I'm Going To Japan

[qilver]

dochira wrote:

The subway/bus part is only in Tokyo, and it does not cover all subways. For example, the Disney Resort Line (Maihama) is not covered. Now outside of Tokyo, the Pasmo card works on where Suica works. Check the Suica Wiki for more details. Edit: Looking at the Wiki, it looks like there are some compatibility issues using Suica on other systems. Suica works on ICOCA (JR Osaka) but not on PiTaPa (Kansai) or Toica (Nagoya).

i'll look into this, thanks for the info.
not sure yet what is part of the tour package, in transportation that i will be taking along with my parents. But it is a nice option to have, if necessary.

post the pix,

[TaintedWisdom]

Ok so right I promised I would come back and write some ideas on where I want to go during my trip after I had a day off from work/school.
So here I go hehe

Since is around 2 weeks, I know is impossible to look at everything.
Most people go to temples/shrines the entire trip and while I def want to take a day or two to see shrines/temples etc. I don't want that to be the main focus of the trip. Due to my age, I'm more in the lets have fun hang out phase thus shibuya will be a place I know I will be spending quite some time lol. Other than that I know I have to see kyoto cause I hear it's simply beautiful plus yeah there are some temples/shrines.

I guess if I write some of my interest, and things I like about Japan it would be easier to write up some trip plan right? Here are some:

I'm really big into the Movie/drama thing so I know I should visit at least a movie theater once .

Got to visit some of old Japan (thus it will include some of the temples)

Got to see fashion and waste some money on clothing, so probably harajuku, shibuya, shinjuku right?

Some technology (so maybe 1 day) looking at that technology city (can't remember name right now).

Then buying cute things and techy stuff for family and friends back home.

Bah I guess I didn't really explicitly mentioned what I like in general but is kind of hard... I normally just like so many things from graphics, to working out, to just language as a whole that is hard to pin point 1 single thing I like the most, but if I had to, then is just hanging out with random people or music (any type).

As you can see I'm pretty open to any suggestions/ideas, so if you want you could even post some generic/preplanned trips from other people and I could just modify them to my liking.
_________________

"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice."

[Julieh]

What I'm thinking of checking out whilst I'm over there is:

Tokyo in general
Mt Fuji
Fukushima (Aizu)(recently saw Byakkotai )
Kyoto in general
Himeji
Takayama (small cute village a couple of hours from Kyoto. Small streets, market, etc. Was recommended by my travel organizer).
Hiroshima
Osaka
Nara

Hm, I think that's it At least for now

[charlosian]

hi guys. ill be going to japan for 6 weeks to study. Ill be in Hiroshima, anyone been there? any cool places to see? im sure there are nice places and I will probably see a lot of them since im there for a while, but i just want to know other places in Hiroshima and near there. I also plan to see tokyo while im there especially Akiba. hopefully i can do that in a day because tokyo is pretty far form Hiroshima.

[tabana]

There's something called Around Japan in 28 days on Google maps. It might be worth a look. link
_________________

[TaintedWisdom]

tabana wrote:

There's something called Around Japan in 28 days on Google maps. It might be worth a look. link

OMG great link/idea!!!
I'm amazed I helped beta test googleearth/maps for over 2 years and I didn't think of actually checking it out for my own trip hahaha.

Thank you very much, I allready got a few ideas of places I want to see (Imperial Palace, and Nikko being one of them)

But like all typical plans/trip/travel guides is always about the scenery and nothing else...

I guess it will come down to the cool young people places my friend knows off, cause for some reason these people forget that young people don't just want to see temples and nice views for weeks...nheheh
_________________

"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice."

[tabana]

No problem. ...but yeah. It's mostly the same stuff my grandmother would like to visit. A temple or 2 might be nice, but it gets boring after a while. Thanks to my parents, I think I've seen every freaking antique village on the east coast.

I don't know if they have those, but you could try bus tour to visit the city (a few hours) or just hang out with your friend and skip all the tourist traps. Maybe Onsen...
_________________

[charlosian]

thanks for the link, but i wont be able to go all around Japan, since i will have class daily, and for the sixth week i will have time and plan to see Tokyo.

[TaintedWisdom]

tabana wrote:

No problem. ...but yeah. It's mostly the same stuff my grandmother would like to visit. A temple or 2 might be nice, but it gets boring after a while. Thanks to my parents, I think I've seen every freaking antique village on the east coast. I don't know if they have those, but you could try bus tour to visit the city (a few hours) or just hang out with your friend and skip all the tourist traps. Maybe Onsen...

yeah, my point exactly haha. About the onsen... eeek, I'm not a huge fan of hot/smoking water, let alone during summer... and specially with a bunch of men around me (now if I was in the girls sections I wouldn't mind haha) Oh right and not to mention...naegleria fowler (this is what happens when you pre-med, sometimes knowledge creates fear hehe)
_________________

"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice."

[tabana]

Yikes. I had to search what it was... scary.

In onsen, most of them are separate. They are also mixed bath. Since in drama and anime, all the guys are spying in the women bath... it may not be 100% fool proof.

charlosian wrote:

thanks for the link, but i wont be able to go all around Japan, since i will have class daily, and for the sixth week i will have time and plan to see Tokyo.

Damn. Not even Sundays off to visit?
_________________

[�P���B��]

Are you staying with a homestay family like me ? Im not expecting to see any other big cities than Tokyo (where I will be staying), maybe Yokohama, cause I will have to participate with my families activities during weekends which will be fun to ofcourse. And who knows they will take me to very interesting places that tourists dont get to visit regularly..

[charlosian]

i will have weekends i think, but i wont have time to go all around japan.
and i will stay with a host family the first weekend, after that i'll be on the campus.

[TaintedWisdom]

Sup guys,
So In looking and preparing for my summer vacation to Japan, I decided to look up more about "jet lag."

Now as a pre-med student, and hearing the phrase dozens of times I got sort of used to it but I never really quite analyzed it, as to why I decided to look more about it online.

Ok after half an hour+ of articles and articles (which all seem to have been copied from the same source or something...) I still have no clear answer, solution, proper explanation (you think something this common would have a good scientific and clear cut explanation, guess I will ask a real doctor about it later during the week)

I have been in planes all my life (literally since I was in womb to before even being 1 years old, and I travel at least once a year). However, most times is either in the same time zone, just northwards or southwards which once again doesn't cause jet lag. After reading all these articles and stuff, I'm actually quite worried because I normally don't go to sleep so easily specially when I'm excited about a trip, or worse yet on someone else's house and an environment I don't know.

So I come to you guys (specially those who have taken 10+ hour non stop hour flights across different time zones) for your tips, and suggestions.
If you could be very specific, it would be even better (as all these articles were very general and I need as much details as possible).

Right now what I'm thinking is, making sure to sleep well 2 days before the flight. Then don't sleep at all during the flight and yeah it will be daylight when I arrive at japan, but I can easily stay awake a second day without a problem and just go to sleep early at 10-11pm that night.

I have no idea if that would prevent jet lag, let me know if you have tried that and how it works etc.

Thank you very much, really appreciate it
_________________

"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice."

[K.T.Tran]

TaintedWisdom wrote:

Sup guys, So In looking and preparing for my summer vacation to Japan, I decided to look up more about "jet lag." Now as a pre-med student, and hearing the phrase dozens of times I got sort of used to it but I never really quite analyzed it, as to why I decided to look more about it online. Ok after half an hour+ of articles and articles (which all seem to have been copied from the same source or something...) I still have no clear answer, solution, proper explanation (you think something this common would have a good scientific and clear cut explanation, guess I will ask a real doctor about it later during the week) I have been in planes all my life (literally since I was in womb to before even being 1 years old, and I travel at least once a year). However, most times is either in the same time zone, just northwards or southwards which once again doesn't cause jet lag. After reading all these articles and stuff, I'm actually quite worried because I normally don't go to sleep so easily specially when I'm excited about a trip, or worse yet on someone else's house and an environment I don't know. So I come to you guys (specially those who have taken 10+ hour non stop hour flights across different time zones) for your tips, and suggestions. If you could be very specific, it would be even better (as all these articles were very general and I need as much details as possible). Right now what I'm thinking is, making sure to sleep well 2 days before the flight. Then don't sleep at all during the flight and yeah it will be daylight when I arrive at japan, but I can easily stay awake a second day without a problem and just go to sleep early at 10-11pm that night. I have no idea if that would prevent jet lag, let me know if you have tried that and how it works etc. Thank you very much, really appreciate it

Well I don't know how to prevent Jet Lag.......but it looks like you're way too excited to got to Japan, so you won't be sleeping on the flight at all. Most time people sleep on the flight cause they're bored, stood up all night doing last minute packing or so and got tired on the plane...

My flight to Vietnam wasn't nonstop, but from SJ to Taiwan was like....13-14 hrs or so and I didn't sleep a wink. From Taiwan to Vietnam, didn't sleep a wink either and that was another hr of flight or so. When I got to Vietnam it was just going around, eating, and resting a bit @ Hotel after checking in before going around some more before dinner.

Sleeping sucked for me in Saigon cause it was terribly noisy until 2am and I avg. 3hrs of sleep when I was there. Hopefully for you, you'll be able to adjust to Japan time and it won't be that noisy at night for you.

If you think the sleeping well for 2days before the flight will hep you, by all means go for it.
_________________

[TaintedWisdom]

K.T.Tran wrote:

Well I don't know how to prevent Jet Lag.......but it looks like you're way too excited to got to Japan, so you won't be sleeping on the flight at all. Most time people sleep on the flight cause they're bored, stood up all night doing last minute packing or so and got tired on the plane... My flight to Vietnam wasn't nonstop, but from SJ to Taiwan was like....13-14 hrs or so and I didn't sleep a wink. From Taiwan to Vietnam, didn't sleep a wink either and that was another hr of flight or so. When I got to Vietnam it was just going around, eating, and resting a bit @ Hotel after checking in before going around some more before dinner. Sleeping sucked for me in Saigon cause it was terribly noisy until 2am and I avg. 3hrs of sleep when I was there. Hopefully for you, you'll be able to adjust to Japan time and it won't be that noisy at night for you. If you think the sleeping well for 2days before the flight will hep you, by all means go for it.

Well the way I look at it right now is as I mentioned before, 1)sleeping real good before the flight and then don't sleep for the entire flight and the remainder of the day, then just go to sleep early when the night sets in. or 2)don't sleep well at all before the flight, and just sleep at least 6-8 hours on the plane somehow, and start the day fresh when I get to Japan, but this way it sounds harder cause In a plane is harder to sleep, something will wake you up, and excitement can also get the best of you.

But I'm hoping more people got suggestions, ideas, times for the best flights and whatnot regarding this issue.
_________________

"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice."

[Julieh]

Last summer I travelled to Thailand, which is about 14 hours away from Norway I think. We stopped in Sweden, but I didn't sleep a wink on the way down there. All of us were reallyREALLY excited, and were bouncing around. Maybe we had some smaller naps, but no real sleeping. And I don't think I had slept much the night before either. But when we arrived in Thailand, we were even more exited and just bounced even more around! And we lasted all day, I think we went to bed around midnight?

But on the way home from Thailand to Sweden, then I slept like a baby! Our flight was really late, but I remember when I woke up when we were about to land in Sweden, my ears hurt like HELL! I've never had this experience before, but I reckon it had something to do with me sleeping the entire flight.

I'm sure you'll do just fine! Bring your mp3 player and perhaps a magazine or a book. Most likely you'll be too excited to sleep (at least on the way down!).

[qilver]

TaintedWisdom wrote:

Sup guys, So In looking and preparing for my summer vacation to Japan, I decided to look up more about "jet lag." Now as a pre-med student, and hearing the phrase dozens of times I got sort of used to it but I never really quite analyzed it, as to why I decided to look more about it online. Ok after half an hour+ of articles and articles (which all seem to have been copied from the same source or something...) I still have no clear answer, solution, proper explanation (you think something this common would have a good scientific and clear cut explanation, guess I will ask a real doctor about it later during the week) I have been in planes all my life (literally since I was in womb to before even being 1 years old, and I travel at least once a year). However, most times is either in the same time zone, just northwards or southwards which once again doesn't cause jet lag. After reading all these articles and stuff, I'm actually quite worried because I normally don't go to sleep so easily specially when I'm excited about a trip, or worse yet on someone else's house and an environment I don't know. So I come to you guys (specially those who have taken 10+ hour non stop hour flights across different time zones) for your tips, and suggestions. If you could be very specific, it would be even better (as all these articles were very general and I need as much details as possible). Right now what I'm thinking is, making sure to sleep well 2 days before the flight. Then don't sleep at all during the flight and yeah it will be daylight when I arrive at japan, but I can easily stay awake a second day without a problem and just go to sleep early at 10-11pm that night. I have no idea if that would prevent jet lag, let me know if you have tried that and how it works etc. Thank you very much, really appreciate it

about 10 to 11 hours going to Japan, from LAX, and 8 1/2 to 9 to back. I slept maybe if lucky 30 minutes total, round trip, i don't really sleep on planes, unless there was a bed...but in a economy seat...unlikely to get any rest. So my trip both times to japan, i didn't sleep at all going, i guess i was too excited for my trip. Actually my first trip, i stayed up a full 24 hrs, according to my watch, not the actual current time, which was japan time after i arrived. I probably don't recommend staying up 24 hrs, to adjust to the japan time. For example, if you go to sleep at 1am, wake up normal time 7am, fly out, 1pm, arrive 10 hours later, at 11pm, which will be 5pm japan time. You don't fall asleep until 8pm almost 9pm...which is 1am to 2am Pacific standard time, that is what i did. i woke up the next morning at 4am....and by the 3 to 5 day, i was waking up around 6am, and more adjusted. Coming back, that is when the jet-leg would hit more, and i would be going to sleep at 5am, waking up at close to noon, and taking naps the first few days back. 3 to 4 days later, i would be more adjusted as my jet-leg would wear off by then. That is my experience with jet-lag.

[qilver]

K.T.Tran wrote:

Well I don't know how to prevent Jet Lag.......but it looks like you're way too excited to got to Japan, so you won't be sleeping on the flight at all. Most time people sleep on the flight cause they're bored, stood up all night doing last minute packing or so and got tired on the plane... My flight to Vietnam wasn't nonstop, but from SJ to Taiwan was like....13-14 hrs or so and I didn't sleep a wink. From Taiwan to Vietnam, didn't sleep a wink either and that was another hr of flight or so. When I got to Vietnam it was just going around, eating, and resting a bit @ Hotel after checking in before going around some more before dinner. Sleeping sucked for me in Saigon cause it was terribly noisy until 2am and I avg. 3hrs of sleep when I was there. Hopefully for you, you'll be able to adjust to Japan time and it won't be that noisy at night for you. If you think the sleeping well for 2days before the flight will hep you, by all means go for it.

wow, dude.....that sux...3 hrs avg?
i think i got 6 hours my first night in Narita. waking up a 4am to hear the crows.....(watch some of the j-dramas, and you will sometimes hear them in the background....reminds me of japan for some odd reason..ohayo!)

But getting good sleep a day or so before, wouldn't hurt...but keep in mind, anytime during travel, it can mean less sleep being in a foreign area, away in a new environment.

[TaintedWisdom]

qilver wrote:

about 10 to 11 hours going to Japan, from LAX, and 8 1/2 to 9 to back. I slept maybe if lucky 30 minutes total, round trip, i don't really sleep on planes, unless there was a bed...but in a economy seat...unlikely to get any rest. So my trip both times to japan, i didn't sleep at all going, i guess i was too excited for my trip. Actually my first trip, i stayed up a full 24 hrs, according to my watch, not the actual current time, which was japan time after i arrived. I probably don't recommend staying up 24 hrs, to adjust to the japan time. For example, if you go to sleep at 1am, wake up normal time 7am, fly out, 1pm, arrive 10 hours later, at 11pm, which will be 5pm japan time. You don't fall asleep until 8pm almost 9pm...which is 1am to 2am Pacific standard time, that is what i did. i woke up the next morning at 4am....and by the 3 to 5 day, i was waking up around 6am, and more adjusted. Coming back, that is when the jet-leg would hit more, and i would be going to sleep at 5am, waking up at close to noon, and taking naps the first few days back. 3 to 4 days later, i would be more adjusted as my jet-leg would wear off by then. That is my experience with jet-lag.

Thanks for the response.
Ok so I was looking online trying to figure this thing out a bit more, and then figure out travel times etc.

Here is an example of an actual flight from New York,USA to Tokyo,Japan.
August 10
Departure:10:00AM
Arrival: 12:50PM +1 day
Average Flight Time:13h50min

Ok so I have a question, when they say +1Day. That mean I land on Japan at 12:50PM of August 11, right?

Ok if that's the case. Then do I simply take a good night sleep the day before the flight, then take my flight on August10 depart at 10:00am, and then don't sleep during the flight? Then when I arrive at Japan the time should be 12:50pm and just stay awake till like 8pm then and fall sleep.
Was that similar to what you did? what you recomended?


_________________

"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not, none will suffice."

[qilver]

TaintedWisdom wrote:

Thanks for the response. Ok so I was looking online trying to figure this thing out a bit more, and then figure out travel times etc. Here is an example of an actual flight from New York,USA to Tokyo,Japan. August 10 Departure:10:00AM Arrival: 12:50PM +1 day Average Flight Time:13h50min Ok so I have a question, when they say +1Day. That mean I land on Japan at 12:50PM of August 11, right? Ok if that's the case. Then do I simply take a good night sleep the day before the flight, then take my flight on August10 depart at 10:00am, and then don't sleep during the flight? Then when I arrive at Japan the time should be 12:50pm and just stay awake till like 8pm then and fall sleep. Was that similar to what you did? what you recomended?

NY to Narita(the airport i flew in..and probably you will too, unless it is Kansai airport, near Osaka/Kyoto. Flight time is almost 14hrs long. I figure that the flight, it'll only take a few hrs or so longer than flying out of LAX to Narita. ok NY is 3 hrs ahead of LA..., the time difference from NY and Tokyo is only 14 hrs, versus 17hrs diff than LA-Tokyo. If you leave at 10am, which is 2pm the next day...(you flight out example on say...Friday, you arrive the next day, Saturday...). So, you fly out 10am, and arrive 14hrs later, at 2am, your time, but it is 6pm Tokyo time. (14hr flight time + 14hr time difference = 28hrs, when you land, so from 10am on your watch, when you fly out of NY, it'll be 2pm the next day when you land in Tokyo, does that make any sense? give or take an hour of head/tail wind on the flight and for time departure/arrival, and/or, daylight savings...could be 16hr time difference btw NY-Tokyo. For me, i flew out 1pm, LAX, arrived 5pm the next day, 11hr flight...or a little less, and 17 hour time difference, 28hrs.

good sleep is always good....staying up, might not hurt, a small nap on the plane could help, with you enduring the daytime when you land. Try to stay up as best you can until say...8 or 9pm, or later. You might wake up super early like 3 or 4am, adjusting to the time there. i landed near dinner time, so i just had to stay up another 4 to 5 hours, until sleep...something like that....for you, you might have to stay up a little longer, to make an easier adjustment to the time/sleep.