Japan is becoming cheaper
 

For all of you who thinks Japan is expensive... The yen is trading today at 118.82 yen per 1 us dollar. When we went to Japan this past March it was 104.31 yen to the us dollar. Going in the right direction :)
Aloha!

Yeah, I noticed that the other day. Checked on oanda.com and the yen was at its lowest in about three and a half years (119.24 recently). I think that is also without any real price inflation.

Wrong direction for me, though, as we are paid in yen. We lose when we come to the states. :(

Wrong direction for me too. I'm also in Japan. That means my trip to Thailand and Bhutan this winter is getting more and more expensive every minute... Yikes.

Yabba dabba doo, I'm watching it too! Hawaii, I was there last March. I decided the advantage at that point was that I never really had to think about conversion factor when I bought something; it was just about 1:1. If this holds up til April I'll have to take the calculator, but it is getting worth it at this rate. I have two sets of hotel reservations, the frugal ones and the ones I really want (as I am self-employed and don't know how much work I'll have and how secure/insecure I'll feel at the time). If this rate holds or gets even better, I'll keep most of the nicer reservations.
Have you decided where you are staying in Kyoto?

emd:
I still have both reservations at Granvia and Okura. I will have to make up my mind sooner than later but not quite yet :) . Have you seen the newly revised website Granvia has? I cancelled my initial res and made a new one at a cheaper rate. You might want to check it out as I see rates for 21000 y per double and cheaper for JR Passholders in April.

Kim & Mealea:
Sorry...forgot about you guys
Aloha!