There is one obstacle with mailing stuff to yourself in the US: you lose out on your duty free exemption.
There is one obstacle with mailing stuff to yourself in the US: you lose out on your duty free exemption.I'm almost certain I'd be mailing myself stuff home from a Hard Off or two.
Kamakura as a day trip was originally on the list, but we decided to spend that day to go to Costco instead .Looks like you had a great trip. Here's my biased hot take from someone who's traveled to Japan 4 times a year for 16 years. Avoid Kyoto and go anywhere else, kamakura is a great alternative to get your temple fix in. I took my wife to Kyoto for as a first time jp visitor one time and we had a miserable time doing the tourist thing in Kyoto because the lines were ridiculous for everything. I felt like it was a waste of 2 days. I also understand that not many people would take my advice esp if they don't go to Japan that often, since it's usually a once in a lifetime type of trip for many. But I feel that you can get the same feel for the temples in alot of other cities while avoiding crowds. I just really hated the damn crowds
Also, I wish I had done this sooner but bring back more car parts than I had. Lol
Looks like you had a great trip. Here's my biased hot take from someone who's traveled to Japan 4 times a year for 16 years. Avoid Kyoto and go anywhere else, kamakura is a great alternative to get your temple fix in. I took my wife to Kyoto for as a first time jp visitor one time and we had a miserable time doing the tourist thing in Kyoto because the lines were ridiculous for everything. I felt like it was a waste of 2 days. I also understand that not many people would take my advice esp if they don't go to Japan that often, since it's usually a once in a lifetime type of trip for many. But I feel that you can get the same feel for the temples in alot of other cities while avoiding crowds. I just really hated the damn crowds
Also, I wish I had done this sooner but bring back more car parts than I had. Lol
Anywhere tourist oriented is going to be pricy. and anywhere is fucking hot in japan in the summer until pretty much october lol. i remember having to go back to my hotel to take a shower in the middle of the day when i was in kyoto one time.-NGL here in June Kyoto wasn't bad. It was downright sleepy compared to Tokyo.
Tokyo... Kinda sucks ngl. Crowded, hot as fuck (95F and 80% humidity today), and not even particularly cheap compared to Kyoto and some other smaller towns.
I mean it's still a cool place to visit, but I've kinda been underwhelmed by everything since seeing Kyoto/Osaka etc. It's like a worse version of both sort of mushed together.
Funny, we loved Kyoto. However, for many of the temples and shrines, we got an early start, which avoided a lot of the crowds. And other areas of Kyoto (Imperial Gardens, Nijo Castle) didn't have much in the way of lines or crowds.Looks like you had a great trip. Here's my biased hot take from someone who's traveled to Japan 4 times a year for 16 years. Avoid Kyoto and go anywhere else, kamakura is a great alternative to get your temple fix in. I took my wife to Kyoto for as a first time jp visitor one time and we had a miserable time doing the tourist thing in Kyoto because the lines were ridiculous for everything. I felt like it was a waste of 2 days. I also understand that not many people would take my advice esp if they don't go to Japan that often, since it's usually a once in a lifetime type of trip for many. But I feel that you can get the same feel for the temples in alot of other cities while avoiding crowds. I just really hated the damn crowds
Also, I wish I had done this sooner but bring back more car parts than I had. Lol
Yeah, i guess I did really enjoy it too more often than not in general. It was the one time i went with my wife it was such a shitty experience (i'm talking about shuffling up to fushimi inari, not being able to see anything but people in front of you) and i can only imagine it's gotten even more crowded. Btw, My favorite temple there is nanzen ji, love the aqueducts they have there.Funny, we loved Kyoto. However, for many of the temples and shrines, we got an early start, which avoided a lot of the crowds. And other areas of Kyoto (Imperial Gardens, Nijo Castle) didn't have much in the way of lines or crowds.
Nanzen Ji was awesome. We were there on our last Kyoto day in the early morning. Few people and very peaceful at that time. We then walked north along the Philosopher's Path to check out a few more shrines and templesYeah, i guess I did really enjoy it too more often than not in general. It was the one time i went with my wife it was such a shitty experience (i'm talking about shuffling up to fushimi inari, not being able to see anything but people in front of you) and i can only imagine it's gotten even more crowded. Btw, My favorite temple there is nanzen ji, love the aqueducts they have there.
When I was a kid my grandmother made the Osaka style too, but after trying Hiroshima style there was no going back for me lol-Okonomiyaki is a staple at our house, but not the Hiroshima style with the noodz. We missed it this round but we'll make it at home a few times and then have it again on our next trip out here.
Not the same of course, but the Ichiran instant ramen kit is fantastic. I'm not a ramen expert, but it compares quite well to good L.A. ramen shops. Unfortunately it's absurdly expensive, so I'm better off going to a restaurant.Never heard anything good about Ichiran. But who had the best fried chicken between Family Mart, Lawsons, and 7-11?
We found the small rooms a lot. Part of the problem is there are too many hotel choices and it's hard to really judge their size.The Ms Hotel we stayed in Kyoto was near Nijo castle, and was also among small houses in the residential area. it was near a grocery store and have few great restaurants near by. Few blocks to bus stations or the train station. But the rooms were too small.