2 Weeks in Japan!

So I'm pretty sure a few people on this board have lived in Japan before... hence this travel question:

I've just booked a trip flying to/from Tokyo for 2 weeks in Aug - Sep.  I'm aware this is typhoon season and it will be hot/humid, but it's the only time my partner and I could realistically take the time off to go, so we're going!! 

The current idea is to spend 3-4 days in Tokyo at the start, travel around Japan for 5-7 days, then head back to Tokyo for 3-4 days. 

I would LOVE if anyone could share any useful tips, suggestions, and recommendations on things to do, where to go, what to see, etc.

We're considering climbing Mt. Fuji while we're out there, as we'll be arriving towards the end of the official climbing season...but have read that the view from the top would be dependant on the weather...which may not be as predictable, given that it will be typhoon season.

Thoughts??

I lived in Osaka, and recommend it unreservedly. Osaka is quirky, unique, friendly, less self-conscious and try-hard than Tokyo. But if you only have a short time to see the south part of Japan, you may not make it there. Go to Kyoto, for sure, it is quintessential Japan--go to Kiyomusu-dera and the Silver Pavilion. Also Hiroshima, for the A-bomb museum and the Shinkansen (high speed train) that you can take to get there. Plus Hiroshima is near Miyajima, which has the most famous torii in Japan and also wild monkeys.

Eat: okonomiyaki, yakisoba, takoyaki, tempura maple leaves, sweet red beans, sushi from an all-you-can-eat conveyor belt place, ramen from a street stall, kaiseke in Kyoto.

Drink: umeshu (plum wine), matcha, sencha (green tea), awamori (Okinawan rice wine), shochu (liquor)

Stay at a ryokan, a traditional hotel with tatami mats and futons on the floor. Also traditional Japanese baths. If you can go to an onsen, a public bath, do so, they are wonderfully relaxing. 

Bring hand sanitiser; the toilets in touristy places are revolting. People on the street will try to give you advertising leaflets along with little packs of tissues. Take them; you will need the tissues. There is no toilet paper in the public toilets. Also, a lot of them are squats.

"Sumimasen" can mean anything from "I beg your pardon" to "Get the f**k out of my way"

When you go into a restaurant, it's customary to indicate how many people are in your party by holding up the corresponding number of fingers. That saves the trouble of trying to explain that you'd like a table for two.

Use the subway to get around. It's pretty easy to navigate and the cars are air conditioned. It's going to be brain meltingly hot there in August.

See if there are any festivals you can go to, and get yourself a yukata to wear to them. Kimono cost a small fortune, but yukata are also beautiful, much cheaper, and more comfortable in the heat. Summer is festival season and everyone wears a yukata.

I'll stop there, though love Japan so much I could go on and on. You're going to have a great time!

Ahhh, that sounds brilliant.  Someday I will make it to Japan, someday!!!!!!    [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

Wow! OK! Lots of Info! Thanks so much Historyenne!

I was reading yesterday that Kyoto is a must, so can you possibly provide an estimate of how many days I would realistically need to budget to really experience Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Miyajima?   I ask, because typically when we go travelling (over long weekends mostly), we pick out the top 3-4 things we want to do, and make sure we do them, but also do quite a bit of aimless wandering to make our own discoveries.  So would ~1-2 days in each of these places be enough time to see the sites, but still allow time to casually stroll around soaking in the atmosphere?

Food/Drink: Can't wait! We typically go to Japanese/East Asian restaurants, whenever we go for dinner, so I'm well-versed with chopsticks and am familiar with holding up fingers for the size of our party

Was planning on visiting an onsen after climbing (if we climb) Mt. Fuji--will help relax our tired muscles, right?!-- so I'm glad you've confirmed it's worthwhile.

Thanks for the tips on yukata, hand sanitiser/toilets/tissues!, and sumimasen--I started learning basic Japanese on my commute today, and this word and numbers are the two things I started with.   I noticed that the kanji characters for numbers are identical to those used in Mandarin, and pronounced similarly enough too-- So maybe that one semester I took in uni will actually come in handy!

Right -- so the current itinerary is as follows:

Day 1. Arrival day.  Staying in Shinjuku area of Tokyo
Day 2. Tokyo
Day 3. Tokyo - a few dance festivals happening, so will go to one
Day 4. Travel to Kyoto.  Staying halfway between Shijo and Karasumaoike stations.
Day 5. Kyoto
Day 6. Kyoto
Day 7. Travel to Osaka.  Staying in Namba area.
Day 8. Osaka
Day 9. Leave Osaka.  Arrive - ??
Day 10-13. Pending!

Decided against Mt. Fuji, based on some redditor's experience in starting this in nice weather that quickly went south when the mountain was hit with a typhoon a bit earlier than predicted.   

Days 4-8 may include a day trip to Hiroshima (would be getting up quite early to make this happen!).

Days 9-13 still need some ironing out.  Was planning on staying in Asakusa/Tatio area of Tokyo, but this is subject to change-- now I'm considering an overnight stay in Hakone on Day 9, then use the last day of the JR Pass to get back to Tokyo.  Day 11 we'll be going to the Studio Ghibli museum in Mitaka.

We'll each be getting a 7 day JR Pass and Suica/PASMO card for travel.

I'm a little too late coming to this thread, but I've also lived in Japan and I must say historyenne did a good job giving advice. I just would have said I thought a trip down to Hiroshima and Miyajima is worth it and doable with a JR pass (Hiroshima-ken was my stomping ground!).

So! How was your trip??

So! How was your trip??

Amazing!!  But not enough time to do everything we wanted, so will have to go back again someday!

Tokyo was neat -- found an amazing festival holding an "Udon Battle" on our first weekend there near Harajuku, and the noodles were so incredible we went twice! 

Kyoto was neat, but the sites seemed a bit spread out, so probably should have stayed closer to the main station for easier access to things. Ended up on a bit of a detour at one point, because I mistakenly got on a limited express train which took us ~35km further than where we meant to go (Bamboo Forest). Oops!

We were planning on doing Hiroshima/Miyajima as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, but ended up going to Nara instead, and it was probably my favourite part of the trip!  Deer! And discovering

I fell in love with Osaka -- it had a totally different vibe compared to Tokyo, and I felt more "at home" there if that makes sense. 
On the last day of our JR Pass we went to Mt. Takao, saw some monkeys, climbed to the summit and could just about make out Mt. Fuji in the distance behind the clouds.

The country is absolutely beautiful and the people so kind and helpful.  If I ever have the opportunity, I would LOVE to live there to really get an understanding of the culture/daily life/etc.

Kyoto was neat, but the sites seemed a bit spread out, so probably should have stayed closer to the main station for easier access to things. Ended up on a bit of a detour at one point, because I mistakenly got on a limited express train which took us ~35km further than where we meant to go (Bamboo Forest). Oops!

Oh dear! It happens. I usually get the bus pass, but it does take a while to get from place to place. I still haven't made it to Arashiyama and the bamboo forest, even though it's been on my list for a while. Oh, and there's a great vegan cafe near the university--one of my favorite restaurants.

We were planning on doing Hiroshima/Miyajima as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, but ended up going to Nara instead, and it was probably my favourite part of the trip!  Deer! And discovering

Nara is cool! For future reference, on Miyajima they have tame deer everywhere too. Just don't try to have a picnic...then they're not so cute anymore.

I fell in love with Osaka -- it had a totally different vibe compared to Tokyo, and I felt more "at home" there if that makes sense. 
On the last day of our JR Pass we went to Mt. Takao, saw some monkeys, climbed to the summit and could just about make out Mt. Fuji in the distance behind the clouds.

The country is absolutely beautiful and the people so kind and helpful.  If I ever have the opportunity, I would LOVE to live there to really get an understanding of the culture/daily life/etc.

I think Osaka culture is more similar to American culture than Tokyo. From what I've observed, Kansai-jin (people from the Osaka area) are more likely to marry foreigners, as they're more vocal and open. And Okinawans are more like that, too, I guess.

Anyway, glad you had a great trip! Let us know if you go again--there's SO much to see and do!

I fell in love with Osaka

Hooray! I feel like Osaka is the Chicago to Tokyo's New York. It is wonderful but often overlooked in favour of the larger, more well-known other. I'm so glad you loved it!