planning a trip

[gmhsan]

i'd like to plan a trip to japan, i've wanted to forever! so i'm actually going to start saving and all that good stuff, so i'm wondering if i were to stay for maybe a month at the most, what would be some ideal plans before i go, i.e. what i should bring as far as money or any other things i might need, and maybe just some general tips. thanks for your input!

[Vesperd]

Niceone gmhsan.. i will start saving up in a few months.. planning to move to Japan in 2 years, i was told to bring atleast £3000.. but who knows? really depends if you're planning on staying longterm or not.. anyways goodluck!

[sparky]

1st answer for 1 month - staying for only 1 month will end up costing more then staying longer why? cause you'll wanna go many places like Kyoto Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa and that costs big dollers haha you could spend a month in Tokyo alone and still not get board...but being realistic if you just wanna come to tokyo then get a guest house itll cost you around 600 u.s for the month There are links to every guest house in Tokyo on my website. Also you'll want about $150 a day to live comfortably ie. eating out ect. Meals here cost a minimum of $5 and can go way up from there. A big mac set is $6.30 so that gives you an idea and traveling costs money shinkansen (bullet train) costs about $150 to the average destination or you can bus it for $40 regular hotels are exspensive but again guest houses rock because they are not just monthly you can rent them daily as well. It costs a little more lik $25 dollers a night, again you can check them on my website and other accomodations to conpare...lastly your best bet is too get a working holiday visa and come stay live work here for a year cause its really nice to make YEN we love YEN.

2nd for the guy staying 2 years again use a guest house! I broguht 2500 canadian dollers with me and BAREEY survived OMG so I suggest you cover 3 months rent and 3 more months rent for exspences and start looking for a job the second you get here. You can find a part time job doing small conversation classes withing 3 days not enough to survive but its a really good idea to start making SOMTHING as soon as you get here enjoy oh and the rent i was saying is 600us so 600 x 6 =???

Hope this helps need any more info? let me know

[Vesperd]

Thanks sparky that was a helpful post, will keep the guesthouse in mind.. can you explain how guesthouses work out? do you actually live in homes occupied by the owners or... ?

[sparky]

Some you live in a regular house only 4-5 accupants some huge apartment buldings. but the rooms are all about the same size youll have a shared kitchen and usualy a shared showers and toilets. Camp style haha. Its great ive lived in 3 of them

[Ash]

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[gmhsan]

thank you lots and lots

[Ash]

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[sparky]

To buy, drive, and live in a van in America or Canada is easy peasy Japanesey! But in Japan it would end up being a nightmare! 1) you cant buy cheap vehicles here easily 2) if its cheap and old youll have to pay "shaken" which is a fee you pay to a dealers mechanic to get it in good condition..its mandatory and youll hav eto pay a minimum of $1,000 even if they only change the oil filter. f they have to put new parts on your car(Which they always do haha) you have to pay for them on top. 3) Gas Gas Gas 4) Parking if your in the big cities its very difficult or exspensive. Anyway if your only coming for a month or 2 its better just to use the trains and stay at some cool ryokans, or minshukus dont know what these are? check my site i have some links to them! But hey if you have a friend with a van here and got some gas cash then by all means id do the same haha! Rock on Camp Japan..P.S. I went camping 28 times this summer in Japan YAY!

[Ash]

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