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Three nights ago, my brother and I finally booked tickets to Japan. We've been talking up this trip with friends for about 3 years now and finally decided that it'd be best to just do it. I have to admit that planning is A LOT easier when it's just with one other person and that person happens to be your close brother. With our departure flight set for April 16th, it's time for me to do some research for places to visit. If you have any suggestions, feel free to post them. As a note, we'll be hosteling in Tokyo and will most likely make a 2-3 day trip out to Osaka / Kyoto area via train. I'll be updating this entry with links and such to keep have one central place to view all gathered information. Added 03/24/2008:  Japanese for Dummies
Until then, sayonara! Suggested Places to go and Things to Do
Suggestions from Janet F.
1. Tsukuji Market - go super early and watch the tuna auction and then eat the freshest sushi in the world
2. Meiji Shrine - its a long walk through a park into this amazing shrine
3. Asakusa Temple
4. Harajuku - look for the crazy dressed people
5. Shopping in Shinjuku or Shibuya Suggestions from Will
1. Kabuki-cho -Northeast of Shinjuku Station - "the craziest nightlife in all of Tokyo... in recent years young Japanese, including college-age men and women, have claimed parts of it as their own and now outnumber the businessmen; the result is that there is a growing number of inexpensive drinking and live-music venues well worth a visit."
2. Tokyo Nightlife Guide - a whole slew of suggested places to check out in Tokyo. Suggestions from Mitch
1. Hike up Fuji San (Mt. Fuji) overnight. Make sure to wake up at 3:30AM and finish the walk to catch the sunrise from the top of the mountain
2. Osaka is not worth checking out
3. Check out old Japan in Kyoto especially the Hot Springs
4. Walk around the Tokyo and try to get lost in the many neighborhoods the city has to offer "There's a famous temple there, and it's famous mainly for being the red light district before WWII. Probably more interesting close by are Ueno, particularly the Ameyoko Shopping Street (bought quite a few things there), and Akihabara, which is the consumer electronics shopping district. Oh, you're saying, I've been to Best Buy, why would I go to Akihabara? Trust me on this one--you'll see stuff there you'll never see anywhere else. Very cool." - Mitch Suggested Places to Eat
Suggestions from Janet F. and NY Times
There's this Japanese cuisine called Yoshuku ("Western Food") that's big in Japan. It's basically the Japanese take on Western foods. For example, in the NY Times article, it mentions dishes like "cooked spaghetti that is rinsed in cold water, then stir-fried with vegetables in ketchup". Sounds interesting right? Yoshoku restaurants mentioned by the article include: 1. Shiseido Parlor in Tokyo’s Ginza district
2. Taimeiken in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district
3. Nakamuraya, a famous Indian curry restaurant in Tokyo
4. Last, but not least, Denny's. Their menu is made up of Yoshuku dishes in place of the traditional American food. Things I Need to Pick up for Others
1. Furwarinka
Chewing gum that not only freshens your breath, but also your body. Interesting...
2. Haagen Daz Parfait (need to try it myself)...
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