Many thanks!! Any places or foods that i cannot miss in Tokyo or othdr cities?

go tsukiji fish market eat omakase set at either sushidai or daiwa sushi.

at sushidai the hokkigai (surf clam) was still moving when they serve it.

Akihabara - electronics, gadgets, otaku culture (meido cafe )
Asakusa - sumo stadium, Edo period culture (Kaminarimon)
Ueno - the park, museums
Shibuya/Harajuku/Omoetesando - youth culture, Hachiko and a few more parks
Shinjuku/Marunouchi - TM twin tower obs deck and more parks!
Ikebukuro - Sunshine 60, ramen!
Odaiba - family theme parks, Rainbow bridge, Toyota centre
Ginza - Tsukiji (fish market and fresh sushi!), shopping !!
Roppongi/Akasaka - Tokyo Tower, bars, clubs, more shopping !!!

Outskirts of Tokyo, got a few too:

Fujiyama/Hakone - This no need to explain
Izu Islands - seaside, onsen
Yokohama - Chinatown
Kawasaki, Saitama, Gunma 色々ね

Actually Tokyo quite big also, it'll take longer time to list down all

which meido cafe is best for ppl like me whose 日本語はだめなんです? My last trip to Tokyo I wanted to go to one but felt a bit odd if I go and can barely communicate with the maids.

I've had the same problem like yours last time, but having paid so much for Japan trip, so just simply walked in a random meido kissaten called Home Cafe and asked for eigo meido Got the only Eigo speaking maid (she's Canadian-Japanese mix), my luck really. Though i last heard, she's no longer there but you could try.

Am traveling to Japan end of this nov... going to Osaka -> Kyoto -> Tokyo... juz wonder how is the weather there during that time??

Do i need to fully deck out in winter clothes or, just a wind/water proof jacket, wool pants and thick socks is enuff?

anyone knows if there is any cheap travel package for students?

i'm really interested in going to japan next year before graduating, checked a lot of travel websites, and most group tours are really expensive, costing more than RM 5000+. my budget is between RM 3000-4000

cheapest one i found is pyotravel, but i'm not so confident in dealing with this travel agent since they seem to get a lot of negative feedback

hi,

i believe u better be prepared for full gear, weather for this year is quite extreme too.

so how many nights in total u will stay in Japan? from osaka to tokyo, by train or bus? fare? heard that if by bullet train, it will cost an arm or leg for the ticket. (RM500 one way??)

mind to share your which hotel r u staying in osaka and kyoto? as i will be going on Jan too.

tq

If you're student, i'd suggest you go backpack style. Put a stop to expensive guided tours! Why pay others when you can DIY?

RM5000 is enough for 8-9 days of Tokyo-Fuji/Hakone-Yokohama-Nikko trip inclusive of air ticket

Yes it's very cold, by Malaysia's standard of course. Skinny people might need full winter gear, those big sized still can live with long johns and thick jacket

If you plan to board the Shinkansen (even once!), do get the JR Pass. More than worth it, so much that they limit the purchase only for foreign traveler, nihonjins drooling

bro,

actually this is my 1st trip to Japan, i will go to osaka, kyoto n kobe for 8days7nites, enough? any idea how many nites should i stay in each place?

i totally have no idea on the name of the Japan rail or transportation, mind to tell me some?

i knew SHINKANSEN is their rail system, rite? when will i use it?

nihonjins?? what is tis?

tq

we are planning to travel to Japan for New Year celebration, do you have any suggestion for Japan Itinerary for 2 week as Japan has many things to see

Please refer to Google or Wikitravel.

This has been discussed over and over and over again in this particular thread maybe more than 10 times already.

Haha daijobu Shazzac, i'm in the mood to explain. Or like the typical 'helpful' nihonjin, you know what i'm saying


So, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe? If you land/arrive at Osaka, so the three places are all around Kansai region. But if you come from Tokyo, that's an extra 1/2-1day of traveling. Staying how long, that depends on your schedule and budget, not cheap though especially with the current exchange rate

In Tokyo, there is the famed 'main' JR Yamanote line, connected with a few Metro/Subway lines. If you want more information on Japan's train services, i'd suggest Wikipedia or this book http://www.amazon.com/Japan-Rail-Route-Guide-Guides/dp/1873756232

Also, i would suggest you read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan before you ask more questions. This forum won't have enough space to explain all, so read that first, ganbatte

thanks for the reply

i would love to go backpack style, but then i can't even read or speak japanese, and i don't think i'm gonna get through the visa application
that's why i'm searching for group tours

In Tokyo, no worries about the Japanese language. There are plenty of eigo signboards which are quite easy to understand (and cute too ). But for other cities, it'll be tough not understanding the basic of the language.

One method is, when you're asking a Japanese for help/direction, you could carry a guidebook and point at what you're looking for. Another is search for local JNTO-organized tour packages; they cater for non-Japanese speaking foreigners. The guides can speak English and Mandarin, and expect superb hospitality (hmmm still have sweet memories from my local Fujiyama tour )

Regarding visa application, it's easy. Just print out a bank statement of RM6k balance (there's loophole for this), submit your planned itinerary and other identification papers, and you're good to go

The downside about group tours is, chances are the half-awake-breakfast at 7am-you be hurried from point A to B without knowing what happened . The joy is still with relaxed and flexible schedule.

hi matt thanks learned a lot from you.
wanna check with you if you've been to osaka ? and if you do do you have any planned itinerary for it ?

planning to go osaka, kobe, nara and kyoto, and wanna make sure it is like all in sync. example like if in malaysia you would go to subang, pj, kl instead of pj, subang, kl.. kind of stuff

thanks matt! or any other ppl who could help me with my itinerary

Osaka, Kyoto n Nara are somewhat near to each other
Kobe will be a lil futher.
Distance of Kyoto to Nara is more like PJ to bukit Jalil, n kyoto to JKobe something like PJ to PortKlang distance.
I will try to get back to this thread tonite as I need to continue work after lunch lol

mean time
http://www.flickr.com/photos/e-jump/sets/72157624757907595/
*kansai trip starts from the fuji pic

Wow your Tamron lens captured the spirit of spring well, not too saturated, just nice I have an A-300 as well; going to shoot with beercan on my next Japan trip.

thanks e-jump! appreciate if you could share your itinerary with me! or experience !

i've gone through all the guides, know of what to see (attractions). it's just planning the route as like 4 cities abit blur where to go and all haha.

just fyi i'll be staying in namba, so that wil be the base. understand in namba that it's near osaka castle and a few other place..