Off the beaten track in Japan - Share your recommendations

[kifo]

I am going to introduce an area in Tokyo that some of you can consider for your next trip

Koenji

This is a young area in West Tokyo just 10 mins by train from Shinjuku on the Chuo Line. If you go there in August, you can see the biggest Awa Odori event in Tokyo. There are also many other interesting things to see and do in Koenji. It is known to be the biggest second hand clothes market in Tokyo, and there are plenty of 2nd hand shops of all kinds that you can visit. Being the birthplace of punk rock in Japan, it has plenty of bars and pubs where indie musicians perform in the evenings. Part of Haruki Murakami 1Q84 was set in Koenji.

I am going to base myself there next month for a week. Will share my experience later.

 

[lapucelle]

For central Tokyo... Yanaka/Nezu area is not very well-known among tourists but has quite a number of temples with English writeups.

 

[chainer22]

anyone had any experience with aokigahara forest?? seems like an off-beaten-track kinda place

 

[kifo]

anyone had any experience with aokigahara forest?? seems like an off-beaten-track kinda place

Why do you want to come across a rotting corpse on a holiday vacation?

 

[chainer22]

Why do you want to come across a rotting corpse on a holiday vacation?

well firstly, i doubt i will get to see any unless i venture deep enough into the forest.

secondly, its a unique experience to see the something different (abandoned cars parked near forest, red threads lining the trees).

 

[kifo]

well firstly, i doubt i will get to see any unless i venture deep enough into the forest.

secondly, its a unique experience to see the something different (abandoned cars parked near forest, red threads lining the trees).

Hahahha, okay please go do it and come back report

 

[Sausage]

i went to aokigahara alone last year
nothing much
juz a hiking trail
i was there taking poto of myself
then 1 group of schoolkids and their teachers walk past
at first laffing loudly then when they come closer to mi all become deathly silent
then the teacher whispered konnichiwa to mi as he walk past

maybe they think i am ghost

 

[kifo]

i went to aokigahara alone last year
nothing much
juz a hiking trail
i was there taking poto of myself
then 1 group of schoolkids and their teachers walk past
at first laffing loudly then when they come closer to mi all become deathly silent
then the teacher whispered konnichiwa to mi as he walk past

maybe they think i am ghost

You go there yourself in aokigahara.... of course they think you are going to do it there! That was why they went silent.

 

[kunoichi]

[*]Climb Mt Mitake, Kanto. Thinking of taking the ropeway up Mt Mitake and then climb Mt Ohtake from there. And take the long way down to Okutama.[/LIST]

i wanted to do that during my trip earlier this year, but reached there a little late and the trails and "sights" were closed due to the snow... explored a little though, very nice area

 

[kifo]

i wanted to do that during my trip earlier this year, but reached there a little late and the trails and "sights" were closed due to the snow... explored a little though, very nice area

Yup I think I will be doing it this coming trip. Will start early and perhaps hike up instead of taking the cable car. Apparently that will enable me to get up oodake earlier and miss the human jam on the summit...



I am wondering if I should also do Mt Kumotori (highest peak in Tokyo) too on a separate day...

 

[kunoichi]

I am wondering if I should also do Mt Kumotori (highest peak in Tokyo) too on a separate day...

i think u can decide once there since u have ur equipment/stuffs with u, if not feeling too tired and have the time/energy

 

[chainer22]

i went to aokigahara alone last year
nothing much
juz a hiking trail
i was there taking poto of myself
then 1 group of schoolkids and their teachers walk past
at first laffing loudly then when they come closer to mi all become deathly silent
then the teacher whispered konnichiwa to mi as he walk past

maybe they think i am ghost

nice! was it difficult to get there?

 

[Sausage]

juz take bus to mount fuji then take another mount fuji shuttle bus to juz outside aokigahara

 

[kifo]

I found a new exciting place to go!

The last time I went to Kyushu, I drove all around Mount Aso and I didn't know about this. I am so angry now for missing it.

Have you heard of the road to Laputa in Aso, Kyushu? It is a road that extends into the sky...

The most famous image is this one:

There are many videos of people driving or riding a motorbike along the road on Youtube. If you are planning to drive there, please watch some of the videos first. The road is in poor condition and it is very narrow. A mistake and your car will be stranded on the mountain.

You can inspect the route mapped out on a Google Map here:
https://maps.google.co.jp/maps/ms?i...981744351430.00049df7dc6157ab47e54&dg=feature

If you go, please come back and share your story with us!

 

[kifo]

For some of us inspired by the Amachan dorama, here is something that will definitely interest you!

This is the special Sanriku train service to view the New Year's sunrise.

The train service website for the Hatsu Hinode service can be found here:
１５年ã*¶ã‚Šï¼*「åˆ*æ—¥ã*®å‡ºå*·ã€*出発 « 三陸鉄é*“æ*ªå¼*会社ã*®å…¬å¼*サイト

 

[[M]aiev]

Kifo, rabbit island counted? Was at there a week ago..

Sent from GAGT Android App

 

[kifo]

Kifo, rabbit island counted? Was at there a week ago..

Sent from GAGT Android App

definitely off the beaten track! Please share info on how to get there and what to look out for!

 

[haato89]

Kifo, rabbit island counted? Was at there a week ago..

Sent from GAGT Android App

You went to the rabbit island too!

V ulu but quite fun

 

[[M]aiev]

definitely off the beaten track! Please share info on how to get there and what to look out for!

From Hiroshima station take JR Kure line to Tadaoumi Station. From Tadaoumi station, walk like 10 mins to reach to the ferry terminal. Took about 2 hours in total for me unless taking Shinkansen to Mihara and transfer to Tadaoumi which is an hour?

Bunch of rabbits at there and those WWII histories such as poison gas museum.

 

[koicafex]

From Hiroshima station take JR Kure line to Tadaoumi Station. From Tadaoumi station, walk like 10 mins to reach to the ferry terminal. Took about 2 hours in total for me unless taking Shinkansen to Mihara and transfer to Tadaoumi which is an hour?

Bunch of rabbits at there and those WWII histories such as poison gas museum.

lol that short and objective explaination...i rike!
gonna do all this off track routes on my next japan trip alone...