Anyone got any tips for my backpacking around Japan? -

I am going to Japan in under two weeks and will be backpacking for five weeks. I have got a JR Pass and so travelling is no problem. I have a few days where I will be in Sendai City. ? Basically, the question is: has anyone got any tips for me? both places to visit but namely backpacking tips e.g. what to take to decrease the amount of luggage. Hope I am making sense.

You will like Sendai. When you are up there you should visit Yamadera, Matsushima, Hiraizumi, Aizu-Wakamatsu, and Tono. Be sure to try the beef tounge and sea-pineapple in Sendai.The Kerr book is good, but another one you should read is quot;The Roads to Sataquot; by Alan Booth.

Read Lost Japan by Alex Kerr--a great description of wonderful places to visit on the island of Shikoku. Be sure to visit Kyoto and Nara and Hiroshima and Kamakura. If you want to climb Mt. Fuji: it s open for climbing only July amp; August. It s very cold, count on it being freezing up top. Do rent a bed at one of the mountain huts and climb up to see the sunrise at the top of Fuji. It s always hazy in the summer except when a typhoon comes along and blows the haze away for a few days.

It seems like others have covered the basics, but I d just like to say that in these next two weeks try to cram as many practical Japanese phrases into your head as possible!!! I ve been all over the Pacific-Rim and believe it or not Japan has the worst level of English out of the lot, in fact to say it was lagging behind China, Taiwan, S.Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia etc... would be a huge understatement! Then again it is the traveller s responsibility to prepare for these kind of things - I just thought it would be best you knew! Even when I was in Tokyo, sales clerks would literally SHAKE when I went to buy things (I m of average height and build, slim - nothing even slightly scary... by any standards)! Despite this, you ll still have a great time Japan s a great place!

August 12-16th is our Bon holiday when trains are VERY crowded. I suggest you to avoid taking trains during that period. Or avoid any form of long distance transportation like bus or car. On the other hand, streets or trains within Tokyo or Osaka will be much less crowded at that time.

Keep your body always clean. Take showers every day. Foreign backpackers are always smell too bad. It is allowed in India or Nepal but not in Japan.

Check this blog.

err... a map. sunglasses. one of those english-to-japanese dictionary things and a smile!