MikeHattsu
Member
It's a blog about foreigners reactions to various Japanese stuff. Seems to be updated once a day.
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Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
It's a blog about foreigners reactions to various Japanese stuff. Seems to be updated once a day.
Oh fair enough, interesting.
MikeHattsu
Member
Hm... Anybody gonna be in Tokyo on October 1st or Osaka/Kyoto/Kansai October 20th here?
killertofu
Member
Finally got my rolls of film developed and I'm so glad they actually came out.
Marion Cobretti
Member
Hey guys, looks like I'm gonna a have a free weekend with no plans. I'll be in Aizu, wondering if I should go back to Tokyo for a few days, maybe Nikko, or, was hoping you guys would recommend something near Aizu, that I can get to via train, that's not on my radar.
I'm totally open to anything.
I'm totally open to anything.
My late July trip has started taking shape (somewhat)! Going to fly into Osaka and be there for 4 nights. Will be staying in the Hilton Osaka since that seems to be in the middle of stuff? So far just have Dotonburi and Shinsaibashi on the list though. Any other places to recommend checking out?
After that I'm going to Tokyo for a few days and flying out from Narita. Don't have much of a plan for that either though besides shopping. The group I'm going with wanted a hotel near Chiyoda-ku (for Akihabara I guess) though reading stories about Akihabara on GAF I'm not sure if it's worth going there these days? I personally wanted to check out Gundam Front but I'd be ok skipping it.
Haven't been to Japan for probably more than like 8+ years so excited to visit again. The previous trip I had only visited Hokkaido.
After that I'm going to Tokyo for a few days and flying out from Narita. Don't have much of a plan for that either though besides shopping. The group I'm going with wanted a hotel near Chiyoda-ku (for Akihabara I guess) though reading stories about Akihabara on GAF I'm not sure if it's worth going there these days? I personally wanted to check out Gundam Front but I'd be ok skipping it.
Haven't been to Japan for probably more than like 8+ years so excited to visit again. The previous trip I had only visited Hokkaido.
MikeHattsu
Member
Easy to spend a day there? I might check it out then.
MikeHattsu
Member
Trying to understand this map, is there a train swap at Osaki station to get on the line that goes to Odaiba? Or can I take a single train from say, Shinjuku, all the way to Tokyo Teleport.
http://www.metroeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Rinkai-Line-Map.gif
You have to transfer to the Rinkai Line at Osaki station. There is no direct connection from Shinjuku station.
Just use Hyperdia. It will show you when you have to transfer.
http://www.hyperdia.com
Just use Hyperdia. It will show you when you have to transfer.
http://www.hyperdia.com
MikeHattsu
Member
Depends on which train you get on
Some JR Saikyo line trains will run all the way to Tokyo Teleport from Shinjuku. The Rinkai Line is not owned by JR, so if you got an JR Pass, you'll have to pay extra when travelling beyond Osaki.
If you're gonna spend the whole day at Odaiba at lots of different places (especially if you're gonna go to Oedo Onsen or Miraikan) I'd recommend getting a daypass for the Yurikamome (which connects to the JR Yamanote line at Shimbashi) instead of taking the Rinkai Line, so you don't have to walk that much between the places.
MikeHattsu
Member
Not true as some JR Saikyo trains continues onwards on the Rinkai line.
Seems I confused it with the Yurikamome.
Depends on which train you get on
Some JR Saikyo line trains will run all the way to Tokyo Teleport from Shinjuku. The Rinkai Line is not owned by JR, so if you got an JR Pass, you'll have to pay extra when travelling beyond Osaki.
If you're gonna spend the whole day at Odaiba at lots of different places (especially if you're gonna go to Oedo Onsen or Miraikan) I'd recommend getting a daypass for the Yurikamome (which connects to the JR Yamanote line at Shimbashi) instead of taking the Rinkai Line, so you don't have to walk that much between the places.
Is it easy to tell which Saikyo trains run directly there?
I'll probably try to figure out which option I do when I actually pick out where I'm staying at in Tokyo lol. Worst case I could just ask someone at the station. D:
Does the Yurikamome help if I wanted to check out Aquacity, Diver City, Palette Town and Miraiken? Can't tell where Yurikamome runs on this map or how big everything is for walking. Is it the pink line?
http://www.bigsight.jp/download/public/access_map_e_color.pdf
MikeHattsu
Member
Never taken the Rinkai Line since I've always used the Yurikamome
But it should say if it terminates in Osaki or goes further I guess. If not then you could just go on a train, and if the last stop is Osaki, then just change trains at Osaki
Check the map here for the Yurikamome stops (the orange line with the station names marked in black):
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3008.html
Never taken the Rinkai Line since I've always used the Yurikamome
But it should say if it terminates in Osaki or goes further I guess. If not then you could just go on a train, and if the last stop is Osaki, then just change trains at Osaki
Check the map here for the Yurikamome stops (the orange line with the station names marked in black):
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3008.html
Ah ok, that does look really helpful. I'll probably go with Yurikamome then. Thanks.
Marion Cobretti
Member
I wanted to check out Odaiba to see some lowriders. Does anyone know if they only meet up on specific days?
Im also dying to see some Rockabilly dudes in Yoyogi Park. Any specific days for that?
Im also dying to see some Rockabilly dudes in Yoyogi Park. Any specific days for that?
SiegfriedFM
Member
I think Diver City has the VR exhibition thing that you need to sign up for. Might be worth looking up.
Currently in Osaka. My plan was to go to Nara tomorrow just for the deer park and then go to Kyoto. The following day I'm going back to Osaka from Kyoto and hen taking the bullet train back. I had the one day pass thing I bought off japanican as part of the bullet train package and I assumed that would cover where I need to the next couple of days. It appears I was mistaken. What's my best course of action?
MikeHattsu
Member
Sundays
Use your Suica/Pasmo card to get to Nara and Kyoto by train and for taking the train back to Shin-Osaka. Get a bus pass for travel inside Kyoto.
Which trains depends on where you're staying in Osaka and Kyoto.
There have been a couple of individual threads over time that have been hijacked as well. There is no general thread afaik. Just open a new thread in OT
Thanks. I think what ended up happening to me yesterday was that I tried to use the Osaka 1 day to take a train when it's only good for subways. When I ran the ticket through to get on I noticed it gave me what appeared to be an error message but the door things didn't close on me so I just went through. After I got out and tried to swipe to leave the place the door things did stop me. The station attendant saw that I was confused and just let me through. The benefits of being a tourist I guess lol
ThreePiMatt
Member
Hey, sort of got myself banned before I put this up, but here are my pics from a month or so ago. Not much this time around, just mainly old video games and baseball.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Avu3X1dkhf1dgqgn7iH1WDLADuWSeg
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Avu3X1dkhf1dgqgn7iH1WDLADuWSeg
MikeHattsu
Member
Domino's Pizza, eh? ;p
ThreePiMatt
Member
I was at a baseball game, wanted to see what Japan's version of Domino's pizza was like. It was not particularly good.
Laevateinn
Member
Miraikan looks pretty cool. I'll have to go next time.
ThreePiMatt
Member
The Game On exhibit was temporary, its gone now. Rest of the museum is interesting but you're probably only going to get a couple hours out of it, fortunately Odaiba in general is a pretty cool place.
Laevateinn
Member
When I went to Odaiba, I made the mistake of walking there from Tsukiji so by the time I got there, we did Joypolis and were going to pass out. I definitely need to do it properly. The Rainbow Bridge is pretty cool though.
The Shapesmith
Member
How many baseball games did you go to and how was the experience? I am kind of fascinated by Japanese baseball and its on my agenda when I eventually go.
ThreePiMatt
Member
I went to a Giants v. Tigers game at the Tokyo Dome back in 2014. Was pretty enjoyable, stadium is kinda "eh," very similar to the old Metrodome.
This past trip I went to three games:
Yokult Swallows v. Hiroshima Carp at Meiji Jingu Stadium - Wasn't planning on going to a game that day, but I didn't have much scheduled the first full day in Japan in case jet lag got the best of me, but I felt good so I bought tickets before the game. The seats were upper deck, last row, which gave me plenty of leg room. The stadium is old, built in the 1920s, and whatever renovations its gone through don't really modernize it all that much.
Yokohama DeNA Baystars v Hanshin Tigers at Yokohama Municipal Stadium - This stadium is kind of rough. Very cramped seating, especially for a 6'4" American. No armrests, very little legroom. Interestingly, the guy who was doing the announcements spoke entirely in English (a woman called up the players for the Tigers). What was weird was that the guy didn't sound like a native English speaker, but based on the way he pronounced player names he didn't sound like a native Japanese speaker either.
Chiba Lotte Marines v Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at QVC Marine Stadium - Easily the nicest stadium in Japan I've been to. Comfortable seats with plenty of legroom, most food options. The game lasted just shy of 5 hours and I felt comfortable the whole time. Visually its kind of uninteresting, but enjoyed it the most. Also, I got to see former White Sox World Series winner Tadahito Iguchi win the game with a walk off hit.
I'd really like to see a game in Hiroshima. Their stadium was built relatively recently, and looks like what modern ballparks look like.
Overall the experience is very much unlikely American baseball. The cheering sections are non-stop with the chanting and you get a much larger visiting team fan presence than at US games.
I feel like the idea of it is far better than the actual execution.
Marion Cobretti
Member
I wanna go to a Giants game this weekend. Can you get tickets at the game or do you definitely need to buy in advance? If so, where's the best place to buy tickets?
MikeHattsu
Member
Laevateinn
Member
ThreePiMatt
Member
Giants might be tough since they're a popular team that's more likely to sell out. But you can get tickets at Loppi machines in Lawsons. Just find the l-code and use a tutorial to get through the menus.
http://l-tike.com/guide/loppi_english.html
After you select the seats you have to put in a phone number and name (in kana).
Marion Cobretti
Member
I'm not gonna have a phone number while I'm there. Any suggestions?
I have to go to a travel agent today to buy my Japan rail pass, maybe I'll ask them if they can get me baseball and Studio Ghibli tickets.
I have to go to a travel agent today to buy my Japan rail pass, maybe I'll ask them if they can get me baseball and Studio Ghibli tickets.
MikeHattsu
Member
Ghibli tickets are sold out for the period you're there. Should have ordered tickets online earlier this month when they went up.
Marion Cobretti
Member
No Japanese phone number. Can it be American ?
ThreePiMatt
Member
Yeah, I just plug in my American phone number (starting with 1+area code). Honestly, I don't think they really care or check it. The first time I used the machines when I paid at the register they asked me to sign (in kana) the receipt, but the second time they didn't bother, just gave me the tickets.
Ah. Yes. American should be fine. You also could use Skype.
Marion Cobretti
Member
Just went over thee schedule again, and it looks like they're not playing in the Dome any of the times that I'll be in Tokyo.
There are a couple games going on in Yokohama, but I think part of the appeal for me was to check out a game at the Dome. I'm kinda torn.
Oh wait, it looks like there's a game on Monday at the Dome, it's just not the Giants. Hawks vs Marines. Might as well go to that game right? I'm also gonna assume they're not as popular as The Giants, so I can likely just get tickets at the game? I'll likely try to get the tickets as soon as possible regardless.
edit: Crap, seems to be sold out. What's the deal with scalpers? I'm assuming that's something the Japanese don't do.
There's a Dome in Hokkaido. I was considering going there for a day or two, so that would be great incentive. I'm thinking I can take a red eye from Tokyo to Hokkaido, spend a day there, see the game, and take a red eye (if possible) back to Tokyo.
What do you guys think?
There are a couple games going on in Yokohama, but I think part of the appeal for me was to check out a game at the Dome. I'm kinda torn.
Oh wait, it looks like there's a game on Monday at the Dome, it's just not the Giants. Hawks vs Marines. Might as well go to that game right? I'm also gonna assume they're not as popular as The Giants, so I can likely just get tickets at the game? I'll likely try to get the tickets as soon as possible regardless.
edit: Crap, seems to be sold out. What's the deal with scalpers? I'm assuming that's something the Japanese don't do.
There's a Dome in Hokkaido. I was considering going there for a day or two, so that would be great incentive. I'm thinking I can take a red eye from Tokyo to Hokkaido, spend a day there, see the game, and take a red eye (if possible) back to Tokyo.
What do you guys think?
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, if you're willing to spend $150+ on flights to see a game, then sure.
Edit: Or are you talking about taking trains? There are no overnight trains running* and the trip one way is about 8.5 hours to Sapporo from Tokyo.
*With one exception that's only running infrequently, it's not covered by the JR Pass, takes 16.5 hours and good luck getting tickets, cause it's usually full.
Marion Cobretti
Member
: (
Oh well. I guess I'll consider going to a game in Yokohama.
What's the deal with scalpers? Does they even exist in Japan? I really want to go to a game at the Dome.
Oh well. I guess I'll consider going to a game in Yokohama.
What's the deal with scalpers? Does they even exist in Japan? I really want to go to a game at the Dome.
ThreePiMatt
Member
I'm sure scalpers exist, but couldn't help you on that front. I definitely don't think you'll see them just hawking tickets outside the stadium since the area around the Dome is like a touristy place/mini-amusement park and there's a decent number of security type folks around on gameday.
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, for Ghibli and concerts I've seen tickets on Yahoo Auctions, but you'd need somebody in Japan to help you buy tickets on there.
You could try this company I guess:
https://www.govoyagin.com/activities/japan-tokyo-get-tickets-to-a-baseball-game-at-tokyo-dome/89
They sell scalper tickets for other stuff, so they might be able to help you.
You could try this company I guess:
https://www.govoyagin.com/activities/japan-tokyo-get-tickets-to-a-baseball-game-at-tokyo-dome/89
They sell scalper tickets for other stuff, so they might be able to help you.