A few questions about Japan=)

[Reyah]

Hey Hey!!

I'm a 19 year old Norwegian student departing for a leisure holiday in Japan on April 4th, I'll be travelling around with my father for 14 days, then I've got one and a half month to explore japan on my own. I've got quite a few questions, so please stay with me:

1. I'll be bringing along my laptop and other electrical peripherals, what would I need to have in order for it to operate proficiantly? Can it be bought at the airport? Are they expensive?

2. Do ryokans have electrical outlets?

3. I'm a heavy smoker, is a pack of cigarettes expensive? And, is it rude to point to a particular brand of cigarettes? (behind the counter)

4. I've got 3x 14 Japan Railpass 2nd Class, is it easy to get help on train stations? How are the "next station" announced? are there electrical outlets in Trains?

5. I've got about 25, 000 YEN a day to spend while im in Japan (to cover everything, from hotels\ryokans to dinner, breakfast and the likes) is this possible?

6. I'm also a nature fanatic, and the other day I aqquired Lonely Planet : Hiking in Japan and I plan to complete atleast a few hikes during my travels, are the forrests covered in snow at this time of year? Or is it possible to wander around green forrests? (abit hard to explain, but I hope you understand)

7. How is the weather at this time of year?

Thanks a million in advance to anyone who took the time to read through!

Yours, Re

 

[Carlson]

Hey Hey!!

I'm a 19 year old Norwegian student departing for a leisure holiday in Japan on April 4th, I'll be travelling around with my father for 14 days, then I've got one and a half month to explore japan on my own. I've got quite a few questions, so please stay with me:

1. I'll be bringing along my laptop and other electrical peripherals, what would I need to have in order for it to operate proficiantly? Can it be bought at the airport? Are they expensive?

2. Do ryokans have electrical outlets?

3. I'm a heavy smoker, is a pack of cigarettes expensive? And, is it rude to point to a particular brand of cigarettes? (behind the counter)

4. I've got 3x 14 Japan Railpass 2nd Class, is it easy to get help on train stations? How are the "next station" announced? are there electrical outlets in Trains?

5. I've got about 25, 000 YEN a day to spend while im in Japan (to cover everything, from hotels\ryokans to dinner, breakfast and the likes) is this possible?

6. I'm also a nature fanatic, and the other day I aqquired Lonely Planet : Hiking in Japan and I plan to complete atleast a few hikes during my travels, are the forrests covered in snow at this time of year? Or is it possible to wander around green forrests? (abit hard to explain, but I hope you understand)

7. How is the weather at this time of year?

Thanks a million in advance to anyone who took the time to read through!

Yours, Re

1. Nothing it shoudl work fine. some things such as alarm clocks and such may be a little off from time to time *no pun* depending on where they were bought.

2. No not normaly. atleast the ones that I have stayed at.

3. No cigs are not very much. about 300 yen a pack. almost half as much as american prices. and no they wont mind so much if you point.

4. You can get help most times if you go to the ticket counter and they will try to assist you the best they can. and as far as listening to the next station. your best getting a map and watching what station you are at from time to time. and no outlets on local trains. no room for them... if you get on a skinkansen in between some cars they have outlets to plug into.

5. Yes i know people who could do it for 10,000 a day. depending on how nice of place you want to stay. how fancy of food to eat and how much extra stuff you want to buy.

6. you can walk all day long. not to much snow from the places ive visited in the forest lately. fuji-san and kyoto area.

7. well as of now its dark, and ever changing.

spring is coming.

 

[ArmandV]

2. The ryokan I stayed at did have electrical outlets.

 

[ullvarg]

2. you will need a travel outlet set (You can get one in any electronics store in Norway quite cheap), with that your computer should work. If I'm not mistaking japan runs their outlets on 110V 60Hz with a american plug form, wile Norway runs on 230V 50Hz with a different plug. Laptops and some other electronic stuff work at both settings but most things will fry if you plug them in.

3. Because of the prices in Norway you might want to leave allot of room in your suitcase to bring a couple of cartones home