• Light/Dark
  • Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.

Japan Travel |OT| We have to go back

Quick

Quick

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,664
Happenstance said:
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.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Something I'll have to check out, thanks for this.

I'm leaving for Japan in a month. I'm excited, also nervous. I'm hoping to get my accommodations taken care of soon. Next thing I need to do is pick up a JR Pass and take care of accommodations in Hiroshima.
 
Cloud-Hidden

Cloud-Hidden

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,982
Quick said:
Something I'll have to check out, thanks for this.

I'm leaving for Japan in a month. I'm excited, also nervous. I'm hoping to get my accommodations taken care of soon. Next thing I need to do is pick up a JR Pass and take care of accommodations in Hiroshima.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Order your JR pass ASAP, because the ticket has to be delivered to you, I believe. I waited too late for my first trip thinking I could just buy it whenever, and I ended up having to just pay for every train trip with suica cards.
 
Quick

Quick

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,664
Cloud-Hidden said:
Order your JR pass ASAP, because the ticket has to be delivered to you, I believe. I waited too late for my first trip thinking I could just buy it whenever, and I ended up having to just pay for every train trip with suica cards.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I was initially thinking of leaving it off for after I book all accommodations, but realized that it would need to be processed still. So I'm taking care of that immediately this week or next. Accommodations are fairly simple to book (though I'm just a little picky).

I did see a local agency here that sells the JR Pass, which I'll be contacting this week.
 
XMonkey

XMonkey

Member
Oct 26, 2017
6,827
Cloud-Hidden said:
Order your JR pass ASAP, because the ticket has to be delivered to you, I believe. I waited too late for my first trip thinking I could just buy it whenever, and I ended up having to just pay for every train trip with suica cards.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
You can buy it at certain train stations/airports in Japan now, but it will cost more compared to buying in advance. This is only a limited trial though and will end on March 31, 2019 (as of now, guessing they could extend it).

https://www.insidekyoto.com/japan-rail-pass-available-inside-japan
 
Cloud-Hidden

Cloud-Hidden

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,982
Quick said:
I was initially thinking of leaving it off for after I book all accommodations, but realized that it would need to be processed still. So I'm taking care of that immediately this week or next. Accommodations are fairly simple to book (though I'm just a little picky).

I did see a local agency here that sells the JR Pass, which I'll be contacting this week.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Can't you just take care of it at https://www.jrpass.com/ ?
 
STech

STech

Member
Sep 24, 2018
1,735
How is June for visiting Japan?, I know that is the rain month, but I'm going to get married in June...

It's going to be raining all the time?, I'm preparing me for the worst.
 
Cloud-Hidden

Cloud-Hidden

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,982
MikeHattsu said:
No, when it doesn't rain it'll be horribly hot. Fun.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Horribly hot?

We booked our trip and will be in Japan June 6-14. We looked at the last two years of temperatures for those dates and the average temp was like 79. Coming from TN where the temps in summer are in the high 90s and humid as shit, 76-80 sounds delightful.
STech said:
Really?
I don't have it yet, but if it's so bad, I'm thinking in change destination...
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
My wife and I will be there for our anniversary. If you guys are there maybe we can get a drink!
 
OP
OP
MikeHattsu

MikeHattsu

Member
Oct 25, 2017
8,916
Cloud-Hidden said:
Horribly hot?

We booked our trip and will be in Japan June 6-14. We looked at the last two years of temperatures for those dates and the average temp was like 79. Coming from TN where the temps in summer are in the high 90s and humid as shit, 76-80 sounds delightful.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Depends on what you're used to of course. Too hot for me ;p
 
Quick

Quick

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,664
Picked up my JR Pass. Huge relief to get it done, even though I was set to wait until the end of the week.

I paid a little more at one website vs two others listed in the OP, but I didn't get far into processing and couldn't see if the latter two would be charging me a handling fee. Anyway, it's not a big deal.

I can finally just focus on accommodations.
 
Cloud-Hidden

Cloud-Hidden

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,982
Quick said:
Picked up my JR Pass. Huge relief to get it done, even though I was set to wait until the end of the week.

I paid a little more at one website vs two others listed in the OP, but I didn't get far into processing and couldn't see if the latter two would be charging me a handling fee. Anyway, it's not a big deal.

I can finally just focus on accommodations.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Nice! Rooms shouldn't be an issue. We booked everything through Expedia and had tons of affordable options.
 
Stuart444

Stuart444

Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,068
Random question but does the Joypolis in Odaiba have any Shadow or Amy Rose plushies?

Mums asked me to get one for a kid in her work.

side note: Packed now. everything is set for Wed.
 
IrishNinja

IrishNinja

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
9,837
Vice City
awesome OP! read a bit & got a lot answered already

we're planning a trip from 3/23-31, I'm hoping that's enough time for tokyo/osaka/kyoto, I'd love to see stuff like hiroshima, okinawa and hokkaido but it doesn't seem likely.

just hoping for good cherry blossoms, temples and hopefully some retro games, haha. should we be buying tickets/booking hotels like this week?
 
Cloud-Hidden

Cloud-Hidden

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,982
IrishNinja said:
awesome OP! read a bit & got a lot answered already

we're planning a trip from 3/23-31, I'm hoping that's enough time for tokyo/osaka/kyoto, I'd love to see stuff like hiroshima, okinawa and hokkaido but it doesn't seem likely.

just hoping for good cherry blossoms, temples and hopefully some retro games, haha. should we be buying tickets/booking hotels like this week?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

YES. The closer you get, the more expensive rooms are likely to become, especially since April starts up one of Japan's peak travel seasons.

If you're only going to have 6-7 nights in Japan, I think most people would recommend just splitting your time between Tokyo and Kyoto, since there's just so much to do. Osaka is really close to Kyoto, though, so you're probably fine doing all three. Just make sure you plan to get back to Tokyo the night before you fly out of Haneda or Narita.
 
IrishNinja

IrishNinja

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
9,837
Vice City
Cloud-Hidden said:
YES. The closer you get, the more expensive rooms are likely to become, especially since April starts up one of Japan's peak travel seasons.

If you're only going to have 6-7 nights in Japan, I think most people would recommend just splitting your time between Tokyo and Kyoto, since there's just so much to do. Osaka is really close to Kyoto, though, so you're probably fine doing all three. Just make sure you plan to get back to Tokyo the night before you fly out of Haneda or Narita.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

thank you! ill get on it this week then - I'm cool with hostels, but gotta check hotels first

would a pass be worth it? i imagine train/rail from tokyo would be best, not sure just how close osaka & kyoyo are but i should look into that as well. also is flying into osaka typically any cheaper than tokyo?
 
Cloud-Hidden

Cloud-Hidden

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,982
IrishNinja said:
thank you! ill get on it this week then - I'm cool with hostels, but gotta check hotels first

would a pass be worth it? i imagine train/rail from tokyo would be best, not sure just how close osaka & kyoyo are but i should look into that as well. also is flying into osaka typically any cheaper than tokyo?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
You'll definitely want the 7-day JR Rail pass. It will be about $250 per person, but you'll save money in the end for sure. You'll taking trains on the JR line to get everywhere in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and the rail pass includes the Shikansen (bullet train) you'll take from Tokyo to Kyoto. That's about a 3 hour ride from Tokyo to Kyoto, and buying JUST that bullet train ticket on its own can be over $100, so the JR Rail Pass is the cheaper way to go.

I've never flown into, or considered flying into Osaka, so I can't really answer your question. I do know that it's uncommon, and most travelers fly into Tokyo. Haneda is much closer to central Tokyo, so fly into and out of Haneda if possible. If you fly into Narita it's no big deal, it will just be a longer commute into Tokyo on trains with all of your luggage, which is a little annoying / cramped.
 
Stuart444

Stuart444

Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,068
Depending on what you prefer, can easily fly into Narita/Haneda (I go with Narita as it's the easiest with my chosen airline) and fly out of KIX or something rather than going back up to Tokyo.

Depends what you want to do. Do half and half or go Tokyo -> Kyoto -> Back to Tokyo.

Up to you really haha.
 
Reanimatoin

Reanimatoin

Member
Oct 26, 2017
1,406
Cleethorpes UK
IrishNinja said:
thank you! ill get on it this week then - I'm cool with hostels, but gotta check hotels first

would a pass be worth it? i imagine train/rail from tokyo would be best, not sure just how close osaka & kyoyo are but i should look into that as well. also is flying into osaka typically any cheaper than tokyo?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Depends on where you are going.
Use this https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/ it'll tell you if a JR pass is worth it, or whether buying individual tickets is cheaper
 
OP
OP
MikeHattsu

MikeHattsu

Member
Oct 25, 2017
8,916
IrishNinja said:
we're planning a trip from 3/23-31, I'm hoping that's enough time for tokyo/osaka/kyoto, I'd love to see stuff like hiroshima, okinawa and hokkaido but it doesn't seem likely.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I'd say it's barely enough time for Tokyo alone, with a day trip to Kamakura and an overnight trip to Hakone. I'd advise against doing both Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka with just 1 week, unless you're planning on never going back :p

And if you're just visiting Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka, then a JR Pass will not pay off as said in the OP.
 
hockeypuck

hockeypuck

Member
Oct 29, 2017
735
Taking off tomorrow for a 9-day trip! I'm landing in Tokyo on Wednesday, Jan 9th. If anyone wants to go grab a couple drinks or whatnot, I'd be up for that. Always wanted to try an izakaya, as well.
 
Stuart444

Stuart444

Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,068
hockeypuck said:
D'oh, I leave Tokyo on Thursday morning. Appreciate the thought, though!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Hahaha, unlucky. I'm arriving first thing on Thursday assuming no delays. Enjoy your trip though!

Side note: Last time I took the NEX, this time, I may take the skyliner.

Also side note: A nearby hotel (like 5 - 10 minutes from my hotel) has a bus stop for the Airport Limosine bus. May use that to get back to the airport. Did that last time (though it was the same hotel I was staying in that time lol) and it was a lovely ride honestly. Quite comfortable.
 
Metalix

Metalix

Member
Oct 28, 2017
883
As has been hammered in from the OP, hotels don't free up their rooms ~6 months before your stay date, however I can't help but feel the rest of the rugby community has beaten me to it. Yokohama is a black hole for accommodation 9especially when trying to book for 7 people, a horrendously awkward number) in September wherein other cities appear not to be. No superhost Airbnb's, either, grrrr.

---

On a a separate note, we will be traveling from Yokohama -> Fukouka -> Tokyo and getting the Nozomi is crazy pricey for that, may be easier to fly!
 
OP
OP
MikeHattsu

MikeHattsu

Member
Oct 25, 2017
8,916
Metalix said:
On a a separate note, we will be traveling from Yokohama -> Fukouka -> Tokyo and getting the Nozomi is crazy pricey for that, may be easier to fly!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yeah, if you're not doing any stopovers it'll most likely be cheaper to fly. Either that or JR Pass, but I guess you're staying for more than 7 days if you're there for the rugby?
 
Metalix

Metalix

Member
Oct 28, 2017
883
MikeHattsu said:
Yeah, if you're not doing any stopovers it'll most likely be cheaper to fly. Either that or JR Pass, but I guess you're staying for more than 7 days if you're there for the rugby?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

That's right, we're there for 13 total. Looking at JR Pass & Hyperdia, doing a combination of Hikari & Sakura trains doesn't seem too bad. Bullet training across the country sounds pretty neat!
 
OP
OP
MikeHattsu

MikeHattsu

Member
Oct 25, 2017
8,916
Metalix said:
That's right, we're there for 13 total. Looking at JR Pass & Hyperdia, doing a combination of Hikari & Sakura trains doesn't seem too bad. Bullet training across the country sounds pretty neat!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Could make a stop or two along the way as well if you got time for that then, or do some day trips if there's off days from rugby :P
 
Mendrox

Mendrox

Banned
Oct 26, 2017
9,439
Cloud-Hidden said:
Order your JR pass ASAP, because the ticket has to be delivered to you, I believe. I waited too late for my first trip thinking I could just buy it whenever, and I ended up having to just pay for every train trip with suica cards.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I ordered mine two times now and it took two days each time. They are blazzing fast for me. :D
 
OP
OP
MikeHattsu

MikeHattsu

Member
Oct 25, 2017
8,916
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...to-japan-hits-record-high-31-mil-in-2018.html

The estimated number of foreign tourists to Japan reached a record high 31.19 million in 2018, up 8.7 percent from the previous year and rising for the seventh straight year, Japan's tourism minister said Friday.

Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Keiichi Ishii credited the growth to relaxation of visa requirements for travelers from such countries as Russia, India and the Philippines, as well as promotions overseas.

"The government's efforts have brought the desired result," said Ishii. "There is a sign of us hitting the 40 million mark on the horizon."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
 
SugarNoodles

SugarNoodles

Member
Nov 3, 2017
8,625
Portland, OR
Japan was fantastic. Here are a few pictures:

Spotted this floof on Tsuboya Pottery Street in Okinawa
bWuoGk9.jpg


Went to Fukushima Inari on New Year's Day to find these crowds. Was odd because we stopped by the imperial palace and it was completely deserted and we saw almost no one anywhere in Kyoto until we went to a shrine.
ETdCsfW.jpg



The night before one of my friends really wanted to go dotonbori on New Year's Eve but my other friend convinced us to go to Shittenoji which was neat.
rTATcMN.jpg


Ate some fruit dowsed in corn syrup
VbpIwSy.jpg


We had this honey toast in Osaka and saw tons of it on menus, which we later found out is a specialty from Shibuya? We didn't see it while we were in Shibuya though.
4ib115M.jpg


Our Airbnb in Shibuya had these outrageous stairs leading up to the foutons.
9a1oR1c.jpg


One of the highlights of Tokyo was definitely the digital art museum. We unfortunately misread the closing time so we only had about half an hour but that also meant it was more or less deserted which was great for us.
YJsOBKD.jpg


TSJ4m23.jpg


Some pretty sweet views from the Morii Art Museum skyview
ETWAYZg.jpg


V4O0ftO.jpg


Just thought it was funny 🤷‍♂️
03AJFBu.jpg


Going to the SquareEnix art cafe with my friends was a pretty special experience. It's interesting to be somewhere where the merchandise and themed food is actually decent and it doesn't feel like you're 100% getting ripped off.
oQZjYVF.jpg


Went to a cat cafe on our last day in Tokyo, which was interesting but not all that impressive. I did get a shot of this baby tho
7jIFXb3.jpg


Bought a selfie stick for this trip, which came in handy but one of my friends was a total weenie about it so I got limited group pictures with it.
eDjeizT.jpg


I don't think I'll ever walk by another convenience store without remembering Japan. The ease of access to tasty, cheap food was probably what I'll miss the most :(
kOS3EKq.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
 
Cloud-Hidden

Cloud-Hidden

Member
Oct 30, 2017
4,982
sfedai0 said:
Nice! I'll be doing the Mori Digi arts on the 21st!! Did not know they had a sky view.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

When I went in September they were shut down for some reason, but I remember reading that you have to pay extra to get a ticket for the viewing floor. I'm assuming that's still the case, but you may want to look into it before you go. It was pretty pricey (relatively speaking).
 
SugarNoodles

SugarNoodles

Member
Nov 3, 2017
8,625
Portland, OR
The digital art museum is in a completely different location from the Morii Art Museum for the record. It confused us for a bit and we weren't sure if we accidentally went to the teamLab Borderless headquarters by mistake. The skyview is at the Morii Art Museum, which while we were there had a Cardcaptor Sakura exhibit, a destruction themed art exhibit, and an exhibit on a famous Japanese cartoonist which was really well organized so easy to enjoy even for someone unfamiliar with his work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.