is the first post of 2011 a few hours after our return from Italy in Japan. And since Japan is the time to network, but it is not always clear how to move and organize themselves, this post will be full of practical advice! Our trip was a Rome-Tokyo direct (almost 12 hours flight time). Japan is a beautiful country and it's true what they say that it is a country where the modern lives next to the old. Turning to skyscrapers bold and futuristic, one can encounter in a small temple, as an oasis of peace in the chaos.
Commonplace
It is true that Tokyo not there is a tendency, perhaps a few years ago were written only in Japanese but now everything is in dual language and instructions for everything are almost always also in English. Another myth to debunk is that Tokyo is an expensive city: for hotel and food we have spent much less than expected hotel at 70 € per night for a double room and eat an average of 2 euro per person for breakfast, 6 / 8 € for 15.10 for lunch and dinner, always eat in local places and good. And the cuisine is really good and light, of course If you love oriental flavors. The alternatives are a lot of sushi, noodle bar, teppanyaki, but also stalls selling food to eat on a stick while walking. Trust me and eat like the locals because there is always so clean, even in the street. And tap water is drinkable. Prepare to always use chopsticks. Who does not love the local flavors are, however, these fast food chains like McDonald's or KFC.
be confirmed, however, the myth of cleanliness and friendliness. If you're reading a road map is likely that a local approaching you asking if you need help or if you come in a restaurant where there is no English menu, however, rest assured that they will try to make themselves understood. Restaurants and hotels are all very clean, not to mention the streets where it is impossible even to find a card on the ground or public baths (present on the street), clean like private ones. Bring on the spot or take several cash because, unlike what we thought, the credit card is not accepted everywhere, especially in small restaurants - that are often the most good - and in the stalls. Not all banks take our ATM cash machine: used as the Post Office marked with a big red T. Finally, Japan is a country fair: you will never pay high prices for food, water and souvenirs, even in the most tourists.
Arrival Upon arrival at Narita
Narita airport, the taxi is not convenient, not because it is a particularly expensive but because the distance is over 70 km and the trip would cost about 250 €. Opt for the trains. If you plan to travel outside Tokyo, the card should JR (250 € per week but can be bought only by Italy before you go and be activated as soon as you arrive in Japan) that covers the connection to the airport (arrival in just over 1 hours in central Tokyo and then if you are in Ueno are 3 stops), a circular underground line that will take most of the city and covers all trips by train to the country with the Shinkansen high speed trains. If you think of being alone in Tokyo, you can take the connection Skyliner also leading directly to Ueno (40 minutes and costs about twenty euro) and then the metro card (which does not cover but JR is quite good).
What neighborhood you choose?
organizing the trip was the first research to take place on the hotel because Tokyo is a large polycentric city. On the web and we have received several tips from friends. At the end we chose the Ueno district of and the choice was very happy. Ueno has many advantages: it has a JR station which is the most diverse metropolitan train line underground stations. E 'near Asakusa, a district full of life, typical and home to the Senso-ji temple , probably the finest of Tokyo. Also in Ueno, opposite the railway from Asakusa, there is a park with two pagodas, temples, the zoo and several museums. If you walk along the railway and then found one of the largest markets in the country and will come with a nice walk in the neighborhood Akihabara, the electronics district, especially impressive in the evening for the lights that will stun you.
The hotel has been chosen the ' Oak Hotel, cheap and well located (8 minutes walk from the JR station, 15 from Asakusa). Be prepared that the rooms are tiny and hard to do but open the case so often in Japan. Around all'abergo There are several restaurants to dine in the evening if you're tired and you do not want to go far. Internet for free, always easy to communicate with family and friends.
Turn to Tokyo
As I said, Tokyo is polycentric and then every neighborhood has its own identity very marked: in addition to those already mentioned, Ueno, Asakusa and Akihabara, you must visit at least Ginza, Shibuya, Roppongi , Shinjuku , Ryogoku , Omotesando Hills and part of Central Tokyo Imperial Palace where there is . Getting around the city needed at least 4 full days, more if you plan excursions or turn with children and therefore you need frequent breaks. There are several museums in Tokyo but the best part is just walking around the city and enjoy the roads and the different humanity.
ready to walk a lot if you want to see the city we did a quick calculation and discovered he had walked at least 25 km a day!
Day
We have made two: Yokohama is a city but is considered part of Tokyo. E 'connected by JR and the trip is about 40 minutes. It's worth a walk to Chinatown and part of the port. The second excursion was to the theme park Hello Kitty that we preferred Disneyland because most typical. It 'an indoor park (ideal for days of bad weather) and for children. There are many attractions, but rather locations and live entertainment (in Japanese, of course). If you decide to go about 40 minutes by tube starting from Shinjuku. Downloaded from the coupon discount.
Weather
Traveling in mid-February we have found all possible types of weather conditions in 10 days (sometimes the same day), the heat around the 10/12 degrees to snow. The temperature varies a lot during the day so dress in layers. There is little rain, thankfully.
I close this long post with the cat magnet, which is said to bring good luck with its paw raised.
the next post for the trip to Kyoto and Nara!
0 comments:
Post a Comment