• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once

Have an amazing time!!! I know the feeling and remember it vividly. I was so overwhelmed finally doing something this big on my bucket list.

First day pretty much went

>land at 330
>two hours in immigration
>1 hour and 45 minutes on the trains getting here
>buddy says "let's head to debilcraft for our victory lap!"
>sleeps

Hahahaha man I'm gonna go explore for a few minutes.
 

dofry

That's "Dr." dofry to you.
So I mentioned I'm doing a visiting researcher program and they have told me that I should coordinate with my host researcher (at the University of Tokyo) for lodging. His secretary in turn pointed me to some real-estate agents who are working with the University to provide housing for international students. Program starts in June so they advised that we start looking now.

I'm a bit...lost at the moment lol. I wanted to get an apartment as close as possible to the Hongo campus, but through these agencies there doesn't seem to be much availability. In some cases (such as this case), the address doesn't show up in Google Maps, although to be fair I'm COMPLETELY unfamiliar with the way that addresses are written in Japan so I have no idea if I'm just doing shit wrong. On that note, the rent in that apartment I linked is 82,000 yen, for what appears to be a single person unit that is furnished. Is that too much/little? I have a $5000 USD stipend to just do what I need (543,199 yen when converted), which I think given the rent of that unit should be doable, but I'm not 100% sure on the living expenses and whether or not I'll be tight on budget. I can find places as low as 50,000 yen/mo but they tend to be either very far away and/or unfurnished.

Thoughts? Does it look like a good choice? The program and university have suggested I go through these agencies since they specifically service international students, so they look for things like apartments that don't require guarantors.

How long are you staying? If only a couple months, then get the furnished one because anything large you need to throw away needs to be paid to the recycling company, or sold via facebook groups, given to new students arriving. A tedious task for a shorter stay.

Furnished apartments are always going to cost around that amount. I was offered a 100 000 yen furnished apartment but chose a 36000 instead a bit further away unfurnished. Dirt cheap but s bit far away. I can save money though for more things. But i was lucky that i got it because uni semester was ending and usually there are more apartments for researchers free. You are just unlucky in timing + tokyo area and uni are popular.

Commuting should be your first expectation. Kawasaki is cheap but apartments need to be furnished. Maybe expect about 50000/month and tiny apartments. Search a bit further away like this so you save money. 20-30min one way is common to work by train. Getting something close by to toudai needs hard work and luck. Minimini, apamanshop and a ton of other rental firms. Just google and ask secretaries for help. Usually web pages lag behind so contact straight by email is possible.

Your address should be here: 2 Chome-33-11 Yushima, Bunkyō-ku, Tōkyō-to 113-0034
https://goo.gl/maps/LAWGbvggaQk

On phone so copy-paste.

Also, when renting from private, please check how long contracts they need and if you need to pay a fee if leaving early. Deposit (usually you get 80% back if apartment is in nice condition. 20% is for their renovations plus cleaning fees. Some renters ask for "key money", which is just a bribery for "can i rent here" type of payment. You never get it back.
Tekkinkonkreet/concrete wall building is better for noise purposes. Other types might have too thin walls.

Join Tokyo sayonara sales or other Facebook groups for free or cheap stuff. You can fill the apartment quicker and cheaper.

That from the top of my head.
 

Gitaroo

Member
Hi, I will be in Osaka for a week, reading the OT it sounds like I need to buy a sim card online first? Can't I just buy them at the airport?
 
Hi, I will be in Osaka for a week, reading the OT it sounds like I need to buy a sim card online first? Can't I just buy them at the airport?

Yes you can. But honestly, I see why everyone recommends you buy things like the rail pass online.

Less confusion, it's ready when you get there. The suica card didn't require a whole lot of setup but navigating the rail system for the first time was a bitch the I had to actually buy it which meant standing in more lines after a 10 hour flight, 1.5 hours in immigration, baggage check and then figuring out the rail system (which is actually really simple, just overwhelming the first time you see it).

Also, linking in imgur. I'm out in Tokyo and couldn't sleep. Strolled past this place at 1am and was treated to best curry I've ever had. I feel like this is what a lot of people mean when they say we "Americanize" foreign food as I haven't tasted a curry near this good in my life.

Anyone else been to Tokyo and have any recommendations? I'm pretty open to everything. I can't wait to try this place again.


http://m.imgur.com/rIIWUQ2,eD6hJ6z,x68NMHk
 

srst

Member
Alright I'm going to Japan soon and had just exchanged a bunch of 10,000yen notes. They didn't have 5K and I didn't want to carry a wad of 1K. So my question is do places accept/like 10K or should I break it down at a bank?
 

Ennosuke

Member
Alright I'm going to Japan soon and had just exchanged a bunch of 10,000yen notes. They didn't have 5K and I didn't want to carry a wad of 1K. So my question is do places accept/like 10K or should I break it down at a bank?

I had no problem paying with 10k at a restaurant or shop.
 
Yes you can. But honestly, I see why everyone recommends you buy things like the rail pass online.

Less confusion, it's ready when you get there. The suica card didn't require a whole lot of setup but navigating the rail system for the first time was a bitch the I had to actually buy it which meant standing in more lines after a 10 hour flight, 1.5 hours in immigration, baggage check and then figuring out the rail system (which is actually really simple, just overwhelming the first time you see it).

Also, linking in imgur. I'm out in Tokyo and couldn't sleep. Strolled past this place at 1am and was treated to best curry I've ever had. I feel like this is what a lot of people mean when they say we "Americanize" foreign food as I haven't tasted a curry near this good in my life.

Anyone else been to Tokyo and have any recommendations? I'm pretty open to everything. I can't wait to try this place again.


http://m.imgur.com/rIIWUQ2,eD6hJ6z,x68NMHk

I need to try more Indo-Karee shops. We always just eat at the Japanese ones but I bet the Indian kind can get pretty good.

Alright I'm going to Japan soon and had just exchanged a bunch of 10,000yen notes. They didn't have 5K and I didn't want to carry a wad of 1K. So my question is do places accept/like 10K or should I break it down at a bank?

As a cash based society, it's probably not that weird to break a 10k here. I've had places need to get the manager to make sure that the exchange was done properly but it's not like it was when I worked at Starbucks and I would tell people off.
 

Gitaroo

Member
My friend live in Osaka told me that mist places there don't accept credit card, any tips on maximizing saving from currency exchange with the amazon cc that I just got? I think they are cheaper without service charge compare to most money changer?
 
My friend live in Osaka told me that mist places there don't accept credit card, any tips on maximizing saving from currency exchange with the amazon cc that I just got? I think they are cheaper without service charge compare to most money changer?

I don't know about the amazon card but I've had terrible luck in general with my cards this trip. You're right that in Osaka most places don't take card but here in Tokyo nine times out of ten my card has been rejected. I've just gotten in the habit of carrying 30,000 yen at all times.

I think my card has only worked at one of my hotels, book off, and super potato. This wasn't a problem on my last trip when I didn't have a chip yet.
 

dofry

That's "Dr." dofry to you.
Hi, I will be in Osaka for a week, reading the OT it sounds like I need to buy a sim card online first? Can't I just buy them at the airport?

No you don't to buy online. Just walk into Yodobashi kamera and buy one from there. Ninjasim or other brands. Make sure there is no telephone call activation (one iijmio brand card has it). Most are just 1) insert sim 2) setup APN 3) visit a website to activate.
 
How long are you staying? If only a couple months, then get the furnished one because anything large you need to throw away needs to be paid to the recycling company, or sold via facebook groups, given to new students arriving. A tedious task for a shorter stay.

Furnished apartments are always going to cost around that amount. I was offered a 100 000 yen furnished apartment but chose a 36000 instead a bit further away unfurnished. Dirt cheap but s bit far away. I can save money though for more things. But i was lucky that i got it because uni semester was ending and usually there are more apartments for researchers free. You are just unlucky in timing + tokyo area and uni are popular.

Commuting should be your first expectation. Kawasaki is cheap but apartments need to be furnished. Maybe expect about 50000/month and tiny apartments. Search a bit further away like this so you save money. 20-30min one way is common to work by train. Getting something close by to toudai needs hard work and luck. Minimini, apamanshop and a ton of other rental firms. Just google and ask secretaries for help. Usually web pages lag behind so contact straight by email is possible.

Your address should be here: 2 Chome-33-11 Yushima, Bunkyō-ku, Tōkyō-to 113-0034
https://goo.gl/maps/LAWGbvggaQk

On phone so copy-paste.

Also, when renting from private, please check how long contracts they need and if you need to pay a fee if leaving early. Deposit (usually you get 80% back if apartment is in nice condition. 20% is for their renovations plus cleaning fees. Some renters ask for "key money", which is just a bribery for "can i rent here" type of payment. You never get it back.
Tekkinkonkreet/concrete wall building is better for noise purposes. Other types might have too thin walls.

Join Tokyo sayonara sales or other Facebook groups for free or cheap stuff. You can fill the apartment quicker and cheaper.

That from the top of my head.

Thanks for the detailed reply! Staying from Jun 20 to Aug 23, so yeah I'll need to check if I have to pay a fee for leaving early. That unit doesn't seem to have key money, but I was seeing that in other units and had no idea what it meant, thanks for cluing me in.

So like I said I have until Jun 20 to move in, not sure when uni semesters end in Japan but I don't want to wait too long to secure something, I'd rather have peace of mind. Since you said 20-30 minute commutes are normal I guess I can start looking a bit further since anything below 50,000 seems pretty difficult to come by, especially if it's a furnished unit. Like you said 3 months is not enough time to work with an unfurnished place so I don't mind extra for furnished.

With respect to properly formatting addresses for Gmaps, I guess I'll have to read up on how to format and/or read them since it should come in handy for when I'm actually there as well. Thanks for finding the place for me on Gmaps!
 

dofry

That's "Dr." dofry to you.
Thanks for the detailed reply! Staying from Jun 20 to Aug 23, so yeah I'll need to check if I have to pay a fee for leaving early. That unit doesn't seem to have key money, but I was seeing that in other units and had no idea what it meant, thanks for cluing me in.

So like I said I have until Jun 20 to move in, not sure when uni semesters end in Japan but I don't want to wait too long to secure something, I'd rather have peace of mind. Since you said 20-30 minute commutes are normal I guess I can start looking a bit further since anything below 50,000 seems pretty difficult to come by, especially if it's a furnished unit. Like you said 3 months is not enough time to work with an unfurnished place so I don't mind extra for furnished.

With respect to properly formatting addresses for Gmaps, I guess I'll have to read up on how to format and/or read them since it should come in handy for when I'm actually there as well. Thanks for finding the place for me on Gmaps!

No problem. Forgot this link yesterday.

https://www.unionmonthly.jp Monthly apts. Only in japanese. This might be really good for your situation. Try with Chrome translation if that works.
 

Zoe

Member
I don't know about the amazon card but I've had terrible luck in general with my cards this trip. You're right that in Osaka most places don't take card but here in Tokyo nine times out of ten my card has been rejected. I've just gotten in the habit of carrying 30,000 yen at all times.

I think my card has only worked at one of my hotels, book off, and super potato. This wasn't a problem on my last trip when I didn't have a chip yet.
What kind of card?

Never got rejected with Capitol One.
 

Gitaroo

Member
No you don't to buy online. Just walk into Yodobashi kamera and buy one from there. Ninjasim or other brands. Make sure there is no telephone call activation (one iijmio brand card has it). Most are just 1) insert sim 2) setup APN 3) visit a website to activate.

Hi, could you perhaps find a picture for me please, just incase I bought the wrong one.
 

Mendrox

Member
Currently looking for flights for the 30th this month. Want to be two weeks in Japan and then travel a bit more in asia. Mentally, equipment wise (except for the railpass) and everything else I am set so only booking is open. Really really excited. :3
 

danowat

Banned
A travel forum I belong to is getting constant posts now questioning the safety of travelling to Japan because of the NK wraggles..........uggghh..........
 

f0rk

Member
Hi!
I've just started planning my solo trip in October for the F1 GP with a week and a half afterwards for travelling. So far all I've booked (besides the F1 tickets) is return flights to Osaka arriving on Tuesday October 3rd and leaving Thursday October 19th, and a hostel in Nagoya from the 5th to the 9th to travel to and from Suzuka.

I haven't made any other plans yet but was thinking of going from Nagoya to Tokyo for a few days then coming back to Kyoto/Osaka before leaving. Does that make sense for a round trip? Any interesting places to stop off at on the way? Budgets not a huge issue but I'm mainly looking at staying at hostels to meet people.

I'll probably be back in the future for more specific recommendations!
 

dofry

That's "Dr." dofry to you.
Hi, could you perhaps find a picture for me please, just incase I bought the wrong one.

CdK8RisVAAAXqkB.jpg


or

TravelSim:
https://t.iijmio.jp/en/
 

Eldainorn

Member
Leaving for Japan in three hours! First ride to Venice, flight to Amsterdam, then wait (6,5 hours, too bad!) and then straight to Tokyo. After that we are immediately going to Kyoto.

It's happening! :D

I'll post here if anyone who is in Japan will be up for a drink or anything! I will be staying in Kyoto (20-23 April), Fukuoka (23-25 April), Hiroshima (25-28 April), Kyoto again (28 April - 2 May) and then in Tokyo (2-10 May).
 
Leaving for Japan in three hours! First ride to Venice, flight to Amsterdam, then wait (6,5 hours, too bad!) and then straight to Tokyo. After that we are immediately going to Kyoto.

It's happening! :D

I'll post here if anyone who is in Japan will be up for a drink or anything! I will be staying in Kyoto (20-23 April), Fukuoka (23-25 April), Hiroshima (25-28 April), Kyoto again (28 April - 2 May) and then in Tokyo (2-10 May).

enjoy your trip. I just got back and can't wait to visit again. question, why Fukuoka? in between Kyoto? kinda far away and you're only there for 2 days. also, if you have the chance, go to Miyajima when you're at Hiroshima.
 

exhume

Member
Just spent all day getting a tattoo in Osaka and it's only half finished. I'm going to have to rush coming back.

Neat, got a pic? Who's the artist?
I really want to get tattooed next time I'm in Japan, but I'm hesitant about giving up whole days/having to deal with a fresh tattoo on aeroplanes, etc.
 
Just curious what district I'd have to go to get "stall food"

I'm under the assumption there aren't food trucks like in the US but there are plenty of actual shops which are the same thing. But my friend thinks otherwise.
 
Neat, got a pic? Who's the artist?
I really want to get tattooed next time I'm in Japan, but I'm hesitant about giving up whole days/having to deal with a fresh tattoo on aeroplanes, etc.

Here's my post from the retro thread where I detailed everything I got and showed my tattoo.

My wife also got one that I haven't shared yet. She got hers done in Tokyo by Mika at Detroit Diesel Tattoo Works and it took about 2 hours.


She got it early so she was mostly healed by the time we flew. I got mine at the end of our trip but it wasn't that much trouble.
 
Just curious what district I'd have to go to get "stall food"

I'm under the assumption there aren't food trucks like in the US but there are plenty of actual shops which are the same thing. But my friend thinks otherwise.

not too sure about your definition of "stall food", but if you're in Tokyo, go to Asakusa and on the west side of the temple, between that and the Don Quijote, you'll find a street with a lot of those street side dinner places.
 
Just curious what district I'd have to go to get "stall food"

I'm under the assumption there aren't food trucks like in the US but there are plenty of actual shops which are the same thing. But my friend thinks otherwise.

I don't seek out stall food so I've probably missed a lot of them but there's tons in Osaka.
 

MMarston

Was getting caught part of your plan?
Did not realize this was a separate thread so I'll just repost this here from JapanGAF.
Hey there, JapanGAF. Just seeking some tourist advice here.

Anyway, this is far from final -- I've just been entertaining the thought real hard lately -- but there's some pretty good air fare prices to Tokyo for the first week of May, and I am kinda contemplating on whether I should just take the plunge and spend a week there right before I graduate university later in the month. This is kind of a big deal for me too since I've been meaning to do this for ages.

That said, I'm trying to come up with a hypothetical itinerary to do the math with and to my somewhat surprise, I'm actually blanking out in terms of places to visit in the city apart from the stereotypical stuff you see in the media (e.g. Shinjuku, Akihabara, etc.). So I'd really love some recommendation on what I can potentially do around the city and which places/wards to go to make the most out of maybe 7 to 10 days.

Also some other questions:
- First and foremost, language barrier -- how problematic will this be for me? I'm imagining like most heavily popular global cities, it may not be that difficult, but I'd like to get a good gauge beforehand.

- What's transportation(+prices) like around the city and what other sage advice do any of you have for tackling it?

- I'm thinking of maybe also going to Kyoto for maybe a day or two, so maybe throw me some ideas of what I can do there too. Also wanna know how feasible such a tangent may be considering my timeframe.

- Any good places/ideas for lodging? I mean, I'm starting at some nice hostels right now but it never hurts to ask in case I'm missing something.

Thanks.
 
Did not realize this was a separate thread so I'll just repost this here from JapanGAF.

I wouldn't recommend Kyoto. First, Kyoto is a lot harder to get around. If you are only going to be there for a couple days and can't speak Japanese, you'll have trouble and will only be able to see a few major sites. Go to Kyoto with at least a week and a good idea of how to efficiently hit everything. In general, when you start to leave Tokyo/Yokohama, you'll find a lot less people who can comfortably speak English.

If you aren't planning on leaving Tokyo, you'll need to get a SUICA card or figure out exactly how much money you need to spend to get anywhere. Each trip depending on the distance is typically between 160 and 300 yen. On average, you could probably budget 10-20 a day and be safe.

If you are leaving Tokyo, get a JR pass and use that as much as possible.

I always stay at Kimi Ryokan in Ikebukuro. It's near a major station, the rooms are decent, the staff is really good, and it's only 7000 yen a night for 2 people. There's lots of options depending on what you're looking for. If you like drinking, you'll probably want to find a place closer to Shinjuku.

The first week of May is Golden Week in Japan which means that everyone is on vacation and things will be super crowded. If I were you, I'd save your money and come in the fall when you've had more time to plan.
 

dofry

That's "Dr." dofry to you.
Did not realize this was a separate thread so I'll just repost this here from JapanGAF.

- Don't stay a week. Stay at least 10 days. Otherwise you don't get to see enough and suffer jet lag a bit when you wanna go see things and then are only left with 6 days.

- Get the Japan Rail Pass because you can use it for a week?(or was it 5 days? someone correct me) and it saves A LOT of money IF you take trains from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka/Nara. Or continuing to Hiroshima.

- When you go to Kansai area and visit Kyoto. Always visit Osaka and Nara too. They are so close that people just miss them because they want to visit Kyoto mostly.

- Nara is a half day trip. Go to see the deers, Todaiji temple, the smaller temple next to it on top of the mountain. Then ride back to Osaka or Kyoto.

- In Osaka go to Namba or "Minami" area. All the nightlife is there. Visit bars like Cherry bomb for metal music, Chinquecento for all drinks 500 yen. People in the bars can guide you to the next place. The local irish pub, Blarney stone, etc. Staff knows english. You should be fine.

- Never go anywhere where the staff on the street is trying to physically drag you in. Do not trust them. It's a scam. An illegal one but they don't care. But I've never done this. Just heard some people actually went, and paid a ton to get out.

- ATM's like Japan Post bank most likely will take your credit card. If not, best option is 7-11 ATM. My card is ok at Lawson or Family Mart too. Just try. You need a shitload of cash all the time so always be prepared. JP Post ATM's close early. Around 18:00. 7-11 and other convenience store ATMs are open all night.

- Get a SUICA (Tokyo area) or ICOCA (Kansai area) card for easier payment at train gates. Both cards should work 90% in both prefectures. Just pick the one card where you'll be staying mostly. You can load cash into them so you don't have to look at the how much is it to each station and pay separately. You can charge them at the ticket machines. Machines most likely have english in them. Cards you can get from special booths. Don't know where in Tokyo. I think ICOCA was offered at Osaka-station. Can't remember. 5€ deposit.

- Get a pre-paid sim from Yodobashi camera, Bic camera or other bigger electronics stores, if your phone is sim-free one. Saves money compared to renting an expensive pocket wifi from the airport.

- Airbnb is usually trouble free. And selection is huge. In Osaka maaaybe Daikokucho is fairly cheap. It's close to Namba by walking so after drinking it's easy to get back home to sleep. Or, if you don't drink it's close enough to everything so you don't need to take trains all the time. Renting a bicycle is fairly good idea too. At least in Kyoto. Leaving them at spots that are not allowed will end up with the bike being impounded. You need to pay to get it out from a far away location.

- Renting a car is an option if you have an international licence. Trust in Google maps navi and try to avoid road toll roads. This is a good way to visit Awaji-shima close by to Osaka.

- Capsule hotel is a good idea if you got no other place to sleep in. Capsule 501 in Shinjuku is 3200 yen per night. Check-out at 12. 300 yen for an extra hour. Has a public bath included in the price which is common for all capsule hotels mostly.

- People might not speak english that well but everyone will help regardless. Also stop foreigners because if they live in the area, they can guide you. Pick the ones that look bored to look at anything because they've lived too long in Japan and they tend to walk too fast.

- Kaiyuukan the aquarium in Osaka is nice but it's a bit crowded. USJ theme park in Osaka is nice too but a bit expensive and most of the backstory/explanations are in Japanese. Might be waaaay too crowded during Golden week.

- Try every food you can. Everywhere. Yakiniku, raamen, okonomiyaki, monjayaki, izakayas for different variations of smaller dishes, just eat eat eat. Tabehoudai = all you can eat, Nomihoudai = all you can drink.

- Go to Karaoke boxes and order nomihoudai with beer. You need beer while singing. Or visit Kamasutra in Osaka for a Bar-Karaoke experience.

- HUB or ALE 82 is where foreigners go to drink for a cosy atmosphere.

- Yoyogi park is nice to have a picnic with friends.

- If you're alone, just use meetup.com to find some company or events. You can find dance lessons, pub crawls or anything with the app.

- If you have any problems or have an emergency and do not know anyone in Japan, just send me a private message here. Police are super helpful in all cases even though they might not spean english but they'll sort that out too via translation services.

- Google translate has AR translation. Just open it up, use the camera function to point at text and it translates it to you in real time. Works on pics too from your phone. USE IT. Especially aircon unit buttons, or washing machine.

- Miyajima (island) is so nice place to visit when in Hiroshima. It takes a day or a half. Go early so you have a chance to visit the mountain top. First visit the top, then visit the temple area. If you first go to temples, everyone else will wait in line before you to the cable car. Or you can walk to the top slowly.

I'm just trying to write in general and recommend foreigner friendly things. And I am not focusing on making this at all organised. Hope it helps at least a bit. It's a nice country to visit. Just remember to leave so breathing room and don't overdo everything with a too detailed plan. Just go and have fun.
 

Eridani

Member
I wouldn't recommend Kyoto. First, Kyoto is a lot harder to get around. If you are only going to be there for a couple days and can't speak Japanese, you'll have trouble and will only be able to see a few major sites. Go to Kyoto with at least a week and a good idea of how to efficiently hit everything. In general, when you start to leave Tokyo/Yokohama, you'll find a lot less people who can comfortably speak English.

If you aren't planning on leaving Tokyo, you'll need to get a SUICA card or figure out exactly how much money you need to spend to get anywhere. Each trip depending on the distance is typically between 160 and 300 yen. On average, you could probably budget 10-20 a day and be safe.

If you are leaving Tokyo, get a JR pass and use that as much as possible.

I always stay at Kimi Ryokan in Ikebukuro. It's near a major station, the rooms are decent, the staff is really good, and it's only 7000 yen a night for 2 people. There's lots of options depending on what you're looking for. If you like drinking, you'll probably want to find a place closer to Shinjuku.

The first week of May is Golden Week in Japan which means that everyone is on vacation and things will be super crowded. If I were you, I'd save your money and come in the fall when you've had more time to plan.

I personally found Kyoto piss easy to get around in - much easier then Tokyo honestly. You just buy a bus pass and get into the correct bus. If you can read a map like this you really shouldn't have much problems. I also didn't find my lack of Japanese any more problematic than it was in Tokyo.

Kyoto's really cool imo, and with 10 days you could definitely spend some time there, although note that getting there is quite expensive. If places like Nara, Fushimi Inari, Golden Temple and a million other temples look cool to you then you then I'd recommend spending a couple of days there.

On the other hand you can also quite easily spend 10 days in Tokyo without getting bored. If you add on some day trips (Kamakura, Hakone and Nikko are some of the most popular ones) you'll also be able to see plenty of temples without going to Kyoto.
 
Did not realize this was a separate thread so I'll just repost this here from JapanGAF.

If you're just going for 7 days, then you should skip Kyoto. Could go to Kamakura instead since it's much cheaper to go to and much closer to Tokyo.

If you go for 10 days, then you could try to do 6-7 days in Tokyo and 3-4 days in Kyoto/Osaka/Nara.


If you are leaving Tokyo, get a JR pass and use that as much as possible.

That is, if you're going as far as Kyoto or beyond that. If one is just going to like Kamakura, then a JR Pass is not worth it :p
 

MMarston

Was getting caught part of your plan?
Thanks for the responses guys. I think after reading as well as some more consideration on my part, I'm going to be holding off on the trip until maybe June or November, depending on how work and money play out. I realize that I was kind of being a little too gung-ho about it especially since I still have no idea what I'm doing at this point. Also I think I need to be honest with myself in that I'm probably gonna find much of these activities a lot less fun without any close companions regardless if I am capable of flying solo, so me and my Japanese friend are also trying to figure out if we coincide our schedules sometime this summer. Super curious about visiting in the fall though.

Finally, peak-season London and Rome definitely frustrated me when I was in those places, so thanks for tipping me off about Golden Week too.

On a side note, I checked the cheap airbnb listings and I gotta say, some of them look too good for their value, to the point I was skeptical regardless of their host verification. So that's a good start.
 

danowat

Banned
We spent quite a while on when to go, and week choose May, just after Golden week finishes, we manage to avoid (most) of the crowds, the rain and the humidity, and get a chance of some half decent weather (I hope)!

As for Kyoto, we are doing a week there, after a week in Tokyo and before 5 days in Hiroshima, from the research I've done, it should be fine for a non native speaker, but I guess I'll find out in a few weeks!

Just hope the £ rises a little bit before we leave.........
 

Eldainorn

Member
enjoy your trip. I just got back and can't wait to visit again. question, why Fukuoka? in between Kyoto? kinda far away and you're only there for 2 days. also, if you have the chance, go to Miyajima when you're at Hiroshima.

Because I would really love to visit Kyushu and its cities. I know that 2 days is not a lot but better than nothing. And I also have Jr Pass so I will use it as much as possible.

Miyajima I have been before but will visit again to scale Mt. Misen.
 

Jocchan

Ὁ μεμβερος -ου
Getting married in 8 days, and leaving for Japan in 15.
This is all happening, isn't it?
 
Breaking off from my buddy for a bit. He's made my trip way more expensive than I realized. I'm happy trying all the cheap local food, he keeps looking for "their take on what I'm use too" and balooning all the food bills to 50+ dollars. I don't mind since I'm in japan but I've been much more satisfied with cheaper places here than I ever expected.
 
Breaking off from my buddy for a bit. He's made my trip way more expensive than I realized. I'm happy trying all the cheap local food, he keeps looking for "their take on what I'm use too" and balooning all the food bills to 50+ dollars. I don't mind since I'm in japan but I've been much more satisfied with cheaper places here than I ever expected.

Katsu, curry, and ramen is all you need. Good idea going your own way. No meal should cost that much.
 

sfedai0

Banned
Especially when the 6 dollar beef bowl is humongous and filling. I really can't believe the price per dollar ratio on food here.

Beef bowl, katsu and egg over rice with a side of udon. All good cheap shit but I can only do Yoshinoya and the likes just a couple times. Been too spoiled by other food Japan has.
 
Breaking off from my buddy for a bit. He's made my trip way more expensive than I realized. I'm happy trying all the cheap local food, he keeps looking for "their take on what I'm use too" and balooning all the food bills to 50+ dollars. I don't mind since I'm in japan but I've been much more satisfied with cheaper places here than I ever expected.

Go to Saizeriya and get cheap Italian food ;P
 
- Miyajima (island) is so nice place to visit when in Hiroshima. It takes a day or a half. Go early so you have a chance to visit the mountain top. First visit the top, then visit the temple area. If you first go to temples, everyone else will wait in line before you to the cable car. Or you can walk to the top slowly.
I did this a couple of weeks ago - walked up Misen-san and took the cable car down - and it was one of the most amazing hikes of my life. The misty jungle on the ascent, and when the clouds cleared at the observatory at the top, oh my god it was beautiful and I cannot recommend it enough: https://twitter.com/MeadowDrone/status/851833661997502464

Also, re. Kyoto: I hired a bike near the train station (opposite Higashihonganji) and loved it. It was super easy to get around, and was such a nice way to get a feel for the city, its size and sights and walks etc. Totally recommend it.
 

danowat

Banned
Also, re. Kyoto: I hired a bike near the train station (opposite Higashihonganji) and loved it. It was super easy to get around, and was such a nice way to get a feel for the city, its size and sights and walks etc. Totally recommend it.

We considered doing that, but I was a little concerned about parking and security issues, I am led to believe bike theft is high in Kyoto?
 
Top Bottom