-I- haven't experienced it personally, but several friends who have travelled to Japan have experienced issues w/ host's pocketwifi hitting speed/bandwidth quotas before they got there. If you travel at the beginning of a month, you're probably less likely to hit that.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
-I- haven't experienced it personally, but several friends who have travelled to Japan have experienced issues w/ host's pocketwifi hitting speed/bandwidth quotas before they got there. If you travel at the beginning of a month, you're probably less likely to hit that.
And... that's it?
I mean, 2GB seems fine for traveling for, like, a month (considering pretty much any Airbnb and hotels have the wifi, so I can watch Netflix in bed without wasting mobile data - even tho, Japanese TV is super fun, even without knowing Japanese
), and in dire needs Lawsons should sell recharges.Yeah, that (and for the days I won't be sleeping in Airbnbs) is why I'll get my own device anyway, leaving the host's pocket wifi only in case of emergency.
MikeHattsu
Member
And... that's it?
I mean, 2GB seems fine for traveling for, like, a month (considering pretty much any Airbnb and hotels have the wifi, so I can watch Netflix in bed without wasting mobile data - even tho, Japanese TV is super fun, even without knowing Japanese
Depends on your usage. If you're also bringing other devices along like laptops and tablets it's much better to have a WiFi device, and it can also be shared by several people (of course you could make your phone a portable hotspot). There's also problems if your phone isn't unlocked and all that.
Ah, see: I've never had a locked phone so I've never thought about that one problem.
And yes, the pocket wifi would definitely come in handy for the tablet.
Still, an additional gadget to be charged and, therefore, to keep off as much as possible to spare its charge, just seems so uncomfortable.
(now, I know I seem picky and I've basically already made up my mind, but I hope I'm not being annoying and stuff... I'm just curious!)
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, how long are you staying in Japan? There's other sim cards as well. Some might be better/cheaper depending on how long you're there.
20 days.
So I can't get any 2-weeks plans and, like, the Tocoo pocket wifi would cost 4500 yen against the 3800 of the IIJmio sim card.
Mostly in Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka, except some days in Shirakawa, Takayama, Koya and Miyajima, and a couple of day trips to Himeji and Nara (but I assume those are areas populated enough to get at least 3G coverage).
MikeHattsu
Member
You could check out the 3GB/30 day Comst sim that's the same price + cheaper top up:
https://www.comst.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=41
Or the slightly cheaper 200MB a day/30 day U-mobile sim:
http://umobile.jp/d/lp/prepaid/eng.html
Thanks!
I'm more interested in the Comst one, as I'd rather have uncapped daily data in case of necessity.
I'll read about it more and then decide, and again thanks!
Will do, thanks. Hayabusa is the aqua and the Komachi is red, think.. I can handle that one.
nabe_shogun
Member
looks like Im stuck at tokyo station for 45 minutes I think. Im at the jr east travel cent to get shinkansen tickets with my jr pass, and they dont open till 830. Online it said 730
tokyo station is a maze to get around.
nevermind i was in the wrong place
tokyo station is a maze to get around.
nevermind i was in the wrong place
Guessing the E/B (pass exchange/tickets) areas weren't open yet (8:30), but the information desk was open (7:30)
Keep us updated.
nabe_shogun
Member
yep. Im on the platform now, hikari train leaves at 833, so I have a 20 min wait. This humidity is killing me even this early in the morning. Im going to die in fukuoka.
slightly silly question. even with a vetted ticket, must you pass through the manned ticket windows with your JR pass and ticket every single time.
don't wanna feed the ticket machine something it'll just hold on to.
nabe_shogun
Member
yeah, even with the separate shinkansen ticket you go by the manned gate
nabe_shogun
Member
Im never comming to Japan this time of year again, unless its up north. I cant go anywhere without being a sweaty gross mess.
MikeHattsu
Member
Welcome to Japan. Just be glad you don't have to go to work everyday like that.
it wasn't super awful while i was there the last two weeks. even started to rain last wednesday
Personally both times I've been I've never needed to make phone calls but I used a lot of internet searches alot of map searching as well. That can use a lot of data, also I personally like to keep people posted on Instagram which can be a data hog. At the end of the day I would use it for web browsing on my laptop. Great when travelling in groups.
Also a nice feature if that if you put your phone on WIFI mode and airplane mode at the same time you can save a lot of battery power.
nabe_shogun
Member
Its the humidity thats killing me. Last time I was in Japan, I was in Hiroshima from the end of may through june and it was fine. Maybe I just got used to it as it gradually got warmer.
When I get back home, I think the 110F and 30% humidity might feel better.
Although now, I need to find food. I've been on the train since 830, and its 400 now. And I've eaten nothing all day. In fact, since I got here monday afternoon, I've only eaten one proper meal. Welp, off to family mart
BTW, is there like a coinstar or garbage can that will accept 1 yen coins? I have so many and they're so hard to get rid of. I brought all my change from last time hoping to get rid of it, and the only thing thats gone down is my 100 yen coins.
MikeHattsu
Member
Go to a 100 yen shop and buy stuff ;P
Yeah, I'm originally from an area with dry summers, the first few summers here were murder.
I and I think many people here in Japan try to pay with close to exact change a lot of the time, the currency system is incredibly easy here, it just takes a little bit of math when at the register.
MikeHattsu
Member
Looks like the Hakone Ropeway is finally completely up and running again:
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sam/160728.html
Some hiking trails and the Owakudani hot springs are still closed though.
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sam/160728.html
Some hiking trails and the Owakudani hot springs are still closed though.
MikeHattsu
Member
so still no black eggs?
The hot spring area is closed to tourists, but it looks like you can still buy black eggs in the cafe though.
boooo
that shit is fake yo. I wanted the authentic stuff straight from the hot spring but never got the chance last year Trying to find a decent onsen in Aomori (preferably natural and outdoors with good scenery) that isn't tied to ryokan or having a booking there. All I can find are drab public baths houses, which doesn't really do much for me at all.
Does such a thing exist or is it just accepted if you doing hot springs you're going to book in with a ryokan overnight.
Does such a thing exist or is it just accepted if you doing hot springs you're going to book in with a ryokan overnight.
I'm gonna be in Tokyo for a week for TGS, which'll be my first time back since 2010!
Gaf, what would you suggest for transportation? We'll probably not be leaving Tokyo so I'm inclined to go with the Suica card (What I used in the past). Is the JR Pass worth considering?
Also, any suggestions for cool places to check out/eat?
I appreciate all feedback!
Gaf, what would you suggest for transportation? We'll probably not be leaving Tokyo so I'm inclined to go with the Suica card (What I used in the past). Is the JR Pass worth considering?
Also, any suggestions for cool places to check out/eat?
I appreciate all feedback!
MikeHattsu
Member
A lot of ryokan with onsen lets you use the onsen (for a fee of course) without staying there.
If you're just staying in Tokyo then the JR Pass is a waste of money, so don't get one.
Oh, and join our meetup:
http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=1253412
Ah, reading around that some have day passes/packages and the like. sort of similiar to this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_J75w7Clpg
Just need to hammer down exactly which ones offer non-reservation use (preferably around lake towada) considering how formal some ryokan are, it is a little intimidating to just roll up and try to get into one of their baths.
I'll be down in ginzan after that, and I gotta believe there'll plenty of onsens that are available without any prior reservations.
I'll be in Japan in September for ~10 days. Spending a couple days in Yokohama, a couple days in Nikko, 1 or 2 days in Hakone, and the rest in Tokyo - worthwhile to get a JR Pass?
Given the sights of the crowds from TGS last year I probably won't end up going, but I'm still tempted because... it's TGS! And I'll be in Japan at that time! So maybe I'll change my mind... :O
Given the sights of the crowds from TGS last year I probably won't end up going, but I'm still tempted because... it's TGS! And I'll be in Japan at that time! So maybe I'll change my mind... :O
MikeHattsu
Member
Nah, JR Pass would be a waste of money.
You should check out the Hakone Freepass:
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/
And the All Nikko or 2 Day Nikko pass though:
http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/pass/all.html
http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/pass/twoday.html
Oh, and join our meetup:
http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=1253412
-
Just booked my place in Kyoto yesterday. Situated real close to the imperial castle. Woot! Now to just get accommodation sorted for Hiroshima followed by purchasing a JR pass and all will be set!
Btw, is the Mazda museum worth checking out? I like Mazdas (miss my MX-5) but I'm not a huge car fan and neither is my GF. We're tempted to only check it out if we got a spare afternoon since we are assuming that it's nothing special. Anyone been to the museum?
Btw, is the Mazda museum worth checking out? I like Mazdas (miss my MX-5) but I'm not a huge car fan and neither is my GF. We're tempted to only check it out if we got a spare afternoon since we are assuming that it's nothing special. Anyone been to the museum?
MikeHattsu
Member
It's guided tour only and you have to sign up. The English tour is from 10:00-11:30 so no afternoons (unless you do the Japanese guided tour...)
It's guided tour only and you have to sign up. The English tour is from 10:00-11:30 so no afternoons (unless you do the Japanese guided tour...)
Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame. Oh well. Can't go wrong with eating more Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki,
nabe_shogun
Member
Had a nice day on iki island. saw the sights, had good food, went to an onsen, now Im at a hostel for the night. It also helped that I have a friend that lives here so getting around was easy.
yeah, its pretty basic. I did it on my school trip. They didnt let us take pictures in the assembly line building.
It's guided tour only and you have to sign up. The English tour is from 10:00-11:30 so no afternoons (unless you do the Japanese guided tour...)
yeah, its pretty basic. I did it on my school trip. They didnt let us take pictures in the assembly line building.
So, I'm in the process of saving up for my first visit to Japan (with plans to visit once a year) and I'm almost to the point that I can book the air travel and hotel. Since it will be my first visit, I want to spend three days doing some basic tourism naff with little stress, and I have a vague plan so far.
[Day 1]
Visit: Akihabara
Visit: Shibuya
[Day 2]
Visit: Ghibli Museum
Visit: Tokyo Disneyland
[Day 3]
Visit: Hakone
Is it a sane plan to fit those four things into the first two days, or should I add a day to compensate for spreading things out further? I'd also like to visit Tokyo National Museum, Universal Studios Japan and Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine, but they aren't priority for my first visit.
Also, how much spending money should I take? I'm planning to have £300 (40000 Yen), and I don't plan on buying anything luxurious.
[Day 1]
Visit: Akihabara
Visit: Shibuya
[Day 2]
Visit: Ghibli Museum
Visit: Tokyo Disneyland
[Day 3]
Visit: Hakone
Is it a sane plan to fit those four things into the first two days, or should I add a day to compensate for spreading things out further? I'd also like to visit Tokyo National Museum, Universal Studios Japan and Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine, but they aren't priority for my first visit.
Also, how much spending money should I take? I'm planning to have £300 (40000 Yen), and I don't plan on buying anything luxurious.
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, depends on what you're actually planning to do in each place. And if it's a weekend or Japanese holiday day then Disneyland is no fun
Is that money for transport and food as well? How long are you gonna stay in total?
Well, depends on what you're actually planning to do in each place. And if it's a weekend or Japanese holiday day then Disneyland is no fun
Is that money for transport and food as well? How long are you gonna stay in total?
It includes food, and I'm planning on buying a Suica card for rail use (may or may not be part of that £300). I think I'll be staying for four nights, as to factor in the air travel and hotel arrival. I'll likely visit Thurs to Mon over a weekend.
Edit: Also, I was thinking of going the end of February during my birthday, but given how the world is at the moment, I might just shift that up to the end of October or end of November.
Heading to Japan next week from the states (Osaka, Tokyo, Hamamatsu, and Okinawa) for 2 weeks. What is the best option for me to get back in contact with friends and family while I'm there? Was thinking of using the Viber app since I have used it in the past to talk with a friend in Denmark. Is an international plan through my carrier(AT&T) worth purchasing?
Any notable stop I should checkout while I at those locations(food, fun, adventure)?
Any notable stop I should checkout while I at those locations(food, fun, adventure)?
MikeHattsu
Member
Sounds kinda short. Maybe try saving up for a week?
I could put up for five nights, it all depends on what times my flights arrive and depart, my work schedule at home, trying to get a mortgage sorted, and some other things.
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, check the Disneyland crowd calendars so you can try to go on a less busy day at least:
http://tdrnavi.jp/forecast/disneyland?lang=en
http://www15.plala.or.jp/gcap/disney/
International Ghibli tickets for October is sold out, and November tickets are getting low:
http://www.japanspecialist.co.uk/product/ghibli/
Getting Japanese tickets is a crap shoot if you're aiming for morning tickets on a specific day, so you'll need to be awake when they first go up.
Somewhat expensive to go to Hakone though, might be better to spend another day exploring Tokyo instead, especially if you only got 4 days.
Your itinerary is doable at least if you don't buy a lot of stuff.
Twelve pounds sterling for each ticket? No, just no.
Wasn't there some other site that sold tickets internationally for the following month starting on the 10th? Guess we could always try buying the tickets ourselves once get to Tokyo, but we'll probably have to purchase them while in Osaka for late November which is when we'll be returning to Tokyo from Kansai.
MikeHattsu
Member
That's the Japanese tickets. Need to get them on the first day they put them up if you're planning on going in the morning on a specific day. Easier if you can do mid-day/afternoon or have several days to choose from.
What was the site for that one, by the way? I think I had it bookmarked, but can't find it for some reason (most likely the site name).
MikeHattsu
Member
https://l-tike.com/st1/ghibli-en/
Oh, and they got a period of maintenance from November 7, 2016 through November 11, 2016 so it'll be closed then if anybody planned to go on those dates.