tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791892523641624801.post7650931832115974126..comments2024-03-14T17:22:27.251+10:00Comments on Mushingo - Trip to Japan: Day 11: Okayama and KobeErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04021523188017590960noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791892523641624801.post-347454888691240962015-05-15T22:42:53.918+10:002015-05-15T22:42:53.918+10:00Thank you!
It looks like we might be looking at a...Thank you!<br /><br />It looks like we might be looking at around $1200 from here to New York return, at a good time. <br /><br />I'd like to go via Japan, but as far as I can tell it's about $1000 return from Narita to the US, and it's ~$500 return from here to Narita (on a special). I know no knowledge about what specials or tricks between the USA and Japan are.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04021523188017590960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791892523641624801.post-74505840713789530142015-05-14T07:12:57.895+10:002015-05-14T07:12:57.895+10:00Hey...I know some Americans who fit the stereotype...Hey...I know some Americans who fit the stereotype VERY well. But most of us are decent and only fit 75% of the stereotypes. Or maybe 80%.<br /><br />Yes, flights between Australia and the US are long. The first time we went, we added flew to Japan first. It actually added hours to the total trip, but we had worried about being on a flight non-stop for so long. And we were able to save some money that way.<br /><br />Good luck on all your future travels. I'm enjoying your blog a lot. Dina Roberts https://www.blogger.com/profile/05558115658079175456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791892523641624801.post-87478043637519507422015-05-12T08:47:39.113+10:002015-05-12T08:47:39.113+10:00And using American blogging software, with my amer...And using American blogging software, with my american computer!<br /><br />I wasn't hating on Americans! In reality only practically no one conform to a stereotype (and there are quite a few for the USA anyway), but these people ticked all the boxes for one of the more negative versions- it looked like they owned the palce. At least from our limited view of them. I was hoping people in Japan wouldn't assume we're all like that.<br /><br />As far as embarrassment goes I've heard Australians have got a bad reputation at Japanese ski resorts for being drunk and causing huge problems, particularly Hakuba which is known as the Bali of Japan. Bali is an area in Indonesia has a reputation for attracting a disproportionate number of Australian bogans. <br /><br />In Japan we are Americans- basically because that's all anyone assumes. <br /><br />Maybe my comments were a bit harsh though.<br /><br />We're actually excited for our next trip to America for next year, if we can work out the flights- it's a long trip!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04021523188017590960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791892523641624801.post-25501918385260162482015-05-12T04:00:27.642+10:002015-05-12T04:00:27.642+10:00Funny how you hate on Americans, but then eat at a...Funny how you hate on Americans, but then eat at a Starbucks and look for a McDonalds!<br /><br />Dina Roberts https://www.blogger.com/profile/05558115658079175456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791892523641624801.post-68608257491704897802014-02-19T20:07:43.732+10:002014-02-19T20:07:43.732+10:00Sorry about the lateness again, still in New Zeala...Sorry about the lateness again, still in New Zealand! :)<br /><br />We're here for two weeks as our next holiday- it's been a while! <br /><br />It's very close to Australia too.<br /><br />It takes some time to walk down to the gardens from the station, and you'll be able to look at the castle's exterior before it opens. Though as the gardens open at 8:00 (IIRC), you'll have some extra waiting time for sure.<br /><br />Akashi Kaikyo was one of the highlights :)<br /><br />Others include riding the Shimanami Kaido (more really cool bridges!) and osorezan.<br /><br />We had a couple of days in Kobe planned and the bridge is listed as an attraction- and I saw the climb as something recommended as an extra that sounded fun and interesting. It's amazing to see these large scale engineering projects up close and seemed like a great opportunity. <br /><br />I'd keep in mind that all the speaking on the tour and most of the signs are in Japanese only. There's lots of good displays in the museum though, explaining the construction and things like how they stop the wires rusting.<br /><br />So it really is just a walk under the road then a trip up to the top of the tower, but it's still great I thought. I'm sure you'll really enjoy it! :D<br /><br />A month.. or maybe a year would be good!<br /><br />I'm sure the rest of your trip is fantastic too! And thanks for the kind words!<br /><br />Happy travels!<br />Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04021523188017590960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791892523641624801.post-66650560883729871352014-02-14T14:45:08.580+10:002014-02-14T14:45:08.580+10:00Wow, New Zealand huh. You're really leading a ...Wow, New Zealand huh. You're really leading a traveller's life :) <br /><br />Yeah, I was just thinking of skipping going inside the castle and was only going for the scenic areas & some landscape photography, so I'm glad to know 2 hours would be enough! Although we are arriving in Okayama early in the morning (6.27am), so I'm just not sure when we'd be able to start touring. I think the park is opened at 8am, so I would finish around 10am... we'd probably have to skip Kurashiki if it comes to that.<br /><br />I'm just curious, what made you decide to join the bridge tour? I only found out they had a tour a few days ago, and had to basically move my plans around because I really want to join in - I'm working as an engineer at a bridge-construction company, hence my interest about Akashi Kaikyo because I've heard a lot about it and other bridges in Japan. I'm glad to hear it was the highlight of your trip, now I'm really looking forward to it :) <br /><br />This is only my 2nd time in Japan (last trip was some time in 2012), so we're trying to pack every little thing into our itinerary - it'd be tiring with all the transfers via shinkansen, but I hope it'll be worth it. Of course, it doesn't even rival your itinerary! I think I might take a month off one day to just tour and enjoy Japan at a nice pace, so I'm gonna be looking into some of your other trips as well.<br /><br />Thanks for the informative posts you've had so far.Nadirahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09497414603513662863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791892523641624801.post-58835426813619352482014-02-13T18:47:32.244+10:002014-02-13T18:47:32.244+10:00Hi Nadirah!
Thank you very much for reading my po...Hi Nadirah!<br /><br />Thank you very much for reading my post and leaving a comment!<br /><br />Sorry I took so long to reply- I'm actually traveling around New Zealand at the moment<br /><br />I'm glad you've found my post helpful, that's one of the main reasons I'm writing so it's very nice to hear. <br /><br />To answer your question- I'd say two hours would be enough to have a good long look at the gardens and a quick look at the outside of the castle. We tend to skip the insides if they're not original. We spent about two hours if I remember correctly. There are of course other sights in Okayama, though that's all we visited.<br /><br />Yeah, I'd highly recommend the bridge tour. It was really fantastic- one of the highlights of all our Japan trips. <br /><br />You can probably leave okayama later than we did and still make it in time for the tour, we had enough time to drop in at our hotel first. They should be able to store your bags while you go on the tour too- we asked about that.<br /><br />Have a look at the train times on Hyperdia (In case you don't already know).Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04021523188017590960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-791892523641624801.post-16135708896298607842014-02-12T12:03:30.231+10:002014-02-12T12:03:30.231+10:00Hello Eric,
I'm actually planning the exact s...Hello Eric,<br /><br />I'm actually planning the exact same route as your travel this coming May, so your post is a big help! I was wondering, did you have enough time to tour Okayama before you had to make your way to Akashi Kaikyo? How long did it take you to tour Okayama? Would 2hours be enough? I was actually planning on visiting Kurashiki Canal from Okayama, but might omit it since I'd rather go for the Bridge Tour as it's only available from Thursday to Sunday and I don't have any other time to go there. (The tour looks amazing, I can't wait to go there!)<br /><br />Thanks for your answer :) Nadirahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09497414603513662863noreply@blogger.com