Your Blessings in my trip to Japan

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 14:33:02 +0100, "Alec"
wrote:

"IIJIMA Hiromitsu" wrote in message
...
I recommend public phones if you want to call from Japan, and web-based
email (yahoo, hotmail, etc.) for contacting from US to you in Japan.

You normally need an IC card (like the one from KDDI) to call abroad from
public phones (usually coloured grey or orange). Rates are typically in
70-100 yen a min range to US and Europe. Cheapest phone cards require a
residential address and Japanese credit card/bank account.

When meeting someone in a large 24 hour internet cafe place, all of
the holes had VOIP phones, are those rates cheaper?

I also used my own UK based VOIP service without a problem in a
variety of WIFI areas - cost there of course is 2cents or so per
minute to the US.

Jim.

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 14:33:02 +0100, "Alec"
wrote:

"IIJIMA Hiromitsu" wrote in message
...
I recommend public phones if you want to call from Japan, and web-based
email (yahoo, hotmail, etc.) for contacting from US to you in Japan.

You normally need an IC card (like the one from KDDI) to call abroad from
public phones (usually coloured grey or orange). Rates are typically in
70-100 yen a min range to US and Europe. Cheapest phone cards require a
residential address and Japanese credit card/bank account.

When meeting someone in a large 24 hour internet cafe place, all of
the holes had VOIP phones, are those rates cheaper?

I also used my own UK based VOIP service without a problem in a
variety of WIFI areas - cost there of course is 2cents or so per
minute to the US.

Jim.

In article , FamousDave
m wrote:

- One important thing that I'd like to mention is that I like to party A
LOT, I drink too much and smoke too much, I'm looking forward to find out
how the whole party scene is in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto

http://club.nokia.co.jp/tokyoq/

There's a pretty good book, culled from writers at TokyoQ, too.

DAY 3 - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast
- Visit nearby Hama Rikyu Garden
- Board a cruise down the Sumida River to the district of Asakusa
- Visit Sensoji Temple
- Take the Ginza Line for Asakusa, check the shops selling traditional
products and Sensoji Temple.
- Walk around Ginza's fashionable shopping district
- Head toward Harajuku
- Spend the evening in Shinjuku or Roppongi partying
- Sleep in Sunroute Asakusa Hotel (Y 9500 (open for suggestions))

Heard carping about this price on this. Doesn't seem that excessive.
Sure you can haggle and hunt and spend half a day coming and going from
a cheaper place. If you're in Shinjuku there's a Sunroute there I
thought. We've stayed twice there. Getting back from the party district
to Asakusa is a drag. Stay in Shinjuku.

DAY 5 - (Tokyo - Mt. Fuji) (JR PASS ACTIVATED TODAY)
- Train to Hakone (I'll check out of my Tokyo hotel so I don't pay for the
night)
- Lake Ashi
- Hakone Shrine
- I'll try to find a way to get to Fuji Five Lake to get a closer look at Mt
Fuji. (a train maybe?)
- Spend the night at a Ryokan in Hakone (haven't found one yet)

Everything everywhere is fun in Japan if you've the mind set. Your
trip is short; go to Hakone when you expect to climb Fuji. Otherwise
it's a lot of coming and going in the buses and trains. Honestly.
Forego.

DAY 6 - (Hakone - Takayama) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Takayama get a place to sleep (ryokan or guest
house probably)
- Higashiyama Walk
- Hida Folk Village
- Sanmachi Suji (the town)
- Spend the night in Takayama

Jeez, you're not factoring checking in and checkout out of hotels and
navigating the transportation. You can't possibly go from Hakone to
Takayama and get three Takayama events in. No way in hell. Maybe one.

We liked Takayama a lot and turned two nights into three there.
Spending the night there between Hakone and Kyoto is part of a marathon
that involves only touching the gate and getting back on the train. I
like Takayama, but with your schedule, I'd forego.

DAY 7 - (Takayama - Kyoto) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Kyoto
- Find a place to sleep and leave luggage (Ryokan or guest house probably)
- Visit Nijo Castle
- Kinkaku-ji Temple
- Old Imperial Palace
- Higashi Hongan-ji Temple and Handicraft Center
- Heian Shrine
- Sanju-Sangendo Hall
- Kiyomizu Temple
- Party at night

No mortal on earch has done that much in one day even with a cabby at
the standby. It takes half a friggin' day to even GET to Kyoto, check
in and get lunch. You'll be lucky to get two of these in and that's
pushing. When it comes time to party you'll have less than you thought
left--even if you are 24.

You didn't state dates, that I say. If you're going to party in Kyoto
try to do it on Saturday night.

DAY 9 - (Kyoto - Mt Koya) (USING JR PASS)
- Take a early train to Mt. Koya
- Find a Temple to sleep and leave luggage
- I don?t know any special destinations here, I chose it because I've read a
lot of good things about it and it looks like a very interesting place. I'm
open for suggestions on places to visit here.
- Sleep at a Buddhist temple

Koya-San always sounds great and I hope you can get it all in during
the day. I hear it's a lot of navigation, but worth it, but you really
gotta stay at the temple. Those who seemed to like it best had a car to
keep them from spending all the time transferring and such.

DAY 10 - (Mt. Koya - Himeji) (USING JR PASS)
- Leave after Mt. Koya after Buddhist praying and take a train to Himeji
- Get a locker for my luggage and take a day pack.
- Stay in Himeji most of the day, I don?t have specifics here but I want to
see the Himeji Castle for sure.
- Leave Himeji at night to Osaka
- Spend the night at Osaka (haven't found a hotel yet)

Himeji is cool, the best castle ever. Me, I'd spend the night in Osaka
instead in Dontonbori partying.

DAY 11 - (Osaka - Tokyo) (USING JR PASS)
- Spend the day in Osaka
- Visit Osaka Castle
- Umeda Sky Building
- Perhaps pay a visit to Osaka Aquarium
- Visit Sumiyoshi Taisha
- Take a late night train to Tokyo
- Party at night
- Maybe stay at a capsule hotel just to live the experience

DAY 12 - (Tokyo)
- Last minute shopping
- Take a train at noon to Narita (my flight is at 4:45pm)
- Leave Japan

If you're staying in Osaka forget the last minute shopping, you'll be
going from Osaka directly to Narita, no doubt.

Good luck.

My short course: break a day into three units for activities. Morning,
afternoon and night. Any change of city is at least a full unit, even
if nearby, at it involves the coming and going and checking in and
checking out, and getting money and all the rest. Long trips
(Takayama) is probably two units. Plan no more than three conspicious
activities per day. Just my view, but I've always traveled with
another which adds at least a little time factor to all things: we have
to "discuss" them first, of course. :-)

--
Invest wisely: Over the past 75 years, stocks have averaged annual gains of 2.3
percent under GOP administrations, compared with 9.5 under Democratic ones.
-- Jerry Heaster

In article , FamousDave
m wrote:

- One important thing that I'd like to mention is that I like to party A
LOT, I drink too much and smoke too much, I'm looking forward to find out
how the whole party scene is in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto

http://club.nokia.co.jp/tokyoq/

There's a pretty good book, culled from writers at TokyoQ, too.

DAY 3 - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast
- Visit nearby Hama Rikyu Garden
- Board a cruise down the Sumida River to the district of Asakusa
- Visit Sensoji Temple
- Take the Ginza Line for Asakusa, check the shops selling traditional
products and Sensoji Temple.
- Walk around Ginza's fashionable shopping district
- Head toward Harajuku
- Spend the evening in Shinjuku or Roppongi partying
- Sleep in Sunroute Asakusa Hotel (Y 9500 (open for suggestions))

Heard carping about this price on this. Doesn't seem that excessive.
Sure you can haggle and hunt and spend half a day coming and going from
a cheaper place. If you're in Shinjuku there's a Sunroute there I
thought. We've stayed twice there. Getting back from the party district
to Asakusa is a drag. Stay in Shinjuku.

DAY 5 - (Tokyo - Mt. Fuji) (JR PASS ACTIVATED TODAY)
- Train to Hakone (I'll check out of my Tokyo hotel so I don't pay for the
night)
- Lake Ashi
- Hakone Shrine
- I'll try to find a way to get to Fuji Five Lake to get a closer look at Mt
Fuji. (a train maybe?)
- Spend the night at a Ryokan in Hakone (haven't found one yet)

Everything everywhere is fun in Japan if you've the mind set. Your
trip is short; go to Hakone when you expect to climb Fuji. Otherwise
it's a lot of coming and going in the buses and trains. Honestly.
Forego.

DAY 6 - (Hakone - Takayama) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Takayama get a place to sleep (ryokan or guest
house probably)
- Higashiyama Walk
- Hida Folk Village
- Sanmachi Suji (the town)
- Spend the night in Takayama

Jeez, you're not factoring checking in and checkout out of hotels and
navigating the transportation. You can't possibly go from Hakone to
Takayama and get three Takayama events in. No way in hell. Maybe one.

We liked Takayama a lot and turned two nights into three there.
Spending the night there between Hakone and Kyoto is part of a marathon
that involves only touching the gate and getting back on the train. I
like Takayama, but with your schedule, I'd forego.

DAY 7 - (Takayama - Kyoto) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Kyoto
- Find a place to sleep and leave luggage (Ryokan or guest house probably)
- Visit Nijo Castle
- Kinkaku-ji Temple
- Old Imperial Palace
- Higashi Hongan-ji Temple and Handicraft Center
- Heian Shrine
- Sanju-Sangendo Hall
- Kiyomizu Temple
- Party at night

No mortal on earch has done that much in one day even with a cabby at
the standby. It takes half a friggin' day to even GET to Kyoto, check
in and get lunch. You'll be lucky to get two of these in and that's
pushing. When it comes time to party you'll have less than you thought
left--even if you are 24.

You didn't state dates, that I say. If you're going to party in Kyoto
try to do it on Saturday night.

DAY 9 - (Kyoto - Mt Koya) (USING JR PASS)
- Take a early train to Mt. Koya
- Find a Temple to sleep and leave luggage
- I don?t know any special destinations here, I chose it because I've read a
lot of good things about it and it looks like a very interesting place. I'm
open for suggestions on places to visit here.
- Sleep at a Buddhist temple

Koya-San always sounds great and I hope you can get it all in during
the day. I hear it's a lot of navigation, but worth it, but you really
gotta stay at the temple. Those who seemed to like it best had a car to
keep them from spending all the time transferring and such.

DAY 10 - (Mt. Koya - Himeji) (USING JR PASS)
- Leave after Mt. Koya after Buddhist praying and take a train to Himeji
- Get a locker for my luggage and take a day pack.
- Stay in Himeji most of the day, I don?t have specifics here but I want to
see the Himeji Castle for sure.
- Leave Himeji at night to Osaka
- Spend the night at Osaka (haven't found a hotel yet)

Himeji is cool, the best castle ever. Me, I'd spend the night in Osaka
instead in Dontonbori partying.

DAY 11 - (Osaka - Tokyo) (USING JR PASS)
- Spend the day in Osaka
- Visit Osaka Castle
- Umeda Sky Building
- Perhaps pay a visit to Osaka Aquarium
- Visit Sumiyoshi Taisha
- Take a late night train to Tokyo
- Party at night
- Maybe stay at a capsule hotel just to live the experience

DAY 12 - (Tokyo)
- Last minute shopping
- Take a train at noon to Narita (my flight is at 4:45pm)
- Leave Japan

If you're staying in Osaka forget the last minute shopping, you'll be
going from Osaka directly to Narita, no doubt.

Good luck.

My short course: break a day into three units for activities. Morning,
afternoon and night. Any change of city is at least a full unit, even
if nearby, at it involves the coming and going and checking in and
checking out, and getting money and all the rest. Long trips
(Takayama) is probably two units. Plan no more than three conspicious
activities per day. Just my view, but I've always traveled with
another which adds at least a little time factor to all things: we have
to "discuss" them first, of course. :-)

--
Invest wisely: Over the past 75 years, stocks have averaged annual gains of 2.3
percent under GOP administrations, compared with 9.5 under Democratic ones.
-- Jerry Heaster

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
In article , FamousDave
m wrote:

- One important thing that I'd like to mention is that I like to party A
LOT, I drink too much and smoke too much, I'm looking forward to find out
how the whole party scene is in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto

http://club.nokia.co.jp/tokyoq/

There's a pretty good book, culled from writers at TokyoQ, too.

DAY 3 - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast
- Visit nearby Hama Rikyu Garden
- Board a cruise down the Sumida River to the district of Asakusa
- Visit Sensoji Temple
- Take the Ginza Line for Asakusa, check the shops selling traditional
products and Sensoji Temple.
- Walk around Ginza's fashionable shopping district
- Head toward Harajuku
- Spend the evening in Shinjuku or Roppongi partying
- Sleep in Sunroute Asakusa Hotel (Y 9500 (open for suggestions))

Heard carping about this price on this. Doesn't seem that excessive.
Sure you can haggle and hunt and spend half a day coming and going from
a cheaper place. If you're in Shinjuku there's a Sunroute there I
thought. We've stayed twice there. Getting back from the party district
to Asakusa is a drag. Stay in Shinjuku.

There is a new www.toyoko-inn-co.jp (opened earlier this year) smack in the
centre of the entertainment district at Kabukicho. 6,800 yen a night.

Alec

"Gerry" wrote in message
...
In article , FamousDave
m wrote:

- One important thing that I'd like to mention is that I like to party A
LOT, I drink too much and smoke too much, I'm looking forward to find out
how the whole party scene is in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto

http://club.nokia.co.jp/tokyoq/

There's a pretty good book, culled from writers at TokyoQ, too.

DAY 3 - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast
- Visit nearby Hama Rikyu Garden
- Board a cruise down the Sumida River to the district of Asakusa
- Visit Sensoji Temple
- Take the Ginza Line for Asakusa, check the shops selling traditional
products and Sensoji Temple.
- Walk around Ginza's fashionable shopping district
- Head toward Harajuku
- Spend the evening in Shinjuku or Roppongi partying
- Sleep in Sunroute Asakusa Hotel (Y 9500 (open for suggestions))

Heard carping about this price on this. Doesn't seem that excessive.
Sure you can haggle and hunt and spend half a day coming and going from
a cheaper place. If you're in Shinjuku there's a Sunroute there I
thought. We've stayed twice there. Getting back from the party district
to Asakusa is a drag. Stay in Shinjuku.

There is a new www.toyoko-inn-co.jp (opened earlier this year) smack in the
centre of the entertainment district at Kabukicho. 6,800 yen a night.

Alec

Dave,

Tokyo:
Cheap/good accommodation you can find at the low budget hotel New Koyo, in
the old Ueno - (North-East) district of Tokyo, 1 hour by Keisei Skyliner
express from Narita, which is the cheapest transportation from the airport
to Tokyo.
rooms are Japanese or Western, shared shower/bath, but own room even with
TV!
Rooms are very small but eficient (3m. x 1.85 m)
www.newkoyo.com/

In Hakone I would recommend Hakone guesthouse, a budget ryokan, search for
it on the website of the JNTO (www.jnto.go.jp)
If you want to go up to Mount Fuji, you have to go to the North side, you
can take a train from Tokyo-Shinjuku station to Kawaguchiko and then take a
bus to the 5th station (half way) Mt Fuji.
Considering the time you have, you may choose to just look at it from Lake
Ashi in Hakone.

Koya-san: The train from Osaka-Namba station to Mt Koya (koya-san in
Japanese) is not covered by the JR, as it is run by a private railline
Nankai Railways.
The roundtrip cost is if I remember correctly, about Yen 7000 (Eur. 50).
It is quite a trip, but indeed staying at a temple and joining hte
early-morning Buddhist ceremony is a real experience!

In Osaka, I recommend the lovely budget ryokan Toraya ryokan, it is not very
far from Osaka-Umeda station , you can find the details at the JNTO site.
It costs about Yen 5000 (Eur 35,50)

Have a lot of fun,

Giny
Tozai Travel
Amsterdam
www.tozai.nl



"FamousDave" m schreef in
bericht . ..
Hello All!, my name is Dave.

I will be traveling in 2 weeks to Japan for the first time in my life, i'm
very exited about my trip and would like to get some advice from people
who
live there or have taveled to Japan before.

I'm amazed how much information I've been able to gather because of this
newsgroups, you are all very helpful guiding people on their trips.

Below is my trip itinerary for which I would like to get your blessing,

- I'm 24 years old
- I will be traveling ALONE
- I've always wanted to Visit Japan, I'm obsessed with the whole Japanese
culture, temples, shrines, Buddhism, etc.
- I love cold weather
- One important thing that I'd like to mention is that I like to party A
LOT, I drink too much and smoke too much, I'm looking forward to find out
how the whole party scene is in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto
- I'll pack as light as I can, probably a small suitcase and a mid size
back
pack
- I bought a 7 day Ordinary JR Pass
- I'm on a low budget (I know how expensive Japan is)

DAY 1 - Fly FLL - ATL and then ATL - NRT ( 14 hours on a Delta 777 )

DAY 2 - Arrive NRT at 1:25pm, Get to Tokyo (how?), check in, walk around,
Roppongi at night and go to bed early. (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)

DAY 3 - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast
- Visit nearby Hama Rikyu Garden
- Board a cruise down the Sumida River to the district of Asakusa
- Visit Sensoji Temple
- Take the Ginza Line for Asakusa, check the shops selling traditional
products and Sensoji Temple.
- Walk around Ginza's fashionable shopping district
- Head toward Harajuku
- Spend the evening in Shinjuku or Roppongi partying
- Sleep in Sunroute Asakusa Hotel (Y 9500 (open for suggestions))

DAY 4 - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Harajuku to see Meiji Shrine
- Tokyo Tower Observatory
- Imperial Palace Plaza
- Asakusa Kannon Temple
- Great Buddha
- Hase Kannon Temple
- Visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

DAY 5 - (Tokyo - Mt. Fuji) (JR PASS ACTIVATED TODAY)
- Train to Hakone (I'll check out of my Tokyo hotel so I don't pay for the
night)
- Lake Ashi
- Hakone Shrine
- I'll try to find a way to get to Fuji Five Lake to get a closer look at
Mt
Fuji. (a train maybe?)
- Spend the night at a Ryokan in Hakone (haven't found one yet)

DAY 6 - (Hakone - Takayama) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Takayama get a place to sleep (ryokan or guest
house probably)
- Higashiyama Walk
- Hida Folk Village
- Sanmachi Suji (the town)
- Spend the night in Takayama

DAY 7 - (Takayama - Kyoto) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Kyoto
- Find a place to sleep and leave luggage (Ryokan or guest house probably)
- Visit Nijo Castle
- Kinkaku-ji Temple
- Old Imperial Palace
- Higashi Hongan-ji Temple and Handicraft Center
- Heian Shrine
- Sanju-Sangendo Hall
- Kiyomizu Temple
- Party at night

DAY 8 - (Kyoto) (USING JR PASS)
- I don't have a schedule for this day yet, but I probably want to spend
it
in Kyoto or maybe a half day trip to Nara (open for suggestions)

DAY 9 - (Kyoto - Mt Koya) (USING JR PASS)
- Take a early train to Mt. Koya
- Find a Temple to sleep and leave luggage
- I don?t know any special destinations here, I chose it because I've read
a
lot of good things about it and it looks like a very interesting place.
I'm
open for suggestions on places to visit here.
- Sleep at a Buddhist temple

DAY 10 - (Mt. Koya - Himeji) (USING JR PASS)
- Leave after Mt. Koya after Buddhist praying and take a train to Himeji
- Get a locker for my luggage and take a day pack.
- Stay in Himeji most of the day, I don?t have specifics here but I want
to
see the Himeji Castle for sure.
- Leave Himeji at night to Osaka
- Spend the night at Osaka (haven't found a hotel yet)

DAY 11 - (Osaka - Tokyo) (USING JR PASS)
- Spend the day in Osaka
- Visit Osaka Castle
- Umeda Sky Building
- Perhaps pay a visit to Osaka Aquarium
- Visit Sumiyoshi Taisha
- Take a late night train to Tokyo
- Party at night
- Maybe stay at a capsule hotel just to live the experience

DAY 12 - (Tokyo)
- Last minute shopping
- Take a train at noon to Narita (my flight is at 4:45pm)
- Leave Japan


I also have some punctual questions:

- I'm planning to activate my JR pass after spending 3 days in Tokyo,
meaning the first 3 days in Japan I will not have a JR Pass. How expensive
do you think it'll be for me to move around the trains in Tokyo without a
JR
Pass? The problem that I have is that I bought a 7 day only pass and I
will
be in Japan for 11 days, so I'm trying to find the best cost effective way
to use it.

- What type of transportation (cheap please!) would you recommend me to
take
from Narita to Downtown Tokyo? (I won't have the JR PASS active yet by
then)

- In regards of the distances between cities, I have no clue how many
hours
it'll take me between one city to another, is there a way you can guide me
with this? As my itinerary shows, I'm planning to take the following
route:
Tokyo - MT. Fuji - Hakone - Takayama - Kyoto - Nara - MT Koya - Himeji -
Osaka - Tokyo

- Any recommendations on clothing for end of October / Beginning of
November?

- I want to rent a phone while in Japan, I found a company that will
charge
me $75 per week + $1.50 per min to the US and free incoming calls, do you
think that's reasonable?

To all:

Thank you VERY much for any comments to this post, I'd really appreciate
your help.

Best regards

Dave

Dave,

Tokyo:
Cheap/good accommodation you can find at the low budget hotel New Koyo, in
the old Ueno - (North-East) district of Tokyo, 1 hour by Keisei Skyliner
express from Narita, which is the cheapest transportation from the airport
to Tokyo.
rooms are Japanese or Western, shared shower/bath, but own room even with
TV!
Rooms are very small but eficient (3m. x 1.85 m)
www.newkoyo.com/

In Hakone I would recommend Hakone guesthouse, a budget ryokan, search for
it on the website of the JNTO (www.jnto.go.jp)
If you want to go up to Mount Fuji, you have to go to the North side, you
can take a train from Tokyo-Shinjuku station to Kawaguchiko and then take a
bus to the 5th station (half way) Mt Fuji.
Considering the time you have, you may choose to just look at it from Lake
Ashi in Hakone.

Koya-san: The train from Osaka-Namba station to Mt Koya (koya-san in
Japanese) is not covered by the JR, as it is run by a private railline
Nankai Railways.
The roundtrip cost is if I remember correctly, about Yen 7000 (Eur. 50).
It is quite a trip, but indeed staying at a temple and joining hte
early-morning Buddhist ceremony is a real experience!

In Osaka, I recommend the lovely budget ryokan Toraya ryokan, it is not very
far from Osaka-Umeda station , you can find the details at the JNTO site.
It costs about Yen 5000 (Eur 35,50)

Have a lot of fun,

Giny
Tozai Travel
Amsterdam
www.tozai.nl



"FamousDave" m schreef in
bericht . ..
Hello All!, my name is Dave.

I will be traveling in 2 weeks to Japan for the first time in my life, i'm
very exited about my trip and would like to get some advice from people
who
live there or have taveled to Japan before.

I'm amazed how much information I've been able to gather because of this
newsgroups, you are all very helpful guiding people on their trips.

Below is my trip itinerary for which I would like to get your blessing,

- I'm 24 years old
- I will be traveling ALONE
- I've always wanted to Visit Japan, I'm obsessed with the whole Japanese
culture, temples, shrines, Buddhism, etc.
- I love cold weather
- One important thing that I'd like to mention is that I like to party A
LOT, I drink too much and smoke too much, I'm looking forward to find out
how the whole party scene is in Japan, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto
- I'll pack as light as I can, probably a small suitcase and a mid size
back
pack
- I bought a 7 day Ordinary JR Pass
- I'm on a low budget (I know how expensive Japan is)

DAY 1 - Fly FLL - ATL and then ATL - NRT ( 14 hours on a Delta 777 )

DAY 2 - Arrive NRT at 1:25pm, Get to Tokyo (how?), check in, walk around,
Roppongi at night and go to bed early. (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)

DAY 3 - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Tsukiji Fish Market for breakfast
- Visit nearby Hama Rikyu Garden
- Board a cruise down the Sumida River to the district of Asakusa
- Visit Sensoji Temple
- Take the Ginza Line for Asakusa, check the shops selling traditional
products and Sensoji Temple.
- Walk around Ginza's fashionable shopping district
- Head toward Harajuku
- Spend the evening in Shinjuku or Roppongi partying
- Sleep in Sunroute Asakusa Hotel (Y 9500 (open for suggestions))

DAY 4 - (Tokyo) (JR PASS NOT ACTIVATED YET)
- Harajuku to see Meiji Shrine
- Tokyo Tower Observatory
- Imperial Palace Plaza
- Asakusa Kannon Temple
- Great Buddha
- Hase Kannon Temple
- Visit Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.

DAY 5 - (Tokyo - Mt. Fuji) (JR PASS ACTIVATED TODAY)
- Train to Hakone (I'll check out of my Tokyo hotel so I don't pay for the
night)
- Lake Ashi
- Hakone Shrine
- I'll try to find a way to get to Fuji Five Lake to get a closer look at
Mt
Fuji. (a train maybe?)
- Spend the night at a Ryokan in Hakone (haven't found one yet)

DAY 6 - (Hakone - Takayama) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Takayama get a place to sleep (ryokan or guest
house probably)
- Higashiyama Walk
- Hida Folk Village
- Sanmachi Suji (the town)
- Spend the night in Takayama

DAY 7 - (Takayama - Kyoto) (USING JR PASS)
- Take an early train to Kyoto
- Find a place to sleep and leave luggage (Ryokan or guest house probably)
- Visit Nijo Castle
- Kinkaku-ji Temple
- Old Imperial Palace
- Higashi Hongan-ji Temple and Handicraft Center
- Heian Shrine
- Sanju-Sangendo Hall
- Kiyomizu Temple
- Party at night

DAY 8 - (Kyoto) (USING JR PASS)
- I don't have a schedule for this day yet, but I probably want to spend
it
in Kyoto or maybe a half day trip to Nara (open for suggestions)

DAY 9 - (Kyoto - Mt Koya) (USING JR PASS)
- Take a early train to Mt. Koya
- Find a Temple to sleep and leave luggage
- I don?t know any special destinations here, I chose it because I've read
a
lot of good things about it and it looks like a very interesting place.
I'm
open for suggestions on places to visit here.
- Sleep at a Buddhist temple

DAY 10 - (Mt. Koya - Himeji) (USING JR PASS)
- Leave after Mt. Koya after Buddhist praying and take a train to Himeji
- Get a locker for my luggage and take a day pack.
- Stay in Himeji most of the day, I don?t have specifics here but I want
to
see the Himeji Castle for sure.
- Leave Himeji at night to Osaka
- Spend the night at Osaka (haven't found a hotel yet)

DAY 11 - (Osaka - Tokyo) (USING JR PASS)
- Spend the day in Osaka
- Visit Osaka Castle
- Umeda Sky Building
- Perhaps pay a visit to Osaka Aquarium
- Visit Sumiyoshi Taisha
- Take a late night train to Tokyo
- Party at night
- Maybe stay at a capsule hotel just to live the experience

DAY 12 - (Tokyo)
- Last minute shopping
- Take a train at noon to Narita (my flight is at 4:45pm)
- Leave Japan


I also have some punctual questions:

- I'm planning to activate my JR pass after spending 3 days in Tokyo,
meaning the first 3 days in Japan I will not have a JR Pass. How expensive
do you think it'll be for me to move around the trains in Tokyo without a
JR
Pass? The problem that I have is that I bought a 7 day only pass and I
will
be in Japan for 11 days, so I'm trying to find the best cost effective way
to use it.

- What type of transportation (cheap please!) would you recommend me to
take
from Narita to Downtown Tokyo? (I won't have the JR PASS active yet by
then)

- In regards of the distances between cities, I have no clue how many
hours
it'll take me between one city to another, is there a way you can guide me
with this? As my itinerary shows, I'm planning to take the following
route:
Tokyo - MT. Fuji - Hakone - Takayama - Kyoto - Nara - MT Koya - Himeji -
Osaka - Tokyo

- Any recommendations on clothing for end of October / Beginning of
November?

- I want to rent a phone while in Japan, I found a company that will
charge
me $75 per week + $1.50 per min to the US and free incoming calls, do you
think that's reasonable?

To all:

Thank you VERY much for any comments to this post, I'd really appreciate
your help.

Best regards

Dave

Gerry wrote in message ...

My short course: break a day into three units for activities. Morning,
afternoon and night. Any change of city is at least a full unit, even
if nearby, at it involves the coming and going and checking in and
checking out, and getting money and all the rest. Long trips
(Takayama) is probably two units. Plan no more than three conspicious
activities per day. Just my view, but I've always traveled with
another which adds at least a little time factor to all things: we have
to "discuss" them first, of course. :-)

One additional note to this. Bear in mind the time of year and when
the sun rises/sets and combine this with hotel check in times,
particularly if you choose a small ryokan that doesn't let new guests
in until early afternoon (I've only stayed in one of those, somewhere
near Kinosaki, and it wasn't an issue since we arrived early evening).
If the sun is setting at 5 or 6 pm, and you don't checked in until
just after noon, you don't have time to do much. That's why I suggest,
at least on your first trip, picking one place to stay for each region
and launch trips out of there.

John W.

Gerry wrote in message ...

My short course: break a day into three units for activities. Morning,
afternoon and night. Any change of city is at least a full unit, even
if nearby, at it involves the coming and going and checking in and
checking out, and getting money and all the rest. Long trips
(Takayama) is probably two units. Plan no more than three conspicious
activities per day. Just my view, but I've always traveled with
another which adds at least a little time factor to all things: we have
to "discuss" them first, of course. :-)

One additional note to this. Bear in mind the time of year and when
the sun rises/sets and combine this with hotel check in times,
particularly if you choose a small ryokan that doesn't let new guests
in until early afternoon (I've only stayed in one of those, somewhere
near Kinosaki, and it wasn't an issue since we arrived early evening).
If the sun is setting at 5 or 6 pm, and you don't checked in until
just after noon, you don't have time to do much. That's why I suggest,
at least on your first trip, picking one place to stay for each region
and launch trips out of there.

John W.