Yeah I wish I had that kind of lax schedule when I went. I tried to cram way too much in 5 days and was exhausted by the end. It does help if your accommodations is close to the train so you can rest midday.
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Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
Yeah I wish I had that kind of lax schedule when I went. I tried to cram way too much in 5 days and was exhausted by the end. It does help if your accommodations is close to the train so you can rest midday.
Airbnb or hostels?
We're thinking about splurging and staying in expensive ryokans for those nights. Still undecided though.
HideyoshiJP
Member
Yamanote line is just commuter rail. I wouldn't use the JR Pass except on days with long-distance travel. Most Yamanote line trips are less than 200JPY.
MikeHattsu
Member
No, you don't need to use the JR Pass for Tokyo. Just get a Suica/Pasmo card.
You can schedule the days you want to use the JR Pass when you trade the exchange order for the pass itself while in Tokyo.
A visit to Kyoto/Osaka/Nara is good. Hiroshima and Kobe is on the way as well. Depends on how long you plan to stay in Fukuoka.
What I meant was if I can travel for free on the Yamanote line if I had a JR pass? Or would using it count against the days you had on the pass? Also, I would prob like to stay 1-2 days in each city, but on a 7-day pass, the number of cities would be limited.
I'll look in to the cities you mentioned, MikeHattsu. Thx!
If you already have it for other things like longer travels, you don't have to pay for extra tickets for short trips within the city, if that's what you mean.
MikeHattsu
Member
Within the 7 day period of the 7 day JR Pass you can ride the trains on the Yamanote line for free. You can't ride trains for free on the days you don't have an active JR Pass.
Nara and Hiroshima is 1 day trips. Osaka and Kyoto can take several days or even weeks to explore fully
I was wondering if anyone could help me with information about travelling around Hokkaido in late May/early June, primarily for hiking. I'm only going to have a couple of weeks in total, so I know that I won't have "enough" time wherever I go, but I was wondering if people had any advice in terms of weather, and whether perhaps it'd be too cold to really make the most of it - ideally I'd like to go to Wakkanai and Rebun Island, but I read that in May it's only an average 12C in the former, so I can't imagine it being much warmer (if not actively colder) on the latter. I've otherwise looked at going to Daisetsuzan or the Akan National Park.
So, is it worth braving the cold to go that far north?
So, is it worth braving the cold to go that far north?
MikeHattsu
Member
That's the average high temperature. There's also the average low temperature that's around 6C:
http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Wakkanai-weather-averages/Hokkaido/JP.aspx
And for Rebun Island:
http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Rebun-weather-averages/Hokkaido/JP.aspx
Oh, I didn't realise it could actually get a bit higher on Rebun Island than in Wakkanai.
I know it'd be cold, but I kind of figure that if I'm out and about walking anyway it might not be too much an issue. It's more whether the hiking would actually be possible at that time of year. I've checked flights and the indirect options I'm looking at don't seem to get much higher even in the peak of the holiday season, but I kind of like the idea of going in May/June. (There's also the question of whether any accommodation would be open then, too.)
mechashiva
Member
So, NYE Tokyo what's the best place to party and not lose a kidney or all my money?
Hey Japan Travel GAF. Yesterday I bought my brother and I tickets to Japan. This will be our first trip outside of the U.S. I have a question about flight departure times and stuff though. I'm new to traveling outside time zones and I'm a little confused. When I selected our departure date, I selected May 21st, 2015. I select the return date as June 11th, 2015 based on their fare calendar.
When I view the selected flight returning to the U.S. from Tokyo it says:
Departs: Thurs Jun 11, 12:30AM
Arrives: Previous Day Wed Jun 10, 6:59PM
After a short layover we should be back home at 10:55PM on Wed Jun 10.
In the email confirmation we received though, it shows a departure time of Wed Jun 10 at 12:30AM. I know we're moving ahead one day going to Japan and then going back one day when we return to the U.S. I'm confused if I need to be there for the flight TUES night because 12:30AM would actually be Wednesday, or are they saying be there WED night and 12:30AM hits and it's technically THURS. I'm so damn confused.
When I view the selected flight returning to the U.S. from Tokyo it says:
Departs: Thurs Jun 11, 12:30AM
Arrives: Previous Day Wed Jun 10, 6:59PM
After a short layover we should be back home at 10:55PM on Wed Jun 10.
In the email confirmation we received though, it shows a departure time of Wed Jun 10 at 12:30AM. I know we're moving ahead one day going to Japan and then going back one day when we return to the U.S. I'm confused if I need to be there for the flight TUES night because 12:30AM would actually be Wednesday, or are they saying be there WED night and 12:30AM hits and it's technically THURS. I'm so damn confused.
12:30 AM is already Thursday.
Example if you need to be 2 hours before you need to be on Wednesday at 10:30. PM.
Thursday officially start at 12:00 AM.
I know that Thursday begins Wednesday night, once it becomes midnight. I wanted us to leave Thursday morning at 12:30AM. That way we would get to the airport, say at 10:30PM for a 12:30AM departure on Thursday. The email says we would depart 12:30AM on Wednesday, which would mean we would need to be at the airport Tuesday night at ~ 10:30PM for a 12:30AM flight, which would then be Wednesday. Do you see what I'm saying? Man I feel so crazy.
Edit: Are they just saying Wednesday so I will be at the airport Wednesday night, waiting for 12:30AM Thursday? Because that's what would make sense to me.
Yes, but you but this
According to that, you need to be in the airport Wednesday night to get the flight on Thursday 12:30 AM.
The need to give you the dates in the local timezone not in your main Timezone.
Yeah I know. Haha maybe I'm making this complicated. Online when I choose the flight it said we would depart Thursday June 11th at 12:30AM.
In our confirmation email though, it says we're departing Wednesday June 10th at 12:30AM.
That's where the difference lies and I'm confused.
Edit: I assumed they put the correct dates and times based upon the timezone you're in.
If you're visiting anytime soon, and coincidentally wanted one of those limited PS4 consoles, they're being sold for extremely cheap on Yahoo Auction (because Japan prefers PS3 and 3DS, pretty much).
http://auctions.search.yahoo.co.jp/search?auccat=&tab_ex=commerce&ei=utf-8&p=PS4+20周年&x=0&y=0
At least half of the price than in the west. The cheapest I saw was nearly the same price as the winner had to pay.
http://auctions.search.yahoo.co.jp/search?auccat=&tab_ex=commerce&ei=utf-8&p=PS4+20周年&x=0&y=0
At least half of the price than in the west. The cheapest I saw was nearly the same price as the winner had to pay.
HideyoshiJP
Member
Well, it went down due to the news of the recession, but it spiked back up a bit... I wonder if it has something to do with the elections. I think I'd read that people generally voted along his party lines again, and seem to continue to support his economic policies.
On another note, I was in Hiroshima last night, and it began to snow around 10PM-ish. I woke up to this:
Sadly, this made me late for my Mazda Museum appointment. My Shinkansen was also late by about 10 minutes. Luckily, thanks to JR pass, I'll be booking it back down to Hiroshima Friday morning for a make-up tour. I was actually worried I wouldn't make my money back on it...
Well, it went down due to the news of the recession, but it spiked back up a bit... I wonder if it has something to do with the elections. I think I'd read that people generally voted along his party lines again, and seem to continue to support his economic policies.
On another note, I was in Hiroshima last night, and it began to snow around 10PM-ish. I woke up to this:
Sadly, this made me late for my Mazda Museum appointment. My Shinkansen was also late by about 10 minutes. Luckily, thanks to JR pass, I'll be booking it back down to Hiroshima Friday morning for a make-up tour. I was actually worried I wouldn't make my money back on it...
Mazda museum was awesome.
I have a trip set up for next spring, I'll land in Haneda around 10PM and fly out of Haneda at 1PM the next day to Itami. We're staying in either the hotel @ the international terminal or domestic terminal 2 -- most likely the former, as it's about $60 cheaper.
Any interesting places we can get to quickly and painlessly (and back) from Haneda in the morning? It'll be Monday morning and I'll have my 1yr old daughter with me. I wanted to check out Odaiba but that'd be a 1hr trip both ways. Worst case Haneda's international terminal looks like a tailor-built tourist trap, so I can show the wife the "edo town" instead of wasting time wading through somewhere like Asakusa.
Any interesting places we can get to quickly and painlessly (and back) from Haneda in the morning? It'll be Monday morning and I'll have my 1yr old daughter with me. I wanted to check out Odaiba but that'd be a 1hr trip both ways. Worst case Haneda's international terminal looks like a tailor-built tourist trap, so I can show the wife the "edo town" instead of wasting time wading through somewhere like Asakusa.
MikeHattsu
Member
Only thing I can think of is the Tsukiji Fish Market which you can spend as little as 1 hour or as much as 3-4 hours depending on how interested you are in seeing a market which supplies high quality fish all over the world. According to Google maps should take you ~40 mins to get there by train and walking. Since it opens really early you can go there as soon as the trains start running and then start making your way back by 10AM and be back in time to catch your flight.
Have you tried The Westin Ryokan? I stayed there in November and I highly recommend it.
interesting, i'll look into it.
Most likely I'll just follow the "stay in Haneda" route though... wife does not like huge crowds, might as well not try to start it with a bang.
Going to Japan for 3-4 days before heading to Hong Kong afterwards. Trying to figure out what we should do. I made a thread, but figured I'd post here since I didn't know this thread existed.
So, I think the plan now might be to stay near Tokyo since maybe I don't want to spend much time traveling. Still, a co-worker of mine really recommends I take the high speed rail somewhere. I don't know if it's worth considering that or not. He also suggest I go to the fish market one morning and see the auctions.
I would like a balance between city and natural scenery. One poster already recommended Yoyogi park so I'm considering that. I was also considering seeing the Jigokudani Monkey Park, but I don't know if it's worth taking the time to travel out there.
So, I think the plan now might be to stay near Tokyo since maybe I don't want to spend much time traveling. Still, a co-worker of mine really recommends I take the high speed rail somewhere. I don't know if it's worth considering that or not. He also suggest I go to the fish market one morning and see the auctions.
I would like a balance between city and natural scenery. One poster already recommended Yoyogi park so I'm considering that. I was also considering seeing the Jigokudani Monkey Park, but I don't know if it's worth taking the time to travel out there.
MikeHattsu
Member
If you're just there for 3-4 days then just check out Tokyo. Plenty to do there.
distantmantra
Member
If you're just there for 3-4 days, stay in Tokyo and do a day trip nearby if you're really itching to get out of the city. Nikko is my favorite of the Kamakura, Hakone, Nikko trifecta.
You could take the shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara. It's a short trip, but probably expensive and not really worth it unless you want to spend an entire day and go to Hakone.
You could take the shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara. It's a short trip, but probably expensive and not really worth it unless you want to spend an entire day and go to Hakone.
Aurelius
Member
For people who might be interested, I started making a blog about my fall trip to Tohoku.
http://strolie.blogspot.nl
There are also some other individual blogs about Japan.
http://strolie.blogspot.nl
There are also some other individual blogs about Japan.
MikeHattsu
Member
I'd guess week 13-15 should be good if you're going to be in the Kanto or Kansai area.
If you go to Okinawa, are into hiking, and have the time, I suggest making one last push down to the Yaeyama-shima, specifically Iriomote-jima. The Yaeyama islands are the southernmost islands in Japan, and the climate and scenery there is fantastic. On Iriomote-jima you can go canoeing among mangroves, and then hiking up to some beautiful waterfalls.
I didn't spend much time on Okinawa island itself, but I think if you have a car to get around it's a great way to spend a few days.
Zoe
Member
One night is definitely enough to experience the meals and traditional accomodations.
1 night is plenty. I did mine at the end of the trip and I was the perfect way to decompress so relaxing. A
RapidCancel
Member
Just left Japan a few weeks ago, miss it again like always. Just thought I'd post a few pics.
Looks like the Fukuoka food stalls.Just left Japan a few weeks ago, miss it again like always. Just thought I'd post a few pics.
Yeah. The yen makes me cry right now. It's over 120 to the dollar as I type this. It feels terrible to lose thousands in the matter of 3 months by no fault of your own.
mechashiva
Member
I leave Friday for Tokyo! I'll be there most of the time through January 11th. Going to watch a lot of pro wrestling, eat all the food, and try to get to Mt Fuji.
About to leave for my trip now. Thanks to the fellas that assisted with the JR pass bookings, it was a huge help!
Much more stressed this time around (trip 2) even though I have a lot more language under my belt. If any gaffers wish to meet up, shout out!
Oh yeah...where is this fabled burnt ramen that a few guys were raving about earlier in the year? Osaka or Tokyo? Is it at the top floor of a Yodabashi? Keen to try it this time!
Much more stressed this time around (trip 2) even though I have a lot more language under my belt. If any gaffers wish to meet up, shout out!
Oh yeah...where is this fabled burnt ramen that a few guys were raving about earlier in the year? Osaka or Tokyo? Is it at the top floor of a Yodabashi? Keen to try it this time!
Gogyo in Tokyo is in Roppongi, right across the US military base.
But if you're going to Kyoto, should try that one, way much tastier than Roppongi branch.
Yessss I knew there were two separate ones! This is it! Thanks bro!!
MikeHattsu
Member
Haha. That random Chopper.