Well that's the thing. It SEEMS like it is, but I still don't even really know what it IS.
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Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
Well that's the thing. It SEEMS like it is, but I still don't even really know what it IS.
1 out of 2 foreigners agrees!
That will only enhance your experience.
Brerlappin
Member
Let me break down just SOME of the things you see during the robot show:
Giant Dragons/robot giant dragons (both of which are being ridden by bikini clad women)
Gatling guns
Japanese women kicking ass on the drums
Break dancing
A giant snake eating someone
Dance routines
Sword/Giant hammer fights
Robot lounge act band
That's like 1/10th of the stuff I can remember. Its absolutely mental and I urge anyone in Japan who wants a good laugh and a great evening to go see it!!
I went to Robot Restaurant with the GAF crew during the meetup (which was like 3 weeks ago or something?) and I went again last Thursday with relatives who came to Japan because 1) I needed them to see it, 2) I wanted to see it again.
You cannot go to Japan and not go to the Robot Restaurant. Please, just book via veltra for the mega discount, don't waste time trying to find out what it is exactly and just go.
Second time was even better as I was fully focused on enjoying the show instead of thinking "WTF is happening I need to film this because otherwise nobody will believe me when I tell my friends about this"
You cannot go to Japan and not go to the Robot Restaurant. Please, just book via veltra for the mega discount, don't waste time trying to find out what it is exactly and just go.
Second time was even better as I was fully focused on enjoying the show instead of thinking "WTF is happening I need to film this because otherwise nobody will believe me when I tell my friends about this"
EuricaeriS
Member
Are the fine with letting you film it? I'd like to take a GoPro around like I did on my last trip, and I'd love to get Robot Restaurant footage :3
MikeHattsu
Member
Yes.
EuricaeriS
Member
Awesome, thanks
Trying to be more careful after being told I shouldn't be filming in a few places!Laevateinn
Member
Owl Café Akihabra
Amazing experience!! Just chilling out in a room full of owls for an hour. Might not sound too exciting but it was relaxing as hell! Look out for an owl called Cherry Tomato, he was my favourite
I really want to go to something like this but I always worry that the animals are stressed out. Was it your impression that the owls were well treated? I get the impression based on your description that it was but I just want to make sure. The lighting was dim? It was quiet? etc?
distantmantra
Member
They're really hard to find outside the stadiums or official Team stores (often tied to specific department stores). I think I saw a Lions shop in the Seibu Ikebukuro building. But that doesn't help with Osaka.
MikeHattsu
Member
And yet... It's an accurate description.
UpperCaseN
Member
Leaving Kyoto for Tokyo today. I 100% got everything done on my Kyoto itinerary which is surprising. I'll post pics and comments once I'm back in the US. I will say this real quick, Japan's public tranportation systems are the GOAT. I would actually go outside and travel in the US if the train system were half as good as Japan's.
I found Tokyo's transportation even better than Kyoto's, so perhaps you'll just keep on being impressed!
distantmantra
Member
The Rose-colored glasses are mostly gone now when I come back from a trip Japan.
Except for their train system. I miss it.
Except for their train system. I miss it.
LUFTRAUSER
Banned
It's actually partially shown in this really awesome and well-edited travelogue-style video called TOKYO ROAR.
I came here just to post a link to this video because I think you guys will really like it, in fact, so it's neat to see a reference to something I just only heard about today.
Thanks. I noticed that there this a New Era flagship store in Osaka. Anyone been there? Their online store sells them so I'm hoping to find one in there
Mailenstein
Member
Your best bet would be this store right here I guess: http://www.selection-j.com/shop/osaka.htmlThanks. I noticed that there this a New Era flagship store in Osaka. Anyone been there? Their online store sells them so I'm hoping to find one in there
Some photos from my trip, been back for about a month
https://plus.google.com/photos/102270049316361529877/albums/6155733803496898625
https://plus.google.com/photos/102270049316361529877/albums/6155733803496898625
Great photos!
https://plus.google.com/photos/1022...6155743671495592434&oid=102270049316361529877
Wow, love it. You even caught a bird in there.
MikeHattsu
Member
You managed to get lots of cherry blossom pics then. Cool!
I'm looking for some advice! I'm planning my accommodation for a one week stay in Tokyo, a couple of pages back some people suggested staying in Shinjuku or Shibuya if I wanted to be closer to the action at night or Asasuka if I wanted to be a bit farther. Right now, it seems all the hostels that are recommended in Lonely Planet for Shinjuku and Shibuya are already booked. I decided to check up on AirBnB and I found something in Shinjuku that is supposedly close to the action, but it's a bit pricey (but I might just book it if it's way more convenient). I also found some cool places to stay in Nakano, but I wanted to know if it was a convenient area to stay in considering the fact that I will be wanting to explore downtown Tokyo everyday and stay out late most nights. Or maybe I should be looking at Asasuka instead of Nakano if I can't find anything in Shinjuku or Shibuya?
Laevateinn
Member
On both our previous trip and our upcoming one, we stayed at a place in Ikebukuro called Kimi Ryokan. It's pretty cheap but the place is perfect. Ikebukuro isn't as well known for its nightlife as Shinjuku but it has a decent one. Also, the trains run until 1 AM. If you aren't planning on staying out later than that, I would look into any part of Tokyo that's cheap and available because the trains are awesome.
i dont know how long i want to stay in tokyo alone, which is why i'm asking what people think the optimal amount of time one should stay in tokyo solo
will be going for anime, video game, and food (prob buy some clothes too if i dont find anything in hong kong)
the last time i was here, most of the time was spent walking around akiba, you'd think that this 'small' district would be fully explored in a few days; NOPE, kept going back for more
TheBryanJZX90
Member
If you include day trips to nearby areas you could spend a month in Tokyo and not see everything. Even if you really are just interested in anime there's Ikebukuro's stores, the gundam statue, Ghibli museum, ...actually I don't know that many anime attractions.
MikeHattsu
Member
If you only plan to do a select few things in those places, then yes.
It's ok if you don't mind hunting around for spots where you can connect. Some spots only allow you to connect x times a day for y minutes.
I'd rather rent a wifi device though.
Brerlappin
Member
No the owls seemed really well taken care of. They were all very mellow and perfectly fine with being on your arm. The room is dimly lot and they pipe in classical music so everything is very chilled out.
I'll try and get some of our photos uploaded too later on
I live by with them every day, they're basically useful for Stations and (some) convenience stores.
Usually those places already have free WiFi that you can log in to, but the Free WiFi app makes the experience a lot more streamlined.
It won't be of much help if you're lost and wanting to figure out where you are, or if you want information about something, unless you happen near the above mentioned places that is.
Laevateinn
Member
Cool, thanks. I think I might check it out when I'm there.
ThreePiMatt
Member
Owls are pretty into classical music from what I understand.
Heyho,
i got a little confused planing my trip to hokkaido/sapporo. Acoording to the jr Pass i can use all interregional express trains, right?
Would f.e. route 5
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/s...h_target=route&facility=reserved&sum_target=7
be ok with my jr pass?
Also i'm currently planning to travel to the south and afterwards directly into the north and spent the rest of my days in tokio. I start with a week in tokio in which i will use a suica card and the last 5 days i plan to do the same.
Should i buy a 21 day jr pass and a 7day pass for the traveling? According to hyperdia the pass would outmatch the single prices by far. Only the noth confuses me.
i got a little confused planing my trip to hokkaido/sapporo. Acoording to the jr Pass i can use all interregional express trains, right?
Would f.e. route 5
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/s...h_target=route&facility=reserved&sum_target=7
be ok with my jr pass?
Also i'm currently planning to travel to the south and afterwards directly into the north and spent the rest of my days in tokio. I start with a week in tokio in which i will use a suica card and the last 5 days i plan to do the same.
Should i buy a 21 day jr pass and a 7day pass for the traveling? According to hyperdia the pass would outmatch the single prices by far. Only the noth confuses me.
MikeHattsu
Member
You know this is an overnight train, right?
The JR Pass only covers the basic charge on Cassopedia overnight train. You need to pay the extra express charge + sleeping car + non-JR charge for the rail between Morioka and Aomori. Edit: Oh, and you need to book it months in advance, because this train can easily sell out.
Why are you traveling so late at night? Are you traveling from somewhere else in Japan to Tokyo? Where is your starting point?
Could you post your initiary?
Ah, i picked the simplest route.
I made a spartanic google spreadsheet, feel free to enter recommendations, if possible in the color red
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MikeHattsu
Member
Ah, i picked the simplest route.
I made a spartanic google spreadsheet, feel free to enter recommendations, if possible in the color red
Qoute to reveal
Requested access.
sry put in the wrong link, now it should work
We want to do a lot of daily trips, so we plan to rent an apartment in the main cities, f.e. apartment in osaka -> trip to kobe or sakai
MikeHattsu
Member
sry put in the wrong link, now it should work
We want to do a lot of daily trips, so we plan to rent an apartment in the main cities, f.e. apartment in osaka -> trip to kobe or sakai
If you're going from Osaka all the way to Sapporo or Hakodate without staying overnight in Tokyo the best way would actually be to fly there.
You can either get an ANA flight for around 10,800 JPY for each person here:
http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/ph/e/wws_common/promotions/share/experience_jp/index.html
Or try one of these low cost airlines which may be cheaper at certain times/dates:
http://www.jetstar.com/jp/en/home
http://www.flypeach.com/home.aspx
If you take trains it'll take about 13 hours from Osaka to Sapporo.
Edit: Oh, you're going from Kyushu to Hokkaido. You should really take a plane then.
I'm currently working on a full initially. Expect it around weekend.
Question regarding the JR Pass. On hyperdia the total amount is always a fare and a seat fee. If i have a JR Pass, do i need to pay the seat fee? At the moment my comprehension is, that i can travel whenever i want and can reserve a seat if possible, but i don't have to pay the fare or a seat fee.
MikeHattsu
Member
In general, you don't need to pay anything extra. There are some exceptions though:
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html
Check the 'Major JR Trains Running Through Non-JR Lines and the Sections Concerned' and the 'JAPAN RAIL PASS Train accommodations' sections.
I made a complete initiary taking my travel buddys wishes into consideration. Honestly i think the whole Beppu, Kumamoto, Kagoshima is a waste of time. I would love to see the south but it takes so much time.
I think i would be better to watch the Festival in Tokushima and afterwards dirctly to kyoto and then into the south and afterwards osaka with himeji and kobe.
Also i want to try the all you can eat wanko soba noodles ;-)
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Quick observations.
What are you planning for Nagasaki? Depends on what time you get there one night could be plenty.
Seems like you're using Osaka as a base from the 25th-30th. Are you leaving time for Osaka itself. This is one of my favorite cities (That and Fukuoka).
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, you got plenty of cities you're gonna visit at least
Some of the travel times are very optimistic. You might not always catch the train you want, there's sometimes delays and there's the time it takes from your accommodations to the trains and such too.
Did you show your travel buddies how much time you're gonna spend on trains? Maybe they'd be willing to drop 1 or 2 cities then
The port in my city is my favorite place...don't know why, but i love this places and i heared nagasaki is a port town
I'm more interested in Osaka than in Tokio^^And here it is V2 or the plan made by myself. We still can atempt the Tokushima Festival and the Kyoto bonfire. Since i'm into architecture i decided to put in himeji as our castle town. One of my buddys wanted more time on Hokkaido, so more time in hokkaido. Only thing that is missing is something beachy.Well, you got plenty of cities you're gonna visit at least
Some of the travel times are very optimistic. You might not always catch the train you want, there's sometimes delays and there's the time it takes from your accommodations to the trains and such too.
Did you show your travel buddies how much time you're gonna spend on trains? Maybe they'd be willing to drop 1 or 2 cities then
Also i'm used to long train travel times...north of germany to florentia....never again.
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MikeHattsu
Member
You could check out the beach in Fukuoka:
http://www.marizon-kankyo.jp/en/beach.html
Your travel time between Fukuoka and Nagasaki seems too long. Should only take 2.5-3.5 hours.
Worthintendo
Member
Question to all Gaffers who have travelled to Japan alone, is it worth going to Disney on your own?
I live in Australia, have never ever been to a Disney Land before and I know I would kill myself if I didn't, but I still feel odd going on my own to a place like that, like I would feel out of place or something.
Yet I have no hesitations about going to Universal on my own, thats got all the Harry Potter stuff that would be awesome, but some reason Disney doesn't look like a place you go to by yourself.
Just over 3 and a half months till I go, October hurry up and get here.
I live in Australia, have never ever been to a Disney Land before and I know I would kill myself if I didn't, but I still feel odd going on my own to a place like that, like I would feel out of place or something.
Yet I have no hesitations about going to Universal on my own, thats got all the Harry Potter stuff that would be awesome, but some reason Disney doesn't look like a place you go to by yourself.
Just over 3 and a half months till I go, October hurry up and get here.
EuricaeriS
Member
By the sounds of it you'd only kick yourself if you didn't go even if people advised against it. Just go!
I'm also going to Japan in October (first two weeks).
I'm planning to go to Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa, but i'm having a little difficulty planning this whole thing!
The basic plan is:
I will probably need a JR Pass (trip to Kyoto) and i need to figure out the rest of the transportation.
I'm following the "half-day" and "full day" recommendations of Japan-guide.com and a few notes from a friend.
Do you think that the draft i established is doable?
I'm planning to go to Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa, but i'm having a little difficulty planning this whole thing!
The basic plan is:
- Day 1 fly from Hong Kong to Tokyo and stay for the rest of the day 1 and 2;
- Day 3 leave to Kyoto and stay there for the rest of day 3, 4 and 5;
- Day 6 return to Tokyo and stay for the rest of the day 6 and 7;
- Day 8 fly to Naha and stay for the rest of the day 8, 9 and 10;
- Day 11 return to Tokyo and back to Hong Kong;
- Day 12 return home (Portugal).
I will probably need a JR Pass (trip to Kyoto) and i need to figure out the rest of the transportation.
I'm following the "half-day" and "full day" recommendations of Japan-guide.com and a few notes from a friend.
Do you think that the draft i established is doable?