Hi,
I'm planning to take a holiday late November/early December. On a low budget (not sure how much yet) but I've always wanted to go to Japan.
Currently the cheapest return flights for Japan is this period is around $810 with Vietnam Airlines. Is there likely to be cheaper flights for Japan later?
Also should I combine Japan with another country maybe Korea? I was thinking 10 days in Japan is good?
Thanks in advance!
Check out the prices of food and accommodation first before you get the flights. You may be able to get cheap flights but in Japan it's the lodging and food that can also be a killer. Everything will be more expensive then too as it's the school holidays and skiing season.
How much of Japan do you want to see and what kind of trip will it be? I am planning a 9-day trip for just Tokyo/Kyoto/Mt. Fuji and it does not seem enough, even after omitting Disneyland and DisneySea.
Should go see DisneySea. Disneyland its okay to omit. Its wonderful!!!
You will be pushing it for 9 days, with your itinerary, you will have to skip a few.
I think even a week in Tokyo alone isnt enough.
Kyoto you can probably do it in 3-4 days.
Was reading about the 2-3 hour queues for each ride even with the fast pass so we decided to omit DisneySea. Hmm now you are making me reconsider haha.. How long did you queue for each ride?
Yeah so many things to do just for Tokyo (5 nights - normal Tokyo stuff plus Toyota museum, Ghibli Museum, falcon cafe, robot nightclub) and all the cycling routes in Kyoto (3 nights). Mt Fuji + onsen + grass skiing will just be a day trip from Tokyo.
1.5 hrs que there about.
Have a read at their queing system, you can only take 1 at the time (from memory). Rush to the rides that you want the most, grab their allocated time ticket, so you dont have to que. You can only hold 1 at a time. so say you entered at 9 am, you rush to the one you want the most.
you get the 10 am ticket. at 10 am, you can just enter right away, no queing. and between 9 - 10 am, you can enter some other less queing rides or enjoy the scenery.
when you used the ticket, you can then rush off to the next one you want, and grab another ticket.
you need to allocate a full day there. It's so awesome. You have to I reckon.
But Japan in general is out of this world, its like they live in another dimension by themselves.
Very friendly people, very good food, vending machines everywhere. I kid you not, any random restaurants are good. Unlike here.
Saw that you plan on going to Ghibli Museum, have you got the tickets yet? Cause from doing some research and asking local japanese people (friends that live there) they said even for them local people it's hard to get in Ghibli Museum because its so popular. I'm going in November to Japan and i'd like to go and visit the Ghibli Museum but i'm afraid i might not get tickets when i get there (think you have to purchase them from Wilson, Japan's 7-11).
I also wanna visit the Fujio F. Museum (Doraemon Museum?) too and same issue need to purchase the tix at Wilson again.
That aside you should go to DisneySea if you haven't, it's more targeted for Adults(?). It was raining when i went there but that didn't stop me from playing the rides XD. Also they have lots of different popcorn flavours i like curry in particular though.
Can't wait to go back there XD
Wilson is the evil and lesser known brother.. And I thought 7-11 was Japan's 7-11, lol.
@piggiepanda: Oh not yet. Was planning to either get the English tour through JTB (earliest you can buy is 3 mths before) at about $65pp or get my Airbnb host to get tix through Lawson.
is the tour necessary you think? Seems like a high mark-up from the original ticket price.
I did have a look at the JTB tour, they take you to a ramen museum too right??
I don't recommend the tour cause i wouldnt wanna be rushed when im looking around unless you wanna cover a lot of grounds as quick as possible there. Also theyre over priced. The price at lawson (in japan) is only 1000 yen = $10ish but it might be sold out by the time you get there.. but yeah JTB do charge a very high price for it., .. However, if you do take the tour at least you're guaranteed a ticket at least. Thats just me.
http://www.tautoz.com/ghiblimuseum/
Check out this description of the museum. Quite useful to decide if Ghibli museum for you OP.
@piggiepanda](/comment/2692412/redir): Oh that tour is only the day tour for Ghibli. I saw the ramen museum tour on Japanican. Japanican sells English tour tix for Ghibli too but it's sold out for the days I will be in Tokyo (August!!).
Check out our Shinjuku Apartment on AirBNB. Look at all our pictures, because we have maps showing how to get to most of the popular places/areas in Tokyo. Including the Studio Ghibli Museum.
now you made me want to go again
I think if you wait mid-year Jetstar MIGHT have the 2-for-1 deal like they always do. If you haven't gone to Japan you definitely should, you wont wanna leave once you're there XD. Also 10 days is not enough depending on where you wanna go and look.
If you can add Korea in I would certainly do it. Is it 10 days in Japan plus more days in Korea or 10 days to divide between them? If you have to get it all done in 10 days it will be tough to add Korea in I think. If you plan to go to Kyoto you could pack a lot in if you carefully plan your days long before, thus reducing the days needed there, of course ideally it's not the kinda place you wanna rush through but we gotta make do!
As far as things to do/see in my opinion,
Harajuku/Takeshita st/Yoyogi park(do this on a Sunday)
Ginza(upmarket shopping/food area)plus Hakuhinkan Toy Park(claims to be worlds biggest toy store, it's quite fun)
Imperial Palace - I love this place and the beautiful adjoining park/garden, especially if you are into photography. You can do a free guided tour inside the grounds where the Emperor lives if you pre-book online, but the strictness of it all really takes the fun out of it and being inside I kinda felt like I was seeing behind the wizards curtain and somewhat hurting the illusion of it all.
Odaiba- Toyota MEGA WEB(a kind of Toyota museum mini theme park - free entry), National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Giant Gundam Robot, lots of shops and other things.
Enoshima- This is a beautiful island over an hour south west down to the coast from Tokyo by train but I really really recommend going here. The area is beautiful, interesting shops/restaurant/shrines/gardens and on top of the mountain is a big tower that gives you an awesome view of the area and you can catch Mt Fuji on a clear day. You can also head over to nearby Kamakura and see the giant Buddha.
I think only 2 of those places have entry costs, the museum entry is cheap, entry to the top of Enoshima Island isn't too much. If you really wanted to see a castle you could head further west another hour from Enoshima to Odawara Castle. Another fun, exciting and cheap experience would be to get in the middle of the peak rush of workers sardining their way to the office. Go from Shinjuku early in the morning and squeeze into the busiest train you can find and go a couple of stops, or more if you can't make your way to the doors, lol.
Korea is pretty cheap for a lot of things, it probably has the best food in the world which is worth the trip alone. You could take a tour to the DMZ, Panmunjom etc, might as well do it while you have the chance! Gotta book in a little in advance though. If you don't wanna get that close to the border you can go north of Seoul to Odusan Unification Observatory which is a bit of a reunification museum/info centre located on a hill which looks over a shared river to North Korea, but needs to be a clear day to get a good view. Costs like $3 to enter.
The War Memorial of Korea is awesome. It's full of awesome old historical items from not only Korea but other nations. There is a replica Turtle Ship there and plenty of old weapons and vehicles. Outside they have dozens of tanks, planes and artillery and you can get as close as you want. I enjoyed this place the most. Free entry too.
Namsan Tower gives you an unreal view of Seoul and catching the sunset here and seeing the lights at night is amazing.
Gyeongbokgung Palace is gorgeous and a fantastic spot to nail some photos. There is also a changing of the guard ceremony at the main gate hourly. It costs like $10 entry but is totally worth it. Closed on Tuesdays. And nearby is Sejong St which is a nice area to walk and has the statues of Yi Sun Shin and King Sejong.
Plus there is heaps more you can do and if nothing else just eat all of the delicious food you can find.
Regarding Mount Fuji.
Here is a copy of a message we just recently sent to one of out guests about visiting/viewing Mt Fuji in November:-
====================
Regarding Mount Fuji.
1) In November you can not climb Mt Fuji.
2) There is a bus service that departs from Shinjuku Station to go to these Mt Fuji destinations:-
Kawaguchiko:
This is for viewing Mt Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko
Travel time: about 1 hours and 45 minutes
FujiQ highland:
This is a Theme Park with lots of rides.
You can view Mt. Fuji from here also.
I have not checked its Winter Opening Hours.
Travel time: about 1 hour and 40 minutes
Mt. Fuji 5th Station:
This is where most people start their climb of Mt Fuji.
Travel time: about 2 hours and 30 minutes
Caution: From September 24th ～ November 4th Services run only on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.
There are two buses for going to Mt. Fuji in the morning and two buses for coming back in the afternoon.
How about December? I thought November was the ideal month to visit Japan…or is it April during Cherry Blossom Season?
How about December?
Are you asking about viewing Mount Fuji in December?
According to Japan-Guide.com
Clouds and poor visibility often block the view of Mount Fuji, and you have to consider yourself lucky if you get a clear view of the mountain. Visibility tends to be better during the colder seasons of the year than in summer, and in the early morning and late evening hours than during the middle of the day.
If you want to enjoy Mount Fuji at a more leisurely pace and from a nice natural surrounding, you should head to the Fuji Five Lake (Fujigoko) region at the northern foot of the mountain, or to Hakone, a nearby hot spring resort.
I thought November was the ideal month to visit Japan…or is it April during Cherry Blossom Season?
Both are great. For Tokyo for 2015, Sakura is about over I believe.
" Is there likely to be cheaper flights for Japan later?" you asking people with crystal balls? :)
well if you search ozb you will see the deals for japan flight, i think somewhere around $600-700 return.
dec will be winter in japan
if you want to see the whole lot in japan then yes take 10 or 14 days, that will cover you the whole 3 japans' islands! if you are city type tourist then 6-7 days in just tokyo is enough i believe.
korea japan is very close so yeah good idea to combine but you need more days.