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Original poster

To ask about Tokyo/ Japan

37 replies

Snowmount4567 · 08/03/2018 23:45

Posted in chat too but wish some more responses Has anyone been to Tokyo or Japan?
How was it ? And did you experience any minor earthquakes- didn’t realise how many they get and am a bit worried

OP posts:
honeyroar · 08/03/2018 23:49

Ive been to Tokyo a few times. Never experienced an earthquake. It's nice, but personally I don't find it that amazing. Incredible toilets though!

BadLad · 08/03/2018 23:51

Minor earthquakes are nothing to worry about - I've felt loads of them before. If you are there and want to feel one, you can visit a disaster-prevention center and try an earthquake simulator.

That said, Tokyo gets a huge earthquake every 75 years or so, and is overdue for the next one.

Picklepickle123 · 08/03/2018 23:52

We did a 16 day trip and saw Tokyo, Kawaguchiko, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. I wouldn't visit Japan just for Tokyo though, you'll get bored after the first few days. Didn't experience any earthquakes at all. I am planning to go back in 2020 - there's so much left to see!

Salmonpinkcords · 08/03/2018 23:53

I lived in japan for several years and felt various quakes of differing size but nothing that I felt worried by. All part of the experience.
I loved Tokyo and Japan and I can’t wait to take my children there in a few years.

Yarboosucks · 08/03/2018 23:56

I was there recently. No earthquakes that I noticed! I would rather be in an earthquake in Japan where they are set up for them than practically anywhere else! I found it to be very interesting, much cheaper than I was expecting and really friendly. The food is great too!

Would you go to California BTW?

Thistlebelle · 08/03/2018 23:57

We had a brilliant holiday in Japan and didn’t experience any earthquakes.

Tokyo wasn’t my favourite part of he trip though.

Shamoo · 09/03/2018 00:00

Been twice - its AMAZING, and no earthquakes either time!

Original poster
Snowmount4567 · 09/03/2018 07:01

Thanks so far Sounds so interesting! Think I’ll visit Kyoto as well

OP posts:
EssentialHummus · 09/03/2018 07:04

I loved Tokyo! Would love to visit again. No earthquakes.

sashh · 09/03/2018 07:08

My carer got back from a 3 week trip about two weeks ago, he'll be here tomorrow so I'll try to get him to write some stuff down.

I know he did a bunch of activities, playing a traditional instrument, a rakago lesson some less cultural such as a maid cafe and cat cafe, Studio Gibly museum.

He had to buy extra luggage allowance to bring back all the things he bought but I now have a lovely kimono.

Babyblues99 · 09/03/2018 07:11

We went for our honeymoon for 3 weeks and experienced a scale 4. We were inside at the time and I though it was someone walking heavily outside the room before I realised. It probably only lasted 30 seconds. Was a bit scary for me but other then a casual mention on the news no one batted an eyelid Shock.

Much better to be in japan then say sanfrancisxo during an earth quake as japanese building code is very strict to defend against it. Also ypu really do want to experience small ones as it means that a big one cannot build up. If you are worried, just spend lots of time in the parks and small built up areas. Ueno park is fab. Xx

Original poster
Snowmount4567 · 09/03/2018 07:12

Thanks sashh That would be fantastic

OP posts:
NotBadConsidering · 09/03/2018 07:12

Food was great, all the Izakayas are brilliant. Thing that shocked me the most was how many people smoke! Be prepared for your clothes to smell of cigarettes, something I haven't experienced for years. But from a food, culture perspective it's a fantastic place.

Original poster
Snowmount4567 · 09/03/2018 07:16

Baby blue - that’s a good point about experiencing the smaller quakes
Notbad- that’s surprising. I thought Japan was super healthy!

OP posts:
CrabappleBiscuit · 09/03/2018 07:20

Kyoto is lovely, Nara is close and smaller and less touristy. I loved Tokyo. Felt a couple of small earthquakes only and I was there two years.

goldopals · 09/03/2018 07:22

I absolutely love Japan! We did Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka and Nara. It's an amazing culture. Nara is incredible; deer freely roam the streets and the back alleys off the main Street are fascinating

k2p2k2tog · 09/03/2018 07:27

Went about 20 years ago to the same places as Goldopals - particularly liked Kyoto and Nara. Tokyo is SO big and SO busy and SO crowded, it's quite an experience but certainly not where you'd go for a bit of peace and quiet.

BadLad · 09/03/2018 07:30

Notbad- that’s surprising. I thought Japan was super healthy!

Even the pharmacies sell booze and fags in Japan. Japan Tobacco owns quite a few hospitals here and when I visited one to get jabs, I was astounded to find that it had smoking rooms, with fag vending machines. Things are getting better, but it's still a very smoker-friendly country - they cost less than four quid a packet.

The government own a huge part of Japan Tobacco, so the tobacco industry is able to slow changes down.

Original poster
Snowmount4567 · 09/03/2018 07:39

Badlad-wow, again surprising!
It sounds like Tokyo is really crowded so it would be nice to get the train out to Kyoto and maybe Nara . Learning some Japanese, but how is their English if you are struggling?

OP posts:
BadLad · 09/03/2018 07:43

Hiroshima is the best place to visit. As well as the atomic bomb museum and peace park, there is also the castle (albeit not one of Japan's best) and the incredibly beautiful Miyajima island, with Itsukushima shrine.

TanteRose · 09/03/2018 07:50

not many people speak fluent English, but you can get by with apps like google translate etc.
having said that, there is not much free WiFi, but that too is getting better, ahead of the Olympics in 2020.

Grin
Batinahat · 09/03/2018 08:01

Another vote here for getting out from Tokyo. I visited Japan last year for 8 days and managed to cram loads in due to the super fast bullet trains, you can cover a lot of ground! Tokyo as others have said is an experience but you definitely should also get out to other places. My absolute bonkers highlight in Tokyo was the Robot Show. Like nothing else I've experienced anywhere! Amazing entertainment! Kyoto is beautiful and a much slower nicer pace. Then old town is beautiful and you can visit amazing temples and bamboo forest (another total highlight for me). We also did Hiroshima from Kyoto as a long day trip on fast train. Hiroshima is well worth the visit as others have said - the peace park and musuem are incredible and very moving. And the island of Mirajima is an absolute must - friendly deer, iconic temple/monument and a mountain well worth climbing for the incredible views. Ahhhhhhh makes me want to go back! Japan rail pass was amazing value and meant we could cram loads into 8 days.

Theyearsareshort · 09/03/2018 08:18

I lived in Japan for several years and experience lots of earth quakes. They are mostly minor and as people say everything is designed for it. Tokyo has loads to do and you can do lots of day trips from there if you don't want to travel far. If you are considering Kyoto and Hiroshima then look at the JR pass. It is for visitors only and you should buy before you go but can work out cheaper if you are planning to use Shinkansens to get around.

TanteRose · 09/03/2018 08:19

would recommend this place too - it is magical.

www.ana-cooljapan.com/destinations/gifu/shirakawagovillage

HongKongPhooeyNo1Superstar · 09/03/2018 08:20

Tokyo is amazing. Go. I'm planning on going back there again soon.