Secret Japan

lho · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 3

Hi there,

I found this forum searching for some information on love hotels in Tokyo :oops:
It seems a great site packed with information, so I too will try to contribute. I just started by adding some love hotels, since this is the reason I arrived here...

Celine · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

Hello,

I have been browsing this forum for quite a while now but i only discovered the message suggesting me to introduce myself in my Inbox today :-)

So here we are, I am Celine, 27 and in Japan since June 2006, working for a Swiss Freight forwarding company.

I have my own blog but I'll try to post some new topics on travelling and restaurants in Tokyo on this forum soon...

sanji · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 715

Welcome to our latest members ;)

Celine, feel free to add your blog in our "Links" page (link to that page available on the top menu). We are looking forward for your contributions.

sanji

trinity · Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 3

Hello, I am from barcelona, and I've just discovered this wonderful web.

I am planning to travel to Japan this august, so I think I will ask a lot of things about hotels, places to visit,....

Sorry if sometimes I bother you with my questions, but I'm quite excited about this trip.

See you,

Elisabet Y · Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

Hello all of you!
My name is Elisabet, living in Stockholm, Sweden. :)
I, my husband and 3 children (13, 7, and 2) are going to visit Japan for two weeks 21/3-5/4. I have travelled to many places in Japan, but this time we'll rent a car. We are now planning the tour with two good guidebooks, Hiking in Japan (Paul Hunt) and A Guide to Japanese Hot Springs ( Anne Hotta )
We have some experience from trekkking in Annapurna Circuit, Nepal (no children). Here in Sweden we are living in the archepelago and we like very much the seaside and countryside. We are planning a tour of 8 days, starting from Tokyo to Yoshino (2 days small hike at Yoshino yama, and onsen), then 2 days in Nara/Kyoto (I myslef has been there several times before), then we'll drive to the Hida Mountains in Chubu Sangaku Park, to Shinhodaka onsen (2 days short hike, onsen) and finally to Hoshi onsen at the boardeline to Gunma, Niigata and Nagano. (2 days hike, onsen). We have seen on the secret-onsen that these recommended places in the books are ranked very high here. We look for good places of the beaten tracks, but my Japanese relatives thinks this trip is too much...they recommend Nikko, and Edo-land for the children.

we are inspired by Basho's journeys, Óku no hosomichi....

best regards/elisabet

sanji · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 715

Welcome to our newest members, including Elisabet Y - who just became the 500th person to join Secret Japan!

The two guide books you selected are really good ones, I talked about them in this topic. I really think your itinerary is a great one. Be aware that if you are driving the whole trip, the journey between Tokyo and Yoshino is quite a long one (although mostly on highways). The return via Gifu-ken and Nagano-ken is a fantastic part, visiting Takayama (Gifu-ken) and Kami-Kochi (Nagano-ken, only accessible from late spring - there is a guide on this destination in this forum) is also highly recommended.

Hope you will share your impression on this forum when you return!

Enjoy your trip,

sanji

slim · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

Hi, I was introduced to this website by a friend and cant wait to read through all the threads to learn more about the land of the rising sun! I have visited various parts of Japan previously and am still very much in love with the people, culture and food. I hope to plan another trip very soon and would love to book the hotels on jalan.net myself. Wish me luck!

eggplantlp · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 1

Hi Everyone:
I am June, and although it has been 3 years since I last visited Japan, I am always interested in off-the-beaten-track information for future trips. My family and I especially love going to ryokan with onsen (those with rotenburo are even better!) and eating delicious Japanese foods.

hillcat · Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

Hi All,
My name is Tracey and I live in Australia. I have always loved things Japanese. I studied bonsai for 10 years with a lovely lady who was originally from Japan.
Last year my husband and I had our first opportunity to travel to Japan. We loved it, but 10 days was far too short. So we are going back in about 3 weeks time - this time we'll be there for over 3 weeks. I know it still won't be enough - so I'm sure we'll keep going back. :)

benhur · Joined: 27 Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Japan

hi, name's benhur..

lived around mainland japan for a bit, am now in okinawa..

am an australian, but was born in malaysia..

good site here for infos n stuff.

(^_^)/

bei · Joined: 01 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

Hello!!
My name is Bei and I am travelling to Japan in March as a Honeymoon!
Thanks for everything!

pacconltd · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

Hi! This is Gary. my family and I travel to Japan about 2x a year to visit my mother-in-law. We spend most of the time in Kagoshima but do move about the country from Hokaido to Kyushu. Our favorite pastime is finding new onsen and exploring trails and less-developed areas. Kagoshima has a late number of onsen, some of which are very good. A fiairly new one is on a cliff overlooking the ocean near Kaimon Dake. Another excellent one is in Kagoshima city - tucked away in an industrial area. It is one of the best designed onsen I have been in. If someone tells me how to do it - I will post pictures and comments on onsen on this site.

sanji · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 715

pacconltd wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")If someone tells me how to do it - I will post pictures and comments on onsen on this site.

Hi Gary, several ways to do so :

- if your images are already on the internet (blog, personnal web page), you can link them directly using the image icon while posting :

If your images are not on the internet, please reduce their size to a maximum of 800x600 pixels.
- you can either add them as attachment to a message, using the button under the frame where you type your message;

- or perhaps the most convenient, you can use the the picture album, where pictures can be uploaded in the corresponding categories (like Kyushu).

If you have some problem with the procedure, feel free to send me a pm.

sanji

frankspurs · Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 1

Hi Sanji, thank you for the warm welcome and sorry it has taken me soooo long to reply since my registration back in May.
My name is Frank, I'm 53, originally from London, England and now living in Greenwich Village NY.
I am a huge fan of Japan since my first visit in 2005, I returned in 2006 and again earlier this year. If anyone is interested they can read my blogs at http://frankspurs.blogspot.com/
I don't think I will have the time to go again in 2009 so I am tentatively planning for the cherry blossoms in 2010.

tinou · Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 64

Welcome on board! :D