Thread: RWDCoupe Founders Planning our Trip to Japan

How long will you be staying and what time of the year? because Japan has a ton of festivals but they all depend on when and where. If you can get to Hokkaido thats where the real history/culture is, what Japan was before it started it's insane technology mecha.

very cool...but i need to make my s. korean pilgrimage

We are looking to go between February 2011 and April 2011. That's pretty much the low season for flights (25,000 miles each way). Also considering renting an apartment while there for 10-14 days as it's almost the same cost as a hotel room at 4 star hotel.

I'm very interested in seeing some of the old japanese culture as well like you mentioned including shrines etc...

Oh yes and also this looks fun.... lol

replacing those annoying teenagers behind the counter at DairyQueen every day...

I've been there several times. My advice:

• Plan a full day or overnighter for the onsen. Since you're doing Tokyo, the logical destination is Hakone. The view from the top of the cable car is especially amazing.
• If you're looking to see a lot of shrines and older buildings the place to go is Kyoto and the nearby city of Nara (watch out for the deer). They are accessible from Tokyo via shinkansen (bullet train).
• Foreigners get a discount on a railpass, but it has to be ordered before your trip. Contact JTB for details. The pass is expensive, but it's good for UNLIMITED rail travel. If you do a round-trip between Tokyo and Kyoto and one other small side trip, the pass pays for itself.
• Be adventurous when ordering food. Don't ask what something is until after you've devoured it. (It's pretty much all delicious!)

Originally Posted by snoopy0812

... Japan was before it started it's insane technology mecha.

I thought you might have meant 'Mecca' but, after reconsidering, the first one is probably more appropriate to Japan.

haha I meant both but if I just put mecca I think the second deffinition might have been missed. lol.

I'm really heavy into japanese culture, old and new school. It's on my to-do list to get there but New Zealand got bumped up the list because it's the more expensive trip.

Thanks for the great tips Impulse! As we get closer to the trip I'll be in touch for any other questions. What is your skill of the Japanese language (speaking, reading)? Did you have any trouble while you were there ordering food or traveling? I'm learning the language via Rosetta Stone and just last night I interacted with some native japanese speakers (they have huge groups here in florida on vacation right now) and I was able to have a pretty decent conversation.