Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once

TheBryanJZX90 said:
Oh man yes, Don Quixote was the one place I had to show everyone I knew that came to visit Japan.
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kotzAbq.jpg
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1 out of 2 foreigners agrees!

StMeph said:
Well that's the thing. It SEEMS like it is, but I still don't even really know what it IS.
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That will only enhance your experience.
 
StMeph said:
Everyone in this thread has raved about Robot Restaurant.

Is it really worth doing? Can you elaborate more about what it is, or what the show is about? I do have some free time in the evenings in Tokyo, but don't currently have plans to go.
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Let me break down just SOME of the things you see during the robot show:

Giant Dragons/robot giant dragons (both of which are being ridden by bikini clad women)
Gatling guns
Japanese women kicking ass on the drums
Break dancing
A giant snake eating someone
Dance routines
Sword/Giant hammer fights
Robot lounge act band

That's like 1/10th of the stuff I can remember. Its absolutely mental and I urge anyone in Japan who wants a good laugh and a great evening to go see it!!
 
I went to Robot Restaurant with the GAF crew during the meetup (which was like 3 weeks ago or something?) and I went again last Thursday with relatives who came to Japan because 1) I needed them to see it, 2) I wanted to see it again.

You cannot go to Japan and not go to the Robot Restaurant. Please, just book via veltra for the mega discount, don't waste time trying to find out what it is exactly and just go.

Second time was even better as I was fully focused on enjoying the show instead of thinking "WTF is happening I need to film this because otherwise nobody will believe me when I tell my friends about this"
 
kubus said:
Second time was even better as I was fully focused on enjoying the show instead of thinking "WTF is happening I need to film this because otherwise nobody will believe me when I tell my friends about this"
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Are the fine with letting you film it? I'd like to take a GoPro around like I did on my last trip, and I'd love to get Robot Restaurant footage :3
 
Never been to the robot restaurant.. it seems like a huge tourist trap!

But I will probably go sometime, preferably when intoxicated. :3
 
Brerlappin said:
Owl Café Akihabra
Amazing experience!! Just chilling out in a room full of owls for an hour. Might not sound too exciting but it was relaxing as hell! Look out for an owl called Cherry Tomato, he was my favourite :D
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I really want to go to something like this but I always worry that the animals are stressed out. Was it your impression that the owls were well treated? I get the impression based on your description that it was but I just want to make sure. The lighting was dim? It was quiet? etc?
 
Friend is wanting me to get him a Seibu Lions baseball cap and I'm struggling to find one. Leaving for Osaka tomorrow. Anyone know any stores I can buy one in that city? Didn't realise japanese baseball caps were so difficult to find.
 
shorty_symd said:
Friend is wanting me to get him a Seibu Lions baseball cap and I'm struggling to find one. Leaving for Osaka tomorrow. Anyone know any stores I can buy one in that city? Didn't realise japanese baseball caps were so difficult to find.
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They're really hard to find outside the stadiums or official Team stores (often tied to specific department stores). I think I saw a Lions shop in the Seibu Ikebukuro building. But that doesn't help with Osaka.
 
Leaving Kyoto for Tokyo today. I 100% got everything done on my Kyoto itinerary which is surprising. I'll post pics and comments once I'm back in the US. I will say this real quick, Japan's public tranportation systems are the GOAT. I would actually go outside and travel in the US if the train system were half as good as Japan's.
 
UpperCaseN said:
Leaving Kyoto for Tokyo today. I 100% got everything done on my Kyoto itinerary which is surprising. I'll post pics and comments once I'm back in the US. I will say this real quick, Japan's public tranportation systems are the GOAT. I would actually go outside and travel in the US if the train system were half as good as Japan's.
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I found Tokyo's transportation even better than Kyoto's, so perhaps you'll just keep on being impressed! :p
 
Brerlappin said:
Let me break down just SOME of the things you see during the robot show:

Giant Dragons/robot giant dragons (both of which are being ridden by bikini clad women)
Gatling guns
Japanese women kicking ass on the drums
Break dancing
A giant snake eating someone
Dance routines
Sword/Giant hammer fights
Robot lounge act band

That's like 1/10th of the stuff I can remember. Its absolutely mental and I urge anyone in Japan who wants a good laugh and a great evening to go see it!!
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It's actually partially shown in this really awesome and well-edited travelogue-style video called TOKYO ROAR.
I came here just to post a link to this video because I think you guys will really like it, in fact, so it's neat to see a reference to something I just only heard about today.
 
distantmantra said:
They're really hard to find outside the stadiums or official Team stores (often tied to specific department stores). I think I saw a Lions shop in the Seibu Ikebukuro building. But that doesn't help with Osaka.
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Thanks. I noticed that there this a New Era flagship store in Osaka. Anyone been there? Their online store sells them so I'm hoping to find one in there :)
 
I'm looking for some advice! I'm planning my accommodation for a one week stay in Tokyo, a couple of pages back some people suggested staying in Shinjuku or Shibuya if I wanted to be closer to the action at night or Asasuka if I wanted to be a bit farther. Right now, it seems all the hostels that are recommended in Lonely Planet for Shinjuku and Shibuya are already booked. I decided to check up on AirBnB and I found something in Shinjuku that is supposedly close to the action, but it's a bit pricey (but I might just book it if it's way more convenient). I also found some cool places to stay in Nakano, but I wanted to know if it was a convenient area to stay in considering the fact that I will be wanting to explore downtown Tokyo everyday and stay out late most nights. Or maybe I should be looking at Asasuka instead of Nakano if I can't find anything in Shinjuku or Shibuya?
 
Cedric said:
I'm looking for some advice! I'm planning my accommodation for a one week stay in Tokyo, a couple of pages back some people suggested staying in Shinjuku or Shibuya if I wanted to be closer to the action at night or Asasuka if I wanted to be a bit farther. Right now, it seems all the hostels that are recommended in Lonely Planet for Shinjuku and Shibuya are already booked. I decided to check up on AirBnB and I found something in Shinjuku that is supposedly close to the action, but it's a bit pricey (but I might just book it if it's way more convenient). I also found some cool places to stay in Nakano, but I wanted to know if it was a convenient area to stay in considering the fact that I will be wanting to explore downtown Tokyo everyday and stay out late most nights. Or maybe I should be looking at Asasuka instead of Nakano if I can't find anything in Shinjuku or Shibuya?
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On both our previous trip and our upcoming one, we stayed at a place in Ikebukuro called Kimi Ryokan. It's pretty cheap but the place is perfect. Ikebukuro isn't as well known for its nightlife as Shinjuku but it has a decent one. Also, the trains run until 1 AM. If you aren't planning on staying out later than that, I would look into any part of Tokyo that's cheap and available because the trains are awesome.
 
Zyzyxxz said:
I dont quite understand do you have to spend 7 days in Tokyo? Why not only spend 2-3 days? If you are just gonna hang in Akihabara no reason to spend that long in Tokyo seems you would get bored quick.

Besides what are you going for? Is it for food, anime, culture, etc?
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i dont know how long i want to stay in tokyo alone, which is why i'm asking what people think the optimal amount of time one should stay in tokyo solo
will be going for anime, video game, and food (prob buy some clothes too if i dont find anything in hong kong)

the last time i was here, most of the time was spent walking around akiba, you'd think that this 'small' district would be fully explored in a few days; NOPE, kept going back for more
 
If you include day trips to nearby areas you could spend a month in Tokyo and not see everything. Even if you really are just interested in anime there's Ikebukuro's stores, the gundam statue, Ghibli museum, ...actually I don't know that many anime attractions.
 
So I have just registered myself for the east and west free wifi spots throughout those area's in Japan.

Has anyone done this too and what are your experiences with the free wifi spots?
 
Parablank said:
any idea if it's possible to fit Hakone or Nikko in a day trip from Tokyo?
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If you only plan to do a select few things in those places, then yes.


Thriller said:
So I have just registered myself for the east and west free wifi spots throughout those area's in Japan.

Has anyone done this too and what are your experiences with the free wifi spots?
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It's ok if you don't mind hunting around for spots where you can connect. Some spots only allow you to connect x times a day for y minutes.

I'd rather rent a wifi device though.
 
Laevateinn said:
I really want to go to something like this but I always worry that the animals are stressed out. Was it your impression that the owls were well treated? I get the impression based on your description that it was but I just want to make sure. The lighting was dim? It was quiet? etc?
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No the owls seemed really well taken care of. They were all very mellow and perfectly fine with being on your arm. The room is dimly lot and they pipe in classical music so everything is very chilled out.
I'll try and get some of our photos uploaded too later on
 
Thriller said:
So I have just registered myself for the east and west free wifi spots throughout those area's in Japan.

Has anyone done this too and what are your experiences with the free wifi spots?
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I live by with them every day, they're basically useful for Stations and (some) convenience stores.

Usually those places already have free WiFi that you can log in to, but the Free WiFi app makes the experience a lot more streamlined.

It won't be of much help if you're lost and wanting to figure out where you are, or if you want information about something, unless you happen near the above mentioned places that is.
 
Brerlappin said:
No the owls seemed really well taken care of. They were all very mellow and perfectly fine with being on your arm. The room is dimly lot and they pipe in classical music so everything is very chilled out.
I'll try and get some of our photos uploaded too later on
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Cool, thanks. I think I might check it out when I'm there.
 
Brerlappin said:
No the owls seemed really well taken care of. They were all very mellow and perfectly fine with being on your arm. The room is dimly lot and they pipe in classical music so everything is very chilled out.
I'll try and get some of our photos uploaded too later on
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Owls are pretty into classical music from what I understand.
 
Heyho,

i got a little confused planing my trip to hokkaido/sapporo. Acoording to the jr Pass i can use all interregional express trains, right?

Would f.e. route 5

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/s...h_target=route&facility=reserved&sum_target=7

be ok with my jr pass?

Also i'm currently planning to travel to the south and afterwards directly into the north and spent the rest of my days in tokio. I start with a week in tokio in which i will use a suica card and the last 5 days i plan to do the same.

Should i buy a 21 day jr pass and a 7day pass for the traveling? According to hyperdia the pass would outmatch the single prices by far. Only the noth confuses me.
 
Dandte said:
Heyho,

i got a little confused planing my trip to hokkaido/sapporo. Acoording to the jr Pass i can use all interregional express trains, right?

Would f.e. route 5

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/s...h_target=route&facility=reserved&sum_target=7

be ok with my jr pass?
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You know this is an overnight train, right?

The JR Pass only covers the basic charge on Cassopedia overnight train. You need to pay the extra express charge + sleeping car + non-JR charge for the rail between Morioka and Aomori. Edit: Oh, and you need to book it months in advance, because this train can easily sell out.

Why are you traveling so late at night? Are you traveling from somewhere else in Japan to Tokyo? Where is your starting point?


Dandte said:
Should i buy a 21 day jr pass and a 7day pass for the traveling? According to hyperdia the pass would outmatch the single prices by far. Only the noth confuses me.
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Could you post your initiary?
 
MikeHattsu said:
You know this is an overnight train, right?

The JR Pass only covers the basic charge on Cassopedia overnight train. You need to pay the extra express charge + sleeping car + non-JR charge for the rail between Morioka and Aomori. Edit: Oh, and you need to book it months in advance, because this train can easily sell out.

Why are you traveling so late at night? Are you traveling from somewhere else in Japan to Tokyo? Where is your starting point?




Could you post your initiary?
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Ah, i picked the simplest route.
I made a spartanic google spreadsheet, feel free to enter recommendations, if possible in the color red :)

Qoute to reveal

 
Dandte said:
sry put in the wrong link, now it should work :)
We want to do a lot of daily trips, so we plan to rent an apartment in the main cities, f.e. apartment in osaka -> trip to kobe or sakai
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If you're going from Osaka all the way to Sapporo or Hakodate without staying overnight in Tokyo the best way would actually be to fly there.

You can either get an ANA flight for around 10,800 JPY for each person here:
http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/ph/e/wws_common/promotions/share/experience_jp/index.html

Or try one of these low cost airlines which may be cheaper at certain times/dates:
http://www.jetstar.com/jp/en/home
http://www.flypeach.com/home.aspx


If you take trains it'll take about 13 hours from Osaka to Sapporo.

Edit: Oh, you're going from Kyushu to Hokkaido. You should really take a plane then.
 
MikeHattsu said:
If you're going from Osaka all the way to Sapporo or Hakodate without staying overnight in Tokyo the best way would actually be to fly there.

You can either get an ANA flight for around 10,800 JPY for each person here:
http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/ph/e/wws_common/promotions/share/experience_jp/index.html

Or try one of these low cost airlines which may be cheaper at certain times/dates:
http://www.jetstar.com/jp/en/home
http://www.flypeach.com/home.aspx


If you take trains it'll take about 13 hours from Osaka to Sapporo.

Edit: Oh, you're going from Kyushu to Hokkaido. You should really take a plane then.
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I'm currently working on a full initially. Expect it around weekend.
Question regarding the JR Pass. On hyperdia the total amount is always a fare and a seat fee. If i have a JR Pass, do i need to pay the seat fee? At the moment my comprehension is, that i can travel whenever i want and can reserve a seat if possible, but i don't have to pay the fare or a seat fee.
 
Dandte said:
I'm currently working on a full initially. Expect it around weekend.
Question regarding the JR Pass. On hyperdia the total amount is always a fare and a seat fee. If i have a JR Pass, do i need to pay the seat fee? At the moment my comprehension is, that i can travel whenever i want and can reserve a seat if possible, but i don't have to pay the fare or a seat fee.
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In general, you don't need to pay anything extra. There are some exceptions though:
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html

Check the 'Major JR Trains Running Through Non-JR Lines and the Sections Concerned' and the 'JAPAN RAIL PASS Train accommodations' sections.
 
MikeHattsu said:
In general, you don't need to pay anything extra. There are some exceptions though:
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html

Check the 'Major JR Trains Running Through Non-JR Lines and the Sections Concerned' and the 'JAPAN RAIL PASS Train accommodations' sections.
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I made a complete initiary taking my travel buddys wishes into consideration. Honestly i think the whole Beppu, Kumamoto, Kagoshima is a waste of time. I would love to see the south but it takes so much time.

I think i would be better to watch the Festival in Tokushima and afterwards dirctly to kyoto and then into the south and afterwards osaka with himeji and kobe.

Also i want to try the all you can eat wanko soba noodles ;-)

Quote to reveal


[/QUOTE]
 
Dandte said:
I made a complete initiary taking my travel buddys wishes into consideration. Honestly i think the whole Beppu, Kumamoto, Kagoshima is a waste of time. I would love to see the south but it takes so much time.

I think i would be better to watch the Festival in Tokushima and afterwards dirctly to kyoto and then into the south and afterwards osaka with himeji and kobe.

Also i want to try the all you can eat wanko soba noodles ;-)
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Quick observations.
What are you planning for Nagasaki? Depends on what time you get there one night could be plenty.

Seems like you're using Osaka as a base from the 25th-30th. Are you leaving time for Osaka itself. This is one of my favorite cities (That and Fukuoka).
 
Dandte said:
I made a complete initiary taking my travel buddys wishes into consideration. Honestly i think the whole Beppu, Kumamoto, Kagoshima is a waste of time. I would love to see the south but it takes so much time.

I think i would be better to watch the Festival in Tokushima and afterwards dirctly to kyoto and then into the south and afterwards osaka with himeji and kobe.

Also i want to try the all you can eat wanko soba noodles ;-)
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Well, you got plenty of cities you're gonna visit at least ;)

Some of the travel times are very optimistic. You might not always catch the train you want, there's sometimes delays and there's the time it takes from your accommodations to the trains and such too.

Did you show your travel buddies how much time you're gonna spend on trains? Maybe they'd be willing to drop 1 or 2 cities then :P
 
hwalker84 said:
Quick observations.
What are you planning for Nagasaki? Depends on what time you get there one night could be plenty.

Seems like you're using Osaka as a base from the 25th-30th. Are you leaving time for Osaka itself. This is one of my favorite cities (That and Fukuoka).
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The port in my city is my favorite place...don't know why, but i love this places and i heared nagasaki is a port town :) I'm more interested in Osaka than in Tokio^^

MikeHattsu said:
Well, you got plenty of cities you're gonna visit at least ;)

Some of the travel times are very optimistic. You might not always catch the train you want, there's sometimes delays and there's the time it takes from your accommodations to the trains and such too.

Did you show your travel buddies how much time you're gonna spend on trains? Maybe they'd be willing to drop 1 or 2 cities then :P
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And here it is V2 or the plan made by myself. We still can atempt the Tokushima Festival and the Kyoto bonfire. Since i'm into architecture i decided to put in himeji as our castle town. One of my buddys wanted more time on Hokkaido, so more time in hokkaido. Only thing that is missing is something beachy.
Also i'm used to long train travel times...north of germany to florentia....never again.

Quote to reveal


[/QUOTE]
 
Dandte said:
And here it is V2 or the plan made by myself. We still can atempt the Tokushima Festival and the Kyoto bonfire. Since i'm into architecture i decided to put in himeji as our castle town. One of my buddys wanted more time on Hokkaido, so more time in hokkaido. Only thing that is missing is something beachy.
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You could check out the beach in Fukuoka:
http://www.marizon-kankyo.jp/en/beach.html

Your travel time between Fukuoka and Nagasaki seems too long. Should only take 2.5-3.5 hours.
 
Question to all Gaffers who have travelled to Japan alone, is it worth going to Disney on your own?

I live in Australia, have never ever been to a Disney Land before and I know I would kill myself if I didn't, but I still feel odd going on my own to a place like that, like I would feel out of place or something.

Yet I have no hesitations about going to Universal on my own, thats got all the Harry Potter stuff that would be awesome, but some reason Disney doesn't look like a place you go to by yourself.

Just over 3 and a half months till I go, October hurry up and get here.
 
Looked at flights from Dublin to Tokyo around the end of September/start of October and noticed they were cheaper than I thought they would be. Mentioned it to my sister and she said "Fuck it, let's go".

So yeah, this may be happening :).
 
I'm also going to Japan in October (first two weeks).

I'm planning to go to Tokyo, Kyoto and Okinawa, but i'm having a little difficulty planning this whole thing!

The basic plan is:

  • Day 1 fly from Hong Kong to Tokyo and stay for the rest of the day 1 and 2;
  • Day 3 leave to Kyoto and stay there for the rest of day 3, 4 and 5;
  • Day 6 return to Tokyo and stay for the rest of the day 6 and 7;
  • Day 8 fly to Naha and stay for the rest of the day 8, 9 and 10;
  • Day 11 return to Tokyo and back to Hong Kong;
  • Day 12 return home (Portugal).

I will probably need a JR Pass (trip to Kyoto) and i need to figure out the rest of the transportation.

I'm following the "half-day" and "full day" recommendations of Japan-guide.com and a few notes from a friend.

Do you think that the draft i established is doable?
 
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