Tokyo - Japan - Is it expensive to visit?

ve

For quite some time myself and my girlfriend have wanted to visit Japan, specifically Tokyo. If we were to make the trip, we were thinking along the lines of about 16 days. We would like to stay in Tokyo, possibly Shibuya (central as it seems). We generally don't skip too much on our accomodation, but at the same time can't afford 5 star treatment. So we'd be talking 3 star at the least. The real requirement is that we'd be right in the middle of Urban Tokyo.

So we can shop around for hotels, flights, etc, but what we really want to know is, how expensive is it over there? Y'know going out for meals, shopping, transport, etc. Another point to note is that when on holidays neither of us tend to go drinking, we're more in to seeing the sites, and taking a bit of the local culture. I heard the bullet trains are very expensive, so would you rule them out, when venturing outside Tokyo.

Also if you have any general must see guides, or equally things to avoid or beware of, we would really appreciate it.

Finally is there a particular time of year that you would recommend we visit?
Thank you

Dont be at yourself

Firstly, there is no central Tokyo. Tokyo has dozens of "centers". For hotels, and in terms of access, I would recommend Shinjuku. You'll find decent 3 star hotels for about 50 euro a night. I stayed in the Tokyo Listel Hotel (if I remember correctly), but there are hundreds. Business hotels offer clean, comfortable, no-frills rooms if you want something a little cheaper.

From Shinjuku, Shibuya (the nightlife district) is about 2 stops away on the Tokyo loop line. Harajuku (the teenager hip area) is nearer again. No matter where you stay in Tokyo, get used to riding trains and subways. Everything is so spread out that you'll spend a huge time just moving from place to place. It's very cheap though - a typical train fare in Tokyo is about 1.50e, and you can also get all-day passes.

It's cheaper to eat out in Tokyo than Dublin. There's a huge variety, from standing noodle bars to michelin star restaurants (more than another city in the world). You can get a meal for as little as 3 or 4 euro, and it will be of high quality. In terms of food, your money will go a lot further than back home.

There are some nice sites around Tokyo, such as Mount Fuji and waterfalls to the north. However, depending on how long you'll be in Japan, I'd recommend the JR rail pass. It costs about 200 euro for 2 weeks, and allows you to ride trains for free all over Japan (including the bullet trains). With that, you could see Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka, Nara, Himeji and plenty of other places.

It may sound funny, but you become sick of Tokyo after just 3 or 4 days. There are so many people, so much noise, that is justs constantly bombards you, so a break to a quieter place like Kyoto would be welcomed. Tokyo is a little light on the traditional cultural side of things too, though you will find it if you look!

My must-see places:

Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku (market is on Sunday morning in Yoyogi Park), Odaiba (man-made islands in Tokyo Bay)
Kyoto: Kinkakuji (Golden Temple), Nijo Castle (old imperial palace), Kyoumizudera (Temple of Clear Water), Arashiyama (picturesque river)
Other: Himeji Castle, Hiroshima Peace Park, Miyajima Shrine & Island, Nara, Fushimi-Inari

That's a lot of stuff, but with the JR Rail Pass, you could easily do all that within 2 weeks.

The best times to visit are Spring or Autumn. Right about now, the cherry blossoms are blooming, which is a huge cultural event in Japan. The summer is roasting hot and very humid, the Rainy Season is in June/July, and the Winter is quite cold.

If you've any more questions, check out http://www.japan-guide.com, or post 'em here and I'll do my best to answer.

ve

Fair play to you mate, cheers

ondafly

I saw a package recently for 2200 plus taxes probably. That gives you the following:

* Flights from Dublin to Tokyo and Osaka to Dublin with Lufthansa (via Frankfurt).
* Luxury coach transfer with guide assistance to your hotel in Tokyo on arrival.
* 5 nights tourist class hotel accommodation in Tokyo on a bed and breakfast basis. The Shiba Park Hotel. www.shibaparkhotel.com
* Welcome dinner and local information meeting in Tokyo on the day of arrival.
* Full day sightseeing tour of Tokyo to include Tokyo Tower, the Imperial Palace Plaza, the Meiji Jingu Shrine and Asakusa Kannon Temple.
* Full day excursion to Nikko to include the Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Waterfall.
* Full day excursion to Fuji and Hakone to include Mount Fuji, a boat trip on Lake Ashi and the Komagatake Ropeway.
* Transfer to Tokyo train station where you will board a ‘bullet train’ to Kyoto.
* 5 nights tourist class hotel accommodation in Kyoto on a bed and breakfast basis. The Kyoto Kokusai Hotel. www.kyoto-kokusai.com
* Full day sightseeing tour of Kyoto to include the Kiyomizu, Kinkakuji and Sanjusangendo Temples, Nijo Castle and Heian Jingu Shrine.
* Full day excursion to Nara to include Nara Park, Horyuji and Todaiji Temples and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
* Full day excursion to Hiroshima by ‘bullet train’ and ferry to include the Peace Memorial Park and Museum and Itsukushima Shrine.
* Two free days for sightseeing and shopping of your choice.
* Guide assistance for all transfers and excursions.
* Luxury coach transfer with guide assistance to Osaka Airport for your return flight to Dublin (via Frankfurt).
* Flight departs Dublin on Monday morning (0645hrs) and arrives into Tokyo on Tuesday morning (0750hrs) Flight departs Osaka on Friday morning (1015hrs) and arrives into Dublin on Friday evening (2225hrs).

* 10 nights in hotels and 1 night on the flight.


would this be considered good value for what you get ?

Glowing

Tokyo is excellent, and whoever said it was expensive obviously has never been to Dublin! Food is surprisingly cheap - if you go for the local bento boxes you can have dinner for as little as 5 or 6 euro in the local restaurants. I think the reason people thinks it's so expensive is that they eat in the tourist restaurants with the english menus so of couse they're going to be ripped off!

I'd recommend the Park Hotel Tokyo near the Shiodome - fabulous hotel, great location for about 120 a night. Well well worth it.

Dont be at yourself

Ondafly: that package looks like pretty good value. The itinerary is excellent, as you'll take in most of the must-see places. You might get it a bit cheaper yourself, but you'd be without the convenience/restrictions of such a well-planned itinerary.

jackbhoy

Glowing wrote: »

I'd recommend the Park Hotel Tokyo near the Shiodome - fabulous hotel, great location for about 120 a night. Well well worth it.

I second that, I've recommended this place to friends (and on this forum) and have always got positive feedback, great views of city, good location and very comfortable hotel.

If you get sick of hectic pace and crowds of Tokyo I'd suggest a few days around the Mt. Fuji area. We stayed 3 nights on shores of lake Kawaguchi, right at the foot of Fuji, beautiful area with outdoor traditional baths and lots of hiking trails, boat trips etc.

As other posters have said it is not nearly as expensive as people say. Transport is probably most expensive but can alleviate this to an extent by getting day/week passes for trains etc.
Hotels are very good value for money, modest 2/3 stars cost us on average €60 per room pn and are always clean and comfortable(much more so than equivalent Irish hotels) .

Food can be extremely cheap or extremely expensive, every area has cheap neighbourhood restaurants and noodle bars where you can eat your fill for 5-6 euros, you could also spend 300-400 in upmarket eateries in bigger cities (we stuck to former!!).

Enjoy the trip anyway, its a very different and fascinating place to visit!

Glowing

jackbhoy wrote: »

I second that, I've recommended this place to friends (and on this forum) and have always got positive feedback, great views of city, good location and very comfortable hotel.

Actually I think it was you who recommended it to me! Great recommendation by the way, thanks a million!! :pac: