Sunrise Tours
by cjcross
I highly recommend working with Sunrise Tours. We were reluctant to be on our own in Japan because of the language barrier and so, for the first time ever, booked ourselves on a 7 day tour. We choose the Historical Japan tour because it fit our interests and time frame, and it was perfect. Every tour guide was at least good and most were excellent. The company is incredibly well organized, to the point of having someone meet us (only) at Narita to put us on the express bus to our hotel and escort us (again alone) to our train to Osaka airport on the last day. One of the things we liked best is that each segment of the 7 days was separate. Most days we were in a group of only 8-12. Only once did we spend a whole day with a busload of people. Each day the group was different (except for two wonderful Canadian couples) so we never had that awful feeling of being part of a big tour group.
All of the guides went above and beyond what was expected, and each day was very well organized. WE didn't have a single complaint.
learn how to say 'sumimasen'. ...
by talullah
learn how to say 'sumimasen'. It's the only word in the Nippongo which can mean 'excuse me', 'i'm sorry', 'pardon', 'come again', or if you have nothing else to say... 'sumimasen'. Getting my insides squeezed riding in trains during rush hour. Since we go to work at the same time the whole workforce does, we have no choice but to ride the jampacked trains as if we're sardines in a can.
Asakusa.
by Sharrie
Explore ASAKUSA: Famous for its SENSO-JI Temple (also known as KANNON-DO Temple) this is one temple you will always remember, especially for the street of shops lining behind the temple. This is where you'd like to stock up all the souvenirs for friends and loved ones before leaving Japan.
Getting There: Asakusa Station (Ginza & Toei-Asakusa Lines).
Tel: (03) 3842 0181.
Open Daily: 6 am - 5 pm.
Pictured: Asakusa Jinja - Shrine built in 1649 dedicated to the men who found the Kannon statue.
Tokyo Tip
by Krystynn
This is the beautiful City of Tokyo - taken from the Tokyo Tower. I just loooove Tokyo!! Sometimes I really wish that the standard of living here isn't thaaat high. It's more expensive to live in Tokyo than in ANY other city in the U.S.A., London or Scandinavia. Can you believe it? Sigh....
The Japanese get insulted if...
by lourdesmaria
The Japanese get insulted if you try to tip them for a job well done. Instead, tell the manager or next in command what a fine job your service person did and comment overall on the high quality of the establishment. The Japanese are a gracious and gift-giving people. If staying with a family, or visiting friends, bring small, high quality presents from your home country. It is not recommended that you try to impress them with how 'Japanese' you can be. You may find teens and young adults calling you 'kawateru' meaning eccentric. Be yourself and observe good manners. If you speak Japanese use the polite neutral forms of speech. It is not expected that you know the intricacies of 'keigo', the highly formal language of courtesy that involves an in depth knowledge of ritualistic Japanese etiquette. I found that t-shirts and book bags from Ivy League Universities made very good presents for young Japanese. Older people may like a fine china or porcelin dish. Best to check with someone in the family about what items from overseas will be most welcome. If you are buying fragrances for women go towards the very light and floral.
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lots of fashion
Kyoto
Some of what you see, Toshogu Shrine, Nikko, Japan
The lake overcrowded with paddle boats
