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mikeycp posted:I have no idea if it's by the university. We're staying here: http://www.romantopia.net/ Nebuta Matsuri is first week of August, but you might be gone by then. mmm11105 posted:I'm going to Japan at the end of August and am currently booked for a night in Hiroshima and one on Miyajima. How likely is it the knock on effects of the flooding are going to be significant by then? Should I be looking to change plans there? Someone on Reddit said that Hiroshima/Miyajima are already basically back to normal already, so I think you'll be fine, barring another huge storm. https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/8x8ony/hiroshima_and_miyajima_current_state/
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Jul 9, 2018 16:52
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Hmm. Is the end of this too aggressive? I'm used to traveling by car and can pull off stuff like this, but that block after Yamaguchi might be pushing it. 3/22/2019 Fri San Francisco サンフランシスコ 3/23/2019 Sat Wakayama 和歌山市 3/24/2019 Sun Kii Tanabe 紀伊田辺 3/25/2019 Mon Kumano 熊野 3/26/2019 Tue Ise 伊勢 3/27/2019 Wed Osaka 大阪 3/28/2019 Thu Okayama 岡山 3/29/2019 Fri Onomichi 尾道 3/30/2019 Sat Hiroshima 広島 3/31/2019 Sun Itsukushima 厳島 4/1/2019 Mon Yamaguchi 山口 4/2/2019 Tue Yamaguchi 山口 4/3/2019 Wed Izumo 出雲 4/4/2019 Thu Kinosaki 城崎 4/5/2019 Fri Osaka 大阪 4/6/2019 Sat Taipei 台北 4/7/2019 Sun Taipei 台北
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Jul 9, 2018 21:30
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Maybe do Izumo straight from Osaka, then Yamaguchi and work your way East through Hiroshima and Okayama?
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Jul 9, 2018 23:10
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totalnewbie posted:Nebuta Matsuri is first week of August, but you might be gone by then. Unfortunately, yeah. We didn't learn about it till we had already bought our return tickets.
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Jul 10, 2018 00:32
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Are there any good charities to give to wrt the flooding?
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Jul 10, 2018 03:09
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Yeah I agree with the Izumo driving as too much. Rather you take a night train there and spend 2 days instead of stopping in kinosaki
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Jul 10, 2018 04:35
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Yawgmoft posted:Are there any good charities to give to wrt the flooding? Japan Red Cross handles almost everything in these situations unless you want to contribute to one specific city.
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Jul 10, 2018 05:13
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Dont worry too much. It sucks but Japan has a lot of infrastructure and the right culture to handle it. Money is probably the best to the red cross; apparently the worst thing to do is give 1000 paper cranes, because folks can't really actually do anything with it. Yeah I'll skip on Kinosaki and move that to Shimane. Izumo and Yamaguchi look like they have the most cost effective onsens anyway. The night train doesn't really work out b/c Chuugoku has a good expressway pass so driving ends up more cost effective. But I love long drives so the Izumo to Osaka sector wont be too bad. ntan1 fucked around with this message at 07:08 on Jul 10, 2018 |
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Jul 10, 2018 07:02
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I heard somewhere that most Japanese accommodations don't open up for booking until 3 months before the date you want to book... is this complete bullshit? I started browsing Miyajima places for my November trip and it seems almost everything is already booked up. Am I going to be sleeping on the streets my whole trip or what?
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Jul 10, 2018 08:38
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Have you tried those online booking websites like booking.com? It’s hit and miss when it comes to small town places, I was left in some guys extension home in Shikoku, it sucked and it costs so much. Oh and can someone please (probably ntan) tell me more about driving passes for tolls? My brother in law has driven in japan before but I haven’t
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Jul 10, 2018 08:41
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I checked Japanese websites and there are tons of rooms, even for this weekend. So your problem might be that big resellers like expedia and booking are booked up, not the hotels themselves.
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Jul 10, 2018 09:09
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I directly messaged every ryokan I stayed at and had no problems- that's also the best way to get "flexible date" recommendations too.
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Jul 10, 2018 10:40
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I usually check Rakuten first since I get a crapload of points, but if they don't have anything, the next step is jalan. If Jalan doesn't have anything, the hotels probably actually are full.
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Jul 10, 2018 11:25
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caberham posted:Have you tried those online booking websites like booking.com? Etc cards? Should be an option at the rental car company.
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Jul 10, 2018 12:43
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I thought there’s some sort of tourist toll pass 
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Jul 10, 2018 13:31
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Famine Poodle posted:I heard somewhere that most Japanese accommodations don't open up for booking until 3 months before the date you want to book... is this complete bullshit? I started browsing Miyajima places for my November trip and it seems almost everything is already booked up. Am I going to be sleeping on the streets my whole trip or what? I just booked my flight for May and I'm starting to look for a place to stay -- I'm seeing availability on most hotel reservation sites almost 10 months out. I'm also looking at post-crackdown AirBnB and still seeing plenty of affordable alternatives so I think you should be able to find decent accommodations this far out.
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Jul 10, 2018 13:42
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caberham posted:I thought there’s some sort of tourist toll pass Unless you get ETC cards through rental companies, usually it’s a bigger deal to get one (mine came with my Rakuten Card). It still is a good deal to get one, and there are occasionally reduced rates depending on the time and date. Mostly it’s just a lot more convenient than digging cash out regularly. Most rentals have the ETC card reader; some rental companies let you pay for a card rental (Nippon listed the fee at 324 yen) and then settle the toll charges with payment when you return the car.
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Jul 10, 2018 14:32
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I was looking both at the hotels' actual websites and sites like booking.com. I guess it's because November is a popular time and my stay at Miyajima will be on a Friday. I just had it in my head that no one could book for then until next month. I'd like to do a fancy ryokan that night but it looks like if I can find any place to sleep at all I'll be lucky.
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Jul 10, 2018 16:00
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caberham posted:I thought there’s some sort of tourist toll pass There are, and the available ones are listed here: http://www.go-etc.jp/english/expressway/index.html
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Jul 10, 2018 16:59
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Basically you make a reservation, then you call in or send an email asking that you want to use a pass (make sure it's a dropoff/pickoff center that supports it). They'll charge you and make you sign a poo poo ton of paper work, hand you an ETC card, and then you can use the ETC card as necessary; all of the tolls in the pass area are not charged and all of the tolls that aren't in the pass area are charged and you settle up when you return the car.
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Jul 10, 2018 17:02
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Cross posting my question from /r/JapanTravel for help planning an itinerary... I'll be staying at a ryokan (Hakone Ginyu) in Hakone on Aug 2-3. I need to be in Kyoto on the night of the 3rd. I'm trying to figure out the timetables for transportation both within Hakone and between the two cities, but I can't tell if I'm being too ambitious with my goals or not... It seems like my ryokan is in kind of a lovely spot and/or Hakone doesn't have the easiest access to Kyoto. Here's what I'd like to do:
My challenges are:
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Jul 10, 2018 18:27
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Here is your personalized advice for your personal scenario!!
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Jul 10, 2018 18:51
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I put together a decent route once I realized that I didn't have to backtrack at lake ashi. Wow good thing I'm not a minimum wage English teacher or I'd have to hitchhike!
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Jul 10, 2018 21:36
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ntan1 isn't kidding, more expensive places often provide exactly that service if you simply ask. Even if they don't take you there for free, calling a taxi for guests is one of the few services that nearly all hotels worldwide provide. Kitchen knives, though, you're probably SOL. edit: also given it may not be a good idea to jab English teachers in this or any of the Japan threads if you want to keep getting travel advice
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Jul 10, 2018 21:40
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zmcnulty posted:ntan1 isn't kidding, more expensive places often provide exactly that service if you simply ask. Even if they don't take you there for free, calling a taxi for guests is one of the few services that nearly all hotels worldwide provide. I was surprised that the black taxi app doesn't seem to work in hakone. I was actually trying to avoid a taxi since I wanted to try the cute local train, the ropeway, etc. I've almost never ridden on public transit before so it's part of the experience! I am using one to go from gotemba to hakone since the only other options are a bus for an hour or a train that for some reason takes something like 2.5x as long.
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Jul 10, 2018 21:43
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Most ryokan offer a pick-up from the nearest train station, and everyone from hotels to dentists will call a taxi for customers. I'm sure you can get a ride for one leg and then use cute lil trains n boats n stuff.
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Jul 10, 2018 22:44
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Richard M Nixon posted:I was actually trying to avoid a taxi since I wanted to try the cute local train, the ropeway, etc. These are more or less designed as ways to enjoy and get around in a touristy area without as much worry about time, and generally Hakone is in the middle of mountains and valleys so the roads are twisty and narrow. Have your hotel get a taxi to go to the museum, then get a taxi from the pirate ship to Odawara. Depending on traffic, that by itself might be 45 minutes. Odawara to Kyoto is easy by bullet train, so just get to Odawara Station before 5:00 pm and you’ll make Kyoto by 7:00 pm.
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Jul 10, 2018 23:17
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My sister and I are spending about 3 weeks in Japan from 9/12 to 10/3: one week in Kansai, one week in Honshu, and the final week in Tokyo where her husband will join us. This will be my second visit, and my sister spent a year abroad in Kansai during college. That was in 2012. We both have a loose grasp on reading / speaking Japanese. Can you guys help me convince my sister that booking an AirBnB in Tokyo is ok? We'll be spending a week there with her husband, and I think sharing an apartment would be the best option for 3 adults. We've already booked a private twin room in a hostel in Osaka to operate out of during our Kansai week. http://www.chuogroup.jp/mikado/en/ It seemed like a great budget option. Has anyone stayed there or heard anything about it? I'm tackling the Honshu leg of trip at the moment. Are we spending too much time here? Is it too ambitious? Should we treat Honshu like Kansai and get a place for the week and do day trips from Hiroshima? I don't want to spend too much time traveling, but staying at a different place every night sounds a little exhausting. Please let me know what y'all think about this tentative itinerary. I want to hit up Hiroshima, Miyajima, Saijo, Ookunoshima, Naoshima, and stop by Nagakute on the way to Tokyo. Only Miyajima and our arrival/departure dates are set in stone. I just organized this working from the east to west. 9/19 - Shinkansen arrives in Hiroshima. Rest day or sightseeing. 9/20 - Miyajima hotel booked https://www.mizuhasou.com/en-us 9/21 - Miyajima during the day, back to Hiroshima that night 9/22 - Hiroshima 9/23 - Hiroshima / Saijo 9/24 - Ookunoshima, Rabbit Island! Debating if it would be worth it to stay overnight at the resort there. 9/25 - Naoshima 9/26 - Shinkansen to Tokyo, with a stop in Nagakute to see the Totoro house Aside from booking accommodations in Osaka, we haven't planned much. I'm sure I'll have a ton more questions leading up to September. Spanish Inquisition fucked around with this message at 17:32 on Jul 11, 2018 |
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Jul 11, 2018 17:26
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Spanish Inquisition posted:Can you guys help me convince my sister that booking an AirBnB in Tokyo is ok? We'll be spending a week there with her husband, and I think sharing an apartment would be the best option for 3 adults. Why wouldn't it be? They removed the ones that aren't in compliance with the new laws.
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Jul 11, 2018 17:31
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Grand Fromage posted:Why wouldn't it be? They removed the ones that aren't in compliance with the new laws. I think she's just paranoid? She keeps telling me she's nervous about it, that she's heard of people getting their bookings cancelled.
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Jul 11, 2018 17:34
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Spanish Inquisition posted:I think she's just paranoid? She keeps telling me she's nervous about it, that she's heard of people getting their bookings cancelled. I had a non-compliant booking, so AirBnB notified me, let me cancel for free, and gave me a coupon that allowed me to rebook a completely free room. It worked out great.
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Jul 11, 2018 17:35
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Grand Fromage posted:I had a non-compliant booking, so AirBnB notified me, let me cancel for free, and gave me a coupon that allowed me to rebook a completely free room. It worked out great. Yeah, I'm not seeing the problem at all. I don't think she really gets AirBnB, like it seems shady to her for some reason. I'm gonna really push for it in Tokyo. Do you have any host recommendations?
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Jul 11, 2018 17:38
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I've never used it before this trip, so no. As it turned out all of my bookings are at actual hostels/guesthouses/etc that are just taking people through AirBnB in addition to other sites. Anyway for them to operate in Japan now they have to be registered as legal guesthouses and stuff so Japan is the least sketchy AirBnB country. Grand Fromage fucked around with this message at 17:48 on Jul 11, 2018 |
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Jul 11, 2018 17:40
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ntan1 posted:There are, and the available ones are listed here: Ntan delivers again, thanks. I knew there should be something like that. And don't all cars require ETC? Thought getting that card is like an additional prerequisite besides owning a parking spot. Spanish Inquisition posted:Yeah, I'm not seeing the problem at all. I don't think she really gets AirBnB, like it seems shady to her for some reason. I'm gonna really push for it in Tokyo. Do you have any host recommendations? Honestly, AirBnB is shady compared to your hostel/hotel. They are like ubers for homes, their business model is based on a technicality. Don't get me wrong, they tend to be better in value because they skip a lot of overhead costs and the ones in Stayed in Tokyo were fine. One way to convince your sister is tell her that Japan is already generally ultra safe and ultra clean for tourists so she won't be mugged or staying in some roach motel. In fact, hosts expect guests to sort the trash properly and wear slippers inside the house. Of all places to stay in AirBnB Japan should be her #1 choice. Worse comes worse, just book another hotel and cut your losses if bad things happen You should give your sister poo poo for having a defective travel bullshit detector.
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Jul 11, 2018 17:58
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zmcnulty posted:ntan1 isn't kidding, more expensive places often provide exactly that service if you simply ask. Even if they don't take you there for free, calling a taxi for guests is one of the few services that nearly all hotels worldwide provide.
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Jul 11, 2018 17:59
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ETC is not required, and you can just take a ticket when you get on the highway and pay in cash when you exit. I did that for years before I was able to get an ETC card, and now that there are so few ETC discounts left it doesn’t even make that much of a difference in how much you pay.
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Jul 11, 2018 18:05
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Did AirBnB actually finish removing noncompliant listings? All the ones I'm trying to book ten months out have a license number in their listings so I'm hoping I'll be good.
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Jul 11, 2018 18:06
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caberham posted:Ntan delivers again, thanks. I knew there should be something like that. You're right, her meter is hosed. The last time she booked a hostel for us in Tokyo, the proprietor's husband tried to convince me to move to Malaysia with him. I'm going to bring that up when she tries to talk us out of AirBnB.
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Jul 11, 2018 18:17
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caberham posted:And don't all cars require ETC? Thought getting that card is like an additional prerequisite besides owning a parking spot. It isn't, including rental cars (although every rental car I have gotten has an ETC card slot for your own ETC card if you decide to rent). I did a car trip once a while back without an ETC card. Spanish Inquisition posted:I think she's just paranoid? She keeps telling me she's nervous about it, that she's heard of people getting their bookings cancelled. Happened a bit back (and at that time AirBNB was a bit shadier) but should be OK now. That being said, also consider private rooms at hostels, which often do make sense for Tokyo. Also consider a triple at a business hotel. The main issue with many AirBNBs is that they're far away from stations, so YMMV. PS: Personally Hiroshima is a super quiet city and kind of boring compared to most of the 2nd tier japanese cities imho. I'm sure you can find something to do, but both Osaka and Tokyo are going to overshadow it (except for Miyajima/Nukes). Basically what I'm saying is find a way to get to the Shimanami Kaido.
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Jul 11, 2018 18:18
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What's the best way for me to learn Japanese? Any good software or online tools?
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Jul 11, 2018 20:38
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