I need advice about a trip to Japan, please

[Peter Fredrick]

Hi everyone, I was wondering, do you know what the cheapest method and trip to Japan would be. I would want to stay there for a week, it can be anywhere in Japan, probably North would be better tho, because I dislike really hot weather.

If I went to Japan, i would spend a lot on gaming and Anime and stuff like that there

[Tennesseer]

Dec 29, 2018 13:24:37 GMT -5 Peter Fredrick said:

Hi everyone, I was wondering, do you know what the cheapest method and trip to Japan would be. I would want to stay there for a week, it can be anywhere in Japan, probably North would be better tho, because I dislike really hot weather.

If I went to Japan, i would spend a lot on gaming and Anime and stuff like that there

peterfrederick-do you know where in Japan is the center of the country's gaming and anime industries? Determine where the action is centered and that should give you your ultimate destination.

[Peter Fredrick]

Dec 29, 2018 13:28:37 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Dec 29, 2018 13:24:37 GMT -5 Peter Fredrick said:

Hi everyone, I was wondering, do you know what the cheapest method and trip to Japan would be. I would want to stay there for a week, it can be anywhere in Japan, probably North would be better tho, because I dislike really hot weather.

If I went to Japan, i would spend a lot on gaming and Anime and stuff like that there

peterfrederick-do you know where in Japan is the center of the country's gaming and anime industries? Determine where the action is centered and that should give you your ultimate destination.

Yes, its Tokyo and Kyoto, both have quite a good selection

Also, thank you for the reply Tennesseer

[Peter Fredrick]

I live in the UK

[Tennesseer]

Dec 29, 2018 13:34:22 GMT -5 Peter Fredrick said:

I live in the UK

PF-keep in mind the vast majority of posters on the 'Your Money and More' boards live in North America. The current and future airfare is going to be different from North America to Japan than from the UK to Japan.

[laterbloomer]

I found an inexpensive hotel right in Tokyo when I went a few years ago. The room was hardly bigger than the bed and the bathtub was like a 3 foot cube, 3 feet wide, long and high, and they allowed smoking in the hotel. But the hotel was clean, the restaurant was good and it was very central for both walking and getting on the subway. For the airfare, check out the Asian airlines, they had the best prices when I was looking. Overall it was cheaper than I expected.

[svwashout]

It's been over a decade since I've been to Tokyo, all my trips there were business travel. No idea about airfares these days, but I did notice wide price ranges on accommodations. World famous name brands like Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, etc run $200 to $400 per night, but 'business hotels' are much cheaper, typically in the $100 range. Some go even lower in the outlying suburbs; last place I stayed was only $50 per night but it was a few blocks from the JR line. You're probably not going to rent a car, so you'll want a place that's near a train or subway station.

The ride from Narita Airport to anywhere in Tokyo is surprisingly expensive, I always took the Narita Express train which was $70 each way for a 90-minute ride IIRC. I've heard buses have more destinations but cost about the same. Taxi would be much more expensive.

Also my take on Tokyo weather is that it's similar to NYC, so you'd want to avoid the summer months. My best experience was spending December there, it was dry, sunny, and not too cold. Be aware that they're very strict about OTC cold medications, so don't try to bring sudafed tablets into Japan.

My workdays there were pretty long, so I found that the food stalls in the basements of the larger train stations would markdown sushi trays after 6pm. Most days I could get a nice spread there for a just few bucks, but if you wait too long selection gets very limited. Fresh fruit and veg were really expensive by comparison. If you're not into raw fish, the refrigerated meals from convenience stores (7-11, Lawson, Family Mart) are reasonably priced, but beware those can be very high in sodium.

More ideas for someone with your interests here-- www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/9wjfng/basic_itinerary_with_some_questions_tokyo_and/
Also if you're into high speed internet and don't mind sleeping on the floor, some people overnight in internet cafes for cheap:
Capsule hotels are another alternative in the same price range.

[nidena]

Dec 29, 2018 13:24:37 GMT -5 Peter Fredrick said:

Hi everyone, I was wondering, do you know what the cheapest method and trip to Japan would be. I would want to stay there for a week, it can be anywhere in Japan, probably North would be better tho, because I dislike really hot weather.

If I went to Japan, i would spend a lot on gaming and Anime and stuff like that there

It's not really hot in Japan except during the summer; then it's hot and humid.  That's when you get the fun of Typhoons and such.  But October through April is pretty nice.  I didn't spend much time on mainland Japan--was stationed for three years on Okinawa where it's much warmer and more humid due to it being much smaller than mainland.

[Tennesseer]

Dec 29, 2018 22:39:28 GMT -5 nidena said:

Dec 29, 2018 13:24:37 GMT -5 Peter Fredrick said:

Hi everyone, I was wondering, do you know what the cheapest method and trip to Japan would be. I would want to stay there for a week, it can be anywhere in Japan, probably North would be better tho, because I dislike really hot weather.

If I went to Japan, i would spend a lot on gaming and Anime and stuff like that there

It's not really hot in Japan except during the summer; then it's hot and humid.  That's when you get the fun of Typhoons and such.  But October through April is pretty nice.  I didn't spend much time on mainland Japan--was stationed for three years on Okinawa where it's much warmer and more humid due to it being much smaller than mainland.

Okinawa is where my parents first met in 1945. Dad was with the U.S. army medical corp. Mom with the U.S. government.

[nidena]

Dec 29, 2018 22:59:41 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Dec 29, 2018 22:39:28 GMT -5 nidena said:

It's not really hot in Japan except during the summer; then it's hot and humid.  That's when you get the fun of Typhoons and such.  But October through April is pretty nice.  I didn't spend much time on mainland Japan--was stationed for three years on Okinawa where it's much warmer and more humid due to it being much smaller than mainland.

Okinawa is where my parents first met in 1945. Dad was with the U.S. army medical corp. Mom with the U.S. government.

That would have been a rough time to be there.  Ever seen the movie Hacksaw Ridge?

[Tennesseer]

Dec 29, 2018 23:02:55 GMT -5 nidena said:

Dec 29, 2018 22:59:41 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Okinawa is where my parents first met in 1945. Dad was with the U.S. army medical corp. Mom with the U.S. government.

That would have been a rough time to be there.  Ever seen the movie Hacksaw Ridge?

I have. Fortunately, both arrived very shortly after hostilities ended.

But I still have somewhere in the house some of the b&w photos they took in Okinawa including the skeletal remains of island residents who committed suicide rather than be captured by the American troops.

[saveinla]

The ride from Narita Airport to anywhere in Tokyo is surprisingly expensive, I always took the Narita Express train which was $70 each way for a 90-minute ride IIRC. I've heard buses have more destinations but cost about the same. Taxi would be much more expensive.

We were in Tokyo this past April, and at the recommendation of the air hostess, took the bus from Narita airport to Tokyo. It cost us 10 Yen. It's a little slow, but dropped us a mile away from our hotel. We took a cab from there. 

[Gardening Grandma]

Dec 29, 2018 23:28:38 GMT -5 saveinla said:

The ride from Narita Airport to anywhere in Tokyo is surprisingly expensive, I always took the Narita Express train which was $70 each way for a 90-minute ride IIRC. I've heard buses have more destinations but cost about the same. Taxi would be much more expensive.

We were in Tokyo this past April, and at the recommendation of the air hostess, took the bus from Narita airport to Tokyo. It cost us 10 Yen. It's a little slow, but dropped us a mile away from our hotel. We took a cab from there. 

10 yen? That’s less than 10 cents. Are you sure it wasn’t more like 1000 yen?

If you’re going to use a Japan Rail Pass it includes the Narita Express, but you have to buy it before entering Japan.  It pays for itself pretty quickly.

[saveinla]

Dec 29, 2018 23:54:45 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Dec 29, 2018 23:28:38 GMT -5 saveinla said:

The ride from Narita Airport to anywhere in Tokyo is surprisingly expensive, I always took the Narita Express train which was $70 each way for a 90-minute ride IIRC. I've heard buses have more destinations but cost about the same. Taxi would be much more expensive.

We were in Tokyo this past April, and at the recommendation of the air hostess, took the bus from Narita airport to Tokyo. It cost us 10 Yen. It's a little slow, but dropped us a mile away from our hotel. We took a cab from there. 

10 yen? That’s less than 10 cents. Are you sure it wasn’t more like 1000 yen?

If you’re going to use a Japan Rail Pass it includes the Narita Express, but you have to buy it before entering Japan.  It pays for itself pretty quickly.

Sorry - I meant 10$. We were told not to buy the Japan Rail Pass, since we were going for less than 10 days. We got the Suica card that we could use on the subway. 

[Gardening Grandma]

Dec 30, 2018 0:15:03 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Dec 29, 2018 23:54:45 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

10 yen? That’s less than 10 cents. Are you sure it wasn’t more like 1000 yen?

If you’re going to use a Japan Rail Pass it includes the Narita Express, but you have to buy it before entering Japan.  It pays for itself pretty quickly.

Sorry - I meant 10$. We were told not to buy the Japan Rail Pass, since we were going for less than 10 days. We got the Suica card that we could use on the subway. 

Whenever I went, I immediately  headed for northern Honshu (where my mother lived). One round trip and the Narita Express and I saved money.  Probabky not worth it for someone who is just going to stay in the Tokyo area, but otherwise, it can save money pretty quickly (and it’s convenient not having to purchase tickets everytime you go somewhere)

You can buy a 7 day, 14 day or 21 day pass.
www.insidekyoto.com/japan-rail-pass-is-it-worth-it

[Peter Fredrick]

Thanks for the replies.

[NastyWoman]

I believe @phoenix84 was planning a trip to Japan last year. Maybe he has some current input for this thread

ETA:I don't know why I can't tag him since I did spell his screen name correctly. Maybe he blocked me? 

[Tennesseer]

Feb 3, 2019 19:00:46 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

I believe @phoenix84 was planning a trip to Japan last year. Maybe he has some current input for this thread

ETA:I don't know why I can't tag him since I did spell his screen name correctly. Maybe he blocked me? 

His tagging user name is spelled differently that the city name we see: phenoix84.

[weltschmerz]

Don't even think of spitting, or throwing gum or cigarette butts onto the street.
Any littering is subject to fines.

[Gardening Grandma]

I do not recomment renting a car. They drive on the left. Public transportation is reliable and plentiful.

[Pants]

I have no advice, but welcome to the boards! 

[NastyWoman]

Feb 3, 2019 19:00:46 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

I believe @phoenix84 was planning a trip to Japan last year. Maybe he has some current input for this thread

ETA:I don't know why I can't tag him since I did spell his screen name correctly. Maybe he blocked me? 

Thanks Tenn. Paging Phoenix84

[Tennesseer]

Feb 3, 2019 21:06:00 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Feb 3, 2019 19:00:46 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

I believe @phoenix84 was planning a trip to Japan last year. Maybe he has some current input for this thread

ETA:I don't know why I can't tag him since I did spell his screen name correctly. Maybe he blocked me? 

Thanks Tenn. Paging Phoenix84

Last time Phoenix was online was back in November (18th). So it might take a while for him to respond.