I'm traveling to Japan in May 2020 for 2 weeks. I'm looking for recommendations on best attractions to see (less touristy), great places to eat at, train/subway, and Air B&B/hotels in Japan. I would like to see as much of the ancient & modern culture as I can
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Japan is just touristy In general. Tokyo - Shinjuku and shibuya are the two best neighborhoods to stay in. Best to stay close to the train station as it easy to jump to different neighborhoods. I actually love Kyoto more then Tokyo , it’s less busy and it feels like you’ve gone back in time. Nara is an hour from Kyoto also highly recommended , staying for a few days.

Robot restaurant!!! Don’t miss this

@japanfoods'nbooze

If you want to get out of the city, go to Aizuwakamatsu
Its a small town with a lot of history and culture

If in Kyushu, stay in Fukuoka and visit Kumamoto castle. And have a drink at BARR Nowhere.

Serious question, are you looking for recommendations 14 months in advance?

Pablo why not? A trip that big need planning. I'm coming next March and not booking yet but seriously trying to decide where to go and where to stay.

Pablo yes

Leah https://www.yyzdeals.com/toronto-to-tokyo-japan-682-cad...

Vito Thanks. It's only valid later this year. I'm using points anyway.

Chanel There is a great FB group called Japan Travel Planning. If you aren't already in it, join. Tons of info (almost overwhelmingly so!)

Leah i was simply curious. I just got back from a week in Tokyo, and besides hotels, did not have much planned until i got there. Travelling with a kid make it hard to plan as well.

Jeff

Ashikaga flower park for cherry blossoms

If you're going in May, avoid Golden week.

Following

I'm heading there for the 3rd time this September!
Many "touristy places" are still worth the journey and you can find little areas off the beaten path to explore and enjoy. My favourite experiences were Arashiyama, Nara, Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera (go at night), Kinkaku-ji. Osaka Castle is nice for viewing the cherry blossoms.
You can go almost anywhere and find a delicious meal, there's almost no point in even researching restaurants, they're everywhere and it's very hard to find a bad one.
We stayed at the Khaosan Hostel in Asakusa (Tokyo), which was really close to Senso-ji and lovely to walk past at night.

Janna thank you so much for your recommendations

There are too much things to see, but I recommend you will see many yputube videos that foreigners made for Japan tourism too. Tokyo (the biggest city in the world, has numerous neighbhours with unique characters like Akihabara, Harajyuku, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Asakusa....etc ), Kyoto (has traditionally traditional old temples and shrines... I say so because we have temples and shrines everywhere anyway in Japan but Kyoto is overall historical.), Osaka, Hokkaido....

Naoko thank you!!!

http://boketto.rosannau.com/

what a plug

Fujiyoshida is beautiful.

Perry Li

I stayed at Richmond Hotel Premier in Asakusa and it was amazing... amazing service, great rooms and there is a food, homegood and restaurant market on the floors below.. it’s also located in a super safe neighbourhood with lots of ancient temples, shops and restaurants

Tokyo, one if my fav places was the Tsukiji fish market to see Tuna auction and had the freshest Sushi breakfast. Apparently it moved Oct 2018. Now the Toyosu Fish market. Shibuyo station is where Hachiko dog followed his master to the station everyday, there is small statue. Yoyogi park and Meiji Shrine were also good. I saw a wedding photo shoot . Also make sure to see or take a taxi in Tokyo, it is expensive, but an experience. the drivers wear white gloves and the door automatically opens for you. Enjoy.

Mount Fuji! Spend a few days there before coming back, it’s SO serene! It’s like nothing I’ve experienced before!