USA to JP, what steps to take? can you guys review my plan
 

Should I get a Visa before hand? I was reading that you dont need a Visa beforehand but am I just better off getting one before going?
Total random trip. I have vacation time that needs to be used. So I would like to be going in about a month.

plan:
get visa

get JAL flight (should i use another?)

Stay in capsule hotel possible? I dont need nice accommodations, I would rather live in the heart of tokyo rather than have a room which I really wont use.
Figure not going there to stay in a room.

bring $500 cash /rest on credit cards?

See a cartoon Katoon concert. Is it even possible?

Ride the roller coaster that is somewhere in the middle of Tokyo I heard about.

Tourists don't need a visa to get into Japan from most countries. I don't know where you're coming from. US citizens get a 90 day permit stamped on your passport.

If you want to fly JAL you can. I always do, but there are other alternatives that are cheaper.

I guess you can stay at a capsule hotel, but there are hotels in Tokyo that are quite reasonable.... one has to research it.

There is a roller coaster across the street from Tokyo Dome, if that's the one you were asking about, but the day I was there in October, it wasn't running....

As far as finances, it all depends on what you're planning to do. Credit cards aren't used as much as they are in the states (here again, I'm supposing you're in the US). You can withdraw cash at ATMs as you use up your funds, I guess. I brought it all with me in the form of TCs, so I cashed them in as I saw fit.

Have you looked at other threads in this forum? There are quite a few threads about this very topic.

John Braden answered many of these, but I will add my 2 cents.

First of all, how old are you?

As an American and a tourist, you will get your visa at the airport. It is good for 90 days. I do not believe you can get it in advance.

Why JAL? It is nice, but also the most expensive. United, Delta, etc. also fly to Japan.

You can stay in a capsule hotel if you want, but why? If you can afford JAL and can afford to go on an extended trip to Japan, why would you stay in the most uncomfortable accommodations? You have to leave the facilities by 10AM every morning, and cannot come back until a certain hour every night. Some places will require you take your luggage with you, and others may have pay lockers for you to store it. If you are staying for more than two nights, get a normal hotel room.

How long are you planning on staying? In the :heart of Tokyo" $500 can be gone in a day if you aren't careful. (Where is the heart of Tokyo, by the way?) Japan is a cash-based culture. Most places will take credit cards, but I wouldn't want to use one for smaller purchases.

"Cartoon KAT-TUN" is a TV show. KAT-TUN is a band, and if you aren't a fan enough to know how to spell the name right tells me you aren't a member of the fan club, and are not getting into any concerts. It's a little like saying "I am going to California next month. How can I meet Justin Bieber?"

Not being American I am not sure what your visa rules are.
Same with flights, from Europe I find Emirates to be the nicest and air france the worse. No idea about airlines from America but I guess JAL will be one of the more pricey ones.

From research I found capsule hotels to be actually expensive, the ones that are foreigner friendly anyway, as they are seen as a novelty.
Chain business hotels like toyoko inn are what I found the cheapest en-suit accom in Tokyo, look into backpackers hostels and such if you don't mind sharing facilities. If you want to stay longer than a couple week, look into weekly mansions.


Japan is not a massive card culture, especially non-Japanese cards, unless you pay for your accom in advance you want a lot more than that, and in cash.
It cost me over £1000 back when it was 200Y/£1 for a 2week stay in transport and spends and stuff and I got my travel pass flights and most of the accom in advance.

Sorry I don't know what cartoon Katoon concert is.
*edit* just read from above that you might have meant KAT-TUN, like any concert you would need to find out if they are touring, get tickets in advance, and if it is some TV show they do, probs little to no chance to find these and book them without a japanese speaking friend to help.

Greater Tokyo is massive! There are various themeparks around, but none in what I would call the centre of Tokyo unless I am being dense (maybe there used to be one in Odaiba?) There is quite a big one in Yokohama port area.

To add some additional information about capsule hotels and why I cannot recommend one for anything other than a one night experience;
In most cases, there will be no place to store your luggage. They really are a "sleeping-only" sort of arrangement. For each capsule there is a small locker, but I have never heard of one large enough to accommodate even an average sized suitcase. Sometimes they will let you store your bag at the check-in counter, but I have heard of people needing to squeeze their bag into the capsule with them - making it virtually impossible to sleep.
Either way, during the day you will be responsible for your bag. You`ll need to lug it around with you wherever you go. Definitely not something that would make for easy sight-seeing.

The baths at capsule hotels are of the sento variety. This could be a negative feature for some people. It would be a communal bath with no privacy whatsoever.

Thanks guys,

Early 30's and single, so age/cash not that much of an issue. I figure spend before getting married since then it's "our money". I would prefer not to go overboard though. I dont mind roughing it. I studied Japanese in college, so I totally forgot reading but can get by on a limited basis. 2 weeks is my limit for the trip including flight.

Im coming from the US. So not Visa needed, *Check*.

Capsule hotel sounds out of the picture, I'll look at toyoko inn. I dont mind sharing facilities so I will look into hostels also. I was thinking about Shibuya, but I would prefer to put the cash towards going out vs hotel so a train ride is fine.

JohnBraden: Yes Tokyo Dome was the one!

I was looking at JAL since it actually seemed the cheapest for the lowest layovers. I'd prefer no layovers. I'll look again but a JAl flight seemed only $100 more than another carrier, and the reviews for JAL are pretty decent. If I have to spend almost 48 hours on a plane, an extra $100 is worth decent service. I'll see if there is cheaper but my quick look found everything to be around $1000 for a flight. Ill look further into it. Coming from NYC, so that ups the costs.


Hmm, since credit cards are not as good as cash, vs US where most stores prefer credit cards, Ill up my cash count to $3000. Kind of weird carrying around that much.

Im not really into the band Cartoon Katun's song, as much as I like their own show. That and they seem to be on so many TV shows. It has really exposed me to a variety of elements of japanese pop life. I figured since they perform every week for the last few years, it's kind of like going to Cats on Broadway. Not really a big deal if I cant get tickets.


Ive been reading older posts and they are a great help.
Thanks for any and all pointers in this tread as well!

Where are you in the US that you would have to spend nearly 48 hours on a plane to get to Japan? You could fly around the world 3 times in that amount of time.

Toyoko Inn is definitely a good option. On top of being a very inexpensive standard hotel with a good reputation - if you join their members club, you will be able to get a free night when you stay more than 10 (they don`t have to all be in one stay.) If you plan to stay for two weeks, then you can save a night`s hotel cost.

When it comes to cash, it is pretty normal to carry around that much. But, in my experience, I don`t really think Japan is as much a "cash based" society as is frequently said. You can use a card pretty much anywhere other than tiny shops - and even half of those do accept cards if you ask. The difference is that Japan tends to have more tiny shops, so there are more chances to stumble into one that doesn`t accept credit cards.

I live here and buy everything here, and our household "cash" budget for a month is 50,000 yen. 35000 of that is for my son`s kindergarten (cash or bank transfer)- so in reality only 15000/month in regular cash needs to be set aside for incidentals.
And really, most of that is used for small purchases where a credit card could be used but just isn`t - for example buying a drink at a convenience store (they accept credit), riding the train (could buy a pass with credit), etc. I`d say that we use the most cash buying things at the drugstore (the closest drug store doesn`t take credit cards - I could go to another that does, but why bother?), for parking, or for eating out in tiny restaurants.

Just to be clear, stores in America (and Japan) do not prefer credit cards. They prefer cash. All credit card purchases cost the store a small fee. This is why in the US you will see signs that say "No credit card purchases under $10" or "No credit card purchases under $5". You wouldn't see that in Japan because no one would use a credit card to purchase anything under probably 3000 yen. It is silly (in Japan) to think you would have less than that in your wallet.

If you see one of those signs in America saying "No credit cards for purchases under....", you should know that that store is in violation of it's agreement with the credit card company. Merchants who accept credit cards may not refuse a credit card purchase for any amount. If you find a store who performs such a practice, call your credit card issuer and complain, it's possible that the store will be fined, and your credit card company will refund you for your cash purchase from the proceeds of that fine (while living in America I used to be a credit consultant).

Many more places in Japan now accept credit cards. Cash is still king, but most shops in the areas where tourists frequent will take most cards, even China's Union Pay cards.

Capsule hotels suck, and they are slowly disappearing from the city. They have been replaced by 24 hour internet or comic cafes with private rooms. These cost roughly the same per day as a capsule hotel, but are actually more roomy.

I have flown on JAL, KAL, AA, Delta, and so on when coming to Japan. The best airline for the price so far is United/Continental. I just returned from my winter holiday in America, and I flew United Airlines first class. It's the only America-based airline I have used that seems to always be on time. Time your arrival/departure for the middle of the week, this will be less expensive, and the lines at immigration and customs will be shorter as well.

NYC is the cheapest place on the east coast to fly from, as it is the second most common mainland destination for flights to and from Japan. Flights from Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, or Atlanta will usually cost more. You can fly direct from New York on Continental, American, or JAL. Flight time from NYC should be around 13-14 hours, depending on the jet stream, the return flight should take an hour or two less time.

I think the Thunder Dolphin (roller coaster) at Tokyo Dome City is still closed, a piece of the roller coaster broke off and fell to the ground while the ride was in use. No one was hurt, but it isn't to be reopened until each and every piece has been inspected.

MMM: i was under the assumption that total travel time each way can be up to 24 hours with stops etc.

Sangetsu: thanks, if flight time only 13-14 hours that's great.

customs etc, how long does it take? customs is a 3-4 hour affair if you are last in line coming into the US.

The only time I have heard someone spending 24 hours in transit from US to Japan is doing a layover in Korea, which might be a cheaper ticket, but it adds 12 hours to the trip.

I haven't flown into Narita in a long time, but into Kansai customs is probably 15 minutes. It's taken as long as 30 or 40 minutes when another flight landed right before us.

Where are you landing where it takes 3 or 4 hours to go through customs in the US, that sounds awful! I usually come in through Vancouver BC, Seattle, Portland or San Francisco, and it has never taken more than 45 minutes at any of those airports, and usually is around 20 minutes.

Each time I've landed at Narita off a JAL flight from Chicago, we arrive at about 2-3pm and the wait in immigration is about 20 minutes, no more.... You're off the plane and into a train or bus headed to Tokyo in about 45-60 minutes....

On a busy day you might spend 45 minutes waiting in line at immigration as every person entering Japan must be printed and photographed. There is usually little to no waiting time at customs, unless you are one of the few who are picked out of the line to get searched. One of my travelmates was searched a few years ago (the agents were a little suspicious because she had a pierced eyebrow and lip, and she had a tattoo on her hand). We were held up for nearly an hour waiting for her. When she was finished she said she thought they weren't going to let her through.

On my last trip I was the first person off my flight (I love first class), so there was no one at all in line at immigration, and my bag quickly made it to the carousel, so there was no waiting there either. 20 minutes after my flight touched down I was already on the bus headed to Tokyo.

mmm
not my experiance but 2hrs+ is not unusual here.
smaller airports 20 mins after landing ive seen but at the large airports like lga there is a lot of walking etc to do and waiting.
i dont travel so i cant get you the details, i've been the ride home not the traveller.


wow Sangestsu , so what happened to your friend?
they stuck her on the next plane back?
what a pain in the ass. and waste of cash!

She "thought" they weren't going to let her through....

The first time there, I was stopped at customs because, from what I think, I had pretty much a shaved head.... I guess I looked like a headbanger and trouble.... 15 minutes later, I was on the Airport Limousine bus to my hotel, so no problem....

This last time, leaving Narita, I was given a full body patdown for 20 minutes. The attractive 20-something year old was very thorough. She looked and felt everywhere except the immediate genitalia-and I mean EVERYWHERE.... It was somewhat disconcerting and exhilarating at the same time. I had this done simply because I refused going through the metal detector because of my pacemaker....

Japan Trip
 

I just returned from a month long trip and a lot of the information I had been told was not the most accurate. A lot has been answered but to quickly recap some of your questions.

Passport only needed for Japan

I paid 800 roundtrip out of LAX with United. 12-14 hour flight

Narita is extremely quick for customs, I flew in on a Friday at 5pm.

$500+credit card should be plenty if its 1-2 weeks. Japan may not be super credit friendly but Tokyo is. You mainly need cash for food and if you go to the nice places they take CC. I don't think I found a shop to buy stuff at that didn't take CC. Only one street vendor I bought some artwork at was cash only. Akihabara-Credit Friendly, Hotels-Credit, Nice restaurants-credit, Karaoke-credit. Don't know what Japan most people here have been to but credit card was everywhere. I brought $3,000usd, changed $2,000 to yen...400 was stolen, and I still left Japan with $1,300 blowing the remaining $300 in yen at the airport on trinkets. I also traveled from Tokyo all the way down to Kyushu region and back. I did a ton of things and CC was pretty much everywhere. SHORT ANSWER: Street vendors and small restaurants are Cash.

Where to stay....HOSTEL!! I had originally booked hotels cause I figured I had the money and hostels were for people on a budget. I stayed my first night in a Hostel cause I figured I would be arriving late and just sleeping(I also wanted to stay at each type of place) figured one night wouldnt kill me. It was a great place, super clean, modern, and the staff was super helpful.

I then stayed at my fancy hotel...staff was much more limited in their English. When I asked about places to see or do I was pointed to the canned tours. In comparison the hostel staff was younger, cuter :), and more in touch with the cool things to see and do. Plus at the hostel you meet tons of other cool travelers, many solo as well, giving you the option to hang out if you want to have company.

I canceled many of my hotel stays and opted for hostels not because they were $30 a night compared to my $300 but because they were the better experience. Japan hostels are not like US or Euro ones...clean and people are pretty respectful at them. Ninja Khaosan in Asakusa even has the "cabin" style...pretty much like a capsule, so you have decent privacy.


Thats my two cents...oh yea and eat at Ippudo for ramen (no one ever says it) I found that place to be the best for ramen about $10us

JohnBraden : wow almost not letting you in for a shaved head? ouch. Maybe they dont like vin diesel either? :D

Gahzirra: what hostels did you stay at?

Hello, Im new the forums and I am currently planning a trip to Japan around November of this year.

Thank you again for this advice. It is fully detailed.

Background on myself:
-1st time traveler to Japan
-Going with girlfriend
-Plan on staying for about a week-week and a half
-Planning to stay at Tokyo

Things that I have gotten out of this thread:
-No Visa required, but 90day visa is recommended.
-$3,000/person is more than enough for a 1-1.5week stay
-Passport


My question is, will i survive on my own or should my first visit to japan be on a TOUR of some sort, where i wont get lost. I get scared when im lost, and getting lost in Japan seems to be a nightmare for me.

Again, I am new to this forum, and this thread was the first that i have read. (I have alot of more research to do until I finalize everything)

Thank you again!:ywave:

November--great time. I had originally planned October for the weather supposedly around the 70's but was too busy at work and postponed it to Nov. The weather was beautiful, it is one of Japan's least rainy months. During my entire month it only rained 5 times tops lasting only about 5-10 min and was was more of a sprinkle. One night while wandering in Ginza it rained for a hour, but I had a hood and it still wasn't super heavy. That didn't stop the girl from the pachinko parlor running out to give me an umbrella as a gift...things like this will happen in Japan.

It was usually sunny and around the 60's I got by simply wearing thermals on the colder nights. I did not pack a heavy jacket nor found a need for one. Do not pack too much, make use of layers if it is needed at all.

*Visa is not needed...your Passport grants you 90 days by default as a temp visitor.

*you could easily get by at $500/person +CC when possible. Tokyo is not that expensive (I am from Socal so that may skew my perception) New york in my opinion costs way more. Most things(especially as a first timer) cost very little or are free as you are just amazed with walking down Takeshita dori.

*YOU WILL GET LOST. However, Japan is probably the least scary place you will ever visit. Never once did I feel unsafe wandering around at night(one of the few places I would even tell my sister, its ok to go solo). Tokyo seems to always be busy with lots of people no matter what hour of night. Just know how to say, "Sumimasen, <Place> wa doko des kaw?(spelled how it sounds) this will usually get you a point in the right direction or if you look really lost a guided walk to your destination.

Bring a compass it is invaluable just to know which direction you are facing so you can quickly orient yourself to the maps(tons of maps available once in Japan). Tokyo is a maze, even the locals can rarely figure out where a place is by an address...so you can forget trying to make sense of an address.

So again you will get lost but it's not like LA where its a really bad thing to be lost. The people are super helpful and nothing a compass and a tourist map cant help remedy.

I recommend the Ninja Khaosan hostel its close to the trains and Asakusa is a great part of Tokyo.. easy walk or train ride to Akihabara and easy to get to Chuo line to hit the other side of Tokyo. If you want more privacy you can get a room at the Shinjuku Sunroute plaza for about $100 usd a night if you stay 7+ nights it is in a great location and is really nice for the price.

If you have any other questions just ask...

Interestingly enough, when I was headed out of Narita in December, "Wee-man" (from MTV's "Jackass") was in line at immigration in front of me. His girlfriend is pretty good looking...