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Planning a Trip to Japan! (help)

My guide book says a taxi from Narita could cost $200!!! I've been several times and have always taken the train which is cheaper and quite convenient...and if you're staying at a hostel then a taxi seems like a budget breaker!

Tokyo is easy to get around in. Get a good bilingual map before you leave (should be easy to find in Los Angeles)....the directions from the nearest subway stop to the hostel are probably posted on their website, if not, send them an email and ask.......it's easy enough to take a train from the airport to a station where you can switch to the subway and then get off at the closest stop to your hostel....and then walk a few blocks, just make sure you're taking a suitcase with wheels (edit; "How to get there - Ace Inn Shinjuku Hostel; The nearest station is 'Akebono-bashi' by Toei Shinjuku line. Take A3 exit, and come to left way. You'll see us in 30 seconds"). There's enough signage in english to navigate the subways although sometimes you'll have to look for it.

And if you need help, somebody will help you. The Japanese are very kind to visitors.
 
Macky-Mac said:
My guide book says a taxi from Narita could cost $200!!! I've been several times and have always taken the train which is cheaper and quite convenient...and if you're staying at a hostel then a taxi seems like a budget breaker!

Tokyo is easy to get around in. Get a good bilingual map before you leave (should be easy to find in Los Angeles)....the directions from the nearest subway stop to the hostel are probably posted on their website, if not, send them an email and ask.......it's easy enough to take a train from the airport to a station where you can switch to the subway and then get off at the closest stop to your hostel....and then walk a few blocks, just make sure you're taking a suitcase with wheels (edit; "How to get there - Ace Inn Shinjuku Hostel; The nearest station is 'Akebono-bashi' by Toei Shinjuku line. Take A3 exit, and come to left way. You'll see us in 30 seconds"). There's enough signage in english to navigate the subways although sometimes you'll have to look for it.

And if you need help, somebody will help you. The Japanese are very kind to visitors.
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yea, so then my Taxi calculations werent too far off. forget that plan :eek:

So this brings me to this. I know where my Hostel is. I know where Narita is. When I do a Google map directions, it gives me how to go to there from different train lines and everything. Except...its all in Japanese. It will even give me the time the train comes but I cant understand what the Lines are.

Google Maps

so thats where my biggest concern is currently. Making it to the Hostel.
 
yoyo5280 said:
Don't worry about speaking not Japanese. Many Japanese know enough English to get by, but are very shy to use it.
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Or at least learn a few common phrases to be polite. Expecting people to speak English to you while in a foreign country is pretty "American". I mean, it's OK if they speak English to you. Communicate however you can. Just learn to say:
"sorry/excuse me" (sumimasen......"soo-me-ma-sen")
"thank you" (Arigatoo gozaimasu......"ali-ga-toe go-za-i-mas")
and something like "That one, please." (Sore o kudasai....."sore-ay oh koo-da-sai" while pointing at object repeatedly)

You KNOW you'll have to say these things all the time when you shop, or are at a restaurant or store. They're incredibly, incredibly easy to say. Just take 10 minutes to learn 4 or 5 phrases.

There are lots of cheap restaurants, and many hostels do have free internet. I don't know about hostels in the busiest parts of Tokyo, but they may have free WiFi. If not, then Apple Stores offer free internet. :) I know the store in Ginza even has an "Internet Cafe" section for tourists.
 
illegalprelude said:
so thats where my biggest concern is currently. Making it to the Hostel.
Click to expand...

What's the actual problem? You know where the station is, and you know where the hostel is. Just follow the map. You don't need to know how to read Japanese. Just look at the first Chinese character and recognise it. It'll be a useful skill. If your hostel is close to the train station, you won't even need to read Japanese. Just follow the streets on the map.

Also, the distance from the station to your hostel looks well over 1 minute. Look at the scale of the map. It looks like it's 2.5 km away, or something like 10,000 feet. That's not Shinjuku station.

Forget Google maps. There are far too many train lines. This isn't New York. It's not even London. Tokyo has competing train lines from different companies.

Follow this guide that yoyo5280 just found for you:
http://www.tokyo-subway.net/app/flas...&RP=0&OUTPUT=1

and follow the instructions on the Hostelworld website: http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/AceInnShinjuku-Tokyo-20457/directions/

If you really can't be bothered to follow the map provided to you on Hostelworld because there's some Japanese on it, then go to another website similar to HostelWorld, and find Ace Inn Shinjuku again. Another hostel website may provide you with another map that you prefer, or better instructions They may even have a map in English.

Good luck.
 
I learned please, thank you, thank you very much, and excuse me. Those were the big four. Others that are handy: Where is ___? One. Two. Three. Good morning/afternoon/evening. I already knew the names of food items, but in restaurants you can also point. It's helpful to know the words for tea, beer, wine, or water -- whatever you plan to ask for.

I tried full sentences on a few occasions, keeping my translation book handy. One time I asked a policeman-looking person (a guy stationed on a street corner in a uniform) how to get to the Apple Store. I should have said Apple Computer Store, to make it more clear, but somehow we communicated.

I gave up trying to explain what I wanted to a post office clerk when I just couldn't say enough words properly, so I pointed at phrases in my book and that worked!

At a ryokan I tried a sentence that I learned from a guidebook, saying something like "we are grateful for your gracious hospitality." I'm sure I really butchered that one. :eek: But I knew when to bow, I got my point across, and I got credit for trying. It seems culturally appropriate to give it your best shot, and we Americans don't mind making fools of ourselves for a good cause. :)
 
Abstract said:
Or at least learn a few common phrases to be polite. Expecting people to speak English to you while in a foreign country is pretty "American". I mean, it's OK if they speak English to you. Communicate however you can. Just learn to say:
"sorry/excuse me" (sumimasen......"soo-me-ma-sen")
"thank you" (Arigatoo gozaimasu......"ali-ga-toe go-za-i-mas")
and something like "That one, please." (Sore o kudasai....."sore-ay oh koo-da-sai" while pointing at object repeatedly)

You KNOW you'll have to say these things all the time when you shop, or are at a restaurant or store. They're incredibly, incredibly easy to say. Just take 10 minutes to learn 4 or 5 phrases.
Click to expand...

Yes you are right...there
 
yoyo5280 said:
....I think this is what google maps is telling you: http://www.tokyo-subway.net/app/flash/norikae/N3?SF=2692&ST=2334&RP=0&OUTPUT=1
Click to expand...

this link looks like it might be simpler for him (Narita Express info).....it looks like his best bet is to take the Narita Express all the way to Shinjuku station where he'll change to the Toei Shinjuku subway line and then go east 2 stops to Akebono-bashi station.....then, according to the hostel's info, he should go out exit A3 and it's about a 30 second walk to the hostel......seems simple enough

He's in Los Angeles so he should have no problem finding a book store that'll sell him a bi-lingual map to take along. Most of them'll have a subway map too, which is something he'll find very useful at times
 
Suggestions:

Get a big, thick tour book. I brought along the Japan edition of 'Let's Go!'s tour guides, and it was immeasurably helpful.

Bring a phrase book.

Get a rail pass: this thing will save your life.

Don't be afraid to ask people for help.

Try sleeping in an internet cafe at least once.

Try sleeping in a love hotel at least once.

Subsist on okonomiyaki and katsudon.

Don't taxi if you can walk.

The Japanese addressing system is absolutely insane - if you have someplace specific that you want a taxi to go, be sure to have a map.

When you pay for your food at a restaurant, do not hand the cashier the money directly; there is a small tray in which you may place the money, and then slide it toward them. It's not absolutely vital that you follow this little bit of tradition, but it's considered polite and will make them smile.

Don't be afraid to try and speak Japanese. You'll find that many people will applaud the effort, however lousy it may be. Mine sure was.

When you're in the city, especially Tokyo, you'll notice that lots and lots of stuff will be in English. It's quite easy to get around.

If you're going in summer, drink lots. Vending machines are everywhere (1 for every 25 people in the country) and electrolyte drinks such as Pocari Sweat are plentiful.

Bring a friend if you can - being scared and stressed in a foreign country is far more manageable if you've got a buddy along.

Have fun. Japan is an amazing country, and, you being a baka gaijin, the Japanese basically expect you to be awkward and rude and loud and, well, not very Japanese. Don't disappoint them.
 
yoyo5280 said:
it is best to carry a lot of cash on you. You see people pull out hundreds of dollars worth of ¥¥¥¥ out. Many places don't take card full stop.
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Very true. I was i Japan from January 26th til Feb 17th, and I found that there were not very many intenational ATMs, so whenever you have the chance, take out lots of Yen.

To the OP:

As far as etiquette goes, be prepared to bow frequently (as a greeting and a goodbye), and also don't blow your nose in public. it is considered impolite. However, sniffling is considered to be polite since you are resisting the urge to blow your nose. (Lol).

Also, there is no need to tip at restaurants. I tried, and they would not accept. The tip is included in the cost of the food.

Other than minor things that I cant remember, you should have a wonderful trip!

gloss said:
Get a rail pass: this thing will save your life.
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Yup, I had one for 3 weeks and it really was a life saver. The people at the train stations treat you like a VIP when you have one, plus it saves you the hassle of figuring out how the hell to use their confusing ticket system (especially when the machine doesnt do english!)
 
illegalprelude said:
So trip is from March 21-29th.

Im going to be staying in a Hostel as its the cheapest way and only way to make this trip happen. Ace Inn is where I have in mind so far.
Click to expand...

WOAH woah woah. Ace Inn in Shinjuku?? I'M going to be staying there March 25-29. Are we going to be there at the same time?

I'm Will, btw. from the SF bay area (originally LA).
 
Zwhaler said:
Very true. I was i Japan from January 26th til Feb 17th, and I found that there were not very many intenational ATMs, so whenever you have the chance, take out lots of Yen.
Click to expand...

7/11 ATMs take international ATM cards, as to Post offices, but post office ATMs are only open during business hours. Not to worry, 7/11s are everywhere in tokyo!
 
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