Korean Job Discussion Forums

[junaxp]

Hello Everyone~

I want to go to Japan for Chuseok (sept.18-26 hopefully). I have read many forums and sites about this whole thing, so I think I'm okay to ask questions that aren't completely dumb~ ^^

Originally, I was going to fly there. Now I'm thinking about the Korea/Japan Joint Ticket (http://www.ktxtour.co.kr/jptour/japan2.asp)

But the thing is, that I was just planning on doing Tokyo for a week. I'm going by myself, and I'm a little nervous about switching hostels, traveling with luggage, etc. So I thought since this will be my first trip of many (bc I super love Japan), I would just take it easy in Tokyo in one hostel.

Considering that, do you think I need a JR Pass? The Korea/Japan joint ticket is sweet bc supposedly it comes with a JR Pass, but if I'm only traveling around Tokyo, do I need it?

Also, do you think 6 days is too much for Tokyo? Or should I make day trips to close cities?

Thank you to anyone who can give me their opinion

[BoholDiver]

If you have a good hostel, then stick with it. If money is an issue, you can try to get something cheaper.

JR pass, I am not sure. Common sense tells me that if you are staying in Tokyo, it'd save you some money.

6 days in Tokyo? It really depends on what you want to do. Tokyo is a huge metropolitan area and there are tons of things to do. Yokohama and Chiba are nearby. Disneyland is on the outskirts of Tokyo.

You could always try a train through the countryside down to Osaka or another city.

[hexagonsun]

Six days in Tokyo is way too much. I felt satisfied with 3 full days. I also went by myself, so I saw the places that I wanted to see. I planned accordingly, mapped my day, and started out earlier to get a feel for the city. Personally, I enjoy wandering around a city as much as the next guy, but I need some kind of goal or destination in mind. Traveling alone lets you set the agenda and minimizes conflicts/obligations. I still hate eating alone though.

Pick up Lonely Planet Tokyo. It helped me immensely. Also, drinking in the Golden Gia behind Shinjuku with some helpful expats and natives helped with trying to figure out what to do.

I did 3 days in Tokyo and 3 days in Kyoto. Anagrams! I was very satisfied with that trip and had an amazing time.

However, I wish I got out more and saw some smaller towns for a day or even a couple hours.

I purchased the JR pass and it totally paid for itself after a while. JR Shinkansen bullet trains and some of the local metro lines are valid on it. However, not all the bullet trains can be used with the pass. I believe the fastest trains are omitted. Being a train enthusiast, it didn't matter which train I was on. It was an incredible experience and a fun journey. They really do have the best rail system in the world. I believe almost all the Tokyo Metro lines are on the JR pass.

So go for the JR pass if you are spending a week. The transportation costs without it will totally mount up if you don't. Get out of Tokyo after a few days and go see other places. Japan is sensory overload. You'll have a blast.

I have a really good hostel in Kyoto if you interested. The coolest owner I've ever met in my travels. Cooked, drank, and got to know each guest on a personal level. Plus, he took me to a rad okonamiyaki place with 5 seats, beers were delivered through the wall, and I chatted with a geisha and her handlers. Let me know if your interested.

[Louis VI]

Two days was enough for me in Tokyo.

[junaxp]

Thank you for the reply *^^*

I guess I will try to do the same then, 3 Tokyo - 3 Kyoto. I hope it won't be too difficult traveling around. About getting there, did you fly or take the ferry? And did you purchase your plane/ferry tickets from the same place you bought your JR Pass?

Thank you again

[hexagonsun]

It was incredibly easy getting around from city to city (i.e. Tokyo to Kyoto). The JR pass office issues your JR Pass as well as the tickets for the trains.

I flew over to Tokyo and redeemed my JR pass at the airport in there office. You have to bring some sort of receipt with you in order to get it. My memory is foggy about this part.

However, you CANNOT purchase the JR pass IN JAPAN. You have to do it in another country like Korea, the US, etc. They do this so the locals can't take advantage of the pass as well.

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html

Go to the link for more info.

I purchased my flight and JR pass separate. I'm sure there are places that do it together.

Whenever I travel from Korea, I use SOHO travel. Quick, fair priced, and informative. They actually do flights to Japan, ferries, and JR passes.

http://sohoholiday.com/soho/category/trips_to/japan-jr-pass/

Cheers

[junaxp]

Thank you again for the useful info *^^*

I have reserved tickets through whypaymore.co.kr
My co-teacher is helping me~ hehe

I'm trying to find out if the pass is worth buying. I've decided to fly into Narita, then stay in Tokyo for a few days, then go to Kyoto and hang there for a few days, then fly back out of Narita. Would you recommend the JR pass for that itinerary?

Also, to travel on local subways, like in Tokyo, is it expensive?

Thanks you

[iselynjenniep]

i just got back from japan sunday.
i stayed 4 nights in tokyo and 4 nights in kyoto.
i flew into haneda and out of kansai/osaka. i got my tickets on kayak.com (korean air) and it wasn't much more than buying round trip tix to tokyo. so you might want to look into that.
i took the bullet train from tokyo to kyoto.
i stayed at khaosan original hostel in tokyo. it was ok, but no AC so way too hot for july. it might be better in september. in kyoto i stayed at k's house, which was awesome and i HIGHLY recommend it!
i liked kyoto much better than tokyo, and found there was a lot more to do and see there (stuff i was interested in anyway).
i did a day trip from tokyo to mt. fuji with viator/sunrise tours and while expensive, i think it was worth it.
also i planned my excursions around tokyo each day and looked up subway routes/fares on this site before heading out, which made things way less confusing: http://www.tokyo-subway.net/english/
in kyoto you can get an all day bus pass for $5 and it's well worth it, and the bus system is so easy to figure out.
hit me up if you have any questions!

[JBomb]

Just doing one round trip from Tokyo to Kyoto and back again will save you money on a J Rail Pass. Not to mention you are able to use it on the circle line around Tokyo which gets you to all the big neighbourhoods like Shinjuku, Akiba, Ginza, Ueno, and Tokyo Station. I would also consider Nara for a day trip. The biggest wood building in the world is there. It's part of a cool Buddhist temple complex plus you get to pet and feed deer roaming the area.

[Ralphie]

I'm also going to Tokyo, 19-23 Sept. Originally, I was planning on exporing only Tokyo, but have decided to include Mt. Fuji and the five lakes. Staying with K's hostels chain throughout the entire trip and will be busing it to save costs. http://kshouse.jp/index_e.html
K's Hostel Mt. Fuji has a budget tour of the mountain and lake areas.

Just wondering if I should make a day trip to Izu peninsula OR stay overnight in the area, instead of returning to Tokyo? I want to do a Tokyo-Izu peninsula-Mt. Fuji-back to Tokyo loop, but not sure about transportation. Has anyone been to Izu area?

[junaxp]

[junaxp]

[shostahoosier]

[JBomb]

Gion is where all the geisha are. Really nice night time walk through that district with all the lanterns and wood housing.

[shostahoosier]