I thought I'd give this a shot since I've only come across one person on livejournal who is in Japan because of the military. Are there any other military wives here who are in their mid-20s
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Hey, you're going where I was when I studied abroad in Tokyo :) My boyfriend was stationed on the Navy base in Yokosuka at the time so I spent several weekends there as well. And a lot of my friends are from Yokohama and Chiba (slightly east of Tokyo).
I can't say I noticed tsunami season while I was there. I was in Tokyo most of the time and I think the worst of the storms hit more on the southwest of Japan, like around Okinawa.
Stuff I recommend in Tokyo: * Go to Hachiko square at least once to be swept away by a crowd large enough to be viewable on Google Maps satellite view. * Have crepes in Harajuku and visit the Lolita clothing stores along Takeshita Dori. * Have breakfast at the Tsukiji fish market near Ginza. * Go to the National Art museum in Ueno Park (which is the quietest and most peaceful part of Tokyo I found). * Another personal favorite was the Miyamoto Taiko drum museum in Asakusa. http://jumpcut.com/view/?id=E66304E6DA3111DBB514000423CEF5F6 Asakusa in general is very pretty. I also liked the Tanuki Shrine there.
Closer to Yokosuka, you should visit Kamakura for the old shrines and see the Daibutsu, the giant buddha statue that is a World Culture site. And Yokohama is a fun city too, though I didn't do much there.
Tokyo Disneyland is near Chiba, and so is the Makuhari Messe convention center where the Tokyo Game Show happens every year in the fall. Not must sees, but they were fond memories for me.
If you get to go farther away, Kyoto is reachable by overnight bus (cheaper than shinkansen) and was an excellent week vacation at the end of my trip. Shrines galore and THE way to see historic Japan during Hanami. My personal favorites were Nanzenji (think Lost in Translation outdoor scenes with the giant gate), and Ginkakuji. The silver pavilion has a better garden than the golden pavilion but the golden pavilion is gold and has a giant pond you walk around. Nijo-jo Castle has creaking floorboards. Ryoan-ji has the best zen garden. And I also got to tour an old samurai mansion rigged with counter-espionage devices but sadly I can't remember the name and you have to have a Japanese friend along to get a tour.
I can't say I noticed tsunami season while I was there. I was in Tokyo most of the time and I think the worst of the storms hit more on the southwest of Japan, like around Okinawa.
Stuff I recommend in Tokyo:
* Go to Hachiko square at least once to be swept away by a crowd large enough to be viewable on Google Maps satellite view.
* Have crepes in Harajuku and visit the Lolita clothing stores along Takeshita Dori.
* Have breakfast at the Tsukiji fish market near Ginza.
* Go to the National Art museum in Ueno Park (which is the quietest and most peaceful part of Tokyo I found).
* Another personal favorite was the Miyamoto Taiko drum museum in Asakusa. http://jumpcut.com/view/?id=E66304E6DA3111DBB514000423CEF5F6
Asakusa in general is very pretty. I also liked the Tanuki Shrine there.
Closer to Yokosuka, you should visit Kamakura for the old shrines and see the Daibutsu, the giant buddha statue that is a World Culture site. And Yokohama is a fun city too, though I didn't do much there.
Tokyo Disneyland is near Chiba, and so is the Makuhari Messe convention center where the Tokyo Game Show happens every year in the fall. Not must sees, but they were fond memories for me.
If you get to go farther away, Kyoto is reachable by overnight bus (cheaper than shinkansen) and was an excellent week vacation at the end of my trip. Shrines galore and THE way to see historic Japan during Hanami. My personal favorites were Nanzenji (think Lost in Translation outdoor scenes with the giant gate), and Ginkakuji. The silver pavilion has a better garden than the golden pavilion but the golden pavilion is gold and has a giant pond you walk around. Nijo-jo Castle has creaking floorboards. Ryoan-ji has the best zen garden. And I also got to tour an old samurai mansion rigged with counter-espionage devices but sadly I can't remember the name and you have to have a Japanese friend along to get a tour.
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