Dubai
Sightseeing
Take some cash for cabs because they don't accept card!
General Information Japan
Remember to check for power converter and plug type!
Rush hour in Tokyo: between 8-9 am!
Leave the hotel at 7 ish and go explore outside until 10, afterwards go into a mall and stay there until 15 ish!
To replenish the water and sodium buy Pocari Sweat
Buy goshuin-cho, a special book designed to hold around 30 stamps. Go to temples and shrines collecting stamps! Look out for signs pointing towards any of the following: 御朱印所, ご朱印所, or 朱印所 http://www.kyotoursjapan.com/goshuin
How to pack for summer in Japan:
GF places in Japan:
Train timetable:
Guide about the JR pass:
Buy JR pass:
Japan Cheap:
Calendar of Events in Japan:
Shinkansen Reservations JR pass:
- From Tokyo to Osaka ask for seats on the right hand side. Tell at the ticket counter that you want "mountain-side" or "yama-gawa". Seat alphabet "D" and "E" (window).
- Do NOT use NOZOMI or MIZUHO shinkanse! they are not covered by the pass!
Tokyo
Calendar of events in Tokyo
Getting Here
- From Narita Airport:
- Take Keisei Main Line until Nippori Station and then change to the JR Yamanote Line which will take you to Ikebukuro
Website with timetable and fair : http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/timetable/index.php#narita1_kml
- Tickets from travelling within Tokyo explained:
Sightseeing
Metropolitan Government Building
- Tokyo Observation Deck Guide
Cycling by the Imperial Palace
- Oppening Hours Sunday:
10:00 - 15:00
Eating
DO NOT DO SUSHI! PARASITES ARE RAMPANT!
Website: http://kawaiimonster.jp/pc/en/menu/
- Oppenign hours Mondays to Saturdays
Lunch
Dinner
Sunday
11:30-16:30
18:00-22:30
11:00-20:00
For food some important words:
- beer named Nodogoshi Nama is the only gluten free Japanese beer
- inari sushi this is the rice inside the tofu pouch sushi
- mugi tea is tea made of barley!
- Osenbei are rice crackers, ask for those with salt
Extras/Festivals
- Shinyokohama Ramen Museum
- Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Festival 2017
- Asakusa Summer Night Festival—Toro Nagashi (Paper Lantern Floating)
- Hibiya Park Marunouchi Ondo Bon-odori Dance Festival
- Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri Festival
- Comiket (Comic Market)
Shopping
Location of 100 yen shops in Tokyo Yamanote line: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/travel/practical/100yen.html
What to see on the Yamanote line: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/exploring-tokyo-yamanote-line/
Tickets for 23 August
How to get there
- To Mitaka station, take the JR Chuo Line. Approx. 20 min. from Shinjuku station.
- From the Mitaka South Exit, approx. 15 min. walk along the Tamagawa Josui "Waterworks" to the museum
Tokyo Character Street in Tokyo Station
How to get there
How to get to Tokyo Character Street: Go out of Yaesu North Exit of Tokyo Station and go down stairs to B1 floor.
Kyoto
Kyoto Sightseeing Pass: http://japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp/en/special_keihan.html
Guide to reach places in kyoto by train: http://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
- To go back: Walk about 10 minutes to JR Umahori Station. Take the train of JR Sagano line to JR Kyoto Station.
Kyoto International Manga Museum
- Website: kyotomm.jp
- Nishiki Market
- Takashimaya Basement Food Floor
- Pontocho Alley (prettier by night!)
- Geisha district
- Tram stop: Gion-Shijo
- Yasaka Shrine (in the Gion district best seen at night)
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQua0R--?layers=T&m=&way=336641107
- Tram stop: Gion-Shijo
- Visit the Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka Preserved Lanes that lead down from the temple
Address: https://osm.org/go/7QHQvAy3k-?m=
Address: https://osm.org/go/7QHQvEkb1-?m=
- Ishibei-koji Lane
Address: https://osm.org/go/7QHQt6l3w-?m=
- Nene-no-Michi Lane
Address: https://osm.org/go/7QHQt76eU-?m=
- Ryoanji Temple (take JR bus line to here from Kyoto Main station, 20 minutes away from kinkakuji on the way can stop by Nijo station for Nijo castle)
- Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion)
- Nijo Castle
- Closed on Tuesday!
- Gion Corner (the show is a highly concentrated introduction to several traditional Japanese arts and include short performances of a tea ceremony, ikebana, bunraku, Kyogen comic plays and dances performed by real maiko)
- Toji Temple (Japans largest pagoda)
- Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine (10000 Toi gates, takes 2 hours to go from the bottom to the top)
- Sento Imperial Palace (NEED TO BOOK RESERVATION)
- Nishi Honganji Temple
- Higashi Honganji Temple
- Sanjusangen Temple
- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine and Homemade Tofu
- Hirano Shrine
- Heian Shrine
Eating
Important words
- Yatsuhashi gluten free mochi that look like a brown triangle
Places
- Mumokuteki Café (vegan/vegetarian)
- Choice (チョイス) (vegan and gluten free) (Read in Gluten free expats!)
- Organic house Salute (サルーテ) (vegan not sure if GF)
Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQhtm~F-?m=
- Macrobiotics Prunus (in Arashiyama in case we decide to go to the mountain call to prepare GF one day ahead)
- Kyotofu Konnamonja at Nishiki Market Street (SOYMILK SOFT ICE CREAM)
- Toshoan (GF bakery)
Address: https://osm.org/go/7QHQwfSaI?m=
- Matsuya
Festivals
- Daimon-ji Fire Festival
Shopping
- Pokemon Center Pikachu Kimono
- Noren
- Hours: 10:30-22:00
- Tea
- Kaishi Tea paper (in case other store doe snot have it this store is special for just kaishi)
Address: http://osm.org/go/7QHQwKaEV?m=
Osaka
Calendar: http://www.500type-eva.jp/entry/timetable.html#calendar http://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/seasonal-trains/limited-time-operation-specialized-shinkansen-train-500-type-eva.html
How to move around Osaka: https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/japan-by-rail/travel-tips/osaka-loop-line
- Dotonbori (Best seen at night)
Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy3j3t?m=
- Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy32Q_F-?m=
- Amerikamura
Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy3eS9k-?m=
- Den Den Town
Address: http://osm.org/go/7QEy5UbAw-?m=
- Hozenji Yokocho Alley
- Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
- Sumiyoshi Taisha
How to get there: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4007.html
- Umeda Sky Building ( 1000 yen fee pp)
- Osaka Castle (don't go in! it is empty TRAP just see the it from outside) (600 yen fee pp)
- Namba Yasaka Shrine
- Shitennoji Temple (you have to pay)
- Don Quijote Namba Kit Kat!
Guide to Osaka: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4001.html
Eating
Yaki-imo Baked Sweet Potato
- Honmatsubaya (wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), including mochi (rice cake), namagashi (natural fruit snacks) and mizugashi (jellies with fruit))
- Matsuya (set meals gluten free)
- Finding 7 Eleven in the Map
Hiroshima
- Leave Shin-Osaka with the train at 11:29
- How to access to Miyajima from Hiroshima
- Tourist Loop Bus, Meipuru-pu bus stop
Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, Hondori, Hiroshima Castle all can be reached with the travel bus
- Miyajima Island
Sightseeing: http://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/course/course_3hour.html
- Itsukushima Jinja Shrine
- Goju-no-To Pagoda
- Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival
- Hiroshima Castle
- Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial "A-Bomb Dome"
- Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims
- Downtown Hiroshima (Hondori)
Eating
- Shanti Yoga Vegan Cafe (Buddhist vegan cooking)
- Art Cafe ELK (vegan gluten free)
Nara
Nagoya
Eating
- La Porte Marseille (vegetable cakes)
Address: http://osm.org/go/7QYimwBTB-?m=
Myoko Happiness Illumination
From Tokyo take the shikansen to Sekiyama Station. In the station there are local buses that take you from the station to the resort.
Curiosities
- Penis festival
- Capsule hotels man only
- Train prices, even have to pay for not having a reservation!