The ink on my husband's orders isn't even dry yet, and my dad is already making plans to come visit us next summer.

His ideal trip he's planning is to fly into Moscow, and then take a 7 day train trip (he LOVES traveling by train!) to Vladavostok, then take a boat/ferry to Japan, and eventually fly back to the states from Tokyo.

Aside from his passport, is there anything he needs to know? He has traveled to South America several times (for the coffee, of course!) and he's comfortable traveling.

He REFUSES to go to Disney Tokyo, but even at almost 70 years old, is excited about visiting Hooter's!

I want to make his trip enjoyable and memorable. What age appropriate sights are a must for him?

For a 70-year old gent who is taking that adventurous route to Japan, probably anything is age-appropriate. (Although, I don't "get" the Hooters deal; boys will be boys...) It should be the vacation of a lifetime!

I suggest a rail pass, which has to be purchased prior to arrival in Japan. I thiink this website is still valid:

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html

If he has a choice on when to come, he might want to re-think coming in the summertime -- too hot and HUMID, unless he is accustomed to it.

We used a free English-speaking guide in Kyoto, since it was not as familiar to us as Tokyo. I will try to get you a link to the group we used. Other JB members will have suggestions on the must-sees...

October is a great time to visit- weather wise. The extreme heat and humidity may be problematic for Dad. It really is oppressive and dangerous. And it's just plain miserable- who can enjoy sightseeing when you're drenched in sweat and crammed in a train full of stinky people?

I have no suggestions for sight-seeing, we've seen so little of Japan and none of it really has screamed "get out and come see me!". But there are people here with TONS of great places to go visit and will be much more helpful. Sounds like your dad is quite the adventurer! A train across Russia sounds so neat.

You totally got to give us a run-down of his trip when it's all over. Moscow-to-Pacific by train, then a ferry to Japan? How cool is that!!?? I wanna hear how it went.

Good on him to refuse Disneyland; why come all the way here to see confused American culture? But you're saying there's a Japanese Hooters? Now that's something I gotta see!! Two of my favorite things, all in one compact venue. Where is it??

Hello TheDeck7,

Your dad is such a big fan of railway that takes Trans Siberian express, so I recommend him to take sleeper express trains which is one of uncommon experience for foreigners visiting Japan. There are 2 luxury sleeper trains both are bound for Hokkaido (north island).

1. CASSIOPEIA

This train runs between Tokyo (Ueno station) and Hokkaido (Sapporo)
http://www.jreast.co.jp/cassiopeia/

2. Twilight Express

This train runs between Osaka and Hokkaido (Sapporo)
http://www.jwfsn.com/twilight/

Their web sites are both all in Japanese, but you can find some info on Wikipedia (English). I've taken CASSIOPEIA five years ago. I've taken several sleeper trains besides CASSIOPEIA, but never seen any foreign people while I've seen a lot of foreiners on Shinkansen trains.

Just an idea.

What else area is your dad interested in?

Now for more specific thoughts...

He sounds like a seasoned traveler so he probably knows all this, but maybe for the edification of others...

1. Have more than one way to get money. Bring some American Express travelers checks, plus a combination of debit & credit cards. Debit sometimes won't work; don't get off-brand travelers checks as they may be hard to cash.

2. Let your credit card company know where you're going. Transactions can be denied if used unexpected in a foreign country due to anti-fraud measures. Then you have to call in to get the purchase approved. I would say this is especially likely in Russia, the site of much credit card fraud.

3. Don't carry all your cards in your wallet; distribute them among other bags as well in case one or the other are stolen.

4. Write up important info (passport number, credit card numbers, emergency phone numbers of credit companies, trip itinerary, confirmation numbers, etc) and email it to yourself. If you need this info during your trip, just log into your email account at a cafe and it's all in your inbox. I always split up my credit card numbers; mail 1/2 the number in one email, the other 1/2 in another email in case an email is "stolen" they won't have any complete number.

5. Japan summer vacation starts around 15 July. I recommend he conclude his trip by then as everything gets crowded and ticket prices go up. ESPECIALLY AVOID Golden Week, which is like 4 Japanese holidays rolled into one. I think this kicks off their summer vacation, but find a Japanese & ask when is Golden Week 2011. Do NOT try to do anything during that week. Lots of things are closed, and everything else is crowded.

6. Does Russia have similar holiday periods? Best to research & avoid them.

7. There's another discussion on JB about budget traveling in japan. I recommendeded Toyoko Inn, a budget business hotel chain. See the other thread. I also did a 3-day self-guided tour of Kyoto which is about the most awesomest place I've been besides Bhutan. If you need tips about Kyoto touring, I'll write up a separate post. You don't need a tour guide, but you do need to plan. They have like 4 train systems which are NOT interlinked, so you have to plan carefully getting from one train line to another. My wife speaks & reads Japanese pretty well so that was a huge help. Osaka is near Kyoto, but i'd pass on that. Nothing much to see in Osaka that any large Japanese city doesn't have.

Thanks for all the responses.

Hooter's is in Tokyo - I learned of it from this website!

My dad is a HUGE history buff - we're direct descendents of JEB Stuart and Wesley Merritt, so obviously anything history related (i.e. Hiroshima) will be a must see for him.

He doesn't like crowds so much, so I will tell him that summer months probably won't be all that fun for him. He's from Houston and has lived there his entire life, so humidity won't be that bad for him. He's used to it!!

My mom died 8 years ago, and I love the fact that my dad is out there and living his life with gusto. He's been all over the US from Washington DC to Key West to New York City to San Francisco! Of course, the best trips he took was to see us in awful places like Lemoore CA and Jacksonville NC 

He's an avid fisherman and boater, so something along those lines would be exciting for him as well.

My family and I are HUGE Disney fans (cliche and corny, I know!) and we're excited about going. My dad won't even go to Disney in the states. Such a party pooper!!! 

He goes to Costa Rica for the "coffee" so I assume he will be going to Russia for the "vodka" and Japan for the "sake." My dad...man I love him!!!!

When my dad came to visit us last month here at Camp Lejeune, he quickly went to Barnes and Nobles for a map of Japan, and excitedly called me the other day to tell me he ordered a Japan "kit" (whatever that is.)

Think I can convince him to help me travel with a husband, two dogs, and five kids? Naaaaaa, he's too smart for that!!!

If you're coming all the way to Hiroshima, then be sure to see Miyajima. Allow most of a day for that. They are almost adjacent. You can stay on base at Iwakuni which is an easy commute by train. Do you have school age kids? You can travel in June or 1st half of July; it was just late summer I was warning you about. If you have no kids, it's even better to travel like April or May and there will be no crowds. If you make it all the way to Sasebo (4.5 hours drive south of Iwakuni) then Nagasaki is nearby. They, too, have an atomic museum which is very moving.

Before he comes, have him buy & read "Last Train from Hiroshima." This contains very moving & personal accounts of those on ground zero in both hiroshima & nagasaki (some unfortunate souls were in both places when both bombs were dropped.) It gives unparalleled insight into the effects of the bombing from very personal viewpoint. I found the reading very difficult (re: emotional) but informative nevertheless.

How far do you plan to travel? I'm based in Iwakuni & have made the drive south to Sasebo/Nagasaki (including fukuoka) and north to Tokyo/Yokosuka, which included Kobe, Camp Fuji, Kyoto & Osaka so I can offer advice on all of them: What to see & where to stay. If there are 3 or more in your party it's probably cheaper (and more convenient) to drive, even if you use your personal car & pay tolls out of pocket. As opposed to train fare for 3+ people, which gets expensive. For planning purposes: Tolls Yoko-Iwakuni (one way) about 20,000 yen. Iwakuni-Sasebo: About 9000 yen. If you stay on base at Camp Fuji, Kure, Iwakuni & Sasebo, then your lodging will be very reasonable.

Final thing: Do you have an iPhone? Are you familiar with its GPS mapping features? If you can use the iPhone GPS, it's great for driving, walking or and trains. For instance, it has ALL Japan train schedules built in; it tells you which stations to transfer at, the fares, and the departure time for each leg of you trip. It tells you how much time you have at each station to connect to the next train. It's just as good for driving; it will bring you right to your doorstep. It's an awesome device!

Oh, I just saw your earlier post about kids & dogs. Does he mean to travel alone around Japan? He's certainly capable but it changes everything. Traveling alone, the train is the best/cheapest way to go. And he can't stay on military bases. I recommend Toyoko business hotels. They are everywhere & he'll get rooms for around 6000 yen incl free breakfast. He can buy a member card for 1500 yen & get further discounts. They have free internet computers in the lobby, and they're always near a train/subway station for easy access. He'd need to pack light, like 1 medium-size bag with rollers. I see Japanese all over big cities towing their bags; I figure they're sightseeing without cars and have no hotel to leave their bag. It's pretty common.

ThaiGuy, my husband will be stationed at MCAS Iwakuni, so my dad will definitely come and stay with us for a brief period.
I know he will absolutely want to seee Tokyo and Hiroshima - outside of that, I'm not sure.

He's the kind of guy that you could drop out of an airplane anywhere in the world, and he could find his way home.

He doesn't need me to be his cruise director, but I want to make sure I point him in the right direction of onceinalifetime sights and experiences. I don't want his travels to be too "commercial, planned or hokey" if that makes sense!

He had a question about rental cars - anyone have any information concerning this?

Re: "I don't want his travels to be too "commercial, planned or hokey" if that makes sense!" I understand completely. My wife & I have not got on any group tour since we got here; it's all been on our own. I think we've seen more interesting sites & more cheaply because of her careful planning.

There are rental cars on base for around $50-60 daily. The advantage is, they include free toll tickets. Even just driving to Hiroshima Airport is like $30 one way, so the rental car pays for itself in a single trip. Going further, you can save a bunch. However, you need a SOFA license to drive these cars which your father won't have. If he's traveling alone he can rent off base, though I've never noticed and car rentals in Iwakuni. But traveling alone, I really recommend the train.