..I’m going to travel to Japan soon! Please give me some comprehensive advice! Thank you..

Self-guided strategies for traveling in Japan, super practical

Summary of strategies for traveling in Japan o(∩_∩)o...

This article comes from Ctrip, the original author is a netizen :5799

A friend is going to travel to Japan recently and asked me to introduce some interesting places. In fact, I went there a long time ago and I don’t know much about the current trends. I can only compile a simple strategy for him based on my own hobbies and memory, combined with the information found on the Internet.

According to my preference, every time I go to a place, what I want to see is its characteristics. Or unique natural scenery, folk customs, or historical and cultural landscapes. Therefore, when I go to Japan, I choose to visit the former ancient capitals of Kyoto, Nara and even Kamakura near Tokyo, because I feel that there really isn’t much to see in big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. The more modern they become, the more they become the same. , it’s the same wherever I go.

However, since we have traveled a long way, we still need to go to Tokyo, which can be used as a place to stay.

To see the royal atmosphere, you can go to Otemachi to see the Imperial Palace, and look at the Niju Bridge from outside the palace. When the Japanese prince got married, the wedding car came in and out from here.

If you want to appreciate the prosperity of Tokyo, Ginza and Shinjuku are enough to represent it, but the others are just mediocre. However, if you have never been to the United States or Hong Kong Disneyland, you can also visit Tokyo Disneyland. It is best to buy a pass and you can do whatever you want (how much mani did I spend? I forgot).

For those who like sports, do you know what Japanese people’s favorite sports are? Although sumo wrestling is a traditional Japanese sport, in terms of popularity and people's perennial interest, the real national sport in Japan should be yakyu, which is actually baseball. When I was in Tokyo, I lived near TOKYO DOME (also called the Dome by the Japanese), and I was fortunate enough to hear and witness many actions of fans.

Then we will leave Tokyo and go to Kyoto for a key tour.

This is a self-guided tour itinerary made by a traveling traveler online for reference:

Arrive in Kyoto, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu Temple on the first day

Ginkakuji Temple on the second day, Kinkakuji, Arashiyama, Tenryuji Temple

On the third day, head to Nara. Horyuji Temple, Yakushiji Temple, Toshodaiji Temple, Todaiji Temple

On the fourth day, visit Heian Shrine, Toji Temple, and Nara Heijo Palace ruins.

On the fifth day, spend time in Kyoto to kill the day ( You can consider "Kamogawa", one of the famous places for outdoor leisure in Kyoto, where Conan and his party ate at night and watched the cherry blossoms)

Return to Tokyo on the sixth day

I think this is his itinerary. Arrangements are still possible.

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Row (1)

Although Japan has developed transportation, there are many choices to get from point A to point B. But it is still recommended that you take the Japanese Shinkansen.

It only takes 2 hours and 20 minutes to take the JR Shinkansen (limited express train) from Tokyo Odawara Station to Kyoto. The one-way fare is 13,220 yen (more than 800 yuan? I don’t know the current price comparison, Master himself Convert it). The environment inside the car is comfortable, and the large aviation seats are very suitable for sitting in and watching the scenery.

Tickets are divided into reserved seats and unreserved seats. However, it is recommended to buy reserved seats (that is, seated in a reserved seat).

When the Shinkansen is traveling, you can hear the sharp whistling sound in the air outside, a bit like the sound of bullets. When the train is moving, the interior is pressurized and depressurized from time to time, which can cause a little pain in your ears.

From Tokyo to Yokohama is an almost continuous urban area, all of which are residential, industrial and commercial areas. Then there are the endless hills. After that, a huge city appeared in front of us, and that was Nagoya, the third largest city in Japan. The Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya basically runs along the seaside. Further back, there are small hills approaching, and soon we will reach Kyoto.

As for the return trip, you can experience taking the night bus (Dream Bus) back to Tokyo. Japan's night buses are very comfortable. They have two floors, upper and lower floors, soft seats, a wide distance between the front and rear, and foot rests. The bus drives very smoothly. It takes about 7 hours to get to Tokyo Station from Kyoto, which is just enough to sleep for one night, which is very convenient. Of course, if you have trouble sleeping, you can skip it. Otherwise, at night, the snoring with different accents is enough, haha.

Similarly, the night bus from Tokyo to Kyoto also takes more than 7 hours. Departing from the Yaesu Central Exit of Tokyo Station at 10pm sharp, we arrived in Kyoto around 6am the next morning.

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Ring (2)

Inner city transportation:

Note: After getting off the bus in Kyoto, the first thing you have to do is not take a taxi , instead of staying in a hotel, go to the information center (information office) inside the station to pick up free tourist maps and information (Kyoto is modeled after the Tang Dynasty in China. It is easy to distinguish between east, west, south, and north. You will not go there if you have a map. Lost it), and also ask where to buy the Kyoto sightseeing two-day pass (it's near the registration office).

This kind of ticket can be used for unlimited use of buses and subways within two days. Kyoto buses have a single fare, and it costs 220 yen to get on the bus (well, do as the Romans do. From now on, we don’t say yen, but yen. ), so it’s very cost-effective.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if you don’t buy one at the station. You can also buy a Kyoto bus ticket valid for one day on the bus, but it seems that you can’t buy a two-day ticket. But you still need two days to enjoy leisurely time in Kyoto.

The price of a bus ticket valid for one day is about 500 yen (you can only take city buses).

The price of a subway or bus ticket valid for one day is about 1,200 yen (you can only take it) Take the subway, city bus, Kyoto bus),

A subway or bus ticket valid for two days is about 2,000 yen (you can take the subway, city bus, and Kyoto bus).

Actually, you can also just buy bus tickets, it mainly depends on your own needs.

It is recommended to take more buses and sightseeing cars:

1. For sightseeing in Kyoto, taking the bus is more convenient than the subway, and the city itself has beautiful scenery, so traveling underground is a waste.

2. To facilitate sightseeing, Kyoto has three sightseeing buses, 100, 101, and 102. 100 takes the east line, 101 takes the middle line, and 102 connects 100 and 101. It is very convenient to take this kind of sightseeing bus, get off at the scenic spots you want to see, and then get on the next bus to continue elsewhere.

3. Kyoto has only two subway lines, the Tozai Line and the Karasuma Line, which are criss-crossing.

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The reasons why you must go to Kyoto

Kyoto has the most beautiful natural scenery in Japan. There are two most beautiful times of the year, one is in April during "Hanami" to enjoy the cherry blossoms, and the other is in November to see the red maples.

But this is not the reason why you must go.

Kyoto is unique in its history.

If Tokyo represents the image of the government and Osaka embodies the savvy of entrepreneurs, then Kyoto represents traditional Japan with an aristocratic temperament. Because of its artistic and cultural traditions, it is called a living museum together with Athens, Cairo and Beijing. The only drawback is that this tiny place now has the crowds and noise of a modern city. Fortunately, the period when Master went there (mid-June to mid-July) was the rainy season in Kyoto, with continuous drizzle and relatively few tourists.

Kyoto is the ancient capital of Japan with a history of more than a thousand years. Founded in AD 794 (equivalent to the heyday of the Tang Dynasty in China), it was the political, cultural and religious center of Japan until the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1868 after the Meiji Restoration (equivalent to the end of the Qing Dynasty). The original design of Kyoto was to imitate Chang'an and Luoyang during the Sui and Tang Dynasties in China, with a rectangular city and checkerboard-style streets. With Zhuque Road as the axis, it is divided into East and West Beijing, with Tokyo imitating Luoyang City and Xijing imitating Chang'an City. The traditional areas are still divided into Luozhong, Luoxi, Luobei, Luodong and Luonan.

How many world heritage sites are there in Kyoto? The answer is: 17. Almost all of Japan's world heritage sites are concentrated here. I highly recommend two of them to my master: Kinkakuji Temple (called Luyuan Temple to be precise) and Kiyomizu Temple.

The other 15 are: Ginkakuji (Jishuji), Nijo Castle, Ninwaji, Kamigamo Shrine, Saihoji (Moss Temple), Daigoji, Tenryuji, Ryoanji, Shimogamo Shrine, Kyogo Gokokuji Temple (East Temple), Enryaku Temple, Byodo-in Temple, Honganji Temple (West Temple), Takayama Temple and Ujigami Shrine.

The sightseeing bus allows people to visit various scenic spots very conveniently. Take sightseeing bus No. 100 from the train station and pass by the Kyoto National Museum, Kiyomizudera Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto Metropolitan Museum of Art, Heian Shrine, and then to Ginkakuji Temple. 101 connects Kinkakuji Temple to the train station. 102 connects Kinkakuji Temple and Ginkakuji Temple. It is no exaggeration to say that Kyoto has “a temple within three steps and a temple within seven steps”.

Just like going to Europe to see churches, going to China to see temples, and going to Kyoto to see countless temples and shrines. Every shrine has at least a torii gate shaped like the Greek letter "pie" (I can't type out the symbol that represents 3.14, I'm depressed), which separates the sacred place from the secular world. The largest torii gate in Japan should be in the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. Master, if you are interested, you can go and see it. However, these choices are entirely based on your own interests and physical strength. If not, seeing the Golden Pavilion and Qingshui in Kyoto is enough.

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Several must-see attractions

Kinkakuji Temple: It is undeniable that Kinkakuji Temple has a deep connection with Mishima Yukio. But in fact, everyone should be familiar with Kinkakuji Temple. In "Smart Ikkyu", the builder of Kinkakuji Temple and General Ashikaga Yoshimitsu during the shogunate era frequently called Ikkyu here to "test" other people's intelligence.

This Kinkakuji Temple is so beautiful that it feels a bit unreal. The entire temple is decorated with gold foil, and the Kinkakuji Temple reflected in the lake has always been a symbol of Kyoto. Unfortunately, the Kinkakuji Temple has been destroyed by fire several times, and the one we see now has been rebuilt.

The ticket to Kinkakuji Temple is more unique, it is an amulet, 500 yen. Light up this talisman at the entrance and you will get a brief introduction in Chinese, Korean and English.

There are fortune tellers in Chinese and Korean for divination in the temple.

Kiyomizudera Temple: The entrance fee is about 300 yen, and if you visit, add 100 yen. If the beauty of Kinkaku-ji Temple is exquisite and unreal after seeing it too much, then Kiyomizu-dera Temple is more majestic in comparison. Kiyomizudera Temple is like the scenery and poetry of an ancient capital, as if it exists to prove the existence of Kyoto. It’s no wonder that Kiyomizu-dera Temple is the only building in Japan selected for the list of new seven wonders of the world.

Kiyomizu Temple is built on the mountain. On both sides of the road from Kiyomizu Saka to Kiyomizu Temple (the so-called "saka" refers to the road with a certain slope), in addition to Kyoto's traditional wooden houses, there are also ancient shrines and shrines along the way. temple.

The most famous thing about Kiyomizudera Temple is the stage. There is a Japanese proverb: If you want to be brave, please jump off the stage of Kiyomizu Temple. If a Japanese says that he wants to dance on the Kiyomizudera stage, it means he has made up his mind.

The stage is made of wood, built with wooden pillars from the foot of the mountain, about seven or eight stories high. The three clear waters flowing out from under the stage are called Otowa Falls. This is why Kiyomizu Temple got its name. It is said that if you scoop up the spring water with a ladle and take a sip, it will prolong your life and make everything go well.

Nijo Castle: It is the home of the Tokugawa family. Tokugawa Ieyasu was the shogun of the Edo shogunate who dominated the world after Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Nijo Castle is very large, and the vegetation inside is very rare. There are pines and cypresses of various shapes, as well as some precious cherry blossoms and so on. The main house is a huge house, with rooms connected to each other, all covered with tatami mats. Various landscapes are painted on the Fushima gate of the house, which is different from the shoji doors of ordinary people. A large house has as many as 60 tatami, while the average room in an average Tokyo apartment only has six tatami.

You can take off your shoes and visit the Japanese national treasure "Ninomaru Palace" in Nijo Castle. This is the Daigoden consisting of six buildings with 33 rooms, including the "Ohiroma" and "Hakushoin". Entering the hall, you can get a close look at the room layouts used for various purposes and the outstanding partition paintings. Contrary to the majestic appearance of the tower, the interior scene is gorgeous and elegant. There are also special scenic spots "Ninomaru Garden" and important cultural heritage "Honmaru Palace" within the castle that you can visit.

In addition, you can visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace. However, it seems that you need to make an appointment to visit the Imperial Palace. Oh, by the way, don’t get me wrong. The Imperial Palace is not a WC that you have to greet several times a day because of your stomach upset. It is where the Emperor lives. hehe.

Then there is Arashiyama: Arashiyama is located on the outskirts of Kyoto, and it only takes about 40 minutes by bus. As long as it is not the red leaf season, there are generally not many tourists, so you can take a leisurely walk along the Dayan River. The scenery in Arashiyama is beautiful. When you get off the car, you will see the lakes and mountains, the blue sky, the green water, and a long bridge over the gently flowing river. The bridge has a very nice name: Totsuki Bridge. There is Guishan Park nearby. There is a monument of Zhou Enlai's poem "Lanshan in the Rain" written by Liao Chengzhi, which is a place that Chinese people like to pay homage to.

When in Kyoto, another important entertainment item is to satisfy your kimono complex.

There are many shops that rent kimonos in Kiyomizuzaka. You can rent clothes, hair and makeup for 12,000 yen a day, and you can dress up as a classic ancient Japanese beauty (or samurai or the like) on the street. It’s a beautiful day’s walk, and kimono shops with good business generally need to make reservations one or two days in advance. The Nishijin Orikan in Kyoto also rents kimonos for 3,000 yen a day, which is cheaper than the one in Kiyomizuzaka, but it doesn’t seem to have any makeup.

However, generally girls are interested in this. Taking wedding photos is a bit cumbersome, so boys may not be interested.

Because from the moment you take off your shoes and enter the store, there is a lot of red tape. To fill in the form, the requirements on the form are very detailed, including name, age, date of birth, address, contact information, contact number, email, and of course height, sock number, and what you want. Every service is very detailed.

Then put on makeup and choose a hair style.

The difference between renting kimono is KIMONO (clothing) and YUKATA (yukata).

What we usually see Japanese people wearing on TV are weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies, etc. It's just a different level. Good clothes cost millions of yen. It also takes a lot of time to put on, and you can't put it on yourself. You must go to a specialty store like this to wear it.

Yukata is a simple summer kimono. It is simple and convenient to wear. Many girls wear this kind of yukata on the streets during Tanabata. Relatively speaking, the patterns and colors are more fancy. It is the favorite of girls. Of course, the price Also quite cheap. Generally speaking, you can buy a set for more than 10,000 yuan.

It takes about an hour from doing your hair to putting on your kimono. Then, you can go straight to Kinkakuji Temple or Kiyomizu Temple in your kimono.

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Nara

If you go to Kyoto to see the architecture, then you go to Nara and Kamakura to see the sculptures. Todaiji Temple, Yakushiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple in Nara are all attractions, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine is worth a visit. Another must-see attraction for Chinese people is the Tangzhaoti Temple built by Chinese monk Jianzhen after he traveled east. Tickets for these temples range from 400 to 600 yen.

Of course, there is another attraction in Nara: deer. Don’t miss Deer Park.

For tickets from Kyoto to Nara, there are JR and Kinkyu Railways. The JR rapid train can reach Nara in less than an hour, and the ticket price is 690 yen.

In fact, there is also a convenient Nara day trip transportation card available, which costs 1,600 yen, including free rides on the Kyoto subway, Kintetsu trains to Nara, and Nara transportation buses. All in all, the transportation card is more cost-effective.

I heard from a travel friend that a more ideal way is to book a self-guided tour like Kyoto and Nara through a local travel agency. It is a wise choice to book transportation and hotels through local travel agencies, which will reduce the budget by half compared to booking by yourself. However, I haven't tried it.

Other places:

If you have enough time and energy, you can also go to Kobe nearby to see the night view and eat the famous Kobe beef. Take the Shinkansen from Kyoto and arrive at Kobe Station in 33 minutes. The busiest area in Kobe is the Sannomiya area, but that's just for viewing the night view.

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Tips

Some tips, for reference only:

1. It is recommended to buy souvenirs at Kiyomizu Temple. There is less shopping in the following attractions. The souvenirs in Nara are not as beautiful as those in Kyoto.

2. Souvenirs with Kyoto characteristics include fans, "Nishijin-ori" textiles, "Yuzen-ori" dyed cloth, "Kiomizu-yaki" pottery, etc. It should be noted that all these souvenirs are divided into two categories, including high-priced items called works of art, and daily small commodities such as fans, textiles, wallets, and wrapping cloths. The prices vary greatly.

3. As for pottery, there are many practical items such as cups, which are reasonably priced. Among the foods, there are Kyoto souvenirs such as Kyoto pickles, Yatsuhashi, a Japanese confection, which retain their original flavor, and the unique Japanese condiment "Shichimi karaage" (a multi-flavored chili pepper), which are very popular among people.

4. If you have time, there are two places you should experience. One is a teahouse. You can experience the tea ceremony created by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's tea master Sen no Rikyu, and try Japanese snacks and matcha; the other is an izakaya (Japanese bar).

5. In fact, there are many Japanese dishes such as eel, sushi, sashimi, and tempura in Beijing, so I won’t mention them here. In addition, when you go to Kyoto, you should try Japanese tofu dishes and "Seijin ryori" (vegetarian food) that does not use meat. At the same time, in Tokyo, if you are a big foodie, you can also consider trying "kaiseki" which pays attention to the taste of the food itself. "Cuisine" (authentic kaiseki cuisine is expensive, and this foodie has never tried it).

6. There is also a famous promenade garden in Kyoto called Katsura Rikyu. However, in the past, visiting seemed to require prior permission from the royal affairs agency. I don’t know if it is open now.

7. All temples usually close at four in the afternoon, so you have to get there early. Most stores close at 5 or 6 p.m., and only convenience stores are open after that.

8. After checking out, general luggage can be stored for free. You can also store it at the station for 300 yen per day for a large box.

9. Taking the subway in Tokyo, although there are many lines, just remember the terminal names at both ends of the line, pay attention to identify the line colors (there are color indicators of each line on the ground and on the passage wall), follow the color of the line you want to take, and look for both ends In the name of the station (for example, Sihui - Apple Orchard), whichever direction you want to go, you can be busy but not in a hurry.

10. Mount Fuji and Hakone are very ordinary, especially don't go up the mountain (it's just an ordinary black soil mountain). After I climbed to the fifth station of Mount Fuji (2,300 meters above sea level), I smelled the smell of horse manure on the road (the upper trail was by horse-drawn carriage), and I only regretted it. The Great Lakes and hot springs are also average and not worth wasting time and money.