Gotemba April 3, 2012
Posted by Dru in Chubu, Japan, Kanto, Travel.Tags: Chubu, Fuji, Fuji Speedway, Fuji-san, FujiQ Highlands, Gotemba, Gotemba Premium Outlet, Gotemba Premium Outlets, Gotenba, Hakone, japan, Kanto, Kawaguchiko, Mitsubishi Estate, Mt. Fuji, Oyama, Premium Outlets, Shizuoka, Shizuoka-ken, Susono
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Author’s Note: Dru’s Misadventures has moved to HinoMaple. Please venture on over there to read “Gotemba” complete with photos. http://wp.me/s2liAm-gotemba
Gotemba is a small city located at the foot of Mt. Fuji. It is surrounded by the towns of Susono and Oyama but most people will consider that entire area to be Gotemba for simplicity. Gotemba itself is located on the south-east corner of Mt. Fuji on the east side of Shizuoka and at the border of Kanagawa. It is literally at the border between the Kanto and Chubu regions of Japan. While Shizuoka is technically within the Chubu region, most consider everything to the east of Mt. Fuji to be part of Kanto and due to the geography, Gotemba falls on the east side of Mt. Fuji. Gotemba itself has only one major attraction aside from Mt. Fuji, and that’s a large outlet shopping mall. In the surrounding areas, to the north of Gotemba is the town of Oyama which is famous for Fuji Speedway. Both of these are the only famous destinations for any travellers to the region, although there are a lot of natural places to visit.
The most famous and obvious attraction in Gotemba has to be Mt. Fuji. Gotemba is the location for the entrance to the Gotemba hiking trail. This is probably only for the real adventurists as it is considered the most difficult way to hike up Mt. Fuji as it is the longest trail. Due to the proximity of Gotemba to Mt. Fuji, you can usually see Mt. Fuji on most clear days. Mt. Fuji is a very fickle mountain. I have heard many people complain about the problems of heading out to the foot of Mt. Fuji only to be greeted by clouds instead of the majestic mountain. Due to its isolation from other mountain ranges and its height Mt. Fuji is often obscured by clouds. In order to see Mt. Fuji, you need to go there on a perfectly clear day. If there are any clouds in the sky, it is highly likely that they will slam into Mt. Fuji and hang out for a while leading to a huge disappointment. Gotemba is one of the few places you can visit and not feel too bad if Mt. Fuji is obscured. Most people visit Hakone, and I actually recommend visiting Hakone over Gotemba, but it can be harder to see Mt. Fuji as Hakone is located in the nearby mountains which can make seeing Mt. Fuji a little harder. Kawaguchiko is the other famous place to see Mt. Fuji but aside from FujiQ Highlands, an amusement park, there is nothing to do there. Gotemba can be better but only if you enjoy shopping.
Currently, Gotemba is well known for its shopping opportunities. If you tell anyone in Tokyo that you are going to visit Gotemba, almost everyone will ask if you will be going there to go shopping. The outlet mall in Gotemba is called Premium Outlets and it is an American brand of outlet malls run by the Simon Property Group. In Japan, they set up a joint venture with Mitsubishi Estate who operates the Premium Outlet Mall chain in Japan. The Gotemba branch is the flagship mall in Japan and well known among people in Tokyo. It is a destination for people with long lines to get into the mall on weekends and holidays. The easiest way into the mall is to purchase a ticket on one of the special direct buses. These buses run from Shinjuku and Tokyo Station. They leave in the morning and return by dinner. All you have to do is show up at the station, board the bus and then board the same bus to return back to Tokyo. Tickets for the weekend do sell out quickly so it is best to reserve seats ahead of time. For those who can’t get tickets, you can still easily take a regular highway bus. A highway bus is a long distance bus that uses highways to get from A to B, but on the way to Gotemba there are several bus stops on the Expressway itself. There is also a train service but the best option for this is via Shinjuku but it is more expensive than the bus. For most people, shopping at Gotemba will not be very different to shopping at any other outlet shop in the world. Most of the shops are the same as in America, but there are several Japanese brands that you can’t find elsewhere. Depending on your own fashion sense, you may or may not enjoy shopping in Gotemba but if you enjoy shopping anyways, you can always spend a day visiting Gotemba and attempting to see Mt. Fuji up close at the same time.
To the north of Gotemba is Oyama, the home of Fuji Speedway. Fuji Speedway is the most famous race course in the Kanto region. It was host to the F1 Japan Grand Prix in the past and considered the most beautiful race course in Japan. This is mostly due to the fact that you can easily see Mt. Fuji from the track. Today, the track is used mostly for local racing championships and Toyota sponsored events. The track itself has undergone several changes over the decades. Due to financial difficulties by its owner, Toyota, the track was discontinued as an F1 circuit but continues to be used for national races and local events. Unfortunately, it appears that the racing course will not be used as an F1 circuit in the foreseeable future. It is a bit of a shame but when compared to Suzuka’s greater history, Fuji Speedway will probably continue to suffer from the lack of attention.
As I mentioned in the beginning, Gotemba is not a place most people will ever visit, nor will they really want to. It is a beautiful place to go but compared to the more popular areas such as Hakone, Gotemba will be overlooked a lot. For nature, people will visit Hakone. For Mt. Fuji hikes, people will go to Kawaguchiko. For shopping, most tourists will stay in Tokyo or visit one of the outlet malls that are easier to visit such as the Mitsui chain in Makuhari. For locals and people living in Tokyo, Gotemba will be a place to visit once in a while. If you can justify a visit to the region, I recommend doing so, but unfortunately, I doubt most will want to spend the time to go there.
Note: Unfortunately I have no photos of Gotemba Premium Outlets. I almost never go there to take pictures, only to do shopping. 🙂
Outlet Malls of Tokyo November 16, 2010
Posted by Dru in Japan, Kanto, Tokyo.Tags: Chelsea Premium Outlets, Chiba, Gotemba Premium Outlets, Gotenba Premium Outlets, Iruma, japan, Keihin Makuhari, Lalaport, Machida, Makuhari, Makuhari Messe, Mitsui Outlet, Mitsui Outlet Park, Odaiba, Olinas, Outlet Mall RiSM, Outlet Malls, Premium Outlets, RiSM, Shizuoka, tokyo, Tokyo-to, Toyosu, Venus Fort, Yokohama, 日本, 東京, 横浜
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Author’s Note: Dru’s Misadventures has moved to HinoMaple. Please venture on over there to read “Outlet Malls of Tokyo” complete with photos. http://wp.me/p2liAm-pk
Shopping is a major attraction of Tokyo, and the Outlet Malls are no exception. While there is a lot of information out there on the different outlet malls, the information isn’t very detailed, and it’s difficult to understand the history of outlet shopping in Tokyo. In Japan, shopping in large shopping malls, much less outlet malls, is a new concept. Based on my short research, the first outlet mall is Outlet Mall RiSM located in Saitama. This was opened in 1993. It’s a fairly small outlet mall, from what others have said, and from their website, caters mostly to Japanese brands. It isn’t too far from central Tokyo, but probably not worth a trip for the average person. There are several other “independent” outlet malls with locations in Machida (western Tokyo) one on Chiba which is east of Tokyo, and a new one that opened in Odaiba’s Venus Fort in December, 2009. Do note that the Odaiba outlet mall is small but worth a short visit if you are in the area.
In general, there are only two companies that have outlet malls that are worth visiting. Mitsui Outlet Parks are the largest chain of outlet malls in Japan. They have 10 locations throughout Japan and 4 within the Tokyo area. Depending on where you are staying or living, each one is convenient. For those living on the east side of Tokyo, or in Chiba, the Makuhari branch is the best. It is located next to Makuhari Messe and a lot of their business is from people visiting the convention centre and doing a little shopping at the same time. This outlet mall is pretty good overall. While it isn’t huge, nor is it the best, for those looking to go somewhere close by, and for only half a day, this is a good location. Due to its relative close proximity to Tokyo, it can be very busy at times. The other close mall would be the Tama Minami Osawa branch, located in Tama. This one is best for those living on the west side of Tokyo. From what I have heard, it isn’t that great, but very convenient and close enough to Tokyo to enjoy. The last convenient branch would be the Yokohama Bayside. This isn’t convenient for anyone in Tokyo, but for those in Yokohama, it’s a wonderful place to visit. It’s large with many shops to see. Unfortunately, it’s far from the station, about a 5-10 minute walk, and there is nothing else to do after you have finished. It can take nearly one full day if you are travelling from Tokyo. For those living in Saitama, or north western Tokyo, a trip to Iruma is also an option, but not convenient unless you have a car. This is one of Mitsui’s largest outlet malls, and the newest one in the Tokyo region. Unfortunately, it’s too far from the station making it tough for a regular tourist to visit.
Personally, and by many accounts on the internet, Gotemba Premium Outlets is the best outlet mall near Tokyo. It is locate about 1.5 hours west of Tokyo and requires a bus to get there. It’s located near the foot of Mt. Fuji creating a very picturesque scene for shopping. Do note that Mt. Fuji is often obscured by clouds, and I have never really seen it when I have been to Gotemba. Then again, I have been very unlucky and only visited Gotemba when it was raining. This mall is huge, to say the least. It can take several hours to get through all of the shops, but it can be worth it. The food may be expensive, but thankfully, there are several places for children to have fun, including a small amusement park. Do beware of the crowds on the weekend as it’s very popular. Compared to the Mitsui outlet malls, Chelsea is more upscale with more foreign brands due to its foreign ownership.
For those looking for a cheap shopping experience near Tokyo, you can’t really go wrong with the outlet malls. The only down sides are that they tend to be farther away from central Tokyo. They also can’t compete well with the large sales that happen every few months at the department stores. The amount you save on travel expenses may be more than enough to say home. However, it’s still a great experience to see the other areas of Tokyo that few people experience. If you are looking for a basic shopping mall, there are a few in eastern Tokyo, such as Lalaport Toyosu and Olinas Mall in Kinshicho.
Information:
Wikipedia index of Outlet Malls in Japan (Japanese): http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:日本のアウトレットモール
Wikipedia on Mitsui Outlet Malls (Japanese): http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/三井アウトレットパーク
Premium Outlets (English): http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/
Premium Outlets (Japanese): http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/
Gotemba Premium Outlets (English): http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/
Gotemba Premium Outlets (Japanese): http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/gotemba/
Mitsui Outlet Park (English): http://www.31op.com/english/index.html
Mitsui Outlet Park (Japanese): http://www.31op.com/english/
Venus Fort (Japanese, but logos of the outlet shops): http://www.venusfort.co.jp/index.html
このblogは英語のblog。もし私の英語は難しい、日本語のquestionは大丈夫。
Shinkansen – South Routes February 23, 2010
Posted by Dru in Chubu, Chugoku, Japan, Kansai, Kanto, Kyushu.Tags: 0 series, 300 series, 500 series, 700 series, こだま, のぞみ, ひかり, bullet train, 福岡, 静岡, 鹿児島, Fukuoka, Hakata, high speed train, hikari, Hiroshima, japan, JR Pass, Kagoshima, kodama, kyoto, kyushu, Kyushu line, Kyushu Shinkansen, n700, n700 series, Nagoya, Nozomi, olympics, osaka, Sanyo Line, Sanyo Shinkansen, Shinkansen, Shizuoka, super express, Tokaido Line, Tokaido Shinkansen, tokyo, trains, 博多, 名古屋, 山陽, 山陽線, 広島, 新幹線, 日本, 東海道, 東海道線, 東京, 九州, 九州線
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Author’s Note: Dru’s Misadventures has moved to HinoMaple. Please venture on over there to read “Shinkansen – South Routes” complete with photos. http://wp.me/p2liAm-kH
Travelling by train in Japan is one of the easiest, yet most complex things to do. It is a must for anyone who visits Japan. Going to Tokyo, or even Osaka, you are generally better off using the trains. Travelling by car can take a lot more time. While the most used trains are in Tokyo, the most famous train line is the Shinkansen. This is Japan’s high speed rail line, which happens to also be the first high speed rail line in the world. It was opened before the Tokyo Olympics, and has been expanding ever since. The most famous image of the Shinkansen has to be that of the 0 series. These were the original trains that have only recently been retired. As of December 2008, these trains were taken out of service. All of the other trains have remained, but each year, several of the older trains have been retired.
The first Shinkansen line was the Tokaido line. This is the most famous line as it helps tourists head from Tokyo all the way to Kyoto, and for business travellers as it connects Tokyo with Nagoya and Osaka. While all of the trains are called “Super Express”, this moniker can be confusing. The Shinkansen is a super express, relative to regular train services. When taking the Shinkansen, it’s very important to know which train you are taking. A Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama are all very different. When using the JR Pass, the Nozomi is off limits. If you do take this train, you might end up paying for the full fare regardless. This is due to the sheer numbers of people using these trains. Thankfully, the Hikari is still pretty quick with only a few extra stops, compared to the Nozomi. The only downside is that travelling to Hiroshima and Hakata, in Fukuoka, is a little difficult.
The second Shinkansen line is the Sanyo line. This is essentially an extension of the Tokaido line. This allowed the line to connect Fukuoka, in Kyushu, to Tokyo. Unfortunately, the trains can take around 8 hours to connect both cities making it impractical for most travellers. Flying is still the best, but Hiroshima can be better than flying, due to airport locations. When travelling along the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, there are several trains you could use. The oldest currently being used is the 100 series. This is styled like the 0 series. These trains only travel along the Sanyo portion for Kodama (local) services. It stops at every station, so the chance of riding this is pretty low for the average traveller. The 300 series is the next oldest of the trains. This series was fairly popular, but as I am writing this, they are slowly being phased out. Currently, they are used for Kodama and Hikari services, with an occasional Nozomi. This was the first Shinkansen that utilized a wedge style nose, rather than a “bullet” style nose.
In Japan, one of the most famous Shinkansen has to be the 500 series. It is the most unique Shinkansen for its styling. These trains have a sharp pointed nose, grey and purple colouring, and resemble a fighter jet, rather than an airplane or train. Prior Shinkansen were made to resemble airliners. The 500, while striking, was not very popular with customers. It was very fast, but it was like a Ferrari. It was relatively small inside, due to the tube like shape of the body. The windows were smaller, it was darker inside, and a little noisy as each car had its own engine. Few of these trains were made, but it’s still a popular train for train spotters. The recent designs along these lines are the 700 series. The 700 was the first duckbill styled Shinkansen. The N700 is an evolution of the 700 series with more emphasis on comfort. The N700 is also the first Shinkansen to be all non-smoking. They do have smoking rooms. In the older trains, there are smoking cars. Entry into these cars is only for smokers. Anyone else would be forced to leave, not by the train staff, but by the amount of smoke inside the car. You can literally see a thick haze of smoke, and you can smell it in the adjacent car. The N700 is quickly entering service and will be the main workhorse of these lines. While the windows are a bit smaller than the 700, there is wifi access, for a fee, and two prong outlets in each row. They are definitely thinking about their businessmen.
Connecting to the Sanyo Shinkansen is the Kyushu Shinkansen. Currently, this Shinkansen line is under construction, with the southern portion complete. This will link Hakata with Kagoshima, a city in the south of Kyushu. At this moment, the line is running from Kagoshima to a point roughly half way to Hakata, the end of the line. By the spring of 2011, this line is expected to be completed with through service to Osaka starting. This line uses the 800 series of trains, which abandoned the duckbill style of the 700 series. These trains have a more European styling, and the interior is said to be nicer than other Shinkansen trains. When the line is completed, N700 trains will be used as well. This will make it very easy to reach Kagoshima for most travellers.
This is the first part of two in the Shinkansen Series. Please continue on to read more about the Shinkansen – North Routes.
Information:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen
Japan Guide (Great page for a snapshot of major services): http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html
Japan Railways (Lots of information on what to do in Japan): http://www.japanrail.com/
Japan Railways (Shinkansen Page): http://www.japanrail.com/index.php?page=JR-Shinkansen-bullet-train
JR Central (Note: Lots of information on operations and reliability): http://english.jr-central.co.jp/about/index.html
JR West (Note: This page is not very interesting): http://www.westjr.co.jp/english/travel/
JR Kyushu (Note: Great pictures of their trains): http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/tsubame_top.html
このblogは英語のblog。もし私の英語は難しい、日本語のquestionは大丈夫。
Maps January 31, 2010
Posted by Dru in Uncategorized.Tags: Ajinomoto Stadium, Amanohashidate, Arakawa-ku, Asakusa, Chiba, Chiba Lotte Marine Stadium, Chofu, Chuo-ku, FC Tokyo, Ginza, Gundam, Harajuku, Hokkaido, japan, Jingu Stadium, Makuhari, Makuhari Messe, Marine Stadium, Matsushima, Miyajima, Nippori, Odaiba, Otaru, Samezu, Shibuya-ku, Shinagawa-ku, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Shizuoka, Suzuka, Suzuka Circuit, Taito-ku, tokyo, Tokyo-to, Toyocho, Tsukiji, Yakult Swallows
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Author’s Note: Dru’s Misadventures has moved to HinoMaple. Please venture on over there to read “Maps” and other posts from this blog. http://wp.me/s2liAm-maps
For a time at the end of 2009 till 2010, I was creating maps to accompany my posts. Unfortunately, I no longer have the time to keep this up. I will continue to keep these existing maps online and you may continue to view them along with the posts that are here at Dru’s Misadventures.
Dru
MAPS:
Ajinomoto Stadium (2010-01-31)
Japanese Football: Kashima Antlers VS FC Tokyo
Japanese Football: Urawa Reds VS FC Tokyo
Asakusa (2010-01-31)
Part I
Part II
Ginza (2009-10-25)
Part I
Part II
Gundam (2010-01-31)
Shizuoka
Harajuku (2009-11-01)
Part I
Part II
Japan’s Top 3 Views (2010-01-31)
Amanohashidate
Matsushima
Miyajima
Jingu Stadium (2009-12-06)
Japanese Baseball: Tigers VS Swallows
Makuhari Messe & Chiba Lotte Marine Stadium (2010-01-31)
2009 Tokyo Motor Show
Japanese Baseball: Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles VS. the Chiba Lotte Marines
Nippori (2010-01-31)
Nippori
Odaiba (2010-01-31)
Part I
Part II
Otaru (2009-11-28)
Otaru
Otaru Snow Gleaming Festival
Samezu (2010-01-31)
Converting a License in Japan
Shibuya (2010-01-31)
Part I
Part II
Part III
Shinjuku (2009-11-15)
Part I
Part II
Part III
Suzuka Circuit (2010-01-31)
2009 Formula 1 Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix
Toyocho (2010-01-31)
Renewing a License in Japan
Tsukiji (2010-01-31)
Tsukiji