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Japan

  • 24-06-2009 09:25AM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭


    I'm trying to find a place (online or cheap travel agents) that does a package in Japan.

    I've been looking all morning now and I can't find anything.. Care to help out?

    Also, if there was something similiar but in a World Trip that stops off in Japan, that would be great aswell :)


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 842 ✭✭✭dereko1969


    http://www.kuoni.co.uk/holiday/far_east/japan/

    doubt you'd get escorted/package tours from ireland, so UK probably your best bet, i checked the travel department who i know do tours to China but they don't do tours to Japan.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    Of course.. It makes so much more sense to get it from the UK or other country.. Thanks very much.. I completely blanked :/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,475 ✭✭✭corblimey


    You could try Japan Ireland Travel. I got a brochure for them before I decided to just book the whole thing myself, but it looked interesting.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭krankykitty


    The Travel Department did an excellent tour from Ireland up to very recently, perhaps if you give them a call they might let you know if they plan to do it again.

    The Japan Ireland travel looks good but the only thing is it's quite expensive as it doesn't include flights (as far as I remember!)

    If you were going to go it alone, you could always use the itineraries from the websites for ideas for planning.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    Hmm, on second thoughts :P All these tours of places are alot more expensive then from what I have gathered; to just buy the flights and a hotel myself.. But I'm still a little lost..


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,475 ✭✭✭corblimey


    CutzEr wrote: »
    Hmm, on second thoughts :P All these tours of places are alot more expensive then from what I have gathered; to just buy the flights and a hotel myself.. But I'm still a little lost..

    I was the same, Cutzer. All the package tours looked to be far too expensive for what I was getting. So I went onto japan-guide.com and took a look at their sample itineraries to get an idea of what to do and where, and built it up from there. Also pick up a travel guide to get a feel for the cities you want to visit and the places to go. There's hundreds of sites online that will help, but I find it easier reading from a book than a PC screen. I got the Lonely Planet one.

    Ironically, it's going to end up costing me more than any of the tours I saw, but I'm getting a lot more done, and seeing a lot more of the country, and staying where and when I want to stay.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    I would like to stay for 7-10 days.

    I'll probably just stay in Tokyo, it's big enough :P

    Budget.. I don't really have one, I'm just looking at how much it costs and then I'll save up for a bit to get that required amount of money, probably about €2000 or so (for 2 adults) Is that a realistic price?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,475 ✭✭✭corblimey


    bedlam wrote: »
    you'll also have to have your passport with you at all times.
    Not to hijack your thread, Cutzer, but is this not the case anyway? I'm reading conflicting accounts of whether or not to carry around your passport. In theory you can be stopped by the local constabulary at any time and asked for your passport with the possibility of a fine if not able to produce it. Apparently, this is the law, but it's rarely enforced. You might get stopped, but the chances of a fine are minimal?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    Thanks very much for your help bedlam, and yes.. I now realise that I will lose 2 days from travelling which sucks :P

    So I think I will spend more and go for around 16 days, and Kyoto.. I may aswell :) Then if im doing that, it is only another ¥1000 or so to get a rail pass, so I'll probably buy one of those and see more of the country :)

    That is crap about the Tsukiji Fish Market, "All outside visitors must submit an application in advance." where do I get this application?

    Also, can you recommend a place to stay in Kyoto?

    Is it relatively easy to travel if you have a JR pass? I'm just thinking about the language border.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    bedlam wrote: »
    It will cost substantially more than 1,000 yen. It will be 28,300 yen / 211 euro each for a 7 day pass. If you just plan on doing just Tokyo and Kyoto, get a 7 day pass, activate it the day you plan to go to Kyoto, spend up to the 7 days in Kyoto and then head back to Tokyo.

    I meant about 1,000 more yen then Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo :P

    Well, you have perfectly answered all my concerns, thank you very much bedlam and anyone else who may have helped :)

    I will definitely be going to Japan once I save up the remainder of the money.

    EDIT:

    Worked it out :P

    Would go to Dublin - Heathrow at a cost of €100 return for 2 of us.
    Heathrow - Milan - Other airport in Milan (4 hours) - Tokyo (total 18 hours)
    When we get to Tokyo we will likely stay for 5 days, then off to Kyoto with rail pass (€300~ for both)
    In Kyoto we will probably go on day trips to places..
    We will stay there for about another 5 days.
    Then back to Tokyo.
    We might go somewhere else for a day trip when we get to Tokyo.
    We would be in Tokyo for another 5 days or so then we would be going home :(

    Obviously the price will fluctuate etc, but the price looks like:

    Dublin - London (€100)
    London - Tokyo (€1300)
    Hotel Tokyo (€750)
    Hotel Kyoto (€250)
    Expenses etc. (€600)

    So all in all, it is going to cost €3000.

    Is that about the same price other people experienced when they went to Japan?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    What visa do I need for going over there?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,475 ✭✭✭corblimey


    CutzEr wrote: »
    Expenses etc. (€600)
    It would depend on what you're wanting to see, but I'm budgeting a lot more than this for expenses. If you consider that it's food, travel within the cities and all sights and whatnot, I don't think e600 is going to get you very far, particularly if there's 2 of you? That's e300 each for 15 days? :eek:

    I budgeted around e40 for meals per day (none of my hotels provide breakfast and even with e40 I'll be eating a lot of bento boxes for lunch), and on average around e30 per day for sights and travel. YMMV, but that puts your expenses at e70 per day times 2 times 15 which is over e2k.

    eta: No visa is required, nor incidentally are any shots :)

    Also, re Tsukiji market, as I understand it, the early morning auctions are now out of bounds and that's what you need the special application for. Tourists can go in any time after the market opens properly and as long as they obey some simple rules (no flash photography, keep children under control, etc) they'll be fine. Some say the auctions were the fun part, but I'm sure the market itself is pretty lively at all other times aswell.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    Hmm yes I understand, I only really said €600 to round it off nicely.. Realistically, I will probably bring about €1100, I personally think that is enough.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭krankykitty


    I personally found Japan to be surprisingly cheap for food etc, that is, if you're staying away from michelin star restaurants and all that! If you want to be really budget, you can get really nice meals, sushi, noodle meals (can be heated by the staff) from the 7-11 and Lawson convenience stores.

    An idea might be to look up on the web all of the tourist attractions you wish to visit, and tot up the entry fees for each. As another poster mentioned, I'd definitely recommend going to Harajuku on Saturday, its a great experience, and totally free too!

    I would highly recommend a day or two in Kyoto if your budget/time would stretch to it.

    Good resource: http://wikitravel.org/en/Tokyo


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    Yep, I am planning to go to Kyoto for about 4 days, and most definitely another place since we're buying JR passes.

    Good idea about totting up the entry fee's, thanks ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭krankykitty


    I would highly recommend going to Hiroshima from Kyoto on the shinkansen, and a trip by ferry to Miyajima Island.

    http://wikitravel.org/en/Miyajima

    Alternatively, a trip to Nara Park could be very enjoyable, particularly if you are a fan of deer :D

    http://wikitravel.org/en/Nara


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    Thanks very much, Miyajima looks like a great place to go, I'll just have to fit it in now :P


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭krankykitty


    It's well worth it - so beautiful, particularly if you get a fine day. The park at the foot of the mountain is very relaxing, plenty of tame deer running around the place too. Have a traditional Okonomiyaki (noodle pancake) while there - there's a great little place on the "main street" where you can sit up at the teppan and watch them being assembled. It's a spectacle of teamwork!

    What time of the year were you planning to go?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 837 ✭✭✭CutzEr


    We're going to go during the Summer, seems like the most stable time of the year :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭krankykitty


    CutzEr wrote: »
    We're going to go during the Summer, seems like the most stable time of the year :)

    Could be quite hot and humid at that time though? Apparently springtime is one of the nicest times with the cherry blossom being in season. You'll love it anyway whatever time you go :)


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 518 ✭✭✭c4cat


    corblimey wrote: »
    Not to hijack your thread, Cutzer, but is this not the case anyway? I'm reading conflicting accounts of whether or not to carry around your passport. In theory you can be stopped by the local constabulary at any time and asked for your passport with the possibility of a fine if not able to produce it. Apparently, this is the law, but it's rarely enforced. You might get stopped, but the chances of a fine are minimal?

    In 25yrs of living in japan I was never asked for my passport or gaijin card but the local constables were very helpful in getting me home when I got pi$$ed and lost


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