Going to Japan for New Years, many questions.

[U88]

Alright so with full insurance and the ticket, I'll probably go ahead and buy it in the next couple weeks. Thanks for all your help everyone!

Traveling isn't new to me. I've been to Japan once before (back in the summer of 2008) and to the UK last summer. This is just my first time traveling in the holiday season. I just hope the airports won't be jam packed to the point where I feel stressed out.

 

[Macky-Mac]

Sorry if you're confused, but a fare bucket is just another term for class of service. L, U, T, Q, M, B, Y, etc. It's not something that is sold off to another website. .....

LOL yes, since the lowest tickets were being offered through consolidators, I was thinking of the term "bucket shops"which used to popular......back in the pre-internet days they used to be the cheapest way for consumers to get a ticket

 

[SactoGuy18]

A word of warning: the country might be running at minimal levels between December 31, 2010 and circa January 4, 2011 due to the New Year's holiday season. There might not be much in the way of attractions or even stores open during these days.

I'd still recommend flying from Tokyo to the various cities in Kyushu, though. Even if you could get a seat on the Nozomi Shinkansen train you're still stuck on the train for five hours, essentially using up one day of your time in Japan. Since both JAL and ANA (at least from the US West Coast) arrive at Narita Airport late in the afternoon, you could transfer to an early evening flight to Fukuoka.

 

[U88]

A word of warning: the country might be running at minimal levels between December 31, 2010 and circa January 4, 2011 due to the New Year's holiday season. There might not be much in the way of attractions or even stores open during these days.

I'd still recommend flying from Tokyo to the various cities in Kyushu, though. Even if you could get a seat on the Nozomi Shinkansen train you're still stuck on the train for five hours, essentially using up one day of your time in Japan. Since both JAL and ANA (at least from the US West Coast) arrive at Narita Airport late in the afternoon, you could transfer to an early evening flight to Fukuoka.

I originally used Expedia, but I found a solid flight plan that'll get me to Fukuoka with no overnight layovers. No need to take a shinkansen and I'll be home by noon on Jan 2.