FamousDave

Hello All!, my name is Dave.

I'm amazed how much information I've been able to gather because of this forum, you are all very helpful, I've been especially impressed by KimJapan's messages which I've found very useful for my next trip to Japan.

Below is my trip itinerary for which I would like to get your blessing,
- I?m 24 years old
- I will be traveling ALONE
- I've always wanted to Visit Japan, I'm obsessed with the whole Japanese culture, temples, shrines, Buddhism, etc.
- I love cold weather
- One important thing that I'd like to mention is that I like to party A LOT, I drink too much and smoke too much, I'm looking forward to find out how the whole party scene is in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto
- I'll pack as light as I can, probably a small suitcase and a mid size back pack
- I bought a 7 day Ordinary JR Pass
- I'm on a low budget (I know how expensive Japan is)

Thursday - Fly FLL - ATL and then ATL - NRT ( 14 hours on a Delta 777 )

Friday - Arrive NRT at 1:25pm, Get to Tokyo (how?), check in, walk around, Roppongi at night and go to bed early. (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)

Saturday - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast
- Visit nearby Hama Rikyu Garden
- Board a cruise down the Sumida River to the district of Asakusa
- Visit Sensoji Temple
- Take the Ginza Line for Asakusa, check the shops selling traditional products and Sensoji Temple.
- Walk around Ginza's fashionable shopping district
- Head toward Harajuku
- Spend the evening in Shinjuku or Roppongi partying
- Sleep in Sunroute Asakusa Hotel (Y 9500 (open for suggestions))

Sunday - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Harajuku to see Meiji Shrine
- Tokyo Tower Observatory
- Imperial Palace Plaza
- Asakusa Kannon Temple
- Great Buddha
- Hase Kannon Temple
- Visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

Monday - (Tokyo - Mt. Fuji) (JR PASS ACTIVATED TODAY)
- Train to Hakone (I'll check out of my Tokyo hotel so I don't pay for the night)
- Lake Ashi
- Hakone Shrine
- I'll try to find a way to get to Fuji Five Lake to get a closer look at Mt Fuji. (a train maybe?)
- Spend the night at a Ryokan in Hakone (haven't found one yet)

Tuesday - (Hakone - Takayama) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Takayama get a place to sleep (ryokan or guest house probably)
- Higashiyama Walk
- Hida Folk Village
- Sanmachi Suji (the town)
- Spend the night in Takayama

Wednesday - (Takayama - Kyoto) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Kyoto
- Find a place to sleep and leave luggage (Ryokan or guest house probably)
- Visit Nijo Castle
- Kinkaku-ji Temple
- Old Imperial Palace
- Higashi Hongan-ji Temple and Handicraft Center
- Heian Shrine
- Sanju-Sangendo Hall
- Kiyomizu Temple
- Party at night

Thursday - (Kyoto) (USING JR PASS)
- I don't have a schedule for this day yet, but I probably want to spend it in Kyoto or maybe a half day trip to Nara (open for suggestions)

Friday - (Kyoto - Mt Koya) (USING JR PASS)
- Take a early train to Mt. Koya
- Find a Temple to sleep and leave luggage
- I don?t know any special destinations here, I chose it because I've read a lot of good things about it and it looks like a very interesting place. I'm open for suggestions on places to visit here.
- Sleep at a Buddhist temple

Saturday - (Mt. Koya - Himeji) (USING JR PASS)
- Leave after Mt. Koya after Buddhist praying and take a train to Himeji
- Get a locker for my luggage and take a day pack.
- Stay in Himeji most of the day, I don?t have specifics here but I want to see the Himeji Castle for sure.
- Leave Himeji at night to Osaka
- Spend the night at Osaka (haven't found a hotel yet)

Sunday - (Osaka - Tokyo) (USING JR PASS)
- Spend the day in Osaka
- Visit Osaka Castle
- Umeda Sky Building
- Perhaps pay a visit to Osaka Aquarium
- Visit Sumiyoshi Taisha
- Take a late night train to Tokyo
- Party at night
- Maybe stay at a capsule hotel just to live the experience

Monday - (Tokyo)
- Last minute shopping
- Take a train at noon to Narita (my flight is at 4:45pm)
- Leave Japan, Back to Miami...


I also have some punctual questions,
- I'm planning to activate my JR pass after spending 3 days in Tokyo, meaning the first 3 days in Japan I will not have a JR Pass. How expensive do you think it'll be for me to move around the trains in Tokyo without a JR Pass? The problem that I have is that I bought a 7 day only pass and I will be in Japan for 11 days, so I'm trying to find the best cost effective way to use it.

- What type of transportation (cheap please!) would you recommend me to take from Narita to Downtown Tokyo? (I won't have the JR PASS active yet by then)

- In regards of the distances between cities, I have no clue how many hours it'll take me between one city to another, is there a way you can guide me with this? As my itinerary shows, I'm planning to take the following route:
Tokyo - MT. Fuji - Hakone - Takayama - Kyoto - Nara - MT Koya - Himeji - Osaka - Tokyo

- Any recommendations on clothing for end of October / Beginning of November?

- I want to rent a phone while in Japan, I found a company that will charge me $75 per week + $1.50 per min to the US and free incoming calls, do you think that's reasonable?

To all:

Thank you VERY much for any comments to this post, I'd really appreciate your help.

Best regards

Dave

rhkkmk

i don't know japan so can't advise, but you look over booked to me...

what do you need a phone for especially if you are on a tight budget??

KimJapan

Hi...I'm glad that the info here has been helpful for you!

About your trip...I also think you have too much on your plate for 11 days...especially if you have any intention at all of being out late at night drinking and partying...for the agenda you've outlines, you'll need every last bit of energy you've got.

So, I'd scale it down quite a bit. Decide what your priorities are and go from there. You can always add more to your days as you go. Your first day in Tokyo is too busy I think, especially considering that you'll have jetlag...you'll want to crawl into bed around 5 in the afternoon!

Getting around Tokyo by subway and Yamanote line is easy and very reasonably priced. You can get subway passes for tourists if you think it's worth it.

Use hyperdia.com click on English to get the train routings and how long it takes (and fares).

Going to Takayama for a night between Hakone and Kyoto seems to me like too much. I'd eliminate either Hakone or Takayama. I'd also skip Mt Koya...it's an experience and gorgeous, but does take time, plus I don't think you could properly enjoy and appreciate the spiritualality of Koya-san being on such a tight itinerary. I actually might even skip Nara and devote the time to Kyoto, depending on your interests. Also, without reservations for a temple stay, it's likely they will not accept you. The temples just aren't someplace you turn up at and grab a room for the night...you are expected to do a bit of work and participate in early morning (like 5 am) meditation. It's an experience worth doing if you are Buddist and/or are seeking a peaceful and spiritual break from the hub bub of everyday life...but not worth doing for other reasons IMHO.

You don't say what your budget is....but you don't have to spend a fortune to have decent food and accommodation. We've found over the years that the price of smelly, run down business hotels is just slightly lower than nice hotels. I do caution you about ryokan...the real thing is an experience in luxury and not the least bit budget oriented. You'd be better off in minshuku or pensions. The tourist info desk at the stations may be able to help you find suitable accommodations. There are also International Youth Hostels.

Phone...you can rent a phone from many places. Vodafone has rental phones and prepaid phones. Unless you have a compelling reason for being "in touch" with home all the time, perhaps you could forego the phone and use international dial pay phones or internet cafes?

I'm sure you'll have a great trip...pace yourself, allow for jet lag, and enjoy your adventure.

nicktrip

child ... you have my blessing. Go forth and travel...

AGoela

Nice plan, just be aware that when you are partying, you might as well party until the morning hours, because the subways do not run 24 hrs as they do in NYC and cabs can be very expensive. I am in Japan right now and the last subways stop at about 1:00 AM and do not start until sometime after 5:00 AM. Since I am not a party person, I am doing pretty well getting back before the subways stop.

FamousDave

Thank you all in your responses.

My budget is between US$2000 ~ 3000
excluding the plain ticket which I got with Delta FF miles.

KimJapan: Do you have a recommendation for a hotel in Kyoto? I was able to find good options in Tokyo but Kyoto is getting a little complicated.

Also, how cold can it get in the beggining of November? I'm trying to figure out what kind of clothing to take.

Once again, Thank you very much.

Dave

KimJapan

If you search Japanese Welcome Inns you may find something that suits you and your budget. The Granvia in Kyoto station might have some last minute deals. Lots of places have been recommended on this board...just do a search for Kyoto. There are a couple of youth hostels, though they are neither cheap nor particularly well located.

Early November weather is rather unpredictable. Sometimes is sunny and 25 degrees...sometimes there are typhoons with torrential rain and strong wind. I'd plan on wearing layers...t-shirt, long sleeved shirt over that, fleece over that. A windbreaker or raincoat might be usuful, but not necessary...when it really rains, nothing short of a full body rain suit will help. If it rains, you can buy an umbrella right away and anywhere for 1000 yen or less...they just appear like magic in front of about every shop.

lcuy

This place in Kyoto might be interesting to you

http://www.kyotojp.com/


They are set up like a hostel, but have private rooms with bath as well, for $75 a night or so! dorm rooms around $30.

A (young ) friend stayed here and really liked it...said it was clean, safe and friendly.

Neil_Oz

Dave, my son recently stayed at the Toji-An guest house in Kyoto, a palce mainly favoured by backpackers, and had no complaints at all. Right now they're advertising private rooms for Y2300 pp. The website is
http://pws.prserv.net/waruida/tojian/tojian_top_e.htm

FamousDave

Dear Friends:

Thank you all for your responses, I know they will be a lot of help for me while in Japan.

I've discarded the idea of renting a phone, I will use calling cards and email to communicate back and forth with the us (mostly my office).

I found a hotel chain for which I'd like to get your advise, it called toyoko-inn (http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng) It seems like a nice place and VERY reasonably priced. I?m wondering if anyone here has stayed in any of their hotels before or have heard any comments about it. It has the following locations in Tokyo:

Tozai-Sen Nishi-kasai
Asakusa Senzoku
Asakusa Komagata
Otsuka-eki Kita-guchi
Jr. Ikebukuro Kita-guchi
Shinjuku Kabuki-cho
Kourakuen Bunkyo Kuyakusho-mae
Shinagawa-eki Takanawa-guchi
Minami-Shinagawa Aomono-yokocho-eki
Kamata No.1
Kamata No.2
Kamata Higashi-guchi
Haneda Otorii Honkan
Haneda Otorii Shinkan

Which one do you think it better located?

BTW, the mansions at Roppongi looks VERY cool, but it's too expensive

I will probably change my itinerary to less cities and will pick a base from
where I'll take some day trips (probably Osaka and Tokyo). I will post it
here for one last blessing J and for future travelers advice before leaving.

I read the article in the NY Times about New Koyo Hotel in Tokyo, but I'm
not into the whole shared bathrooms and bunker beds thing, maybe for my next
trip, but in this one I think a bit more of privacy will be better. That's
why I liked Tokoyo Inn, they seem fairly cheap and decent, but there are so
many that I'm a little lost in choosing which location.

Once again, thank you all!

FamousDave

xgao

Just my 2 cents. Before I had my son and when I was in my 20s, I used to be able to do a lot more traveling than what most travel guides suggest (and what most people on this board would think that are doable.) Yes, I didn't need extra rest time despite the jet-lag. You do want to cut back on you plans. However, don't cut back too much if you really want to see more (with time and budget constraints of cause). My husband used to call me crazy when it came to traveling.

Neil_Oz

There are many suggestions about dealing with jet lag, but we found the most basic to be effective: whatever time you arrive, stay awake until local bedtime, even if it hurts, and then get a good night's sleep. You should be fine in the morning.

piano_man

Hello Famous Dave.

I am from London, my name is Steve and I am 30 years old. I am also going to Japan. I arrive in Tokyo on Tuesday 26th October and will be staying for two weeks. I have a Japanese friend who lives in Nagoya who I will meeting up with towards the end of the trip. I also want to find the party scene while I am in Kyoto. I hear there are some good clubs and bars. If you have any problems finding "party scene" let me know. My email address is: [email protected] and I can pick up messages from my mobile phone. I am you have a good trip. Cheers !