What to do in Japan for 2 weeks?

Raymond Lin · 2 Jan 2019 at 00:40

abbviper said:
Given that Japan is resuming commercial whaling, i wouldn’t go there if you paid me.

I’m not going there to eat whale...

Raymond Lin · 2 Jan 2019 at 21:49

memyselfandi said:
Thinking of doing the same myself, small trip this year before another longer one the year after following my more usual pattern.

Hyatt Regency Tokyo is quite a nice hotel, that's where we stayed in Tokyo last time. Convenient that you can get to it without going outside if its raining by using the tunnels to get to underground stations. Staff were helpful and the only downside of the rooms was a lack of BD player like the Hilton.

Not bothered about the TV, I think i only turned it on once in Japan in 2 weeks.

p.s. what do you mean by usual pattern?

Raymond Lin · 2 Jan 2019 at 22:04

memyselfandi said:
Usual pattern ... I normally go every other year, so as 2018 was a main trip 2020 would normally be the next one.

TV is good for checking that second hand media is working and seeing just how bad most Japanese TV shows are

Ah, I used to take my old MBP which was so old it has a DVD-Rom.

I did see some weird gameshow, it was weird lol

Raymond Lin · 5 Jan 2019 at 13:52

bsoltan said:
What do people think about going in winter time (over UK Christmas-New Year)?
2019 Christmas period my office is shut and if I take two extra days I get two weeks and I'm considering Japan.

Don't know if it will be a good time of the year to visit though. I really wanted my next time to be in Spring.

Japan in Christmas is a far more commercial event than it is here, it's actually more like Valentine's day. Their main religion is Shintoism and Budhhism. Its more about spending time with your partner than with your family. The minute the clock strikes midnight the workers takes down all the decorations. New year's is more about family, as opposed to a party, it's very different than us.

It is cheap though and low season so it's basically like normal but colder with pretty Christmas lights. It would be a good time to avoid the crowds IMO.

Raymond Lin · 5 Jan 2019 at 13:54

memyselfandi said:
I think the best I saw was some quiz between two teams, one from Tokyo University and the other some comedians ... A lot of it was totally dire though. It wasn't as if I would spends hours watching it ... Just a little bit after getting back to the hotel while winding down before bed.

I saw one where 2 teams of girls grabbing each other's bum blindfolded trying to guess the person.

Raymond Lin · 5 Jan 2019 at 21:57

MichaelAwkward said:
JR Rail Pass isn't always worth it - put your itinery through here to check: https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/

I returned from two weeks in Japan last Sunday, for anyone thinking of going but wondering about costs we (me and my partner) spent £4091 between us for 14 days in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka (incl day trips to Kobe and Nara) and back to Tokyo again.

Parking at Heathrow: £143
Flights: £634.40 for me via Frankfurt with Lufthansa/ANA, return via Zurich with Swiss; £699 for my partner with China Eastern as they went back to China for a week before I arrived in Tokyo and we met up on the same day.
Accommodation: £943 which was mostly using business hotels (APA, Sotetsu Fresa, and a great one called Lamplight Books in Nagoya) but also a normal Japanese house in Kyoto for two nights.
Travel (Shinkansen): £60~ for the Narita Express, £123.49 from Tokyo to Nagoya and then £209.03 returning from Osaka to Tokyo - everywhere else was with our Suica cards which we kept topping up with 3000 yen as needed.
Cash (food, excursions, etc): £1392 in total which was mostly food (snacks from supermarkets) and eating out as well as gifts to bring back (incl £40 worth of KitKats). Excursions (not including temples and places open to the public) included the Mori Tower, Sumida Aquarium, Nagoya Science Museum, Nagoya Castle, Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto Tower, Monkey Park in Arashiyama, Osaka Aquarium, Mt Rokko Cable Car, and a meal at Mouriya in Kobe for the best steak I've ever eaten.

We withdrew £1048 in total over the two weeks, but to be honest the places that only took cash were in the minority so we could have used the card for more of that. We spent about £10 a day just buying snacks for breakfast in the hotel rooms tbh which we didn't need to but my partner isn't an early bird.

I paid £22 for a sim card with unlimited data and we used that as a hotspot everywhere we went, but all of the hotels also had free wifi and free wifi was available everywhere.

I'm already planning another trip to visit the north and south of the country in a couple of years, and I'm happily paying extra for direct flights but otherwise a similar budget.

A 2 weeks JR Pass is about £300? you spent £400 there so a JR pass would've saved you money and it also works on some of the trains inside Tokyo.

Raymond Lin · 5 Jan 2019 at 22:12

MichaelAwkward said:
£300 each isn't it? Those costs are for both of us.

With our Suica cards we spent a total of £170 on local trains and metro within cities, but that also included using it at 7-eleven occasionally.

Ah, thought you meant each.

Raymond Lin · 5 Jan 2019 at 23:12

MichaelAwkward said:
Agree with this. It was very quiet for us from 16-30th Dec. The only busy place we visited was Osaka Aquarium on Christmas Day. However, Tokyo Station (last minute gift buying from the character shops) on the 29th was absolutely manic. New Years is a bigger event for them and lots of people were travelling for the longer weekend.

We did have KFC (though to be honest we ended up eating some form of fried chicken almost every day) and Christmas Cake on Christmas Day though, and watched the sunset over the Port of Osaka.

Ah Japanese Christmas Cake! it's just strawberry cream cake. KFC at Christmas, I guess it's got to be done as it's tradition!

Raymond Lin · 3 May 2019 at 18:49

Almost 2 years since I started this thread and I’m going back again later this year!

Just 8 days, all Tokyo and will use it as a base for day trips round the region.

Woot!!!

Raymond Lin · 3 May 2019 at 23:15

EvilSooty said:
Great place. Went for the second time in February this year and can't wait to go back! Went to Tokyo again and then flew north to Hokkaido for the ice festivals in Sapporo, Asahikawa and Sounkyo with some dog sledding thrown in for good measure

Raymond, if you didn't do it last time in Tokyo and are looking for a mental bar try Kagaya.

https://www.tofugu.com/travel/kagaya-izakaya/

Demented place run by a madman who will do crazy performances based on the country your beer comes from when you make an order. Was nearly crying with laughter the entire time. You have to sing what you have ordered from the menu as soon as you get in to the entire bar so best to be already a bit ****** before going in.

I've heard of him and seen videos but I can't say that is my kind of thing.

memyselfandi said:
Going late next year (will be the 7th time) is the current plan. Was hoping to go back this year but work took a problematic turn which means I'm changing employer which impacted my ability to do so.

I booked 8 days for £1300 all in, I think it is a great deal and so good I might pop down to Osaka or Kyoto for a day and stay over.

I can book this and will cost me nothing in a capsule hotel. For the lolz and the experience!

Raymond Lin · 13 May 2019 at 11:48

I am looking to rent a wifi hub this time I think, instead of getting a sim card. What website do people use?

This one look okay i think? 6300 yen for 9 days hire.

https://www.japan-wireless.com/en/product/order