Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Need information for trip to Japan

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Need information for trip to Japan

I need to find some good resources to plan a trip to Japan (Tokyo,Kyoto). I will be traveling with my husband and daughter(17) to meet our son in Tokyo,probably in Sept./Oct. 2003 time frame. We neeed to start planning and try to determine how much this is going to cost. We hope to keep it around $10,000 - if this is a realistic goal! Thanks in advance for any information posted!

C.Marone....Was in Tokyo/Yokohama area Aug 01. Have some resourses that could be of some help....probably more on the actualy experince level....as the resourse are readily accessable on the internet....Would be happy to share what I have....send email...above email address correct. rus/Seattle Washingtion

I lied....this one is the correct email ....the z got left out....my typing!!!

I started my planning with several guide books and internet searches followed by a call to the Japan tourist office closest to the city I live in for their brochures. These, of course, generated more questions, and this is where this forum is very useful and helpful. The Japan tourist office in your country and nearest city is an excellent source of information. Call or email them with as much information as you can give. You can also get lodging information that includes a form you can mail or fax to Japan to make your own reservations. If you indicate what your major interests are, you'll be able to get more details.

how long are you planning too stay for.

Try this link that is a page to resources in Japan. http://www.virtualniche.net/links/ :)

The Japan National Tourist Organization: http://www.jnto.go.jp/ Sumo tournament in Tokyo, Sept 7 to 21, 2003, can get a ticket on the day (around $25 or $30 for a chair seat). Or, if your son is in Japan, he can get box seats (mats on the floor) in advance. http://www.sumo.or.jp The Japain Rail Pass is a great deal: http://www.japanrail.com/ Lots of info here: http://gojapan.about.com/ Find the Welcome Inn Reservation Center somewhere on the web. Also, check the All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines websites for tourist info and for intercity airfares. If you are only visiting Tokyo and Kyoto, then a JR pass might not be best for you (but seriously check out the various rail passes at the JR page before you make that determination since rail travel is really the way to go). The airlines have low fares for international tourists on occasion. During the World Cup, I got a fare from Tokyo to Kagoshima for about under $50, same for Fukuoka-Sendai (additional travel supplemented by JR pass. In addition to the airline pages, search the web for Chowari fares. When I saw your budget of $10,000, I thought: yes, that's realistic. But, of course it depends on how long you will be staying. Hotels are expensive in Japan, and small. This is going to be the big ticket, especially if your son and daugter will each have a private room. For three rooms, you are looking at $250 to $600 a night. Ten days, three rooms, figure $3500. Four railpasses $1500. Four tix to sumo $100 and to a baseball game, $100. Two subway or bus rides per day for 10 days for four at $2 a ride, figure $150 (less if you use JR buses/subway with your railpass). Taxis are a bit expensive. Get a jar of Nescafe if you are a morning coffee addict like me, else pay $2 to $3 for a cup. Breakfast $5, Lunch $10, Dinner $20. A can a peach jusu, some Bocari Sweat, and a snack. Figure $160 a day for four, per day (you could, of course, spend much more, or less). Three roundtrips from the U.S. about $2500. I forget how much the show was at Gion corner, but I'll guess $25. Spend $5 a day each for visiting sites. Air: $2500 Hotel: $3500 Rail: $1500 Food: $1600 Sumo: $ 200 Bball: $ 200 Fares: $ 150 Sites: $ 200 Add only $150 for souvenirs to that budget and I can spend your $10000 in 10 days!

Errors in the above: subtract $100 from the sumo and $100 from the baseball. Add $100 for Gion Corner. You can spend that last $100 by taking a taxi to/from the Hard Rock Cafe in Tokyo and buying two shirts (meal included in food budget). You have time to learn some Japanese. See what your local community college has to offer. Japan is a wonderful place to visit. I hope that you don't fret about prices. Your time is more valuable than money and is well spent in Japan. With your family!