Advice on Japan trip
This May, I'm thinking of making a trip to Japan. I'd been previously via a tour back in '04 through Pop Japan Travel (www.popjapantravel.com) which I'd enjoyed since it was a mixture of anime stuff and regular tourist stuff. However, looks like they haven't restarted tours since last year.
1) Are there any tour packages/companies that people would recommend? I'm looking at something in Tokyo and perhaps Kyoto as well. I'd like to do some traditional tourist stuff, but also have a few days of free time for shopping in Akihabara and other places. Thinking a week and a half stay.
2) Are there any good events in May that I should try to go to? I'd like to go to a Doll Party, Wonderfest, Tokyo Anime Fair, but don't think the timing is right for any of those.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I have a travel plan for May-June for like 3 weeks and I am going to Kyoto and Tokyo.
I wanted to go to some of those events you mentioned and looked into them and I don't think are happening during this time :(
I've been to Japan 5 times now and have always done the planning myself as most companies tend to favor certain areas or vendors and this applies worldwide, not only Japan. Given your time constraints, I would focus on Tokyo and the surrounding cities including Kamakura which is very similar to Kyoto and has the Daibutsu and Kannon temples. There is also Yokohama if you want to see an awesome Chinatown and other attractions and Hakone with its multiple forms of transport. The best way of planning the trip is with the Lonely Planet Tokyo guide book. I get mine from the public library so it doesn't cost me anything and use it to choose what sites interest me ahead of the trip. There is also lots of info on the web if you Google "Tokyo Tourism".
Shoko Nakagawa usually has a concert tour in April and early May. The concerts are all over Japan, but her birthday is May 5th, which is when she usually has her concerts in the Tokyo area. Shokotan loves cats, anime, and games, and is a good singer who puts on fun live shows.
Seeing one of Japan's most famous recent idols live in concert would be a good thing to do while you're there. Don't forget your glowsticks!!