Going to Japan in March/April 2006?

I am planning a 7 day vacation in Japan in March-April next year, and am looking for advice here.

I'll be travelling alone, and hopefully light. I foresee the only major things I'll be bringing are camera equipment and some clothes.

1. Will this time period still be wintery, or springtime?
2. What's the easiest way to get to Tokyo from Narita airport? how long will it take?
3. Since all 7 days will be spent in Tokyo, what are some of the must-see sights?
4. Are there any recommended budget hotels?
5. Can I get an estimate of the daily cost of living there?
6. Should I get a rail pass? I don't plan to go out of Tokyo.
7. Can I get by without speaking a word of Japanese?
8. I will be carrying a backpack around all the time. Not a huge one, but still, it takes up space. Will this cause any problems?

f4senkyo69 said:

I am planning a 7 day vacation in Japan in March-April next year, and am looking for advice here.

I'll be travelling alone, and hopefully light. I foresee the only major things I'll be bringing are camera equipment and some clothes.

1. Will this time period still be wintery, or springtime?
2. What's the easiest way to get to Tokyo from Narita airport? how long will it take?
3. Since all 7 days will be spent in Tokyo, what are some of the must-see sights?
4. Are there any recommended budget hotels?
5. Can I get an estimate of the daily cost of living there?
6. Should I get a rail pass? I don't plan to go out of Tokyo.
7. Can I get by without speaking a word of Japanese?
8. I will be carrying a backpack around all the time. Not a huge one, but still, it takes up space. Will this cause any problems?

Click to expand...

1. Springtime.
2. The Narita Express. It takes about an hour to get to Tokyo Station. From there you can get the Yamanote JR line to other locations (Shinjuku, Ueno, Shibuya, etc.).
3. Tokyo Tower, Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Imperial Palace, Aqua City, Ginza, Tokyo Bay (there's more, but too numerous to list).
4. I stayed the first time at Hotel Fukudaya in Shibuya. It was 5,800 yen per night. It is a Ryokan.
5. Figure your daily room rate, how much you plan to spend on food and transportation. Maybe about $75-$100/day (give or take).
6. I got one as I took the Shinkansen to Atami and back one day. But that aside, it was good for the Narita Express, Yamanote and other JR lines. To me it was worth it. The subways are cheap. It is about $250 for the 7-day pass.
7. Yes. You'll have no problem.
8. No. I carried a sports bag with me the whole time for my camera equipment and other stuff and for purchases.

I went for 7 days in 2001 and brought $1,500 with me. I came back with just under half that, and I wasn't penny-pinching.

1 spring.
However, there is the time when it snows in March.
2.The access site in Narita Airport
http://naa.ivcreation.com/pc_us/
3.Bus tour for the Tokyo sightseeing. hato bus
http://www.hatobus.co.jp/english/index.html
4.Tokyo Minamisenju has many cheap hotels.
The hotel which I recommend is "fukusen".
It is clean.
It is close to a station.
One night.
From 3000 yen
http://www11.ocn.ne.jp/~fukusen/setubi.html
other
Cheapest Hostels Across Japan : Khaosan Hostel Group
http://www.newkoyo.com/index.html
http://www.e-otomari.jp/~english/
Youth Hostels in JAPAN
http://www.tctv.ne.jp/fukudaya/fukudaya_e.html
http://www2.gol.com/users/ryokan-fukudaya/eindex.html
http://www.spocom.net/open.html
http://www.libertyhouse.gr.jp/
http://www.asiarooms.com/japan/tokyo.html
http://www1.odn.ne.jp/homeikan/info_e.html
5.The chain store of a beef bowl
"yoshinoya"Menu
http://www.yoshinoya-dc.com/brand/menu.html
"lamp tei"
http://www.kobelamptei.co.jp/menu.html
The chain store of a table d'hote
"ootoya"
http://www.ootoya.com/menu/index2.html
The chain store of curry
"co co ichiban"
http://www.ichibanya.co.jp/menu/regular/index.html
Please refer [ of food expenses ] to these.
6.Only inside of Tokyo of jr East Japan
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/tokunai_pass.html
Only inside of Tokyo. jr and a subway and Bus
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/tokyo_furii.html
7.Not almost all Japanese can speak English.
The Roman alphabet is carrying out the account of the notation to the station or the road sign.
Please use a police box, when you lose your way.
8.A coin locker is located at a station or a department store.
I think that a load does not need stay for about one week so much.

useful site
http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperd01.cgi
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html
http://www.tokyometro.jp/e/
http://www.st.rim.or.jp/~guilala/ENG/ecook.html
http://www.kahaku.go.jp/english/
http://www.tnm.go.jp/en/servlet/Con?pageId=X00&processId=00
http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/
http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/index.html
http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/eigyou/subway/welcome/
http://www.ooedoonsen.jp/
http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/index.htm
http://www.yasukuni.or.jp/english/index.html
http://www.seaside-tokyo.gr.jp/bus/

http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/guide/02transport.html

map
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/map/index_map.html

Thanks
great help!!!