Random musings on travel in Japan (under construction)

Cherry blossoms are famous in Japan, but I happen to think plum blossoms are just as nice. They bloom early, in February or March, and they're a real sign that spring is on the way.

If you're traveling in March, July/August, or over the New Year's holidays, consider using "Seishun 18 Kippu" discount rail tickets on JR. The good news is, each S18K ticket costs under Y3000 and gives you unlimited rides on JR trains (and JR buses and the Miyajima ferry) from midnight to midnight. The bad news is, you have to buy five of them at a time, and you can only ride local and kaisoku trains -- no expresses, and definitely not the Shinkansen ("bullet train"). But if you've got the time, and you'd like to ride through the country at a pace where you can really see things out the windows, this may be the way to go.

My favorite freebies:

• In Tokyo:
  • The outer gardens of the Imperial Palace -- just a few minutes' walk from Tokyo Station
  • The approach to Senso-ji (a Kannon temple) in Asakusa, lined with trinket shops
  
  
• In Kyoto:
  • Murayama Kooen (park)
  • The eastern half of Shijo-dori (avenue) -- the shops on the southern side of the street are fun, and some are quite traditional