littlemissfab wrote:

I chose my own poison.
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Wanna trade? My Drama List (UPDATED: July, 2013)

Have fun on the trip!

Next year is going to have to be the year for me since I wont get 3 weeks off until like 2016 or so.

Genma wrote:

Just booked my tickets!! Visiting in end of March! Funky thing is... I haven't planned on where to go yet.

Spend your entire time there checking out AKB48.

bmwracer wrote:

Spend your entire time there checking out AKB48.

The spirit of Hanzo has returned?

Anime Dad wrote:

The spirit of Hanzo has returned?

More like the nightmare.

Very quickly before the firewall shuts me down.

Quote:

The deal In an effort to assist tourists who are feeling the economic pinch, a leading online booking site has introduced a special Yen Buster Campaign to combat the dollar�fs weak exchange rate against the yen, slashing rates at top hotels throughout Japan. International travelers who book their reservations through the JAPANiCAN.com reservation site can save up to 55 percent off rack rates at top hotels in Tokyo and Osaka. Exceptional deals on the site include 55 percent off rates at the Price Park Tower Hotel, a luxury hotel with in-room Jacuzzis and panoramic views of Tokyo, from $110/night; the sleek Hyatt Regency Osaka from $133/night; or the designer Park Hotel Tokyo from just $92/night. Book soon — this offer is only valid for stays at select hotels through March. The dollars Based on double occupancy. Taxes and fees are additional. The catch Airfare will add a hefty sum to your Japan escape. At the time of writing, we found round-trip flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo in mid-February from $729 per person (Singapore Air).

Just when I was about to ask about any hotel or site recommendations. Thanks!
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krim wrote:

Very quickly before the firewall shuts me down.

You make it sound like you're in an Indiana Jones movie...

Hehehe.

bmwracer wrote:

Spend your entire time there checking out AKB48.

even i wouldn't be able, or have the desire to that.



but still to catch a few concerts and maido kissen, might be ideal.

Genma wrote:

Just booked my tickets!! Visiting in end of March! Funky thing is... I haven't planned on where to go yet.

i went last year about the same time that i will be going again.

You should be able to get a full view of the Sakura blossoms around that time, they really start blooming in Tokyo/Kyoto during the last week of March.

I would visit Kyoto as a first time visitor, and definitely parts of Tokyo are worth checking out. Other areas if your time permits, Osaka, Kobe, Hakone.

dochira wrote:

It's hard to say. There's a global recession so no one is travelling. With that, the price of oil has gone down, so there's little to no fuel surcharge at the moment. But with no one flying, airlines are cutting back flights, so the price of the ticket could go upwards. Japan wants more tourists to visit so there could be specials. However the current exchange rate isn't so hot (1USD = 89JPY), so it makes things in Japan more expensive. But who knows if things will improve by next year.

true...
but i was still able to get airfare at around the same cost as last year with JAL, and same with the hotel accomodations in Shinagawa, at the same place.
I will be traveling elsewhere too in Japan, and found some good hotel rates and i can suggest other areas in Japan for those that might be interested.
Fukuoka hotels are quite a bit less expensive than Tokyo, even Osaka is less than Kyoto, and just 20 minutes away by Shinkansen.

Genma wrote:

Just booked my tickets!! Visiting in end of March! Funky thing is... I haven't planned on where to go yet.

Will you be in Tokyo prefecture? How long will you be visiting for?

Genma wrote:

Just when I was about to ask about any hotel or site recommendations. Thanks!

Fukuoka - i found some hotels around 6000-7500Y, but that is all the way in the Kyushu region, some 7 plus hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen.

In Osaka, about the same, maybe a bit higher 8000Y or so a night on hotels.

Tokyo - Shinagawa Prince hotel, even higher but for a 4-star hotel as i mentioned several times before, 9800Y/night plus tax, and surcharges per night.

I will be hovering in Tokyo for 4+ days, and might head to Osaka after that. Haven't planned the rest tho, but will be back in Tokyo for a day or two before I leave. Will be a 12 day trip in all.
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Genma wrote:

I will be hovering in Tokyo for 4+ days, and might head to Osaka after that. Haven't planned the rest tho, but will be back in Tokyo for a day or two before I leave. Will be a 12 day trip in all.

Tokyo has a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing.
a good area to check out is the local bookstore that has travel books, Lonely Planet series is a good one, and "Eyewitness" JAPAN travel books is very good too to check out. Or just a book on "TOKYO" since that is most of which you plan on seeing.

Kyoto is about a 2hr 25 min ride on the Shinkansen from Tokyo, each way, give or take. It is worth the time if you decide to visit Kyoto, but a JR RAILPASS might be the way to go, but they can only be purchased in your home country, and you exchange the voucher at the Trainstation or airport for an actual railpass, 7, 14, or 21 day passes available good throughout Japan's JR rail systems including Shinkansen. If you do decide a railpass, it can be costly, but you get your money's worth if you ride the Shinkansen a few times. If you are just taking trains/subways in Tokyo, then maybe a "Suica" card, but you can purchase in Japan's trainstations. The JR-rail passes are only good on JR-trains and not the subways. Japan has both, JR trains, and subways, you will see Metro symbol which is the subways. JR trains have their own trainstations.

I recommend in Tokyo, Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Nakamise is inside of that area and has over 90 little booth-shops for food snacks, souvenirs and more souvenirs. There are countless other areas in Tokyo worth seeing, i will be there 10 days, and five other days elsewhere in Japan.

Thanks for the recommendations

Heh, I was actually looking at some of the shinkansen+hotel packages that depart from Tokyo to Hakone and Kyoto. Whats the normal rate for the shinkansen then? I saw the schedule/price table at japanrail.com but it all seemed exorbitant.
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Genma wrote:

Thanks for the recommendations Heh, I was actually looking at some of the shinkansen+hotel packages that depart from Tokyo to Hakone and Kyoto. Whats the normal rate for the shinkansen then? I saw the schedule/price table at japanrail.com but it all seemed exorbitant.

That is the normal price for a ticket on the Shinkansen. Notice that you pay the basic fare plus a surcharge.

A 7-day regular rail pass pays for itself as soon as you make a round trip on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Kobe. If you plan to make many Shinkansen trips, I would buy one for the duration of your stay.

So I been trying to figure out how much is really needed to go to Japan.. how about $2500? including flight and hotel for 2 weeks at the longest?

dochira wrote:

That is the normal price for a ticket on the Shinkansen. Notice that you pay the basic fare plus a surcharge. A 7-day regular rail pass pays for itself as soon as you make a round trip on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Kobe. If you plan to make many Shinkansen trips, I would buy one for the duration of your stay.

Calling my local agent about the rail passes, think the price has ballooned after the yen went up!

SubaruWRX wrote:

So I been trying to figure out how much is really needed to go to Japan.. how about $2500? including flight and hotel for 2 weeks at the longest?

Think it really depends on what kind of hotels you look for and whether you're travelling alone or a couple (accommodation shared).
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Genma wrote:

Think it really depends on what kind of hotels you look for and whether you're travelling alone or a couple (accommodation shared).

i think yeah...it really depends on the type of hotel, and location.
For me i always stay at the Shinagawa Prince hotel in Shinagawa, i think for the 4-star hotel, for its rooms, it is the best rate for 2 people. I am staying alone this time, so it will be higher for one. In Osaka the rates for business-type hotels, more 2-star level, is cheaper of course, and even lower in Fukuoka. I like Shinagawa location, just a few minutes walk to the bullet train and the JR Yamanote line, that's really the main ones i used before.

@SubaruWRX, i do think 2500$ is possible, but also keep in mind that, which hotels you plan on staying, Business type hotels are cheaper than regular 3 to 4 star hotels, but i think are suffice. I don't tend to stay in the room too long, on the go a lot, and most others too. Airfare, this would be near half of the costs of your trip.
I allocated $1100 for my flight, but i always go with JAL, i am biased and prefer the best service, and i like the pretty flight attendant ladies, ok i am honest..lol
for me hotel accomodations costs me the most for this trip and other trips. I pay near 100$ a night on avg, maybe a bit more, and i am staying over 2 weeks. right there, that is $2300 give or take. No tours for me, but for the first timer, i do recommend it. First off, Japanese people in general possibly know some level of english, grammatically, but conversationally, not very many Japanese will respond to you past a few english phrases, some didn't even get past, "no english", so best to pick up a few phrases and bring a long a book. Most if any, do not speak much english outside of the airports, bigger hotel chains, outside in the streets of the city, and elsewhere. A JR-rail pass, a 7-day pass will go for now...$300 or near it, thanks to the pathetic exchange rates. I am going for 14-day pass since i plan on utilizing it going countrywide in Japan, and that one is just over $500. So i easily exceeded $2500 budget, so i think upwards to $4000. Food, well, maybe give or take $30 a day plus or minus per day, you can splurge some days, and eat cheaper other days, it balances out. So $450 on food??, souvenirs/misc, i would put another $400 to 500, for the entire trip, so what is that...about $4000, or maybe more, but how often do you go to Japan right? but for me its been almost yearly, it might be awhile before the next trip, i need to save up more, especially with this poor economy. Also keep in mind the exchange rates, i do expect to lose about $200 to $300 when i exchange my $ to Yen, this year incomparison to last March, when the Yen was near 100yen - $, now it is hovering around 82Yen, so keep all those in mind and budget, and look into some tours, but if you need some suggestions, just ask.