Playing the Hiroshima Cubs. This week the high school championships are going on so there are no real home games until next week. We will visit Kyoto and Osaka. U have about 10 days in this area, so any suggestions I will take up.
How long are you in each? Where will you be staying?
Kyoto -- Ryoanji, Kinkakuji, Nijojo, Kiyomizudera, Sanjusangendo for sure. Fushimiinari is the one with all the orange gates from Lost in Translation. Gion is the geisha area. It's directly east across the river from Kiyamachi, the main bar area, and Shijo, the big shopping area. Hit it at night so you have a chance seeing the maikos (geisha apprentices) going out to their evening gigs. It's a rare ####### chance to see a real geisha. (1 hour from Osaka). In Kiyamachi, there's an amazing kabab stand called Hamid's. Just east of Kiyamachi street, there's a tiny lane. Go south to north from Shijo. On the right, there's a really good sushi shop. You'll be able to recognize it. If you're interested in a tiny bar filled with drunken businessmen who will probably buy you drinks, let me know. Also, I still have a bottle at a bar. I can explain how to let the owner give it to you. He's a big Tigers fan.
Osaka -- Osakajo (castle), Kaiyukan (the aquarium -- pretty worth it. And on a cool manmade island.), Dotonbori (think Times Square), A lot of people liked Umeda, I prefer Namba. Sumiyoshi Taisha is one of the three big shrines for new years. I need to know where you're at here, cause I can get really detailed. Actually, same for above. If you've got no problem getting naked in front of Asian men, there's an awesome public bath called SpaWorld. 2000 yen and you can go to like 20 different baths and 5 different saunas. You'll be apart from your woman, but it's a total Japanese experience. And, you can order beer naked at the bar. Throw your junk on the counter while the staff is pouring. Made me chuckle every time. Eat okonomiyaki (like an omelette with cabbage in it) and takoyaki (think like an octopus donut hole. Very good actually).. Depending on the blossoms, check out Zoheikoku. It's the Osaka mint. There's a path along the river with different colored blossoms, like purple and green. Just a walkthrough -- not hanging out in a park all day like the usual cherry blossoms -- but very beautiful.
Nara -- the capital before Kyoto. Todaiji, Horyuji, Nara Park (watch out for the deer. They will eat your map as you are reading it), I'm actually spacing on a lot of the names, but they're all pretty close together and the natives are very helpful. About an hour from Osaka. I'm not sure of the current state of the cherry blossoms. Nara has Yoshinoyama (Mt. Yoshino) where there are trees that bloom later. The Js love it. It's pretty. Locals will be impressed with your decision.
There's actually a Suntory Distillery between Kyoto and Osaka. A short tour, 20 minutes of all you can drink, and then as long as you want at a bar where you can sample shots of the stuff, including the super old stuff. Good times
What's your lady's Japanese status, i.e. was she raised in the States? Does she speak the language? It really makes a difference on the advice I can give, unless, of course, you're good with the language. If she's spent time in Japan, she'll probably try to get you to eat natto -- fermented soy beans. They love the health aspect of it. It smells like dirty socks, is gooey like an Slimer from Ghostbusters, but tastes okay. I do not recommend it.
Korean BBQ and karaoke. Find places with all you can drink options. It's like 2000yen for 2 hours of sake, beer, shochu, whiskey -- whatever you want. Plan for a hangover.
ETA: made drunken mistakes with compass directions. My bad.
Great documentary. Im actually planning on hitting a top sushi place on my visit in october but decided against Jiro. For one, its really hard to get a reservation and you need someone who speaks Japanese to make it. Second i heard that he doesnt treat non Japanese very well. Its also my understanding that his experience is like 8 pieces and your out the door in 30 mins. But i guess you are paying to see Jiro.
