Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mikesaidyes]

Simple question. Outside of hotels, how much won should I plan to bring for my Chuseok trip (Sat PM - early Wed AM).

I do like to go out to dinner and drink and that is what I spend my money on haha, not gifts or shopping.

We plan to go to Kyoto for the day and to Kobe for lunch one day, too. How much are train tickets on average?

I was thinking 300,000 KRW play money? (Again, I have separate funds for the hotel.)

Thanks!

[ttompatz]

[grnmle]

Lived in Kyoto for two years. I went down to Osaka a few times.

I go back a couple times a year now and I stay away from Osaka. It's just like being in Seoul. Big and dirty. Not really convenient to get around. Not a hell of a lot to see.

Even the shopping in Osaka isn't spectacular. The best shopping is the department stores around Osaka Station.

Kyoto is a far, far nicer place to spend your time. I spent two years there, and I still haven't seen everything I want to see. In the north there are temples hidden away in forests. In the east there is a walk connecting a few UN Heritage sites, along the way you should see a few Geisha.
In the west of the city there are endless temples, gardens and even a monkey park at the top of a mountain.

In the middle of the city, there is the Imperial palace (free to visit) and its expansive grounds and Nijo Castle, with its impressive buildings and garden. The Kamo river is not far away, where you can sit and relax.

Osaka has a rebuilt castle. It has an Aquarium, that my friend says is a joke. It has a few other things you can get to on a subway with a couple transfers.

Kobe is cool. If you take my advice, though, you're best to avoid it. There are some cool 'foreign' houses at the top of a big hill, built by the English or Germans... I forget who now and don't care to find out. There's a botanical garden at the top of a mountain, I never made it too. There's a merry go round I did go on with my lady friend. Unless, you just want to check off cities you've been to there's no real reason to go. Think Busan except much cleaner, but with no beaches.

The food everywhere is pretty well equal. Unless, you know someone to take you out in Osaka, again you are better off going to Kyoto. Instead of spending your time walking around endless 20-40 story buildings you can walk down charming streets with buildings usually never more than 2-3 stories.

Either way, the exchange rate is not good. There are a million great guesthouses in Kyoto that are reasonably priced. In Osaka, if you want reasonable, you can stay at a Toyokoo Inn.

Do yourself a favor by not spending anytime in Osaka.

[waynehead]

I'd like to do my own sort of Cohiba's rule, since I feel like I've written this more than a few times.

For going to Japan, a good rule of thumb is to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of money you'll need.

Then take double that amount.

You'll probably need it.

[mikesaidyes]

Ahhh yes it's almost time. Isn't withdrawing cash at the ATM going to give me the best rate? My ATM card DOES work overseas. It has in Taiwan, Vietnam and the US.

[b-class rambler]

Your problem in Japan would be finding an ATM that takes foreign cards. They are, in fact, slightly less common even than they are in Korea.

Nearly all Japanese ATMs will display VISA and other well known card symbols, but will only accept cards wit those symbols that were issued in Japan.

It is a lot easier than it used to be to use a foreign ATM card, though, because Japan Post Office ATMs now all take foreign cards. So that would be your best bet, although be aware that post office ATM booths will close fairly early unless it's a main post office - possibly as early as 5pm and, if it's a smaller branch post office, may not open at all on weekends.

Convenience store ATMs sometimes also take foreign cards, but those machines will nearly always hit you with a substantial handling charge for the transaction.

[bucheon bum]