Help with Japan

Old Aug 15th, 2004, 06:23 AM
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Help with Japan

we are looking to put a japan trip together? But I have tons of questions. can anyone reccomend good hotels and affordable(for tourists) in tokyo and Kyoto, I would prefer to sepnd less that 150 USD per night but I could go a little higher if it would be worth it. Kyoto seems especially difficult (we are considering october) so maybe theres is somthing going on that time of year?

Also - how much spending money should I expect to bring ?? how much will meals, tours, transport, etc cost.

Also - Is hakone worth an overnight stay?
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Old Aug 15th, 2004, 10:08 AM
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topping
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Old Aug 16th, 2004, 06:54 AM
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topping one more time
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Old Aug 16th, 2004, 07:13 AM
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Tokyo -- Keio Plaza is an excellent choice and prices can usually be gotten for around $150. Try Kyoto Park in Kyoto. It's pretty cheap. Not the best hotel around but ok and well located.

October is peak tourist time -- a wonderful time to be there.

You can eat very reasonably in both cities. We had absolutely no problem finding inexpensive restaurants. Transportation is cheap as long as you take public transporation. Cabs can be a bit high although we did take them ocassionally in Kyoto.

A lot of places don't take credit cards in Kyoto so make sure you bring a fair amount of traveller checks. Also there is only one ATM machine in Kyoto that can be used by Americans -- it's in the Takashimaya department store.

I would skip Hakone and spend the time in Kyoto/Nara.
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Old Aug 16th, 2004, 07:53 AM
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Thanks Glorialf

Do you recommend any tours?

HAve you heard of a hotel called Mansions of Roponngi ?? It seems I can get a pretty good rate in tokyo and it sounds nice. Is roppongi a good area to stay in?

If I am going to toyko-kyoto-toyko should a get a rail pass?

What are the main attractions in Nara.

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Old Aug 16th, 2004, 07:58 AM
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I can highly recommend Ryokan Shigetsu in Tokyo. (www.shigetsu.com) It is more like a traditional ryokan, which are hard to find in Tokyo, in a traditional lovely neighborhood. The website lists Japanese style double room (they have Japanese and Western style) for 16800 which is just about $150 and definitely worth it. We stayed there two years ago and loved the hotel and the area, known as Asakusa.

As for spending money and meals, plan about the same as any big U.S. city like NY, Chicago or LA.

I recommend also the guide book Time Out Tokyo (you can get a preview on www.timeout.com) for a hip and inexpensive travel guide.

Also for a dining tip, and one I would never use at home (Chicago), the subway stations and the 7-11s (and other equivalents that are everywhere in Japan) are great for lunch or light dinner food, sushi or other "boxed" food are fresh, good and inexpensive. We also liked eating in the evenings in bars, great Japanese beer, small plates of food like teriyaki chicken wings and usually good conversation with locals, who love to try their English, in particular their knowledge of US baseball (go Cubs!)

Enjoy planning your trip.

For Kyoto, we were on a tour and stayed in an excellent ryokan within walking distance of the train station but with only a Japanese language brochure so I don't know the name to tell you. One suggestion would be to ask by e-mail to Shigetsu or wherever you book in Tokyo to ask them for a recommendation of a comparable accomodation in Kyoto.
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Old Aug 16th, 2004, 08:31 AM
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dgruzew -- I don't know the neighborhoods of Tokyo all that well but if you're near a major subway station you can essentially get anywhere. The Keio Plaza is very central which is one of the reasons I liked it -- it was also in a neighborhood that had lots of nightlife and lots of inexpensive and good restaurants.

I would NOT take a group tour of Kyoto. You're better off doing it on your own with a good guide book. If money is no object and there is something specific your are intested in you can get fabulous private guides through www.esprittravel.com

One must see outside of Kyoto is the Miho Museum -- incredible architecture and site.

Nara has wonderful old temples and Buddhist art.

I'm not sure if a rail pass is the best option if you are sure you are only using it for Kyoto-Tokyo.

How long is your trip?
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Old Aug 16th, 2004, 08:46 AM
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we would be going from oct 10 to oct 19
(arriving on the 11th leaving the 19th)
so 8 nights.

How is using the subway(tokyo) at nighttime? Does it shut down at any time(like london)



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Old Aug 16th, 2004, 09:40 AM
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I'm not a real late night person so never tested the subways at night. I'm sure they are safe since there is very little crime and I would be very surprised if they didn't run quite late. I did take them at 4:30AM to go to the fish market and had no problem.
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Old Aug 16th, 2004, 11:56 PM
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Bonjour dgurzew,

Here are a few sites that should answer most of your questions about the logistics of travel in japan.

General info on tourism and Japan: http://www.jinjapan.org/
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/

Kyoto: http://raku.city.kyoto.jp/sight_e.phtml
http://www.kyotoguide.com/index/index.html

Affordable accomodation:
http://www.jpinn.com/index.html
http://www.kyoto-ryokan.com/
http://www.itcj.or.jp/indexwel.html

Tokyo: http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/index_en.htm

You can find ATMs that will accept foreign cards (mostly debit) in post offices, especially the bigger ones (last May and June, I've used central office and Nakagyo-ku office in Kyoto, Asakusa office in Tokyo - very easy once you've spotted the "English" button)

Take a railpass if you intend to go to Kyoto and back, you'll save a lot and can use it for side trips. With only 8 days, concentrate on Tokyo, Kyoto and maybe 1 day trip, Nara if you want more temples and traditional architecture after Kyoto, or Himeji for a great castle, or Kurashiki and the Seto inland sea, or ... (well, there's enough to see to want to return in Japan almost every year for more than 20 years).

In Tokyo, I second the suggestion to stay in Asakusa, since there is a lot to see there, and it is extremely well located for sightseeing in the rest of the city.


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Old Aug 17th, 2004, 02:51 AM
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My husband and I are currently doing a 1 month trip around Japan on our motorcycle. I believe I can answer a few of your questions:

Hotels
They can be quite expensive or reasonable depending on what type of accommodation you are looking for and what your standards are. We started our trip in Tokyo, staying in Ginza, which can be quite expensive, but not more so than any large American city (like Chicago or New York). The Renaissance Hotel in Ginza was about $180/night. It is a very nice hotel and we could walk everywhere. I am sure you could get that rate, or perhaps better, if you look at online resources (marriott.com, travelocity.com, etc). Depending on what you want to do and see, it could be a great base from which to see some of Tokyo. I know there are more reasonable accommodations, but this is what we wanted in Tokyo.

Asakusa is a nice area, but I preferred some of the other areas in terms of what there was to see and do. Shibuya is a fun place to see the young generation - on the weekends the kids dress up like anime characters and hang out, with the "Elvises" and rockabillies, in the park.

Food
You can eat quite cheaply, or you can spend a fortune! I agree with a previous poster that you can pick up some great food at the mini marts all over town (Family Mart, AM/PM, 7-Eleven, etc.). Do keep in mind that some of the "fresh foods" at these mini marts contain a lot of preservatives so if you are sensitive to them, I would limit my intake of these foods. One of the best kept secrets (from foreigners, but not from locals!) is to go to the large department stores that have food stores in them. We?@visited one in Ginza and were amazed at the variety of foods (especially fresh fish!) that were available - and the prices were very reasonable. We made a very nice "picnic" in our room one night! You can also find small noodle houses and the sushi places with the conveyor belts (there is one in Asakusa just off the main shopping street to the left once you pass through the main gate that is quite good). Both provide good value.

Transportation
We are traveling by motorcycle so I can't help you with the train information except to say that the trains are fast and easy to use. If you want to buy a pass, it is cheaper to buy it from a US travel agent than to wait until you are here. But, if you are only going between Tokyo and Kyoto, it might be cheaper to buy a ticket for each trip when you get here. The Lonely Planet Japan book has a lot of info on train tickets (as well as other valuable info).

I can recommend the subway in Tokyo without reservation. It is clean, safe and easy to use. Maps are clear and stations are marked in English as well as an Hiragana. There are also line maps above the car?@doors that flash to let you know where the next stop is. We bought a pass and used it a lot.

Destinations
We have heard that Nara is a beautiful place and we plan to stop there on our way back south (we are currently heading North toward Hokkaido). I can also recommend Nikko (where we are now). It is quite nice and has some incredible temples and shrines located in a beautiful park of very tall cedars. We spent the day there today and had a great time. Be sure to book ahead though as it is a popular place.

Money
I would plan to bring cash, credit cards and an ATM card. You will be able to use your ATM card at any Citibank ATM (which can be found in large cities) and at post office ATMs. Many places do not accept credit cards, so you will need to have plenty of Yen with you (current exchange rate is about 108 yen per US dollar). Some hotels and restaurants accept credit cards (you will see signs as in the US letting you know which cards they accept - no sign, no cards!)

Be prepared that everyday items might be more expensive than you are used to (iced tea is $4.20 at Tully's!) and prices for rooms are often per person, not per room. Again, have plenty of cash on hand.

I would read up on the Japanese culture before coming here so you know what is expected and understand behaviors. I have found the knowledge I gained from reading to be very helpful here in "fitting in."

Japan is a wonderful place with wonderful people. There are many endearing qualities to appreciate.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!
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Old Aug 17th, 2004, 11:47 AM
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Thanks so much for all of your replies !!

We just booked our Airfare to japan
on United
ORD-NRT (nonstop)
KIX-ORD (nonstop!!!!)
for 812 USD including all taxes
- so I think I go a pretty good deal
plus now I wont need a rail pass(OR will I?)

I have foud a hotel in tokyo that gets very good reviews- it is called Mansions of Roponngi for 167 USD per night. Has anyone stayed here? what is the Roponngi district like? - would it be better to stay somewhere else?

Also I talked to a travel agent at JTB and they can get me Hotel New Miyako in kyoto for 161USD - has anyone heard of this hotel - how is the location ?

We are leaving from Osaka(5:55pm) - should I stay a night in Osaka( we can probably get a good rate at the westin) - is there anything to do there?? o should I just stay the last night in Kyoto?



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Old Aug 17th, 2004, 11:54 AM
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Oh - twowheeledtraveler, will the Animie kids be hanging around at all during the week? I would love to see this but I won't be there during the weekend (M-Th) ??
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Old Aug 17th, 2004, 12:37 PM
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Spend your last night in Kyoto -- there's a huge amount to do there. Osaka is a very modern city.

Kyoto Miyako is fine.
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Old Aug 17th, 2004, 06:29 PM
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Roppongi is a fun neighborhood. Many expats live here, and the nightlife can be pretty crazy! If you are looking for a more traditional Japanese neighborhood, or if you do not want to be surrounded by possibly drunken (I was one of them at one time!) revelers at night, you may want to consider other neighborhoods. But I have several friends living in Roppongi who love it there.

I also like Ebisu. It is fairly residential, but still central, with several good restaurants and shops. Many years ago I stayed at a very clean and inexpensive hotel, albeit quite dull, called Hotel Excellent. The price and location were "Excellent", but this is a no frills, Japanese business-traveler hotel.

Tokyo can be super-expensive, or quite reasonable, depending on how you to do it. One of the best sushi meals I had there was a breakfast at one of the stalls next to Tsukiji Market (the fish market.) It was also probably my cheapest meal I ever had in Tokyo.
 
Old Aug 17th, 2004, 06:57 PM
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Dgruzew-I just stayed at the Shigetzu this past April, and I HIGHLY recommend it. If you want an authentic Japanese experience. you will really ONLY get that in Asakusa (pronounced A-SAK-Sa). I can't imagine anyone interested in experiencing a taste of Japan passing up the opportunity to stay here. It's right at the end of the Ginza line-which subway line will take you to most of the touristic parts of the city-(I believe it's Tokyo's oldest subway line) and the subway is very easy to use. The Shigetzu is located just off the ancient shopping street of Nakamisi-dori, which in turn, leads to Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple-and one of its main tourist sites-Sensoji Temple. Do a search in the search box using "Shigetzu" and you should pull up a previous post of mine on the topic. The other areas of Tokyo you would stay in simply do not have the old Edo character of this most ancient part of the city. Ryokan Shigetzu actually sits within the temple grounds-and to walk the grounds at midnight, as I did, spotting the koi in the water, and experiencing the serenity and quiet-it was a singular experience.

Roppongi (the gaijin sector) Shinjuku, Shibuya-these are bar, nightlife areas-you visit those, and then go back to Asakusa, to have a sense of what is authentically Japanese. Many restaurants are within a 2 minute walk from Shigetzu. (IN fact, there is a restaurant on the other side of the street, as well as alongside the Shigetzu-however the menus are all in Japanese).

You will need to get plenty of cash-most everywhere you go, be it shop or restaurant, will NOT take credit cards. You will find a Citibank downtown in the financial district that will take your ATM card-otherwise you may have difficulty finding any bank ATM or post office that takes your foreign ATMs-(believe me, I speak from experience on this issue!)

I can't address accomodation in Kyoto-but I will say that I think the majority of your stay should be spent there. I tell people who ask that Kyoto is on my top three most fascinating cities of the world.
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Old Aug 17th, 2004, 11:33 PM
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Bonjour Spygirl,

You wrote:

You will need to get plenty of cash-most everywhere you go, be it shop or restaurant, will NOT take credit cards. You will find a Citibank downtown in the financial district that will take your ATM card-otherwise you may have difficulty finding any bank ATM or post office that takes your foreign ATMs-(believe me, I speak from experience on this issue!)"

I'm afraid you're mostly wrong, since I've been paying most of my purchases, restaurants, and hotels bills with my credit cards for years, even in relatively small shops all around Japan (including crafts shops in Kiso valley, in Iwate and Miyagi provinces, in Shikoku, etc.). Most Japanese do so too.

However, you will find a surprisingly high number of expensive ryokan refusing payment by credit card: the reason is that most Japanese will only stay for a couple of night at most, and this high turnover would mean too much credit card charges for establishment that live on a rather thin profit margin. Smaller ryokan catering to foreigners can accept credit card since we tend to stay for longer periods and pay in bigger lumps.

As for ATMs, there is at least one post office by city area ("ku", like in Taito-ku) that will accept foreign cards. In Asakusa for example, it is located in the main road leading to Ueno station, just above Inari-cho subway station.
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Old Aug 18th, 2004, 07:38 AM
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Nope, disagree totally, Florence. You need to get plenty of cash from the Citibank ATMs at Narita, because first off, if you plan to take the Keisei skyliner into Tokyo, THAT private train company does NOT take credit cards. If you want to go to Nikko, for example, THAT train ALSO does not take credit cards.

Back to Tokyo: in Asakusa: there are virtually NO shops in, or around, the Nakamise-Dori that take credit cards- if you want to buy some of the authentically Japanese items from shops that have been in the same families for several generations, you'll have to pay in cash. Likewise, in Asakusa, there were only a couple of restaurants (found through a guidebook) that took credit cards. The great majority of them did not. And as for those post offices that have ATMs that take foreign credit cards? The post office in Asakusa, on the same road with Kaminarimon Gate? That's the first place I went, and guess what, that ATM did NOT take foreign credit cards. I went to 2 other post offices in the Ginza district, they too, did not take my credit card, so, somewhat desperate, I finally got into a taxi, and went to Citibank.

As far as western-style hotels-OF COURSE they take credit cards, even the Ryokan Shigetsu does! (but I agree-many quite expensive ryokan do not) What I am saying is, you better take plenty of cash with you for meals, shopping, and even train tickets, depending on what line you're using, and one of the first things you need to do is locate an ATM in Tokyo that takes foreign credit cards, because contrary to what guidebooks tell you, many post office ATM machines do not take foreign cards. And you do not want to catch yourself in a situation like I did in Nikko this last April, not realizing there was nowhere to get or change money (I was there on the weekend)-and barely having enough yen to pay for my return ticket to Tokyo.

Taxis in Tokyo, oddly enough, do take credit cards for the most part-it will indicate that on the outside of the taxi (but even those who say they do sometimes don't, however).
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Old Aug 18th, 2004, 08:20 AM
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I'm with spygirl. I also had a lot of trouble using credit cards. I mean there were plenty of places that took them but about 40 did not which is way more than I am used to. And the ATM issue was a big problem -- cetainly in Kyoto. Sure there are a few there but who wants to run all over town looking for one -- especially since the ones I saw were not 24 hr.

I'd bring more cash than you usually do if you want to have maximum number of options. And certainly if you plan on buying any art or crafts from individuals or small shops.
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Old Aug 18th, 2004, 12:03 PM
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wow I did not realise that it was that diifcult to get cash there. - No biggie I will just take travelers checks and change them. Does anyone know where good places(best rates) to change travelers checks(and us dollars) are in tokyo and kyoto?

The cash socitey of japan acually makes alot of sense. Japan has had brief periods of NEGATIVE interest rates before (this means that the YOU PAY THE BANK to keep you money there) and interest rates have always been really low otherwise - so many japanese probably don't hold much stock in using bank accounts
- just a guess

On another note, does anyone know if would be able to get discounted Nikon SLR camera lenses in that electronics district? (not just 5% percent off US price but real discounts like 50%)


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