hawaii, that long link you posted seems to have crapped out the system. When i go to reply to your comment, I get a weird screen and cna't reply. So I thought I'd just start a new one.

I REALLY want to do this trip. I am poised to tell my husband about it in the next 12 rs and book it. But even w/the travelocity link that you gave me (which goes directly to the homepage), I can't get the $548 fare, even for the exact days you gave me, 1/23 - 1/30. I would want more days than that, because I'd get there 1/24 and only have 5 days til departure - not enough. I really want two weekends. But regardless, I can't even get the rate you quote to come up...I am getting like a $643 rate for those days, not $548.

I really want to go and can swing it if I keep it within a certain budget as I pitch it to my DH. So what am I doing wrong.

ok, I figured out how to access the screen that allows me to pick from the highlighted calendar days, and I found the fare. Am looking at Sat 1/28, IAD-ORD- KIX; return Tues, 2/7, KIX-ORD-DCA (a much better way for me to come home instead of Dulles) for $643 total (that is the cost of the base ticket that hawaii quoted for $548 or so).

Do you all think I can get rooms for average of $100 a night or so? If I can go for 8 full days and 9 nights for $643 flight and average $100 a night, how much more is it going to cost? I guess I need to know where I am going. So say I take mrw's advice and go to Kyushu- Beppu, Saga, etc. Do I need rail pass or what? I don't have much time to reserach this so please help. I am leaving town for a week on Dec. 26th and have to have this sorted out and budgeted and convince DH and get tickets by then...so if you know any of this, please fill me in.

You would need a JR Pass because it would be a few hours on the shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Hakata.

Inexpensive lodging:
http://www.itcj.jp/

http://www.ngs-kenkanren.com/eng/
http://www.pref.saga.lg.jp/at-conten...u/english.html
http://www.j-hotel.or.jp/welcome-e.html
http://www.visitjapan.jp/link/index.html

APA hotels do the job, like this one in Kyoto:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/kyoto/H30923.html

At the top of the page at www.apahotels.com there is a link to the English language page. You can see their rates and locations.

bless you, mrw.

otoh, I did decide not to tour Saga.
Your ANA flight in April is still high priced. Maybe after the new year there will be a sale.

emd:
sorry...didn't know the link would crash the site..oops
go to travelocity.com and click the "flexible dates" option. Choose between now and January and the options screen will highlight your options. The 1/28 departure and 2/7 return are listed as 554.00 US on UAL IAD/NRT r/t
Try also adding the hotel option there and see if they have any cheap rooms.
Aloha!

emd:
just read your post on the dca airport...i was using iad...sorry

The $643 rate for the earlier date is the $548+ fare. When you search by exact date it shows you the full ticket price (fare + tax). Search by flexible dates and you see the fare listed with a + sign after it. Best fares would be Mon-Thu. If you search using WAS then you will get options for all three area airports.

But I have this picture of Eileen away from her DH and children, nursing a cold in a tiny room, with swollen feet, pouring cold rain as it gets dark outside at 4:30PM.

haha...no no no. EMD does not sit in hotel rooms and mope, no matter how cold it is or if EMD has sniffles or swollen feet. Recall that I traipsed all over Osaka for sumo and baseball in one day in the pouring rain w/feet the size of an elephant's, and it was one of the best days of our trip.

EMD will be visiting artsy sites and artisans, then soaking in the onsen, w/hot tea, drafting the business plan after it gets dark early Hmmm, is that a business write off?)

I've decided I won't go if it has to be really low budget - for the very reason you state, mrw, it could be too depressing and I need a good, comfortable rest.