How About Japan (tokyo, Kyoto, And Other Cities

[onamaewa]

Japan - very clean and orderly place..great place to visit...downside lang is very expensive :cry:

 

In Tokyo, Akihabara is the place if your into gadgets and electronics, you can get budget prices here for older (but not so old) electronic models (just be a good hunter...hehehe)

Ueno for not so hi-end shopping (they have tiangge minsan pag weekends) but if you have money to splurge Ginza is the place for shopping...many signature/designer outlets.

Shinjuku is another commercial area..you can already shop after getting of the various subway and JR trains...lots of shop in the train terminal... ingat lang you might get lost sa undergroung station

Imperial palace and other temples if you want to see old japanese culture and history....nice gardens

 

In Kyoto the old capital... try to visit the Kinkakuji temple (Golden pagoda) and the Nightingale palace (not sure if this is what its called...cant remember the Japanese name)..its an old imperial palace wherein when you walk along the halls theres a sound like birds chirping when you walk over the wooden floor... (according to our guide, this serves as warning to the palace guards when intruders are entering the palace trying to assasinate the emperor.... samurai/shogun era). There are many other temples to visit.

 

Hiroshima... of course their main attraction is the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Museum.... they try to showcase the effects of the A-Bomb that was dropped during WW II.

 

Ride the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto and Hiroshima to view the Japanese country side...you can also see the famous Mt. Fuji along the way...it will take you about 2 hrs from Tokyo to Kyoto and another 2 hrs to Hiroshima...

 

Hope this helps

[technomarine01]

was there in 2000. found it really easy to travel by commute because everything was so systematized, specially the rail system

[Sqwigy]

Any recommendations for cheap stay in Shinjuku area of Tokyo? Any recommended websites for cheap hotels in that area?

[Sir Galahad®]

Haven't been in Japan for a while but I suggest you should try to find a place in saitama.... It takes an hour to go to shinjuku though. I don't remember the place I stayed (since it was a long time ago), but I stayed in Nishi-Kawaguchi and went to Ichigaya during my business trip there.

 

If you want to go to a place where there are a lot of foreigners (usually europeans), how about trying to go to roppongi

[shadowspy]

I'm in Japan right now (45 mins away from Tokyo). Astig kasi nalaman ko na dito pala sa city center namin shinooting ang opening at closing credits ng Bioman (yung scenes na nagpopose sila at tumatalon sila from a building). I watched them sa Youtube and found out that the places where they did that still looked the same today (kaya ko napansin). I'm planning to have my picture taken there with a Bioman pose one of these days (kailangan maghintay na kaunti ang tao otherwise magmumukha akong ewan...hahahah!)

[shadowspy]

Any recommendations for cheap stay in Shinjuku area of Tokyo? Any recommended websites for cheap hotels in that area?

 

 

sad to say, almost nothing is cheap in tokyo esp. in shinjuku area. i suggest try looking at www.hostelworld.com baka may makita ka. also try looking for toyoko inn...it's a big chain of inns around japan...most of their rooms are around 5k to 6k yen which is cheap...kasama na breakfast (di nga lang buffet) and internet access sa room.

[kenji_1989]

April is coming soon so it means Spring will be near. Best to enjoy the Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) bloom with beauty in almost any parks in Japan.

 

Since taga Nagoya ako, eto mga suggested places ko (quite alternative places):

 

1. Kapag hotspring ang hanap mo, cheaper way will be at Geo Onsen (Geo Hotsprings) located at Gifu Prefecture. I forgot the hotel which I stayed for a nice hotspring bath but it costs me only Y3,000. Then for a meal kahit Y15,000 ok na yun busog ka na.

 

2. Kung skiing naman, I suggest the Skii Spot in Mie Prefecture. Take a cable car ride for Y200 and will bring you up in the mountain peaks. Then rent a skii set for Y1000 ata for 1 hour and enjoy the great white landscape.

 

3. Beaches of course like what others said, Naha, Okinawa is the best place to go.

 

4. When riding a Shinkansen to Tokyo, dont miss the Mt. Fujii..

[agent_tom]

Im also here at nagoya.but wlang panahon mamasyal.wala kc pera

[hilars888]

MIss Tokyo....still by far the best city in asia....It's been decades since....All I rem is it has lots of similarities w/ Si Men Ting in Taipei....

 

Some vivid mems; Drop 500yen in a jukebox-like under your t.v. and Viola!...Instant porn!, vending machine with alcohol, crowded streets, casinos w/ bearings, Beverage in hotel ref is electronically monitored, blind-assist pedestral, distinctive arches in temples rich w/ unique culture, playing snowballs on top of mt fuji and having frost bite, sipping coffee on top of Tokyo/Kyoto tower, have so much fun in disneyland and yes, Bullet train!....all in the 80s!!! now 20 years later why haven't we have them yet?!.....

[soup]

e'to po reference...

 

Sunrise Tour

[grindelwald]

for gaming and high tech gadget enthusiasts, dont miss to visit akihabara district when you are in tokyo.

[loafer]

for gaming and high tech gadget enthusiasts, dont miss to visit akihabara district when you are in tokyo.

 

Just want to clarify about japanese tech gadget. Isn't true that it is more expensive to buy in Japan. Cause I know their exported item are cheaper than buying it there.

[fire_breather]

best time to go is durin spring when the weather is not so hot and not so cold. if you like sightseeing, osaka and kyoto is recommended for the traditional feel (temples, geishas plus the cherry blossoms).

 

if you dig amusement parks, try Sir Galahad's suggestion of going to Disney resorts but I recommend the Universal Studios in Osaka since the rides are said pretty much like the one in the US. For extreme rides, Fuji-Q is famous. If you are planning to go to Yokohama, there's Sea paradise and go to Minato-Mirai 21 to check out the Cosmo Clock (Ferriswheel with bright lights and a digital clock in the middle).

 

Around summer, you can go to Ocean Dome. Never been there but looks expensive though.

 

Cost of entrance fees for amusement parks can cost around JPY3500-JPY10,000. If you are going to Universal Studios or Disneyland/sea I suggest you go there for 2 days to enjoy the rides. Queueing formajor rides can take as long as 3 hours esp. in USJ.

 

You have to try the hot springs or onsen if you are plannin to stay in ryokans. The cost for stayin in ryokans depends on the city you're stayin in. They rarely accept single travellers so it would be better if you go there by groups but they charge per person not per room. Average would be about JPY7000 per person per night. But still ryokans are cheaper compared to hotels. If you are goin wit a gf, then try at least to go to a rabu rabu hoteru (love hotel). Lotsa kinky stuffs (daw)...never been there so can't tell, but i've seen one online.

 

For transportation, JR is the most famous local train. They sell ride-all-you-can tickets for tourists. Try to google Japan Railways and check the ticket types. They don't sell that kind of ticket in Japan so I suggest to get it before you go here. It is easy to go around here cuz you can always check online which train you have to ride, what time you have to leave, and which trains you have to transfer to. Don't worry, if you think you got lost, you can always go back without payin extra. As long as you're still inside the train station.

 

As for food, you'll be overwhelmed wit the serving of the dishes. Durin summer if you wanna try Sobas or Udons, mind ya...they serve em cold. Must tries are ramen, sushi, yakuniku, kare, tempura. There are places that offer unlimited rice, eat-all-you-can, drink-all-you-can. Individual meals cost around JPY500-JPY2000. It's always nice to go to restaurants that have picture menus so you won't feel lost.

 

Whew and haba na pala..when it comes to Airlines I think China Airlines is the cheapest and when it comes to service I'd say you go for JAL.

 

Kung may tanong ka lang fireaway hehe.

 

Nice reply... Been to Japan countless times on account of my job... Tokyo (Nishi-shinjuku area) is where I usually stay for a couple of days beofer taking off to visit clients in Himeji, Yokohama, and Hamamatsu.

 

If staying for a couple of days... try getting a Rail Pass from JAL... This gives you all day and night free rides on the Bus, Metro, Subway, Express Trains and even the Shinkansen (bullet train). It's around 250USD for a 5 day pass but you can go crazy with it. It allowed me to see the japanese countryside while getting quickly to Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nagoya and other cities within the validity period of the pass. The rail pass is worth it if you city-hop as just one roundtrip Tokyo - Kyoto Bullet train ticket would run up to 150USD or more. Heck, just the NaritaAirport to Tokyo express cost 60USD roundtrip.

 

If planning to only hit one city then the Rail Pass may not be an economical option. Tokyo in itself is a huge city and can take several days to explore it's hi-tech and cultural attractions. Akihabara is a must see and so is Ginza, Meiji Koen, ROPPONGI hills, and those who are for the daring Kabuki-cho in Shinjuko

 

Kampai!!!

[GaMbiT]

i miss freshness burger

ok yamanote train in tokyo..you wont get lost and dami na mapupuntahan :-)

[grail98]

been to kyoto, tokyo and nagoya. expensive places..

in kyoto, sighseeing in their temples and castle. Tokyo, i was fortunate to stay in a hotel just fronting the imperial palace and is very expensive. I ate dinner alone and it cost me 7000 yen and that was only a light dinner..

best buys in japan would be the electronics (second hand), still functioning well at a cheap price only caveat is that there is no instrcution manual in english