Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Thinking about going to Japan

  1. #1
    Senior Member Blackmage's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    London
    Posts
    1,934
    Thanks
    202
    Thanked
    65 times in 45 posts
    • Blackmage's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI P67-GD65
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core I7 2600k
      • Memory:
      • 8 Gb Hynix DDR3 1333
      • Storage:
      • Crucial m4 120Gb, 2TB Samsung F4
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI HD5830
      • PSU:
      • 700w Coolermaster Gold Plus
      • Case:
      • Xclio/Aplus Windtunnel
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic VX2239WM 22" LCD Monitor
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Broadband 10mbit

    Thinking about going to Japan

    I'm sure there are plenty of people who have been their, me and my freind are thinking about going! She speaks some japanese, i speak none at all.

    I was thinking september next year (Tokyo Game Show!). What would you recommed to see and do, I Know it's very expensive, too!

  2. #2
    HEXUS.social member
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    2,562
    Thanks
    102
    Thanked
    320 times in 213 posts

    Re: Thinking about going to Japan

    I'm tagging along with sleepyhead and his mates in October. It doesn't look too expensive at the moment, but that of course depends how exchange rates go. At the moment, it's going in our favour (£1 = 157 Yen. Was 149 when I looked last month). Flights are about £500 return. Virgin did an offer for £450 a couple of days after I booked mine! We're staying in a Ryokan (Japanese Inn), which is about £55/night for one person, but is an hour or so from Tokyo. Think it's about £80 for 2 sharing.

    Haven't really decided what I'm doing whilst out there, so I'll be watching this thread to see what people suggest. . There has been mention of a Toyota theme park!

  3. #3
    Zzzzzzz sleepyhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    2,514
    Thanks
    373
    Thanked
    292 times in 162 posts

    Re: Thinking about going to Japan

    LoL...I was meant to get back to you Gerrard. I been addicted to a few games on steam lately... Sorry.

    If you are into your motor vehicles check out the usual, RE-Amemiya, Mugen etc as well as Autobacs! Imagine Halfords but a MILLION times better. That is Autobacs. I think it's Akihabara for the electronical goods and Shinjuku for all the fashion items. Akihabara is generally the testing ground for new goods.

    I'm not too sure when the Toyko Auto Salon is on...but I think it is sometime around Sept/Oct.

  4. #4
    Guy
    Guy is offline
    HEXUS.social member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Hampshire, UK
    Posts
    5,159
    Thanks
    376
    Thanked
    400 times in 289 posts

    Re: Thinking about going to Japan

    As I mentioned in another thread, I hope to go to Japan in November ish time for my 21st, so any pointers/tips in this thread will be appreciated

  5. #5
    Senior Member Blackmage's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    London
    Posts
    1,934
    Thanks
    202
    Thanked
    65 times in 45 posts
    • Blackmage's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI P67-GD65
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core I7 2600k
      • Memory:
      • 8 Gb Hynix DDR3 1333
      • Storage:
      • Crucial m4 120Gb, 2TB Samsung F4
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI HD5830
      • PSU:
      • 700w Coolermaster Gold Plus
      • Case:
      • Xclio/Aplus Windtunnel
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic VX2239WM 22" LCD Monitor
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Broadband 10mbit

    Re: Thinking about going to Japan

    Why is accommodation, so expensive?

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    182
    Thanks
    33
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts
    • chrism's system
      • CPU:
      • Pentium M 770
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 2GB PC3200
      • Storage:
      • Samsung HD501LJ
      • Graphics card(s):
      • XFX 9600GT 512MB
      • Case:
      • Shuttle SD11G5
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung XL20

    Re: Thinking about going to Japan

    Quote Originally Posted by Blackmage View Post
    Why is accommodation, so expensive?
    It depends where you look - Ryokan's tend to be more expensive, so I only stayed 2 nights in one (very nice though).
    Most of the time I stayed at youth hostels and a cheap hotel, both of which are affordable (both from around £15 a night).
    I also wanted to stay in one of those capsules, but didn't get round to it

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Posts
    6,585
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    246 times in 208 posts

    Re: Thinking about going to Japan

    Ginza is another shopping district, though it's mostly expensive department stores. Harajuku is worth a visit on a Sunday (or I seem to remember it's Sunday) if you want to spot some cosplayers and random youth performing.

    If you do not have a lot of luggage, then a cheap form of accommodation is to crash in Internet Cafes. The ones I've been too all seem to have affordable overnight rate (cheaper than capsules and such), you often have comfy chair you can lie virtually flat, a shower room, and even a little safe where you can lock some items while you are in the shower. And of course, you have a PC with Internet access if you want to email home, often a PS2/DVD player/TV with access to a library of games/movies/manga (obviously in Japanese) if for some reason you are not so tired that you just want to crash ASAP. What I did was to lock my main travel bag in a locker in a station overnight, taking just my backpack with minimal belongings to the internet cafe.

  8. #8
    Today is Tuesday
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    London
    Posts
    441
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    4 times in 4 posts

    Re: Thinking about going to Japan

    Japan was fantastic when I went last summer. Absolutely phenomenal place and I just loved everything about it. I was lucky in that a good friend took us around who used to live in Japan until she was 12 (and then on and off since then). Would definitely advise learning a fair bit before you go as nobody speaks any english and while I was driving around none of the road signs were in english.

    Tokyo is fantastic but quite expensive, though we stayed in a lovely youth hostel by the central Tokyo themepark for £16/night in a group of 4. Could have been cheaper if you wanted to stay in a bigger room with randoms but we found that that worked out great. All around Japan we payed about £15/night and definitely no more than £20 even when staying in really nice hostels (though that was helped by our Japanese speaker). Should also be noted this was last summer when there were 205yen/£, so things will cost more now...

    Let me know if you want to know more details but it was just an awesome experience!

  9. Received thanks from:

    Blackmage (06-06-2009)

  10. #9
    Admin (Ret'd)
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    18,481
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    3,208 times in 2,281 posts

    Re: Thinking about going to Japan

    I'd say that "what to do" very much depends on what you're into.

    Tokyo has a fair mix, ranging from temples and shrines to the Akihabara ..... which I guess is a kind of temple to technology. Scenery ranges from fantastic countryside (and the colours in the Autumn give a drive through New England a run for it's money). Or, of course, the May trees in bloom are spectacular.

    If you haven't done it before, a ride on the Shinkansen is interesting. If you like culture, then I far prefer Kyoto to Tokyo, for a mix of Geisha to the Shogun's palace. Or, combine the two and get the Shinkansen from Tokyo down to Kyoto.

    And don't forget Mount Fuji.

    And don't forget to experiment with food. I'm not a lover of Sushi, but I adore Sukiyaki and am pretty partial to Tempura too. There's one restaurant in Kyoto where I had the most divine Kobe beef Sukiyaki. It'd be worth the trip down there for that alone. It's making me feel peckish just thinking about it.

  11. Received thanks from:

    Blackmage (06-06-2009)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Toshiba to delay Japan launch of HD-DVD - Reuters
    By Bob Crabtree in forum HEXUS News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 13-12-2005, 11:24 PM
  2. Sony goes after iPod in Japan
    By Steve in forum HEXUS News
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 20-08-2005, 01:53 PM
  3. AMD Japan Files Claims Against Intel in Japan
    By Steve in forum HEXUS News
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 02-07-2005, 03:58 AM
  4. Xbox 360 aspires to break Japan
    By Steve in forum HEXUS News
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 23-05-2005, 08:59 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •