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Kanazawa is another good option, or the Kiso Valley is neat.
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Jul 25, 2023 20:33
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For a 2 week trip, would it be worth getting a JR Pass? I feel like I asked this before and was told no but it sounds convenient tbh.
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Jul 26, 2023 05:01
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It used to be, but with the upcoming huge price increase you'll have to look up what the shinkansen prices for each individual trip you want to take, add it all up, and compare it to the cost of the pass.
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Jul 26, 2023 05:10
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It was already a bad deal before, I cannot imagine a scenario where the new price JR pass is worthwhile. You'd have to be doing some insane trip where you're shinkansening to a new city almost every day.
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Jul 26, 2023 05:14
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Yea I was just looking here and it's like Tokyo to Kanazawa is about 14k yen by Shinkansen though unsure how up to date that info is.
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Jul 26, 2023 05:26
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Good Listener posted:I keep bothering with questions and I do apologize, I'm just kind of trying to pre-set up things so I know what I should plan for for a 2 week stay I suppose. I know we want to go to Tokyo and try to eat at the Kirby cafe, but should we take a couple days out of the Tokyo area and visit somewhere else like Osaka or the like? In fairness, you can go all around Tokyo proper…and still have possible day trips to Utsunomiya and Nikko, Kamakura and Enoshima, Yokohama proper, Hakone and it’s surrounds, potentially even Mt Fuji. With bullet train, you could even visit to Kyoto or Osaka in a day trip if you’re out early and back late. It depends on what you and your travel companions really want to do. I would recommend looking into those day trips, but I also dislike switching hotels too much on that length of trip. [Edit] Grand Fromage posted:It was already a bad deal before, I cannot imagine a scenario where the new price JR pass is worthwhile. You'd have to be doing some insane trip where you're shinkansening to a new city almost every day. The classic advice was you broke even on going Tokyo <-> Osaka on the pass, so if your plan included more Shinkansen usage than that, to get the pass. I’m not sure the price increase is going to help the calculus. harperdc fucked around with this message at 05:33 on Jul 26, 2023 |
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Jul 26, 2023 05:31
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You can get some pretty deep discounts booking in advance on Ekinet, but JR Central doesn't participate, ruining it for cross country trips.
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Jul 26, 2023 05:34
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harperdc posted:In fairness, you can go all around Tokyo proper…and still have possible day trips to Utsunomiya and Nikko, Kamakura and Enoshima, Yokohama proper, Hakone and it’s surrounds, potentially even Mt Fuji. With bullet train, you could even visit to Kyoto or Osaka in a day trip if you’re out early and back late. Yea I think we should nail down things we'd wanna do before anything. It's just a case of like..the last time I went to Japan was a school summer study trip in college so it's trying to figure out things on my own this time and am just thinking of every option before doing anything. Maybe it is dumb to think so far ahead without a set plan but I can't help myself lol
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Jul 26, 2023 05:44
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If you buy the pass then it forces you to use it otherwise you're wasting money. Just wing it imo, 2 weeks is sufficient for Tokyo and some surrounding areas.
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Jul 26, 2023 09:23
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Tell your roomie to do some research on things they want to see then make an itinerary that is appealing to both of you jfc
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Jul 26, 2023 09:54
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Discussions with my partner have been the same way and I’m just like do your research I can’t do it for you and will meet you wherever you want to see something cool. Recommendations for flea/thrift/second hand markets in larger cities in October? Antique browsing is one of my favorite travel activities. Also craft/makers markets. I have a few pottery festivals on my list.
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Jul 26, 2023 10:01
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Like, get a paper guide book from the library, look at the pictures, and take notes about where your favorite pictures were taken.
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Jul 26, 2023 12:46
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I apologize for posting too much, my brain just goes into planning overdrive for something that isn't even set in stone yet. I just wanna figure out as much info as I can so I know what I'm getting into. I'll hush for a bit but I appreciate all the help you all have given for sure!
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Jul 26, 2023 15:38
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2 week trip is perfect for the 7 day pass, especially if you are flying out of Narita. Land in haneda, hang out for 6 days days, activate the pass, go to himeji/kyoto/osaka. Go back to Tokyo day 13, and day 14 or pass day 7 use the NEX
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Jul 27, 2023 08:03
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Wonton posted:2 week trip is perfect for the 7 day pass, especially if you are flying out of Narita. I was going to write off a JR pass but I didn't even think of doing it like this lol. We're going to Osaka our 2nd week and back like this pretty much. It's hard to find out what the cost of a green car ticket there and back is without just getting a pass.
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Jul 27, 2023 08:44
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I'll be visiting Japan during the first half of September and would like to visit Fuji-Q Highland one of the days. Do anyone have suggestions/recommendations/experiences on getting there from Tokyo? I'm starting my visit in Tokyo, and leaving from KIX, and my plan right now is also to visit a few cities along the route from Tokyo to Kansai, would it make sense to integrate a Fuji-Q visit into that and e.g. send my large luggage to Osaka via a luggage service, travel to Fuji-Q in the morning and enjoy the park, then travel from there to one of Gotemba, Mishima or Numazu to stay the night, and continue from there the next day?
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Jul 27, 2023 10:46
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nielsm posted:I'll be visiting Japan during the first half of September and would like to visit Fuji-Q Highland one of the days. Do anyone have suggestions/recommendations/experiences on getting there from Tokyo? Their own site has deals listed including bus trips and/or overnight stays along with one-day passes, so whether you stay nearby or go out and back in one day (it’s possible) there are some plans. September should be nice, too, weather-wise. Go on a weekday (avoid Monday, September 18, it’s a public holiday) and enjoy. Staying at Gotemba and continuing on would make the most sense to me if you wanted to continue on.
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Jul 27, 2023 13:10
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Good Listener posted:I apologize for posting too much, my brain just goes into planning overdrive for something that isn't even set in stone yet. I just wanna figure out as much info as I can so I know what I'm getting into. I'll hush for a bit but I appreciate all the help you all have given for sure! You could probably find some ideas from just looking up interests on Japan Guide? https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e623.html
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Jul 29, 2023 12:09
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I'm looking a luggage forwarding services, but at first sight it seems there aren't any that properly offer storing your luggage for a few days? E.g. dropping off in Tokyo on the evening of Sep 5th and picking up in Kyoto on the 10th? Does that exist or will I need to change my plans or find a friend who will help me out?
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Jul 30, 2023 08:12
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I thought Kuroneko Yamato offers that exact service.
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Jul 30, 2023 08:26
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Charles 2 of Spain posted:If you buy the pass then it forces you to use it otherwise you're wasting money. Just wing it imo, 2 weeks is sufficient for Tokyo and some surrounding areas. Both times I went to Japan, I realized it was easier to not get the pass so I could take whichever train company was most convenient for what I wanted to do. Made life a lot easier than having to plan around JR only.
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Jul 30, 2023 08:40
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Zettace posted:I thought Kuroneko Yamato offers that exact service. They do, I just discovered myself too. They're just really bad at advertising it. They're so excited to tell you about their same day delivery that they forget to tell you that they also offer delayed delivery by up to 7 days, but it's hidden deep in their FAQ site.
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Jul 30, 2023 08:43
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Bofast posted:You could probably find some ideas from just looking up interests on Japan Guide? I'm not sure why I didn't try this before. I'ma blame trying to overthink things haha. Thanks! Also a thought did come to me, how easy is it to get one of those portable wifi set ups? Pretty sure we're gonna need that when we visit from everything I've heard. EDIT: Also has anyone been to Sakaiminato? A part of me really wants to visit due to loving Shigeru Mizuki's work.. Good Listener fucked around with this message at 15:10 on Jul 30, 2023 |
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Jul 30, 2023 14:45
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They’re very easy you just order them in advance and pick them up at the airport or have them delivered to your hotel if you want to make life slightly more difficult for your first couple of hours in the country
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Jul 30, 2023 16:06
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I found the sim from Mobal to work great and it converted me off portable wifi this past trip. It's even simpler, they'll mail you the sim at home in the US so you can just install it on the plane. The only issue I had was I had to manually configure it to get data working. They give you the instructions to do so, write them down or print it out to make it easy.
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Jul 30, 2023 17:22
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Good Listener posted:EDIT: Also has anyone been to Sakaiminato? A part of me really wants to visit due to loving Shigeru Mizuki's work.. Yes, not recently, but it was a fun place to visit. That part of the country is incredibly beautiful.
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Jul 30, 2023 21:38
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LyonsLions posted:Yes, not recently, but it was a fun place to visit. That part of the country is incredibly beautiful. Honestly might try to put it on at the last couple days of the trip maybe. See if we can't take the train or a plane out to it then fly outta the nearby airport to Narita and home.
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Jul 30, 2023 22:30
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Any other good sim companies other than mobal? Their site says they have issues with Google pixels and that's unfortunately what I have.
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Jul 31, 2023 02:15
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Good Listener posted:Honestly might try to put it on at the last couple days of the trip maybe. See if we can't take the train or a plane out to it then fly outta the nearby airport to Narita and home. You'll love it. The Shigeru Mizuki stuff is fun and it's such a beautiful place. BTW have you read his Showa History series or his other autobiographical stuff? Highly recommended, the guy lived a pretty crazy life.
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Jul 31, 2023 02:19
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LyonsLions posted:You'll love it. The Shigeru Mizuki stuff is fun and it's such a beautiful place. BTW have you read his Showa History series or his other autobiographical stuff? Highly recommended, the guy lived a pretty crazy life. I know a lot about him but def will need to check that out, def agree that his life was something else.
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Jul 31, 2023 02:33
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SulfurMonoxideCute posted:Both times I went to Japan, I realized it was easier to not get the pass so I could take whichever train company was most convenient for what I wanted to do. Made life a lot easier than having to plan around JR only. Using the JR train pass for local trains or local metro pass are bad decisions, the train pass’s value is primarily long distance and you need spend average 3.5k per day to make it work 
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Jul 31, 2023 02:49
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Grand Fromage posted:I found the sim from Mobal to work great and it converted me off portable wifi this past trip. It's even simpler, they'll mail you the sim at home in the US so you can just install it on the plane. The only issue I had was I had to manually configure it to get data working. They give you the instructions to do so, write them down or print it out to make it easy. Mobal is actually kind of pricier but it’s all over the YouTube ads and travel influencers. Ubigi is cheaper if you can use esim. Or a south East Asian country based, Japan roaming SIM card
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Jul 31, 2023 02:50
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I've heard that many stores in Japan don't like selling Pokemon cards to adults, does anyone know if that is just for booster packs, etc, or does that include buying second hand cards?
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Jul 31, 2023 06:54
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You can definitely buy used Pokemon cards at Book Off (Hard Off eheheh) or specialty shops. There should be boxes full of 10 cent junk and better cards in individual sleeves and inflated prices. The problem is influencers, resellers, and weirdoes hoarding all the new packs to use in unboxing videos, open and sell the high value cards for stupid amounts, or never opening them to let them mature to resell to other influencers, resellers, and weirdoes. peanut fucked around with this message at 07:18 on Jul 31, 2023 |
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Jul 31, 2023 07:15
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Gentleman Baller posted:I've heard that many stores in Japan don't like selling Pokemon cards to adults, does anyone know if that is just for booster packs, etc, or does that include buying second hand cards? Just walk up to a group of young children outside a school and hand them some money to go buy them for you.
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Jul 31, 2023 07:44
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I'm a little stuck - have a JR pass and tickets to the Oomagari Fireworks Festival 8/26/23, but looking at the reservation site, tickets from Tokyo to Omagari station are sold out for the day. The reservation routes show under "non-reserved seats?" a "no." Will more tickets open up? Is there a possibility of getting standing room spots on the train just walking into the station? Crampy Grampaw fucked around with this message at 15:27 on Jul 31, 2023 |
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Jul 31, 2023 15:08
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Jumping on JR Pass chat - what is a good site to buy them from? There are so many sites that pop up when I search and I don't know which one to use. Can anyone recommend a site they've used or know is good?
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Jul 31, 2023 15:48
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JR Pass I've only tried JTB USA like actually 20 yrs ago... Don't buy tickets online just buy same day at the station (or a minor station to avoid long lines) Non-reserved means you might have to stand, it's usually fine.
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Jul 31, 2023 16:20
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Crampy Grampaw posted:I'm a little stuck - The Komachi shinkansen to Akita is only reserved seats, no non-reserved seats available. I've taken that train several times and while I have never seen anyone with a standing ticket, the train announcements talk about how a standing room ticket is only valid for the car number printed on the ticket. So I'm not sure how you can do it, but I suppose standing tickets must be possible.
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Jul 31, 2023 17:22
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Noitaroballoc posted:The Komachi shinkansen to Akita is only reserved seats, no non-reserved seats available. I've taken that train several times and while I have never seen anyone with a standing ticket, the train announcements talk about how a standing room ticket is only valid for the car number printed on the ticket. So I'm not sure how you can do it, but I suppose standing tickets must be possible. That’s hopeful, thanks. Is there a way I can buy standing tickets from the US? Or only way is to wait to go into an office in person?
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Jul 31, 2023 17:47
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