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Meat is not allowed but I still bring that stuff anyways because customs don't really care
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Nov 24, 2016 07:48
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caberham posted:Stringent is way more reliable though When have I ever not done something for you lol
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Nov 24, 2016 10:58
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Hello Japan goons, I'd like to ask for some tips for a 7-day trip to Japan. I'm going to be in Tokyo on business in January and have arranged to be free to explore for 7 days after the work concludes. I'm currently looking at buying a 7-day JR pass and traveling by Shinkansen to Kyoto and Hiroshima. Bit of a broad question maybe but does that sound like a good use of my time or do you guys have any ideas on how to better use it? Also is the pre-bought JR pass the way to go if you want to travel by train? Thanks in advance for any answers!
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Nov 24, 2016 11:55
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Those are reasonable things to do. Drop in on Himeji on your way past.
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Nov 24, 2016 12:14
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Elliptical Dick posted:Hello Japan goons, I'd like to ask for some tips for a 7-day trip to Japan. I'm going to be in Tokyo on business in January and have arranged to be free to explore for 7 days after the work concludes. I'm currently looking at buying a 7-day JR pass and traveling by Shinkansen to Kyoto and Hiroshima. Bit of a broad question maybe but does that sound like a good use of my time or do you guys have any ideas on how to better use it? Also is the pre-bought JR pass the way to go if you want to travel by train? It's a very good plan :3 January in Tokyo also means sumo.
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Nov 24, 2016 13:54
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Elliptical Dick posted:Hello Japan goons, I'd like to ask for some tips for a 7-day trip to Japan. I'm going to be in Tokyo on business in January and have arranged to be free to explore for 7 days after the work concludes. I'm currently looking at buying a 7-day JR pass and traveling by Shinkansen to Kyoto and Hiroshima. Bit of a broad question maybe but does that sound like a good use of my time or do you guys have any ideas on how to better use it? Also is the pre-bought JR pass the way to go if you want to travel by train? Presuming you are flying back from Tokyo, then yes the 7 day pass is worth it. If I were to plan a trip I'd get the horrible long rear end train ride over first, so I'd get a very early Tokyo to Hiroshima train, then see the city. Wake up early the next day to hit up Miyajima. Next day go to Himeji, then to Kyoto in the evening. The rest of the time you stay in Kyoto because there is a lot to see there, plus you can easily day trip to Nara, Osaka, and Kobe.
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Nov 24, 2016 14:39
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teddust posted:Presuming you are flying back from Tokyo, then yes the 7 day pass is worth it. If I were to plan a trip I'd get the horrible long rear end train ride over first, so I'd get a very early Tokyo to Hiroshima train, then see the city. Wake up early the next day to hit up Miyajima. Next day go to Himeji, then to Kyoto in the evening. The rest of the time you stay in Kyoto because there is a lot to see there, plus you can easily day trip to Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. Yeah you're right. I am flying back from Tokyo. I'm not sure how much time I will get to explore while my meeting is on so I might want to take a day or two extra there as well. I think I'll just get the rail pass now and go from there, unless it's recommended to get accomodation arranged before I get there... Is winging it doable or not recommended? Thanks for the tips, it's much appreciated!
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Nov 26, 2016 01:39
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I would at least secure Kyoto and weekend hotel reservations a month or two in advance.
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Nov 26, 2016 01:44
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peanut posted:I would at least secure Kyoto and weekend hotel reservations a month or two in advance. Welp better get on that tomorrow then...
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Nov 26, 2016 02:24
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How many Goons live in the Nagasaki area? My wife and I are moving from Yokosuka to Sasebo in January.
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Nov 26, 2016 05:10
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I've been reading that luggage forwarding services to/from hotels (or even convenience stores?) are pretty common all over Japan. If so, that would be extremely handy for a few of the more awkward travels we're making - especially as we'll have either 4 or 5 suitcases between 3 people! Is it reasonable to expect most hotels to use these and, for the days we're staying in Airbnbs, to expect most areas to have a convenience store that would accept them? The main instances it would be useful for us would be for getting from Tokyo to Appi, Appi to Hakuba (more on this in a sec) and Hakuba to Kyoto. For the Appi to Hakuba section, we actually have a two day break in Tokyo but could happily live out of our backpacks for this. If these luggage forwarding services tend to be everywhere, are they also able to hold bags for a couple of days? We're about to email specific services to find out what we can do but thought I'd look for goon-approved advice first on whether this is possible and what services to use. Cheers!
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Nov 28, 2016 10:45
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Has anyone here gone to Noh plays? I'm intrested enough in the form from having covered it in art history classes and such that I think I'd be entertained, but I'm worried about putting three hours of minimalist foreign-language theater into an itinerary that other people (albeit regular theater and orchestragoers) will be subjected to as well. Also, what are some good weeaboo/weird-japan things to briefly immerse in in Kyoto? My list is almost entirely gardens, temples, and museums and I feel like that needs some variety in there.
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Nov 28, 2016 18:39
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Day trip to Nipponbashi in Osaka. I'm sure it was a one off thing, but the place was swarming with cosplayers when I went over the weekend.
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Nov 28, 2016 18:57
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If you are going to put in any kind of theater performance, make sure it's far enough into the itinerary that everyone is long over the jet lag. We did kabuki on the second evening during my first trip to Japan and I think everyone was asleep within 10 minutes. It's really easy to fall asleep when you have no idea wtf is going on.
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Nov 28, 2016 22:49
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A Noh play sounds excruciating. How about Takarazuka instead?
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Nov 28, 2016 23:48
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HookedOnChthonics posted:Has anyone here gone to Noh plays? I'm intrested enough in the form from having covered it in art history classes and such that I think I'd be entertained, but I'm worried about putting three hours of minimalist foreign-language theater into an itinerary that other people (albeit regular theater and orchestragoers) will be subjected to as well. Tori uzumasa eigamura is pretty good. English support is weak and it can get expensive quickly if you want to go in more than a couple of the paid attractions, but it's a nice break from Kyoto's typical spots.
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Nov 29, 2016 01:55
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I saw a Noh play with my middle school third-year class a few years ago and everything outside the second act was sleep-inducing. I think even the principal who was right next to me nodded off once or twice.
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Nov 29, 2016 03:42
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Question Mark Mound posted:I've been reading that luggage forwarding services to/from hotels (or even convenience stores?) are pretty common all over Japan. If so, that would be extremely handy for a few of the more awkward travels we're making - especially as we'll have either 4 or 5 suitcases between 3 people! Is it reasonable to expect most hotels to use these and, for the days we're staying in Airbnbs, to expect most areas to have a convenience store that would accept them? The most well known company that does this, and the one you're most likely to use as a tourist, is Yamato Transport (also known as Kuroneko after their black-yellow cat logo), and they do everything you want. Any decent hotel will arrange for them to pick up your luggage and can accept it (even before you arrive). As for Airbnbs, it's easiest to just indicate which day and hour you want them to deliver (they work until 9pm or so), and just wait for them at the apartment. For sending luggage outside hotels, you can indeed go to many convenience stores or even request they pickup from the apartment (there's a form on their website). And yes, they can hold your luggage for up to a week without any extra charge.
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Nov 29, 2016 05:41
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It's best to give 2-3 days notice before pickup and expect 1-2 days for delivery.
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Nov 29, 2016 06:01
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peanut posted:It's best to give 2-3 days notice before pickup and expect 1-2 days for delivery. Though if you don't you can just go send from a convenience store (or find one of their actual branch offices - in urban areas there's a ton of them), and they'll take your luggage immediately. Delivery has always been next day for me (when sending cross-Japan) if I sent before noon, and as I wrote - you can specify a date up to a week ahead and a time frame for delivery.
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Nov 29, 2016 06:22
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Thanks for the recommendations--sounds like no-go for the Noh show, and Nipponbashi is exactly what I was looking for, thanks. Is Toei Uzumasa Eigamura worth it if a day trip to Kanazawa is also on the agenda? Oh, also, what's the best arcade for decidedly non-arcade oriented people to bop around in as a ~~*~cultural experience?~~*~ Or is that a bad idea altogether? It's been specifically requested of me as de facto trip planner and the one with the most internet-osmosis JapanFacts(tm) but I'm not an arcade person either so i don't know what the gently caress 
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Nov 29, 2016 07:21
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There are arcades everywhere, don't plan around it, just find one when you go to a shopping network district.
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Nov 29, 2016 07:23
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HookedOnChthonics posted:Thanks for the recommendations--sounds like no-go for the Noh show, and Nipponbashi is exactly what I was looking for, thanks. Is Toei Uzumasa Eigamura worth it if a day trip to Kanazawa is also on the agenda? Tori eigamura shouldn't bite into any Kanazawa time. It's more for if you can't bear more temples/gardens whilst in Kyoto. For arcades in Kyoto, there is 'playland king' close to shichijo (very close to Kyoto station), which is a fairly standard place. And there's a-cho, near kawaramachi, which is a relatively famous arcade that holds many tournaments. It's mainly known for fighting games, but has a decent cross-genre selection. You'll probably end up near both places at some point (I accidentally stumbled upon both places myself), but a-cho is worth a little detour if you want to see what the 'scene' is like. DiscoJ fucked around with this message at 10:06 on Nov 29, 2016 |
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Nov 29, 2016 09:59
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Any recommendations on a small cool place near Osaka/Kyoto to spend an overnighter in the first days of January? We're looking for something to do before heading back to Tokyo and travel back the day before.
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Nov 29, 2016 19:08
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orenronen posted:The most well known company that does this, and the one you're most likely to use as a tourist, is Yamato Transport (also known as Kuroneko after their black-yellow cat logo), and they do everything you want. Any decent hotel will arrange for them to pick up your luggage and can accept it (even before you arrive). As for Airbnbs, it's easiest to just indicate which day and hour you want them to deliver (they work until 9pm or so), and just wait for them at the apartment. For sending luggage outside hotels, you can indeed go to many convenience stores or even request they pickup from the apartment (there's a form on their website). And yes, they can hold your luggage for up to a week without any extra charge.
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Nov 30, 2016 00:25
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LimburgLimbo posted:Beijing made me go through customs and security for a transfer. Shanghai on China Eastern didn't. Beijing was pretty slow and lovely and mainland af and China air sucks balls. I transferred through Beijing a week ago for an international flight (had to go between two different airlines because I was an idiot) and had to go through customs, get my checked bags, and re-check in with my bags with the new airline and then go through security again and the whole thing took about 45 minutes or so on a Tuesday morning, but YMMV. An hour seems really tight tho regardless of where you have a transfer cuz any delay, even like 15 minutes or so, could throw everything off. Ailumao fucked around with this message at 02:04 on Nov 30, 2016 |
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Nov 30, 2016 02:01
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Having just been to Kanazawa for the first time this past weekend, I'd say don't bother going if you'll be in Kyoto anyway. Unless you're really really into sushi or sake. Everyone there is so depressed too, even for Japanese Some other ideas that should be an easy day trip from Kyoto: Himeji Yamazaki distillery Shirakawa-go
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Nov 30, 2016 02:23
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Nara.
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Nov 30, 2016 03:37
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Nara's already definitely on the list. Kenroku-en is a specific draw for me and we're all sushi and seafood fanatics so Kanazawa is still on the list, I think, but that's interesting to hear about it being depressed. Maybe I'll choose a different day than actual literal christmas to hit it up  Did you visit the new contemporary art museum?
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Nov 30, 2016 07:47
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zmcnulty posted:Everyone there is so depressed too, even for Japanese I wonder what the saddest most depressed city/region in Japan is?
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Nov 30, 2016 08:16
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Ned posted:I wonder what the saddest most depressed city/region in Japan is? Tokyo- as everyone realizes their lives and relationships are just as souless and empty as they were in the inaka
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Nov 30, 2016 08:42
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At least people eat good food before they kill themselves. Can't do that in Osaka!
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Nov 30, 2016 08:50
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Yes we went to the art museum too, was lame af We ended up drinking at the train station from 2pm before our 6:30pm flight Now who's the depressed one, makes u think
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Nov 30, 2016 09:02
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Koya-san, Japan's (the world's?) largest graveyard.
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Nov 30, 2016 14:05
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I'm going to go home for a while and won't renew my spouse visa I think (it expires in July), but I plan to come back in a few years with another spouse visa. Should I tell the government that I'm moving out? Should I just stop paying health insurance? Or can I just go home and let the visa expire? There's a whole webpage with information about this http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_1/en/q-and-a_page2.html ... but it's loving unreadable. It seems to threaten you with fines if you don't return your residence card, but does that really happen?
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Nov 30, 2016 14:51
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peanut posted:Koya-san, Japan's (the world's?) largest graveyard.
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Nov 30, 2016 23:57
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I think Akita has the highest suicide rate. It's also the oldest prefecture.
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Dec 1, 2016 02:20
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My money's on Hyogo.
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Dec 1, 2016 03:04
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Shibawanko posted:I'm going to go home for a while and won't renew my spouse visa I think (it expires in July), but I plan to come back in a few years with another spouse visa. Should I tell the government that I'm moving out? Should I just stop paying health insurance? Or can I just go home and let the visa expire? Um yeah you should probably cancel your insurance, etc properly because they might demand back payment when you move back to Japan the second time.
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Dec 1, 2016 06:04
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Shibawanko posted:I'm going to go home for a while and won't renew my spouse visa I think (it expires in July), but I plan to come back in a few years with another spouse visa. Should I tell the government that I'm moving out? Should I just stop paying health insurance? Or can I just go home and let the visa expire? You should also forget to cancel your cell phone, gym membership, electricity, rent contract, and any other bills you may have.
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Dec 1, 2016 07:35
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