Couple of questions about the Land of the Rising Suñ!

[xKx_31]

Yep thats the same one, I booked mine online from the same site as well. The price was slightly more expensive at the time i booked by a few dollars. The pics are quite acurate but I guess you really dont get a feel of how big/small the rooms actually are till you're there. If you're carrying alot of luggage the you won't have much room to put them. We only brought 2 suitcases and it was pretty cramped already but overall it was a pleasant experience.

Yeah, from the website shows a few comments being made on the size of the rooms ... but nevertheless, my gf actually want to have private bath instead of those type of sharing ones, thats why our choices are largely limited and also budget constraints .....

Any idea if that hotel provides any airport shuttle!?!? If so, I'm safe lugging few pieces of luggauges, if not, taking the train to the hotel with so many bags aint really a smart choice ....

Tried calling the hotel but it seems that the operator doesnt understand English ...

[200sx]

hmm sorry Im not sure either as we actually did it the hard way ie. Narita Express all the way to Shinjuku station and dragged the luggage all the way to the hotel. Its a pain if you have alot of luggage although it was very do-able for us when we first got there. Going back was a different story though because with all the shopping that we did over there we had so much more things to carry and the bad thing is, Shinjuku station doesn't have any lifts/escalators where you could drag your luggage on to. Which means you have to literally carry your suitcases up the stairs.

[xKx_31]

ermmm ... i think i better just bring my backpack along!! haha

[drunkenmaster]

hmm sorry Im not sure either as we actually did it the hard way ie. Narita Express all the way to Shinjuku station and dragged the luggage all the way to the hotel. Its a pain if you have alot of luggage although it was very do-able for us when we first got there. Going back was a different story though because with all the shopping that we did over there we had so much more things to carry and the bad thing is, Shinjuku station doesn't have any lifts/escalators where you could drag your luggage on to. Which means you have to literally carry your suitcases up the stairs.

Try doing that alone half way across Japan to Shizouka, using Narita Express, Shinkansen, JR and taxi. Unfortunately i couldnt find a boat to catch to make my transport experience complete.I had bruises on my shoulders for a week.

On the way back I am sending my suitcase by an airport courier service 3 days in advance. You can do the same on arrival, but you will need 2 days worth of clothes in your hand luggage.

[xKx_31]

Try doing that alone half way across Japan to Shizouka, using Narita Express, Shinkansen, JR and taxi. Unfortunately i couldnt find a boat to catch to make my transport experience complete.I had bruises on my shoulders for a week.

On the way back I am sending my suitcase by an airport courier service 3 days in advance. You can do the same on arrival, but you will need 2 days worth of clothes in your hand luggage.

Airport courier?? meaning??

[omg]

Another  

Honda HQ near Imperial  Palace gardens is worth a visit .Diffrent Honda related stuff and car on display.They have all Type R `s also .If not on display, they are in the garage.The nsx r is very nice indeed upclose.

If you ask they would would probaly let you see them.  

The nsx r is very nice indeed upclose.

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This will be well worth the visit for you. If you're a granturismo fan once you've visited it go outside, face southwest and have a careful look - you're just before the braking area for turn one of R242 If you look in the game the building is perfectly rendered with lots of hondas parked on the forecourt.

Motegi is a little way, easiest way to get there is to catch the train up to utsunomiya and get the bus from there. Even with the shinkansen you're looking at around 3 hours each way though. Hire a car, drive up, and spend the night at nikko

[drunkenmaster]

Airport courier?? meaning??

airport courier = courier to the airport :wassup:

I just did it this morning, 2000Yen for a 30kg suitcase from Toyota to Narita, not bad at all.

[InspectorGadget]

airport courier = courier to the airport  :wassup:  

I just did it this morning, 2000Yen for a 30kg suitcase from Toyota to Narita, not bad at all.

You shouldn't have any touble arranging that from any Hotel that you're staying in.

IG

[DaiOni]

for those with lots of baggage: the japanese tend to courier their baggage when travelling (which is why baggage space/travelling/convenience is a pain in the arse - as I've said before, tourist infrastructure is a bit of a blindspot here...).

If you don't have the luxury of an airport limo - then you can also take advantage of this. Ask the hotel/hostel receptionist to organise for the baggage to be taken to the airport (make sure you leave enough time though!) - then pick it up at the airport. It's not the cheapest of ideas - but if you've gone mad with shopping, your arms will thank you by the time you reach the airport.

[xKx_31]

This will be well worth the visit for you. If you're a granturismo fan once you've visited it go outside, face southwest and have a careful look - you're just before the braking area for turn one of R242 If you look in the game the building is perfectly rendered with lots of hondas parked on the forecourt.

Motegi is a little way, easiest way to get there is to catch the train up to utsunomiya and get the bus from there. Even with the shinkansen you're looking at around 3 hours each way though. Hire a car, drive up, and spend the night at nikko

wow .... more and more places!!!!! OMG!! I think I might have to extend the trip

Thanks for the advice ....

Me, gf and friend will probably rent a Nissan directly from the airport ... saw the ads on websites ... 4,000 yen per day!!! Although its a sedan, but heck .. i dont mind!!!

[xKx_31]

My goodness ... you guys are the best!! Thanks IG, Drunkenmaster, Daioni!!

I will probably do that as a second option, just in case we decided not to rent the car ...

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The thing about suitcase issues are because I'm travelling quite a few places and plus the fact that my gf is coming along, we might overdo it with shopping ... And if I were to bring a huge empty suitcase and drag it around ... ermmm ... may prolly give the locals the impression that I'm like some country bumpkin who's never been on a trip before =X

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BTW, we're thinking of going to watch some sumo in action or the kabuki (or something authentic Jap threatre opera) .... Do you guys think its worth the money?? Not the cheapest entertainment in our itnerary though ...

[JaseR33]

This thread has been useful reading for me too. I'm off to Japan on the 22nd Dec and have barely planned any accomadation. Looks like I'm gonna probably stay at the Shinjuku vintage as well

[xKx_31]

This thread has been useful reading for me too. I'm off to Japan on the 22nd Dec and have barely planned any accomadation. Looks like I'm gonna probably stay at the Shinjuku vintage as well

ok ok ... will you be staying throughout the TAS 05??

[InspectorGadget]

BTW, we're thinking of going to watch some sumo in action or the kabuki (or something authentic Jap threatre opera) .... Do you guys think its worth the money?? Not the cheapest entertainment in our itnerary though ...

SUMO! SUMO! SUMO!

And it is actually really cheap. It just happens that the New Year Sumo tournament will be held from the 9th to the 23rd of January, exactly when you are here. It is WELL worth day, especially considering there is so much other stuff close to the Sumo stadium.

There are 10-12 of these tournaments held each year around the country, but only two are held in Ryogoku (VERY close to the centre of Tokyo). It is also right next to the Edo Museum (very impressive) and is just 4 minutes by train from Akihabara (Electronics heaven, and worth a visit in itself)

Non-reserved tickets cost around 2300yen per person at the gate, and you can re-enter once. This allows you to go in in the morning and have a look, leave and do some other stuff, and come back when the GOOD matches start from about 15:30 onwards

Here are some links:

Sumo

http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/

Edo Museum

http://www.tokyoessentials.com/edo-tokyo%20museum.html

Akihabara

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/RTG/RI/kanto/tok.../akihabara.html

IG

PS The Sumo is awesome. All the other first timers I take there love it.

PPS You'll be bored out of your tree if you see the Kabuki.

[JaseR33]

Unfortunately not....i'm off to Taiwan on the 8th Jan. Would love to have been around for it but I gotta go to Taiwan before coming back to OZ. Anyone know of some affordable clean hotels in Osaka and Yokohama??? I'm gonna be broke after this trip...actually in debt so need to save on hotels...maybe i just sleep in parks:p

[InspectorGadget]

Unfortunately not....i'm off to Taiwan on the 8th Jan. Would love to have been around for it but I gotta go to Taiwan before coming back to OZ. Anyone know of some affordable clean hotels in Osaka and Yokohama??? I'm gonna be broke after this trip...actually in debt so need to save on hotels...maybe i just sleep in parks:p

Capsule hotels are the way to go and they're generally around 4000-5000 yen per night. They're safe, clean, cheap and a really good way to get around the country on the cheap. Imagine a backpackers but sleeping in holes in the wall.

A lot of backpackers use them.

IG

[DaiOni]

kabuki is slower than paint drying.

I hear you can (in some places) get tickets for a single act - so you can pop in, see a bit, then leave - that would be my advice. Unless you're the sort of person that thinks opera, or 4 hours of ballet, is a great night out - then it should be right up your alley

[InspectorGadget]

kabuki is slower than paint drying.

Second only to Noh, which is like listening to a Waterbuffalo that has stood on a railway spike . . . . for 4 days.

:-P

IG

[Demon Dave]

and both noh and Kabuki pale in comparison after listening to the seemingly never ending string of school graduation speeches...

[InspectorGadget]

and both noh and Kabuki pale in comparison after listening to the seemingly never ending string of school graduation speeches...

I think those are what Noh developed into . . .

Yeah, I hate them too. It seems like everyone, from Kencho representative, down to the local street cigarette vendor is invited as a guest of honour . . . . and subsequently needs to say their piece to the graduating students.

IG