BronsonLee
Member
It's Mastercard branded with an IC chip:
http://www.cashpassport.com/1/travelex/
I'm assuming I'm cool to just carry cash around though, so I'll just remove it all when I can. Makes it cleaner
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Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
It's Mastercard branded with an IC chip:
http://www.cashpassport.com/1/travelex/
I'm assuming I'm cool to just carry cash around though, so I'll just remove it all when I can. Makes it cleaner
MikeHattsu
Member
Should work fine since it's not a Maestro branded card. Carrying cash around is a must anyway though, since lots of smaller shops doesn't accept cards.
BronsonLee
Member
Nice. Yeah, I'm honestly more keen on carrying all cash anyway. I'll leave a real small amount in it for emergencies/fees and such, though. I mainly got the card so I wouldn't have to carry a ton of money with me on a cross continent trip. That can go bad.
Travelex's fees are weird, though. If I had ordered online it would've been 25 bucks less, but it would've taken too long for it to get to me. *shrug*
Travelex's fees are weird, though. If I had ordered online it would've been 25 bucks less, but it would've taken too long for it to get to me. *shrug*
RapidCancel
Member
If you plan on taking cash with you, go exchange it in Narita, you'll get a much better rate. If you're in the states like I am, everywhere is a pretty big ripoff. I brought all cash with me to spend, but while I coverted all of it, I only brought a few hundred with me out each day and left the rest in the hotel.
BronsonLee
Member
Yeah, I took a bit of a bath on the exchange rate. Worth it for the peace of mind though.
I'm really doing this trip all wrong (traveling during Golden Week, cash passport instead of just using my ATM there, etc), but it's not hurting me too bad, so I'll just barrel roll down the hallway of my trip!
I'm really doing this trip all wrong (traveling during Golden Week, cash passport instead of just using my ATM there, etc), but it's not hurting me too bad, so I'll just barrel roll down the hallway of my trip!
Haha, I think I saw it hanging there yeah. Too bad I didn't have anything to give them.
Haha, I think I saw it hanging there yeah. Too bad I didn't have anything to give them.
My old Japanese teacher said bring gifts. I hadn't thought of that and decided to bring the most iconic thing from my city.
RapidCancel
Member
Yeah, I took a bit of a bath on the exchange rate. Worth it for the peace of mind though.
I'm really doing this trip all wrong (traveling during Golden Week, cash passport instead of just using my ATM there, etc), but it's not hurting me too bad, so I'll just barrel roll down the hallway of my trip!
Now you know for next time! Most important thing is you enjoy yourself there.
RapidCancel
Member
Thought I'd post up a few of my pics from previous years. More can be found here > https://www.flickr.com/photos/100322705@N08/with/13990833304
Still working on putting more pics up ssslllowwwlyy though.
Leaving the Omikuji Omen by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Ascension by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Cables by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Still working on putting more pics up ssslllowwwlyy though.
Leaving the Omikuji Omen by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Ascension by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Cables by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Thought I'd post up a few of my pics from previous years. More can be found here > https://www.flickr.com/photos/100322705@N08/with/13990833304
Still working on putting more pics up ssslllowwwlyy though.
Leaving the Omikuji Omen by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Ascension by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Cables by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
How did you get the colours to look like that? Ok, spill the beans. What camera did you use, lens, blah blah blah. Tell us the works, my friend.
Ooh, since we're posting pics I'll include a few of mine. The majority of the 130gb of photos I have aren't edited, but I'll be getting around to doing that in the next two months (want to do them before the 1 year anniversary of the trip)
Kofukuji Temple, Nara
Kasuga Taisha, Nara
Fushimi Inari, Kyoto
Okunoin Cemetery, Koyasan
Peace Memorial, Hiroshima
Fattony12000
Member
How did you get the colours to look like that? Ok, spill the beans. What camera did you use, lens, blah blah blah. Tell us the works, my friend.
Just take a look at the Exif! Here's what was used for the "Cables" image:
Fujifilm X-E1
X-Resolution - 300 dpi
Y-Resolution - 300 dpi
Software - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.3 (Windows)
Date and Time (Modified) - 2014:04:15 21:09:56
ISO Speed - 200
Brightness Value - 5.93
Exposure Bias - -0.33 EV
Max Aperture Value - 1.4
Metering Mode - Multi-segment
Exposure Mode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
Focal Length (35mm format) - 53 mm
Sharpness - Normal
Lens Info - 35mm f/1.4
Lens Make - FUJIFILM
Lens Model - XF35mmF1.4 R
Whilst I'm here, here's a couple more from me...
A glimpse of Akasaka Palace (with the patina-green roof), looking towards the Wakaba area of Tokyo. Taken from the 22nd floor of the New Otani.
A view of the Tokyo Skytree from near to Sensō-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo. Located in the Asakusa district.
How did you get the colours to look like that? Ok, spill the beans. What camera did you use, lens, blah blah blah. Tell us the works, my friend.
Filters?
I am in Takayama now at the Zenkoji temple inn. The onsen ryokan in hirayu onsen in the alps was fantastic as was the national park in Kamikochi. I have a car atm so I am contemplating on what to see tomorrow. So many options.
The weather is fantastic and it is HOT in the mountains. The snow has melted only recently though and there are still cherry blossoms up here. And floods of Chinese tourists. That kinda took me by surprise.
The people everywhere have been amazing and insanely accommodating. Today I left my freaking camera at a cafe and the sales girl ran a half marathon to catch me and give it back. I haven't even realized, idiot.
The weather is fantastic and it is HOT in the mountains. The snow has melted only recently though and there are still cherry blossoms up here. And floods of Chinese tourists. That kinda took me by surprise.
The people everywhere have been amazing and insanely accommodating. Today I left my freaking camera at a cafe and the sales girl ran a half marathon to catch me and give it back. I haven't even realized, idiot.
RapidCancel
Member
How did you get the colours to look like that? Ok, spill the beans. What camera did you use, lens, blah blah blah. Tell us the works, my friend.
Fujifilm X-E1 w/ 35mm f/1.4. All my pics were taken with the 35mm except for a one or two since I bought a lens in Yodobashi in my last few days there. I also used Lightroom to edit the pictures.
Thank you sir
No filters were used, just some lightroom editing. Still learning lightroom so a lot of the pics were kind of experimental. Anything that has people in it has minimal editing while landscape stuff has a lot more. I wish I knew how to use filters >.>
Fattony12000
Member
Thank you sir
No, thank you for the awesome shots!
Japan is nice...
Fattony12000
Member
Both albums are work in progress, I'm trying to add more to each every day, out of the hundreds and hundreds of pictures that I took. I shot far more video than I did stills and trying to wrangle all that content is...interesting!
Japan 2014 NEX-5N flickr album (Currently at 13 images, with many hundreds more to come!)
Japan 2014 iPhone flickr album (Upped my iPhone gallery from Japan to 255 photos. Includes anime porn, selfies and Japanese ladies dressed as maids.)
I livetweeted many iPhone photos whilst over there, click here and scroll down a bit to have a gander! Starts on April 7th.
05/05/14
I edited and, finally, uploaded the first part of the video I'm working on which'll depict my trip to Japan this year. This one just shows my flight from London to Narita, and it took me a fucking week to edit and clean up and correct and process. I think I should be done with the series by about 2017!
Was going through some of my travel photos (still sorting some) and I wanted to recommend this onsen near Kyoto. It's called Sumiya and is a short train ride away from Kyoto in Kameoka. We booked the private onsen for 3240 yen (per group) for 45 minutes, including a shuttle bus from the station to the place, which is about 25 minutes by car. Really nice place, hot water and quiet. If you're in the Kyoto area and don't have a plan or time to go to Hakone this might be a good alternative.
Website link
Here are some pics of the private onsen area, there's also a public area but we didn't go there:
Album
Highly recommended!
Website link
Here are some pics of the private onsen area, there's also a public area but we didn't go there:
Album
Highly recommended!
BronsonLee
Member
I'm in Kansai Airport waiting to check in now; my trip is done.
Sorry about not updating the thread for everyone; I'll post a big wall of text about what I did when I got home.
I posted all the pics I took on Facebook, but cherry picked some/a lot for my Instagram, if GAF wants to take a gander:
www.instagram.com/bronsonleek
To cliff note without getting too sappy, this trip surpassed even my wildest expectations.
Sorry about not updating the thread for everyone; I'll post a big wall of text about what I did when I got home.
I posted all the pics I took on Facebook, but cherry picked some/a lot for my Instagram, if GAF wants to take a gander:
www.instagram.com/bronsonleek
To cliff note without getting too sappy, this trip surpassed even my wildest expectations.
RapidCancel
Member
All these pictures and feels...I miss Japan.
Where did you stay in Hakone?
Edit: Got one more pic for now.
Lost by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Taken in the Higashiyama District in Kyoto.
Where did you stay in Hakone?
Edit: Got one more pic for now.
Lost by Rapid Cancel, on Flickr
Taken in the Higashiyama District in Kyoto.
Fattony12000
Member
Here!
The Prince Hakone. Their onsen was awesome, or, at the very least it made my first time at an onsen totally awesome. I feel like I could write 10,000 words just on that experience.
More iPhone snaps here.
I forgot to share the Hakone Ryokan I stayed in:
Washintei Hougetsu
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...igarashimo_gun_Kanagawa_Prefecture_Kanto.html
Washintei Hougetsu
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...igarashimo_gun_Kanagawa_Prefecture_Kanto.html
RapidCancel
Member
Both of these look great, gotta start getting some ideas for where I want to stay next year when I go by Hakone again.
Here's where I stayed last year: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...igarashimo_gun_Kanagawa_Prefecture_Kanto.html
Best pic I could get of the whole room since my lens wasn't wide enough.
TheBryanJZX90
Member
I like Setsugetsuka in Hakone. Probably stayed there three or four times. All of the rooms have a private wooden bath on the guest room's balcony, and the food is awesome.
Lavalamp1138
Member
Trying to figure out a budget for my 5-week trip. How much money (yen) on average is spent on meals each day or for the week? I'll probably get groceries each week and eat at cheap restaurants a few times but I don't know how much it'll end up being.
MikeHattsu
Member
Well... Some days I spent around 5000 JPY on food and drinks and some days I spent less than 1500 JPY so it varies depending on what you want to eat and drink.
You can get cheap meals like beef bowl for 500-600 JPY.
Depending on when you go in the year you might end up spending more on soft drinks/water than food some days because of the heat. Costs 100-160 JPY for a bottle at vending machines.
Family trip to Japan was a success. The only thing that surprised me was that Golden Week wasn't as busy as I suspected. It helped that it rained on our day in Nara, and I bought shinkansen tickets in advance (as I live here), but we had no major hiccups with travel, and the crowds at tourist sites were fairly bearable. All my worries for nothing!
Just take a look at the Exif! Here's what was used for the "Cables" image:
Fujifilm X-E1
X-Resolution - 300 dpi
Y-Resolution - 300 dpi
Software - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.3 (Windows)
Date and Time (Modified) - 2014:04:15 21:09:56
ISO Speed - 200
Sensitivity Type - Standard Output Sensitivity
Brightness Value - 5.93
Exposure Bias - -0.33 EV
Max Aperture Value - 1.4
Metering Mode - Multi-segment
Light Source - Unknown
Color Space - sRGB
Exposure Mode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
Focal Length (35mm format) - 53 mm
Scene Capture Type - Standard
Sharpness - Normal
Subject Distance Range - Unknown
Lens Info - 35mm f/1.4
Lens Make - FUJIFILM
Lens Model - XF35mmF1.4 R
Whilst I'm here, here's a couple more from me...
A glimpse of Akasaka Palace (with the patina-green roof), looking towards the Wakaba area of Tokyo. Taken from the 22nd floor of the New Otani.
#JPY2014
A view of the Tokyo Skytree from near to Sensō-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo. Located in the Asakusa district.
#JPY2014
Wow these pictures look great!!
So does anyone know what camera I can buy that would get me close to this quality without having to drop $700 on a Fujifilm X-E1?? My budget is about $500 or lower.
A little over your budget but try the Sony RX100. Full frame sensor in a pocket size body
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00889ST2G/?tag=neogaf0e-20
You may be able to pick it up cheaper than that as well but im UK based so not sure of the best places in the US
hitsugi
Member
The RX100 can be frequently had for $500 and under. However, I do not think it would be fair to match it up against the X-E1.
The Fuji X100 can be had (used) for around $500, and I would put that at the very least on par with the RX100 if not better than, depending on personal preferences of course.
Ruken said close to that quality and the RX100 was the first one that sprang to mind. I don't really use smaller cameras so the more options / opinions the better really
RapidCancel
Member
They're currently selling X-E1's for $500, but for the body only
If you aren't looking to switch lenses or anything, take a look at the x100. You can probably find a used one around $400 give or take.
You could also look into the X-A1 for $450 or the X-M1 for $650. Both of them come with the 16-50mm kit lens. I've never used either of these nor that lens, so I can't really tell you much about them. I'm sure there's a lot of reviews around, though.
If you aren't looking to switch lenses or anything, take a look at the x100. You can probably find a used one around $400 give or take.
You could also look into the X-A1 for $450 or the X-M1 for $650. Both of them come with the 16-50mm kit lens. I've never used either of these nor that lens, so I can't really tell you much about them. I'm sure there's a lot of reviews around, though.
hitsugi
Member
They're currently selling X-E1's for $500, but for the body only
If you aren't looking to switch lenses or anything, take a look at the x100. You can probably find a used one around $400 give or take.
You could also look into the X-A1 for $450 or the X-M1 for $650. Both of them come with the 16-50mm kit lens. I've never used either of these nor that lens, so I can't really tell you much about them. I'm sure there's a lot of reviews around, though.
Do the X-A1 and X-M1 use the same kit lens of the X-E1 though?
Also if you can find an X100 going for $400 I'll throw money at it right this second.
RapidCancel
Member
Whoops, looks like my used pricing for that was way off lol. The X-A1 and X-M1 use a 16-50mm for their kit lens while the other cameras use 18-55mm for theirs. I have no experience with either of the zoom lenses though, since I got mine before the 18-55mm came out, so I got the 35mm as a kit lens instead.
Just arrange to pick up a 3G/LTE mobile hotspot in advance. Find a company (last one I used was global advanced communications) and you fill a form out / pay online and pick up the modem from the airport post office and just drop it in a mailbox when you're done.
MikeHattsu
Member
Check the OP for data.
Okaeri!Moving back to Tokyo today.
Thank you! I've only been gone for two weeks and I'm already stoked to get back.
Lavalamp1138
Member
I saw a Japanese car commercial where there was a dude with a giant bird's head for a head and he was handing out flan. Anyone seen this commercial or the car brand? I'm trying to find the video on the internet.