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Places you should definitely visit while in Japan

I have also read something about it on the internet, but as I will have a pretty tight schedule (2 weeks) I think it may be risky to depend on hitchhiking. Taking a JR pass for 2 weeks will cost me 285 euros, which is a lot of money but I wont have to worry about transport and I wont lose much time..

Anyway, its been a while I have left a message here but nevertheless im still interested ofcourse in the trip. Im still not sure yet to make trips between cities or just to stay in one city (Tokyo) for 2 weeks. Its not because the JR pass would be to expensive, but just because I havent figured out yet whether I want to see as much as possible in 2 weeks of Japan or to get to know city life (Tokyo) in a more relaxed way. Trips to Kyoto and Hiroshima are definetly interesting, but then again im a young guy and city life is probably a lot more interesting for me. Im also sure I would visit Japan again (if it isnt a dissapointment, which it wont be ofcourse) lather when im a few olders and maybe also more mature to really enjoy cities like Hiroshima and Kyoto, the cultural heart of the country..
 
Those rail passes are also available for one week
and you can start it up on any day you want after you get to Japan.
Just a couple things about it, that's all...
But have fun
 

So the transport is expensive huh!?
Damn, guess I'l have to settle for the 'thumb' way.

What makes hitchiking so different in Japan?
 
Homerduff said:
...
Im still not sure yet to make trips between cities or just to stay in one city (Tokyo) for 2 weeks.
...
Click to expand...

there is so many thing to see in and around Tokyo, but there is also so many interesting things around, that would be too bad to miss, unless you are planing to visit Japan soon (i mean within one year.. which i doubt)

i was in Japan for two weeks also, but that was organized trip, and we visited Tokyo (and a bit around), Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto and rest of trip spent in Osaka. i don't have to say it was wonderful

but I am sure, whatever you decide, you will not regret it!

 
I have made some changes in my planning..

Day 1 / Tokyo |
Day 2,3,4,5 / Kyoto |
Day 6,7 / Osaka |
Day 8,9,10 / Himeji + Hiroshima ( + Miyajima) |
Day 11,12,13,14 / Yokohama + Tokyo |

Hostels..

Tokyo / Khaosan Tokyo / 82.60 euro
Kyoto / Costa del Sol / 72.68 euro
Osaka / Hotel Chuo / 32.9 euro
Hiroshima / J-Hoppers Trad Guest House / 59.22 euro

900 approx. euros (tickets) + 284.79 euros (JR pass 2 weeks) + 247.4 euros (hostels) / 1432.19 euros

_________________________________________________________

I guess there is also an interesting going-out life in Kyoto for the evenings ?

I may go for a one week JR pass, cause I would only have to make one big distance travel in the 2nd week from Hiroshima to Tokyo. A one week pass would cost me at about 175 euros, how much would a shinkansen ticket cost from Hiroshima to Tokyo ?

And does anyone has an idea on how much food and drinks would cost me in Japan every day ? Can you buy food in 100 yen stores ?

I havent taken the cheapest Hostels because its not that im staying somewhere for just one night. Internet is pretty important for me, and also to be able to rent a bike.

Thanks in advance for helping me out ! and if you have anything to add, please say so !
 
WOW! Looks like 1500 euros are gonna last you 2 weeks.

And I was planning on ~800 euros for 1 and a half months.....
You think it's possible on a budget?
 
well, the most expensive part of my trip will be the tickets. I see you are from South Africa ? hmm im kinda confused you would be able to get along with 800 euros ! How much are tickets from SA to Japan ?

Im shure you can get yourself cheaper accomodation. just to let you know, the prices are all for private double bed rooms.
 
Actually the ticket will cost me about 800 euros. The 800 euros I mentioned was airfare excluded.

I'll be moving along with friends but we'll all pay for our own expenses. I was thinking of budget all the way. From food to accomodation. Also I was hopeful of visiting the entire of Japan. It will probably be really tight though.
Any advice?
 
if you want to visit japan entirely, I think you should get at least a JR pass for 2 weeks which will already cost you quite a lot (280 euros) but its definetly necessary if you want to visit lots of cities..

then for accomodation, it will be cheaper because you will either take the same room as your friends or maybe even a dormitory. So I guess it would be 180 euros for 2 weeks, so multiplied by 3 thats 540 euros.

So roughly, you may get around for the travelling in Japan and the accomodation..
 
So I think it might be possible to budget on 800.

But are the good places that are mentioned above accessible via bus?
I've heard that busses are cheaper than trains and the overnight rides sub for cheap accomodation.

In the end we'ld like to make the trip semi backpack. We'ld like to visit the not so famous tourist attractions like one member above was saying.
 
I guess they are accessible by bus, allthough you may have to take a lot of different busses to get there eventually, its also a chance to step off at places which arent that populair for tourists..

is there anyone who could give me an answer on the following questions ?

I guess there is also an interesting going-out life in Kyoto for the evenings ?

I may go for a one week JR pass, cause I would only have to make one big distance travel in the 2nd week from Hiroshima to Tokyo. A one week pass would cost me at about 175 euros, how much would a shinkansen ticket cost from Hiroshima to Tokyo ?

And does anyone has an idea on how much food and drinks would cost me in Japan every day ? Can you buy food in 100 yen stores ?
 

While I'm sure a lot is happening in the evenings in Kyoto, it struck me as a city where the action is not easy to find. I suggest that you do plenty of research before you go to find your way in. It didn't bother me when I was there, though. There was so much to see during the days that I didn't want to be out very late in the evenings—I saved it for other cities.

Food—It's easy to eat cheaply, especially if you are not too fussed about having a foody trip. You'll find little fast food vending machine places—sorry, I can't remember their names, but there were two big brand-name places.



Just inside the door, there will be a vending machine with pictures of meals and their prices. Pay and take the ticket to a free seat at the counter, and your dish will appear shortly. Beef and rice were good, and they were very filling. Prices were between 300 and 600 yen by memory.

Or you can get cheap food at the always-present 7-11 or Lawson mini-marts.

Train fare for Hiroshima to Tokyo. If I've read the table on page 2 of this...

http://www.japanrail.com/pdf/Timetable1-fare.pdf

then it seems an unreserved seat will cost 11,340Y and a reserved seat would be an additional 6,710Y. If you are travelling outside of the peak times then getting an unreserved seat should be no problem (and even in peak times is possible if you get there say 20mins before it leaves). Make sure you learn the Kanji for 'unreserved' and also 'non-smoking' if that is what you want. Whole cars will either be reserved or unreserved, smoking, non-smoking etc. You find the one that is for you and then que in the painted lines on the platform.
 
Indeed very usefull information. Thanks a lot, and btw good to see you back Amos !

I can understand that the days in Kyoto will be already tyring enough, so during evening I shouldnt really look for any more tyring activities. So I guess it will be ok.

Good to hear I wont starf to death if my budget would shrunk to a minimum hehe.

I could save up some money if I take the JR pass for one week and buy an unresearved ticket from hiroshima to tokyo, so I will definetly consider doing this. Talking about Hiroshima, how was city life there ?
 
Bus Pass in Kyoto

another tip is to buy an All Day Bus Pass in Kyoto. you can pick one up from the JR Railway Station or at any Lawsons or 7/11. Grab yourself a Bus Map from the station and you can travel on any bus in Kyoto for the day hopping off wherever you like. the map is easy to read with coloured routes and bus numbers and all the buses have bold numbers on the front/back and sides. its a great way to get around the city to see the sites as the buses get you closer than the JR trains do.

the Bus Pass is 500 Yen otherwise every bus ride no matter how far is 210 yen. pays for its self in 3 rides!

Riding Buses - you jump on at the back door and insert your card into the machine next to the driver when you get off. the are buttons all over the bus to press when you want to get off but the buses stop at every stop anyway if your not sure if your stop is next.

Good Luck and as everyone else has mentioned a visit to Himeji Castle is a definite must!!
 
Jay&Simone said:
another tip is to buy an All Day Bus Pass in Kyoto. you can pick one up from the JR Railway Station or at any Lawsons or 7/11.
Click to expand...


aww, I wish I would have known about this when we stayed there 2 1/2 days.
& 500 yen?!

Well, maybe I wouldn't have found that little shrine in the woods at the end of a road up a mountain if I'd been on bus? Or even stumbled upon Heian Shrine taking a different route back to our hostel.

Still, would've been useful.
Now I know for next time.
thanx
 

thanks for the tip. I was planning to do the trips inside the cities by bike (renting one from the youth hostel Im staying at), my Lonely Planet book says its convenient to do it this way, but I was randomly looking up the rental price of a bike for one day and I already came across 700 yen. I tought it would be a lot cheaper..

So I will definetly consider buying an All day bus pass in Kyoto.
 
Hey Homerduff,

Thanks for asking the right questions. Since I have the same questions, I can find all anwers here. I'm planning a trip for Japan in May for about 4 weeks. What to see, where to travel and which book to read ... all part of the preparation.

When do you leave? Where do you buy a ticket of 900 euro's?
 
Hi Civic,

I will leave in August probably, havent set up an exact date yet. Some weeks ago I did some research on the ticket price and I came on 900 euros aprox., but a few minutes ago I did another research and now prices are 750 euros minimum (mind that these are the prices from Paris to Tokyo). From Amsterdam to Tokyo, prices seem to be a bit higher..

I dont really know why the difference is pretty big. I dont really have much experience with booking flight tickets. Is it wise to book now already ? As prices may go up, and 750 euros would fit perfectly in my budget..

Oh and if you are still looking for a book, I can highly recommend Lonely Planet Japan. It contains a lot of information on what places you should visit, cheap accomodation, good places to eat, transport possibilities and maps.
 
If you plan to spend a day in Yokohama, you might consider spending the day at Sankeien, a beautiful park/garden/museum of japanese buildings.

横浜市

It can be a bit tricky to find for those unfamiliar with Japan, so get good directions beforehand, if you wish to go. Or, find a friendly English-speaking Japanese person and go with him or her!

(Warning! Shameless self-promotion ahead! )

These are galleries on my Smugmug photo pages. The first URL is for the early spring 1984 gallery, and the second URL is for the spring 1990 gallery.

http://edgarjlaw.smugmug.com/gallery/1397435#80338823

http://edgarjlaw.smugmug.com/gallery/1430119#69502403
 
Thanks a lot, nice pictures you have there !

Im actually close to joining some kind of exchangement program for the summer (5 weeks), to stay with a japanese foster family and do all kinds of stuff like visiting a japanese high school. Dont know yet where I will stay and what kind of trips they offer, but I tought it would be my last chance to participate with this kind of program as im almost 18 and thats the maximum age to participate with it. I do hope there are still places left for the program..
 

Glad you enjoyed the photos.

An exchange program will be a very different experience than traveling around the country on your own. Traveling by yourself gives you much more opportunity to do and see what you want, when you want, especially if you will be there for a while. On the other hand, participating in an exchange program will give you much closer and more personal experience with the culture. Good luck, whatever you do!
 
Heres an update for those who have helped me out (thanks again !)..

Today I received confirmation that I have been accepted for a 4 week Japanese Summer course program in Tokyo, while staying with a homestay family. I know its a lot different than what I first had in my mind, but I think I will experience things a lot more as a person who lives in Japan and not as a tourist. Im very interested in learning Japanese so the Japanese language lessons are definetly useful for me. I look forward to participate with any activities of my homestay family, and ofcourse I will have plenty of time to experience Tokyo in all its facets..
 
maybe you should ask people were you shouldn't go...

(and then go there to see why...)

its a good thing im not a cat.
 
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