A short, fun stay in Japan

By Larry Taylor

updated 5:16 p.m. ET Nov. 16, 2005

JAPAN
Land of contrasts-temples and technology, kimonos and karaoke, Buddhas and baseball.

My wife and I have always thought we would like to visit Japan but had heard stories about high prices and difficulties in getting around congested cities. These ideas had led us to put off a Japan trip.

But the time came this spring when we decided to spend four days in the Tokyo/Kyoto area after we disembarked from an Orient cruise. We would "get our feet wet," as thy say, with this short stay. As it turned out, all our pre-conceived notions contrasted with we what we found.

Because of the few days we had, we figured we should pre-plan as much as possible. After all, with a population of 26 million, Tokyo is the largest city in the world, not a place to aimlessly wander. For help, we contacted the L.A. office of Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) which helped us immeasurably in setting our agenda.

Finding reasonable accommodations
The first thing we realized upon arriving in Tokyo is that we didn't have to spend a lot of money and that it wasn't hard to get around. First class hotels range from $250 to $450. But after reading JNTO's "Your Guide to Japan" publication, we decided our best bet was to stay in a so-called business hotels at around $125 a night. These hotels appeal to commercial travelers and locals. Accommodations are strictly "no-frills" but rooms are clean and comfortable. After all, we were going to spend our time sight-seeing and didn't need a pool, spa or fancy restaurant to return to.

New Otani, one of Japan's top hotel chains, owns the New Otani Inn in the business category. Its location, adjacent to the Osaki station was extremely convenient-a five minute walk to catch our train. As well, the rate included a full breakfast, both American and Japanese.

Getting around Tokyo with ease
To get around is easy and inexpensive in Tokyo. Among the cleanest cities in the world, it also has one of the most technologically efficient rail systems. If the schedule says 9:53, be on the station platform early, ready to board. Subways cost no more than any large city. (One-day passes are about $7.) Signs and maps are in English, and personnel selling tickets speak enough English to answer questions, particularly if we pointed to our destination on the map.

Looking for restaurants
Dining can also be very reasonable, especially if one is adventurous. We looked for restaurants which the locals frequent, particularly ones that served traditional Japanese dishes. For example, on our first day for lunch we found an eatery that specialized in noodle dishes, udon (made from wheat) and soba ( from buckwheat).

Slide show   Alluring Asia From Seoul to Shanghai and Thailand to Tibet, Asia’s diverse cultures and landscapes are a traveler’s dream! more photos

It was crowded and no one spoke much English. We had trouble communicating but by pointing and with help of a kind lady who spoke a few words of English, we got our orders across. (By the way, everywhere we went people were eager to help.) We thoroughly enjoyed slurping with our fellow diners. It was the best noodles ever-hardy and delicious, filled with vegetables and pork. With beer and Coke, our bill came to $10. As we left, we gave the chef a "thumbs up" and shouted "ichiban" (No. 1).

Another day, we went to a restaurant that we had heard specialized in a dish similar to egg foo yong, called okonomiyaki. Our server presented us with a bowl of shredded cabbage with bean sprouts and scallions, topped with a mayonnaise-type substance and an egg, adding meats or shrimp to our taste. We mixed it, spooned it onto a grill (built into each table) and when it began to harden like a pancake, we flipped it over, eating this tasty entree right from the grill. We enjoyed doing it ourselves while watching others eating variations of it.

If you want the best sashimi or cooked seafood go to the Ameyoko Tsukiji fish market. Enjoy the spectacle of buyers and sellers bidding for the day's catch and then go to a nearby restaurant for fresh fish direct from the market. Also there is an abundance of popular-priced places for dining, most have in front windows colorful plastic models of food they serve and the price.

MORE FROM ASIA TRAVEL

Asia Travel Section Front

48 hours in Jakarta for history buffs Despite tough times, Shanghai promotes luxury Taiwan follows Oz with ‘Best Trip in the World’ Top 10 luxury hotels in Asia Not-to-miss Japanese experiences See Seoul's ancient sights for less Top secret: Spy museum for Chinese only Tibet tourism recovering after last year’s riots Rafting adventure on India's remote frontier Sexiest Southeast Asian beaches Asia Travel Section Front   Add Asia Travel headlines to your news reader: