Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jhicks99]

Last year I spent my holidays getting away to Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket), Taiwan (Taipei) and Busan (from Seoul).

I stayed home for the July vacation (partially because I splurged and bought a galaxy s lol) and have decided to get myself out of town to Tokyo for Chuseok.

I've never traveled alone so this is a first for me and a bit exciting.
I didn't use a Korean travel agent and suddenly realize I could have probably saved $100 or so over what I found on orbitz (based on what friends are telling me, oh well I used expedia last year and $100 isn't a big deal) - tickets were $650US round trip all fees included, I did get my idea travel days and flight times though and they are refundable. I was able to score a hotel right in Shibuya for 70,000 won a night - not bad for nice accomodations with free wifi right in the heart of Tokyo's most vibrant hood (or one of them at least).

Does anyone have any suggestions?
I'm really hoping to just show up with my camera and let the magic happen from there as I did with my roommate in Taipei last year.
Is this a good idea for Tokyo or should I plan something out? I can easily travel to Shinjuku by foot from where I am I understand and I have no problems trying to figure out the insanely complicated subway system.. I may even look into running out to the country side for a day if I can.

Anyway, if anyone has anything they think I must know, or must research ahead of time or any other good advice for Japan I'm all years. My only expenses will be food and traveling around, so I'm budgeting about $100-150/day for that although I'm easily prone to being out drinking all night if I meet the wrong crowd (as I usually do in hongdae or gangnam).

btw, if anyone else will be wandering around Tokyo land from Sept 18 - 22 and wouldn't mind getting a drink let me know

*edit - ok through some clever tinkering I was able to get the flight down to $581 USD but I'll be flying with Asiana instead of JAL and I'm losing 2 hours in Tokyo, worth saving $70 for. whypaymore.co.kr doesn't have any flights from the 18th-22nd now and neither do some other Korean web sites, they have many from the 17th though - I think those are the packaged dates they're trying to push. Too bad as I don't feel like hightailing it to the airport after work on Friday (and losing a night out in Seoul) and having to scramble to find my hotel at night and crash (and paying for that extra night as well).

[iselynjenniep]

just got back from summer vacation in tokyo... it was ok but nothing too exciting/fantastic i guess. my favorite things were the day trip i took to mt. fuji, beer museum yebisu (mostly because it was air-conditioned!) and the sumida-gawa cruise to hama-rikyu gardens.

[shostahoosier]

[Kurtz]

[jomiro]

[quote="shostahoosier"]

[shostahoosier]

[shostahoosier]

[quote="jomiro"]

[BoholDiver]

On my first trip to Osaka, I was amazed at how clean and modern it was. I went for avisa run, and the rapit train takes you to some quite modern and nice places. Like the cleanest city in Korea with a scrub brush taken to it.

The next time, I explored some, and I saw some pretty cruddy areas too. There are both in Osaka.

[shostahoosier]

[jhicks99]

Thanks for your excellent feedback guys.

I'm not worried about it being dirty. I love exploring the urban fabric of a big city and feel that Tokyo is perhaps going to to prove to be the ultimate experience. I'm sure it will be immaculate compared to most other Asian cities (Korea included) anyway.

I have made some plans already...

I decided I'd do something truly out of character and make a Japanese friend online who's going to take me to Roppongi on the first Saturday night I'm in. She's into a lot of the same things I am and is very familiar with the places I like in Seoul (and even stayed in Gangnam once right by where I live). I think she could prove to be the difference between a missed night out and having someone who can take me to the type of place I love but would never find on my own. Also my favourite nights in Korea have been when I lost all track of my friends and ended up drinking with a bunch of Korean people I don't know and ending up having some kind of chiggae and soju well into the morning. So I'm game for meeting new people like this If all goes well we will meet again on Monday. She's trying to get me some baseball tickets too (something I really want to see) so I cannot be grateful enough for this person I don't know yet lol.

As for the rest of my trip it's up in the air still but jomiro has probably provided all I can possibly hope to do with my time there so much thanks for that list and the rest of you for your comments.

I'm open for hearing any other ideas and will report back after my trip.

[shostahoosier]

[quote="jhicks99"]Thanks for your excellent feedback guys.

I'm not worried about it being dirty. I love exploring the urban fabric of a big city and feel that Tokyo is perhaps going to to prove to be the ultimate experience. I'm sure it will be immaculate compared to most other Asian cities (Korea included) anyway.

I have made some plans already...
quote]

Sorry OP. My point wasnt to slam Japan. I was just agreeing with a post someone made earlier and then defending my opinion.

I hope you have a wonderful time there. I'm actually going to be in Tokyo next week and wish I had waited until Chuseok as August in Japan is misery!

[darkjedidave]

I'm also heading over to Tokyo for Chuesok, the Tokyo Game Show (huge video game convention) is on Sept. 18 and 19 for the public, I've always wanted to go!

[JBomb]

I would also like to recommend the Ueno area of Tokyo. It is in the Northwestern area and makes a good base. You can get to Ueno Station very easily on the airport trains from Narita and wikileaks has a list of of some great places to stay there. I stayed at a place called Tsukuba Hotel which is about a 10 minute walk from the Ueno Station. It's a business hotel with a large public bathing area, you get to sleep on the floor if you want to stay for cheap in a quaint little room, you get given a yukata to use as jammies, and the common room has a nice bit of tables, chairs, mags, and beer in vending machines to keep you busy. By the station is also Ueno Koen which is full of shrines, temples, and museums. It's also only a couple of hops down on the Yamanote Line (which is the JR circle line around Tokyo to all the major neighbourhoods and districts) to Akiba as well if you are into the manga, anime, electronics thing.
Odaiba is also a fun visit. It is on an island and at night a lot of stuff is lit up there. There is also a great park a short walk from the Odaiba monorail station with great views of the Diamond Bridge and Tokyo.
My advice though is to grab a subway map as they usually have a lot of sites listed along with what station number to get to. Then just use and abuse that transit system. The train and subway system in Tokyo is simply brilliant.

[Gumi]

My boyfriend and I are also heading to Tokyo for Chuseok. Since you're sharing, I'll share too! Our flights were $460 CAD each from Busan to Narita, arrive the early afternoon of the 21st and leaving late Sunday the 26th back to Busan. We are basing 5 nights out of Tokyo at a $100/night hotel in Ueno. We are planning to spend 3 or so days/nights wandering around central Tokyo with Suica/N'Ex cards (which will cover 1 way into Tokyo from the airport + subways), and the other two or so checking out the east coast. We decided against full country JR passes as they are out of our price range right now, and settled for JR East 5-day passes for about $200, which gives us unlimited access all over the east side until our departure. We are going to wander around all the hotspots off the Yamanote line for the first couple of days (Imperial Palace, Asakusa, Tokyo Tower, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Roppongi, etc), hit up the sumo tournament at the Ryōgoku Kokugika near our hotel on the 2nd night, and go to Kamakura and Nagano. Depending on how long those take, we are hoping to head up to Nikko and then Aomori on separate days. We've planned out our time in Tokyo, and are staying flexible on the last few days. Not a lot of shopping or clubbing on the itinerary; more so sightseeing and getting a feel for Japan. Coming Korea was the first time I've been out of North America, so regardless fo what we see - temples, clubs, shopping, etc. - it's going to be very exciting for me. I hope you enjoy going solo! Good luck and have fun!

[TECO]

Tsukiji is moving and you might like to get up early - or head over from the bar - to enjoy the freshest sashimi around with some nihonshu.

Head out to Inokashira Koen. It always has a lot going on and you can enjoy some good Iseiya yakitori and shumai. Kichijoji and Shimokitazawa are fun places to wander around.