Its costing him a good few grand for the holiday. Couldnt tell you the flights cost as he goes throug Going Places and lets them sort that out. Last he said i think it was £2500 for 3 weeks staying at the Emperors Palace (IIRC) in Tokyo and that about what hes paying again to go back later this year.
Just been to Japan..
- Thread starter Skyfire
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- Hyogo, Japan..Botchi! Botchi!
Raikiri said:
You can pick up return flights for around £500, depending on what time of year....April/May tends to be the most expensive.
Hong Kong and Taipei also have a subway system that surpasses the London Underground. But what do you expect? The London underground has been around since the mid-1800's, I am still amazed how complex the the London underground network is considering when it was built.
On a side note, the train network in Tokyo is a big mess IMO. You'll get used to it, but having so many different systems is just messy. You can't just grab a single travel card and get everywhere you want.
Japan is one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive place in Asia. Considering how expensive the UK is, it might not shock all of you, but if you have been to other place in Asia... It is quite shocking really
Granted some electronics might be cheaper (if you want to risk it - as not all insurance is international and well), but clothing, food etc. are not really cheaper than in the UK, and considerably more expensive than HK/Taiwan.
But cost aside, I love that place
I've only been to Tokyo so far earlier this year, and I want to go back again in the near future.
I am an anime fan too, and it -is- part of their culture. But Japan has a lot more than anime and Jpop too [even though a lot of people seem to pay attention to those two primarily along with their gadget]
And they are one of the driving force of fashion in the east.. though they also borrow from the West and you sometime have to deal with some interesting Engrish written on the clothes you buy.
Speaking of Engrish.. This one is one of my favorite:
http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0511111711019fh.jpg
On a side note, the train network in Tokyo is a big mess IMO. You'll get used to it, but having so many different systems is just messy. You can't just grab a single travel card and get everywhere you want.
Japan is one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive place in Asia. Considering how expensive the UK is, it might not shock all of you, but if you have been to other place in Asia... It is quite shocking really
Granted some electronics might be cheaper (if you want to risk it - as not all insurance is international and well), but clothing, food etc. are not really cheaper than in the UK, and considerably more expensive than HK/Taiwan.
But cost aside, I love that place
I've only been to Tokyo so far earlier this year, and I want to go back again in the near future.Sorry, I found that slightly amusing (no malice intended)holly35 said:
I am an anime fan too, and it -is- part of their culture. But Japan has a lot more than anime and Jpop too [even though a lot of people seem to pay attention to those two primarily along with their gadget]
And they are one of the driving force of fashion in the east.. though they also borrow from the West and you sometime have to deal with some interesting Engrish written on the clothes you buy.
Speaking of Engrish.. This one is one of my favorite:
http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0511111711019fh.jpg
All those things are available in england!FishFluff said:Japan are so far ahead of us in some areas it's unreal. Mobile phones that you can use as a cash card at vending machines, a rail infrastructure that's light years ahead of ours, intelligent toilets that clean your backside for you, giant robots*...
I've seen one of the 'pay-with-your-mobile' machines ages back somewhere in london - it was rubbish (slow)
I cant see how countdowns telling you how far away the train is to the second are actually pointful. Around my area all the trains and busses have countdowns to the minute and that's perfectly fine - if it's less than a minute away I can usually see the thing anyway.
The toilets with a billion features can be bought all through the world including the UK (as an example, the Osbournes have one).
8MP camera phones should be out in the UK by the end of q2 this year (samsung model) IIRC.
I'm not saying japan doesnt have anything ahead of what we have - just that the examples so far have been RrrrUuuBbIiSsH
fini
Although it is true they are more common in Japan. Your average 3 stars hotel probably come with a bidet in Japan, but that is far from the case here.fini said:
That said, you can still run into squat toilet in Japan more than in the UK. So it's give and take here.
Soldato
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give the guy a break , my brother said pretty much the same thing when he went there. Japan is an amazing place and i cant wait to go, ROCK ON!
aye.... the OP might not have backed up his statement with the best evidence ever seen... but the replies make most of you look like 6 year olds.
My sister went to Japan and it does look amazing. When I have the time and money I would certainly like to go there...
My sister went to Japan and it does look amazing. When I have the time and money I would certainly like to go there...
Well for all of those moaning about the previously given examples, take the HDTV then. Been out in Japan for many years and only really beeing introduced in UK since the last year
And it's gonna take many more years for it to get to the same state in UK as it is in Japan. Or so I would like to believe anyway
And it's gonna take many more years for it to get to the same state in UK as it is in Japan. Or so I would like to believe anyway
The Grass is greener on the other side eh???
They are lots of things that are 'better' in Japan than in the UK. There's good reason for it in many cases (eg. Trains better, because the network is newer etc etc).
OK, lets ignore things like gadgets and stuff, and think about bare survival essentials for example.
I happen to think that housing is better in the UK. The insulation in Japanese housing (even the modern ones) is absolutely dreadful!!! No double glazing, horrible draughts, badly designed heating systems etc etc. Considering Japan has no natural engergy resources, it doesn't half waste a lot of energy in the home when trying to keep warm and cool.
BUT... from the opposite side, Japan has a distinct advantage. There seem to be limited planning permission regulations. None of this 'must be in keeping with the neighbour hood' stuff. So, while the houses in suburbs all look a mess because they are individual designs, it does mean that some people can do sensible things like shove big solar units on the roof, wind powered generators etc etc. The local councils here in Jpn don't care what you do.
Actually, I could go on and on listing pro-cons of both countries, but that would just get boring
They are lots of things that are 'better' in Japan than in the UK. There's good reason for it in many cases (eg. Trains better, because the network is newer etc etc).
OK, lets ignore things like gadgets and stuff, and think about bare survival essentials for example.
I happen to think that housing is better in the UK. The insulation in Japanese housing (even the modern ones) is absolutely dreadful!!! No double glazing, horrible draughts, badly designed heating systems etc etc. Considering Japan has no natural engergy resources, it doesn't half waste a lot of energy in the home when trying to keep warm and cool.
BUT... from the opposite side, Japan has a distinct advantage. There seem to be limited planning permission regulations. None of this 'must be in keeping with the neighbour hood' stuff. So, while the houses in suburbs all look a mess because they are individual designs, it does mean that some people can do sensible things like shove big solar units on the roof, wind powered generators etc etc. The local councils here in Jpn don't care what you do.
Actually, I could go on and on listing pro-cons of both countries, but that would just get boring