Monday, September 25, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Asahi Roppongi Mansion
From Pete (09-03-06)
It's my favorite place so far even though it's not the cheapest place I've found but still affordable. It probably is the best bang for the buck considering location and quality of living space. For four people sharing a two bedroom unit it's $68 per person per night. That is assuming my travel companion is someone I can share a bed with (i.e.female). If not, then we can get a third bed added for $6.50 a day more. We can make that fourth wheel pay that extra fee (LOL) but I will work on getting a "roommate." An economical situation would be for me to find that "roommate" and then have a fifth person...just a thought.
It's my favorite place so far even though it's not the cheapest place I've found but still affordable. It probably is the best bang for the buck considering location and quality of living space. For four people sharing a two bedroom unit it's $68 per person per night. That is assuming my travel companion is someone I can share a bed with (i.e.female). If not, then we can get a third bed added for $6.50 a day more. We can make that fourth wheel pay that extra fee (LOL) but I will work on getting a "roommate." An economical situation would be for me to find that "roommate" and then have a fifth person...just a thought.
Pete
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Photos
From Pete (07-16-06)
You would appreciate these photos...this guy has awesome pics from all over Japan. Check out all the links on the left as well as the links for Autumn and Winter.
Also, here are some links to the Snow Festival I was telling you about...
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Hiking in Japan
From Pete (07-06-06)
www.homeikan.com
Looks like a cool place to stay...it's just a little over $50 a night to stay. The baths are communal but the rooms look so much better than the other place with with private baths.
www.homeikan.com
********************
The three sacred mountains I was telling you about are know as "Dewa Senzan" and the three mountains are Haguro-san, Yudono-san and Gas-san. The BUMMER is that Yudono and Gas' trails are closed around autumn through the next early part of summer since the winters in this region are severe. So if this is what we end up wanting to do we need to think about going in October. Haguro is open all year round since it's not nearly as high as the other two. The five tier pagoda is here as well as the steps. This alone is supposedly worth going there but it would be cool to do the whole journey.
Here's a link that explains the "experience" although I just would want to do the hike. ;)
http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyotravel/tokyojapantravelarchive349/320/tokyojapantravelinc.htm
http://metropolis.co.jp
Tours
I came across this website which took us on an extended discussion on tours we could possibly take.
http://www.affordabletours.com/Japan/
From Pete (06-27-06)
Hey there,
I was checking something at JTB Sunrise Tours and found that they have a JTB
USA where you can purchase tickets and such. If we go in October the round
trip airfare is $580...if we go in November it's only $480. Of course there is
a tax of $72 plus a fuel surcharge of $150, which would make November's fare
$702, still a great price. If we go this route however it would be beneficial
to stay at a ryokan for $300 to $500 since booking hotels separately still
gets expensive (taking us back into the $1500 range) and we go back to Expedia
having the best deals. Just more food for thought.
From Pete (06-27-06)
http://www.affordabletours.com
From Pete (06-27-06)
Hey there,
I was checking something at JTB Sunrise Tours and found that they have a JTB
USA where you can purchase tickets and such. If we go in October the round
trip airfare is $580...if we go in November it's only $480. Of course there is
a tax of $72 plus a fuel surcharge of $150, which would make November's fare
$702, still a great price. If we go this route however it would be beneficial
to stay at a ryokan for $300 to $500 since booking hotels separately still
gets expensive (taking us back into the $1500 range) and we go back to Expedia
having the best deals. Just more food for thought.
From Pete (06-27-06)
Okay,
If we stay here... http://www.toukaisou.com/index-e.htm ... then it's only 3300Y per person which is less that $30. This place does have a hostel on the 3rd floor for a little less. So if we stay ten days that's $300 and the $700 for the plane ticket which makes the trip a cool grand...not bad at all! That's IF we do November. It's a $100 more for October. I can go tomorrow! LOL. Anyway Toukaisou Ryokan will take a reservation without a credit card so maybe we should tentatively decid which month to go and I can make the reservations...no obligations. We just pay cash once we are there. I'm okay either month, $100 is not a great big deal but it's a lot of ramen and tonkatsu. :)
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
November
I think the trip will be postponed until November. There's too many things happening in September and October. Plus, another friend's parents will be moving to Nagasaki during that time. We might be able to stay there for a few days. Hopefully, everything will fall into place. I'd hate to do all this planning, and not go...I'm crossing my fingers.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Japan Traffic Guide
From Pete (06-06-06)
You don't really have to worry about the date...just choose Tokyo for the starting point and then whatever station you would want to check out. Most places have one main station.
Updated Prices
From Pete (06-05-06)
Okay,
I hadn't checked prices in a while but I just browsed around a little and little has changed. So unless there's a killer deal for the Fall these are the prices we are roughly looking to spend on the trip. All the prices are "per person" and based on 10 days. I'm open to anything...when you have a few moments check out the links and let me know your preferences. As you see there is a range. The Expedia prices are always fluxuating on a weekly basis it seems.
Ryokans ("Hostel" type Japanese residences)
http://www.toukaisou.com/index-e.htm
$295 + $777air (Singapore Air $595 + $182 taxes and fees) = $1072
http://www.tctv.ne.jp/members/sawanoya/eigo.html
$440 + $777air = $1217
http://www.shigetsu.com/e/event.html
$750 + $777air = $1527
$656 + $777air = $1433 Western style room
Hotels
http://www.president-hotel.co.jp/eindex.htm
$1571 (Hotel and flight package through Expedia)
http://www.shibaparkhotel.com/en/
$1598 (Hotel and flight package through Expedia)
Apartment
http://www.oakwood.com/serviced-apartments/furnished/JP/Tokyo/prop4870.html
$1914 (Hotel and flight package through Expedia)
Something to consider is that the ryokans are kind of on the outskirts away from the "hot spots" whereas the hotels and apartment are walking distance. It's not a big deal, just that the subway ride will be longer to get back or in the likely case we are out after 1am we will need to hail a cab. Of course the ryokans give a more traditional Japanese experience. The Oakwood I threw in just in case we have the extra financial resources to go first class but even then I feel you would rather spend the extra dough on other things. :)
Okay,
I hadn't checked prices in a while but I just browsed around a little and little has changed. So unless there's a killer deal for the Fall these are the prices we are roughly looking to spend on the trip. All the prices are "per person" and based on 10 days. I'm open to anything...when you have a few moments check out the links and let me know your preferences. As you see there is a range. The Expedia prices are always fluxuating on a weekly basis it seems.
Ryokans ("Hostel" type Japanese residences)
http://www.toukaisou.com/index-e.htm
$295 + $777air (Singapore Air $595 + $182 taxes and fees) = $1072
http://www.tctv.ne.jp/members/sawanoya/eigo.html
$440 + $777air = $1217
http://www.shigetsu.com/e/event.html
$750 + $777air = $1527
$656 + $777air = $1433 Western style room
Hotels
http://www.president-hotel.co.jp/eindex.htm
$1571 (Hotel and flight package through Expedia)
http://www.shibaparkhotel.com/en/
$1598 (Hotel and flight package through Expedia)
Apartment
http://www.oakwood.com/serviced-apartments/furnished/JP/Tokyo/prop4870.html
$1914 (Hotel and flight package through Expedia)
Something to consider is that the ryokans are kind of on the outskirts away from the "hot spots" whereas the hotels and apartment are walking distance. It's not a big deal, just that the subway ride will be longer to get back or in the likely case we are out after 1am we will need to hail a cab. Of course the ryokans give a more traditional Japanese experience. The Oakwood I threw in just in case we have the extra financial resources to go first class but even then I feel you would rather spend the extra dough on other things. :)
Friday, June 02, 2006
Atsugi
From Pete (05-30-06)
Seems like a pretty cool place to maybe check out...there's a sightseeing guide at the site too. We can get there in about an hour for about $6.00!!!
http://www.city.atsugi.kanagawa.jp/helpsite/english/index.html
Seems like a pretty cool place to maybe check out...there's a sightseeing guide at the site too. We can get there in about an hour for about $6.00!!!
http://www.city.atsugi.kanagawa.jp/helpsite/english/index.html
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