Rabbityama

What city were you in and what did they do for you?

If you have a worst thing done to you, please state where it was and what happened also!

What was your best travel experience? Where was it? Why was it the best?

What was your worst travel experience? Where was it? What made it so bad?

I know it's the national language and the most widely spoken Indian language, but does it have a regional association?

People know, for example, that Tamil is from Tamil Nadu. Other languages Assamese, Marathi, Gujarathi, etc. have regions where they originate and are associated with. What about Hindi?

Just curious to see which areas are most popular and what people like about them.

I had read a couple years ago that the capital name would be changed, but I never heard anything after that. Has it been changed or does "Pretoria" still exist?

There are many lists, so here they are:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Japan%27s_Top_3

Which have you seen? Have you seen any of the lists completely? (Was it intentional?)

I've seen:

-Miyajima (Top 3 View)

-Mount Fuji (Famous Mountains)

-Todaiji (Famous Daibutsu)

-Fushimi Inari (Great Inari Shrines)

-Saijo Inari (Great Inari Shrines)

Nankin-machi (Top Chinatowns)

Which of Japan's prefectures do you most want to visit? What do you want to see and do there? Have you been there before?

And I mean the "Ghana" chocolate from Lotte, of course. Not the expensive chocolates advertised as being made from Ghana cacao beans.

I prefer Ghana.

Feel free to list regional guidebooks, as well, if those are your preferred guidebooks.

I don't really care so much for guidebooks myself (I find internet searches to be much more helpful), but I was recently reading Lonely Planet's guide to Japan (2000 edition, I think) and was surprised to see how terrible the reviews were. They didn't really give any information that showed they'd actually been to the locations and from the perspective of someone looking for a new and interesting place to go, I found the reviews to be surprisingly unenthusiastic and rather negative about many sights and even entire cities/areas of the country. The book seemed to be only useful for perhaps finding sites to research on your own later (and even then it doesn't have that many places to go). Otherwise, a reader could be persuaded to skip Japan altogether after reading that.

Anyways, what are your opinions on various guidebooks that you've read? Helpful for sightseeing? Worthwhile reviews? Confusing? Unhelpful? Misleading?

Do you like Lonely Planet? (might as well add this specific question, since I complained about it. lol.)

Everyone seems to visit Tokyo and Kyoto (well, I haven't actually explored Tokyo much. lol), and Hiroshima, Osaka, and Nara are popular. For whatever reason, people also seem to like Kobe...

But I want to know about those places or attractions that tourists (particularly foreign) rarely visit but are actually really spectacular.

I find the Chugoku region to be great but aside from Hiroshima, people don't seem to explore this region.

Tottori: I liked hiking on Mount Daisen to all of the temples. I haven't been to the sand dunes or Negeiredo, but these interest me, as well.

Okayama: Many places... Bitchu Takamatsu Castle, the entire Kibi plains, Kurashiki... Even Okayama City is underrated.

Kyoto: Kamo-cho's Stone Buddha path is a great historical hike. Takao is also nice, particularly Jingoji Temple.

Also, the entire island of Shikoku seems underrated to me. People don't seem to go there as much, but it has a lot of preserved historical areas (those 88 temples, 4 of the 12 original castles, etc.)

Anyways, you can comment on mine, but also add your own. What do you think are underrated attractions that deserve more mention?

Your favorite thing can obviously be an attraction, but feel free to also choose something else unique to that prefecture, like a festival, food, etc. if those are your favorite things. Try to name one thing for ALL of the prefectures you've been to.

I haven't seen a question like this, so I thought it might be fun to ask. I have a list of different Japanese transportation experiences. Which have you done and where was each?

Have You Ever:

1. Rode on the Seikan Tunnel (Hokkaido to/from Aomori)

2. Rode the Marine Liner (Okayama to/from Shikoku/Kagawa)

3. Rode on the Shinkansen? Where to/from?

4. Rode on a split-train (one in which the front half and back half are bound for different destinations)? Where to/from?

5. Rode on a one-car train? Where to/from?

6. Rode on a Sleeper Train? Where to/from?

7. Travelled to/from Shinjuku Station, the busiest in the world?

8. Driven on the Tohoku Expressway, the longest in Japan?

9. Rode on a Highway Bus? Where to/from?

10. Taken a Ferry? Where to/from?

11. Gone on a Cruise or ferry in Lake Biwa

12. Gone on a Cruise in Japan (aside from Lake Biwa)? Where to?

13. Rode on a tram?

14. Flown on ANA? Where to/from?

15. Flown on JAL? Where to/from?

Morbid:

16. Been on a train in which someone jumped in front of? Where?

17. Been on a platform when someone jumped in front of the train?

(Please only answer these for JAPAN, not just any country. Also, if you have any interesting "transportation tourist" experiences that you think should be on the list, feel free to add them to your answer!)

It's an odd question, I know, but I thought I'd ask. For those who need refreshing, the jizo statues often have red bibs. You can refresh your memory (or learn about them) here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ksitigarbha

But for those who know them, where have you seen the most impressive ones (or just Jizo that you liked)?

Regardless of where you are living or working right now, I would like to know your favorite thing about the nation you are originally from!

Please state the nation along with your favorite thing!

Since the park has closed, are they going to do anything with the area or open it up as a city park or something? I'm just curious if they have decided what to do with it or if they'll just leave everything there and close the gate.

Aside from the Sapporo snow festival (or Okinawa to avoid the cold) What attractions in Japan are best in winter? Japanese always have "appropriate" seasons for going to every location, so what do you/they recommend for the winter. It seems that every site is "best" in the spring and fall.

I have been told that Kinkakuji is best in winter, because the gold really pops out against the white snow. I also think Suzumushi Temple is a nice winter place, since it's really warm.

What do you think or what have you been told?

I don't expect you to look them up yourself, so here they are:

-Kiyomizu Temple

-Kinkakuji Temple

-Daigoji Temple

-Ginkakuji Temple

-Nishi Honganji Temple

-Shimogamo Shrine

-Kamigamo Shrine

-Toji Pagoda

-Ninnaji Temple

-Kozanji Temple

-Saihoji Temple

-Tenryuji Temple

-Ryoanji Temple

-Nijo Castle

-Enryakuji Temple (actually in Otsu)

-Ujigami Shrine (actually in Uji)

-Byodoin Temple (actually in Uji)

I am not sure if I'll see them all, but I will see most of them. I've visited Ginkakuji, Kiyomizu Temple, Daigoji Temple, Byodoin Temple, Ujigami Shrine, Nishi Honganji Temple, and Nijo Castle so far. I liked Daigoji and Nijo Castle best so far.

Which have you seen, and which are your favorite? Are there any you disliked? (I thought Nishi Honganji was only so-so, but most of them I liked)

Yeah, it's a broad question, but I just want some ideas. I think I'm going to be going there, so I might as well see what I can see. It doesn't matter what prefecture, so anything you can add is good.

In my very limited research, I have found these (listed by prefecture):

Saga Prefecture: Karatsu Castle, Yutoku Inari Shrine

Fukuoka Prefecture: Dazaifu Shrine, Kushida Shrine, Hakozaki Shrine

Oita Prefecture: Jigoku meguri

Nagasaki: Martyrdom of 26 Saints Museum, Peace Park/Atomic Bomb Museum, Kofukuji, Suwa Shrine, Dejima, Mount Inasa

Miyazaki: Takachiho

Kagoshima: Saint Xavier Monument

Kumamoto: Kumamoto Castle, Aso Shrine

Do you know of any interesting historical, cultural, and/or natural places that you feel are truly worth visiting in Kyushu?

As far as cities go, I'd have to choose Osaka and Kobe. Osaka is basically a shopping center, aside from a few interesting places (the aquarium, Sumiyoshi shrine, and Peace Osaka... USJ is okay, too). I find it strange and surprising that people speak so well of it.

Now, to be fair to Kobe, I've never actually been there, but it appears to be even less interesting than Osaka. Not only is it a cultureless city, it seems not to have much else either.

Anyways, what are your thoughts?

Please say which castles you have visited and then say what your favorite one was. (I think it's helpful to say where you've been just to keep the choices in perspective)

I need to go to more castles. I've only been to Okayama Castle and Iga Ueno Castle (I've technically seen Himeji Castle, Osaka Castle, and Hiroshima Castle, but I didn't "go there", so I won't count them.) Out of those two, Okayama Castle is better by far. Although it's mostly fake, there is one turret left from the original. I do plan to go to Himeji and maybe some others to see a real castle...

Anyways, which is your favorite?