StriKeVillain
Banned
Great photos - love the Evo shirt!
My girlfriend and I are planning a Japan trip for spring 2017. Love reading about the first timers going (this thread is a godsend for planning).
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Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
Great photos - love the Evo shirt!
My girlfriend and I are planning a Japan trip for spring 2017. Love reading about the first timers going (this thread is a godsend for planning).
Laevateinn
Member
I probably came back with 1k worth of video games the last time I went. Don't take receipts.
When you are on the plane, they will give you a card to fill out. Check the box that says you have less than $800 worth of things. Unless you bought stuff that has a clear market value and is obviously from Japan, they have no way of knowing how much the stuff you're bringing home is worth unless you happen to have all of your receipts for some reason.
Laevateinn
Member
I still haven't gone to Kyoto but I can't imagine why I would take anything other than Shinkansen when I finally get around to it.
MikeHattsu
Member
Yeah, that's the best option. To fly or take a bus can be cheaper though, but it takes more time.
I absolutely loved watching the scenery on the Shinkansen from Tokyo->Kyoto and back again. It seemed like the JR clerk we had at Shinjuku tried to prioritize us for the window seats. A plane flight would need to be like... $20 to make it worth it over the experience for me. =p
MikeHattsu
Member
Easiest to do at the train station.
schadenfood
Member
Hey all! My wife and I will be visiting Seoul and Tokyo this summer--it's my first time abroad! Can't wait!
We've got the flights all booked but we're still figuring out hotels, which is where I could use ya'll's help. We'll be staying in Seoul for three nights and Tokyo for three nights.
Any hotel/lodging recommendations? I'm 6'3" so I don't know if capsule hotels are in the cards, but it doesn't have to be anything fancy. Thanks in advance!
We've got the flights all booked but we're still figuring out hotels, which is where I could use ya'll's help. We'll be staying in Seoul for three nights and Tokyo for three nights.
Any hotel/lodging recommendations? I'm 6'3" so I don't know if capsule hotels are in the cards, but it doesn't have to be anything fancy. Thanks in advance!
Patrick Bateman
Member
I'm 6'6" and had no problems with the beds in Toyoko Inn or Tatami mats.
Laevateinn
Member
I'm not a giant so I don't know what to recommend from that perspective but I stayed at Kimi Ryokan both times I went and will probably stay there again the next time. It's beds are Japanese floor style and were comfortable enough.
Subpar Scrub
Banned
I've bought a jr rail pass, but I'm going from Tokyo to Osaka to Nara to Kyoto then back to Tokyo, so that makes it worth it for me.
MikeHattsu
Member
You should still go get a seat reservation ticket at the ticket office if you got time. Then you don't have to fight over non-reserved seats
Subpar Scrub
Banned
Yeah, I'll see if I can. The day before I start my jr rail pass I'm going to Tokyo station so I may as well see if they do it.You should still go get a seat reservation ticket at the ticket office if you got time. Then you don't have to fight over non-reserved seats
Also is the jr rail pass like paper pass that I show ticket counters before I travel? Or is it like a suica card?
Haha I should have researched it a bit more. Might do that now actually.
MikeHattsu
Member
It's a cardboard pass you show at the manned ticket gate so the station staff just wave you through.
ThreePiMatt
Member
Yeah, reserved seats are best because you don't have to deal with the rabble in the non-reserved cars. When I did take a non-reserved car it felt like there were a lot more tourists, not all of which would respect the tranquility and quietness of a train ride.
And with the JR Pass you basically just go through the lane with the station attendant and flash it like a cop badge and they just wave you through. I think they have to stamp it the first time through if I recall.
I did it at Shinjuku station and the JR reps were great. I asked if they spoke any English, got back "chotto", so I wrote down the dates, preferred times, and cities on a piece of paper and he was able to breeze through it in about 2 mins. Spent more time waiting in line. =p
Subpar Scrub
Banned
Cheers for the info guys, really appreciate it.
Just got back from 4 weeks in Japan on Friday and I spent way too much money.
Games:
Snacks:
Other Bits:
Thanks to MikeHattsu for suggesting some retro game stores in Den Den Town (so much nicer than Akihabara) and people who suggested Splatoon merch locations.
Just like last time we went, we are already thinking about how we can spend more time there!
Games:
Snacks:
Other Bits:
Thanks to MikeHattsu for suggesting some retro game stores in Den Den Town (so much nicer than Akihabara) and people who suggested Splatoon merch locations.
Just like last time we went, we are already thinking about how we can spend more time there!
Subpar Scrub
Banned
Oh? I have a day free in Osaka, where I'm only exploring Tsutenkaku and Nipponbashi seems close. Do you remember the name of the retro game stores at all?
Also awesome to see that you had a great time!
I also made a habit of going in to every Book-Off I could get to (they're pretty easy to find on Google Maps) and tend to be cheaper than anywhere else. They're the best place to get non-'retro' games
Subpar Scrub
Banned
Cheers!
edit: finished my itinerary. Freaking finally.
I'm getting pretty hyped now. Less than a month away!
The Nagoya one was also awesome! One other shop on Akamon that had a 64 hooked up outside the store too, they were also great.
killertofu
Member
How much do you estimate all of that cost?
The games alone came to something like just over £500 (~$720). There's 49 games there so about £10 (~$15) a game.
killertofu
Member
Christ. RIP wallet
Indeed.
Some nice pulls though
. Gonna be taking about 4000 quid with me for my month, not holding back haha.Patrick Bateman
Member
Haha, that's where I was, too.
Such an amazing place.
But I couldn't find a PSone plus screen.
Just booked two nights in Nikko. I was looking for a nice onsen/ryokan but they are insanely overprized. I now booked a family run inn in the woods 15 min walk from Nikko station with tatami rooms and a private onsen. Seemed like the best deal. It will be my only stay outside of Tokyo. Any recs apart from the obvious temples? How is the imperial villa? Any good hikes?
Just watching Kwaidan. It's fucking amazing.
Just watching Kwaidan. It's fucking amazing.
Some nice pulls though
When I got back from my first trip to Japan about 5 years ago I said to myself "next time I go I'm going to take a hold-all just for games and go nuts".
No regrets.
I'll be honest, before I went I thought the price for Hakone-Ginyu was insanely overpriced too, but after having been there I would TOTALLY pay for it again. The experience was amazing, resort, staff, views, everything.
Zoe
Member
Surprised nobody has posted this yet!
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...able-japan-ending-frustration-tardy-tourists/
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...able-japan-ending-frustration-tardy-tourists/
nabe_shogun
Member
Really? That wasn't my experience with non reserved on the shinkansen. Although this was on a monday, going from Hiroshima to Himeji, then back again. I didn't want to spend the extra money for reserved seating, so I got non reserved. But it worked out since there were tons of extra seats anyway.
There'd probably be more people going to/from Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo though.
killertofu
Member
Nothing like your AirBnB suddenly flaking within a week of departure lol
cj_iwakura
Member
The Omori Seaside Inn was fairly cozy and dirt cheap if you need a reliable fall back. Very friendly staff.
It's in Shinagawa. Don't count on it if you're not alone though, tiny rooms.
Subpar Scrub
Banned
This is why I'm only planning on using hotels.
Cheap, small single rooms, but hotels nonetheless.
Officially past the halfway point of my trip. Quick review...
High points: the first bowl of ramen, mori tower view/sailor moon exhibit, finally winning something off a UFO game
Low points: airline food (chicken isn't that color), the gym (so little modesty), sunburn
Random thoughts: Shibuya crossing must be the most videoed everyday thing ever. They really love Duffy the Disney bear at Disneyland...it borders on obsession. The subway feels like my greatest Ally, while the stations are my biggest foe. The Kyoto handicraft center just felt like a glorified souvenier shop, filled with the type of stuff you'd expect Japanese souveniers to be...
High points: the first bowl of ramen, mori tower view/sailor moon exhibit, finally winning something off a UFO game
Low points: airline food (chicken isn't that color), the gym (so little modesty), sunburn
Random thoughts: Shibuya crossing must be the most videoed everyday thing ever. They really love Duffy the Disney bear at Disneyland...it borders on obsession. The subway feels like my greatest Ally, while the stations are my biggest foe. The Kyoto handicraft center just felt like a glorified souvenier shop, filled with the type of stuff you'd expect Japanese souveniers to be...
Also, Google Fi's been a godsend here. Hop off the plane, phone still works, SMS and data at the same rate as back home. DL and Ul speeds aren't great, but it's good enough for maps and directions.
Those twert numbers seem low for national tourist destinations. Someone should pay me to redo this study using better metrics. I could even integrate Instagram analysis and YouTube video counts.
Ah man, don't make it hard
I did it back in hiba 2 years ago and it was wonderful. But when I look at pictures of Nikko I only see those run of the mill hotel complexes. I just don't want to pay more than 100 bucks a night for a fake experience. I still can cancel though...
Subpar Scrub
Banned
Just finished booking my rail pass, insurance, flights and hotels. Everything is set and ready to go!
Staying in akihabara for tokyo, slightly north of dotonbori for Osaka and about 1km south of Kyoto station for Kyoto. Tried to be within walking distance of stations haha.
I still have 1 or 2 days of doing nothing in particular in Tokyo though, I'll have to find some extra things to do before I get there. Or use them as catch-up days should I miss anything due to time constraints.
Staying in akihabara for tokyo, slightly north of dotonbori for Osaka and about 1km south of Kyoto station for Kyoto. Tried to be within walking distance of stations haha.
I still have 1 or 2 days of doing nothing in particular in Tokyo though, I'll have to find some extra things to do before I get there. Or use them as catch-up days should I miss anything due to time constraints.
cj_iwakura
Member
Just finished booking my rail pass, insurance, flights and hotels. Everything is set and ready to go!
Staying in akihabara for tokyo, slightly north of dotonbori for Osaka and about 1km south of Kyoto station for Kyoto. Tried to be within walking distance of stations haha.
I still have 1 or 2 days of doing nothing in particular in Tokyo though, I'll have to find some extra things to do before I get there. Or use them as catch-up days should I miss anything due to time constraints.
Check out the Nakano Broadway and Ueno Park for sure. The two biggest highlights outside of Akihabara.
Subpar Scrub
Banned
I have both on my itinerary, I might copy my Tokyo destinations later tonight and post them here.
For 3 nights in Tokyo I'm actually staying just outside Ueno Park, like if I walked out of my hotel I could walk across the road and into the park haha
Japan Trip: Spring 2016
Finally uploaded. After taking out the pics that were crap (blurry, etc), I am left with 1249 pics.
I admit, looking through them makes me miss Japan already (and before you say it Mike, I can't plan another trip until I have the money to plan one which may not be for a long time sadly)
Some choice pics:
Left one is one of my pics from DisneySea and the right one is arriving at Tamachi after a long day at DisneySea lol.
The Rainbow Bridge at around 8am I think. And the Ferris Wheel while we were on the Yurikamome train.
Gundam! And Some Cherry Blossoms from Ueno Park. (man, it was so busy that day. But beautiful. Absolutely beautiful <3 )
Another beautiful pic of Cherry Blossoms in Ueno. And a pic from near our Hotel in Higashi-Osaka.
More pics from the area around where we were staying in Higashi-Osaka.
Attack of the Deer! They are vicious buggers.
The view from our final hotel in Shibuya was awesome! And of course the last pic is our goodbye Japan picture.
Finally uploaded. After taking out the pics that were crap (blurry, etc), I am left with 1249 pics.
I admit, looking through them makes me miss Japan already
(and before you say it Mike, I can't plan another trip until I have the money to plan one which may not be for a long time sadly)Some choice pics:
Left one is one of my pics from DisneySea and the right one is arriving at Tamachi after a long day at DisneySea lol.
The Rainbow Bridge at around 8am I think. And the Ferris Wheel while we were on the Yurikamome train.
Gundam! And Some Cherry Blossoms from Ueno Park. (man, it was so busy that day. But beautiful. Absolutely beautiful <3 )
Another beautiful pic of Cherry Blossoms in Ueno. And a pic from near our Hotel in Higashi-Osaka.
More pics from the area around where we were staying in Higashi-Osaka.
Attack of the Deer! They are vicious buggers.
The view from our final hotel in Shibuya was awesome! And of course the last pic is our goodbye Japan picture.
Haha, that's where I was, too.
Such an amazing place.
But I couldn't find a PSone plus screen.
My man! You climb up the stairs surrounded by consoles on the walls to a room full of cartridges and games. Love it!!
Red Blaster
Member
flight booked for june 7, 16 hours to tokyo and then immediately after 6 hours on the shinkansen to fukuoka
gonna crash hard in that hotel room
gonna crash hard in that hotel room