Backpacking in Japan

I'm going to Japan in less than a week and will travel around the
country, trying to do it without breaking the bank and have a couple
of questions relating to backpacking:

1) I hear that it's really hard to travel around with a backpack (or
indeed anything larger than a purse or a day-bag) as trains and buses
don't accomodate for this (even the long distance ones). How do
backpackers get around this? I assume there must be other backpackers
in Japan than myself, even though I haven't met a single person on my
trip around the world who's done that or is doing it.

2) I worry about accomodation. I want to stay cheap, and youth hostels
(3000-4000 yen) seem like a good choice except for the fact that they
are run more like prisons/military school than a place to relax and
enjoy. For one, the check-in time which is only a few hours each day,
making it very hard when I don't know how much time I need to get
there etc.

Are there other solutions around, or aren't youth hostels that bad?
Anyone stayed in one?
Gajin houses have been mentioned, but apparently more geared towards
long-term visitors. Any other solutions?


Hallvard

Hallvard Tangeraas wrote:

1) I hear that it's really hard to travel around with a backpack (or
indeed anything larger than a purse or a day-bag) as trains and buses
don't accomodate for this (even the long distance ones). How do
backpackers get around this? I assume there must be other backpackers
in Japan than myself, even though I haven't met a single person on my
trip around the world who's done that or is doing it.

I run into backpackers sometimes in train stations like Tokyo or
Shinjuku. I can't imagine humping all that pack all over Japan. Get a
roller bag instead. Most stations are finally installing elevators, but
for the most part, stairs are common. People in wheelchairs are carried
up/down the stairs by the station personnel. Barrier free is just a
catch phrase, with elevators and wheelchair lifts finally being
installed in the most trafficked stations.

What we do in Japan is to send our luggage such as skis, heavy bags,
etc. via overnight courier and it is waiting at the hotel when we get
there. You can do this at almost any convenience store, but most don't
get to your hotel until after 10 am. Since you're on a budget, this
method won't apply.

So, the best advice I can give you is pack light. I can spend a week
long overseas or domestic business trip with only a regulation 20 or 22
inch carryon and a briefcase. That includes business clothes as well as
jeans/casual wear for the weekend. For some reason, Japanese when going
on a trip, need their big suitcases...same with backpackers and their
huge packs. I can see it if you were carrying a sleeping bag.

When carrying a big bag, make sure not to travel during rush hours, or
you risk the wrath of your fellow passengers.

Cheers,

--
Matt

(Hallvard Tangeraas) wrote in message . com...
I'm going to Japan in less than a week and will travel around the
country, trying to do it without breaking the bank and have a couple
of questions relating to backpacking:

1) I hear that it's really hard to travel around with a backpack (or
indeed anything larger than a purse or a day-bag) as trains and buses
don't accomodate for this (even the long distance ones). How do
backpackers get around this? I assume there must be other backpackers
in Japan than myself, even though I haven't met a single person on my
trip around the world who's done that or is doing it.

In my experience it's best to not worry about it too much. Many people
have done backpack traveling in Japan, and it's really no different
than doing it in Europe, etc. I found that on trains I didn't do
anything different than traveling on trains in the US and Europe. Long
distance trains do accomodate luggage (and if you're lucky you won't
need to find a storage place and can keep the backpack in the seat
next to/across from you). I think that people don't think of 'backpack
traveling' in Japan in quite the same way as in Europe or other
nations, but the fundamentals are the same.

2) I worry about accomodation. I want to stay cheap, and youth hostels
(3000-4000 yen) seem like a good choice except for the fact that they
are run more like prisons/military school than a place to relax and
enjoy. For one, the check-in time which is only a few hours each day,
making it very hard when I don't know how much time I need to get
there etc.

Are there other solutions around, or aren't youth hostels that bad?
Anyone stayed in one?
Gajin houses have been mentioned, but apparently more geared towards
long-term visitors. Any other solutions?

You can short-term stay at a gaijin house if they have a vacancy; but
that's an issue just about anyplace. You could do like travelers the
world over and find your accomodation when you get there. Like when I
traveled around Europe I've found that the best hotel deals in Japan,
too, are found in-country as opposed to on the Web, by phone, etc.

John W.

Quoting (John W.) regarding Backpacking in Japan in a
message dated 27 Mar 2004 06:38:03 -0800:

In my experience it's best to not worry about it too much. Many people
have done backpack traveling in Japan, and it's really no different
than doing it in Europe, etc. I found that on trains I didn't do
anything different than traveling on trains in the US and Europe. Long
distance trains do accomodate luggage

Not all trains, not all lugggage. I didn't have separate storage facilities on
the Nozomi Shinkansen last year for my large 29" pullmans. I had to hide
them behind the last row of seats in the car and hoped nobody booked
those seats (which, thankfully, no one did). Of course there were the overhead
racks, but that wouldn't handle a 29" pullman. Now, the Narita Express of
course did have the separate storage compartment.






__________________________________

Regards,
Arnold.

(E-mail address altered, to prevent spamming. :-|
Remove all asterisks and the *hates*spam* to get true address.)

JR Highway Buses do have storage underneath. Whilst it is usually not used,
once you start helping yourself to opening the hatch usually someone will
come and assist.

"Hallvard Tangeraas" wrote in message
om...
I'm going to Japan in less than a week and will travel around the
country, trying to do it without breaking the bank and have a couple
of questions relating to backpacking:

1) I hear that it's really hard to travel around with a backpack (or
indeed anything larger than a purse or a day-bag) as trains and buses
don't accomodate for this (even the long distance ones). How do
backpackers get around this? I assume there must be other backpackers
in Japan than myself, even though I haven't met a single person on my
trip around the world who's done that or is doing it.

2) I worry about accomodation. I want to stay cheap, and youth hostels
(3000-4000 yen) seem like a good choice except for the fact that they
are run more like prisons/military school than a place to relax and
enjoy. For one, the check-in time which is only a few hours each day,
making it very hard when I don't know how much time I need to get
there etc.

Are there other solutions around, or aren't youth hostels that bad?
Anyone stayed in one?
Gajin houses have been mentioned, but apparently more geared towards
long-term visitors. Any other solutions?


Hallvard

When catching long-distance trains, including the Shinkansen (bullet train)
there is often substantial space behind the last row of seats in each
carriage (not a luggage rack as such, but enough room to throw in a backpack
or suitcase). Just get there early and barge in. Failing that, walk through
to other carriages - bound to find space.

"Hallvard Tangeraas" wrote in message
om...
I'm going to Japan in less than a week and will travel around the
country, trying to do it without breaking the bank and have a couple
of questions relating to backpacking:

1) I hear that it's really hard to travel around with a backpack (or
indeed anything larger than a purse or a day-bag) as trains and buses
don't accomodate for this (even the long distance ones). How do
backpackers get around this? I assume there must be other backpackers
in Japan than myself, even though I haven't met a single person on my
trip around the world who's done that or is doing it.

2) I worry about accomodation. I want to stay cheap, and youth hostels
(3000-4000 yen) seem like a good choice except for the fact that they
are run more like prisons/military school than a place to relax and
enjoy. For one, the check-in time which is only a few hours each day,
making it very hard when I don't know how much time I need to get
there etc.

Are there other solutions around, or aren't youth hostels that bad?
Anyone stayed in one?
Gajin houses have been mentioned, but apparently more geared towards
long-term visitors. Any other solutions?


Hallvard