Here is my comprehensive guide on how our supposed trip to Japan should happen.
Disclaimer: Costs may vary depending on what certain people may or may not like to do/buy.
I have included activities each individual might enjoy more than others, and activities that all we would all enjoy equally.
These values are represented by the symbols and colors below:
* - Recommended
Bobu
Sasha
Peimun
Mandatory
Optional
All would enjoy very much
I also calculated an estimate for how much each day would cost per person. I have highlighted all of these estimates for your convenience. Also, keep in mind that I did not include food purchases in this estimate (I'll add in about $30 a day per person at the end for food)
Important Information to know before we leave:
- The flight will take around 18-24 hours
- Tokyo is 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles.
- Before we leave we need to book all necessary hotels, tours and anything else that would need a reservation in order for us to attend.
- Bring some pocket change to exchange for Yen before we leave.
- For the love of god, someone bring/buy a GPS for helping us locate things around town.
- All of the trains we take MUST be the Japan Rail brand, otherwise we pay out of pocket.
Scenario 1 - 2 week stay (July 2-5? - July 24-27?)
Day 0 (July 1) - All parties will arrive at Peimun's house to prepare for the trip. (Hotel optional, *Cough Sasha cough*)
The average cost of a round trip airline ticket PER PERSON would be:
*Economy: $1100 (Singapore Airlines)
Business: $3300 (Philippines Airlines)
First: $6800 (China Airlines)
Also, we all need to purchase a Japan Rail Pass Voucher (You can trade in the voucher at the Japanese airport) as soon as possible, because in Japan, it's too trafficky to drive, and takes too long to get anywhere with a car, but with this, it allows you unlimited use of their rail system. (I'll talk about it greater detail later.)
Here are the current bundles they offer to tourists:
Peimun's recommendation: Personally, I think we should go for either the green car 21 Consecutive Day Pass.
If we do this, it will cut our travel expenses literally by 75%. (Assuming we can walk a couple blocks to get around town)
With that said, it will cost roughly $490 per person for the Ordinary Car Ticket.
You can buy it here.
Thought we were done talking about travel?
Unfortunately, it's far from over.
Depending on what city we're in, we'll need to purchase prepaid bus and train tickets for rail lines that are not operated by JR.
The good news is that JR operates all shinkansen and the majority of the lines in the major cities, but we'll need to buy a prepaid card for the lines that are not JR (They're all interconnected) in the case that they are not available for our designated route.
For Tokyo and Kyoto, we'll be using the Pasmo card.
For Osaka, we'll be using the Pitapa card.
They are all avalible for purchase at local train stations and conveinence stores within the city, so we don't need to buy them in advance.
Each card requires a 500 yen ($4) deposit and can be recharged with additional funds for up to 10 years.
I predict we'll spend around $20 per person on the Pasmo
and $10ish on the Pitapa
Thought we were done talking about travel?
Unfortunately, it's far from over.
Depending on what city we're in, we'll need to purchase prepaid bus and train tickets for rail lines that are not operated by JR.
The good news is that JR operates all shinkansen and the majority of the lines in the major cities, but we'll need to buy a prepaid card for the lines that are not JR (They're all interconnected) in the case that they are not available for our designated route.
For Tokyo and Kyoto, we'll be using the Pasmo card.
For Osaka, we'll be using the Pitapa card.
They are all avalible for purchase at local train stations and conveinence stores within the city, so we don't need to buy them in advance.
Each card requires a 500 yen ($4) deposit and can be recharged with additional funds for up to 10 years.
I predict we'll spend around $20 per person on the Pasmo
and $10ish on the Pitapa
Day 1 (July 2) - Traveling
Having gathered all necessary articles needed for travel (Passport, luggage, printed tickets, handy computers to reinstall windows on, etc.) the group will leave for LAX via shuttle and arrive around 2-3 hours before the flight is supposed to take off. The group will then proceed to follow Peimun, because he has actually been to LAX before, and head to airport security to get cleared. After which, the group can either:
A) Loiter around the waiting terminal for 2 hours
B) Explore the airport
Recommendation: Bring your mobile devices and plenty of snacks (There is also a coffee shop in every terminal, yay coffee!) we'll be waiting for quite a while.
Having completed either option A or B, the group will then return to the waiting area 20-30 minutes before the flight takes off in which they will wait until the plane starts boarding. Before we board, the three will then decide on which seating order they want (Window, Middle or Aisle), and board THE SAME ROW, we'll be there for a good day or so. We'll probably arrive in Tokyo in the very early morning if we decide to leave in the morning, or the late afternoon if we leave at night, regardless, when we arrive we will need :
A) A hotel in Tokyo
or
B) Local accommodations (Airbnb)
or
B) Local accommodations (Airbnb)
Now let's expand on this.
If choosing option A) We'll need a hotel close to the airport for at least tonight because we will be very tired and jet lagged from our wonderful 24 hour flight. We'll probably want something with a Japanese flare, but keep in mind that it takes an hour to get to Tokyo from Narita via Taxi.
Average Cost: $150-250/night ($60-83/night per person)
Peimun's recommendation for this option:
InterContinental Tokyo Bay Hotel (4 1/2 Stars):
Around $194/night ($64/night per person)
Why I recommend this: It's directly next to the Tokyo bay (You can see it from your window.) A room.
Also has, Great English speaking staff, great WiFi, complimentary shuttle terminal that can take you into downtown Tokyo and other sub-districts. It's greatest perk is that it's a 10 minute walk to Hamamatsucho Station.
After we arrive at the hotel via taxi, we will need to decide on what we do the next day.
Option B) Local accommodations via AirBnb.
If you're unfamiliar with AirBnb, it's essentially a service where "hosts" rent out their extra rooms or properties to guests usually for a far better price and individualized attention than a hotel can compare with. Think of it as "renting" a condo in Japan.
Here are some that caught my eye:
Keep in mind that these "condos" are in different parts of Tokyo, so don't discriminate based solely on price.
Another great advantage these have is that they come with free "Pocket Wifi", a portable device that can create it's own wifi network without being connected to an Ethernet cable. Which means we can use our phones and laptops while in Japan, yippee!
Keep with the same hotel (if we like it) until we leave Tokyo, and use taxis/shuttles/metro OR a rental car for transportation in the meanwhile
Why I recommend this: Tokyo has marvelous public transportation, which comes in the form of a very fast bullet train for long distances and, interconnected train stations for cross-city travel (I'll refer to the bullet train as the Shinkansen（しんかんせん) from now on.) that can take us almost anywhere on the main island, and take us right back within a few miles from our hotel in a matter of hours.
Peimun's thoughts on Option B: Tokyo is fucking massive, and it will take us a very long time to get through all of it, and considering almost all of the hotels are within a 5 mile or so distance (Paso to Templeton) from each other switching doesn't really matter.
That was a long day 1. Let's go to sleep.
Now that Day 1 has concluded, let's calculate how much it's costed us so far (per person). Taking into account, airfare, taxi/shuttles, hotel costs, etc. Our grand total for just getting here and having coffee at the hotel is around $1851 with Option A Hotel and $1793 with Option B hotel, obviously it doesn't seem like much of a difference now (but if we stay the full duration I'm expecting) The final total per person will be $512 with Option A and $282 with Option B (Hotel only).
Estimated Day Total per Person: $1851 (includes all expenses prior to trip as well)
Total so far: $1851
Day 2 (July 3) - Akihabara
First things first, I think it's pretty safe to say that we all want to go to Akihabara as soon as possible. (ANIME STUFFZ! MAID CAFES!)
That being said, we'll leave the hotel either via hotel shuttle or train and head to Akihabara. Before we leave, we can print a few guides and maps off the net, and just explore when we get there.
Here are things to do there.
Estimated Day Total per Person: $264
Total so far: $2115
Day 3 (July 4) - Harajuku (Cosplay central)/Ghibli Mueseum
Basically, Harujuku is just a sub-sub-district in between two other sub-districts. The only thing here is one or two shrines and Takeshita Avenue, a place where many new teenage trends come to life, and cosplayers can be been on the street quite commonly, the only catch is that the cosplayers only show up on Sundays.
We'll be spending all of our time just taking pictures and shopping at the various stores on the crowded block, one of them called:
Daisho Harujuku
Is great for finding bargains, because it is basically the equivalent of our $1 store. I think Bob will especially enjoy the cosplayers because they aren't 30 year old obese women going to an AnimeCon.
More information.
Lunch:
Owl Cafe - Harajuku + Local Ramen-ya
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1066456-d8766373-Reviews-Owl_Cafe_Bar_Owl_Village_Harajuku-Shibuya_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html
Dinner:
Restaurant 511
After we are done shopping in Harujuku, we will head back to the hotel to put our bags away and walk to Restaurant 511, the exclusive restaurant for the best Kobe Beef in Tokyo
Menu
How to get there
Lunch:
Owl Cafe - Harajuku + Local Ramen-ya
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1066456-d8766373-Reviews-Owl_Cafe_Bar_Owl_Village_Harajuku-Shibuya_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html
Dinner:
Restaurant 511
After we are done shopping in Harujuku, we will head back to the hotel to put our bags away and walk to Restaurant 511, the exclusive restaurant for the best Kobe Beef in Tokyo
Menu
How to get there
Estimated Day Total per Person: $144
Total so far: $2323
Day 4 (July 6) - Tokyo Sky Tree/Nakano Broadway/J-World Tokyo
Breakfast:
Kissaten in Asakusa.
Ah, the Tokyo sky tree, the pristine embodiment of modern architecture, just how Sasha likes it. It also happens to be the second tallest building in the entire world (The 1st being the one in Dubai.)
The sky tree is just an observation deck, but because it has a higher elevation than anything else in Tokyo, you can see EVERYTHING. It's truly a sight to behold. Not to mention, there is a cafe inside. As we will most likely only be having lunch here, we will have the opportunity to travel to Nakano Broadway and possibly J-World Tokyo as well.
Nakano Broadway
Nakano Broadway is the biggest anime superstore in Japan outside of Akihabara. It's essentially a professional anime flea market with up to 200 unique stations inside. We'll be spending so much money here, it will be ridiculous. I hope you're ready.
J-World Tokyo
J-world Tokyo is an anime theme park. It's quite small, but they do have anime themed rides, but all of the characters and anime promoted there are from Shounen Jump Magazine, which means no Sora no Otoshimono. We should still check it out though, because anime.
Estimated Day Total per Person (Option A): $168
Estimated Day Total per Person (Option B): $190
Total so far: $2745
More information.
Estimated Day Total per Person: $84
Total so far: $2407
Lunch: Tokyo Skytree
Dinner:
Vampire Cafe
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066444-d2141761-Reviews-Vampire_Cafe-Chuo_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html
Day 5 (July 7) - Tokyo DisneySea
You probably guessed it by title, but yes, this is a Disney themed water park in Tokyo, which also happens to be exclusive to Japan. However, the park itself is mainly aimed at the young adult demographic, and features many roller coasters, high speed raft rides, underwater submarine voyages, and even a new Indiana Jones ride. The place is absolutely massive, but it's definitely worth going to.
More information.
Estimated Day Total per Person: $168
Total so far: $2575
Day 6 (July 8) -
Ueno Park/Tokyo Stock Exchange/Maricar through Tokyo
This is Tokyo's equivalent to Central Park. (But with a zoo, man-made river system, and cherry blossom trees.) It also hosts three popular museums and currently stands on the land of the former shogunate of the prefecture 200 years prior.
More information.
Tokyo Stock Exchange
After we're done at Ueno Park, we'll head over to The Japanese Stock Exchange, the third largest stock market in the world. The tours are quite interesting.
Find out more here.
Estimated Day Total per Person: $90
Total so far: $2835
http://maricar.com/
Day 7 (July 9) -
Mt. Fuji
Estimated Day Total per Person: $219
Dinner: Alice in a Labyrinth
Dinner: Alice in a Labyrinth
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066444-d1238633-Reviews-Alice_in_a_Labyrinth-Chuo_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html
Total so far: $3054
Day 8 (July 10) -
Day Trip: Nikko
Dinner:
Ninja Akasaka Restaurant
http://www.ninjaakasaka.com/
Day 9 (July 11) -
Trick Art Museum/Leaving for Tsurunoyu
We'll probably stay until around 2-3PM and then leave to head to the Trick Art Museum in Odaiba, and after that back to our hotel/condo to pack up our things and head to our new hotel in Kyoto.
Hours: 10:00-19:00
Lunch:
Served 11:30-15:00
Dinner:
@Tsurunoyu Onsen
Day 10 - Tsurunoyu/Lake Tazawa
We'll probably stay until around 2-3PM and then leave to head to the Trick Art Museum in Odaiba, and after that back to our hotel/condo to pack up our things and head to our new hotel in Kyoto.
Hours: 10:00-19:00
Lunch:
Saga Gyu Kira
http://kira.saga-ja.jp/en/ginza/Served 11:30-15:00
Dinner:
@Tsurunoyu Onsen
Day 10 - Tsurunoyu/Lake Tazawa
This is going to be one of those rare occasions where we can't use the JR rails, but fortunately it won't be in vain. The Oedo Onsen Hot Springs are only a short trip away from our hotel, and provides the perfect relaxation before we head to Kyoto the next day. Who knows? Maybe Mikako is the owner.
More information.
Pricing guide.
Our new hotel in Kyoto will (hopefully) be:
The Kyoto Miyabi Inn
$207/night ($69/night per person)
Estimated Day Total per Person: $173
Total so far: $3494
Day 11 (July 11) - Kyoto
Dinner:
Hafuu Honten
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d1664829-Reviews-Hafuu_Honten-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
For the first day in Kyoto we are going on a quick 1 day tour of the city. In order to get to our tour, we'll need to get to the New Miyako Hotel in downtown. After we successfully make it there, we'll be transported to the location for the tour bus. The tour will end at around 6, so we'll have time for dinner and to shop for some goodies.
Kyoto Miyabi -> Miyako Directions
http://www.japanpackage.com.au/kyototour9.htm
Estimated Day Total per Person: $199
Dinner:
Hafuu Honten
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d1664829-Reviews-Hafuu_Honten-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
Total so far: $3693
Day 12 (July 12) -
Fushimi Inari Shrine/Gion Matsuri Festival
Dinner:
Ramen Sen no Kaze
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d3788802-Reviews-Ramen_Sen_No_Kaze-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
Day 13 (July 13) -
Arashiyama Day Trip (Sagano Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park)
Fushimi Inari Shrine/Gion Matsuri Festival
Dinner:
Ramen Sen no Kaze
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d3788802-Reviews-Ramen_Sen_No_Kaze-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
Day 13 (July 13) -
Arashiyama Day Trip (Sagano Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park)
Dinner:
Goichi Pizza
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d4418251-Reviews-Goichi_Pizza-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
Day 14 -
Nara Day Trip
Day 15-
Breakfast:
Key's Cafe
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298564-d8080795-Reviews-Key_s_Cafe_Kyoto_Yasakanoto-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
Mount Koya Day Trip
Lodging in a Shrine.
Day 16 (July 14) - Osaka Day 1 ($70 per person)
To begin today, we'll check out of the Miyabi, and take the railways to the station closet to our new condo and check in.
The condo in which we'll be checking into is:
$131/night ($44/night per person)
After everything is in order we can head over to:
Universal Studios Japan
A Harry Potter themed section of the park was added last year.
More information.
Estimated Day Total per Person: $145
Total so far: $3838
Day 17 (July 15) - Osaka Day 2
Kaiyukan Osaka Aquarium + Tempozan Ferris Wheel
Estimated Day Total per Person: $60
Total so far: $3898
Day 18: Bizen-yaki
Town of Imbe, tajine-making!
http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/japan/western-honsh%C5%AB/okayama-around/pottery-imbe/
Day 18: Bizen-yaki
Town of Imbe, tajine-making!
http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/japan/western-honsh%C5%AB/okayama-around/pottery-imbe/
Day 19 (July 16) - Himeji Castle
Day 20 - Hiroshima (Peace Park)
Day 21 - Miyajima + Mt. Misen
Day 22 (July 17) - Tokyo, again.
Take an early morning flight and gtfo
Taking our daily itinerary into account + a $500 buffer for cause of incident, I predict that it will cost around $4200 per person with a lot of anime goodies and decent food, and around $3700 with no anime goodies and shitty food.
Random Tips and Tricks I found:
- For lunches, use your local 7/11 for bento boxes, or go to the closet Ramen/Curry shop, for cheap yet satisfying meals.
- Try to avoid spending money on worthless household items you may find in stores or markets, the hotel probably already provides them for you
- The actual attractions in Japan themselves are quite inexpensive, the travel costs is what brings up the price tag.
- Never use taxis, ever. For a 20 minute trip it can cost up to $70.
- If you need something, buy it at a 7/11 or $1 store. Markets aimed towards tourists have prices up to 3x as much the original price.
- Don't let anyone know you have a lot of $ on you, if they know this they may raise the price considerably.
- Buy a pamphlet with basic Japanese phrases, or a Japanese-English dictionary in the case that the person you need to talk to does not speak English.
- Mostly everyone in Japan can understand basic English, so refrain from using complicated words when conversing with the native Japanese.
- Most Japanese ATMs don't accept foreign cards, so look for Citi Bank ATMs, or ATMs which explicitly state that they accept foreign cards.
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