The Japan Trip Resource Thread!

[GluedOnBeard]

I have pretty much sat down today and consumed the entirety of this thread, it has been a great help and also made me make the push to make the trip happen this year! However I did skip a few pages here and there and have a few questions I did not see answered:

The first one being for anyone who has been recently how much did all of the inoculations cost as I have heard prices have gone up a fair bit.

Someone mentioned it being a good idea to get a subway map before leaving, does anyone know where to buy one, I have looked around but nothing seems adequate.

How long does it take to get to Mt Fuji from Tokyo, is it possible to be there, to the top and back in one day?

If you had the choice of going for 3 weeks between June and September, when would be the best time to go?

The dreaded bank card question, I am with HSBC and only have a maestro card, is this going to see me through or will I need to get a VISA card, even if it is only electron?

The final one is, where is the best place to check for gigs before I go to book them?

Thanks for the thread and any help in advance

[kryss]

I never had any innoculations...

You can get subway maps in the subway. For free.

Pass.

Anytime. If you're going to Tokyo, what you've heard about the rainy season is wrong.

Change money at the Post Office before you go. You can use cash points with Maestro signs in Post Offices in Japan I think.

Pass again.

That's my 2 en.

[neoboy259]

Pretty certain you dont need any jabs for visiting Tokyo! At least, I've never had any. best check with your GP though!

For subway maps, grab a Rough Guide or Lonely Planet travel guide, they normally have maps in the back, or Google image one and print it off! Easy!

Mt Fuji, it aint possible to climb to the top and get back in one day from Tokyo. Anyway, most people recommend doing the climb whilst dark so that you reach the summit just as day breaks.

I've been to Tokyo twice in September, even then it was around 35c and humid as feck. God knows what it would be like in August, probably hell on earth.

Regarding cards, just carry cash. Everyone does in Japan, granted it may not be practical to carry a substantial amount with you everywhere, we just carried what we needed and left the rest in the safe in our hotel.

HTH

[Taka]

The first one being for anyone who has been recently how much did all of the inoculations cost as I have heard prices have gone up a fair bit.

Someone mentioned it being a good idea to get a subway map before leaving, does anyone know where to buy one, I have looked around but nothing seems adequate.

How long does it take to get to Mt Fuji from Tokyo, is it possible to be there, to the top and back in one day?

If you had the choice of going for 3 weeks between June and September, when would be the best time to go?

The dreaded bank card question, I am with HSBC and only have a maestro card, is this going to see me through or will I need to get a VISA card, even if it is only electron?

The final one is, where is the best place to check for gigs before I go to book them?

Thanks for the thread and any help in advance

1) You don't need any jabs to get into Japan, at least from the UK.

2) I have a high res scan of the Tokyo rail network map if you want a copy. I carried it on my iPhone and didn't have to faff about with a paper one getting tatty etc.

3) Pass.

4) I went in September and it's a lot more tolerable from what my friends over there tell me. Some evenings, I'd have to wear a jacket since it can get chilly but generally, it's t-shirt and jeans weather.

5) Even if you don't want one, I'd take a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) with you just in case. Whilst I was also lead to believe that most places will only accept cash, everywhere I attempted to use a credit card happily accepted it with no problems.

6) Pass.

[kryss]

June - a little rain, nice and hot
July - a little more rain, nice and hot
August - a little rain, usually nice and hot and very humid
September - a little rain, usually nice and hot and humid + random cold days

Thin trousers, short sleeved shirts and a hat. You'll get stared at no matter what you wear so don't let that worry you.

[Darwock]

Unless you are dead set on climbing Fuji and it is one of your main motivations for going (which it doesn't sound like else you wouldn't be wanting to do it in a day trip) I'd think twice about going up there. You've got about a 50/50 chance of getting altitude sickness which will write off a couple of days of your hols.. even if you are fine it will still write off a day afterwards while you rest. I know many people who have done the trip, and several have had to turn back within one hour of reaching the summit due to dizzyness/nausea - young healthy people too, it's not a case of fitness - it either affects you or it doesn't.

edit- if you have the JR pass however it is entirely possible to hop on the shinkansen and head out to a nearby station for the photo opportunity (I went to Shin-Fuji as I didn't have any better ideas, got cracking views) and back to Tokyo in a couple of hours. I'd really recommend going to SEE Fuji (it sent chills down my spine when I first saw it seemingly floating *above* the clouds).. just not necessarily climbing it.

[GluedOnBeard]

Thanks for all the replies, someone just mentioned to me in passing Japan being a tropical island which lead me to believe I needed some jabs, that is great news ^___^; Like you say I will double check though.

Thanks for the advice on Fuji, I think I will go with Darwocks suggestion as it sounds good but I certainly do not want to waste any days of my trip the first time round.

Good to know there are some machines with the maestro logo, I will be generally taking cash from the other comments on here it was more of a 'if' I ran out I could use a maestro card somewhere.

June - a little rain, nice and hot
July - a little more rain, nice and hot
August - a little rain, usually nice and hot and very humid
September - a little rain, usually nice and hot and humid + random cold days

Thanks for that Kryss, seems the times I will be going it is pretty much going to be the same like you say. As for the clothes, looks like I am going to have to go shopping before I go!

Ordered one of those books with the map and nice thinking about the ipod, I shall put one on my touch ^^

Now I just need to find a good hotel/inn price point!

[Vince]

There is so much good info in this thread but i don't have time to read it all, so i thought while its active i'd ask a question as i'm off to Japan for the first time at the end of next month. I'm going to Osaka and Kyoto, i might also go to Kobe and may venture as far as Nagoya as i have a relative living there, but do i really need the rail pass? People have said i have to get one but from my trawling it looks like i'll spend less just paying as i go. I'm there for under 2 weeks and have no intention of going to Tokyo, so what do you reckon?

[wakka]

I'd say get it, simply because you will never have to faff about buying tickets and you're granted total freedom, which is a wonderful thing when you're exploring a country that's new to you.

[Darwock]

There is so much good info in this thread but i don't have time to read it all, so i thought while its active i'd ask a question as i'm off to Japan for the first time at the end of next month. I'm going to Osaka and Kyoto, i might also go to Kobe and may venture as far as Nagoya as i have a relative living there, but do i really need the rail pass? People have said i have to get one but from my trawling it looks like i'll spend less just paying as i go. I'm there for under 2 weeks and have no intention of going to Tokyo, so what do you reckon?

The express train between Osaka and Kyoto costs 390 yen (Hankyu) so you'd be insane to buy the JR pass if that's the extent of your travelling. In both cities you will likely find yourself using the subway more than JR lines so the pass is not going to save you money anywhere else either.

Hankyu is the cheapest line between Osaka and Kyoto but JR is he fastest - 540 yen and gets there in about 30 minutes (rapid express, NOT shinkansen). There's also Keihan which is convenient but not the fastest or cheapest..

Going to Nagoya, the Shinkansen ticket costs about 10,000 yen return from Osaka (not certain as I've never done it, most people I know would go by bus) and takes around an hour. I would say definitely DON'T buy the JR pass.

P.S. Osaka to Kobe is also like 600 yen-ish and takes about 30 minutes on the normal trains. There is no shinkansen station in Kobe anyway.

[Vince]

Thanks, thats great info and confirms what i thought from the things i have read. If i was there for longer i would get the pass as i would travel further but this is only a short trip and i think i'll find enough to do as it is.

[GluedOnBeard]

if you can afford £30 a night i'd recommend the Green Hotel Ochanomizu. You get internet in the room, en suite, etc etc. Only go Sakura if you're gonna get the dorm bed (i couldn't stand it - people coming in and out at all hours, snoring, wobbly, noisy metal bunkbed not made for 6-footers like me!).

I have forgotten who posted this as I grabbed it and put it in a text file and can't seem to find it again.

Is this actually possible, that place seemed nice but so far when looking I am finding £44 a night the cheapest!? This is for July 1st to July 21st.

Am I simply looking in the wrong places as I would like to get it under a grand ;___;

Thanks again for any help!

May be worth mentioning this is the first time booking things myself!

[neoboy259]

I have forgotten who posted this as I grabbed it and put it in a text file and can't seem to find it again.

Is this actually possible, that place seemed nice but so far when looking I am finding ?44 a night the cheapest!? This is for July 1st to July 21st.

Am I simply looking in the wrong places as I would like to get it under a grand ;___;

Thanks again for any help!

May be worth mentioning this is the first time booking things myself!

Considering the strength of the Yen, it was probably ?30 a night when it was written. ?44 a night isnt a bad price all things considered, perhaps try booking a little closer to the date?

[GluedOnBeard]

Ah I see, thanks, would explain everything else! I don't think considering he length of the stay it is a good idea to wait too long? Guess I just have to save more pennies!

[teddymeow]

Yeah, the exchange rate isn't helping matters - I've been keeping a close eye on things to get the best rate possible.

It doesn't help that if things were as healthy as they were last year then my hotel in February would cost me about ?650. As it stands I am looking at a little over ?1000 now. Luckily I have all my spending money saved now so if the rate dramatically improves one day I can cash in and get what I need to. <crosses fingers>

Damn global financial meltdown.

People who live in Japan: does this mean if you send money home you get more ??? for your Yen? I get a bit confused about the to-and-fro with exchange rates.