Author Topic: Going to japan again :) (Read 4501 times)

mgz · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2010, 09:40:20 AM »

Quote from: relic2279 on February 03, 2010, 09:23:57 AM

Quote from: forevr on February 03, 2010, 08:30:59 AM
The yanks uses month/day/year for some reason

Probably because when you give a date in English, you verbally say/speak it "July 12th, 1993" You don't pronounce it twelve July 1993.

On Topic:

Post pics. Everyone says they're going to Japan, but very few people come back and post pics. It's a shame.

you can also very properly say its the 12th of july, 1993

Ixarku · « **Reply #21 on:** February 13, 2010, 07:00:48 PM »

Woo, my trip is finally bought and paid for. I was trying to coordinate a group of friends who want to go, but there were too many challenges with schedule conflicts and making everyone happy, etc etc, so I finally just said the hell with it, booked & paid for mine & my roommate's fares, and essentially told everyone else, "Here's what we're doing, fend for yourself and go or don't go."

Deucal · « **Reply #22 on:** February 17, 2010, 10:41:52 PM »

Tokyo:
Check out Yoyogi park during the weekend

. All the cosplay peeps hang near the JR station.
Plus a few minutes walk up beside the park and you will see all kinds of bands playing on the street trying to get noticed. Pretty fun.
Walk down and you're on Harajuku, all the designer shops and small vendor side streets.

Of course everyone checks out the shrine at Asakusa as well. But that's quickly done.

So much to do in Tokyo

. Just watch yourself if you go partying in Roppongi, been quite a few drugged drinks -> rippoffs at the more seedier places.

<3 Japan.

Ixarku · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2010, 10:35:09 AM »

IIRC there's a festival in Asakusa the weekend we get there, so we'll have to check that out... plus a sumo tournament is going on that month, so that's on the list of things to do as well.

zorena86 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 19, 2010, 03:38:51 AM »

For those of you interested in going to Japan and concerned about ticket prices, IACE Travel is doing a 40th anniversary special with a 1 day super sale. I'm jumping on this sale and I'm sure others will too!

http://www.iace-usa.com/us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=131

*Note* This is not an advertisement or anything, just a simple "I found a great deal and want to share it" kind of thing. I double checked the rules and this does not seem to be against them but if this is any way against BBT rules it was completely unintentional.

Ixarku · « **Reply #25 on:** February 21, 2010, 02:03:53 PM »

Having never been to Japan before, I'm considering picking up a hand-held GPS and getting a map download of the country. Most of my trip is going to be in Tokyo, but I've got 3 or 4 side trips in mind outside of the city as well. Map add-ons for Japan appear to be pricey -- just in my initial checking, on the Garmin site, for instance, one map was $160.

Frankly, I'm not sure if spending the money on a GPS + map would be worth it for a 2 week trip. I don't have much use for a GPS in my day-to-day life at home, but, of course, I could always resell it, loan it to friends or family, or hang onto it for future trips.

My Japanese is quite limited, and I've already picked up a copy of this book.

Anyone have any opinions on this subject? Would the convenience of a GPS be worth the expense to you, assuming you had the money?

EDIT – forgot to say, we’re not going as part of any kind of tour group, nor do we already have friends there who know the country.

Hex9001 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 21, 2010, 09:42:42 PM »

if you get the time, go for a wander around kyoto. you never know what you'll find. just make sure you know the name of your hotel and try to keep track of where you're going so you don't get lost. a hand gps like ixarku suggested would be handy too.

the osaka castle is worth a visit too if you have time.

have fun in japan!

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #27 on:** February 21, 2010, 11:42:07 PM »

Quote from: Ixarku on February 21, 2010, 02:03:53 PM

Having never been to Japan before, I'm considering picking up a hand-held GPS and getting a map download of the country. Most of my trip is going to be in Tokyo, but I've got 3 or 4 side trips in mind outside of the city as well. Map add-ons for Japan appear to be pricey -- just in my initial checking, on the Garmin site, for instance, one map was $160.

Frankly, I'm not sure if spending the money on a GPS + map would be worth it for a 2 week trip. I don't have much use for a GPS in my day-to-day life at home, but, of course, I could always resell it, loan it to friends or family, or hang onto it for future trips.

My Japanese is quite limited, and I've already picked up a copy of this book.

Anyone have any opinions on this subject? Would the convenience of a GPS be worth the expense to you, assuming you had the money?

EDIT – forgot to say, we’re not going as part of any kind of tour group, nor do we already have friends there who know the country.

Honestly?

Don't bother. If you're in the city you can always get to a train station and save yourself if you're "lost."

Ixarku · « **Reply #28 on:** February 22, 2010, 12:46:26 AM »

Thanks for the opinion. Yeah, I'm not so concerned about getting lost. More interested in being able to find the places I'd be looking for.

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #29 on:** February 22, 2010, 04:29:18 AM »

Quote from: Ixarku on February 22, 2010, 12:46:26 AM

Thanks for the opinion. Yeah, I'm not so concerned about getting lost. More interested in being able to find the places I'd be looking for.

What I do is I figure out what train station to get out at and I'll have printed directions with the Japanese name and English name on them. If you get confused ask a passerby.

oth, my new Google phone has GPS on it, so I can use that now.

note: I live in Japan, in case you didn't know.

Ixarku · « **Reply #30 on:** February 22, 2010, 10:38:58 AM »

Ah, I didn't realize you lived there. Yeah, printing directions might make things easier... the only issue for me is that my list of places to go has about 50 things on it! I've got the map grid locations for everything identified in the Tokyo City Atlas, so I imagine if I just update my list with the nearest train station for each item, that should be a good start. The Atlas seems like a pretty good buy, but I wasn't 100% sure it would be everything I need to find my way around.

Saqiw · « **Reply #31 on:** February 22, 2010, 03:27:22 PM »

Quote from: Hex9001 on February 21, 2010, 09:42:42 PM

if you get the time, go for a wander around kyoto. you never know what you'll find. just make sure you know the name of your hotel and try to keep track of where you're going so you don't get lost. a hand gps like ixarku suggested would be handy too.

the osaka castle is worth a visit too if you have time.

have fun in japan!

thanks mate
i am going to se the osaka castle and the underwater fish zoo

take the train sometime to kyoto and nara, gonna stay there for 6 to 7 day then move on to tokyo for 7 day
we just might take 7 day more, just don`t know where yet

Saqiw · « **Reply #32 on:** February 22, 2010, 03:38:18 PM »

and i don`t mind getting lost, first time in tokyo we went out at 11am and came back at 3am, because we got lost, it was f..king super, after that I kind of fall in love with japan, I LOVE THE WAY PEOPLE ARE IN JAPAN, everyone is so nice

just don`t know how to say it but I feel something magic about it, it just feel so right, you know what i mean?
maybe its just me

Hex9001 · « **Reply #33 on:** February 22, 2010, 09:36:55 PM »

I know exactly what you mean Saqiw. After going there in 2005 i feel the same way. Can't wait to go back someday.

and the Osaka Aquarium is definitely worth going to. They have the world's only whale shark kept alive in captivity. The jellyfish display is really cool as well. they're so colorful! its almost trippy watching them go around in circles in their tanks.

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #34 on:** February 23, 2010, 02:44:45 AM »

Quote from: Hex9001 on February 22, 2010, 09:36:55 PM

I know exactly what you mean Saqiw. After going there in 2005 i feel the same way. Can't wait to go back someday.

and the Osaka Aquarium is definitely worth going to. They have the world's only whale shark kept alive in captivity. The jellyfish display is really cool as well. they're so colorful! its almost trippy watching them go around in circles in their tanks.

Speaking of jellyfish... I remember one time we (the Blue Ridge) were pulling back in to Yokosuka pretty late (around midnight) and all the jellyfish in the water were aglow. It was breathtaking.

Saqiw · « **Reply #35 on:** February 26, 2010, 04:09:22 AM »

wooohooo 8 day left

damn i hate waiting

Tatsujin · « **Reply #36 on:** February 28, 2010, 12:15:50 AM »

Quote from: harpy on February 03, 2010, 08:26:50 AM

Quote from: billlanam on February 03, 2010, 08:22:24 AM
day/mon/yr instead of mon/day/yr is being used

doesn't it always been used like that? I mean the day, then the month and then the year? I haven't seen it used otherwise....

sorry for being off topic >_<

have fun time in japan

Each country has its own date codes x.x

Saqiw · « **Reply #37 on:** March 02, 2010, 07:57:47 PM »

leaving on monday, F..K I'm so HAPPY!

Ixarku · « **Reply #38 on:** March 02, 2010, 09:36:31 PM »

Grats, have fun! Wish I was going now myself, but May will be here soon enough.

roihoxai · « **Reply #39 on:** March 10, 2010, 10:21:05 AM »

If you do not have a Visa and are visiting Japan, get the JR Special pass. You get to go anywhere (EVEN THE SHINKANSEN!!!) the whole time you're there. You have to be here less than a certain amount of time, but this is only offered to foreigners. Japanese cannot get it and those with visa cannot get it.

But it is a great opportunity!! Make sure to look into it! (Also, make sure you only take JR trains if you have it) it will save so much money!!!

Osaka is my favorite place in Japan! I like Akihabara, but Shibuya and Shinjuku were boring.... When going to Osaka, there is a lot of shopping. You can go to Shinsaibashi or Nipponbashi. There's also a Pokemon center in Osaka!

Also check out Kaitenzushi places if you like sushi. If you miss the last train, don't worry! Just stay in a Karaoke bar until 5am when the trains start running again (if you are with other people, the price is not bad.) If you want to go to a club in Tokyo and can speak a lot of Japanese, I'd suggest not going to Roppongi (high Gaijin ratings...) but go to ATOM in Shinjuku instead, it's a great time and three floors of music! (If you don't like rap, don't go to the top floor.)