Japan, Here I come

Hoping you have a wonderful time, BostonPhil. After all the planning, it's almost time to depart ! I am envious as I would love to visit Japan.

Good luck with those last-minute prep items !

Looking forward to your reports, Bostonphil, since our Japan cruise is in March.

Have a marvellous trip!!

In Yokohama, go up the hill to the neighborhood called the Bluff. It's where the Europeans used to live, there are some nice houses but there are also good views of the harbor and city. Old graves in the foreigner's cemetery if you're into that.

And there is a French bakery on the Motomachi shopping street called Pompadour that has delicious fresh bread. Yummo.

Please have a great trip!

Look forward to reading your reviews on everything.

Thank you to everyone for your caring comments

Andrea, did you recently go on a S.E Asia cruise like to Thailand. I followed your reports.

phred

there seems to be a lot to do in and around and outside of Yokohama.

I have heard of an upscale neighborhood where foreigners had to live but it was not called The Bluff.

Thank you for the good wishes Kim. One of these days, I must get to Paris.

Ordtraveler you have been a great help. Thank you.

Barkinpark

you have been so supportive and I thank you.

bostonphil7 - I've been following your progress toward your adventure. Have a wonderful time! I'll be looking forward to your reports!
I love reading trip reports!

I am hoping it all works out wonderfully for you - happy travels

bostonphil, wishing you smooth sailing! I hope you enjoy every moment.

Thank you jeanm, Nigel and Wishin

Thank you for your support and for your caring.

I will do the best that I can to keep forum updated as I go along

Hope the information is interesting for some and helpful for others.

I hope that you have a great trip, bostonphil!!

Have a great trip! Looking forward to reading your trip report.

Yo BP,
Key word to memorize= 'daijobu' (die-joe-boo with the 'oo' almost unpronounced)
It means 'OK/all right' and will score you a hundred smiles plus a thousand street cred points.
One treat to not miss= 'ume' (oo-may) plum juice. Worth crossing an ocean for.

Have a wonderful trip, Phil!
I am done. the ryokan

Have a wonderful trip. I look forward to hearing about the highlights.

Have a wonderful, fun adventure. I too have been following your planning and am convinced you’ll be fine. You seem a very practical person.
And yes, try the Plum Wine (ume). I have to admit I drank a glass every night. I even have a bottle in my fridge right now.

gregglenarsh

going to write down daijobu' (die-joe-boo) in the book that I am bringing so that I will not forget.

Plum wine sounds oh so good but I have diabetes. Still I have an occasional glass of wine. I will try

Barbara in CA and Barbara in NY

There will be posts. I hope to do them as I go along

Might have to be careful with the plum wine because of diabetes but I will try a half glass now and then if possible.

Thank you Valerie and Mary from Massachusetts

Mary, are you the Mary who got me going on this trip or is it another Mary?

I am so pleased that persons on forum have been following my adventures.

Will do everything that I can to keep forum updated depending on wi fi and maybe weather

Mary, are you the Mary who got me going on this trip or is it another Mary?

That was me, Phil. Have a great trip!

If you are counting carbs, you might want to try sake instead of the plum wine. I find plum wine too sweet for my taste, but YMMV.

Thank you CJean

I am counting everything at this stage of the game.

Plan to try some Sake as well as Plum Wine. I am a sipper and taster rather than a drinker

They make drinks with the plum wine called ume sours. I loved them, and they are not so sweet.

Plan to try some Sake as well as Plum Wine. I am a sipper and taster rather than a drinker

Sake is served in small cups, meant to be sipped, and Umeshu (plum wine) servings aren't huge either.

I have heard of an upscale neighborhood where foreigners had to live but it was not called The Bluff.

It is locally known as the Yamate (山手) neighborhood.

Thank you Barbara N and balso

I will try both plum wine and sake. I will sip.

It seems that I will be in Yokohama during Octoberfest and there will be many beers available for purchase. I wonder if they also give samples

I wonder if plum wine, and sake might also be available.

I will be posting

balso

yes, I was thinking of the Yamate neighborhood. I believe that I have read that it is very upscale and pretty.

One of the first things that I plan to do is take the tourist bus around Yokohama.

There is also a zoo right in the middle of Yokohama, close to my hotel. Seems to be a nice zoo

I have been asked why would I go to Japan to see a zoo (as well as an aquarium). That is because we do not have either in Austin. I love zoos and I love aquariums but I can only get to them when traveling.

Phil, a final thought.
If you are into massage and like that, Japan features shiatsu massage (pressure points) at most of its local neighborhood health clinics. A shiatsu treatment is to Japan as hammam steam-room massage is to Turkey and the Middle East, a traditional bodywork not to be missed. Bliss.

There is a good chance that your shiatsu practitioner could be a blind master.

I am done. the rising sun

I've been to Oktoberfest in Yokohama! It's kind of a hoot, really. They put up giant tents, bring over multiple authentic German brewers, they have the tall pilsner glasses, various foods. Most booths have more than one bier to choose (seems appropriate to use the German spelling) When I went there was an American polka band with accordian music playing the classic German drinking songs. All in a giant tent filled with happy Japanese people drinking large glasses of bier and eating at giant tables. When I was there it was near the red brick warehouses near the piers. I think there was some kind of admittance fee but I'm fuzzy on that.

I think I commented on one or two of your earlier questions, I hope It was of help to you.

Enjoy your trip! it's an incredible country.

There is also a zoo right in the middle of Yokohama, close to my hotel. Seems to be a nice zoo

Zoos in Japan tend to have subpar conditions. I have not been to the one in Yokohama, and reviews don't look too concerning, but I would be wary!

Gregglamarsh

I can not remember screen names

I love massage and I need one. I was going to see about getting one.

My hotel has a spa as well as an onsen and hot bath. The pool is seasonal and will be closed.

I have had shiatsu and would love one. It is hard to find someone who gives shiatsu in Austin

balso

I have read that zoos and aquariums in Japan are problematic but I believe the zoo in Yokohama is nice. The animals are treated well. It is right in the center of town and it is free

I am surprised that Japan has questionable practice s when it comes to zoos and aquariums.

Thank you Wanderbug

Octoberfest is still at the Red Brick Warehouse.
I
i am already at my airport and do not Fly out until 6 30 pm. I need a nap.

I recognize your name and you are always helpful. I am on my iPad

I am going to keep an open mind about what to do in Yokohama. How much am I willing to pay for some events. There is a lot to do but most everything costs.

If

Some might recall that I had difficulty with my ticket and had to protect it with a password

Glad to tell you there was no problem at the airport. Staff was so helpful.

Airport is so mellow. So relaxed.

Wanderbug

As I was saying before my nap, I am going to have to make some decisions about what I can see and do in Yokohama. I am going to have to set limits both time and money

I have checked the weather for th week. It is nit ideal. There will be some hot and some humid. There will be some rain, even heavy

happy flying - happy boating - Happy Yokohama

Yes, I understand! Choosing what to do and what to have to miss is always the way. Most of us never have either enough time or enough money to do everything that we'd like to do. When I get home from a trip I usually have a list of what I'd do if I went back that's as long as the list I started with when I left.

I don't remember Oktoberfest as being particularly cheap but it is definitely unique and fun. This is actually a pretty great description of it:

https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/yokohama-oktoberfest-2025-has-started-heres-what-to-expect-092925

I am surprised that Japan has questionable practices when it comes to zoos and aquariums.

Japan has very lax animal welfare regulations, and the "animals as entertainment" mindset still seems quite prevalent, hence all the animal cafés (with animals that have no business in a café, like owls and capybaras), for example.

Yes balso

You would not expect that of Japan.but apparently they do when it comes to some zoos and aquariums. Not all

Thank you Nigel

I have been in Yokohama 3 nights and leaving tomorrow. To take my cruise. It has had its challenges and I will write about that soon.

Wanderbug

Walked around Yokohama today and walked by Octoberfest. It was popular. I could hear some oompah music as I walked home.

Going to begin a trip report soon.