gotta yen for yen?
 

i know there are a few travelers here that will be going to japan in the fall, so this might be of interest to you.

this morning, i went to my favorite money changer in waikik, and got a yen rate of 98.5 to the usd. i also called two banks, and was quoted 92 and 96 yen to the usd. boo!

my crystal balling friend advised me that he predicts the yen will be between 100-105 to the usd within the next two months. of course, he also took the four points and went with michigan.

i think it might be over a 100 yen to the usd in japan now.

xe.com quotes 99.173 yen to the dollar! This will make our Japan trip more affordable - though it will likely be an excuse to spend more yen!

Ken howzit! Where u been bruddah?

If the avalanche starts after the resistance level is broken at 99.5(it already has been intraday) then think 120-130 by Nov. Next week will be a key. If sanity prevails,I am thinking 106-111 by November and 120 by late next spring. After all the Japan Govt will double its money supply by printing over a trillion dollars worth of yen. I am hoping it might hit the 2007 levels of 120's yen to dollar.

Mrs Watanabe's are starting to invest again overseas and that's not a racial slur, it is a loose financial term believe it or not. Google it Bob and read all about the tactic.....

Aloha!

ken, see you in japan... peter is buying...

While I am pleased with the direction the yen is heading (and also that Peter is buying), we are achieving major savings by the following:
1) Staying at the Citadines Shinjuku in Tokyo at 120,000 JPY per night - new place with great service and convenient location
2) 4 free nights (of our 5) with Hyatt Visa Card at Hyatt Regency Kyoto
3) 1 night on Koto Peninsula at 10-15,000 JPY, including dinner and breakfast
4) 3 nights at a machiya in Kanazawa - 18000 JPY per night, including breakfast
5) Business class airfare US - Japan, with points - zero

On the other hand, we will be blowing out the budget on our one night at Beniya Mukayu (ryokan) at 64,000 JPY, including dinner and breakfast, our evening with the geisha in Kanazawa (don't ask), numerous fancy dinners and whatever Jeane chooses to spend while shopping...

I hope you mean 12,000 not 120,000 JPY for the Citadines, Craig!

we are looking forward to the geisha experience...

Craig,

Ok I will buy the geisha experience for us all.....yeah right.

Looks like you have found the secret to traveling in Japan. I always find the use of points and privileges to be a major plus while traveling in Japan especially in the 5-star accommodations. Not that there aren't any deals to be had because as you have found out there are many and if you wait a few months you will see more come out that you may still be able to take advantage of. In most places the better deals are found months ahead of time.....in Japan some of the best deals come out at 60 and 90 days ahead of your arrival. If you learn to blend your stays with favored business hotels and 5-star accommodations on points or specials it will give you the best of both worlds at a steal of a price. The falling yen only helps the situation.

You will also I hope find that the ¥64000 you spend at the ryokan which you think right now is a splurge to be a bargain deal better than a suite deal at the Pen in BKK for about the same price. The ryokan dinner itself you will find to be a first class experience with food you never dreamed of having which will be worth the price of admission alone and with the added breakfasts, onsens and en-suite rooms plus service and atmosphere, I predict it will be thought of as a bargain to you in the end.

You are right about expensive meals in Japan which can easily be had just as in any large metropolis but you will be surprised at the quality and affordability of fantastic food venues also available in Japan especially in Tokyo. Speaking of which, we all have to go to a wagyu steak place I know in either Shinjuku or Kyoto one evening. Bob will buy

Aloha!

We're on board for the wagyu steak place, especially if Bob is buying...

no problem, one 4 oz steak split by the 6 of us plus one baked potatoe and 6 green beans... no salad or dessert..

re -1:

Yet another content-free post, but at least it channels the spirit of Dan Quayle.

wow, you guys seem like you got in down pat. great bargins and excellent use of rewards cards.

howzit brah, i've been around, sometimes in, sometimes out, but mostly in the middle. i agree with the last paragraph of your last post. i've always felt that you can get excellent japanese food for a reasonable price in japan. i think the japanese food at narita is the best value for airport food anywhere i've travelled.

now, i hope you all will be pooling your yens together to pay for the geisha experience, as it won't be chump change. but, if you run short, you can always leave bob to make up the difference. lol.

btw, where is the gtg going to be, or is that a top secret item, not to be disclosed to retired ninjas.

also, i recommend the restaurant below. i've been there with my son, and they have an excellent set menu for about 4500 yen, and its not all raw fish, so all of you can enjoy a nice meal.

Kaikaya by the Sea, Shibuya.

the yen is almost 100.

ken---you may remember a place where a certain Fodorite fell thru a japanese door... that's the GTG location... see you there.

I can send you guys some transgender geisha from Thailand if you want and it should save you money.