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Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
Cripplegate
Member
This sounds cool. Another other recommendations if I'm in interested in craft beer?
I've mostly been thinking whisky while making my own plans, hadn't even given any thought to craft beer.
Wouldn't count on it too much, I actually missed my flight with a 50 min layover. Both flights were Lufthansa. I was worried I was going to miss the flight because passport check and customs were taking ages so I approached the staff multiple times asking if there was no quicker way to get to my next flight. They pointed me in the direction of another passport check which turned out to be even busier. When I returned they had apparently opened the electronic passport gates while I was gone :/. Customs then took ages and there was nobody around. Didn't have the guts to ask people standing in line if I could go first.
Obviously the plane had already left. Staff said it was my own fault because they had repeatedly called my name. Either that's bullshit or I couldn't hear it at customs.
Luckily there was another flight later that night. At first they wouldn't let me on it because it was fully booked but after begging and sulking they let me board first class.
It was a horrible experience and I'm never flying with Lufthansa again. I'm telling you this as a warning that they won't always wait for you, though in my case it was probably also a lot of bad luck.
SiegfriedFM
Member
Ouch. I'm flying Lufthansa, but we have about three hours between flights. Also, why did you need to go through customs? Did you have to change terminals or something?
I really don't want to deal with Lufthansa anymore. The pilots were on strike or something the week before my flight. Almost all international flights were cancelled because of that. It continued until the day before my trip to Japan. I was sweating bullets the entire week :x. Also, the suicide plane hijack from last year happened on the day I flew, which I believe was also owned by Lufthansa. Then on my return trip, I missed my flight at the layover. So just the name Lufthansa gives me nightmares
. I wouldn't worry in your case though, three hours should be plenty of time. The service on board was totally fine.As for why I had to through customs there, I have no idea. I'm not too familiar with inspection policies for international flights. I would say it's because I was entering Europe from Japan. But I'm pretty sure I went through customs again in Amsterdam.. though my memory of that day is really hazy. I guess that's what 15+ hour flights do to you, haha.
Enjoy your trip btw! When are you flying?
I really can't wait to go again, but budget is tight this year. Next year, hopefully...!
Don't ever come here in Summer. You'd melt.
Honestly it's waving between "bit cold" and "comfortable" this week
Haha,I don't plan to.
Anyway I went to the Game on thing Miraikan which was fun. Ended up playing a game of Tekken 3 with a random Japanese guy. He won barely lol. Random but fun. Odaiba seems like a nice area though.
Ahaha, one of my friends has been trying to talk me into summer Comiket and I just go hell no. Winter again? Sure, I can deal with that.
And yeah, weather has been juuuuuuust on the border of too cold for me. Each day is "Do I wear t-shirt/long sleeve? What about my jacket? And what's it going to be in 2 hours when it's too warm for that? ARGH"
ZackieChan
Member
What's it like May and June?
May and June are fine. Its July, August, September that are hot as shit. Well, its really the humidity that does you in.
ZackieChan
Member
Well, I've lived in Bangkok for the better part of the year, so I'm no stranger to humidity. I leave Japan July 8, though, so I should be OK.
Patrick Bateman
Member
We got in contact with a local who added us on FB and wants us to get a drink with him.
The profile looks legit and he was friendly.
Yay or nay?
The profile looks legit and he was friendly.
Yay or nay?
ZackieChan
Member
Meet in public, I guess. Don't go to any weird, random bars or tea places. Use common sense. Avoid scams.
How did you get in contact with this person?
openrob
Member
Spent the day in Ueno Park and walking around Yunaka. Definitely a nice experience and recommend it. Read about the area below.
https://www.tofugu.com/travel/yanaka-tokyo/
https://www.tofugu.com/travel/yanaka-tokyo/
Summer Comiket is not too bad... As long as you don't stand in the line outside.
Otherwise I don't recall it being too bad, though winter was definitely more pleasent.
Yeah, humidity is the killer, so if you're used to it you'll survive.
Today's been a good day, got plenty of good Odaiba pics, watched a live outside Diver City (B.A.P), saw a pretty awesome and nice guy doing tricks with coins and cards on the street near Daiba station. And we're definitely coming back to Odaiba before the holiday is over.
Lovely place though
Lovely place though
There's a gaming exposition going on in Odaiba if that interests you!
Game On English site
Game On Japanese site
I mentioned it above XD but it was fun, especially the random Tekken fight with the Japanese guy lol.
It was nice to see the Miraikan building as well
Ah sorry, I somehow missed that part of your post!
I haven't been there myself, the exposition or Mirakan, looking forward to stop there.
Many multiplayer games?
MikeHattsu
Member
Were finally in Akihabara and Nakano Broadway again and yeah, there's much more Splatoon goods here now.
ThreePiMatt
Member
Sweet! I was hoping for an excuse to go back to Odaiba. I wanted to go to that "arcade" that had a bunch of old electro-mechanical games.
Zoe
Member
Too many transplants and tourists.
What are the hippest neighbourhoods anyways?
Dang. I should have hit you up, I was out at Nakano most of the afternoon with my friend. :|
The next two days are unfortunately pretty much booked solid at this point, but I know afterwards I need to head back into Akiba for a bit.
SiegfriedFM
Member
I visited this expo when it was in Sweden, twice. If it's anywhere near that, it should be great. It had everything from Spacewar and Pong to Uncharted 3.
Oh man, thanks for this! I was thinking of going to see Hana Matsuri at Sensoji. Now I'll go to Odaiba instead
Did you get to try out the PSVR?
distantmantra
Member
Shimokitazawa, Koenji, Nakameguro, Yoyogi and Daikanyama are all great. I think some big magazine rated Shimo as the coolest neighborhood on the planet recently. There's a cool section of Sangenjaya (note: we rented an apartment there in 2014) near the station with some great little restaurants, coffee shops and a European-only craft beer bar. My wife and I are also partial to Yanaka Ginza. We stayed there our first two times in Tokyo (2006, 2010), it's an area of the city that wasn't damaged by firebombing in World War II so it has an older look to it. When we were there in 2014 it was overrun with Japanese and foreign toursists, must have been featured on TV or something. Still one of our favorite spots with an old neighborhood feel.
Harajuku, Shibuya and Shinjuku are fine and there are lots of cool things to do, but I'm more partial to the ones I mentioned above. My wife and I accidentally stumbled into Shimo in 2006 and fell in love.
I'm also one of the few people here who isn't enamored with Akihabara. I did my retro game shopping long ago, so now when I'm there I look for Book Offs in smaller neighborhoods and just pick up new releases which are available everywhere.
I thought Akihabara was absolutely vile. Checked Mandarake to get my nerd fix and got the hell outta there. I think I'll stick to your recs!
distantmantra
Member
I've had fun shopping for games and I love visiting Gundam Front, but my favorite things to do in Japan are walk around neighborhoods and check out farmers markets (the UN University farmers market in Aoyama is great), clothing stores, coffee shops, recycle shops, craft beer places, etc. We also like getting out into nature (Nikko, Nara, Shuzenji, Hakone, etc.).
And ramen. ALL THE RAMEN.
I've been to that farmers market (probably due to your recommendation too) and to the flea market in the international forum. Both were just great!
I also loved cat street. Those three were my favorites in Tokyo. I plan to come back in autumn and check out those more "out of the way" neighborhoods. + nikko
Not good at quoting multiple people on mobile so:
MP games: there was a few, not sure how many though. There was also quite a few old arcade style games which were fun to see.
PSVR: line was too big so didn't do it but I didn't mind. Already tried it last year at EGX and loved it so I don't need any more convincing on it lol.
I love that there is a lot of places to sit down so far. If not for that, I wouldn't survive the day. I've done more walking in the past few days then I ever do at home and I have the bruises to prove it.
After today (Ghibli museum, meet up, etc) I'm taking it a lot more easier than planned.
I blame Disneysea XD it killed me on our first real fast here. (So many queues, worst than EGX lol)
On a different note. I love the train system here and I will really miss it when we leave.
MP games: there was a few, not sure how many though. There was also quite a few old arcade style games which were fun to see.
PSVR: line was too big so didn't do it but I didn't mind. Already tried it last year at EGX and loved it so I don't need any more convincing on it lol.
I love that there is a lot of places to sit down so far. If not for that, I wouldn't survive the day. I've done more walking in the past few days then I ever do at home and I have the bruises to prove it.
After today (Ghibli museum, meet up, etc) I'm taking it a lot more easier than planned.
I blame Disneysea XD it killed me on our first real fast here. (So many queues, worst than EGX lol)
On a different note. I love the train system here and I will really miss it when we leave.
cj_iwakura
Member
What was vile about it? If nothing else the arcades should be bliss.
Patrick Bateman
Member
I'm so sad that we couldn't attend the Tokyo-meeting.
We already moved to Osaka and in the evening wanted to eat Kobe-steak in Kobe.
Every restaurant was full.
Disappointing evening.
Are there recommendable restaurants in Osaka or Kyoto which sell legit Kobe-steak?
We already moved to Osaka and in the evening wanted to eat Kobe-steak in Kobe.
Every restaurant was full.
Disappointing evening.
Are there recommendable restaurants in Osaka or Kyoto which sell legit Kobe-steak?
I'm so sad that we couldn't attend the Tokyo-meeting.
We already moved to Osaka and in the evening wanted to eat Kobe-steak in Kobe.
Every restaurant was full.
Disappointing evening.
Are there recommendable restaurants in Osaka or Kyoto which sell legit Kobe-steak?
Do you want kobe specifically or would you be happy with A5? Or are you not making the distinction because there's amazing A5/wagyu that's not Kobe like Kagoshima, Kuroge, Miyazaki etc.
So I have been hearing people talk about AirBnB issues in Japan lately, mostly how it is technically illegal in Japan and they have been cracking down on it. There are reports of hosts cancelling bookings last minute or straight up not telling guests that their bookings were cancelled.
Any insight into this?
Any insight into this?
Patrick Bateman
Member
Well, I'd prefer the original Kobe-steak.
But I don't know if it's just a name.
But I don't know if it's just a name.
MikeHattsu
Member
In an AirBnB right now and it's fine.
I think Osaka and Ota, Tokyo are the only ones enforcing the new law. I think a lot of Airbnbs in Kyoto had been canceled from a couple months ago. I'm staying in Airbnb in Chuo next week and everything looks OK with the host so far.
Here's an article that goes into detail on it - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-18/fastest-growing-airbnb-market-under-threat-as-japan-cracks-down. There are national guidelines on homesharing, but only go into effect if local municipalities ratify them.
ZackieChan
Member
I'm going to be using Sakura House again this time. Had a good experience last time.
Thanks. Looks like it only affects stays shorter than a week, so hopefully I'm safe.
Patrick Bateman
Member
Compared to JR East JR West is absolutly inferior. The Wifi, the whole organisation and trains..
I don't want to steer anything but it was really dirty, smelly and dodgy. Maybe just a bad day and probably just the stark contrast to the rest of Tokyo I had seen.