Anyone familiar with visiting Japan?

[mu0n]

Alright guys, looking to visit Japan next year for 2 weeks. I have no idea on where to start. I know I'd like to visit Tokyo at least and also hot springs and the more traditional side of the country.

Any advice for times of year (end of May?) and airlines etc would be appreciated. Flying from London.

I gather Japan isn't the cheapest of holidays!

Thanks.

[NorthDave]

I'm sat in Tokyo at the moment. I havent found it expensive to be honest - accommodation is a bit like London but I wanted a nice hotel. Getting around and food has been very reasonable. I've been eating in the smaller independent places and have been averaging less than £10 a meal. The subway is usually less than £1 per journey.

It's good fun - the time difference is a real struggle for me though.

[Kenty]

Have a look at the trips offered by Insider Journeys, there is lots to see but a little spread out. I went quite a few years ago now and found it to be a great country, will be going again soon probably with Insider journeys.

[williaa68]

We ate going with the kids next summer and are using a travel agent called inside Japan. I travel a lot with work and am normally pretty self-sufficient but decided a good agent would be worthwhile. They put together s tailor made itinerary at a very competitive price. No connection or affiliation but recommended (so far - I haven't been yet!)

[kazste]

If your travelling at all get the japan rail pass, you need to buy it when home and then get it authorised at a jr rail way station in japan. Far cheaper to do than paying for individual trips.

For hot springs your probably looking at beppu but it is a fair way from japan you could do it by going to kyoto first which has an area for geisha and a lot of nice temples, the golden temple, temple on the hill, todachi temple, and i would guess kyoto to beppu probably about 1.5-2 hours away. Whilst doing this you would also have hiroshima in the same direction.

There was a japan travel threard from g3orgy or similar which is worth a read as well

[mu0n]

good info - thanks a lot.

any advice on what airlines are best? also haneda airport is the one to fly into right?

loving the idea of staying in a ryokan for a few nights.

[kazste]

We normally fly into fukuoka as this is where we have business, for that we use klm which are good.

Etihad and emitates go to Tokyo either would be my choice depending on stayovers

[sooperscoop]

mu0n said:

good info - thanks a lot.

any advice on what airlines are best? also haneda airport is the one to fly into right?

loving the idea of staying in a ryokan for a few nights.

Chances are you'll be flying into Narita, which is further out but there are two express trains that go straight into Tokyo, N'Ex to several Tokyo stations and Skyliner one that goes to Ueno. Either is great, around 45 minutes.

Get Pasmo cards at any station for the subway, look for the Pasmo sign and the machines will dispense the cards. The machines are in English and there's videos on Youtube. The Pasmo card works on subways and most trains. The local train system in Tokyo looks confusing (as does the Metro) but it really operates like a glorified big tube system. Take a look at the route map at the JREast site.....

There's an app called Japan Free Wifi or something, gets you wifi access all over the place for tourists.

There are tourist passes for everything, trains, tourist sites, loads of stuff, you can save a fortune.

Oh, and if you love electronics, go to the Yodabashi mega-store next to Akhihabara Station, 8 floors of goodness. I spent 6 hours in there...

N'Ex http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/
Skyliner http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us...
JR East (trains) http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.html
Tokyo Metro (they also have an app) http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/

[DragsterRR]

kazste said:

We normally fly into fukuoka as this is where we have business, for that we use klm which are good.

Etihad and emitates go to Tokyo either would be my choice depending on stayovers

My Mrs was born there.....apropo of nothing

Edited by DragsterRR on Tuesday 10th November 23:46

[kazste]

Whereabouts? We have a place in nishinooka. Small world and all that, go hawks

[DragsterRR]

The hospital on Itazuki AFB.

Mum was Japanese, Dad was in the USAF.

[Markytop]

mu0n said:

any advice on what airlines are best? also haneda airport is the one to fly into right?

I went to Tokyo a few weeks back - see my thread on subject that gave lots of info i found useful.

I flew with Emirates and they have the choice of flying to Narita or Haneda. I flew to Haneda and found it a great airport. You can jump on the Monorail and be in the city in about 15-20min at most. The airport is also close enough to get a cab, which I did when first arrived as a) was early hours of morning and b) wasnt sure what to expect of monorail/underground without getting my bearings. Cab to centre in early hours (so peak rate) was about 6000Yen I think, expensive yes, but worth it after a long flight.

[mu0n]

thankful for all the responses, will check your thread mark.

due to other commitments next year (family trip to spain, saving for this trip and a stag do im best man for in august/september), it looks like june is the preferable month for us to travel, but it looks like june is a bit hit and miss. i will try and aim for the first 2 weeks in june and hope it won't be too wet or muggy.

it also look like we will be using the trains a lot as i would like to get around as much as possible.

i reckon we will probably spend the first couple of nights in tokyo or just outside - thanks for the mention about the electronics place; i've read that akihabara district is the best place to go for this. from then i'd like to go to the alps or a destination where they have the hot springs - somewhere nice and not too touristy would be great, so very traditional. i believe the bullet train goes from tokyo to this region?

from there i'm still undecided, but thinking i'd like to see hiroshima, which obviously sends us south to western honshu, taking in kyoto city and perhaps osaka.

the only 'issue' going this route is that in 2 weeks it would be too much of a stretch to go north to hokkaido which, from what i've read, is actually the best climate to be in during june?

if i stay south, shikoku is a pretty nearby destination from hiroshima, so time there and then back up to tokyo to buy a ton of stuff before our flight home.

also, weird question, but i absolutely do not ride in elevators. would i be missing out on a lot in tokyo because of this!?

[nitrodave]

I flew there from Paris on Air france and they use the A380, worth going that way just to experience such an amazing aircraft (if you haven't already). It makes the long haul so much more manageable.

Only spent time in Tokyo as my time was limited, but I found it very pleasant, easy to get around, great tube network, really not that expensive and lots to keep me busy for the 6 days I was there.

Go to the top of the TGM building, check out electric City, Shibuya is good fun and Shinjuku is standard for department stores. There's lots of other great stuff to do if you're on your own.

I have never felt as safe as I did in Tokyo too. Just be careful the locals who want to befriend you just so they can practice their English. It's harmless, but can grate.

[kazste]

If your thinking june it would be worth bringing it forwards a month to bring you into cherry blossom season. First off it's quite pretty but also there will be lots of festivals and goings on in shrines and temples. Just be aware that it will be busier, and by the end of the first week you will be sick of cherry blossom

[mu0n]

Quick update. Looks like our holiday is being moved to later June. I've read this isn't a great time to visit, anyone know why? What's the weather like this time of the year compared to other Asian countries like Thailand which is generally hot and humid anyway? Thx

[kazste]

Will likely be very humid or very rainy same until september time really.
At least on kyushu where it is difficult to sleep at night without windows open fully and even then all you do is sweat.

It really is a lovely part of the world though.

[Kenty]

Leaving Haneda airport

[hamish88]

Remember to get a day pass for the subway if you are using it a lot.
For somewhere out of the way have a look at gifu prefecture the temperature there should also be a bit cooler as well as its higher up.
Somewhere closer to Tokyo is yamanashi or the my Fuji area . Sitting in a onsen facing mt Fuji starkers is something else.

[mu0n]

hamish88 said:

Remember to get a day pass for the subway if you are using it a lot.
For somewhere out of the way have a look at gifu prefecture the temperature there should also be a bit cooler as well as its higher up.
Somewhere closer to Tokyo is yamanashi or the my Fuji area . Sitting in a onsen facing mt Fuji starkers is something else.

cheers - what's the climate like around the 5 lakes during end of june? i'd like to find a private onsen but would seem a shame if it was too humid to enjoy. if it is going to be humid around there, i'll have a look at gifu.