Your Blessings in my trip to Japan

In article , Alec
wrote:


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.

Good tip. Kabukicho is pretty fascinating though all the local's a I
chat with make a big deal about it's dangers. As is usually the case,
it wasn't that creepy. During the day it was absolutely fascinating
wandering about the miniature drinking joints that hold about 6 people
each. The doors are truly lilliputian!

Check it out, OP!

--
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 , Alec
wrote:


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.

Good tip. Kabukicho is pretty fascinating though all the local's a I
chat with make a big deal about it's dangers. As is usually the case,
it wasn't that creepy. During the day it was absolutely fascinating
wandering about the miniature drinking joints that hold about 6 people
each. The doors are truly lilliputian!

Check it out, OP!

--
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 , Alec
wrote:


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.

Good tip. Kabukicho is pretty fascinating though all the local's a I
chat with make a big deal about it's dangers. As is usually the case,
it wasn't that creepy. During the day it was absolutely fascinating
wandering about the miniature drinking joints that hold about 6 people
each. The doors are truly lilliputian!

Check it out, OP!

--
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 , John W.
wrote:

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.

I agree. I use to think I had to have a minimum of two nights per
place or I felt like I spent the entire trip at a dead run. Now I'm
inching up to three nights per. Otherwise, just as I'm getting some
"acquaintances" and the lay of the land, I'm off again.

Got to try to start wranging 3 week vacations...

--
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 , John W.
wrote:

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.

I agree. I use to think I had to have a minimum of two nights per
place or I felt like I spent the entire trip at a dead run. Now I'm
inching up to three nights per. Otherwise, just as I'm getting some
"acquaintances" and the lay of the land, I'm off again.

Got to try to start wranging 3 week vacations...

--
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 , John W.
wrote:

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.

I agree. I use to think I had to have a minimum of two nights per
place or I felt like I spent the entire trip at a dead run. Now I'm
inching up to three nights per. Otherwise, just as I'm getting some
"acquaintances" and the lay of the land, I'm off again.

Got to try to start wranging 3 week vacations...

--
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

Dear Friends:



Thank you all for your responses, I know they will be a lot of help for me
while in Japan.



I've discarded the idea of renting a phone, I will use calling cards and
email to communicate back and forth with the us (mostly my office).



Alec: I went to toyoko-inn's website and it shows the following locations in
Tokyo:



- Tozai-Sen Nishi-kasai

- Asakusa Senzoku

- Asakusa Komagata

- Otsuka-eki Kita-guchi

- Jr. Ikebukuro Kita-guchi

- Shinjuku Kabuki-cho

- Kourakuen Bunkyo Kuyakusho-mae

- Shinagawa-eki Takanawa-guchi

- Minami-Shinagawa Aomono-yokocho-eki

- Kamata No.1

- Kamata No.2

- Kamata Higashi-guchi

- Haneda Otorii Honkan

- Haneda Otorii Shinkan



Which one is the one at Kabukicho?? I'm sorry for my ignorance



I will probably change my itinerary to less cities and will pick a base from
where I'll take some day trips (probably Osaka and Tokyo). I will post it
here for one last blessing J and for future travelers advice before leaving.



I read the article in the NY Times about New Koyo Hotel in Tokyo, but I'm
not into the whole shared bathrooms and bunker beds thing, maybe for my next
trip, but in this one I think a bit more of privacy will be better. That's
why I liked Tokoyo Inn, they seem fairly cheap and decent, but there are so
many that I'm a little lost in choosing which location.



Once again, thank you all!



FamousDave

-----

"FamousDave" m wrote in
message . ..
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

Dear Friends:



Thank you all for your responses, I know they will be a lot of help for me
while in Japan.



I've discarded the idea of renting a phone, I will use calling cards and
email to communicate back and forth with the us (mostly my office).



Alec: I went to toyoko-inn's website and it shows the following locations in
Tokyo:



- Tozai-Sen Nishi-kasai

- Asakusa Senzoku

- Asakusa Komagata

- Otsuka-eki Kita-guchi

- Jr. Ikebukuro Kita-guchi

- Shinjuku Kabuki-cho

- Kourakuen Bunkyo Kuyakusho-mae

- Shinagawa-eki Takanawa-guchi

- Minami-Shinagawa Aomono-yokocho-eki

- Kamata No.1

- Kamata No.2

- Kamata Higashi-guchi

- Haneda Otorii Honkan

- Haneda Otorii Shinkan



Which one is the one at Kabukicho?? I'm sorry for my ignorance



I will probably change my itinerary to less cities and will pick a base from
where I'll take some day trips (probably Osaka and Tokyo). I will post it
here for one last blessing J and for future travelers advice before leaving.



I read the article in the NY Times about New Koyo Hotel in Tokyo, but I'm
not into the whole shared bathrooms and bunker beds thing, maybe for my next
trip, but in this one I think a bit more of privacy will be better. That's
why I liked Tokoyo Inn, they seem fairly cheap and decent, but there are so
many that I'm a little lost in choosing which location.



Once again, thank you all!



FamousDave

-----

"FamousDave" m wrote in
message . ..
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

Hi,

Welcome Japan.

"FamousDave" m writes:
1 - Tozai-Sen Nishi-kasai
2 - Asakusa Senzoku
3 - Asakusa Komagata
4 - Otsuka-eki Kita-guchi
5 - Jr. Ikebukuro Kita-guchi
6 - Shinjuku Kabuki-cho
- Kourakuen Bunkyo Kuyakusho-mae
- Shinagawa-eki Takanawa-guchi
- Minami-Shinagawa Aomono-yokocho-eki
- Kamata No.1
- Kamata No.2
- Kamata Higashi-guchi
- Haneda Otorii Honkan
- Haneda Otorii Shinkan

Which one is the one at Kabukicho?? I'm sorry for my ignorance

6th is at Kabukicho of Shinjuku!!!
next near hotel is 5th -- Ikebukuro Kita-guchi

I hope you have good trip.

TATSUMI Takeo

Hi,

Welcome Japan.

"FamousDave" m writes:
1 - Tozai-Sen Nishi-kasai
2 - Asakusa Senzoku
3 - Asakusa Komagata
4 - Otsuka-eki Kita-guchi
5 - Jr. Ikebukuro Kita-guchi
6 - Shinjuku Kabuki-cho
- Kourakuen Bunkyo Kuyakusho-mae
- Shinagawa-eki Takanawa-guchi
- Minami-Shinagawa Aomono-yokocho-eki
- Kamata No.1
- Kamata No.2
- Kamata Higashi-guchi
- Haneda Otorii Honkan
- Haneda Otorii Shinkan

Which one is the one at Kabukicho?? I'm sorry for my ignorance

6th is at Kabukicho of Shinjuku!!!
next near hotel is 5th -- Ikebukuro Kita-guchi

I hope you have good trip.

TATSUMI Takeo