Japan, suggestions / tips / savings?

hamwhisperer on 08/09/2016 - 18:50

Anyone got any ideas? I'm going there for a tiny bit over 2 weeks. II got a pretty good idea of what I will be seeing.

Kyoto
Sumo
Akihabrara
Can't see Ghibli Museum, all booked for Oct >:(
Missed baseball, wrong timing.

Anyone know where online I could find Japan travel bargains? I found a few good things for Melbourne this time last year (but I'm from Melbourne) for a guest visiting.
I own an AMEX card if that would help with hotel bookings or anything (we still need to book about 5 more hotel days)
I have NOT booked a return flight yet (long story) so even suggestions on that./

Finally withdrawing money, I will have an AMEX with me, Bankwest Platinum Mastercard, I can also have my HSBC Visa (or is it Master? …errr) card
I do intend to use cash from time to time, I'm not a card only guy.

Any suggestions or ideas? Anything you felt saved you a heap or was a good thing to buy there etc?
Thanks so much.

P.P.S I do need tips on the JR pass, we're going to Tokyo Disney and Kyoto, if my reading is right they've changed the JR system in July 01 this year and it's no longer one big expensive ticket but maybe split up on regions of the country?

<3 thanks

Travel

Comments

  • kokoboko on 08/09/2016 - 20:37

    Currently there is a promotion in hilton japan, every room is 50% off.

  • toristo on 08/09/2016 - 21:02

    Flights- check IWTF who post here regularly and skyscanner.com

    In Tokyo, stay somewhere near Shinjuku or within 10 mins or so. The rail network is insane, just take a breath and go with it. It's easy once you work out the colour system and you can get anywhere quickly and cheaply. I stayed in Shin-Okubo which is like Korea-town and it was good. Much cheaper than in Shinjuku

    Interestingly, be prepared to carry your rubbish with you - not many bins, so good to have plastic bags to stick things in to carry for a while. It's very clean and people are very respectful.

    Don't miss Shibuya, Harajuku and Akihabara as you called out. Great fun.

    • Kangal on 08/09/2016 - 21:17

      Seconded.

      Akihabara is good to go for one day, or two at max… then its a big meh.
      I also stayed in Shinjuku, just organise your hotels beforehand. I didn't have any bookings.
      And everywhere was booked out when I landed, and the free ones were overpriced.

      Also, the rail network is the way to go.
      I was constantly confused until a local explained that all the different rail networks run on separate tracks that never meet.
      And explained they were owned by separate private companies.
      So if you buy a pass for one network, it won't work for another one.
      Just look at the rail map, see where you are, and see where you need to go… and find the colour which has the most forward line.

      To be honest, I enjoyed Kyoto the most.
      I can also recommend "K's House" in Kyoto, it is a backpacker hostel for all international travellers.
      Its very fair priced, the staff are awesome, and the amenities are clean and adequate
      (except the kitchen, I tried to cook for some friends and couldn't find a spatula haha)

    • hamwhisperer on 09/09/2016 - 13:04

      Good tip on the trash, I'll bring a plastic bag with me. I heard it was pretty full on for rubbish.

  • Abiro on 08/09/2016 - 21:32
    +1

    Might find it hard using cards to pay for things in japan, just use them for withdrawing from ATMs and carry around a good amount of cash (it's safe). I got good exchange rates with small fees using my ING card at the ATMs in 7/11. Just hit an ATM up every now and then to withdraw 50,000 yen. Line up where the locals are lining up - they know all the best places to be lining up at anyway. Get a coin purse to carry the absurd amount of coins you'll be ending up with.

    In Tokyo learn the green Yamanote Line. It's literally a big circle that hits all the major areas in Tokyo. Trains either go clockwise or counter-clockwise, its very easy to get used to. If you like Akihabara and collectibles/anime then make sure you visit Nakano Broadway, you'll find more obscure stuff there. Once you take a few rides around the city you will get used to it very quickly as there's only like 2-3 lines that you'll be using often. I used the Railmap app to figure out where I needed to go if I felt lost. I didn't like using the subway as much but sometimes it can take you much closer to where you want to be going. A suica card can be used both on the JR lines and also for the subways now so you don't have to worry about which card works with which gates.

    I read up on the changes to the JR pass but I think the main pass remains the same. Did you buy yours through JTB Travel? I had the 7 day one and used it to go Tokyo > Osaka > Kyoto > Tokyo and a few other places like Hiroshima along the way. You can go into the office and tell the person what date you'd like the pass to be activated on so that you don't have to face the morning rush. There are plenty of bullet train times but I always liked to reserve my seats a few hours or a day in advance. Ask to get seats on the side that you can see Mount Fuji!

    Kyoto is incredible so take your time there, don't feel rushed like you will feel like in Tokyo. I can recommend Piece Hostel Sanjo here especially if you're travelling with a partner. Try and hit up every major area (North, East, South and West) in Kyoto if you can. Osaka felt pretty boring to me but a lot of people seem to like it. Also would recommend DisneySea over Disneyland while you're in Tokyo. Akihabara has so many different little stores that it'll literally take several full days to explore. The best stores are along the street with McDonalds and also on the other side of the street around Mandarake. The little trinkets you'll find at temples and stuff are nice but you'll find the same ones regardless of which one you go to so don't rush to buy all of them.

  • megasaur on 08/09/2016 - 23:32

    Not sure if it's too late for Oct, but you can still try here to see if they can get you some Ghibli tickets.
    I used a citibank card while I was there, and just took cash out of ATMs as needed.

    • hamwhisperer on 09/09/2016 - 13:02

      Hey thanks heaps, I tried some Aussie phone number, which claimed they are sold out, so who knows, I really wanna go :(

    • hamwhisperer on 09/09/2016 - 13:49

      Did you use that service? I just did and I think it worked, I dunno, hope so.
      Like $90 for 2 tickets with shipping to Australia, if it works it's worth it tho

      • megasaur on 11/09/2016 - 11:00

        Yeah I did use them when I went. Can't fault them - they had very good communication via email. I think the Aus re-sellers have a limited quota of tickets they get, so often run out, whereas these guys just buy it when the tickets get released in Japan (or something like that)

  • altomic on 09/09/2016 - 07:25
    +1

    questions.
    -how many people are you travelling with?
    -any kids

    I lived in Japan for 4 years (left 11 years ago) and went back in July for 2 weeks.

    Cash - 7/11 or Post Offices are the easiest bet. there are 7/11's every where. seriously every where.

    most places these days take cards - shops + restaurants etc.

    the days of Japan being a predominantly cash society are pretty much gone.

    Akihabara - it's changed. when i lived there it was the electronics mecca and neon city. now it's ok but you can see the same range at any bic camera or other large electronics store. the neighbourhood of second hand and niche electronic shops is still there some what. but many of the building have been pulled down. yeah. still interesting to check out. but Tokyo is so monsterously huge that there are so many places to check out. Tokyo isn't a city, it's a city of cities.

    as others have said shibuya and harajuku - walk from one to the other - not far. some great area's.

    saving money -

    accomodation- airBNB. definitely. (especially if there are more than 2 adults -or 2 adults and kids - travelling together) -though I can't comment about kyoto for airbnb, but definitely tokyo. we got a 3 bedroom house (town house) in a central location for ~$140 a night. awesome japanese house with tatami matting and large bathroom ina great neighbourhood. my kids would just go out and play on the street whilst I sat and drank beer.

    travel - save money but takes more time - bus.

    if you want to save a nights accommodation and get to your destination then consider a night bus.

    I booked my bus through http://bus.travel.rakuten.co.jp from Tokyo to Sendai return. I didn't have (and didn't want a JR pass - JR passes are good if you want to check out a lot of places). Bullet train tickets were 14,000 yen each one-way. there were 4 of us. we caught a bus instead. it was ~1600 yen each. the bullet train took just under 2 hours. the bus took 5 hours. the bus stops at a couple of road houses on the way. I prefer the bus as you (A) virtually no westerners use them, (B) you travel with the flow of everyday people on the express ways. (B) it's slower so you have more time to take in the scenery - rather than shooting past at 300kms an hour - which is cool, ill certainly admit that. the precision of engineering and the stop watch timing of Shinkansens is something to behold.

    But for Tokyo-Osaka buses
    a quick search shows the cheapest one way prices from Ikebukero ("inner suburb" of Tokyo) —> Osaka for 1700yen for a midnight bus arriving at 6:45AM(bus.travel.rakuten.co.jp)

    with google translating then it's relatively straight forward.

    when booking you need to enter your name written in katakana (the japanese "alphabet" for foreign words/names). I just used this site and copied and pasted - and you enter them in surname first, first name last.

    I did a night bus from Tokyo to Osaka about 12 years ago. it was interesting i.e. stopping at road houses late at night and watching the people. checking out the lit up trucks.

    final tip for leaving. if you like taking back duty free booze then just buy it at a supermarket. I bought a 750ml Nikko Black whiskey for ~700yen ($10) at an australian bottle shop ~$50

    • hamwhisperer on 09/09/2016 - 12:58

      2 adults, no kids.

      I'm totally cool with using cash mind you, I just wonder if my Bankwest card or Amex etc - which one is the best to pull money from, I figure my Bankwest hole in the wall ATM card from my ESaver account? (shrug)

      We've booked half the accomodation but will keep AirBNB in mind - it was previously suggested too, thanks.
      (How do you find the quality of AirBNBs in general?)

      • altomic on 09/09/2016 - 15:36
        +1

        the quality of AirBNBs in general

        in Japan they are pretty good. We stayed in 3 places. they were all very good. though the apartment was smallish for the 4 of us (though fine for 4 nights). the 2 houses were great.

        bankwest platinum is fine. 7/11 or post office.

        enjoy.

  • Third_Gear on 09/09/2016 - 18:11

    Was just in Japan a couple weeks ago. Credit cards are accepted all over. Use Google maps to navigate the trains. It will tell you which line, the exact fair amount and what platform. So easy…

    Grab a capsule hotel for a night or two in Tokyo. Very cheap.

    We were on the green line and found it was the best connected train line. Sugamo station.

    Osaka by the water at night is awesome and not far from Kyoto also.

  • Save Medicare on 12/09/2016 - 14:55

    If I want to go from Tokyo > Kyoto > Tokyo within a week would I be better off getting a 7 day pass or taking the night bus?

    Has anyone tried the night bus? I can see that the seats that say women's policy are cheaper. Are those for women only? I'll be travelling with my female partner so we'd like to sit together

  • hamwhisperer on 13/09/2016 - 12:47

    Thanks for those who replied, I'm still running through some of this.

    Did anyone take a travel card with them for cash in Japan?
    My bank (Bankwest) won't let me access my normal ATM account and suggest I get a Mastercard Debit card for ATM withdrawls.
    $5 flat AUD per withdrawl + 2.3% transaction fee, plus god knows what exchange rate they decide to do it at.

    I used an ANZ travel card I pre-loaded with cash about 6 years ago in HK, FR and GB but I banked with ANZ back then, so if I recall, it was easy to get all the spare money off it at the end of the holiday. If I get a travel card with someone here whom I don't normally bank with, not sure how I get the coin out

    Any cash suggestions for Japan? I like cash, I won't use it all the time but I dislike being one of those 'card people' all the time (I'm older)

    • shakoo on 13/09/2016 - 13:07

      I got a Commbank Mastercard travel card for my trip to japan earlier on this year. worked flawlessly in the various ATMs with a withdrawal fee of 200 yen (approx $2.50).

      As I bank with them, I don't get charged for transferring funds to/from the account. Didn't hurt that the AUD was sitting at around 85 yen at the time

      • hamwhisperer on 13/09/2016 - 15:28

        I used to bank with them - heck of a long time ago though. I have a commsec account, that's it. So I'd pay a fee to put money on to the card I take it?

        • shakoo on 13/09/2016 - 16:49
          +1

          actually, I don't think you do based on this

          may pay to pop in to a branch to have a chat and then have it issued at the same time should you decide to go ahead with it.

    • pyramid on 13/09/2016 - 15:36

      Not sure if you want to open Citibank Transaction account and use their debit card. I have used citi debit card 2 months back in Japan..

  • EyesWideOpen on 13/09/2016 - 21:08

    Tokyo-Visit the Ramen museum (not Instant noodle), it's just out of town, will be a half day trip. Get SIM card prior, and try not to rely on subway, their subway lines are not really "connected", you need to walk a long way when transfering between lines but subway does bring you to interesting places. Use Train instead to save time. Oh remember supermarket Bento clearances, 7-8pm ;) Also Sunday morning at harajuku for cosplay fans.

    Kyoto-opposite the main trainstation there's a old style shopping mall. In the basement there are a lot of cafe restaurants; one particular ramen shop serves a black pork winner, AND it's cheap. You'll see the winner sign outside the cafe, easy to spot. ;)

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