Trip Feedback - Jan 2023 to Apr 2023

It was broadcast on TV the other day, but it seems that the game center in Takadanobaba, Tokyo is popular with foreigners visiting Japan.
It seems that there is a retro game.
http://mi-ka-do.net/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcs-LBN20CU&ab_channel=ANNnewsCH
If you go to Saitama, this might be interesting too.
https://kadcul.com/en
https://kadcul.com/park
Please refer to this as well.
https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/things-to-do/best-events-and-new-opening...
If you listen to jazz in Tokyo, this may also be helpful.
https://www.timeout.com/tokyo
I have only been to Blue Note Tokyo.

replying to LikeBike's post 2022/11/18 07:10
Thank you very much for your suggestions. Honestly the reason I have taken so long to reply is my anxiety about making a major change, as you had suggested; to cancel the Morioka/Sendai for now, extend Tokyo, and go further... but I think it is a good suggestion because yes, it is a lot of time north, and I am Canadian so... haha.

>Still I would seriously consider in cutting your time in the North in the winter. Potentially you could rearrange your entire time in the North
Here is what I am considering:

* Tokyo Jan 18 - Feb 2 (exit), 14 days
* Aomori Feb 2 - 3 (exit), 1 day to visit A-Factory Cidery on Feb 3 and exit towards Hakodate, 2hr train
* Hakodate Feb 3 - 6 (exit), so that's 2 full days in Hakodate Feb 4/5
* Sapporo Feb 6 - 12 (exit to Niseko), so 5 full days. I would head to Niseko sometime early on Feb 12, because I want all my ski gear ready for Feb 13 day 1 of skiing.
* Niseko Feb 12 - 17, 4 days skiing!!! :D
## Feb 17 take the train to New Chitose Airport 4hr. Fly CTS > Kanazawa. $150 CAD,
* Kanazawa Feb 17 - 22 < visit YKK in Toyama and other fun stuff
* Nagoya Feb 22 - Feb 27, 4 full days
* Kyoto (stay) + Osaka (visit by train) Feb 27 - Mar 13, 12 full days of visiting both areas. Allows me to see the sumo tournament on Mar 12 in Osaka.
* Totori Mar 13 - Mar 15
* Hiroshima Mar 15 - Mar 20
## Ferry across Hiroshima > Matsuyama
* Matsuyama Mar 20 - Mar 24 < includes one full day visiting Ao Island, Ehime
* Takamatsu Mar 24 - Mar 28 < 25/26/27 full day visiting, including 1 day in Ritsurin Garden
* Okayama Mar 28 - Mar 31 < 28/29/30 full day. Visit Naoshima island and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
* Tokyo Mar 31 - Apr 5 < includes day trip to Kanayama Jinja Shrine (Kawasaki Ward) on Apr 2 for Kanamara Matsuri
* Sendai Apr 5 - Apr 9
* Morioka Apr 9 - Apr 13 < one full day visiting Tazawako/Nyuto onsen's
* Tokyo Apr 13 - Apr 14 < home Apr 14, so just to relax and pack and get to Tokyo on Apr 13, and ship anything if needed.

You mentioned a LOT of awesome information, so I must just thank you very much for that in general. It is too much I feel to reply individually though, as much of what you mentioned I have applied above, but please review my changed plans above and let me know your thoughts; plus other members of the forum too. I think it's much better this way, nothing majorly changed. Dates have been shifted for Morioka/Sendai, Tokyo time, and time in the north adjusted.
I think I will apply the above as long as I can shift the places I have booked in Morioka, Sendai, Sapporo, and Hakodate; I may need to cancel some, which I think I can do.

>BTW, if you have tattoos check where you are allowed to enter into the onsen.
Thank you for the heads up, thankfully I have no tattoos. It's something I have kept in mind for many years since considering visiting Japan... never had an opportunity to get a tattoo.

>But you could day trip to Otaru and to Asahikawa plus there is an open air museum in Sapporo
Interesting suggestions, I also have Noboribetsu on a "day trip" from Sapporo :)

>Someone above mentioned the drift ice. I havenft seen it but it sounds like an interesting thing to see. Not sure though if for a Canadian itfs also interesting. Anyway itfs quite far from Sapporo.
Ah yes I looked into this, but unfortunately I feel it will be very, very far for this trip. I definitely want to see another time, but I have seen the drift ice in my city when they blow it up with dynamite to help water flow.

>Otherwise simple tickets (using an IC card) can be better also consider that there are many train companies different from JR, specially around cities and those other companies might have better lines for where you want to go.
Yes I will most likely get the passes depending on how many day trips I have planned. And beyond that, checking everything in advance (once I have accomodations booked) to figure out the best tickets and passes to get.

> Btw where is the Kawasaki you are aiming for?
Kawasaki ward next to Tokyo, I have now included it as a day trip from Tokyo in April :)

>If you are really into Jazz, why not open an other thread to get suggestions for Jazz venues in other cities.
I will do so! I will also put some questions about seeing some artists I like live. That's my only concern being in Japan, to miss those opportunities.

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Replying to rkold's post 2022/11/18 04:21
>I remember you mentioned you are currently vegan and I would just warn... A lot of ramen in Japan has a pork base so just be prepared.

0_0 uh oh! Yes, meat/pork will cause me an upset stomach. I am prepared to "convert" to pescatarianism to enjoy the fish products in Japan, because it doesn't make sense to waste opportunities like that when in a country KNOWN for it's fish products.
But meat, I still want to avoid... for ramen places, is there anything like a sign or some words (in Kanji/Hiragana) I can spot to know it has meat in it? Or is it something I have to ask the cooks or assistants?

>I still think you are better off staying in Kanazawa... Kenrokuen, should have some ume in bloom going by their floral calendar and ume is just lovely.
Thank you for all the detailed info. Agreed, Kanazawa is better, thus I will stay there for ease of access to other areas :) I will look at the floral calendars soon.

>If for anyone reason you want to break it up more, I would go to Aomori next and stay there
I honestly might do this, because I found this interesting cider factory! A-Factory
https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/eccj/ind_tourism/a-factory.html

>I think your new plans look a lot better than your original plans. I hope your trip is lots of fun!
Thank you!! I am hoping to be timely in sharing small updates while travelling :)

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Reply to haro1210 post on 2022/11/18 08:28/9:07
>From Kawasaki, it is easier to make a day trip to Kamakura, Enoshima, or Hakone than from Tokyo.
Thank you for the heads up. It does seem also there are 1hr trains from Tokyo daily, so it seems somewhat doable by train? Unless I have picked the wrong areas from Google Maps, apologies; they are areas south of Tokyo.

Thank you for the various suggestions on the museums. The Doraemon one indeed I have planned. Kanamara Festival as part of a day trip from Tokyo :). Ritsurin Garden included now in my updated plans above, as is Kurashiki :)

> Shinro Ohtake's exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
Thank you for the suggestion, I will try to see it!

>If you go to Saitama, this might be interesting too. https://kadcul.com/en
This looks amazing!!! I will have to go for sure. There is a cool bookstore in Saitama I want to visit as well, CORNER BOOKS.

>https://www.timeout.com/tokyo
>I have only been to Blue Note Tokyo.
I will have to visit, Blue Note is an excellent jazz label!

Thank you again very much haro1210!!


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Thank you again as well to everyone who has helped so far, very much appreciated!
I hope my delay in replying has not caused any concerns.

* Tokyo Jan 18 - Feb 1 (exit)
* Aomori Feb 1 - 2 (exit)
* Hakodate Feb 2 - 5 (exit)
* Sapporo Feb 5 - 12

I had to shift the days in Tokyo, Aomori, and Hakodate back by one, as the hotel does not seem to allow me to change the dates Sapporo from Feb 5 to Feb 6... which is very odd because I will still be in that room on Feb 6th... I don't want to poke things too much, as I am trying to look for another option in Sapporo Feb 6-12 but it's all quite expensive still. I am quite happy to have the space I have booked regardless.
I think it would be fine for 6 full days in Sapporo, 1 of those is a day trip, 2 of those are snow festival visiting, and 3 visiting Sapporo or perhaps relaxing! :)

Please see my post before for the dates after Sapporo, and extra details.
Thank you again!

@Jpuguu333

Unfortunately, you should be working under the assumption all ramen has a pork base unless they specifically say it does not. Occasionally, there is a chicken base (I am unsure if you want to count that as meat, this is not meant to be offensive, I just know from the dietary restrictions I choose to take on, people can have their own definitions) but a pork base is by far the most popular. My tween loves ramen, so we are often looking for places offering vegan ramen. (We are vegetarian, we do not eat any meat including fish and gelatin t home, but do eat dairy, eggs and honey. In Japan, we do our best to not eat any meat, but but if we mess up and have gelatin or fish, it happens, but we don't do it purposely. I had anchovies in some pesto once in Japan and my tummy was fine, I was just grossed out.)

There are a lot more options for vegan ramen now than there use to be. My tween adores T's. There are a lot of branches of it through out Tokyo.

I've not been but this place was recommended on JW's website: https://www.honke-daiichiasahi.com/shop.html

And supposedly their Meatless Ramen is vegan and so will be pork-free.

I would honestly spend some time researching anywhere you are considering going because again, outside of any ethical issues, eating meat if you've not had it for a long time will do a number of your intestines and pork is the default. This is not like say miso soup, which frequently has dashi in it as a default.

I know Fukushima Airport near Koriyama has some flights to Itami (near Osaka) I was checking into it when we were thinking about flying from Fukushima to Kyoto, but I didn't want to worry about dragging as many bags with me.

Good luck!

Kamakura, Enoshima, and Hakone can be visited on a day trip from Tokyo. It takes only 20-30 minutes to go from Kawasaki.

CORNER BOOKS is an interesting bookstore.
I'm sure you'll also go to Jimbocho, but I thought a shop called magnif that sells old magazines would be good.
http://www.magnif.jp/
In Shibuya, I liked the store under Flying Books (Kosho San-ei), but it closed. Flying Books remains.
http://www.flying-books.com/
I also like Aoyama Book Center, although it's not a used bookstore.
https://aoyamabc.jp/
I would also like to visit Tottori's Teiyu-do Bookstore and Imai Bookstore.
http://teiyu.na.coocan.jp/
If you plan to come to Yokohama, I would like to recommend a used bookstore called Koganecho Art Book Bazaar.
https://koganecho.net/spot/koganecho-artbook-bazaar
I've never been there, but if it's jazz, Chigusa is also famous.
https://www.noge-chigusa.com/
It is scheduled to open on March 11th as Jazz Museum Chigusa.
https://jazzmuseumchigusa.wixsite.com/message

Thank you for your help again rkold. I definitely will consider doing research and carefully checking any place I go to, but it sounds like even with ramen I need my sights set on something vegan/vegetarian, or explicitly mentioned as not having meat (which would again be assumingly a vegan place).

Is "T's" = T's Tantan Vegan Ramen?

Thank you for the suggestions, and definitely I'll keep my eyes out and do my research. It definitely sucks a bit not being able to go to the nearest comfortable looking shop, but I definitely agree I will be sick if I eat some meat. In a broth it may not be serious, but I know my stomach and digestion will be upset.

Thank you as well for the note about Fukushima, I'll keep it in mind for the next trip :) I will not be visiting this time unfortunately :(

reply to haro1210

Thank you very much for all the extra bookstore recommendations! I definitely would be interested in older magazines, and hopefully there's some English language books at some of these stores, as to be frank my Japanese is really very very basic haha...

Thank you for the Chigusa recommendations as well, I definitely will try to visit that upcoming jazz museum, and will do my best to remember to report on it :) Nice that it's in Yokohama, doable from my second shorter visit in Tokyo.

I searched online and found this used bookstore.
https://www.infinitybooksjapan.com/
It seems that the event is also open.
https://www.infinitybooksjapan.com/page/events
Foreign books are also sold here.
https://www.bunseido.online/