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Japan Travel |OT| We have to go back
- Thread starter MikeHattsu
- Start date
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Tokyo Big Sight today (Sunday) or tomorrow. Starts at 10. Ends at like 15-ish
May be able to get there. Discord server or something else available for contact?
I'm in Osaka until Jan 2nd. Since it's New Years and things are bound to be unavailable due to circumstances, what are some things that I should make sure to focus on?
We're not really sure what it'll be like getting to Kyoto given how crowded things have been. We almost didn't get our Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Osaka because everything was sold out and had to ride in the smoking car (one of the grossest things I've done).
We're traveling with a couple of vegans so I actually managed to leave Tokyo without getting sushi (I know, I know) and that's definitely something I need to do in Japan. After Osaka we're going to Okinawa (Naha) for 2 days.
Any recommendations are appreciated.
We're not really sure what it'll be like getting to Kyoto given how crowded things have been. We almost didn't get our Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Osaka because everything was sold out and had to ride in the smoking car (one of the grossest things I've done).
We're traveling with a couple of vegans so I actually managed to leave Tokyo without getting sushi (I know, I know) and that's definitely something I need to do in Japan. After Osaka we're going to Okinawa (Naha) for 2 days.
Any recommendations are appreciated.
I can tell you Osaka Castle is closed right now, since the 28th until early January. I was dumb and didn't check before going. You can walk around the garden area and see it from the outside.
Was that worth it in your opinion? My friend really wants to check it out.
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For me it wasn't really out of the way to visit and the outside area doesn't have a fee. Walking in the park/garden area and past the moat gave an interesting view of the castle. But not being able to enter the castle was a shame. I guess it depends on how much travel there would be to it.
There was also an archery place at the location I was keen to try, but again, closed for the Holidays.
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A crisis worthy of news in Japan
A daily occurance here in England
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I guess that explains why Tokyo Station was crazy packed coming in from Shin Osaka? Leaving the station was an adventure itself.
WHEW! I went to Japan alone in September and it changed my life. I quit my job when I came back home (yikes, still looking for full-time work).
My wife and I just booked our flights, and we're going back for our 4th anniversary in June. June 5-15!
Can't wait. Landing and departing from Haneda, NO idea where we'll go or what we'll do. I only saw Tokyo / Kyoto last time.
My wife and I just booked our flights, and we're going back for our 4th anniversary in June. June 5-15!
Can't wait. Landing and departing from Haneda, NO idea where we'll go or what we'll do. I only saw Tokyo / Kyoto last time.
Spent last night in Dotonbori and it was awesome.
What's recommended for New Years specific activities? Is there any place in particular we'll be able to see fireworks from?
What's recommended for New Years specific activities? Is there any place in particular we'll be able to see fireworks from?
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Just booked my flight for my next Japan trip, will be going at the end of April so it will be just over 6 months since I last visited. But unlike the last time where we visited 6 different cities we will just be staying in Osaka this time. Gonna share apartment with another gaming buddy who studies there.
Since we will be there from April 24th to May 8th Golden week will be happening while we are there. We don't have any real plans for normal sightseeing this time since we did so much of that last time, but I'm assuming most places will be pretty crowded (which I don't mind)?
And I'm guessing the nightlife will be waaay busier than when we spent the night bar hopping on a Tuesday last time. :P
Since we will be there from April 24th to May 8th Golden week will be happening while we are there. We don't have any real plans for normal sightseeing this time since we did so much of that last time, but I'm assuming most places will be pretty crowded (which I don't mind)?
And I'm guessing the nightlife will be waaay busier than when we spent the night bar hopping on a Tuesday last time. :P
God help me I think I'm going to finally start planning a trip to Tokyo, possibly for this year if I can afford it but more likely next year so I can fell comfortable with everything. I'd always wanted to go with friends so I didn't feel so overwhelmed or paranoid at going on my own but as the majority of them now have responsibilities etc I've decided that I just need to suck it up and attempt this on my own or its never going to happen.
I've got a feeling that I will be using this thread a lot!
I've got a feeling that I will be using this thread a lot!
Just remember that the Olympics are in Tokyo next year :)
Ha yeah that did occur to me after I posted this. I'll just have to either plan my trip a couple of months either side of it to avoid all that or start working on my long jumping skills.
For my first trip a few months ago, I went alone. It's totally doable and I had a blast. I learned 7-8 phrases from YouTube that I thought I'd need to ask for recommendations, find my way, greet people, and apologize for not being able to understand them. You really can get by with only a few phrases. If you can say them well, I found that locals really appreciated the effort and would go above and beyond to help me. You'll also very likely meet other English-speaking tourists while there.
In my opinion, the #1 thing you need in order to be fearless while flying solo in Japan is pocket wifi. I had a pocket wifi device that I took with me, so my phone always had skype and Google Maps. Google Maps made getting around incredibly easy. It will tell you exactly where to go, which train to board, how many stops to ride, when to transfer, etc. As long as you have that in your pocket, you can pretty much get to wherever you want to go throughout Tokyo and beyond (I went to Kyoto as well).
It's also more affordable than I expected. You can easily find nice-looking hotels around central Tokyo for around $90 a night. If you're willing to pay about $115 a night you can probably even find a room in a hotel that offers free breakfast every morning if you're not traveling in peak season. Food is also super affordable. Everywhere you go you can find a great, filling meal for anywhere around 600-1500 yen (about $6-15).
Do it. You won't regret it.
First time I went was by myself and it was amazing, don't worry! Japan is a great place for solo travel.
Having gone to Denden town and then revisited Akihabara, which didn't leave a great impression last time, I'm comfortable saying the former is a better scene. I don't know if I'm more for Osaka or Tokyo as a whole, but in that area, gotta go with Osaka.
Annual Leave request put in at work. If it gets granted, I'll be able to book my 2nd trip to Japan.
Going to do it independently this time, rather than a package tour. Tokyo > Okinawa > Osaka > Kobe is what I'm thinking this time round.
Just gotta go through the stress of booking flights and hotels and hoping I get the dates lined up properly so that I'm not without a place to stay for a night
Edit: 15 minutes after I posted this, my annual leave was granted. TIME TO GET BOOKING BOYOS!
Edit Edit: And booked! Man, organising a holiday is fuckin easy nowadays
Going to do it independently this time, rather than a package tour. Tokyo > Okinawa > Osaka > Kobe is what I'm thinking this time round.
Just gotta go through the stress of booking flights and hotels and hoping I get the dates lined up properly so that I'm not without a place to stay for a night
Edit: 15 minutes after I posted this, my annual leave was granted. TIME TO GET BOOKING BOYOS!
Edit Edit: And booked! Man, organising a holiday is fuckin easy nowadays
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My in-laws gave us 50.000 yen as a Christmas gift for our upcoming trip. Torture to have to look at them for 4 months, but at the same time the trip feels a lot closer too!
Planning to bring 100k Yen in cash and withdraw more during the trip.
Can confirm.
Gonna try and learn some more phrases for my next visit though just for fun.
Sumimasen, douzo, arigatou gozaimasu, hitotsu/futatsu/mittsu are the only only words i've spoken these last 16 days in Tokyo and i guess i won't use other ones for the rest of the trip.
I'm surprised you've gotten by without saying "wakarimasen" =P. That got me through some late night interactions at the bars.
Actually i forgot about konbanwa, with that it's 100% of the words i used
Never used wakarimasen because when i doubt i just make a weird face and they repeat that or say it in english
Never used wakarimasen because when i doubt i just make a weird face and they repeat that or say it in english
I regret not being as sharp with learning the language but some works come back to me. Which is to say, I don't know how to speak in sentences. I can mumble words that might fit together or be total gibberish.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a city to visit on our way back to Tokyo from Osaka? When we leave Osaka, we'll have two nights before we fly out of Tokyo to come back home. We were thinking we'd just take the bullet train all the way back to Tokyo (where we're starting our trip), spend the last two nights there, and then leave. It might be nice to see somewhere different, though. We land in Tokyo, spend three nights, go to Kyoto for two nights, then Osaka for two nights.
Is there a convenient city located along the JR route (we'll have the rail pass) that we should see going back toward Tokyo? Nagoya is the only obvious destination that comes to mind. Anything really great to see there?
Is there a convenient city located along the JR route (we'll have the rail pass) that we should see going back toward Tokyo? Nagoya is the only obvious destination that comes to mind. Anything really great to see there?
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I'd love to travel up that coast, but that is literally the longest route back to Tokyo we could possibly take. I think we'll be a little too pressed for time. I think we'll travel down that second "golden route" the next time we go.
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It's only 1.5 hours longer by Thunderbird and Shinkansen than Nagoya.
Been binge watching the Abroad in Japan youtube channel this weekend and it's making me so much more motivated to take this trip next year! Might actually be the first patreon I sign up for as I really like his work.
Check out the podcast too, 20-40 minutes of discussion between Chris and top London radio DJ Pete Donaldson. It's probably the best way of learning about life in Japan without actually being in Japan.
Yeah man I love Abroad in Japan! I think I've watched all of his videos. It's actually pretty hard to find good channels on YouTube for Japan travel. Only in Japan has some good stuff, but he's definitely corny (check out his video on sandwiches in Japan). Japan-Guide.com has a few excellent videos. Simon and Martina are fun.
Nicely put! Almost sounds like something Chris Broad himself would say :p
Simon & Martina are amazing. I sponsor them on Youtube :)
Sad about how rough they have been having it lately.
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