learned never to keep a bar tab in Bangkok and pay up straight away.

[Neferti]

Skippy,

I just watched a program on Foxtel History Channel called "The Last Explorers" with Neil Oliver, about Thomas Blake Glover (also a Scot) who did a lot for Japan way back in the 1860s. This (below) is the entire program, if you are interested to watch it (58 minutes). Very interesting.