2010-03-07, 18:28 | Link #721 |
Director
Join Date: Feb 2010
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You can easily get much cheaper flights than that. I can go one week round trip with hotel for entire week in Tokyo for $900. I'd suggest contacting the Japanese embassy about offers since they usually can get you in for cheap if they see you're dedicated. If you live in or near DC, even better.
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2010-03-07, 18:33 | Link #722 | |
My wolfu is >> your waifu
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Charleston, West Virginia
Age: 42
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2010-03-07, 19:19 | Link #723 |
Gregory House
IT Support
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Screw you Americans and your cheap travel fees. Cheapest I could find was 2000 USD through Europe (well, there was a 1700 USD one that went through the US, but there's the 130 USD visa fee and the stupid paperwork that takes a hell of a long time to do and stuff--Europe doesn't require stuff like that).
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2010-03-07, 19:25 | Link #724 | |
Director
Join Date: Feb 2010
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2010-03-07, 19:38 | Link #725 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: China
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2010-03-07, 20:09 | Link #726 | |
9wiki
Scanlator
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I am definitely intrigued by the claims of cheap airfare to Japan. I've seen deals to be had for as little as $900 or so, but I've mostly been looking at costs nearing $1400 even if planned well in advance, and over $2000 if not purchases several months before the trip. I can normally find pretty good rates when going overseas, but it seems that in terms of going to Japan, I'm missing some crucial information.
If any one has particular luck with airfare, I'd ask you to please post the details of how you saved on it. Quote:
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2010-03-07, 20:31 | Link #727 |
Director
Join Date: Feb 2010
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It depends on which airport you are closest to. I happen to have access to large international airports so I get lower flights. Assuming I leave to Japan tomorrow and stay for two weeks, ignoring my good offer and ignoring hotel, I can get a round trip for $908. That's without abusing my good deal offers. If I wanted to, I can cash in all my frequent flier miles (and I have an unprecedented amount) and go for free. I could probably also get a hotel for free, if I really wanted to go to Japan.
If you're American, try Delta to get a flight. Don't go JAL for your flight (especially after their bankruptcy...) That's how I got the $908 deal. |
2010-03-07, 22:13 | Link #728 |
Seishu's Ace
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
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I found a deal last year including RT air and 7 nights at a very nice and convenient hotel (Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku) for $1100 - and that was from the West Coast. A lot depends on when you go - that was March and off-season is always going to be cheaper. I've actually found Expedia to be extremely competitive and a good place to shop for package deals, as you can book air/hotel trips with only part of the duration at the hotel (good for excursions beyond Tokyo). That's what I did for my trip this May and again, found very good deals. I'm staying at the B Ikebukuro, for example, for $50 a night inclusive of taxes. That's a very decent hotel on the Yamanote line, and I found that through Expedia.
Speaking of which... If we have any Tokyoites browsing, I'd love some pointers for Ikebukuro as I'm also staying there at the start of the trip. I understand it's a ramen mecca, and I have a near-religious devotion to ramen. I'm also intrigued by the various cat cafes in Ike - that's a really cool idea and I didn't manage to get to one last year. Nekobukuro sounds a bit commercial, but apparently there are others in the neighborhood. The problem with Ikebukuro is that, while convenient, it's mostly for the locals and thus doesn't show up much in the travel literature out there so you have to dig a little deeper for the good finds.
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2010-03-08, 06:24 | Link #729 | |||
Honyaku no Hime
Fansubber
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the eastern capital of the islands of the rising suns...
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ANIMATE! Quote:
Otome-dori! (Well in all honesty, the entire street is filled with anime/manga related shops, but seems to be the central hub for yaoi goods too) But Ikebukuro has one of the most comprehensive Animate stores in Tokyo (if not the most). It's on the other end of Otome Street, so the entire road is full of doujinshi shops, manga shops, goods and another related anime and manga stuff. And of course there's the infamous Sunshine City. Nice to browse around, may wanna check out a restaurant there too. Quote:
Ikebukuro at a glance
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2010-03-08, 10:40 | Link #730 |
Seishu's Ace
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
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Thanks. I knew there was an Animate there, and I hit the one in Akiba last time and loved it - but I didn't know the one in Ike was so good. I'll check it out for sure. I'm not a yaoi fan, but I'd heard stories of Otome-dori and curiosity will win out, I'm sure!
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2010-03-08, 14:05 | Link #732 | |
Gregory House
IT Support
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Btw, I'm raging at the moment at the prospect of having to wait three more weeks for my trip (I depart on April 1st, I hope the airline doesn't go :aprilsfools: on me or I'm gonna kill someone), and with the lack of something to do at work I'm feeling completely anemic--which is understandable since the latter half of last year was a really rough one at work and these are gonna be my first real holidays in like five years. But fuck me, these weeks are going to be unbearable. Seems like I'll have around 2000 USD plus the JR pass ticket, which is 500 USD more than I expected, so yay me.
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2010-03-08, 17:45 | Link #733 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: China
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For travel to Japan from the U.S., Delta is pretty convenient, esp. now that NW is gone. For people traveling, you should also check to see if there are flights to other airports reasonably close to Tokyo (or your final destination). While you probably don't want to fly into Osaka if you are looking to sightsee in Tokyo, if the saving is really good, a quick trip on the Shinkansen, esp. if you have a valid JR pass, could be doable.
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2010-03-08, 20:56 | Link #734 |
Director
Join Date: Feb 2010
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My Japanese sensei literally said this today:
"Oh, you know of otaku? Then you must go to otaku city Akihabara. All otaku must go there. It is otaku city. Akihabara is. Yes?" aka, my Japanese sensei told me to go to his country to chill with his nation's women dressed as maid girls.... VICTORY!! |
2010-03-08, 21:40 | Link #735 | |
Seishu's Ace
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
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I flew JAL last year, and this year I'll be flying ANA - and I found them to be as cheap as any other direct flight from SFO. Cost savings is great and all, but I'll say this much - the level of comfort on service (even in coach) is way, way better on either Japanese carrier than any of the American one. And with the flight already being 11 hours, I'm done with connecting fights - I'll pay the extra $75 it cost me for a nonstop any day of the week.
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2010-03-09, 04:59 | Link #736 |
Bittersweet Distractor
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 32
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http://kotaku.com/5484581/japan-its-not-funny-anymore
Very interesting article about someone who quite frankly found disdain for Japan after living there for awhile.
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2010-03-09, 07:23 | Link #737 |
Disabled By Request
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Interesting article.
I heard and figured the japanese in general were similiar in that fashion. Though what bothers me the most is the "You aren't Japanese" comment, which would happen quite abit. in my opinion. I'm not planning on moving to Tokyo, just somewhere similiar with open air and nice scenery. Some screenshots from Okinawa have made me romance over it. Though I will probably try Osaka or a prefecture. I personally would like to see Hokkaido. My only personal bias is the meat... I don't mind bacon or ham, or even fish. But what gets me is the octopus.... Never had crab, so I'll keep my mind open, yes? The stores/Clubs/somewhat stress relieving activities seem rather troublesome. But since i'm a westerner, I wouldn't know of work perfection. Work perfection being stressed, of course. I'll make it a habit to look at Tim Roger's columns, since they seem more or less intelligent with realistic points. I can relate with the 'Game of life' paragraph(s). Though I usually greet people regardless, which may be abit of a headstart in the workplace/existence within Japan, I'd probably have problems adapting, should I somehow miraculously do my dreamplace. Tokyo however, is a no. Okinawa or Hokkaido, plz. :3 |
2010-03-09, 08:55 | Link #738 | |||
Honyaku no Hime
Fansubber
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the eastern capital of the islands of the rising suns...
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(Will read later) I did drop this message to the writer though... Quote:
"Japan is a great place to visit, but I wouldn't/couldn't live there." With due reason too. I do not convince nor tempt people to come live over here at all, in all honesty. It's not easy and it can be an ongoing battle when trying to mix water and oil together. (And even when those wanting to learn Japanese on a whim, I have a scary perfect article for them to read just to see if they'll change their minds.) A good piece of advice from someone else is what I'll end with here... Quote:
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2010-03-09, 18:51 | Link #739 |
Director
Join Date: Feb 2010
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My big problem with Japan:
* I will not eat meat and most seafoods. * I will not drink alcohol. * I am of a foreign race. * I am poor. From a cultural standpoint, this doesn't work out. For more personal issues (that can be solved with internet): * Most modern anime makes me vomit. * Japanese comedy is bland. * Japanese films really really suck. Most importantly is that I will never drink. Ever. EVER. I hate the stuff. Beer looks like foaming urine from the bladder of a dehydrated and unhealthy man. |
2010-03-09, 21:04 | Link #740 |
My wolfu is >> your waifu
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Charleston, West Virginia
Age: 42
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I have an uncanny ability with accents; when I took my final several years ago, the professor who flew in to administer the test asked me when it was all over asked if I had spent any appreciable time in Japan... I told him I had never been but...
To this, he replied "you speak like someone who has lived in Kobe." All I could tell him was that that was where my teacher's home city. Really funny when a guy with a Southern drawl can drop it in a second and "go native". So foreigner, yeah can't do anything about that. Status being attained. Money... soon... hopefully. Alcohol... in moderation. Food... I'm not picky; I'll tell you if it was good or not and if it wasn't... I still probably ate it all. And being a Southerner, I loves me some seafood and meat.
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japan, travel |
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