In Japan, Haunted houses are very popular, especially in summer.
Apparently, being scared til your blood runs cold helps with coping with the summer heat. That's my theory anyways. Another possible reason for its popularity is that usually participants go in pairs. This makes it a favorite for boys and girls in love. What's more romantic than being along in the dark with the person you are attracted to and being scared?
Another typical summer tradition for Japanese teens is the 'test your bravery' event. It is an event where one or two persons will have to walk through a designated route in the woods, or somewhere creepy along at night. The designated route is always creepy, and there might be people dressed up in scary makeup or costumes to scare you. You have to go to a designated spot to retrieve something that proves you have completed the route. This is like the out door version of a haunted house. This event is held in summer, because there's a Japanese holiday in summer, where ancestors will return from the other side and visit their family. Basically means there will be a bunch of ghosts wondering around in the street. What a perfect setting for telling ghost stories and watching horror movies!
If you feel like you can take on a Japanese haunted house, you should visit Ikebukuro's Sunshine city mall. They have a section called "Namja town" where a bunch of haunted houses are set up for visitors to try. You would need to pay an fee for each attraction though, but it should be worth it. Ghost town is both creepy and adorable at the same time, because Japanese people love to make things round, fluffy and hugable.
The Ghost town is actually interconnected with other sections called Ice cream city, pan-fried dumpling (Gyoza) stadium, Relax forest (where you can enjoy various spas), some mystery solving tour, etc.
There's a entrance fee plus extra fee for different attractions. I will write a more detailed article regarding Sunshine city in a later post.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
5 Tips on Packing for your trip
Here's 5 tips that I think are helpful to consider when packing:
1. Read the weather reports
This is important because it determines the amount and style of clothing you need to bring with you. You don't want to catch a cold when you are on vacation. If you are going for shopping purposes, pack comfortable clothes and shoes. Chances are you will have swollen feet on the second day you are there.
2. Bring Water Bottles
Why do you need to bring water bottles? The reason is that Japan is very dry. And most of the time you would be walking, since you are going to do all the tourist thing. Tap water is drinkable, so it says on a little sign on top of the sink in the hotel room's bathroom. But I wouldn't recommend drinking tap unless it has been boiled. And if you boil the water, you have to wait for it to cool and then put it in the bottle. That's why you buy large bottles (1L, 2L) of water. You can just get them in convenient stores and refill your water bottles as you need it, and you would save a little cost on water.
3. Bring your own medicine
I think this is common sense that you should remember to bring some medicines for emergencies. If you are traveling in North America, it wouldn't be a problem if you forget. But in Tokyo, you would need to read the labels. And you don't know what medicines you should take or if you are allergic to it or not. So to save a lot of grief in advance, pack some medicines. Bring common medicines such as Tylenol, cold medicine, stomach flu medicine, indigestion medicine, etc.
4. Bring Cash and Traveler's Cheque, Leave Visa for expensive stuff
You might think that it would be inconvenient and might cause a lot of grief if you bring cash, but it will actually save a lot of time. If you are going to stay at a big hotel (3 stars and up), you might not need it, because they would probably accept visa, but if you are staying at a small hotel or business hotel, they probably only take cash, and you need to pay them upfront. Also, if you are going to buy train tickets, or Suica cards, you need to pay cash. Small restaurants and fast food stores don't take visa, and it's a hassle to find an ATM, and plus you have to pay the transaction fee. Why not just have some cash at hand? You could probably find a great rate for currency exchange if you ask around. You can cash traveler's cheque in any bank in Japan. Save the visa for more expensive purchases, but use cash to pay for small things.
5. Electronics: Are you sure they are not going to blow up?
Make sure you can use your chargers in Japan by checking the manufacturing info. If you are taking a laptop with you, make sure you bring a electricity current converter (it's the plug thing that allows you to use your electronics safely). Because Japan uses different levels of electric current than Canada. You don't wanna see it explode (I'm exaggerating).
1. Read the weather reports
This is important because it determines the amount and style of clothing you need to bring with you. You don't want to catch a cold when you are on vacation. If you are going for shopping purposes, pack comfortable clothes and shoes. Chances are you will have swollen feet on the second day you are there.
2. Bring Water Bottles
Why do you need to bring water bottles? The reason is that Japan is very dry. And most of the time you would be walking, since you are going to do all the tourist thing. Tap water is drinkable, so it says on a little sign on top of the sink in the hotel room's bathroom. But I wouldn't recommend drinking tap unless it has been boiled. And if you boil the water, you have to wait for it to cool and then put it in the bottle. That's why you buy large bottles (1L, 2L) of water. You can just get them in convenient stores and refill your water bottles as you need it, and you would save a little cost on water.
3. Bring your own medicine
I think this is common sense that you should remember to bring some medicines for emergencies. If you are traveling in North America, it wouldn't be a problem if you forget. But in Tokyo, you would need to read the labels. And you don't know what medicines you should take or if you are allergic to it or not. So to save a lot of grief in advance, pack some medicines. Bring common medicines such as Tylenol, cold medicine, stomach flu medicine, indigestion medicine, etc.
4. Bring Cash and Traveler's Cheque, Leave Visa for expensive stuff
You might think that it would be inconvenient and might cause a lot of grief if you bring cash, but it will actually save a lot of time. If you are going to stay at a big hotel (3 stars and up), you might not need it, because they would probably accept visa, but if you are staying at a small hotel or business hotel, they probably only take cash, and you need to pay them upfront. Also, if you are going to buy train tickets, or Suica cards, you need to pay cash. Small restaurants and fast food stores don't take visa, and it's a hassle to find an ATM, and plus you have to pay the transaction fee. Why not just have some cash at hand? You could probably find a great rate for currency exchange if you ask around. You can cash traveler's cheque in any bank in Japan. Save the visa for more expensive purchases, but use cash to pay for small things.
5. Electronics: Are you sure they are not going to blow up?
Make sure you can use your chargers in Japan by checking the manufacturing info. If you are taking a laptop with you, make sure you bring a electricity current converter (it's the plug thing that allows you to use your electronics safely). Because Japan uses different levels of electric current than Canada. You don't wanna see it explode (I'm exaggerating).
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Where to stay? (2) --- Business hotels, how to choose
If you are not willing to spend $80 and up for a night's stay in a hotel, look for the next best thing! This is where business hotels comes in. Business hotels, is designed for business people. They are smaller, cheaper, but has everything you need for a business trip. They offer almost everything a normal 3 star and up hotels offers, including internet, private rooms, security, convenience, and comfort.
I started looking at various business hotels in Tokyo 's inner city because I didn't want to stay at a hostel that I need to share bathrooms with people. It just bugs me. Also, most hostels has a curfew. I found that the price of staying at a hostel and staying at a business hotel is almost the same, but I would get a hotel level service if I stayed at a business hotel, so I looked for reviews about various business hotels in Tokyo.
There are many business hotels to choose from, so I made a list of criteria to see which one suits my need the most.
1. Location
Location is still important. Not only will it be a determining factor in transportation cost for the rest of my trip, it will also determine the time and money I need to spend getting there and get out of there. My main goal was to stay near a major JR station, like around Sjinjuku or Ikebukuro, so that I can access the JR and other train lines. I pretty much set my mind on Ikebukuro because that's where most of my shopping will be done. Also, I traveled with my sister, so safety around the area is a concern. Shinkuku has the famous red light district, which is a bit worrisome, though I later discovered that it really depends on which side of the JR station you are on.
2. Reputation
Like many travelers, I care about the reputation of the places I'm going to stay at. It would be better to be prepared for the various flaws than to be surprised by them when we finally get there. Also, how the reception people handles international travelers is also important. Big pluses if they can speak English. I was also interested in complaints about the hotels, so I know if I can tolerate them or not.
3. Price
My alternative choice would be a hostel, and I had found information on several reputable hostels. The only difference is the bathroom issue and price. Therefore, the price of staying at the hotel should not exceed the price of staying at the hostel.
4. Other service/ amenities
Most of the time, hostels just provide you with a room, and no more service afterwards or charge fees for extra services, so if the hotel provides some extra service, it would be a plus. I have found out that some business hotels would provide free breakfast, which is a big money saver, and some would have free public computer with internet, or free international phone calls. More free stuff is better, and would save you a bit more money.
The next post will be introduction/review to some business hotels.
I started looking at various business hotels in Tokyo 's inner city because I didn't want to stay at a hostel that I need to share bathrooms with people. It just bugs me. Also, most hostels has a curfew. I found that the price of staying at a hostel and staying at a business hotel is almost the same, but I would get a hotel level service if I stayed at a business hotel, so I looked for reviews about various business hotels in Tokyo.
There are many business hotels to choose from, so I made a list of criteria to see which one suits my need the most.
1. Location
Location is still important. Not only will it be a determining factor in transportation cost for the rest of my trip, it will also determine the time and money I need to spend getting there and get out of there. My main goal was to stay near a major JR station, like around Sjinjuku or Ikebukuro, so that I can access the JR and other train lines. I pretty much set my mind on Ikebukuro because that's where most of my shopping will be done. Also, I traveled with my sister, so safety around the area is a concern. Shinkuku has the famous red light district, which is a bit worrisome, though I later discovered that it really depends on which side of the JR station you are on.
2. Reputation
Like many travelers, I care about the reputation of the places I'm going to stay at. It would be better to be prepared for the various flaws than to be surprised by them when we finally get there. Also, how the reception people handles international travelers is also important. Big pluses if they can speak English. I was also interested in complaints about the hotels, so I know if I can tolerate them or not.
3. Price
My alternative choice would be a hostel, and I had found information on several reputable hostels. The only difference is the bathroom issue and price. Therefore, the price of staying at the hotel should not exceed the price of staying at the hostel.
4. Other service/ amenities
Most of the time, hostels just provide you with a room, and no more service afterwards or charge fees for extra services, so if the hotel provides some extra service, it would be a plus. I have found out that some business hotels would provide free breakfast, which is a big money saver, and some would have free public computer with internet, or free international phone calls. More free stuff is better, and would save you a bit more money.
The next post will be introduction/review to some business hotels.
Monday, October 15, 2007
How to get around? (From the Airport)
So you've bought your ticket, packed your essentials, went through all the trouble, sat on the plane, got through the customs, and arrived!
Now what?
Well, now you are suppose to find a way out of the airport and to your choice of accommodations.
How?
How to get to your hotel from the airport should be the first thing you look up when you are deciding on where and which hotels to stay at. This can be tedious, frustrating, and disastrous all combined. I will list out ways of getting out of the airport from most expensive to least pricey.
1. Taxi
Taxi rates are quite high in
2. Limousine Buses This is a great way to travel, because you just give them your luggage, they give you a tag for your luggage, and sit back, relax, and enjoy the view. The cost taking a limousine bus to your stop is around $3000 yen ($30 dollars). Sounds great right? Not really, because the downside to this mode of transportation is that the bus only stops at designated stops. Mostly on more established hotels. If your hotel is not listed in its website, then you will have to find a way around it. This can be done by either getting off at a stop nearest to your hotel and walk there, or finding another mode of transportation. However, I would recommend Limousine buses as the mode of transportation for leaving for the airport. Why? Because I really didn't like my experience of dragging the 2 heavy luggage cases down and up the stairs, through the JR station, and find the trains to take. It is really not pleasant, and it isn't a good way to end your trip. You should pre-order the tickets to ensure that there's room available when you are ready to leave. Usually you just tell the hotels where the buses stops at that you want to buy a ticket from the hotel to the Narita airport on the date at your preferred time. You should also leave early in case of road congestion.
3. Narita Express (N'EX)
This is the express train from Narita airport to major JR stations, run by the JR (Japan Rail) group. You can check out the lists of stops on their website. However, it does stop at
Note:
- Suica card: Suica is an IC card by the JR group which can be used as a ticket for pretty much any type of train. You just need to pay or fill your card with money and you are set to go. This reduces the need of buying a ticket, because Tokyo has private and public owned train lines, and it would be very confusing for a tourist to figure out how much to pay for tickets. Suica can also be used as a method of payment in selected chain of convenient stores, lockers in train stations, some vending machines, etc. There's a $500 yen ($5 dollar) deposit you need to pay when you buy the card for the first time, but you can refund them when you leave the country. However, I think the suica card is a goodsouvenir, and you can still use it the next time you go to
The way to use suica is to just tap it on a screen on the entrance and exit of train stations. It is very simple, and you'll get it once you see how it is done. - Passomo: Passmo is also an IC card, but it is by the private train line
Another benefit of being a tourist is the various discounts you can receive. If you plan on going to other cities, buy the JR rail pass , because a trip to
4. The Keisei Skyliner
This line is by a private train company. This is also a popular choice among backpackers because of it's cheaper prices and decreased travel time. The cost of a ticket is $1920 yen ($19.20 dollars), and travel time is relatively short. However, you would need to transfer trains at Ueno station or Naporri station if you want to go to inner Tokyo, though the cost combined is still less than taking N'EX. Ueno station and Naporri station aren't as busy as Shinjuku or Ikebukuro station, so traveling with luggage is still easy. The skyliner has comfortable seating and luggage room. The tickets can be bought online before you leave the country or at the airport.
5. JR Airport express Line.
This is also by JR. The cost is about $1280 yen ($12.80 dollar) , but it is less frequent, more time consuming, and doesn't go to Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. It goes to the
6. The Keisei limited Express
This is the cheaper version of the Skyliner mentioned above. The cost of a ticket to Ueno/Naporri is $1000 yen ($10 dollars) and it takes about 70 minutes to get there. You would also need to transfer to other trains at Ueno station or Naporri station. The seats on the limited express are not reserved, so you might have to stand. This is also a popular choice of leaving the airport among backpackers because it is still convenient and fast. Plus you can save a bit more for shopping.
7. Conditionally free (This is also the way I left the airport)
How did I leave the Airport?
This is a good question. I didn't go with the above choices, because at the time I went to
There are rules you should follow on
I hope this simple guide is some what helpful to you.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Where to stay? (1) ---- Hotels
This is very important, how much are you willing to pay for good accommodation.
First, sort out your priorities. Do you want to pay as little as possible, be as comfortable as possible, or be as convenient as possible?
I would suggest make a list of criteria of things you must have in your place of accommodation. For example, if you want a private bathroom , bed or tatami/futon, shared or private room, location, amenities, nearby attractions, etc. Then, you start look for places at different locations and compare the prices, reviews, and location.
There are several types of accommodations to choose from.
1. Hotel
This is the most simple, and the most expensive choice. Hotel prices usually range from $12000 yen and up for 2 persons (approximately $120). Of course, the location and quality of the hotel is a determine factor of the price. The higher the star, the better location, the more expensive it will be. Most hotels have the basics: private bathroom, bed, bath robe or pajamas, slippers, hair brush, tooth brush and tooth paste, lotion, face cleanser, some would provide a razor, other toiletries, hair dryer, hot water machine , LAN, TV, mini fridge, etc. Pretty much what you would expect from a hotel. However, some hotels would charge money for bathrobes, so I suggest reading the hotel guides if you are unsure. Most hotels would have English guides for foreign guests. As for TV, some hotel would have a machine in the hall way that you can pay $1000 yen for a card to watch cable TV for a day. Most TV only have the basic channels. Most hotel rooms have adjustable AC and humidifier. Another benefit of staying at hotels is that they usually have direct transportation from and to the Narita and Haneda Airport.
When I book my flight to Japan from an agent, it came with a free 3 nights hotel stay. It was great, because the hotel had actual English speaking staff who can give me and my sister directions for places. Also, the location of the hotel is good, it was in Shinjuku, where there is a major train station for all the different lines. Also, there are various malls around the train station, making dining easier. My sister and I actually book our trip around where we are staying, to save a little on transportation cost.
The first hotel we stayed at was Shinjuku Washington hotel. It was pretty great, and the room was the biggest room we've stayed at for our entire trip. We had researched for more than half a year before booking a flight and the other hotels, and we've heard good things about this hotel. The staff was friendly, and some can speak English, making the process easier. There's a 24 hour convenient store at the ground floor of the hotel, so you don't have to go too far to get snacks. The location of the hotel was great! It is on the opposite side of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, so it is quite safe at night, and you can go check out the view of the observatory floor at night if you have nothing to do. It takes about 15 minutes of walk to get to the JR station, or you can take a bus, costs $100 yen (approxi. $1 dollar). The hotel also offers breakfast at $1300 yen ($13 dollar) per person. There' a few choices to breakfast when we stayed there, there's a Japanese style restaurant offering rice and fish breakfast set, a Cafe offering simple sandwich and coffee set, and the best is the breakfast buffet at the 25 floor. This is a popular choice, because the buffet have both western and Japaneses style cuisines for you to try. The view is good too, but you would need to go early to avoid lining up. I would recommend going as early as possible, because there's more seats you can choose, and you can enjoy your breakfast for as long as you like.
The second hotel we stayed at was at Akiake, a bit further away from the central Tokyo city. We stayed there because we wanted to attend a convention at Tokyo Bigsight, the Tokyo international exhibition center. The hotel is actually across from Tokyo Big sight. We stayed at the Tokyo Bay Akiake Washington Hotel, which is a chain of Washington hotel. We didn't pick this hotel because it was a chain of Washington Hotel, but because of the location. This hotel have direct transportation from and to the Narita and Haneda Airport with Limousine Buses, which I highly recommend. You should really consider this when you are leaving, because the luggage would be heavy, and you wouldn't want to drag them through the train stations. Trust me, because I did that when I switched hotels. It was a very unpleasant experience. Anyways, If you plan on going to Disney world or the sea world (?) , you should consider this hotel or other nearby hotels, because they also have direct buses to Disney land/world. It will save a lot of grief, because from what I've heard, Disney land is always packed, no matter which days you go. Another good thing about this hotel is that the building is very new, so the equipment and amenities are quite new. And they have the biggest bathroom, compare to the other places we've stayed at, and adjustable AC. As for transportation, the train station is very close to the hotel, and there are 2 different lines to choose from. Also, the hotel is just a bridge away from Odaiba, where there are many sights.
We've stayed there for a night, cost about $14000 yen, or $140 dollars for a semi-double room for 2. We didn't get a discount because it was around the Golden week, but if you went during off season, the price should be lower.
You should try booking through an agent first, because sometimes they would have discount. But you should also check prices online to see if it is a deal or not.
If you are traveling along, and you are female, some hotels have a female only floor for female customers. The hall ways are usually monitored, so safety is ensured. The room's amenities are usually more tailored to female customers, but there's usually only single, semi-double, or double rooms to choose from.
First, sort out your priorities. Do you want to pay as little as possible, be as comfortable as possible, or be as convenient as possible?
I would suggest make a list of criteria of things you must have in your place of accommodation. For example, if you want a private bathroom , bed or tatami/futon, shared or private room, location, amenities, nearby attractions, etc. Then, you start look for places at different locations and compare the prices, reviews, and location.
There are several types of accommodations to choose from.
1. Hotel
This is the most simple, and the most expensive choice. Hotel prices usually range from $12000 yen and up for 2 persons (approximately $120). Of course, the location and quality of the hotel is a determine factor of the price. The higher the star, the better location, the more expensive it will be. Most hotels have the basics: private bathroom, bed, bath robe or pajamas, slippers, hair brush, tooth brush and tooth paste, lotion, face cleanser, some would provide a razor, other toiletries, hair dryer, hot water machine , LAN, TV, mini fridge, etc. Pretty much what you would expect from a hotel. However, some hotels would charge money for bathrobes, so I suggest reading the hotel guides if you are unsure. Most hotels would have English guides for foreign guests. As for TV, some hotel would have a machine in the hall way that you can pay $1000 yen for a card to watch cable TV for a day. Most TV only have the basic channels. Most hotel rooms have adjustable AC and humidifier. Another benefit of staying at hotels is that they usually have direct transportation from and to the Narita and Haneda Airport.
When I book my flight to Japan from an agent, it came with a free 3 nights hotel stay. It was great, because the hotel had actual English speaking staff who can give me and my sister directions for places. Also, the location of the hotel is good, it was in Shinjuku, where there is a major train station for all the different lines. Also, there are various malls around the train station, making dining easier. My sister and I actually book our trip around where we are staying, to save a little on transportation cost.
The first hotel we stayed at was Shinjuku Washington hotel. It was pretty great, and the room was the biggest room we've stayed at for our entire trip. We had researched for more than half a year before booking a flight and the other hotels, and we've heard good things about this hotel. The staff was friendly, and some can speak English, making the process easier. There's a 24 hour convenient store at the ground floor of the hotel, so you don't have to go too far to get snacks. The location of the hotel was great! It is on the opposite side of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, so it is quite safe at night, and you can go check out the view of the observatory floor at night if you have nothing to do. It takes about 15 minutes of walk to get to the JR station, or you can take a bus, costs $100 yen (approxi. $1 dollar). The hotel also offers breakfast at $1300 yen ($13 dollar) per person. There' a few choices to breakfast when we stayed there, there's a Japanese style restaurant offering rice and fish breakfast set, a Cafe offering simple sandwich and coffee set, and the best is the breakfast buffet at the 25 floor. This is a popular choice, because the buffet have both western and Japaneses style cuisines for you to try. The view is good too, but you would need to go early to avoid lining up. I would recommend going as early as possible, because there's more seats you can choose, and you can enjoy your breakfast for as long as you like.
The second hotel we stayed at was at Akiake, a bit further away from the central Tokyo city. We stayed there because we wanted to attend a convention at Tokyo Bigsight, the Tokyo international exhibition center. The hotel is actually across from Tokyo Big sight. We stayed at the Tokyo Bay Akiake Washington Hotel, which is a chain of Washington hotel. We didn't pick this hotel because it was a chain of Washington Hotel, but because of the location. This hotel have direct transportation from and to the Narita and Haneda Airport with Limousine Buses, which I highly recommend. You should really consider this when you are leaving, because the luggage would be heavy, and you wouldn't want to drag them through the train stations. Trust me, because I did that when I switched hotels. It was a very unpleasant experience. Anyways, If you plan on going to Disney world or the sea world (?) , you should consider this hotel or other nearby hotels, because they also have direct buses to Disney land/world. It will save a lot of grief, because from what I've heard, Disney land is always packed, no matter which days you go. Another good thing about this hotel is that the building is very new, so the equipment and amenities are quite new. And they have the biggest bathroom, compare to the other places we've stayed at, and adjustable AC. As for transportation, the train station is very close to the hotel, and there are 2 different lines to choose from. Also, the hotel is just a bridge away from Odaiba, where there are many sights.
We've stayed there for a night, cost about $14000 yen, or $140 dollars for a semi-double room for 2. We didn't get a discount because it was around the Golden week, but if you went during off season, the price should be lower.
You should try booking through an agent first, because sometimes they would have discount. But you should also check prices online to see if it is a deal or not.
If you are traveling along, and you are female, some hotels have a female only floor for female customers. The hall ways are usually monitored, so safety is ensured. The room's amenities are usually more tailored to female customers, but there's usually only single, semi-double, or double rooms to choose from.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Preperations preperations
What you need to do after you decided on a date and ordered the tickets:
1. Decide how many days you are going to stay in Japan.
If you only have 1 week, I would suggest you to stay in 1 city, because you won't be able to explore 2 different cities in that short period, and traveling in between cities and packing/unpacking takes a lot of time.
If you intend on exploring Tokyo for the first time, I think 7 to 10 days is enough. If you have extra time, I would recommend going somewhere else, like Kyoto or Osaka for 2 or 3 days using the JR rail pass for International Travelers.
2.What is your budget?
Decide on a budget. Watch the exchange rate for a while, because sometimes you can get a little more spending money from exchange rates. When I went, which was the end of April of 2007, I got a 1 CAD to 110 YEN exchange rate, which was pretty good, because usually the exchange rate is around 1 to 105. Also, ask around for better exchange rates. Some places charge a service fee, some places have a lower exchange rate. If you don't want to be bothered with checking around, you can always bring visa, traveler's cheque, or Cash to Japan and exchange it at the Airport. If you exchange at the Airport in Japan, they give you a much better rate than in Vancouver Airport.
Also, plan how much you would spend on things. The more specific, the less would go wrong.
3. Where are you going to stay?
Finding a place to stay. It can depend on your budget, ie. how much are you willing to pay for accommodation, or what you need, ie. no sharing bath rooms.
Of course, the more you pay, the better the location and room you get. For hotels, a nights stay for 2 could range from 12000 yen to more than 40000 yen. Business hotels are cheaper, they are about 8000 yen to 12000 yen, and some of them provide breakfast, so you also save money on food. Location is also important. One of the popular location is Shinjuku because it's easier to get to from the Narita Airport. Ikebukuro is also a popular choice, because of easy access to trains.
4. Research.
Why are you there?What do you want to do there? Research about places to go, sights to see, etc. There are lots of info about this on Japan's website, or you can just google "japan travel".
5. Plan your schedule
Now that you know where you want to go, plan a full schedule on when you want to go there. Pay attention to the days and times of opening and closing and, you don't want to go and find it closed. When planning your schedule, don't over estimate your stamina. From experience, I think 2 places for one day is the maximum you should plan, because there's always more to see than you expect.
6. More research.
Now that you've decided on places to visit, research on how to get there. The train system is pretty complicated. Because there are several companies that runs the trains, you often find yourself lost in the train station. Seriously, it's like a maze. You should figure out which line to take at which station beforehand, so that when you actually need to find it, at least you know what is the right train and what is not. Also, learn how the ticket machine/system works, and how to refund for the tickets if you bought the wrong one. Also, research on how to get to your choice of accommodation from the Airport. Taxis are quite expensive in Japan.
7. Learn some basic conversation
Although some Japanese people can speak English, the majority doesn't, learning how to speak their language will only make thing easier. Japan has adopted many English words into their vocabulary, if you can't say the proper sentences, at least learn how to speak some Japanese English so that there's a chance they will understand you. Also, learn how to read menus, or research the menus of restaurants you wish to visit, it will make ordering easier and faster. If you get lost, which is a high probability, you would need to ask people, so learn how to ask for directions and how to follow directions. You can write down all the sentences you need to say, the translations, etc, and bring it with you.
8. Other things.
Make sure you have everything you need for emergencies, such as medicine, emergency contact, backup battery, etc.
I will write more specific reports for each topic later on.
1. Decide how many days you are going to stay in Japan.
If you only have 1 week, I would suggest you to stay in 1 city, because you won't be able to explore 2 different cities in that short period, and traveling in between cities and packing/unpacking takes a lot of time.
If you intend on exploring Tokyo for the first time, I think 7 to 10 days is enough. If you have extra time, I would recommend going somewhere else, like Kyoto or Osaka for 2 or 3 days using the JR rail pass for International Travelers.
2.What is your budget?
Decide on a budget. Watch the exchange rate for a while, because sometimes you can get a little more spending money from exchange rates. When I went, which was the end of April of 2007, I got a 1 CAD to 110 YEN exchange rate, which was pretty good, because usually the exchange rate is around 1 to 105. Also, ask around for better exchange rates. Some places charge a service fee, some places have a lower exchange rate. If you don't want to be bothered with checking around, you can always bring visa, traveler's cheque, or Cash to Japan and exchange it at the Airport. If you exchange at the Airport in Japan, they give you a much better rate than in Vancouver Airport.
Also, plan how much you would spend on things. The more specific, the less would go wrong.
3. Where are you going to stay?
Finding a place to stay. It can depend on your budget, ie. how much are you willing to pay for accommodation, or what you need, ie. no sharing bath rooms.
Of course, the more you pay, the better the location and room you get. For hotels, a nights stay for 2 could range from 12000 yen to more than 40000 yen. Business hotels are cheaper, they are about 8000 yen to 12000 yen, and some of them provide breakfast, so you also save money on food. Location is also important. One of the popular location is Shinjuku because it's easier to get to from the Narita Airport. Ikebukuro is also a popular choice, because of easy access to trains.
4. Research.
Why are you there?What do you want to do there? Research about places to go, sights to see, etc. There are lots of info about this on Japan's website, or you can just google "japan travel".
5. Plan your schedule
Now that you know where you want to go, plan a full schedule on when you want to go there. Pay attention to the days and times of opening and closing and, you don't want to go and find it closed. When planning your schedule, don't over estimate your stamina. From experience, I think 2 places for one day is the maximum you should plan, because there's always more to see than you expect.
6. More research.
Now that you've decided on places to visit, research on how to get there. The train system is pretty complicated. Because there are several companies that runs the trains, you often find yourself lost in the train station. Seriously, it's like a maze. You should figure out which line to take at which station beforehand, so that when you actually need to find it, at least you know what is the right train and what is not. Also, learn how the ticket machine/system works, and how to refund for the tickets if you bought the wrong one. Also, research on how to get to your choice of accommodation from the Airport. Taxis are quite expensive in Japan.
7. Learn some basic conversation
Although some Japanese people can speak English, the majority doesn't, learning how to speak their language will only make thing easier. Japan has adopted many English words into their vocabulary, if you can't say the proper sentences, at least learn how to speak some Japanese English so that there's a chance they will understand you. Also, learn how to read menus, or research the menus of restaurants you wish to visit, it will make ordering easier and faster. If you get lost, which is a high probability, you would need to ask people, so learn how to ask for directions and how to follow directions. You can write down all the sentences you need to say, the translations, etc, and bring it with you.
8. Other things.
Make sure you have everything you need for emergencies, such as medicine, emergency contact, backup battery, etc.
I will write more specific reports for each topic later on.
Why go to Japan?
I've always wanted to go to japan, because of the food, people, culture, and shopping.
1. Food: Seeing all the Japaneses restaurants and Japanese foods, it makes me wonder what they really taste like. Also, Japanese tv shows seems to make food taste so much more better ||droll||
Although I won't go for the seafood, because I can't eat sashimi, but I can still enjoy other stuff like dokatsu, okonomiyaki, ekiben, etc.
2. People: You've seen the Harajuku girls, the pop idols, it's interesting to see what they are really like. It will be interesting to see how are we different.
3. Culture: The traditional gowns, the kimono, the shrines, the temples, we won't see anything like it in Canada. ( or in US probably)
4. Shopping: Japan is pretty famous for it's shopping. There is the various malls in Shinjuku, electronics and duty free goods at Akihabara, manga/comic/anime/porn at Akihabara, manga/doujinshi at Ikebukuro, weird/interesting stuff at Harajuku/omosando hill, mature people shopping at Ginza, and there are outlets, etc
Japan is a great place to shop for different and unique things.
1. Food: Seeing all the Japaneses restaurants and Japanese foods, it makes me wonder what they really taste like. Also, Japanese tv shows seems to make food taste so much more better ||droll||
Although I won't go for the seafood, because I can't eat sashimi, but I can still enjoy other stuff like dokatsu, okonomiyaki, ekiben, etc.
2. People: You've seen the Harajuku girls, the pop idols, it's interesting to see what they are really like. It will be interesting to see how are we different.
3. Culture: The traditional gowns, the kimono, the shrines, the temples, we won't see anything like it in Canada. ( or in US probably)
4. Shopping: Japan is pretty famous for it's shopping. There is the various malls in Shinjuku, electronics and duty free goods at Akihabara, manga/comic/anime/porn at Akihabara, manga/doujinshi at Ikebukuro, weird/interesting stuff at Harajuku/omosando hill, mature people shopping at Ginza, and there are outlets, etc
Japan is a great place to shop for different and unique things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
