The Japan Trip Resource Thread!

[wicky]

oh thanks for the suggestions...

I will add them to my list (which is currently just a maneki-neko )

[kryss]

Split-toed socks and all the matcha powder her can carry.

[noobish hat]

How about some GAMES

[Square]

Sheeeeiiiiit – just realised I'm flying to Narita in less than 3 weeks...

Edit: Last minute question. Was planing to get around Tokyo using those 1000 Yen passes (Metro & Toei) each day, but then I saw something called a Suica Card, which seems to be valid on just about everything.

I'll be travelling around the city a fair bit, but I have no idea which one is going to be better value for money. Anyone have any advice?

[Richard.John]

Suica and Pasmo are just pre-paid cards, that can be used on JR, Metro, Toei and buses etc. No discounts as such.

[Square]

Thanks for the advice – I guess it depend how much I'll use the subway. Maybe I'll get regular tickets for a couple of days to see how much I'm spending, then I can switch to a travelcard if works out cheaper.

[teddymeow]

Suica does feature the awesome Penguin though! That was enough to sell me and Mrs Teddy on getting one!

[Square]

Suica does feature the awesome Penguin though! That was enough to sell me and Mrs Teddy on getting one!

This fella?

[teddymeow]

This fella?

Hell yeah!! That is one adorable mascot!

[randombs]

Looks like Pingu with a thigh tumour...

[Richard.John]

Thanks for the advice ? I guess it depend how much I'll use the subway. Maybe I'll get regular tickets for a couple of days to see how much I'm spending, then I can switch to a travelcard if works out cheaper.

Obviously if you're going to use the Metro all day and often, then a day pass is going to be cheaper as a single entry is 160 yen for the Metro, 170 yen for Toei lines, etc. The benefits of Suica and Pasmo are just the ease at which you can move around as pre-paid. A frequently overlooked means of getting around
is the bus network. 500 yen gets you an all day pass and at least you get to see the city as you move around, not just dark tunnels.

[sj33]

So, 1.5 weeks until my year in Japan starts, and I'm having to think about cash to spend. I'm bringing over enough Yen to last until I get round to opening a Japanese bank account, but just in case, can I use my debit card (Visa Debit with Link logo) on a Japanese ATM? I assume I'd have to pay a surcharge if I can, but that would do as a backup.

I know Japan is largely a cash-based society, so my Credit Card won't be much help in most places. I'm surprised more people aren't robbed if they have to walk around carrying so much cash on them.

[noobish hat]

No, it's the other way round - they carry that much cash around BECAUSE they don't get robbed. Be aware though, cash machines have closing times, and days, so don't be shy about carrying enough cash to get you by. When I first arrived in Japan, I took about a thousand pounds in yen, and my friends at the same uni brought almost nothing. It was (another) national holiday or something so the machines were closed and the first few days there they really struggled. Same thing happened to them at new year as I recall. When they are open, post office cash machines worked with all our british bank cards as far as I can remember, HSBC for certain. It's pretty safe to carry wads of dough around. Which jap uni are you going to? Did I already ask you that before?

EDIT: Oh, and remember that jap cash machines are booths with sliding doors - one customer at a time please. The first day we arrived, a friend of mine walked into a booth with a young woman already in there, and waited behind her, which would be like standing inside an occupied phone booth to await your turn in the UK.

[sj33]

Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. I'm bringing about a thousand pounds in Yen too, but a chunk of that will be going towards university fees (even they don't accept credit card!), so as long as I have some backup options for cash, all should be well. I intend to open up a Japanese bank account as soon as I can, so I can transfer funds from my UK account.

[noobish hat]

lol, I only ever used my Jap bank account for the accomodation's maintenance fee or something, which was the one and only thing that was required to be paid through a Jap account. Everything else I just paid in cash withdrawn from my British bank. Incidentally, does anyone know how long a Jap account would be kept open by the bank if it was not used? I was thinking of moving back to Japan some time soon and it would useful to have my old account ready to use. Thing is, it's been empty and unused for about 3 years now.