The Japan Trip Resource Thread!

[Richard.John]

Not in Yodobashi though. When I bought my camera I had to wait until the next day to use my points as my 'Gold Point' card was new. I thought it was a bit odd and that the guy had made a mistake but I went into a Shinjuku branch, he also told me that I had to wait until the system updates overnight.

[teddymeow]

Simple tip when buying a PS3:

Go to a big shop like Yodobashi Camera or Bic Bic and first ask for a point card. Don't forget to bring some sort of ID and the adress of your hotel or something. Then buy your PS3, you will get 10% on your point card. Walk back in, and get yourself that free game from the point card.

Ah, tips on how to play the system, cheers very much.

It's getting ridiculous now, I'm far too excited.

Far, far too excited.

But then I did think the other day that this is my first holiday in almost a decade so what the hell, I'll drive my colleagues at work mad for the next month and a bit they'll expect presents anyway so why not make them earn them?!

Last holiday was when I was 16 (that's a scary thought) so I think I have a good reason to be looking forward to this.!

[Bleeders]

Be prepared mate, be very prepared... you won't want to come home.

Believe me, we didn't.

Where you staying?

[teddymeow]

Be prepared mate, be very prepared... you won't want to come home.

Believe me, we didn't.

Where you staying?

Forgive my noobishness if this doesn't work but we're staying here:

http://www.anahoteltokyo.jp/e/index.html

Going with Expedia as a colleague from work recommended them and I thought it would save the hassle of seperate hotel / flight booking. The deal we got was pretty sweet. We're there for 10 days and flying with BA.

Been told by various people not to wear jeans on the day we fly out and to play up the whole Honey moon thing and maybe we'll get bumped up to First Class (can't hurt to try).

It'll only be my third time in a plane, the first two times were to Newcastle and back...slight difference between 50 minutes and 11.5 hours!!

[DCharlie]

It'll only be my third time in a plane, the first two times were to Newcastle and back...slight difference between 50 minutes and 11.5 hours!!

time to charge that DS !

given there are a number of NTSC'ers here in Japan, is there any plan to meet and greet?

[Supergoal]

Meet and greet?

I still haven't met any of you guys in Japan and I've lived here for a total of 4 years!

[teddymeow]

time to charge that DS !

given there are a number of NTSC'ers here in Japan, is there any plan to meet and greet?

Yep, both DSes will be fully charged ready for the day. Luckily one of them is Japanese so I'll be able to use it's charger while we're there too.

Meet & greet? Sounds cool, someone can show us around all the cool places in Akihabara!!

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

Forgive my noobishness if this doesn't work but we're staying here:

http://www.anahoteltokyo.jp/e/index.html

Going with Expedia as a colleague from work recommended them and I thought it would save the hassle of seperate hotel / flight booking. The deal we got was pretty sweet. We're there for 10 days and flying with BA.

Been told by various people not to wear jeans on the day we fly out and to play up the whole Honey moon thing and maybe we'll get bumped up to First Class (can't hurt to try).

It'll only be my third time in a plane, the first two times were to Newcastle and back...slight difference between 50 minutes and 11.5 hours!!

Is it really any more of a hassle to book a hotel and flight separately??

[teddymeow]

Is it really any more of a hassle to book a hotel and flight separately??

Is for me, I'm useless at any of that organisation rubbish!!

Figured click on the one website that people have told me is good and go from there. At least I have all my reference numbers etc to hand on one form and if anything does go wrong all my complaints go to the same place.

I'd never booked a holiday myself before this one so I wanted it to be as painless an experience as possible.

[JU!]

Meet and greet?

I still haven't met any of you guys in Japan and I've lived here for a total of 4 years!

You wait mate. I'll be in contact when i'm comin don't u fret

[teddymeow]

Quick question regarding finance during my trip. I've got a spending budget (gotta love those "what do you want for Xmas?" requests) and I'm just wondering what the easiest way to get hold of my money in Japan would be?

I bank with Lloyds TSB and I'm going to arrive in Japan with some cash on me but whaa about after that? I keep reading about how Japan is still pretty much a cash based society and cards aren't readily accepted. Is that a myth?

I've been told that there are international cashpoints in Post Offices but their opening hours are a little erratic Also, if I use one of these cashpoints will it show my balance in Yen or GBP?

The above may seem a little daft but I'm trying to cover all the important stuff before I get there.

Ta for any help.

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

CitiBank accept western cards, there are a few dotted around touristy places like Shibuya et al

Iv'e never managed to get any cash machines in Japan to display my balance, but maybe folks that live there have had more luck?

[Champloo]

You could just use travellers cheques. That's what I did since I wasn't too sure my debit card would be much good and I changed some sterling into yen before leaving so I had a it of cash when I got there. And I brought some sterling just in case which I did end up using, money goes fast there.

[dave heats]

Just get cash out when you get there, or use a decent credit card. Theres universal cash points in many places, but once you find one, you can just keep going back if you need a top up of moolah.

My personal tokyo favourite being the 24hr one next to the cinema round the corner from Tower Shibuya! Ah how i miss the incredibly polite cash machine voice. ^_^

[JAPJAC]

Quick question regarding finance during my trip. I've got a spending budget (gotta love those "what do you want for Xmas?" requests) and I'm just wondering what the easiest way to get hold of my money in Japan would be?

I bank with Lloyds TSB and I'm going to arrive in Japan with some cash on me but whaa about after that? I keep reading about how Japan is still pretty much a cash based society and cards aren't readily accepted. Is that a myth?

I've been told that there are international cashpoints in Post Offices but their opening hours are a little erratic Also, if I use one of these cashpoints will it show my balance in Yen or GBP?

The above may seem a little daft but I'm trying to cover all the important stuff before I get there.

Ta for any help.

Credit cards are pretty mush useless when game shopping for example. The best technique I have found is this mate: Does your Lloyds English Cash Point Card have a `Cirrus` Logo on it? If not, ask them to issue you one if they have offer that service. If Lloyds don`t, join HSBC in England and ask for a Cash Point Card with a `Cirrus` Logo on it. As soon as you get one of these cards you can pop along to any Citi Bank in Japan (by far the most foreigner friendly machines and most popular) and take out your money direct from your English HSBC account (as you would obviously put your holiday money into your English account ready) using your English PIN even! (remembering to press the top option of `Transfer`) They only charge pennies each time too which is mint and you can withdraw 250 quid a day. I hope this helps.

As for having to wait the next day in order to use fresh points-never in all my years has this ever happened to me. I don`t even bother to walk in and out, just separate my items when it the till, works every time. Only the other day bought a couple of 60GB`s and they gave me a free DSL and I thought-"This clearly is the cheapest country in the World!"

Say:

"Points gets" - point at first item with money and points card.
"Points use" - point at second item with the money balance and charged points card.

Easy peasy Japaneasy.