Normal 3g network works fine there. i was using my iphone singtel sim card no problem.
Budget travel in Japan - tips and info thread
- Thread starter petetherock
- Start date
Normal 3g network works fine there. i was using my iphone singtel sim card no problem.
zoossh
Senior Member
Thanks
She has great pictures with good color.
I am keen on nature and the cities, well, after a the first few, they will look the same...
So I will take furano/biei/otaru as the needed stops, then venture to the National Parks.
Any suggestions or thoughts on them?
Cheers
that's fine if you like these places. some people can spend a whole day on landscape, some get bored after 20mins lost of inspiration. all depends on your past experience.
my limiting factor is i dun drive. public transport may be an issue for such places.
petetherock
Senior Member
Friends
FYI
There is a cheap sale on fares now, SIA to Tokyo is $598, nett.
Cheers
FYI
There is a cheap sale on fares now, SIA to Tokyo is $598, nett.
Cheers
Lomographer
Senior Member
good news to all budget flyers,
check out the set dates and get your plannings done!
I am going in september. got the sq ticket to osaka for $528 nett. I think the airport transfers for kansai airport is also cheaper and faster than narita which is very out of the way.
So if you are going to both kansai and tokyo area, it is probably cheaper to land in Kansai airport.
So if you are going to both kansai and tokyo area, it is probably cheaper to land in Kansai airport.
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I'm going end Oct, for 1 month. Wife and daughter join me 2nd week of Nov.
Initially will be staying at http://naritaairporthostel.hoteru.officelive.com/default.aspx
operated by someone I met during his backpacking days so I go there ask him help me plan
Any suggestion on where to go? i have about 10 days of my own time to do shooting.
wyred
New Member
Some tips of my own. I've only been there once alone and it was in 2007.
Some, or perhaps most, of the train stations there have more than 1 exits and may be far apart from each other. It helps to check the map inside the train stations. Once I went out from a different exit and found myself in a totally unfamiliar place.
Before I left for Japan, I took a lot of screenshots from google maps of the places I was going to visit and saved them into my PSP. Or of course, you can print them.
When eating in fast food restaurants, you are expected to clear your trays after your meals. There's a station with bins and you must seperate your rubbish between paper and plastic. There's also a sink to pour away leftover ice/water.
Might want to avoid JR trains if possible during peak hours. I took the JR train and had my first experience of being squashed like sardines in a can. The next day I tried taking an alternate route. I took the Metro line back and it was less crowded.
When waiting for the train at the station, queue up like the others. That's one thing I like about Japan.
At Sunshine City, there's an observation deck which is at the 60th floor (can't remember clearly). A nice place to enjoy the sunset view. You can see the sun go down behind, next to Fuji Mountain.
It would help to find out the sunrise/sunset times for the period when you are going so you can plan the places you want to go. I didn't do so and had to cut short my travel in Kyoto because it was too dark. I went at November and sunset begins around 3.30pm.
That's all I can remember for now.
Some, or perhaps most, of the train stations there have more than 1 exits and may be far apart from each other. It helps to check the map inside the train stations. Once I went out from a different exit and found myself in a totally unfamiliar place.
Before I left for Japan, I took a lot of screenshots from google maps of the places I was going to visit and saved them into my PSP. Or of course, you can print them.
When eating in fast food restaurants, you are expected to clear your trays after your meals. There's a station with bins and you must seperate your rubbish between paper and plastic. There's also a sink to pour away leftover ice/water.
Might want to avoid JR trains if possible during peak hours. I took the JR train and had my first experience of being squashed like sardines in a can. The next day I tried taking an alternate route. I took the Metro line back and it was less crowded.
When waiting for the train at the station, queue up like the others. That's one thing I like about Japan.
At Sunshine City, there's an observation deck which is at the 60th floor (can't remember clearly). A nice place to enjoy the sunset view. You can see the sun go down behind, next to Fuji Mountain.
It would help to find out the sunrise/sunset times for the period when you are going so you can plan the places you want to go. I didn't do so and had to cut short my travel in Kyoto because it was too dark. I went at November and sunset begins around 3.30pm.
That's all I can remember for now.
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Lomographer
Senior Member
hey ron, i'll be there the entire november.
if you want someone to shoot with tell me!
will be in tokyo.
Lomographer
Senior Member
the only place my dad drives to is to hakone when in tokyo and also when in hokkaido where we move around niseko, and ard the cities.
most of the time i'm on the metro, it's way easier and convenient.
Redsun
Senior Member
hey ron, i'll be there the entire november.
if you want someone to shoot with tell me!
will be in tokyo.
wow really!maybe we can meetup in tokyo to shoot
If you are looking for budget accommodation, try www.toyoko-inn.com
It's an economy hotel chain with hotels throughout Japan. Most of their hotels are located near train stations, which make travelling really easy and convenient. I have stayed in their hotels in Tokyo and Himeji, and felt they were really value for money. The rooms may be small, but they are super clean.
It's an economy hotel chain with hotels throughout Japan. Most of their hotels are located near train stations, which make travelling really easy and convenient. I have stayed in their hotels in Tokyo and Himeji, and felt they were really value for money. The rooms may be small, but they are super clean.
Lomographer
Senior Member
wow really!maybe we can meetup in tokyo to shoot
yup, mum will be back for her business matters so i'm to be there...
i am going to continue my tokyo street series when i'm there!
the last trip last year i only shot for a few days.
absoluthal
New Member
hey ron, i'll be there the entire november.
if you want someone to shoot with tell me!
will be in tokyo.
Hi bro,
i will be in tokyo from 20th to 27th nov.
Maybe we can meet up there for some shooting.
1st time gg there.
Might need some1 familiar there also....
Lomographer
Senior Member
i am still confirming my details of trip,
will update you via PM.
sure, you can join me and ronald if we're shooting!
the more the merrier!
if you are just traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto (and not where else), maybe can skip the JR pass. Check the price of the ticket to and fro Tokyo and Kyoto, it may be cheaper than buying JR.
Budget varies for individual, I spent $3.5 k (all in + daily cigarettes
) for 21 days for my first trip. My 2nd trip, less than 2.5k for 14 days (came back to sg, still got spare money to change back), it really varies...if you are not picky on food and accommodation, you can save much.Do drop by Yasukuni Shrine while in Tokyo..and I am sure you will go away richer in knowledge? Dun restrict to just seeing, take time to read and observe as you go along.
Tokyo is much easier to go around than other places, dun be put off by the language barrier
Tip: if you print maps of hotel or places, try to get those printed with Japanese as well. At least the local will know exactly where you are referring to..you print in English, you understand but some of them may not..so end up they can't help you too
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shierwin
Senior Member
The 7D JR Pass @Y28.300 is still good value. From Narita airport via Tokyo and Shinkansen to Kyoto return will cost you somthing like Y32,000. An you still got the use of the other 5 days; unless your visit is confined to Tokyo and vicinity.
Always take japanese map if you can read kanji; allow you to refer to the names as used by the locals and easier to relate to the ground. Don't feel intimidated in Japan. You will get a good feel in a day.
Good to learn 3 simple japanese phrases:
1. Doko desuka? (Where's this place while pointing at some words on paper)
2. Wakarimasen! ( I don't understand)
3. Arigato (Thank you)
Always take japanese map if you can read kanji; allow you to refer to the names as used by the locals and easier to relate to the ground. Don't feel intimidated in Japan. You will get a good feel in a day.
Good to learn 3 simple japanese phrases:
1. Doko desuka? (Where's this place while pointing at some words on paper)
2. Wakarimasen! ( I don't understand)
3. Arigato (Thank you)
i am going during the 2nd week of December for 7 days
Will reach Narita Airport at 730am and like to travel to Kyoto directly. Spend 1st and 2nd day at Kyoto before travelling back to Tokyo on the 2nd day evening time. The rest of the days will be at Tokyo itself.
Is it recommended to buy the JR pass? The price stated in the website, are those return tickets?
Will reach Narita Airport at 730am and like to travel to Kyoto directly. Spend 1st and 2nd day at Kyoto before travelling back to Tokyo on the 2nd day evening time. The rest of the days will be at Tokyo itself.
Is it recommended to buy the JR pass? The price stated in the website, are those return tickets?
shiruikage
New Member
wow...so many info on cheap lodgings...this makes my planning much easier.
a question if i may, how about the youth hostelling international? are they good? anyone tried and like them? what i know is they're cheap.
btw, what do u guys feel about ikebukuro in mid dec (winter???)?
a question if i may, how about the youth hostelling international? are they good? anyone tried and like them? what i know is they're cheap.
btw, what do u guys feel about ikebukuro in mid dec (winter???)?
If u have a windows mobile,palm,symbian smart phone, u can use this small application to
plan your train routes from 1 station to another and it will tell u the shortest path to your destination station, very useful, got guides for many major cities around the world, save the trouble seeing route maps at station and asking people. I totally relied on this on my 4 trips to Japan.
http://nanika.net/Metro/
plan your train routes from 1 station to another and it will tell u the shortest path to your destination station, very useful, got guides for many major cities around the world, save the trouble seeing route maps at station and asking people. I totally relied on this on my 4 trips to Japan.
http://nanika.net/Metro/
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