Sunday, 12 October 2003

The camel died quite suddenly on the second day, and… Six days later we reconnect in Hiroshima, having journeyed via Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, and other exotic points. The photo at right is either our hotel in Kyoto or the Golden Temple; I forget which.

A few travel tips for Japan visitors:

• The Lonely Planet is your friend. If you're spending more than a day or two in Japan, their guide book is indispensable.
• Your other friend is the Japan Rail Pass. Available only to tourists, the pass must be purchased before you enter Japan; you don't need it for getting around in Tokyo (just ride the subway instead), but if you're visiting more than one city it's a bargain. You also get to ride the shinkansen (bullet train) with this pass, which saves a lot of time.
• Unless you really, really like shopping districts, three days is enough time to explore Tokyo before you set out for Mt. Fuji or other destinations.
• The best way to get around Kyoto and Nara is renting a bicycle. The rental shop in Nara has plenty of bikes, but the ones in Kyoto ran out by the time we rolled in around mid-morning. Without a bike, you'll spend more time getting around than you will actually enjoying the temples and gardens.
• Most museums and such are closed on Mondays; plan accordingly.

We arrived in Hiroshima late this afternoon; tomorrow we take in the museum, and then it's a fast train to Tokyo and a long flight to Frankfurt.

- Posted by Scott Forbes at 7:00 am. comments.