When is a good time to visit Japan?
 

Japan is a dream destination of mine and I am exploring the possibility of a trip. I am in the very early planning / dreaming stage at this point and I have some questions. I know there are many of you who have been.

When is a good time to go?
Is it a good idea to rent an apartment for a month in tokyo and use that as base and travel with train around to places you want to see?
Is train / bus expensive?
Can you get around without knowing a single word Japanese?
Is there a better place to set up base then tokyo economic wise where you are still not too far away to visit tokyo?

Is it possible to get in contact with and do on the spot business with say Japanese content producers?

Thanks for any help and comments!

april during cherry blossom season

get a rail pass from JR, you will need to get it before you go.

from what i know all porn made in japan is made by the yakuza, so be careful.

if you need a hotel for your trip.

visit: The Hotel Box

Also one of my top destinations I want to visit :)

:2 cents: ...

I've never really fancied the idea of a trip to Japan. Not sure why. Just somewhere that i don't think i'll ever travel too.

What makes it your dream destination please?

He's got it right. Im going over either next month or early July. 8th trip over.

Tuesday at 2:24pm exactly. Not a minute before and not a minute after :1orglaugh

Summer in Tokyo is hot and muggy. August and September see typhoons.

Winter gets the occassional snow.

The weather and natural beauty seem to peak in the spring with the "hanami" (cherry blossum viewing) or the fall with the change in tree colors at the major shrines and temples.

Anyways, any time is good if you have the opportunity.....go for it.

Enjoy your trip.

Lonely Planet is full of hippies :1orglaugh

Not my travel style at all.

I've always wanted to go to Japan as well.. I know there are a few packages out there that will take you across the country stopping a day or two in some of the other cities, like okinawa, kyoto, etc. If I ever make it around to visiting Japan I think I would want to do something like that, but I've never done it myself so I can't reccomend one.

http://m1.2mdn.net/1938109/Travel_in...300x250_v2.jpg :thumbsup

Well, said. The summers are brutal so you may want to avoid that weather unless you are used to it.