We continue our countdown to Celebration Japan with our weekly series focusing on the different planning aspects of such a big trip.
Today we look at ten of the must-do things in Japan and some of the wildest experiences to have.
Universal Studios
Generally, all we keep seeing on the message boards and forums when planning our trip to Japan is Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea. However, there is another. Universal Studios looks fantastic and is in Osaka. A few weeks back, my girlfriend had been secretly pining to make the trip to Universal. She didn’t think we could make it work but when I pointed out that we had a free day on April 17th and we would be in Osaka the day before – it become a no-brainer. The park features: Nintendo World, Jurassic Park, an entire section dedicated to Harry Potter, Minions, Hollywoodland and a massive section called Amity Island – the famous town where Jaws is set. The rides look joyous, and the ticket only worked out to around £40.
Nintendo Museum
I admit, I had no idea about this place. One morning a few weeks back I woke up to find one of the Facebook forums really lighting up as people who had applied for the lottery tickets checked their email to see if they’d been granted a ticket. Fast-forward a few days and then the tickets for dates went on general sale. It seems that the lottery people got first dibs on the best times but there were time slots left. After having a mooch, I saw that some tickets were available for the day that lined up with our trip. So, on 16th April we’ll be heading to the Musuem and the tickets were cheap at around £17. This is a new museum but highly sought after so head over if you can.
Samurai Experiences
Early in the planning process for this trip, I turned to my girlfriend and said, “Aside from Celebration, I only ask that I get to be a samurai.” She’s happily obliged and there are experiences and classes scattered all over Japan. Generally, it seems to be a history lesson of these warriors, a look at the museum of artefacts they used and then a demonstration in the art of swordsmanship. This may be the closest thing I get to being a Jedi so BRING IT ON.
Tokyo Skytree
At 642 metres, this place is the tallest building in Japan and the second tallest building in the world. Tickets are cheap at around £12-£15 and the main attraction here is that on a clear day you’ll get a beautiful view of Fuji. There are a multitude of extras you can add on to your visit here from ice skating, sunset views and a My Hero Academy Experience.
Owl Café
Cat cafés are all the rage right now. I’ve never personally understood it but then again, I am a dog lover. Well, in Tokyo they’ve ditched the cats and gone for owls. I’ve spent a while researching this and the best one I can come up is that they simply thought, “Why not?” So, if you fancy having a cuppa and having a load of owls watching you or flying overhead then you know where to go.
Cosplay Go-Karting
This experience is pretty famous and well-known to people around the world. It’s a simple premise – you dress up in your favourite cosplay and hit the streets of Tokyo in a go-kart. It looks fast and to me, maybe a little too fast. If this is your sort of thing then there is plenty of information on how to book on the web but be warned that you need an international driving license in order to do this. If you don’t have one you won’t be able to take part.
Rent-A-Dog
This is exactly as it sounds, and I only found this one out a few days ago. Let me set the scene; you’re pottering about Tokyo, you have a few hours to kill, and you think “you know what, I’d love to walk a dog for an hour with no hassle, no commitment to keeping the dog and have everything taken care of.” Well, you’re in luck because you can do just that. You turn up, sign a waiver, pay the £20 and then you’re given a bag of treats, poo bags and a lead with a dog on and you’re off. While these places are perfectly fine, please do your research ahead of time.
Attend a Concert and be Home by Dinner
I thought this one was a joke but on further research it seems not to be. I’ve been to countless concerts in my life and generally, as I’m sure you’ll know they tend to start past 8pm. Well, in Japan they could start at midday or 3pm or at the latest 5pm. If you’re interested in looking at the K-POP scene or seeing a concert related to anime, then this really could be for you. In a documentary I saw about Japan, there was a concert that started and finished before school. What a morning!
Kotoku-in
Drifting back from the wild and wonderful, this Buddhist temple is something you probably would have seen in magazines and documentaries. Located in Kamakura is among the most famous in the world and deeply meaningful to those who make the pilgrimage. Featuring The Great Buddha Statue, its expected that one dresses modestly to visit this site with shoulders and knees covered and the ticket entrance costs a whopping £1.70. Its on our list after Celebration.
Tsukiji Fish Market
A major tourist destination and a big pull for the locals, this fish market is brimming with life and legend. There are even walking tours that you can do to guide you around the fish market itself. This place ranks high on a lot of lists and even if you’re not a fish lover then apparently this needs to be seen to be believed.
Just us next week as we look at Japanese etiquette from those visiting abroad.
