===== Criteria for deciding where/when to travel =====
  * **Environment friendliness**
    * Japan's trains are great and recommended.
  * **Onsen:** Japan is famous for bathes/onsen
    * [[https://www.nippon.com/ja/japan-data/h01189/|most popular onsen as of 2021]]. Excerpt, in case the site disappears: 草津（群馬）,箱根（神奈川）,登別（北海道）,道後（愛媛）,別府（大分）,有馬（兵庫）,黒川（熊本）,熱海（静岡）,由布院（大分）,下呂（岐阜）
  * **Food:** 
    * all regions have their [[https://www.tofugu.com/japan/japanese-food-by-prefecture/|specialities]]
  * **Time for travel:** 
    * around first half of April is nice because of the cherry-blooming
    * early summer: rainseason/梅雨
    * summer is hot/humid, but bearable

===== Linux and OpenSource groups =====
  * LILO: https://lilo.linux.or.jp/
  * Tokaido LUG: https://tokaidolug.colorfultime.net/
  * Events
    * Kansai Open Forum: in November Osaka https://www.k-of.jp/
    * Open Source Conference 2020: https://ospn.jp/

===== Osaka =====
  * 大阪ミナミ（なんば、道頓堀、心斎橋 周辺） 大阪の観光場所です。グリコが有名。とてもにぎやかで、美味しいお店やお土産物やさんがたくさんある
  * 通天閣 （新世界） ここも、大阪の観光場所です。下町という感じ。スパワールドという、温泉があります。https://www.spaworld.co.jp/english/
  * 海遊館 大阪にある水族館です。とても大きくて、世界最大級です。 https://www.kaiyukan.com/language/german/
  * 梅田スカイビル とにかくかっこいい！
  * 万博記念公園 岡本太郎さんが作った「太陽の塔」が有名。国立民俗学博物館もあります。
  * 奈良(なら)公園、東大寺（世界遺産） 奈良県です。大仏はめっちゃ大きいよ。１５mくらいある。大阪から一時間。
  * 高野山（こうやさん）、金剛峯寺（世界遺産） 和歌山県です。私も行ったことがないけれど、とても良いところみたいです。自然がいっぱい。
  * 箕面の滝 - 自然がいっぱいです。大阪の北のほう。野生の猿が。 https://www.mino-park.jp

===== Links =====
  * Hotel lookup/reservation
    * https://www.jalan.net/ https://booking.com https://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/
    * also: tripadvisor trivago.de
  * Flight lookup/reservation
    * google flights
    * https://matrix.itasoftware.com/
  * https://www.econnectjapan.com/ -- SIM cards for internet access. Google maps has all the subway schedules, one only needs to say "I am here and want to go there" to get guidance.
  * [[https://www.spoon-tamago.com/japan-museum-cafes/|Museum caffees across Japan]]
  * [[https://oag.jp/events/simon-essler-guenstig-reisen-in-japan/|Simon Essler: „Günstig reisen in Japan“]]

===== Further ideas =====
  * Suntory Whisky factory excursion
  * 中山道／なかせんどう - Edo period Edo/Kyoto highway, https://tokaimon.net/blog/2017/05/05/post3345/
    * Place: Kiso Hirazawa
    * https://www.zenbo-seinei.com/
    * city Naraijyuku, sightseeing, also on the 中山道
    * city Magome
    * city Tsumagome
    * city Takayama, sightseeing
    * city Shirakawago, Toyota Shirakawa-Go Eco-Institute, https://toyota.eco-inst.jp/ , +++. Also good as base for hiking trips.
    * sightseeing Shirakawago unesco village https://shirakawa-go.org/
    * city Gokayama, family Mirakami house: https://www.mustlovejapan.com/subject/murakami_house/
    * Wajima morning market at 9:00
    * Eiheiji temple, 200 monks live there
    * Spa Hotel Yuraku
    * Tojinbo sea sightseeing
    * Wakasa Obama Food Culture Museum, https://www1.city.obama.fukui.jp/obm/mermaid/
    * Amanohashidate fishers village, mountain with lift
    * Ine, Kyoto prefecture: port seeing/ship cruise
  * trains: Japan has some [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_named_passenger_trains_of_Japan|special trains]], many very expensive though. [[https://twilightexpress-mizukaze.jp/en/|Twilight express]], train suite, ななつ星in九州. Tickets start at $2.500 for one overnight trip.
  * [[https://cycleshikoku.com/|Shikoku by bike]]
  * https://www.kalzumeus.com/japan-recommendations/ - Tokyo and Japan recommendations
  * 秘湯 - "secret" onsen

===== My 'todo list' to visit or do in Japan =====
  * 金沢
  * 沖縄
  * 上高地。温泉も山も楽しめて、そんなに暑くないと思います。
  * 宮城県の作並温泉
  * 立山
  * 東京
    * Jiyugaoka https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiy%C5%ABgaoka,_Meguro,_Tokyo
    * 大国魂神社 https://www.ookunitamajinja.or.jp/
    * 報国寺(鎌倉):bamboo
  * https://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/10/02/7-incredible-japanese-destinations-that-tourists-havent-discovered-yet/
    * Narai-Juku, village in old style, Nagano Prefecture
    * Yakushima island, reachable from Kagoshima
    * Standing Sushi in the Tsukiji Fish Market
    * Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku
    * Takao Beer Mount
  * Ideas for golden week:
    * https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2427.html
      * Dewa Sanzan: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7900.html
      * Mount Hakkoda: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3780.html
      * Okama Crater: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7929.html
      * The Japanese Alps