Japan trip suggestions
 

Heading to Japan in January for 2 and a half weeks, Will be in Niseko snowboarding for 5 nights and then spend the rest of the trip on the main island. 2 nights in Tokyo, 2 in Kyoto, 2 in Hiroshima and then 4 nights in Tokyo at the end. Just wondering if anyone has some hidden gems to check out whilst over there? I would like to check out the tuna auctions but I hear you have to get there real early before the trains start running? Also would love to catch a Sumo match if possible.
Any suggestions?

Cheers

Im heading there in Feb. Boarding at Nozawa Onsen and Niseko.

Cant wait! Will be watching this thread with interest!

Buy a clunker from the Auctions, drive to ebisu, thrash it till you crash/kill it, and marvel in the incredible laxity of Japanese track standards

Ueno (Tokyo):

Walking distance from the station is the Zoo and two Museums worth checking out.

Subaru's head office is worth the trek - no idea where it was though as followed Jester.

When in Niseko eat at Niseko Pizza and drink at Wild Bills at least once.

See you there.

Spend the full 2 1/2 weeks snowboarding! :-) Love the snow in Japan.

We are trying out Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen on our next trip.

Crepes from the van on main drag in Niseko rock! Standing outside late at night in a snow storm, waiting for you banana and chocolate crepe! - good times :-)

We spent 3 or 4 days in Tokyo on our first trip - could spend days looking at all the electronic stores.

Eating at night in Niseko is a rip off
Head over to Kuchan (there's a free bus that takes you there and back)
just wait outside the 7/11 store on the main street at Niseko, bus every 30 mins
heaps of izakayas in kutchan - jap pubs
its worth visiting as many as you can
watch out for the junior yakuza (mafia) that speaks pretty good english, trying to get you to buy stuff or go to onsens (spas), its a front

As somenone has mentioned, look out for the little vans on the street
you can eat cheap for 200-500 yen

dont think you'll get to watch the sumo as its on selected months of the year, and jan is one of them (and its specific day only)

...oh if anyone need snowboarding gear (clothes) let me know
jackets, pants, etc
wont be snowboarding until junior gets older

get the $30 international drivers licence from RAC, so you can drive there.

would recommend a trip to [URL="http://www.sa-tokyobay.com/"]Superautobacs[/URL] (Tokyo bay) and Up-Garage in Kitakasukabe (for Subaru parts)

for meals in Tokyo; this- [url]http://www.kujiraya.co.jp/[/url] and [url]http://www.fukuji.jp/[/url]

[QUOTE=tuna;728034]get the $30 international drivers licence from RAC, so you can drive there.

would recommend a trip to [URL="http://www.sa-tokyobay.com/"]Superautobacs[/URL] (Tokyo bay) and Up-Garage in Kitakasukabe (for Subaru parts)[/QUOTE]


Superautobacs recently had renos
There are 3 stories of mod heaven now
And new garage to fit mods for the euros

Would love to load up a shipping container at Superautobacs but alas that will have to wait.
Am staying near Ueno for two nights so Ill check out the zoo, will half day be enough?
Will definatly be hitting the food vans and cheap resteraunts cause Im a thrifty mofo and my last 4 nights are in a 5* in Shinjuku thats costing more than the rest of the trip haha