I’ve been planning a month-long trip to Japan with my sister and my soon to be wife. We have already planned out quite a few things we want to do, but if this was you, what would you want to see or do? Keep in mind that we’re all rather old (I’ll be turning 50 shortly).

  • SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    20·
    2 months ago

    My suggestion: don’t say sister and soon to be wife, I assumed it was one and the same person fkr a moment 😭

    The other more important recommendation is any national park that is convenient for you. The different ecosystems and environments of the world is what I find special.

    Sand dunes, waterfalls, volcanoes, whatever you want.

    If you don’t wanna walk too much, go for a picnic or smth. Get local street food or the infamous Japanese 7/11.

    https://www.japan.travel/national-parks/ Here’s some activities too. Have a good time.

  • Quilotoa@lemmy.ca
    7·
    2 months ago

    Try an onsen if you like cultural stuff. Read up on it before. There’s a definite routine. BTW: You’ll be naked and there are likely female workers wandering through the baths. (50 is not “rather old.”)

    • Crackhappy@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      1 month ago

      Regrettably my sister and I have a lot of tattoos, and we haven’t found any onsens that will let people with tattoos in. Oh well!

      • Quilotoa@lemmy.ca
        2·
        1 month ago

        Yeah, tattoos are looked down upon in Japan. My nephew moved there and he can’t go to the beach or to an onsen. Has to wear a shirt all the time.

    • TastehWaffleZ@lemmy.world
      2·
      2 months ago

      I went in blind because tHeRE’s sIGns eVEryWhEre aNd gOoGlE tRansLAtE EXisTs. Guess where you don’t want to have your phone out with the camera open??!

      It was pretty straightforward once I figured it out but in the moment I was super nervous

  • TastehWaffleZ@lemmy.world
    6·
    2 months ago

    We went for a two week trip, starting up north and working our way down. Hakone is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

    Tokyo is absolutely massive, we had a hotel in Ueno and I spent about 2.5 days there before realizing that’s just one tiny part of Tokyo and there’s SO much more. After that I just rode the train around Tokyo for a while, exploring everything that sounded cool. I easily could have spent a month just exploring Tokyo, give yourself plenty of time there.

    It really depends on what your interests are but it’s sure to have something for anyone. We were walking around Ueno Park and randomly stumbled on a local bonsai association which was such a magical experience.

    Bring comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken in because you’ll likely be walking a lot. I had really lightweight shoes but they didn’t have enough support so I bought new shoes, only to get blisters from walking 50km in one day with shoes that haven’t been broken in yet 🥲

  • gray@lemmy.ml
    4·
    2 months ago

    Some of my personal faves from my trip last year:

    • working out in a park gym and petting the cats that hanged out there between sets.
    • Walking in Fushimi Inari Taisha (Kyoto) during a moonlit evening
    • all you can drink sake bar (don’t disturb the other guests)
  • ieatpwns@lemmy.world
    3·
    2 months ago

    Fushimi inari shrine has hundreds of orange tori gates

    Cool af

    You can also stop at family mart/lawson/7 eleven for some AMAZING convenience store fried chicken. So juicy biting into it will have the juices running down your chin

  • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    2·
    2 months ago

    Depends on what you are into.
    Why did you want to go there in the first place? Just because everyone else does?

    For me:
    The food (I am cooking more japanese/asian cuisine than western)
    Thr culture (inspired by anime but also several JP youtubers like ‘abroad in Japan’)
    The scenery (I specifically bought a new DSLR. For example the bamboo forests)
    Tea :)

    • Crackhappy@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      1 month ago

      I learned Japanese when I was in college, and I’ve been to Haneda airport a few times, but I’ve never visited the country itself. I’m most interested in the history, the people, temples and culture.

  • acathla@lemmy.ml
    2·
    2 months ago

    ‘rather old’, ‘turning 50’. Geez! Sounds like you’re still young with plenty in the tank. Just like me!

    I can’t offer any assistance about Japan sorry albeit to say I’m keeping an eye on this as I hope to do something similar next year. I was considering a guided trip as I would be travelling solo, or hire local guides to show me around but I’m not sure if that’s a good option.

  • timeisart@lemmy.world
    1·
    1 month ago

    If you’re into photography and/or just want to visit some of the most peaceful places in the world, definitely check out the temples, shrines and botanical gardens mainly in the Kyoto area, but also Osaka Castle and Matsumoto Castle.