Does that work with the new lightning connector? Thought they'd stopped that a while ago. Would I need to dig out an apple store, or just a yodabashi?
Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
Does that work with the new lightning connector? Thought they'd stopped that a while ago. Would I need to dig out an apple store, or just a yodabashi?
Oh geez yeah good question, mine only fits the OG iPad connector.
Just checked the store, they've made a lightning one now:
http://store.apple.com/au/product/MD822ZM/A/lightning-to-sd-card-camera-reader
I have an Eyefi wireless SD card but end up using the CCK all the time because it's faster and easier.
Have any of you guys done the Nakasendo before? I'm interested in doing some part of it in June or July, but don't want to spend more than one night preferably. Would it be worthwhile? Any tips on itinerary? I keep coming up with these crazy 5 or 12 day tours when I try to google it.
distantmantra
Member
Did one last hanami at Yoyogi Park today after heading back to the UN University farmer's market for brunch. Walked to Shibuya and stopped for more coffee at Obscura in Sangenjaya.
My wife and I had a great trip as always, but it's time to go home. Can't wait to see our daughter.
My wife and I had a great trip as always, but it's time to go home. Can't wait to see our daughter.
Should go to Littlenap instead of Obscura if you have time ~
distantmantra
Member
The apartment we rented is in Sangenjaya so Obscura is a short walk. Really nice coffee. Doing some final packing (ie. how many beers can I take back) before we head out for some ramen at Afuri down the street and then off to Haneda around 8.
MikeHattsu
Member
Nexus Zero
Member
I'm staying there right this second. It's a really handy location. A tiny walk to Asakusa, a nice walk on a sunny day to Akihabara. But a little far from Shinjuku and Shibuya though they're still really easy to get to.
The funny thing is I bought tea with me just in case but due to basically getting back to my room late and basically heading straight for bed I never required a cuppa. So despite the first two hotels having a kettle I never used it. It was only when I got to Tokyo where my paced had slowed down a bit because the holiday was drawing to the close that I had a bit of time in the evenings where a cup of tea would have been nice.I have a kettle here in my room
Oh cool! Are you staying at Nui by any chance? Other than transportation what has the neighbourhood to offer regarding bars, restaurants and stuff? Thanks!
I'm all for using hostels when I'm travelling, but I'm stopping over in Tokyo to take care of some business before I move to Kyoto for the year. I'd prefer to treat myself to a hotel
RapidCancel
Member
I stayed in the Kanda location during my last trip to Tokyo. I paid about the same price, highly recommended. The staff was great in helping me contacting the station for me when I lost my phone.
MikeHattsu
Member
I went to Showa Kinen park yesterday and they had a flower viewing event. Therefore it was free to enter the park and there were people everywhere:
And today I went to the Ghibli museum:
Also went to Nakano Broadway:
They have shops that sell all kinds of nerdy stuff, including anime cels:
And today I went to the Ghibli museum:
Also went to Nakano Broadway:
They have shops that sell all kinds of nerdy stuff, including anime cels:
Grabbed an iPad SD card reader so I could pull my photos off my camera and upload them. So here are a few I've taken
From today in odaiba, at the gundam museum/exhibition. Didn't go in (not a huge gundam fan) but the statue was interesting. A bit smaller than I imagined though.
The view from our hotel near(ish) the skytree. Had a nice view at night but didn't have a tripod so no clear shots.
One from the base of the skytree
And from the top (was a bit hazy unfortunately)
On Miyajima:
the shrine gate
a wedding which was happening when we were there. They had someone adjusting the tiniest thing on each person to get the photos just right, took ages.
spotted a lizard at the top of Mt. Misen
..and a submarine
Hiroshima, from the peace park looking back towards the atomic bomb dome
From today in odaiba, at the gundam museum/exhibition. Didn't go in (not a huge gundam fan) but the statue was interesting. A bit smaller than I imagined though.
The view from our hotel near(ish) the skytree. Had a nice view at night but didn't have a tripod so no clear shots.
One from the base of the skytree
And from the top (was a bit hazy unfortunately)
On Miyajima:
the shrine gate
a wedding which was happening when we were there. They had someone adjusting the tiniest thing on each person to get the photos just right, took ages.
spotted a lizard at the top of Mt. Misen
..and a submarine
Hiroshima, from the peace park looking back towards the atomic bomb dome
Nexus Zero
Member
No I'm at K's House. To be honest at night it's quiet though there are some bars up in Asakusa which is a very short walk away. And there's a shrine there and a shopping street which is cool for a little daytime trip but you probably won't be spending much time here
I've just got my brain fucked by the robot restaurant in Shinjuku. It's absolutely amazing, if you are in Tokyo please go. Though I have a sneaking suspicion the whole thing is designed by the yakuza to specifically target western conceptions of "crazy japan", I don't care. It is perfect.
BronsonLee
Member
Awesome pictures, guys!
I'd post mine when I go, but I tend to take..well..hundreds
I'd post mine when I go, but I tend to take..well..hundreds
distantmantra
Member
I'd highly recommend checking out AirBNB. My wife and I used it for both Osaka and Tokyo and ended up paying about $85 a night. In Osaka we had a studio apartment basically in Den Den Town/Namba, and then we had a one-bedroom apartment in Sangenjaya, which is a cool neighborhood only a five minute train ride from Shibuya.
Damn that shop - the at the entrance on the right. They have so many goodies from Princess Mononoke, but the cells are all crazy $1000+. There is another couple cell stores on the higher floors in the back with more reasonable prices, and one of them I spent a couple hours in looking through a TON of binders and found a few treasures. There's also a watch store with a nice range of pieces.
I found a place for Kyoto via airbnb. It looks really promising. We'll see.
MikeHattsu
Member
Yeah. I checked out all of them. I found some that I wanted, but they were all $80-$300...
SporeCrawler
Member
Since the yen has become reasonably cheap enjoying japan has become so much easier 
Little OT: does anybody know if there will be any (technical) problems if I import a japanese PS4?
Little OT: does anybody know if there will be any (technical) problems if I import a japanese PS4?
Zoe
Member
Since the yen has become reasonably cheap enjoying japan has become so much easier
Little OT: does anybody know if there will be any (technical) problems if I import a japanese PS4?
Potential region blocking for media apps
(Not that many exist at the moment...)
Since the yen has become reasonably cheap enjoying japan has become so much easier
Little OT: does anybody know if there will be any (technical) problems if I import a japanese PS4?
Don't think so. Media access (what apps are shown to you) will be based on the account you sign in as (so eg US or EU) and any IP restrictions should apply properly. So if you're US based and sign in with a US account, Netflix should work fine.
I think it has already been confirmed to be a universal PSU (110-240)?
Yen is pretty ok, but not as good as when I first started coming over - was 200 yen to the £. Good times.
I remember when I first came to Japan in 2007. £1.00 equated to 235yen. Trust me, I thoroughly abused that exchanged rate advantage! Looking back though, I wished I looked around harder because I believe I could have receive 243yen to £1.00. Damn. Don't think about it.
DCharlie
And even i am moderately surprised
lol yeah - i came here on holiday for the first time in 1998, then moved here in 2000. And, yup, we were at the 248 yen to the pound rate then - obviously, that was horrific for me once i was living here, but i was at least paid in yen.
Step forward to 2009 or so when we were suddenly seeing crazy 138 yen - pound and , lordy, those trips back to the UK became rampant spend fests, though once again we have snuck back up towards 170 or so. But yeah - when the yen was so strong, we didn't see many foreigners here at all.
TheBryanJZX90
Member
Oh my god this is true. About halfway through the 3-hour reception my wife and I had following our wedding in Okinawa we wanted to change from our western wear into some formal kimonos. I get changed quickly but it takes 3 people 40 minutes to get her changed. Then, once we finally rejoin everyone in the reception the photographer is constantly messing with her clothes and practically does everything over again. It took so much time that didn't even get to finish all of my food! ...I think that's a common experience for the wedding couple internationally though
SporeCrawler
Member
last time i was in japan 1 euro was 90 yen now its 140 yenish..- thats good for me.but 200 yen per pound sounds even better,
MikeHattsu
Member
I was thinking about living a month in/near Tokyo in the fall. What's the most painless way to rent a studio/small appartment for a short stay? All I need is a bed, a desk, a bathroom, a small kitchen and an internet connection for work. I'd like to pay around 100 000-150 000 Yen.
I looked at a few websites, but the process doesn't seem simple. You have to sign a lease, have a guarantor and pay a bunch of fees (cleaning costs are especially outrageous). Everything is done by phone, email or face to face. I understand those websites are usually used for longer stays. Is there a "booking.com" style website for this kind of accomodation?
I looked at a few websites, but the process doesn't seem simple. You have to sign a lease, have a guarantor and pay a bunch of fees (cleaning costs are especially outrageous). Everything is done by phone, email or face to face. I understand those websites are usually used for longer stays. Is there a "booking.com" style website for this kind of accomodation?
If you don't mind living with others you can probably get a room in a share house for somewhere between 40 000-80 000 yen a month. I don't know about a search engine for finding share houses, but companies like Sakura House seem to be popular.
The apartments.gaijinpot site is okay. You'll still have to go through to see about fees, but some have less than others and the description will say.
Also 150,000 a month, damn. Can I live with you ( ≖‿≖
Someone make a japangaf ot.
Exchange before you come + use credit card + withdraw money from ATM if you need to. The machines will accept your debit card probably but making purchases may not work.
Best way to spend money is just to meet up with me and buy me things.
I find that you actually get a much better exchange rate going to the ATM's at 7/11 or JPost than they will give you back in the states. The best exchange I found was to go through your bank, the companies like Travelex will rape you then rape your corpse. Occasionally when I am low on yen in my account here I will pull from my checking account in the US with a VISA debit card (many places don't take it, but grocery stores, Don Quixote, Bic, etc will), you actually get a pretty fair exchange. Cheaper than the rate Wells Fargo charged me for paper money before I moved.
Nexus Zero
Member
Fritz are you Kevin
No sorry. Who's Kevin?
Has anyone ever been to Nikko? I've got two weeks in Tokyo coming up in May and was wondering if its possible to go for a day trip to some of the Temples there as the pictures I have seen look stunning. I'll be staying in Shinjuku and would probably pick up a three day Kanto area pass to do there, Fuji and Takao without spending a fortune on my suica card.
Travel insurance is a must for a trip anywhere for me, and I would happily go to Japan alone in a heartbeat. Such a friendly place
RapidCancel
Member
You mean as far as getting into the country or stuff to get around as well? All you need is a passport, it's up to you on the insurance, I've never used any.
Travel alone > tours IMO, lot more freedom to do what you want, when you want.
King Cobra
Banned
How much would it cost excluding plane ticket, to spend about 10 days in japan?
Nexus Zero
Member
Ha no worries some guy I bumped into this evening and directed to your hostel
Planet ticket from where? What class? Spend 10 days where? Doing what????
???????????????
??
That all depends on how addicted to the UFO catchers you are.
King Cobra
Banned
I will have the plane ticket covered for me, I want to visit multiple places in Japan, Tokyo Osaka, the more rural places as well. And doing pretty much everything, going to bars, eatting at hole in the walls.
I had been in Nikko a few times. Is a 1:30-2h train ride but is a good 1 day trip. I recommend to do it at least one time.