Making plans! (again)

[morganskye]

Ok, B and I have been kicking an idea around about going to Japan. Well we're really gonna do it. Or at least I am. ^_^ Anyway, does anyone know if/where I can go to find good, reliable touring information for Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto? Also, it looks like we can turn this into a group thing, so where might I find group pricing? Would it just be easier to go to a travel agent for this? I've looked around, but I don't know who to trust with my money.

One HUGE money-saving plus is that my parents have a 1 week time share that can be used anywhere in the world. It'd like, $100ish for the week. Considering how much hotels are over there, that's going to save a load of moolah.

Any help is appreciated!

Comments

[giapet.livejournal.com]

Use the time share in Tokyo if you can. Seriously.

If you're going for longer than a week, look into hostels. In particular, my friend and I are staying in the j-hoppers hostel in Kyoto. We're not staying in Osaka, just daytripping it from Kyoto...

Are those the only three places you're looking into going?

We went through a travel agency to get our plane tickets and railpasses, but we live really nearby a sort of Japanese mini-mall (grocery store, bookstore, and travel agency), so we knew they'd have good deals to Japan. ^_^;

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

At this point it's only those 3. It all really depends on what the group wants to see. Which is everything...

Hmm, hostels aren't a bad idea. We don't need anything fancy. If I remember right you don't need to reserve with them, right? I'm stupid when it comes to traveling abroad.

Ah, lucky. If you can, pass over what info and such to me when you get back. I need all the help I can get. ^_^

[giapet.livejournal.com]

Generally it's better to reserve hostels as much in advance as possible, especially if you're going to do this during the summer when a lot of students are travelling and need hostel space. If you are looking for this summer, be aware that Japan's rainy season runs from roughly mid-June to late July.

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

Ah, ok. I doubt they want a reservation 5 years in advance though. ^_^

Our time there depends on two things. 1) Will there be a Takarazuka show? 2) Will there be a SeraMyu show? If not to either, than it will probably be in April/May.

[giapet.livejournal.com]

Oh, that long? Yeah, don't worry about hostels now =P

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

Heh, I don't think they book up that quickly. ^_^

[giapet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, no, we booked ours for late May like in early to mid April =P

Though we are staying at a 'real' hotel (a holiday inn, actually) the first night, last night, and a middle night that we're in Japan-- so we can leave bags with them. Especially since the friend I'm going with has food issues and has to bring along a bunch of her own, we like the idea of being able to get back to our bags and change things out and only carry a small duffle and backpack (in my case) while we're actually out doing things.

...just a nifty trick that our travel agent suggested. Pretty brilliant, IMHO.

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

That's a really good idea. I also heard someone mention leaving things in the locker boxes at the train station, but I'm less than keen on that.

[missmalade.livejournal.com]

That's awesome! Lar's job is supposed to send him to Japan sometime, but well, you've seen how travel plans with them fall through all the time. :PPPPPPP

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

Hopefully this one will work out and you can go with him. *crosses fingers for you*

[missmalade.livejournal.com]

I'll totally be like Lost in Translation, with him going off to work every day and me sitting in my britches...although I won't have any super trendy Jap friends to meet or a oddly-hunky sensitive older washed out actor dude to hang with. Heh.

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

lol! You've got a point with that. Not unless you make a penpal before hand.