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

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MikeHattsu

Member
Jamie OD said:
Hey folks, I'll be staying in Tokyo for the first 10 days in April with plans to see pro wrestling in Sumo Hall and baseball in Tokyo Dome City. It will be my second visit to Japan, first was during 2009. This thread has been a great refresher for the trip. I'm going to be spending a day in Kasukabe, Saitama for a wrestling show. So far I can't find much else to see or do there other than parks and museums. Is their anything else I should look out for while I'm in Kasukabe?
Click to expand...

Could check out the onsen I guess?
 
T

ThreePiMatt

Member
distantmantra said:
Tokyo Dome reminded me of a dumpier version of the Metrodome.
Click to expand...

When I saw a game at the Tokyo Dome the Metrodome was the first thing that came to mind. I like the area around it a lot though.

Baseball is probably going to be a focus of my trip in May. I've seen a game at the Tokyo Dome and have been to a concert at QVC Marine Field. I'll probably try to go to at least two other stadiums, probably Yokohama Municipal and maybe Meiji Jingu.

For those that have gone to baseball games, how have you gotten tickets? Previously I used Japan Ball which was convenient (and the guy who runs it stopped by my seat before the game and gave me a copy of the English media guide he puts out every year). But as convenient as it was, there was a not insignificant finder's fee. If I can just buy from a Lawson's that would probably be better this time around.
 
cj_iwakura

cj_iwakura

Member
I have my eye on a trip that's in late April, 17-23, at the Narita International Garden Hotel.

Is that too late for the cherry blossoms?
 
M

MikeHattsu

Member
cj_iwakura said:
I have my eye on a trip that's in late April, 17-23, at the Narita International Garden Hotel.

Is that too late for the cherry blossoms?
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's too late. And a hotel in Narita? That's about 2 hours by train away from Tokyo. (Unless you pay extra each day for the faster limited express trains)
 
E

elhaym

Member
Here's the latest forecast I saw on Twitter earlier this evening. Lines up with my trip pretty dang well, I'm excited! I maaaaay do 2-3 days at the tail end in Kyoto, undecided. Just wanna go back to Teramachi, really.

https://japancheapo.com/living/2015-japan-cherry-blossom-season-forecast/

TC_2016_sakura_map2-2-770x770.jpg
Click to expand...
 
M

MikeHattsu

Member
elhaym said:
Here's the latest forecast I saw on Twitter earlier this evening. Lines up with my trip pretty dang well, I'm excited! I maaaaay do 2-3 days at the tail end in Kyoto, undecided. Just wanna go back to Teramachi, really.

https://japancheapo.com/living/2015-japan-cherry-blossom-season-forecast/
Click to expand...

The source they used got an even newer forecast now:
http://sakura.weathermap.jp/smt/

And the one from JWA has been updated as well:
http://www.jwa.or.jp/news/2016/02/post-000637.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/
 
C

CountBlack

Member
Me and a friend are still looking at Airbnb's and found a nice one in Shinjuku. To get to some places we'd have to take a subway, I was wondering if the JR pass covered that?
 
S

sfedai0

Banned
CountBlack said:
Me and a friend are still looking at Airbnb's and found a nice one in Shinjuku. To get to some places we'd have to take a subway, I was wondering if the JR pass covered that?
Click to expand...

Nope. And some if not all have local and express lines. Makes sure you know which one you should be taking.
 
M

MikeHattsu

Member
CountBlack said:
Me and a friend are still looking at Airbnb's and found a nice one in Shinjuku. To get to some places we'd have to take a subway, I was wondering if the JR pass covered that?
Click to expand...

If you're just staying in Tokyo without going on a round trip to at least Kyoto or further away getting a JR Pass would be a waste of money.
 
Sakura

Sakura

Member
I'm looking into flying into Fukuoka for early April.
The flights I'm interested in don't arrive until around 10pm at night though.
If a hotel says
Check-in: 12:00
Last check-in: 29:30
Does that mean I can check in all the way up until 530am? I don't travel very often so it is a little confusing.
 
M

MikeHattsu

Member
Sakura said:
If a hotel says
Check-in: 12:00
Last check-in: 29:30
Does that mean I can check in all the way up until 530am? I don't travel very often so it is a little confusing.
Click to expand...

Yup. Very few countries uses times after 24 so even people who travel often can get confused :p
 
Sakura

Sakura

Member
MikeHattsu said:
Yup. Very few countries uses times after 24 so even people who travel often can get confused :p
Click to expand...

Thanks.
Now I just need to figure out if I want to take Air China for 100 bucks less, and arrive at 10AM but have to leave at 2AM, or take ANA and leave at 4pm and arrive at 10pm for a hundred bucks more :S
Last time I went to Japan I took China Eastern but didn't really enjoy it a whole lot.
 
M

MikeHattsu

Member
Sakura said:
Now I just need to figure out if I want to take Air China for 100 bucks less, and arrive at 10AM but have to leave at 2AM, or take ANA and leave at 4pm and arrive at 10pm for a hundred bucks more :S
Click to expand...

That's the metal/operating carrier right? Guess you should check seatmaps and see what seat configurations they got if that's a deciding factor.

And airline reviews:
http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/air-china/
http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/ana-all-nippon-airways/
 
T

ThreePiMatt

Member
Sakura said:
Thanks.
Now I just need to figure out if I want to take Air China for 100 bucks less, and arrive at 10AM but have to leave at 2AM, or take ANA and leave at 4pm and arrive at 10pm for a hundred bucks more :S
Last time I went to Japan I took China Eastern but didn't really enjoy it a whole lot.
Click to expand...

Is the Air China nonstop? Most flights from the US to Japan via Chinese carriers have very long layovers.
 
S

sfedai0

Banned
I mean, these flights are super tempting except the fact that youre going in to a super busy travel season where hotels will be overpriced or booked up.
 
M

MikeHattsu

Member
sfedai0 said:
I mean, these flights are super tempting except the fact that youre going in to a super busy travel season where hotels will be overpriced or booked up.
Click to expand...

Gotta check some accommodation prices before you book I guess. Could always try to find some AirBnB place as well :p
 
M

MikeHattsu

Member
Fritz said:
J-travellers, what's the best time to go to Tokyo for autumn foliage? Preferably still in warm weather.
Click to expand...

Go in early-ish/mid October and do a day trip or a short stay in Nikko if you want to see autumn colours.

If you want too see it in Tokyo itself then you gotta wait till late November.

You can see some of the photos I took in Nikko in the Fall 2015 photo album in the OP.
 
F

Fritz

Member
MikeHattsu said:
Go in early-ish/mid October and do a day trip or a short stay in Nikko if you want to see autumn colours.

If you want too see it in Tokyo itself then you gotta wait till late November.

You can see some of the photos I took in Nikko in the Fall 2015 photo album in the OP.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Nikko was the plan!
 
cj_iwakura

cj_iwakura

Member
Zyzyxxz said:
Umm trying narrowing your search parameters before asking us there are thousands of hotels in Tokyo and Tokyo is large.

First of all budget? Which area do you want to stay in? Do you want to try AirBnb?
Click to expand...

Near Akihabara I guess? I have no idea what AirBnb entails. Hoping ~$1300 or less for flight & hotel.
 
T

ThreePiMatt

Member
Yeah, I forwarded the info to one of my coworkers who was interested in visiting Japan, so he might be buying airfare this weekend as well.

Right now my plan to go to a couple baseball games at the various stadiums around Tokyo and then Deep Purple is playing at the Budokan, so that should be fun to go see.

Still having figured out what I'm going to do about hotel.
 
Sakura

Sakura

Member
ThreePiMatt said:
Is the Air China nonstop? Most flights from the US to Japan via Chinese carriers have very long layovers.
Click to expand...

Nah, there are no nonstop flights to Fukuoka from where I am.
The Air China one had a layover in Beijing, while the ANA one stops in Haneda. Just ended up going with ANA.
 
S

Salamando

Member
What would look less touristy - a backpack or canvas messenger bag? Or should I stick with the third option of "You're a 6'2" White guy. You're gonna look like a tourist even if you have a business suit and briefcase. Just go for comfort, then style"?
 
D

Darksol

Member
Salamando said:
What would look less touristy - a backpack or canvas messenger bag? Or should I stick with the third option of "You're a 6'2" White guy. You're gonna look like a tourist even if you have a business suit and briefcase. Just go for comfort, then style"?
Click to expand...

This.

I'd personally pick a messenger bag/satchel but that's up to you.
 
Z

Zatoth

Member
Kevtones said:
Uh I got a round trip ticket from LAX->Tokyo for $486 today 😊


Where do I stay?
What do I do?
Click to expand...

Had good experiences with K's House (Tokyo, Fuji, Hiroshima, Kyoto), Khaosan (Tokyo, Sapporo) and J-Hoppers (Osaka).

Just check the reviews on Hostelword. Should be enough good places to stay.
 
T

ThreePiMatt

Member
neojubei said:
damn. i wish i had seen this. Does Delta have any dreamliner planes that go to Japan?
Click to expand...

Its not just Delta that the deals are for, you can get the deals with Delta, United and All Nippon. There might be a handful out there for American and Japan Air, but haven't seen many.

As for the 787, only US carrier that currently uses them is United, not sure in what capacity, however.
 
N

neojubei

Will drop pants for Sony.
ThreePiMatt said:
Its not just Delta that the deals are for, you can get the deals with Delta, United and All Nippon. There might be a handful out there for American and Japan Air, but haven't seen many.

As for the 787, only US carrier that currently uses them is United, not sure in what capacity, however.
Click to expand...

Well I'm flying JAL on the dreamliner, might have to check out united when i go back to japan probably next year.

MikeHattsu said:
Delta is getting Airbus planes instead:
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-loses-6b-delta-order-gives-a-big-boost-to-airbus/
Click to expand...

If their fares are cheap enough i might try an airbus.
 
D

Dereck

Member
If I'm a 25 year old US citizen with a driver's license and a passport, what else do I need to be able to fly to Japan besides a plane ticket?
 
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