Could use some help with my trip. (June '08)

[odonata]

On the insurance thing. I bought a 1 year world cover policy, covers winter sports ect. For me it was worth the peace of mind as I was in USA for 3 months and if things go bad there it can cost big time.

On hitting Shinjuku on your first day after a plane trip, well let me just say dont get there in the morning, also try to find a online map of the exits as that place still confuses me and I have been there 6 times.

[Nao]

@GhostBlade

I've already made my bank aware, they have the dates and locations. I've heard the $5 thing before too, but in reference to another card. It may be the same, though. It's not too big a deal, though; I plan to be withdrawing ~JPY20,000 at a time so I don't have to go to the bank on a daily basis. A ~500 JPY hit for the fee isn't that big of a deal on that size withdrawal.

@odonata

Unfortunately, I don't have much choice in the matter. The office closes in the evening, and I have head there as soon as I get off the plane. It will be more towards the afternoon/evening though.

Also yeah, healthcare can cost a bit here for those without insurance. I can see getting that kind of policy for winter sports etc.

[iammako3]

Oh wow, this topic really threw me off since I'm doing almost exactly the same thing! ^_^ I'll be staying in Nakano (in Tokyo) from May 31 to July 2 with no concrete plans, though I do have a few ideas on what I want to do. I have a Mitsuwa (Japanese marketplace with a travel agency inside) near me so I actually got pretty cheap tickets. $940 round trip direct flight from Chicago! However, I'm splurging on the rental apartment, which costs almost $3,000. -.- And then there's the 1 week JR rail pass for when I go to Kyoto or wherever else. . . lots of $$, but it'll be worth it!

I'm so excited about this trip! Originally I was supposed to go over as a Nova teacher, but, uh, they folded. :-( So this is going to be my best vacation ever!!!!!

My tentative plans so far are:
*Over night trip to Kyoto
*Kabuki at the Kabuki-za Theatre
*Sanno Matsuri
*Dontsuku Matsuri (because who can resist a fertility festival where geisha carry around penis statues?)
*self-guided Shibuya tour based on the DS game The World Ends With You
*meeting up with a guide to show me Akihabara
*meeting up with a guide to show me either Yokohama or Kamakura
*going to the Metal Gear Solid 4 release party, if there is one

Sound like fun? Any other stuff you guys can suggest? Anyone want to meet in Japan? That'd be fun! (Can you tell I'm a bit keyed up about this trip?)

[Dennehy]

I already posted my phone guide but ill copy and paste it to make things easier

Every time i come i rent a phone for hundreds of dollars! Bills get pretty expensive.
Docomo Wants up to 300 for 2 months and other companies are around 120-130 a month.
But this time i went with a Skype/ Softbank combo.
Ill explain.

There is softbanks all over Tokyo, the one i went to was in Roppongi across from the Almonds in the crossing.
They speak Very fluent english and will set you up with a phone within a hour.
TO buy a prepaid phone its 70 dollars you can pick from 2 models and 2 colors for each. *black, blue, and white and black*

This phone you can keep for ever, no need to return or mail back, its Yours.
All you need to do is buy a top up card for 3k Yen or 5k yen.
Its 90 yen per minute but its free incomming.
So you can call some one hang up and they can call you back and you get free incomming calls.
Text msging is 15 yen per text and free incomming.
They also set you up with a free soft bank email account
*yourname* @Softbank.ne.jp
mine is Housetek @softbank.ne.jp
okay so heres where the Skype part comes in

I like to keep in contact with all of my friends and family from the states and i want them to call me freely when ever they want.
So on skype for 12 dollars i bought a US number for 3 months in the area code all my friends and family live in.
its a PA/NJ number.

Then i put call forwarding on, and have all my calls from my skype from the US
forwarded to my japanese Prepaid Cell.

So my friends and family can call me ANY time they want with out being charged international rates and all of their phone calls go directly to my skype which then forwards them to my Prepaid in which i get Free incomming calls.
Pretty nifty.

So if your looking for a phone in japan, instead of buying one at the airport you can try my method.
Which will cost you 70 dollars for the start up phone which you can use forever, 12 for 3 months of Skype number i also put 25 dollars into Skype credit but i always have skype credit on it just in case i want to call internationally back home. and then the Prepaid top up is 3k yen for 60 days.

my last PHone which i go from Narita airport cost me 150 dollars for one month
and a previous one cost me 150 for 2 weeks!
so i belive this way will save alot more money. also its very convenient cuz once you have the phone and you want to Top up next time you come back to japan you can buy a topup card at Any AMPM, lawsons or Sunkus.

Copied that from Housetek's guide to Tokyo.

[Nao]

Originally Posted by iammako3

Oh wow, this topic really threw me off since I'm doing almost exactly the same thing! ^_^ I'll be staying in Nakano (in Tokyo) from May 31 to July 2 with no concrete plans, though I do have a few ideas on what I want to do. I have a Mitsuwa (Japanese marketplace with a travel agency inside) near me so I actually got pretty cheap tickets. $940 round trip direct flight from Chicago! However, I'm splurging on the rental apartment, which costs almost $3,000. -.- And then there's the 1 week JR rail pass for when I go to Kyoto or wherever else. . . lots of $$, but it'll be worth it!

I'm so excited about this trip! Originally I was supposed to go over as a Nova teacher, but, uh, they folded. :-( So this is going to be my best vacation ever!!!!!

My tentative plans so far are:
*Over night trip to Kyoto
*Kabuki at the Kabuki-za Theatre
*Sanno Matsuri
*Dontsuku Matsuri (because who can resist a fertility festival where geisha carry around penis statues?)
*self-guided Shibuya tour based on the DS game The World Ends With You
*meeting up with a guide to show me Akihabara
*meeting up with a guide to show me either Yokohama or Kamakura
*going to the Metal Gear Solid 4 release party, if there is one

Sound like fun? Any other stuff you guys can suggest? Anyone want to meet in Japan? That'd be fun! (Can you tell I'm a bit keyed up about this trip?)

I wouldn't mind meeting up at all, if you want. Anything to fill up time and add to the experience. Personally though, I don't like the idea of hiring guides. Takes away from the whole exploration and self-discovery thing.

-Nao