Yes, it's safe. Don't worry about it. Japan is very very very safe country. I asked all of my hotels to hold the luggage in the lobby and it was fine.
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Japan Travel |OT| One does simply not visit just once
- Thread starter hwalker84
- Start date
Yes, it's safe. Don't worry about it. Japan is very very very safe country. I asked all of my hotels to hold the luggage in the lobby and it was fine.
cj_iwakura
Member
I forgot a pair of skechers at the lobby of the Omori Seaside Inn in Shinagawa.
I have the strangest feeling they'll be there waiting when I go back.
Robot Carnival
Member
so, somewhat last minute, but I'm gona be in Japan traveling for the third time in a few days. starting in Tokyo, then Yokohama, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and then Kyoto and Osaka again before heading to Tokyo to fly back to the US. therefore, I come to you, GAF, for some advise again.
now since this is the third time in the country, I do have some general idea of what to do and where to go. thou regarding Tokyo I can still use some pointers please. I already booked for Robot Restaurant and plan on going to Tsukiji, but any other suggestions? I'm staying near Asakusa btw. and what's some local favorite good eats?
also, not too sure of where to visit when I'm in Yokohama, Nagoya and Hiroshima. any suggestions? thanks ahead of time and let me know if you're in any of these areas I'm going and beer's on me lol
now since this is the third time in the country, I do have some general idea of what to do and where to go. thou regarding Tokyo I can still use some pointers please. I already booked for Robot Restaurant and plan on going to Tsukiji, but any other suggestions? I'm staying near Asakusa btw. and what's some local favorite good eats?
also, not too sure of where to visit when I'm in Yokohama, Nagoya and Hiroshima. any suggestions? thanks ahead of time and let me know if you're in any of these areas I'm going and beer's on me lol
are you kidding me... my girl is going to be pissed, she was looking forward to them.
oh good at least something. we're staying in shinjuku so that's convenient.
Vigilant Walrus
Member
Does anyone know if there is a place where I can see the whole segment show? Anyone who know if its a gameshow that might have clips on youtube?
Japanese girls sees a bodybuilder:
It looks hilarious. They reactions are priceless!
Japanese girls sees a bodybuilder:
It looks hilarious. They reactions are priceless!
MikeHattsu
Member
Just check out all the small local eateries, there's tons of them in Asakusa. Could check out the kebab place that sells kebabrice as well
You already been to the Peace museum/park and Miyajima in Hiroshima? If not, then go there
It's one of those idol variety shows. SKE48のエビフライデーナイト
Robot Carnival
Member
Just check out all the small local eateries, there's tons of them in Asakusa. Could check out the kebab place that sells kebabrice as well
You already been to the Peace museum/park and Miyajima in Hiroshima? If not, then go there
Haha, alright. in regards to Hiroshima, I suppose the Peace Park and all the atomic bomb related stuff is probably a must. since I'll be there a few days thou, I'm thinking about some other places near by also. but I'll look into it a little more myself too.
MikeHattsu
Member
The English tour is booked solid up until April 18th though.
Of course, the Japanese one still got spots on 1 day in March and 2 in April in the same timeframe.
Ahh, I booked my tour ages ago!
I left my jacket on Ueno park. Came back the next day and someone gave it to the lost and found lol
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, tell us how many days you're spending in each city and what you've done there before and we might know some places to go that you've not been before
As you need to do if you want to check it out ;P
Robot Carnival
Member
Well, tell us how many days you're spending in each city and what you've done there before and we might know some places to go that you've not been before
my apologies, typing on the road right now so sometimes went with the simplified version. I'll be in Tokyo from 24th to 29th, Yokohama from 29th to 31st, Nagoya from 31st to the 2nd, and Hiroshima from 2nd to 5th. I'll also be at Kyoto (Otsu) and Osaka for a few days after that before heading back. I've never been to Yokohama, Nagoya and Hiroshima before. as for Tokyo, I've been to some of the more touristy places, such as Minji Shrine and Ghibli Museum.
MikeHattsu
Member
If you've not gone before then you should. There's periodic maintenance going on from May 15th through May 26th so you can't go in week 4.
Online tickets for foreigners for May go on sale on April 10th at 10:00 Japan time here:
https://l-tike.com/st1/ghibli-en/sitetop
You will need to go to the site ASAP when tickets go up since they sell out really fast. Morning tickets for any date seems to sell out within the first hour.
If you know anybody in Japan you could try getting them to buy Japanese tickets for you, which sells out slightly slower.
MikeHattsu
Member
Well, check out the Chinatown and the Ramen and/or Cup Noodle museum in Yokohama. If you're interested in ships you could check out the Hikawa Maru at Yamashita Park. There's also the fancy Motomachi shopping street.
In Nagoya there's the railway museum if you're interested in Japanese trains or you could go to one of the Toyota museums if you like Toyota cars. The Toyota factory tour is booked solid though
Check out Osu Kannon Temple and the nearby shopping streets that got all the big anime/manga/games shops in Nagoya. Could do day trips to the Shima peninsula, Inuyama to check out the castle, Kiso valley, maybe even Takayama, and check out Moricoro Park (which has a reproduction of the house from My Neighbor Totoro in it) in Nagakute as well.In Hiroshima check out the Hondori shopping arcade and eat some okonomiyaki, and since you're there for several days you should do a full day in Miyajima and check out Itsukushima Shrine, the deers and maybe hike up Mount Misen if you're up for that as well.
Thanks a lot, Mike. You've been a grwat help.
Laevateinn
Member
If we ever rename this thread or get another OT, it will have to be called "The MikeHattsu Travel Agency"
Robot Carnival
Member
Well, check out the Chinatown and the Ramen and/or Cup Noodle museum in Yokohama. If you're interested in ships you could check out the Hikawa Maru at Yamashita Park. There's also the fancy Motomachi shopping street.
In Nagoya there's the railway museum if you're interested in Japanese trains or you could go to one of the Toyota museums if you like Toyota cars. The Toyota factory tour is booked solid though
In Hiroshima check out the Hondori shopping arcade and eat some okonomiyaki, and since you're there for several days you should do a full day in Miyajima and check out Itsukushima Shrine, the deers and maybe hike up Mount Misen if you're up for that as well.
oh, Ramen/cup noodle museum is definitely something I'm interested in. not too sure about the boat and the shopping street but I'm game. as for Nagoya, all those places you mentioned sounds cool and I'll look they up for sure to see how best to go about visiting. and yes, definitely going to visit Miyajima and the shrine. how long is the hike up Mt. Misen going to take? sounds kinda interesting.
lol "Mike's Japan tour. Satisfaction guaranteed!"
MikeHattsu
Member
Supposedly takes 1.5-2.5 hours depending on how fast you walk and which course you choose
Robot Carnival
Member
Supposedly takes 1.5-2.5 hours depending on how fast you walk and which course you choose
cool, might take that into consideration then.
if you don't mind me asking, how you know so much about traveling in Japan anyway? I mean I know you live there and all but you're so knowledgeable on this subject. do you travel around the country a lot in your free time? or do you work in the related field (ie tourism industry)?
MikeHattsu
Member
I don't live in Japan! >_>
Just an interest in travelling there and the train system!
Oh, and seeing places from anime
Laevateinn
Member
Robot Carnival
Member
oh... you're one of those train otaku huh? /takes a few step back
totally kidding lol I respect those who's into trains, boats, planes or military stuff. that and I'm in no position to talk with my manga addiction.
that's even more impressive to be fair, being Norwegian and all.
MikeHattsu
Member
Nah, not that deep an interest. Just enough to take pics of different trains I've been on and check out the train museum in Nagoya ;P
PdotMichael
Banned
Trains are amazing. I'm already pretty hyped about taking the Shinkansen several times this fall.
Coming from a country where our trains are much derided (and rightly so), and pretty much always late, delayed or cancelled, I too am looking forward to travelling on a decent rail system!
Hexxen-Panda
Member
This exchange rate chart is making me very, very nervous.
My poor Canadian dollar!
Valkerionseven
Member
Yup thats the one. Show is like... 3~ish years old but there should be plenty of clips on youtube of it and all their other nonsense. Though their quality might be crap since they are not official.
Also thanks for the heads up Mike on the blossoms, had not been paying attention this year to other cities. Looks like I will miss Osaka's main bloom by a week same with Kyoto. Guess I will settle for Fukuoka and Kumamoto this year for my sakura travel spot.
cj_iwakura
Member
But seriously, if anyone's at the Omori Kaigan station in Shinagawa and wants to take a few minutes to indulge my curiosity, it's the Seaside Inn about a block northwest of the station.
It's like right across the street from the Shinagawa Aquarium and near a Tempura restaurant right under the tracks.
They're blue skechers.
It's also a very cozy, cheap place to stay.
It's like right across the street from the Shinagawa Aquarium and near a Tempura restaurant right under the tracks.
They're blue skechers.
It's also a very cozy, cheap place to stay.
Robot Carnival
Member
UnluckyKate
Member
Looks amazing and good prices but ENTIRELY booked for april...
DracoBlade
Member
Is this new? I was just about to call my local JTB branch too. Is this cheaper than the exorbitant JTB price?
MikeHattsu
Member
They started selling some tickets to foreigners in the Fall last year, so it's kinda new, and they're cheaper than JTB tickets yes. JTB tickets lets you go at whatever time you want though instead of having a 2 hour time slot for entry.
AFAIK JTB tickets for both May and June is completely sold out now. Should have booked February 1st or March 1st depending on which month you wanted to go.
DracoBlade
Member
Lawson's it is then! Thanks as always for the help!
MikeHattsu
Member
Remember that tickets go fast, so you'll need to be there at 10:00 Japan time on April 10th or May 10th to order
MikeHattsu
Member
Could try the post office ATMs.
vacantseas
Member
Wife and I are supposed to leave in 30 hours. Still dont know if we're going or not. We're flying standby with buddy passes. As of now it looks like we'll be able to get seats on the plane, but it's going to be tight. We're really hoping it works out!!!
One question about exchanging money to yen. At the airport is the best right? Possible to use a debit card to withdraw money (i know there might be bank fees to withdraw) at the airport exchange office? Or best to just arrive cash in hand and then exchange that?
One question about exchanging money to yen. At the airport is the best right? Possible to use a debit card to withdraw money (i know there might be bank fees to withdraw) at the airport exchange office? Or best to just arrive cash in hand and then exchange that?
Laevateinn
Member
I'd say it depends a lot on your situation. I have a bank account that has no international transaction fees so using an ATM gives me the current bank rate. If I had an account through a horrible bank like Chase, it would be better to take the shitty rates at an exchange company.
I would go online and look up your bank's policies but it's definitely too late to order the money from your bank which is typically a good middle ground and what I did for my first trip.
MikeHattsu
Member
At the airport in Japan, yeah. If your card is a normal Visa, Mastercard or other such things, then it should most likely work. Note that Visa Electron might not work in 7-11 ATMs, but they will at post office ATMs.
If you're from the US then bringing cash might give you a better deal if you got more than 2% or so withdrawal fees for your card.
But if you're from Canada or something then the fees would have to be 10% for it to pay off bringing cash
I see that a lot of Gafers are going to Japan. This is great (and also expected. ).
I, too, am going to Japan for the second time in a month and I was thinking if maybe somehow we could make a meet-up of fellow Gaffers. I am arriving on the 20th of April and leaving on the 10th of May. Unfortunately I am on a bit of a tight schedule (already booked hostels in different cities for the entire trip) but maybe we can work something out! If anyone is up for it we can arrange something and get to know each other. For me, meeting foreign people on a trip is one the best things especially if we have something in common.
Is there maybe a separate thread for Gaf meet-ups in Japan? I would be glad to organize something there (although still as a junior member I will need some help with the OP. I guess I need to post more, not only read).
Anyone interested can PM me.
Oh and about Visa Electrons... I can confirm that they work on 7-11 ATMs. Used it with no problems last year I was there.
).I, too, am going to Japan for the second time in a month and I was thinking if maybe somehow we could make a meet-up of fellow Gaffers. I am arriving on the 20th of April and leaving on the 10th of May. Unfortunately I am on a bit of a tight schedule (already booked hostels in different cities for the entire trip) but maybe we can work something out! If anyone is up for it we can arrange something and get to know each other. For me, meeting foreign people on a trip is one the best things especially if we have something in common.
Is there maybe a separate thread for Gaf meet-ups in Japan? I would be glad to organize something there (although still as a junior member I will need some help with the OP. I guess I need to post more, not only read
).Anyone interested can PM me.
Oh and about Visa Electrons... I can confirm that they work on 7-11 ATMs. Used it with no problems last year I was there.
This exchange rate chart is making me very, very nervous.
My poor Canadian dollar!
When I moved to Japan, the Canadian dollar was in the mid to high 70s I think? It hurt. Be thankful it's sitting above 80, because it's been on and off shit for a couple of years now
Finally have all my flights and train schedules figured out! Leaving on 3/31 and returning 4/10. Going from Tokyo -> Osaka with day trips to Kyoto -> Hakone -> Tokyo. Any thoughts on the below itinerary, or major things I'm missing out on (probably a ton, this is pretty high level)?
http://imgur.com/CcBgvbL
http://imgur.com/CcBgvbL
MikeHattsu
Member
Asahi brewery tour? There's no such thing in Tokyo.
Maybe it's on the outskirts? I saw it here:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1066459-d2058913-Reviews-Asahi_Beer_Headquarters-Sumida_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html
MikeHattsu
Member
It's the headquarters building, not a brewery.
Ohhhh, good catch! Hah going to have to rethink that one then.
MikeHattsu
Member
You could do a half-day trip to the Kirin brewery in Yokohama.
Great idea! Thank you! Do you recommend Uber in Tokyo? Just looking at Google Maps it seems like it would be a half hour Uber compared to 1hr 10min train ride (although it could be because it's currently 3AM in Tokyo).