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Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
Thanks! Very helpful. I'll only be in Osaka for 3 days, and it's my first time, so this will probably work great!
It probably won't be useful for intensive web browsing, but you could get 2GB prepaid SIM cards for ¥4,000 (and there also was a 1GB plan).
https://t.iijmio.jp/en/index.html
This option was way cheaper than renting a pocket wi-fi for my friends and I since we were in Japan for three months, but maybe eight days of pocket wi-fi would be cheap enough to be a better choice over prepaid SIMs.
Valkerionseven
Member
It's not that far from a normal train ride to the venue. When I went (on a whim to TGS while in town for the Ultra music festival) we got on the train for about 30-40 minutes, train lets off very close to the venue, and waited in line for like... an hour maybe. Line moves fairly fast given its size but also remember its the middle of summer so bring water and towels. I'd stay in a more interesting area if you want to do more than just TGS.
Google maps got us there easy peasy.
Yeah bring a jacket, maybe... medium size. Were expecting a bit of snow this week, and around 0 with a chance of snow even here in the south past Hiroshima. It usually fluctuates around 2-15 max in the south now. Expect colder in Tokyo and the mountians.
Osaka: Food, Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, ect. google osaka foods, eat all of it. Also Osaka castle.
Thinking about going back to Japan for a third round later this year or early next year (depends on when my next restaurant will open, I want to do more food research before I open it).
Past two trips I went Airbnb route and had decent experiences but now that I know Tokyo better I wanna be in a better location than I was last time (both in Shibuya but further out than I would have liked) and I may want to do hostels to save alot of money (so I can spend it on food).
My only thing is I like my personal comforts and one thing is I may really need the air conditioning on after a long day of walking around the city. How do most hostels handle AC? Does someone in the room control it and if someone doesn't want it cold then we are going to have to work it out?
Also does anyone have any recommendations for a hostel that is super convenient in Tokyo?
Past two trips I went Airbnb route and had decent experiences but now that I know Tokyo better I wanna be in a better location than I was last time (both in Shibuya but further out than I would have liked) and I may want to do hostels to save alot of money (so I can spend it on food).
My only thing is I like my personal comforts and one thing is I may really need the air conditioning on after a long day of walking around the city. How do most hostels handle AC? Does someone in the room control it and if someone doesn't want it cold then we are going to have to work it out?
Also does anyone have any recommendations for a hostel that is super convenient in Tokyo?
Going to Japan in September, just got the flights booked. So excited! My friend and I are looking at a couple different hostel style places around Roppongi. The price seems pretty decent, but the only thing that worries us is getting about. From what I have read the Roppongi metro station isn't on the main line you want to be on for getting places. Is it a hassle getting to the rest of the city from Roppongi, or is it pretty straight forward?
MikeHattsu
Member
It's should be easy enough to get around, but do you really want to stay in Roppongi though? I'd try to look elsewhere
poipoipoi9
Member
Some questions regarding food places in Kyoto:
Is there any restaurant that's worth going out of my way to go to?
What great dessert places would you recommend?
Is there any restaurant that's worth going out of my way to go to?
What great dessert places would you recommend?
StriKeVillain
Banned
I think these are the same Markman recommends, cool. Thanks, Mike - I'll pepper you with more questions as I get closer to leaving.
MikeHattsu
Member
Cause there's only 2 subway lines in Kyoto that doesn't cover even half the city, and a full day bus pass only costs 500 JPY
Osaka got plenty of subways, so you can use those.
Thank you. I was wondering why everyone suggested doing that, but never gave an explanationCause there's only 2 subway lines in Kyoto that doesn't cover even half the city, and a full day bus pass only costs 500 JPY
Oh, by the way I got my Ghibli Museum voucher, which is awesome.
Haven't been there yet, but I've been suggested Tempura Matsu near Arashiyama, and Honke Owariya Shijo near Gion.
The former seems a bit on the expensive side, and the latter apparently makes amazing soba and desserts.
I am going to Japan in March and I am in deep need of recommendations! I am going to go visit kipichu who is working hard over there, but first I want to travel around Japan for a bit. I was thinking of going on bus over the train, since I like to sight-see more and I feel I can get to see more stuff, but I am not sure if the bullet train would be a better idea.
I am considering this: http://willerexpress.com/st/3/en/pc/buspass/
All routes for 5 days for 15,000, starting at Tokyo and ending at Okayama, I also haven't decided what places to visit, so any recommendations will be nice.
There is a limit of 3 buses per day and I plan of taking advantage of it.
Is it the right choice or I should go for the bullet train?
I am considering this: http://willerexpress.com/st/3/en/pc/buspass/
All routes for 5 days for 15,000, starting at Tokyo and ending at Okayama, I also haven't decided what places to visit, so any recommendations will be nice.
There is a limit of 3 buses per day and I plan of taking advantage of it.
Is it the right choice or I should go for the bullet train?
Valkerionseven
Member
Bullet train is vastly faster, 4 and a half hour bus ride takes about an hour 15~30 minutes comparison. But you also save a good bit.
There honestly is not much to see on the Japanese highways, its just roads through mountain forests. Some of the rest stops are pretty damn scenic but thats... about it lol. Unless you plan on stopping in certain towns and areas in between main stops or something.
Also random tidbit/promotion for my city. Anyone in the Kyushuu area on Feb. 17-19 (next weekend) we are having a ramen festival here in Kagoshima city. About 10 (might be 14 this year) locally and nationally famous shops open stands next to the port where you can eat all you want for a discounted base price. Can gorge yourself on full size bowls of ramen for 700yen (day of tickets) while enjoying the view of the volcano.
Since I know some gaffers might be in the area or traveling the country this time of year. Might be a nice pit stop/volcano visit.
There honestly is not much to see on the Japanese highways, its just roads through mountain forests. Some of the rest stops are pretty damn scenic but thats... about it lol. Unless you plan on stopping in certain towns and areas in between main stops or something.
Also random tidbit/promotion for my city. Anyone in the Kyushuu area on Feb. 17-19 (next weekend) we are having a ramen festival here in Kagoshima city. About 10 (might be 14 this year) locally and nationally famous shops open stands next to the port where you can eat all you want for a discounted base price. Can gorge yourself on full size bowls of ramen for 700yen (day of tickets) while enjoying the view of the volcano.
Since I know some gaffers might be in the area or traveling the country this time of year. Might be a nice pit stop/volcano visit.
Thank you! Man, that ramen sounds awesome sadly I arrive on March 2nd...
Valkerionseven
Member
Absolutely NOT!
Haha its actually my personal favorite ramen here. The skewer to go along with it is just awesome. But yeah when the old guy makes it, its hilarious. He takes out a tupperware tub of negi (green onions) lightly puts them on top of the ramen, then kinda just dumps the entire container on haha. Its super good but I personally really like green onions on my ramen. The one I posted as an example won... maybe 2-3 times. Been hearing they are taking a break this time to let another shop enter since they got popular enough to open a second bigger shop last month.
All of them are good, but getting excited to go again this year. Was also on TV and radio lol. They love filming us foreigners.
ThatCrazyGuy
Member
When I went to those soba cafeteria style places. I would dump like half the bowl of green onions into my noodles as well, lol. I love green onions.
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, trains are faster, so you'll spend less time on transportation if you take trains...
Wow, these look a fair bit cheaper than the Global Advanced Comm I was eyeing, but... what's with that 3-4 hour battery life?
Seems awfully short for a day outside, even if you only turn the wifi on whenever you need it. The Global Advanced ones advertise 9-10 hours, which seems a lot more reasonable. Or is their real life performance more comparable than what it seems on paper?
MikeHattsu
Member
Had no problems with the 303ZT I rented last time.
WiFi rental store charges a delivery fee as well though, so the price is still lower, but not as much as you see on that page.
I used the Willer express pass a couple of years back (the 3 day variant for 10000 yen, although it was valid on all days back then), and I thought it was great, although the only way that it really helps you "sight-see more" is that it's cheaper and that night buses arrive earlier than trains.
For anyone on a tight budget that's fine with sleeping on buses, I think this pass used with overnight buses is a pretty good choice that often gets overlooked. It's slower, but with overnight buses it really doesn't matter much since you arrive early in the morning. Considering you also save on accommodation you end up saving quite a lot of money. The pass also lets you book everything online, which is great. I wouldn't really recommend day buses though, since they are so slow you basically use up an entire day for transport on longer routes, which negates any savings.
The major problem is if you can't sleep on buses. In that case you'll just be too tired to do anything when you arrive.
For my last trip I used the Premium Wifi from Global Advanced and a cheaper one from here: https://wifi.tocoo.jp/en/product.php
In cities the cheap one works fine. But it did not have a connection when leaving cities a lot of times. In subways and subway stations it did also not work.
The cheap one used Y-mobile. The GAC one the au network. If you need good coverage you should look for a model that uses the au network.
Nice, I just left Kyoto! Where are you staying?
Leaving Ise-Shima in the morning to head to Osaka, so sad my two weeks here are almost over.
MikeHattsu
Member
Tokyo soon ;p
Patrick Bateman
Member
From Düsseldorf?
I think I sat in front of the same gate almost exactly one year ago. 😁
Have fun!
Boy Wander
Member
Good to hear you're enjoying it. Pretty much the same route that my son and I did last summer.
Wait a minute. If the pics are reliable, the models from Wi-Fi Rental Store seem to be the exact same ones from GAC. I guess my concerns for battery life were unfounded, then.
Out of curiosity, how much did you use your 303ZT daily? For 15 days it would still be a bit cheaper than GAC Premium Wifi, and much faster.
Is SoftBank (used by 303ZT) a third vendor? How does it compare with Y! and au?
MikeHattsu
Member
Yup. Düsseldorf.
All day every day. I have a powerbank though. Charged it up again in the evening.
It's different mobile data networks.
PdotMichael
Banned
I prefer Istanbul for my international flights, cheap Duty Fee cigarettes yay.
Again? How often are you in Japan anyway?
Again? How often are you in Japan anyway?
MikeHattsu
Member
Not that often >_>
grats! need a lift anywhere?
soulslayer
Member
Hi Japan TravelGAF! Me and my friends are going to Fukuoka next month (March 5-12). I was just wondering what are the recommended places to visit, and restaurants to eat at?
For side trips, we're also thinking of going to Nagasaki, Beppu, Yufuin, and Hiroshima.
However, when we checked, the Kyushu JR pass doesn't cover the Hiroshima area, so we would have to buy the JR Hiroshima pass to go there. And since one pass is quite expensive, we're contemplating on which pass to buy. Which pass would you guys recommend?
Thank you so much.
For side trips, we're also thinking of going to Nagasaki, Beppu, Yufuin, and Hiroshima.
However, when we checked, the Kyushu JR pass doesn't cover the Hiroshima area, so we would have to buy the JR Hiroshima pass to go there. And since one pass is quite expensive, we're contemplating on which pass to buy. Which pass would you guys recommend?
Thank you so much.
Thanks for that ToCoo! link, they have the perfect data-only SIM that I want for my trip in two weeks time. Ordered it for airport pickup.
MikeHattsu
Member
Nah. Already in Akihabara
well you can't say i didn't offer!
How are you liking the snow?
PdotMichael
Banned
Oh, there is snow in Tokio now?
Makes me realize how mild it was around New Year and January. It was really perfect weather for sightseeing and party.
Makes me realize how mild it was around New Year and January. It was really perfect weather for sightseeing and party.
MikeHattsu
Member
Don't know about the coverage of softbank.
MikeHattsu
Member
Heh. Where's that at then?
Sounds manageable then!
I meant in terms of coverage/performance.
Better or worse than au?
Should I give up hope about getting reception in subways?
Thanks anyway!
We're staying in an Air BnB near the main station. Going to try renting bikes today even though it's freezing!
Had some snow yesterday while we were at the Fushima Inari shrine. Felt like I was in a Kill Bill scene.
Yokohama!
MikeHattsu
Member
Looks good. No Tower Records Shibuya visit though?
Sure I will, my listed places are more a rough guide along with whatever catches my eye in each area.