• Japan Through My Eyes
• Japan - No Problem
• Travels to the South: A Trip to the Other Japan
• Omiyage - Art of Gift Giving
• Ukiyoe: "The Floating World" Revealed
• Seto: Japan's Porcelain City

Introduction - Getting Started

by L. Chun

When we set out on our trip to Japan in the fall of 2003, I had considered our party to be a fairly savvy group of world travelers. Between the six of us, we had already traveled to some of the world's greatest cities including Paris, London, Athens, Sydney, Rome, and even that bastion of the west, Las Vegas. We decided to forgo the group tour packages and do it on our own. But our visit to Tokyo and Kyoto would treat us to entirely new adventures and experiences. Before packing our suitcases, there were questions galore:

• Isn't it going to be expensive?
• How are we going to get by without speaking the language?
• Don't you have to squat when using the bathroom over there?
• What attractions should we visit?
• Anybody want to climb Mount Fuji?
• Should we get reserved Green Car seats on the bullet train?
• What's the deal with toilet slippers?
• Should we get our money exchanged before flying out to Japan?
• Aren't we staying somewhere with western-style toilets?
• Don't laugh. We really did have a fairly lengthy discussion about the differences in restroom etiquette.

We turned to a variety of resources to dig up research information on everything from where to stay, what to do, places to visit, and how to get around. The Internet, local bookstores, and anecdotal information from experienced travelers to Japan were able to provide some good guidelines and suggestions. In addition, we were also lucky enough to have a couple of friends and relatives "on the ground" in Japan to help us verify a few facts.

If you are considering a trip to Japan, particularly to either Tokyo or Kyoto, perhaps this travelogue will help to provide you with a few "on the ground/insider" tips.