Here's a few questions for you long haulers. <BR> <BR>Has anyone stayed at the Hotel New Koyo in <BR>Tokyo ? This is supposedly the cheapest in <BR>town - what's it like ? <BR> <BR>How easy is it to book accomodation from day <BR>to day whilst in Japan ? ( No festivals or <BR>National Holidays will be in progress ). <BR> <BR>Are non-Japanese speaking westerners welcome <BR>at most Ryokan type accomodations ? I have <BR>heard that, increasingly, they are becoming <BR>reluctant to accept us due to the language <BR>difficulties & ignorance of Ryokan etiquette. <BR>( I've done my homework & know all about the <BR>"toilet slippers", don't soap in the tub etc. <BR>etc. ). <BR> <BR>Are taxis REALLY as expensive as I've read ? <BR> <BR>Any thoughts on Shinkansen ? ( Our JR passes <BR>are ordered ). <BR> <BR>Any other observations ? <BR> <BR>Finally not a question but a bit of praise: <BR>I e-mailed JNTO in London requesting any <BR>information they could give me & received a <BR>shedload of stuff in the post, maps, guidebooks etc. It cost over £1.50 to send it <BR>& they had not requested postage or any other <BR>fee. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

No idea about the New Koyo, let us know when you return. <BR> <BR>I suppose JNTO has provided you with a list of Welcome Inns and suchlike. Hotels and Ryokan listed here are used to and welcome foreigners, can usually understand basic english and will help you book a room to your next location. Alternatively, you can ask the TIC in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, to call the inns for you. <BR> <BR>JNTO and TIC will direct you to Ryokans that welcome foreigners. Those that don't usually base their acceptance of newcomers on introduction by regular customers (of course, it's easier to blame it on bad manners from foreigners rather than to explain that you have to be a member of an "elite"). <BR> <BR>Taxis are expensive if you want to move from one area to another in Tokyo. If you have to travel only a few km inside an area (like going from Ueno station to Asakusa), they can be a good deal, especially if you are two or more. <BR> <BR>Shinkansen is safe, clean, convenient, confortable, and always on time. <BR> <BR>Finally, if you change accomodation on a day to day basis, you'll spend more time carrying your packs to and from your hotels than seeing the sights ... You'd better stay in one location for a few days and go on day trips <BR> <BR>

I did not find a need for taxis in Tokyo, but had to use them in Kyoto for visiting out of the way places. Tokyo's subway lines are excellent and there are English signs. I remember cab rides start at about 660 yen for about 1.25 miles and rise about 90 yen for each .33 miles. Cabs can take up to 4 passengers. <BR> <BR>I stayed at the Kikuya Ryokan in Tokyo. For 2 people, a Japanese-style room with private bath cost about 9000 yen per day, tax included. My only complaint is that it's air conditioning unit barely works; I don't recommend it during the height of summer. <BR> <BR>I do not speak Japanese, but an English-Japanese book, knowing how to pronounce Japanese words correctly (or as correctly as possible) , plus knowing a few basic words helped when looking for directions. In the big cities, there's no problem finding someone who knows English.

One bit of advice, since it sounds like this is your first trip to Japan: be prepared for Japanese cuisine. <BR> <BR>Japanese cuisine is unlike almost any other - not even close to Chinese, Thai, or most of what they serve at Benihana (a popular chain restaurant in the USA). <BR> <BR>Especially at Ryokans, you may get served some strange-looking food (I have been served raw chicken and raw horse meat, plus a favorite food amongst Japanese called "natto" - sticky, fermented soybeans that most Westerners would find unappetizing). But if you are prepared to experiment, I think you will find much of it delicious. <BR>

Frank, <BR>If you have never been to Japan, be prepared for how expensive it is. (I just read its the most expensive city in the world.) The taxis really DO cost that much but you won't need them very much because the trains are so good (and easy to use). <BR> <BR>I have been living in Tokyo for 2 months now so feel free to email me with any questions - I am happy to try and help. <BR> <BR>Do you know how to get to the city from the airport? It takes over two hours to get where you are going from Narita, and if you take a taxi it could run about $250. Email me if you need information. <BR> <BR>Also, I have not found it that easy to find people who speak English - and if they do speak English its never that good. You will be surprised at how few "western" faces you see. <BR> <BR>You also will love it. The Japanese people are fantastic! The food is a bit intimidating at first until you get the hang of it and find things you can eat. <BR> <BR>Have a good time! <BR> <BR>Ginny

Everything you have read about the cost of visiting Japan is true. I have lived here for 8 years and have found places the average traveler will never see. Reasonable prices are here. But not in Tokyo proper. <BR> <BR>If your plans permit, try a place called the Fujiya Hotel in Hakone. It is near Mt. Fuji, is beautiful, was originally built for western travelers 100 years or more ago. They speak english and runs about $150 a night. Many sights of the OLD japan are here and really should not be missed on an expensive vacation. Kyoto also. Fodors puts out an extremely accurate guide book on japan. Well worth the $20 or so for it. Enjoy!!

Rick, where have you been living in Japan ? <BR>I've been going to Japan 3 weeks-2 months every year for the last 18 years, staying with Japanese friends in Sumida ward in Tokyo. <BR> <BR>I don't think Tokyo is that expensive if you stay away from the more touristy spots and you don't try to live exactly like at home (Switzerland for me). Also, you can see a lot of the old Japan in Tokyo too, in places like Sumida, Yanaka, Ogikubo,... <BR> <BR>One of the most common error of the first time travellers to Japan is the propensity to run everywhere as if Japan was going to sink under the sea before their next visit. If you want to pack Tokyo, Kyoto, Himeji, Takayama, Hiroshima and climb the Fuji all in 10 days, no wonder you will end up not seeing anything at all. <BR> <BR>I did that the first time, came back home exhausted and disappointed for not having seen much of traditional Japan except some temples and gardens in Kyoto. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Frank, <BR> <BR>I've said this repeatedly in other threads - be mentally prepared for a fairly intimidating language barrier. If you have the time, learn to read the most common kanji, so that you will be able to understand some of the more important signs (e.g., danger, train station, etc.). You might also consider learning to read katakana, which is the phonetic script that the Japanese use to write western words (e.g., hamburger, computer, your name, etc.). Katakana is not hard to learn and there are some books with clever mnemonic devices to speed up the process. Let me know if you're interested. Beyond a few basic phrases like "thank you," "excuse me," and so on, I wouldn't try to learn to speak too much. It can be overwhelming. My wife and I spent four months in an immersion course at the University of Tokyo and, despite spending every weekday morning in class, could only speak at the level of a four-year-old when we finished. <BR> <BR>Florence: In case you're interested, we lived in Machiya, which is in Arakawa-ku. Machiya is where the Chiyoda subway line and the Keisei train line intersect. We were only about 1/2 kilometer from the Sumida River, and used to walk down there all the time.

<BR>Hi <BR> <BR>to answer some of your questions. You can stay at business hotels for 6000Yen which is about 60$ US.If you have two to share its' a good deal. the rooms are small but clean. <BR> <BR>In ryokans it is usually 4000Yen and up per person not per room. You have to share bath this way <BR> <BR>Accommodations and transportation and drinks will kill your wallet in japan. <BR> <BR>Alternatively if you are alone stay at a capsule hotel for 3500 Yen. It's an experience!!!!! <BR> <BR>One popular way if you are 2 (couple) is to stay at LOVE HOTELS. These are usually price by the hour (4000 Yen/hr) but past 10pm you can stay all night and till noon for only 6000 - 7000 Yen for a great suite room that you would pay $200 +++ in Las Vegas. Complete with everything you could want. They are clean and safe and sometime down right funky and spacey. Many have themes to the room. Like a pumpkim merri go round bed, a starship shape bed,etc..... all have karaoke, great sound system, nintendo, 30inch tvs, and of course a few pornos on tv -free. <BR> <BR>enjoy <BR> <BR>i can tell you lots of Japan as I was living there for 5 years in Osaka. <BR> <BR>e mail me if you need more help <BR> <BR>here's my website if you want to look too. <BR> <BR>http://members.xoom.com/namabeer/

And here we are in Japan having a great time !!! <BR> <BR>Hotel New Koyo is more like a youth hostel, very basic but clean & OK. 4,800 yen a night & it has a traditional Japanese bath & ( as you can see ) access to the Internet. It's in Minowa, a couple of train trips from downtown Tokyo. More later.....

Hello, Frank - Found this thread while searching for anything on Japan. In your last msg you said "more later" -- am I missing something??? Would very much like to read about the rest of your trip. THANKS!<BR>