Japanese trip recomendations please

[neilstewart]

Hi,

I have been invited to Tokyo for the New Year. Will arrive 28th Dec and leave 9th Jan 05. I know nothing of Japanese diving and wondered if some helpful soul would give me some info on the best diving Japan offers at this time. I would like to combine diving with seeing some of the country so I am prepared to travel internally during my stay.

Thanks

Neil

 

[Jonathan]

You are aware that Japan pretty much shuts down over the new year period 30/12 - 3/01 inclusive probably this year. I say probably because you never can tell - some place may close until 4th or 5th...

Having said that winter is a nice time of the year to dive in Japan and good viz and no crowds. But with you leaving on the Sunday it may be tricky to arrange something. From Tokyo your best bet for a day trip would be Atami if you want to travel further afield book now because the trains and plains get booked over that time because New Year is a time for the family. Conversely 25/12 is just another working day...

Hey TJO - is YGM open that time (2nd or 3rd)? If so we could arrange something but if he is away eating mochi could be tricky...

Jonathan

 

[TJO]

Hi,

YGM should be ok on the 2nd and 3rd. I will be in Thailand though.... Just came back from Atami. Today was super. Nice vis on the wreck until a group of diver completely silted it up. Instructors bringing people down there exceeding their limits really annoy me. Next time I bump the instructor with my scooter as Steve's 18 HID did not have much effect on them.

Thomas

 

[Jonathan]

YGM should be ok on the 2nd and 3rd. I will be in Thailand though....

thought you might be but I may be available if we make the arrangements before hand because as you know my Japanese is not up to it.

So Neil if you are up to it on the 2nd or 3rd let me know and we can set it up - better check with your friend what he/she has in mind for your itinary. Water temp would probably be around 14-16 degrees and visibility is normally pretty good that time of year.

Atami is defintely your best bet for a quick trip but if you want to go further afield to Okinawa I would certainly understand...

 

[nori1841]

Hi Neil,

Major sites of Izu will be opened in year-end and new-year but I'm not sure about Jan/1st.
IOP(Izu Ocean Park) has no holiday includes Jan/1st and you can do night dive in Dec/31th only. Shore dive is only available so cheaper than boat. It takes one hour from Atami by train. Facilities are the best in Izu Peninsula.
Please note mainland Japan is really cold winter season so you need dry suit or 6.5mm wetsuit with food.
As for Okinawa, it is warmer than mainland and world class but you have to pay extra new-year charges for accomodation in this period along with all other local stay.
Early reservasion is required except day trip.

 

[TJO]

thought you might be but I may be available if we make the arrangements before hand because as you know my Japanese is not up to it.

So Neil if you are up to it on the 2nd or 3rd let me know and we can set it up - better check with your friend what he/she has in mind for your itinary. Water temp would probably be around 14-16 degrees and visibility is normally pretty good that time of year.

Atami is defintely your best bet for a quick trip but if you want to go further afield to Okinawa I would certainly understand...

No problem. I can ask someone to do the booking.

Thomas

 

[jagfish]

No problem. I can ask someone to do the booking.

Thomas

Yuko could help out with that...

 

[japan-diver]

Hi Neil,

As for Okinawa, it is warmer than mainland and world class but you have to pay extra new-year charges for accomodation in this period along with all other local stay.
Early reservasion is required except day trip.

Can arrange Okinawa diving in that timeframe without an extra holiday charge. Of course rooms are limited but still available at this time.

 

[neilstewart]

Thanks for all the information. Here's a little bit more about my trip. My friend Mika lives in central Tokyo and she is putting me up. She is working until 30th Dec, we have 2 options, the first is for me to stop over in Thailand and we meet there for diving, Similan liveaboard. This adds considerably to the cost of the flight, alternatively I can head straight for Tokyo. I have heard a lot about Okinawa and am currently reading Graham Hancock's "Underworld" which has a lot of details about yoniguni (i hope i spelt that correctly). If I came straight to tokyo I would really like to see some of the country and not just Tokyo, so would like to travel around a bit but add in diving as well. So I am sort of thinking spend time in Tokoyo to 1st Jan, go to Kyoto for a couple of days then Okinawa for 4 or 5 days diving, does this sound feasible. Can someone give me info on Okinawa diving and an idea of costs, good places to stay, dive operations. I have not seen anything about Izu or Atami so do not know what to expect there, are there any good web links so I can do some research. I am really looking for the best Japan offers at that time as it will be my first trip.

TJO, hope you enjoy Thailand I assume you are doing Similans - may the Manta's be with you at Koh Bon.

thanks

Neil

 

[jagfish]

The post right above you, Japan Diver is the one to contact about Okinawa. TJO is a great source of info about Izu diving. At some of the sites around Izu, divers wear Santa outifits underwater at that time of year, though they might be finished by new years...