Visiting Japan

[Azuma Denton]

Originally Posted by Heibi

I do all my own sightseeing these days. I know how to get around and who to ask for directions. I even used Google Earth once to find the location via satellite. I memorized the building roofs and the crosswalk bridges and found what I was looking for. (The Japanese Sword Museum in Shinjuku). The original directions the hotel tried to give us were - take this train, then this one. I knew it was nearby and within walking distance(10-15 minutes), so I ignored the hotel advice and saved money in the process. The guy meant well though.

Getting lost is a part of adventure...
But i must say, the price of transportation in Japan is quite huge for Indonesian's standard...

There is Japanesse Sword Museum in Shinjuku?? Damn, i missed it. Near where??

@GDB
20% tips from what??
I thought that tips is supposed to be "willing" not a "mandatory"...

[GDB]

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

@GDB
20% tips from what??
I thought that tips is supposed to be "willing" not a "mandatory"...

For "being our guide", which apparently is something to tip despite an extremely poor performance (part of the tour price was to see the fish market... which they only got 4 tickets to for about 36 people, and then gave priority to the senior citizen group they had stuck us with / she was supposedly a native of Osaka, yet when I asked her where the Osaka Tower was (I couldn't remember its name, but it's the Tsuutenkaku), she said no such thing existed / etc.) when she'd have already been paid for in the cost of the tour. And yes, a tip should be something you choose to do, not have to do. That's why I told him to forget about getting one from me.

[Heibi]

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

Getting lost is a part of adventure...
But i must say, the price of transportation in Japan is quite huge for Indonesian's standard...

There is Japanesse Sword Museum in Shinjuku?? Damn, i missed it. Near where??

@GDB
20% tips from what??
I thought that tips is supposed to be "willing" not a "mandatory"...

I left from the Keio Plaza where I was staying. Here is a link with directions. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011.html

The museum is hidden in a residential-like area. There are no good signs that lead you to it. A friend and I once took a wrong turn and spent 45 minutes searching for it. It is only 10-15 minutes walk from the Keio Plaza. I can guide people for free when I'm there if our travel dates coincide. I usually like to go in the March-April time frame.(Cherry Blossom time)

[Azuma Denton]

Ah i never went that far...
I only explore up Shinjuku Central Park and then head back to see Kabukicho...
Will write down that as future reference...
Thanks...


@GDB
Aw that sucks..
And how come you need a ticket to go into fish market??

[GDB]

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

@GDB
Aw that sucks..
And how come you need a ticket to go into fish market??

I'm not sure if you need one for later in the day, but I guess they do special stuff from like 4am to 6am or something, and they have limited space? I dunno, something like that.

[RandomGuy]

Originally Posted by GDB

I'm not sure if you need one for later in the day, but I guess they do special stuff from like 4am to 6am or something, and they have limited space? I dunno, something like that.

It had to do with tourists behaving badly, with a select few idiots getting up close and personal with the fish, licking them and such. Apart from that, there was just the problem of there being way too many people, to the point that it was hard to do actual business at the morning fish auction.

[Solafighter]

To those, who have been in Japan before, have you had internet on your smartphones? For my traveling, i will need mobile internet for navigation(going to rent a car) and keeping in toutch with friends, im gonna meet.

How expensive would it be to buy a prepaid card for internet for 30 days?

[JMvS]

Originally Posted by Solafighter

To those, who have been in Japan before, have you had internet on your smartphones? For my traveling, i will need mobile internet for navigation(going to rent a car) and keeping in toutch with friends, im gonna meet.

How expensive would it be to buy a prepaid card for internet for 30 days?

From my last recollection, you cannot put a japanese card in a GSM phone, as for the latest standard, apparently it depends.

See this guide.

[Solafighter]

Thanks for the reply. I will take a look into it.

[Ridwan]

Putting my post in the right thread :

Originally Posted by Aegir

A helpless fan of traditional sweets and desserts that I am, this shop is permanently on my to-visit list when I'll visit the country someday : http://www.chuckeats.com/2009/04/20/...zen-yoshifusa/

[TinyRedLeaf]

While doing some research, I chanced upon this passage in CNNGo's World's 10 Most Loved Cities article and thought it deserved to be shared here.

World's Most Loved City: Tokyo, Japan

Every city worth its marketing budget brands itself as "many cities in one". Tokyo, of course, doesn't have to.

In Japan's dizzying capital, it's just a given that travelers are here to take on the world’s strongest dose of sensory overload — in a neon-infested sea of ad-pumping jumbotrons at Shibuya Crossing; under a canopy of blossoming cherry trees in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden; in a sports arena packed with raucous sumo fans in Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium; at one of Tokyo's 160,000-odd restaurants, a culinary empire boasting more Michelin stars than anywhere else; or within earshot of bellowing tuna auctioneers at Tsukiji Central Fish Market, home to more than 1,000 stalls in a hangar-style building that comprises one of the largest wholesale seafood bazaars in the world.

However many worlds, wards and districts one experiences in Tokyo, the sense is that you’re always just scratching the surface — even if your wallet disagrees. And is there a more deferential place to pay through the teeth?

In Tokyo, "the women behind the registers bow to you, and I don’t mean that they lower their heads a little, the way you might if passing someone on the street", observes David Sedaris. "Then they say what sounds to me like 'We, the people of this store, worship you as we might a god'."

If that's not worth your love, nothing is.

CNNGO

Other trivia worth noting: Tokyo has been ranked among the top 10 most liveable cities for at least three years running (No. 9 in 2011; No. 4 in 2010; No. 3 in 2009) by lifestyle magazine Monocle.

[Heibi]

Originally Posted by TinyRedLeaf

While doing some research, I chanced upon this passage in CNNGo's World's 10 Most Loved Cities article and thought it deserved to be shared here.


Other trivia worth noting: Tokyo has been ranked among the top 10 most liveable cities for at least three years running (No. 9 in 2011; No. 4 in 2010; No. 3 in 2009) by lifestyle magazine Monocle.

And that's why I try to make a yearly journey to Tokyo. Plus shopping for stuff that's hard to find in the US. Not to mention finding new sights and stores.

[Solafighter]

Another thing, i cant make myself a picture, yet,
Im gonna stay in Japan for 30 days. About 14 - 16 days of those, im gonna stay at some friends place, which leaves 14 - 16 days, im gonna stay at a hotel/Inns or something. How much money, round about should i prepare? 2000€ are a good level, i can think of? What are your thoughts and experiences about this?

[Heibi]

Originally Posted by Solafighter

Another thing, i cant make myself a picture, yet,
Im gonna stay in Japan for 30 days. About 14 - 16 days of those, im gonna stay at some friends place, which leaves 14 - 16 days, im gonna stay at a hotel/Inns or something. How much money, round about should i prepare? 2000€ are a good level, i can think of? What are your thoughts and experiences about this?

If that's spending money for food and such - you can eat cheap. If you wish to buy a lot of stuff, you'll need a different amount set aside for food alone. Are you going to use a credit card over there for the hotels? And on that note, make sure your credit card agency knows you will be there so they don't stop your card.

If that is all your money - you'll have to be real frugal. I spent over $2000.00+ on stuff(DVDs, CDs, Figures, and general anime related stuff) I wanted alone last time(5 day stay). You can find real bargains in Akihabara. The hotel was a little expensive, about $800.00 each.(Nice hotel and I had a friend to share the expense)

If you travel by train mostly - that's all we used - each ride can cost about 150-250 yen on the average.

Right now you have about 201,390 yen at the conversion rate. Remember that that is the business rate and yours will be lower. Oh, conversion page for you. Just use the pull-down menu Euros to Yen: http://money.cnn.com/data/currencies/?iid=H_MKT_QL

Food can range from about 550 yen - 1200 yen. We averaged about 600 yen per meal last time.

And make sure you exchange your currency before you leave the airport. Much easier. You can use Debit Cards in banks around Japan. Assuming you have one.
Hope that helps.

[Solafighter]

Well, im basicly only talking about hotels and simillar.

Most likly, i will not even go once to Akihabara, this time.

[Azuma Denton]

@solafighter
What is your phone? Iphone?
Softbank has a rental booth for sim card on every airport there.

I use one when i am in Japan for 2 weeks...
Cost me around 4000 yen...

[Solafighter]

Ah, that's great. Thanks a lot for your tips.

[Heibi]

Originally Posted by Solafighter

Well, im basicly only talking about hotels and simillar.

Most likly, i will not even go once to Akihabara, this time.

Well, if the money is only for hotels, you're probably fine. Just pay attention to the price you pay.

[Kirarakim]

So I will be going in December

Random story my friend told me he booked a trip when he was drunk. Well I couldn't let my friend visit Japan without me and next thing I know, I booked a plane ticket too.

This will be my second time but my friends first.

[willx]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

So I will be going in December

Random story my friend told me he booked a trip when he was drunk. Well I couldn't let my friend visit Japan without me and next thing I know, I booked a plane ticket too.

This will be my second time but my friends first.

Neat! Where will you be going? I just went and did Tokyo/Kyoto/Hakone back in April, it was absolutely beautiful with the cherry blossoms falling everywhere.. It reminded me of the cherry blossoms in my hometown!

I wonder if it'll be snowing yet? The idea of sitting in an onsen with the snow falling around is awful appealing..