Hi,
I am just starting to do some research for a vacation to Japan during the week of Thanksgiving. I am getting tickets for 900-1000 USD from Philly to Tokyo, for about 10 days in the 3rd week of Nov. I would like to know if this is a reasonable fare or should I contact travel agents to get better fares. Any help on this is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

It's a reasonable fare these days to Asia. Not saying there won't be a sale from now till then, so you can still wait a little and check fare very often.

Thanks a lot for your response. I guess I'll wait for a couple of more weeks and keep checking. Again, thanks for your help.

http://www.iace-usa.com/scripts/iace...NE=&TYPE=1

Well, if you can't open that one, try www.iace-usa.com Hope you like their prices better.

I tried this website - but it keeps giving this message that the fares you are looking for have not been updated. I'll call them up and find out. Thanks for your help.

We were very happy with www.gatewaylax.com on our trip to Japan in June.

That's the going rate, for now. You should also look for fares to Nagoya and Osaka. Sometimes they are lower than Tokyo.

You picked a good time to go. I would fly out to Fukuoka and attend the Kyushu Bassho (grand sumo tournament) and then work my way back to Tokyo or Osaka or Nagoya for the flight home.

Redhead119,
Thanks. I tried the website you provided and got a rate of 870. Don't know if I should go ahead and book or wait for prices to come down (since Nov-Dec is not the peak season for visiting Japan).

mrwunrfl,
I have already tried Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. But Tokyo seems to be the cheapest option, as of now. But thanks a lot for your suggestions.

If I were to use a TA I would try H.I.S. Travel. I got my most recent JR Pass at one of their offices here in Orange County, CA. I believe it is a Japanese company.

If the $870 includes taxes and fees then I would definitely buy it. If that price doesn't include t+f then I would probably buy it.

Thanks, mrwunrfl. I will try the travel agent this evening. Also, in response to your question, $870 is the final cost (inclusive of all taxes). I am just not sure that Nov being the offpeak season, if the prices might still come down considerably. Any ideas?

My idea <u>was</u>: &quot;If the $870 includes taxes and fees then <b>I</b> would definitely buy it&quot;.

Especially if it was on the dates that I wanted and to the destination I wanted. But, I might consider waiting for a better price if I was willing to NOT take the trip. I would LOVE to go to Japan in November and would not risk it if that were my plan because I think that is a good price.

I mentioned Fukuoka because tho the fare might be a bit higher to go there it might be worth it (for $110 more it would be worth it to connect in Japan to go there, if that was on your itinerary). Same for Nagoya. Depends on the rest of your itinerary. Paying to fly in Japan could save you time, and it could save you money in terms of rail travel through direct savings of not buying a train ticket or timing it so that only a 7-day JR Pass is necessary instead of a 14-day pass. I suppose that you have got that in your calculations, but thought I would mention it anyway.

Especially if it was to the destination I wanted <i>and from the return city I wanted</i>. I mean an open jaw.

I just thought of the perfect example.

If you fly into Tokyo and plan to go to Kyoto for a couple of days then back to Tokyo and fly home from there then it would be economical to buy a 7-day JR Pass for 28,300 yen.

If you fly into Tokyo, stay for a couple of days, go to Kyoto for a couple of days, then fly out of Osaka then you would pay 1100 NRT-Tokyo (on Keisei), 16000 for Tokyo-Kyoto on JR. Kyoto -&gt; KIX would be between 1700 for less convenient rail service to 3700 for the limited express. That's about 20,000 yen.

So an open jaw could save a few bucks.

mrwunrfl,
Thanks for your thoughts. Your ideas made me rethink my itinerary. And I am glad about it. Once again, thanks for your suggestions and I shall think deeper before booking.