I will be heading out to Japan shortly for a few weeks. Wondering if anyone has some insights into any interesting places to visit, activities to do, shows to watch, places to eat, day trips, etc. Specifically in and about the surrounding areas of Tokyo, Kyoto/Osaka, Okayama and Okinawa.
Never been there, however it would be helpful to know your interests: would you look more for "relics" of the feudal japan, recent history, pop culture, ...?
I wanted to leave it somewhat open. To catch some ideas that I might not otherwise have thought of. In general I'm not really into WWII stuff all that much. I'm looking to experience things that are uniquely Japanese and have a bit of a 'wow' factor. I have lots of great ideas already, but if someone has been there (or better yet, lives there), they will have insights that I would likely have missed through my internet research. I've already got a jam-packed itinerary, filled with competing options all vying for precious trip days, but more info never hurts.
It's been a few years since I visited Tokyo (before covid), but what I still remember is (in no specific order). Akihabara (electronic store district) Tokyo Tower Samurai Museum I'm not sure where this was exactly, but I also visited a few hobby stores that had a lot of modelling equipment and items that are not common here in Europe. These are the ones that come to mind when I give it a quick thought. If you have time, I would also have considered a trip to Mt. Fuji. I was unable to get there due to a typhoon that hit while we were in Tokyo. In addition, I recommend going to a higher-cost restaurant and getting a wagyu taste menu. This is undobtly what I remember best from the trip. Also, navigating the Tokyo tube can be challenging due to the lack of English information, but it's manageable and a cheaper and faster way to get around Tokyo. With the new translation apps that are available today, I would strongly recommend one that can translate Japanese text from images to make life simpler if you want to take the tube.
Thank you for the great insights @The Red Devil ! I'm excited for the trip. Not too long to wait now. That sounds neat, what kind of hobby supplies? I will keep a look out while in Tokyo.
I mainly bought different Tamiya products that are at least difficult to purchase in Norway, like different viscosities in their plastic cement (thinner, thicker, etc. versions), their putty, and also "masking tapes" in different widths from 1mm to 10mm, and some quality tools for model building (different angle cutters, files, and saws). The stores had dedicated sections for the different types of modeling, from building scenery, RC, planes, trains, plastic models, etc.