John Baymore on sun 30 jun 02
Hi Carol Ann (and Bonita). Congratulations on the invitation(s). I too
have been invited to participate, and will be going.
=
I have been fortunate enough to be invited as a demonstrator to a ten day=
festival on woodfiring in Aomori, Japan, this August. I will have a few
days to travel afterward, and I was wondering if any of you have any
recommendations, suggestions, places to see, avoid, eat at, sleep at, spa=
s,
markets etc. =
I am also pleased to mention that three members of the Wood Fire Potters
Webring..... Bonita Cohn, Gary Moler, and myself have all been invited to=
participate. Not bad for a five member ring .
Carol Ann.....I'll probably write you off list a bit eventually.........
If you can arrange the time.... Kyoto is a "must see" for at LEAST a day
when in Japan. It is sort of the "cultural center" of the country. Lots=
of things to see there. Don't miss the Kawai Kanjiro Museum in Kyoto. =
It'll be about an 7-8 hour train/shinkansen trip from Aomori-shi to Kyoto=
though. On the way in or out through the Tokyo area... the National Mues=
um
of Art in Ueno is also worth a side trip. WONDERFUL collection of Jomon
and Haniwa amongst other great stuff. Also the Mingeikan (Folk Art Museu=
m)
in Tokyo is worth a stop. All are accessible via train/subway. Nikko is=
also a great place to visit..... the shrine to the Tokugawa shogun. Not
too far from Mashiko.
Watch eating up all your time on "getting where you are going" though. T=
ry
to pick what is most accessible from where you are. =
If you rent a car, be sure someone explains the whole contract to you. (=
It
will be written in Japanese, likely.) And be sure you can read all Japane=
se
road signs quickly so you are road-safe.
Good advice. Going further..........
Having been in Japan before, I think I would tend to discourage you from
considering renting a car. I speak and read a little Nihongo
(Japanese)...... and once you are out of the more "internationalized" are=
as
..... the road signs will likely be a problem. (It is an amazing,
sobering, and enlightening experience suddenly being functionally
illiterate when you step off the plane!) Aomori-ken is one WHOPPING long=
way from the more internationalized areas . Plus gasoline is pretty
darn expensive. And most "long distance roads" are (expensive) toll road=
s.
Plus Japanese cars have an annoying little alarm ferature on the
speedometer that continually goes off when you are over the speed limit
..... which by USA standards is s...l....o....w. Parking in any city
area is a total nightmare. And the inner city traffic makes NYC or LA lo=
ok
like rural Idaho. =
Oh yeah..... then there is that little "other side of the road" detail >.
In traveling with people in cars the last time I was there.... I was VERY=
glad that I reconsidered my initial "USA-type" approach to solving the
problem of getting around when I got there ....... "just get a car". =
Unlike in the USA...... a car might actually be the more expensive,
inconvenient, and slower way to get around.
Mass transit in Japan is WONDERFUL. You can get anywhere by train, subwa=
y,
and bus. The mass transit operates like a fine Swiss watch. On main
routes trains are VERY frequent. Trains are also precisely on time (to t=
he
seconds). The door of a specific number car will stop right at a specifi=
c
numbered spot on the concourse floor! Those from the US who have never
experienced Japanese trains ....... tend to think in terms of the US syst=
em
of mass transit.... which is abysimal and often somewhat unsafe. I've be=
en
on trains in inner urban areas of Japan that are so CLEAN it is
unbelievable. And...... Japan is a very "safe" country.....not much in t=
he
way of muggings and such.
The general populace of Japan typically travels by train...... it is like=
a
national institution.
Actually.... thinking about it........ train travel is part of the
experience of visiting Japan that really shouldn't be missed. Take the
train from Narita to Tokyo. Then take the shinkansen from Tokyo to
Morioka-shi, and then the limited express from there to Aomori-shi. Get =
an
eki-ben (bento type boxed lunch to eat on the train) and enjoy the scener=
y,
some good food, the people (some will try out their limited English on yo=
u
), and the REALLY smooth high speed trip. It is far faster than the
drive.
Unfortunately ALL travel in Japan tends to be expensive. Fast trains cos=
t
more than slow trains. Shinkansen are almost like booking airline flight=
s,
both in cost and in the "experience". =
If you want to travel around much, get a Japan Rail (JR) RailPass. =
RailPasses are available ONLY to those entering the country who are
classified as "tourists".... and they make the train travel cost MUCH mor=
e
affordable .... to the envy of the Japanese nationals . I made a poi=
nt
of checking with the Wood Fire Festival organizers to be sure that we sti=
ll
are classified as "tourists" even though they are paying for stuff and
offering the airfare stipend and so on....... and they assured me that ou=
r
passprots will still get stamped as "tourist"....... which is necessary t=
o
redeem the Railpass coupon in Japan.
RailPasses allow unlimited travel on all JR lines (which is a huge portio=
n
of Japan) for 7, 14, or 21 days. You HAVE to buy them outside of the
country...... call your travel agent. You can also get them through JAL.=
=
The 7 day one is about $230 USD (varies daily due to Y/$ exchange rate). =
This pass includes (most) shinkansen (bullet trains) and JR buses. There=
is also a JR East RailPass that allows unlimited travel in Eastern
Japan.... from about Tokyo up to Aomori-ken and on up to Hokkaido. They
have a 4 day non-continuous pass version that is only 20,000Y..... that
allows any 4 full days of unlimited travel within a month period.
Yes..... the language issue might be a bit of a problem with ground trave=
l.
But invest the next month in studying just enough Japanese to help you g=
et
around on the trains and buses. The basic spoken language is actually
somewhat simple......very regular patterns. And the Japanese will go ou=
t
of their way to help you if you get stuck....... sometimes to an almost
embarrassing extent........ you can become their "project". A few key
phrases and attuning your ear to "hear" stuff like train station names wi=
ll
go a long way.
Once caveat in here is that I understand that the end of the Wood Fire
Festival (Aug 17th) happens to roughly coincide with the end of the easte=
rn
Japan O-Bon travel period. O-Bon is a time when all of Japan is pretty
much "on the move" visiting their ancestral homes.... sort of like Easter=
or Yom Kippur religious holidays. So the trains on the 17th and 18th mig=
ht
be a crowded. I am still researching this issue.....getting mixed answer=
s.
It concerns me a bit, planning on going from Aomori-ken toward Tokyo....=
.
the "back to the city" pattern that fits many Japanese travelers on the
main shinkansen routes. You can make seat reservations on trains.
You'll have a great time--the Japanese know how to be great hosts.
This is so, SO true. And practice the phrase "Kampaii".....you'll need i=
t
.
Hi. I am in the festival, too. I have left my return trip open =
(leaveTokyo Aug 21, evening). I am hoping to find a travel companion.
Bonita....... haven't talked in a while....... we may already be booked o=
n
the same flight back. I am on JAL flight 48 leaving Narita at 7PM on the=
21st back to JFK in NYC. But...... you wouldn't be going to NYC would
you....being a west coast lady?
I wonder how many clayart are going?
=
Me too.
Best,
..............................john
PS: This invitation was why the "dates changed" note showed up on my
summer woodfiring workshop a couple of months ago .
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752 (s)
800-900-1110 (s)
JohnBaymore.com
JBaymore@compuserve.com
"DATES CHANGED: Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop =
=
August 23 - September 1, 2002"
knik at kodiak on mon 1 jul 02
Hi!
I lived in Misawa, Japan for nine years. My husband was in the Air
Force. I thought I might warn you, unless you already know, the restroom
facilities are a little different than here in America. We called them
horizontal bomb sites. They are used alittle more like when camping, and
rarely did we find toilet paper. So carry tissue in you purse like we
did. Sometimes we found handicap toilets, which were just what we use
everyday here in America! When asking for a bathroom just the word,
"O-toree-day" (honorable toilet) should get you a finger pointed in the
right direction.
Maybe kind of a strange subject to talk about but I decided to warn.
Bye. Have fun!
Marilynn
John Baymore wrote:
>Hi Carol Ann (and Bonita). Congratulations on the invitation(s). I too
>have been invited to participate, and will be going.
>
>
>I have been fortunate enough to be invited as a demonstrator to a ten day
>festival on woodfiring in Aomori, Japan, this August. I will have a few
>days to travel afterward, and I was wondering if any of you have any
>recommendations, suggestions, places to see, avoid, eat at, sleep at, spas,
>markets etc.
>
>
>I am also pleased to mention that three members of the Wood Fire Potters
>Webring..... Bonita Cohn, Gary Moler, and myself have all been invited to
>participate. Not bad for a five member ring .
>
>Carol Ann.....I'll probably write you off list a bit eventually.........
>
>If you can arrange the time.... Kyoto is a "must see" for at LEAST a day
>when in Japan. It is sort of the "cultural center" of the country. Lots
>of things to see there. Don't miss the Kawai Kanjiro Museum in Kyoto.
>It'll be about an 7-8 hour train/shinkansen trip from Aomori-shi to Kyoto
>though. On the way in or out through the Tokyo area... the National Muesum
>of Art in Ueno is also worth a side trip. WONDERFUL collection of Jomon
>and Haniwa amongst other great stuff. Also the Mingeikan (Folk Art Museum)
>in Tokyo is worth a stop. All are accessible via train/subway. Nikko is
>also a great place to visit..... the shrine to the Tokugawa shogun. Not
>too far from Mashiko.
>
>Watch eating up all your time on "getting where you are going" though. Try
>to pick what is most accessible from where you are.
>
>
>
>If you rent a car, be sure someone explains the whole contract to you. (It
>will be written in Japanese, likely.) And be sure you can read all Japanese
>road signs quickly so you are road-safe.
>
>
>Good advice. Going further..........
>
>Having been in Japan before, I think I would tend to discourage you from
>considering renting a car. I speak and read a little Nihongo
>(Japanese)...... and once you are out of the more "internationalized" areas
>..... the road signs will likely be a problem. (It is an amazing,
>sobering, and enlightening experience suddenly being functionally
>illiterate when you step off the plane!) Aomori-ken is one WHOPPING long
>way from the more internationalized areas . Plus gasoline is pretty
>darn expensive. And most "long distance roads" are (expensive) toll roads.
> Plus Japanese cars have an annoying little alarm ferature on the
>speedometer that continually goes off when you are over the speed limit
>..... which by USA standards is s...l....o....w. Parking in any city
>area is a total nightmare. And the inner city traffic makes NYC or LA look
>like rural Idaho.
>
>Oh yeah..... then there is that little "other side of the road" detail .
>
>In traveling with people in cars the last time I was there.... I was VERY
>glad that I reconsidered my initial "USA-type" approach to solving the
>problem of getting around when I got there ....... "just get a car".
>Unlike in the USA...... a car might actually be the more expensive,
>inconvenient, and slower way to get around.
>
>Mass transit in Japan is WONDERFUL. You can get anywhere by train, subway,
>and bus. The mass transit operates like a fine Swiss watch. On main
>routes trains are VERY frequent. Trains are also precisely on time (to the
>seconds). The door of a specific number car will stop right at a specific
>numbered spot on the concourse floor! Those from the US who have never
>experienced Japanese trains ....... tend to think in terms of the US system
>of mass transit.... which is abysimal and often somewhat unsafe. I've been
>on trains in inner urban areas of Japan that are so CLEAN it is
>unbelievable. And...... Japan is a very "safe" country.....not much in the
>way of muggings and such.
>
>The general populace of Japan typically travels by train...... it is like a
>national institution.
>
>Actually.... thinking about it........ train travel is part of the
>experience of visiting Japan that really shouldn't be missed. Take the
>train from Narita to Tokyo. Then take the shinkansen from Tokyo to
>Morioka-shi, and then the limited express from there to Aomori-shi. Get an
>eki-ben (bento type boxed lunch to eat on the train) and enjoy the scenery,
>some good food, the people (some will try out their limited English on you
>), and the REALLY smooth high speed trip. It is far faster than the
>drive.
>
>Unfortunately ALL travel in Japan tends to be expensive. Fast trains cost
>more than slow trains. Shinkansen are almost like booking airline flights,
>both in cost and in the "experience".
>
>If you want to travel around much, get a Japan Rail (JR) RailPass.
>RailPasses are available ONLY to those entering the country who are
>classified as "tourists".... and they make the train travel cost MUCH more
>affordable .... to the envy of the Japanese nationals . I made a point
>of checking with the Wood Fire Festival organizers to be sure that we still
>are classified as "tourists" even though they are paying for stuff and
>offering the airfare stipend and so on....... and they assured me that our
>passprots will still get stamped as "tourist"....... which is necessary to
>redeem the Railpass coupon in Japan.
>
>RailPasses allow unlimited travel on all JR lines (which is a huge portion
>of Japan) for 7, 14, or 21 days. You HAVE to buy them outside of the
>country...... call your travel agent. You can also get them through JAL.
>The 7 day one is about $230 USD (varies daily due to Y/$ exchange rate).
>This pass includes (most) shinkansen (bullet trains) and JR buses. There
>is also a JR East RailPass that allows unlimited travel in Eastern
>Japan.... from about Tokyo up to Aomori-ken and on up to Hokkaido. They
>have a 4 day non-continuous pass version that is only 20,000Y..... that
>allows any 4 full days of unlimited travel within a month period.
>
>Yes..... the language issue might be a bit of a problem with ground travel.
> But invest the next month in studying just enough Japanese to help you get
>around on the trains and buses. The basic spoken language is actually
>somewhat simple......very regular patterns. And the Japanese will go out
>of their way to help you if you get stuck....... sometimes to an almost
>embarrassing extent........ you can become their "project". A few key
>phrases and attuning your ear to "hear" stuff like train station names will
>go a long way.
>
>Once caveat in here is that I understand that the end of the Wood Fire
>Festival (Aug 17th) happens to roughly coincide with the end of the eastern
>Japan O-Bon travel period. O-Bon is a time when all of Japan is pretty
>much "on the move" visiting their ancestral homes.... sort of like Easter
>or Yom Kippur religious holidays. So the trains on the 17th and 18th might
>be a crowded. I am still researching this issue.....getting mixed answers.
> It concerns me a bit, planning on going from Aomori-ken toward Tokyo.....
>the "back to the city" pattern that fits many Japanese travelers on the
>main shinkansen routes. You can make seat reservations on trains.
>
>
>
>You'll have a great time--the Japanese know how to be great hosts.
>
>
>This is so, SO true. And practice the phrase "Kampaii".....you'll need it
>.
>
>
>
>Hi. I am in the festival, too. I have left my return trip open
>(leaveTokyo Aug 21, evening). I am hoping to find a travel companion.
>
>
>Bonita....... haven't talked in a while....... we may already be booked on
>the same flight back. I am on JAL flight 48 leaving Narita at 7PM on the
>21st back to JFK in NYC. But...... you wouldn't be going to NYC would
>you....being a west coast lady?
>
>
>
>I wonder how many clayart are going?
>
>
>Me too.
>
>
>Best,
>
>..............................john
>
>
>PS: This invitation was why the "dates changed" note showed up on my
>summer woodfiring workshop a couple of months ago .
>
>
>John Baymore
>River Bend Pottery
>22 Riverbend Way
>Wilton, NH 03086 USA
>
>603-654-2752 (s)
>800-900-1110 (s)
>
>JohnBaymore.com
>
>JBaymore@compuserve.com
>
>"DATES CHANGED: Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop
>August 23 - September 1, 2002"
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>.
>
Bobbruch1@AOL.COM on tue 2 jul 02
Unless you can read japanese writing, I would advise against trying to drive.
In Tokyo, it very easy to use the metro, as the names of stops are written
with a western alphabet as well as in Japanese. As soon as you get on a train
and have to read Japanese only, it very easy to get lost. And that is in a
situation where you don't have to make quick decisions in traffic and you
have time to ask questions.
Japanese people tend to be very polite and they will attempt to help you, but
you may not always be able to find people who speak Englsih, especially in
the countryside. Best bet is to travel by rail and have signs written in
Japanese so that you can ask questions as to where to transfer and where to
get on and off.
Also, the Japanese public transportation system is very clean and efficient,
given the fact that Japan is a small country with a very dense population.
<<<<<think I would tend to discourage you from considering renting a car. I speak
and read a little Nihongo (Japanese)...... and once you are out of the more
"internationalized" are=
as ..... the road signs will likely be a problem. (It is an amazing,
sobering, and enlightening experience suddenly being functionally illiterate
when you step off the plane!) Aomori-ken is one WHOPPING long way from the
more internationalized areas . Plus gasoline is pretty darn expensive.
And most "long distance roads" are (expensive) toll roads.
| |
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