I'm going to Tokyo!!! Any advice???
 

Hi everyone. I'm new to this site. There's a lot of helpful info on this site.
I was wondering of some of you could give me some tips or advice for my trip to Japan.

I'll be traveling with my friend.
I was thinking of taking $2000 for me to spend.
Will that be enough or should i take more?
He has a friend in Shinjuku, so he wants to stay there.
We'll be in Japan November 6th and flying back home on November 21st.
What's the weather like around that time?

From what i've been reading on this forum it sounds like Kyoto is really nice.
So i want to visit there. And my friend wants to visit Mt Fuji.

I want to see castle's, temples, historical sites, and some nature sites like maybe lakes and waterfalls.
I want to experience the whole Japanese culture.
And i also want to experience some of the night life.
I want to see and do as much as i can within the time that i'll be there.

Is there any places that you guys can recommend that i visit while i'm there?
Also how much is the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto?

Is the 2000 for spending only or includes accommodation? It will be really close if you are including hotels, I have never stayed at a youth hostel before, I heard those are very cheap, but the cheapest hotel (business hotel) cost me around 30 a night, on a average, I spend about 60 a night, so for 15 days, it will be around 900. So my break down will be:

Hotel for 15 days - 900
Food - 30 a day - 450
Transportation - Depends on how much you will spend on local transport, But Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto on reserved cost you about 140, So assuming round trip, 280. Plus other transportation cost. I will say about 10 a day. Total transportation will be 280 + 10*15 = 430

Total 1680, you still have about 320 for other stuff like souvenir and entrance fee to shrine, temples, various attractions.

So yes 2000 is doable, but I would probably budget for around 2500 just in case. Too much to see and buy :) As a sample, my budget for 3 weeks is around 2800 excluding transportation...

Hakone will give you access to Fuji, there are several nice onsen and waterfall there as well

Temple and shrine you have to go to Kyoto. Which give you access to several nice castle as well, but you can probably do a day trip to Himeji (cost about 60 one way on shinkansen)

Nightlife will be in Dotonbori in Osaka or Shibuya/Shinjuku/Ginza/Roppogi in Tokyo

Have fun :)

The hotel and airfare will be paid for separate.
So i'll have $2000 for spending and transportation around Japan.
Sounds like i'm better of getting a JR railpass.

Is the Kyoto close enough to make a day trip out of it?
Or will i be better off staying there a couple days?
I haven't booked my hotel yet.
So i'm trying to figure out if i can make day trips to all these other places or if i should stay a few days in other places.

I just want to see how i'm going to map out my stay at the hotel.

Thanks you for the info and the suggestions.

I am going to assume you guys are talking dollars, seeing the aforementioned figures completly exceed what I have spent there for 2 weeks in Euro's
No matter.

Coincidentally, I will be in Japan at the exact same dates that you will be :)

As far as Kyoto goes, despite the distance between it and Tokyo it is still possible to do it as a day-trip.
You'll need to ride the JR Tokaido Shinkansen line and have the choice of either the Nozomi version of the train (slightly more luxorious) which gets you there in 2 hours and 20 minutes flat, or the Hikari version (slightly less luxorious) and takes roughly 20 minutes longer than the Nozomi.
Alternativly the cheapest train option is the kodama tough it takes a whopping five hours to get there, times 2 your looking at 10 hours of sitting time: I.E not a daytrip.

The Nozomi and Hikari cost alot of money and tickets need to be reserved beforehand. Last time I checked a month or two ago that was about 180 euro's on the Nozomi for a single trip (i.e times 2 to get back) However, if you have the Japan rail pass than you can get a big discount on these high-speed lines - they are absolutly not for free even with the JR rail pass tough, but the JR rail pass is worth it if you go beyond Tokyo/Yokohama

See the official JR railways website for timetables, fares and information on getting about.
JAPAN RAILWAYS GROUP - Home

Consider doing the following (as I am doing the same)
Go from Tokyo directly to Osaka and pick a hotel there.
Reason ? It can take as little as 30 minutes to go from Osaka to Kyoto.
Since your goal is to both taste the nightlife and historical part of Japan means that you can
enjoy the nightlife in Osaka in the nighttime, but during the daytime visit gardens,castles and shrines in Kyoto. You could't do it effectivly vice-versa.

I won't suggest making Kyoto a day trip, there are enough to see to last you 3 days, plus surrounding cities are great too, try to plan and base yourself in Osaka for about 6 days:

1 day - Himeji
1 day - Kobe
2 days - Osaka
2 days - Kyoto

You can find a sigthseeing map for Kyoto here: Kyoto City Web / Access / Public transport in Kyoto

Yeah i was talking American dollars. I can always use my credit cards if i run low on money.

What a nice coincidence that you'll be there the same time as i will. :)
We might run into each other and not even know it.

Thanks for all the info. I might just get a hotel in Osaka for about 4 days.
Hopefully i'll get to see and do everything there within the 4 day stay.

Thanks! That map is going to help a lot.
I'll probably end up staying 4 days in Osaka. If need be i'll just stay longer. :)

Does anyone know what the weather is like in November in Tokyo and Kyoto?

Sakura Youth Hostel is in Asakusa, and is like $22 USD a night.


Youth Hostels are the way to go :vsign:

This is a good reference point: When to travel to Japan - Travel Weather

keep in mind though, general weather is out of whack the last little while (Globally), so this is only a reference....

I'll look into that. Thanks.:)

Thank you for the link.

I managed to spend 3000 US dollars on my month there -_- ... and I had a place to stay! When I went there I was all "no spared expense!" and did some expensive stuff and ate expensive food 8).

In any case, make sure you plan that out! If you have a travel agent, they may be able to help you chart out a plan. Otherwise, you might get a little overwhelmed by how much there is to do and end up inefficiently trying to go everything like me :p .

Thanks.
Yeah i might take a little more money.
Besides i can always use my ATM card if i run out of cash.

The travel agents that i've talked to really haven't been able to help me.
The two that i've talked to so far have a bewildered look on their face when i ask them questions about Japan.

What part of Osaka would you say is a better place to stay at, Umeda or Namba?
And can anyone refer a decent hotel to stay at in either one of these places?

Thanks

Japan is sort of "outside" the scope of a lot of the common travel agencies. As an agency, unless someone therre speaks the language pretty fluently... it'd likely be a problem being really useful. If you feel that you really need one to help you.... look online for one that specializes in Japan related travel.

Hit the Japan National Tourist Organization information site .... it has lots of useful stuff.

What country are you in?

Read a lot of the other threads here about going to Japan.....they should give you a LOT of info to research.


best,

...............john

hi, u stay there before?

personal advice
 

Call a wherever you are staying an make reservations. I wandered tokyo until 2am until I found a hotel that had vacancy...

Hahhaa. But it was an enjoyable treat non the less.

well ihave a friend whos in tokyo right now. and there's 3 things i can tell you.

1. budget

2. don't attract attention to your self

and most importantly rule 3: manners, manners, manners!

Thanks John. I'm in the U.S.
I took a look at the Japan National Tourist site and it was pretty helpful.

Thanks for the help guys.
Me and my friend changed our itineraries.

We'll be in Osaka on November 6th and then heading to Shinjuku on the 16th.
Then fly back to L.A. on the 23rd.

We're still trying to map out and see what we can do while in Osaka.
I'm sure there is lots to do in and around Osaka.

tokyo city has very good transportation system.
it may be a little far to walk (but if u dont mind, u can actually walk.) from one place to another as u've mentioned above, but the subway system in tokyo is one of the most convenient ones of all. no worries, their subway stations' exits are easily found. and they take u to all the places u mentioned. yes indeed roppongi is a higher end of entertainment district while shinjuku is more for the hippier funkier young crowds.
so dont worry. its close enough. but still hands down for the subway in tokyo. because of it, much walking arent that required! enjoy ur trip.
Source(s):
been there. was there.
Vietnam package tour
halong travel
sapa travel
mekong tours

This is Smile Hamamatsucho Hotel (Retreat Hamamatsucho) you are talking about right?

From station...how to walk to the Smile Hamamatsucho Hotel ?
Is that a apartment? or hotel?
It seem like got mini kitchen....a bit difference from other hotels.

I have to sat that Tokyo is really tourist friendly. A lot of things are explained in English and the subway is really easy and good.
Also, most of the people are really friendly and if you show some form of respect or appreciation, they don't mind if you don't speak japanese or know their customs. I was sitting in the green coupet (first class) by mistake on the JR, and the person who checks tickets apologized to me :confused:

HAve fun!

I wonder if Osaka and Kyoto is the same way.