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Post by a1000monkeys on Jul 10, 2023 8:24:46 GMT -5
I’m fortunate to have some friends here that will take me to places I would be able to reserve (much less find) by myself). Though the places I can mage to go with almost no Japanese are also very good. DW and happened upon a small coffee shop run by an adorable older couple. When I say small, it is tiny. Seating for ten, tops. If you have seen an episode of Midnight Diner on Netflix you’ll get a sense of how tiny many Japanese restaurants can be. They spoke almost no English but they did offer us an English menu. I tried out a bit of Japanese and she was impressed and complimented me but I could not converse beyond that. I would have lived to get a picture of them but couldn’t quite figure out how to ask politely. I did settle on a picture of their open kitchen (with permission).  Another easy place to go with no Japanese is IchiRan Ramen. It’s a chain but is always excellent and extremely popular. You order by vending machine and then usually sit in individual booths so you really don’t have to interact with anyone and menus are in English.  However my friend arranged a meal at a hotel restaurant where her son is an apprentice chef. It was insanely amazing. 9 courses of thoughtfully prepared and gorgeously presented gastronomic masterpieces. It was heavy on seafood but my kids were troopers and tried everything but DS 14 was thrilled when the wag Yu beef sukiyaki course came out. By the end we were absolutely stuffed and happy. The sashimi course:  |
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Post by disney54us on Jul 10, 2023 9:14:10 GMT -5
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.
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Post by raspus on Jul 11, 2023 7:50:06 GMT -5
Great trip report. I loved the pictures. Really enjoyed the pictures of the Disney parks. Thank you.
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Post by a1000monkeys on Jul 14, 2023 7:39:30 GMT -5
Fun story today. We went on a day trip far south of Tokyo. On our second train of the morning DS14 realized he had lost his wallet. There was only about $20 with of yen in the wallet and no ID so we told him to forget about but he was in a foul mood the remainder of the day over it.
After 9 hours, 8 trains and 20k steps later we returned home. I decided to take him back to our original station to see if someone turned it in. I went to the list and found counter and with broken Japanese, Google translate and the station managers limited English, I was able to explain the issue, describe the wallet and its contents. One guy didn’t think there was a wallet found but the other guy said there was one that matched my description!
Not only was it returned but its contents were inventoried and neatly placed back with all Yen intact. My DS was thrilled. Only in Japan.
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Post by BLTMouse on Jul 14, 2023 11:54:54 GMT -5
I went to Japan and Tokyo Disneyland also and was so impressed with that culture.
Two examples: At lunchtime in a tourist town that I visited, the shopkeepers just turned off the lights in their stores and left. The doors remained wide open. No one would even think of going near these stores until the lights were on again. In a train station, I tried to tell the cashier to keep the 1 yen coin that was the change from a bottle of water that I bought. She was visibly upset by this and insisted that I take the coin (which was roughly equivalent to a penny).
Thank you a1000monkeys for your great trip report. I enjoyed the pictures and the report very much. I can't wait to go back there.
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Post by a1000monkeys on Jul 14, 2023 19:03:05 GMT -5
The absence of tipping is fantastic. Makes everything cheaper here. Just before we came to Japan I had to get my car smogged and when I went to pay the machined prompted me to tip 20%. For a smog check!?! Absurd.
However the absolute absence of trash bins, even in bathrooms and train stations is frustrating. Though it does help explain why eating and drinking is frowned upon because it is assumed you would litter since there is no place to toss your trash when finished. Be sure to carry a plastic bag and back pack to haul your trash around until you get home.
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Post by a1000monkeys on Jul 17, 2023 1:56:12 GMT -5
We are wrapping up our trip and will be flying home tomorrow. After several days of 20k steps in the heat we are ending it on a relaxing note at an Inn in the onsen region of Hakone. We are enjoying the onsens, mountain beauty and slightly cooler temps. Still to hit for us Californians and we are looking forward to the 70 degree temps back home.
Todays adventure included a mountain train, cable car to get up the steepest parts, then a gondola over an active volcanic crater spewing sulphur, then a boat ride across the lake on a majestic pirate ship. Why there is a pirate ship on a Japanese mountain lake, I have no idea, but the interior was incredibly luxurious.
At the top of the crater they boil eggs in the hot springs. The minerals in the hot springs turns the shells black. Legend has that eating one will extend your life seven years. Beyond the black shell, they taste like regular boiled eggs.
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Post by Brian5581 on Jul 17, 2023 4:49:34 GMT -5
Safe travels back. Thanks again for sharing!
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Post by dlwdwdvc on Jul 17, 2023 5:53:18 GMT -5
Great trip report thanks for keeping it going …
Raisin butter ? With cinnamon ?
The Target Bakery sells delicious jalapeño bagels near WDW … the only place I can find them
Maybe I should try making jalapeño butter …
That photo on Mens Urinal Instructions worth keeping !
I have a wealthy friend …and she has installed those in lower level of her homes … for teenage sons and their friends Haha
I’ll have to forward that picture to her and tell her I was thinking of her today!
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Post by PirateLinda on Jul 17, 2023 6:41:32 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing! I loved your pictures.
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Post by pooh bears mom on Jul 17, 2023 7:42:53 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing! Your photos are amazing!!!
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Post by tomandrobin on Jul 18, 2023 15:18:20 GMT -5
What a trip!
Thanks for sharing....not many of us will ever get the chance to go to Japan. So its really nice when people take their time ans share their personal experiences. Especially in a way that we can all connect.
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Post by a1000monkeys on Jul 19, 2023 14:58:04 GMT -5
We are back. Had a fantastic return flight on Japan Airlines. Their lounge had the most amazing massage chairs I have ever used. That helped prep my aching body for the flight.
I think our schedule worked out really well hitting the parks first. Even though the jet lag was a bit of a challenge, we had the most energy at the beginning of our trip so it was good to do the parks while we were still fresh. The heat really wore on us as the trip went on so going up to the mountains to relax at the onsens was a wise move. Our energy was ebbing towards the end of our trip and my achilles was really starting to act up so we ended it just right.
I will miss the food, the friendly people, the stunning scenery, the clean and efficient public transportation, the magical toilets that greet me in the morning and the relaxing onsens. I will not miss the weather, to hot and humid in the summer. Happy to be back where it's 70 degrees with low humidity.
It was an amazing trip. We will almost certainly be back but not necessarily with all three kids so I'm glad we were able to do this trip before they start heading off to college.
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Post by a1000monkeys on Jul 19, 2023 15:01:59 GMT -5
The Great Buddha of Kamakura  Giant Unicorn Gundam in Odaiba  View from Tokyo SkyTree. In the distance you can make out the giant Volcano and Tower of Terror from Tokyo Disney Sea.  |
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Post by melk on Jul 19, 2023 17:49:31 GMT -5
Amazing trip! Thank you for sharing.
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