Going Japan in Dec.......Free and easy....really got no idea where to go and how to plan....
any1 with kind suggestion or itinearary, pls tell me =) thanks
For starters, decide where in Japan you want to go, it's big. Take a look at some travel books or visit
www.japan-guide.com for a quick and brief guide to decide.
If you intend to travel around Japan, the Shinkansen would be a good idea, but please do buy the JR Pass from JTB or other travel agents in Singapore before going. The trip from Yamaguchi to Tokyo itself is more expensive than the JR pass, so its definitely worth it! Plus with the JR Pass, you get to travel unlimited for free on all JR lines, during the stipulated usage period. Get JTB or your travel agent to explain to you the different train passes available, e.g. JR East Pass, JR Pass, Tokyo Metro Pass, so on so forth..
If you intend to just stick to Tokyo, do make visits to Ueno's Ameyoko Market, Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market. I really liked those 2 places, trying out food and snacks, and shopping. Also, not to be missed is Shibuya's crossing (for nice photographs/videos), Shinjuku, Harajuku, and last but not least, Akihabara. Stuff in Akihabara may not always be cheap, so if you intend to buy something, research SG price, and compare. Remember there's tax refund, but most of the items have no international warranty. (I bought a Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS for around SG500, which I think is a little cheaper??)
Side trips from Tokyo to places like Hakone and Mt. Fuji area are recommended too, try out the onsen (hot spring) around Mt. Fuji's 5 lakes. Also, an hour's train ride will bring you to Yokohoma, one of the other big cities in Japan. There's a large Chinatown there, with lots of all-you-can-eat eateries. Also a Ramen museum, and Kirin's beer factory. And 1.5hours train ride from Tokyo will bring you to Kamakura, another nice place, and there's the famous Buddha there.
Not to forget Disneyland at Chiba-prefecture and Universal Studios in Osaka.
If travelling around Japan but with limited time, try visiting Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Nikko. Go find out about it yourself, there's so much to write.
I personally like to travel countryside, and I've been staying in Yamaguchi-prefecture's Nagato-shi for a while, lots of mountains and rice fields, the Japan sea, and endless beautiful scenery. Too bad there hasn't been a good chance for photographs due to the raining season now!
Have fun
try looking at the main road, its not in the street itself. akihabara maid cafe is a total scam. 1) u go in need to pay money 2) they force u to buy something to eat 3) NO PHOTOS ALLOWED -.- i went to this one called "mai dreamin" but my friend said she went to another one which actually allowed phototaking so go to that one better. stuff at akihabara not that cheap :\\ some items sim lim same price or even cheaper esp their memory cards..
