u/troublesomefaux

Hiya, I want to run my Monday 5 Oct Arashiyama itinerary past you, with side questions. Always hard to know if you are cramming too much in and we want to try to get a (1pm?) lunch reservation at Shigetsu (I'm open to other veg/pescatarian kaiseki/opulent type meals in Kyoto if this isn't a good choice).

• cab to Otagi Nenbutsuji, arrive at opening/9am
• walk down to Adashino Nenbutsuji, through Saga-toriimoto preserved street
• [if we have time to kill: go to Gioji temple or Seiryōji (Saga Shakadō) Temple (do you have one you prefer?)]
• go to Tenryu-ji, eat at Shegetsu
• go to Okochi Sanso Garden and up to the Arashiyama park observation deck
• Check out Togetsukyo Bridge if we still have gas in the tank
• take a peek at the kimono forest and take the train back from Arashiyama station
  • We are splitting our 8 hotel nights between 'near the station' for day trips (Arashiyama, Uji, Kurama/Kibune) and 'up by gion' (town sites, Kurama)--is Arashiyama is best done from 'near the station'?

It looks like the walking place to place time is 45 min/2 miles so I think this is a reasonable design, thanks in advance for your insights!

does anyone know how the tubing is now? or where I can find out more info?

ETA: also if you know anything about bear safety precautions, I’m freaking out! We have black bears (and bear spray) where I live but no brown bears 😬

I’m going to be doing what I expect to be easy hikes October 1-9. I actually think they will just be walks but I don’t want to get caught without the right shoes. Can I do all of these in running shoes? Should I bring waterproof ones?

It looks like the daily rain will be pretty low but it’s my first time in Japan—I‘ll also be on the golden route so if you think I’ll need waterproof there, I’ll plan accordingly!

Furepe Waterfall

Shiretoko Five Lakes

“Primeval Forest hike” (3-4 hours guided) with forest/cliff views

“Around” Lake Akan

Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway hike

thanks in advance!

I’m going to be in Kyoto for 5 nights mid-October.I am unsure of what part of town to stay in so I’m here for advice.

We would love a neighborhood with a “traditional” look but we also like to stay a little away from the crowds. We don’t really have things in Kyoto we have to see so the plan is to go to some of the less visited spots and be strategic about when to go to popular places. I love a city but I don’t enjoy a crush of people everywhere I turn. We really like to wander!

I have several day trip options (Uji, Osaka, maybe Himeji). So I thought maybe near Kyoto station for convenience. I booked Hotel Kuu Kyoto because it has tattoo friendly onsen and it’s near the station.

My questions are:

1. Is Kuu Kyoto a decent central-enough location?
2. We are coming from a tour that ends in Sapporo (2 nights) and go on to Kanazawa (3 nights) and Takayama (3 nights). Given how busy Kyoto is, should we do 4 nights Kyoto and add a night in Sapporo, Kanazawa, or Takayama?

hotel address: Hotel Kuu Kyoto, 58 Shokuyacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8158, Japan

I’m going to be doing some easy hikes in Hokkaido in October. I actually think they will just be walks but I don’t want to get caught without the right shoes. Can I do all of these in running shoes? The photos I see all look pretty manicured.

Furepe Waterfall

Shiretoko Five Lakes

“Primeval Forest hike” (3-4 hours guided) with forest/cliff views

“Around” Lake Akan

Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway hike

it’s my turn to overthink my Tokyo hotel. we are looking to have a chill time and get over jet lag before we meet up with a group to go hiking in Hokkaido. we will be back in Tokyo for the last 3 days of the trip.

We know from experience that walking out of our hotel into utter chaos is not for us (I’m looking at you, Barcelona and Sevilla).

I have a reservation at Kokono Club Asakusa (for a Skytree suite with terrace) for our first 3 days in Tokyo. Some of the recent reviews look mixed but I think that’s more for the economy rooms.

Some of the Mitsui Garden hotels look nice too (and it seems like I can cover my tattoos and use their onsen). I’m also wondering if we should be closer to Ueno Station for the beginning. We had imagined ourselves wandering the park and maybe doing the museums to start us off.

End of trip: The Tsuki Tokyo in Ginza looks cute and has a hinoki cedar tub—would that be a good location for the end of the trip? We can just shoot over to Shibuya and Shinjuku from there and thought we would wait until later in the trip for this spots.

I welcome any advice on these hotel/location ideas. I feel like I’ve looked at every hotel in that area of Tokyo! I want to know I‘m in Japan but also want a comfortable bed in case sleep is hard to come by.

we play a little riichi at home and think it would be fun to play while we are in Japan. does anyone know of a tour/guide/teacher that would enable us to spend a few hours doing that in english?

we will be on the golden triangle + Sapporo + kinosaki + Kanazawa + Takayama (so far!)

Does anyone know what the flashing lights are at intersections along shield, specifically at mulberry and prospect? I would have thought they were the ticketing lights but they aren’t flashing when there’s a yellow light, just popping off on greens and they are seizure-inducingly bright. I can’t figure out what their deal is.