Binge watching all of Ugly Delicious at the start of lockdown was a major quarantine highlight. Also can never get enough of Chefs Table. Need to keep moving through Street Food, on the Asia version currently! It’s great but heavy if you want to binge it. Bums me out seeing how these people making this incredible food in slums for thousands of people a day get paid very little for their service :/.
Sorry to do a lot of tagging, but I was excited reading this VMP store thread for the first time in a long time thanks to you guys ❤
I am also interested in embarking on a trip to Japan (most likely staying in Tokyo, Kyoto, or another of the major cities for the entire visit) in the future. I have never been outside of the US. I took Japanese for three years in high school (now no longer offered sadly), and learned some more from a friend, and I can still speak at a conversational level. I'm mostly familiar with the culture and norms, but I'm still expecting full culture shock upon arrival at Narita Airport.
For those I've tagged, what would you say is a reasonable daily budget for an enjoyable trip, assuming that I'd have KONBINI food for 2/3 meals a day? Is it best to stick to a "time limit" for activities or is best to enjoy at one's own pace? I have plenty set aside for my first international trip, so I'm not too worried about overspending.
Thank you again for all of the valuable information presented so far, everyone!
Pretty much everything @kvetcha said.
Oh one more thing that I forgot to mention above. If you're going to be going to/staying in Tokyo, give yourself at least 4-5hours to explore the train station. I know, I know... what? Seriously, they are bigger than our malls over here and have so many amazing things within the stations. Some really great food, cool stores, etc. There are plenty of phone apps that help you navigate walking through the station itself (trust, you'll need them) to find where you're going. This is helpful even if you're not stopping to look at things and just trying to navigate getting off one train, walking up/down 6 floors to find your connecting train and realizing you just spent a solid 35 mins walking and you're still not there yet. In the cities you'll prob do an average of 7-10 miles of walking per day. Get your dancing shoes on!Sorry to do a lot of tagging, but I was excited reading this VMP store thread for the first time in a long time thanks to you guys ❤
I am also interested in embarking on a trip to Japan (most likely staying in Tokyo, Kyoto, or another of the major cities for the entire visit) in the future. I have never been outside of the US. I took Japanese for three years in high school (now no longer offered sadly), and learned some more from a friend, and I can still speak at a conversational level. I'm mostly familiar with the culture and norms, but I'm still expecting full culture shock upon arrival at Narita Airport.
For those I've tagged, what would you say is a reasonable daily budget for an enjoyable trip, assuming that I'd have KONBINI food for 2/3 meals a day? Is it best to stick to a "time limit" for activities or is best to enjoy at one's own pace? I have plenty set aside for my first international trip, so I'm not too worried about overspending.
Thank you again for all of the valuable information presented so far, everyone!
I was just thinking that lodging would be the main dilemma here, but I am seeing that a Ryokan and a CAPSULE HOTEL could be cheaper alternatives? I will look into those.
Damn, I LOVE Oyakodon (my dad moreso)! That amount of food is a bargain at the current exchange rate (800¥ -> $7.50). I will also look at other similarly priced options.
My list of activities so far is not too ambitious (about 10 across a 10-14 day trip) in and possibly around Tokyo. I do know that a lot of walking is involved as the primary method of transportation, so that is something I am prepared for.
I've set aside my tax return from this year as well as most of my first paycheck after my salary increase from this year for the trip, so I'm thinking that I'll have plenty to spare. I am planning on traveling with my father + aunt + uncle + (if he is able) younger brother, and my aunt and uncle go to Japan every year, so I am confident we will have a solid guide (and they do not speak Japanese).
Thank you for your suggestions and advice!
Sorry to do a lot of tagging, but I was excited reading this VMP store thread for the first time in a long time thanks to you guys ❤
I am also interested in embarking on a trip to Japan (most likely staying in Tokyo, Kyoto, or another of the major cities for the entire visit) in the future. I have never been outside of the US. I took Japanese for three years in high school (now no longer offered sadly), and learned some more from a friend, and I can still speak at a conversational level. I'm mostly familiar with the culture and norms, but I'm still expecting full culture shock upon arrival at Narita Airport.
For those I've tagged, what would you say is a reasonable daily budget for an enjoyable trip, assuming that I'd have KONBINI food for 2/3 meals a day? Is it best to stick to a "time limit" for activities or is best to enjoy at one's own pace? I have plenty set aside for my first international trip, so I'm not too worried about overspending.
Thank you again for all of the valuable information presented so far, everyone!
I went by myself a few years ago before meeting up with friends in Thailand and knew no Japanese at all and I survived although it was quite difficult at times. I had an amazing time though and it was my favorite trip I have ever taken. We were supposed to go to Japan for our honeymoon this year but had to postpone our wedding so now we probably won’t go until 2022...but I’ll be sure to ask y’all for more recommendations when we finally go! I went to Kyoto and Tokyo last time for about 8 days and loved all of it. So much record shopping!!
Wow, thank you for all of this! I'm now writing a bunch of notes down, and have your response bookmarked. I will adjust some of my time to exploration of the nearby train station.
Among the list of activities I'd like to engage in (and you will see how modest this is LOL):
Yes, $150-250/day was about what I had set aside for the trip. Glad to know that this will be feasible, especially given @kvetcha's Oyakodon experience.
- explorations of temples (ideally at least 2)
- exploring the Akihabara district
- checking out the unique vending machines
- record store excursions (one whole day dedicated for this)
- relaxing in an Onsen
- visit the Tsukiji fish market (probably a meal there too)
- visiting a Japanese arcade (I realize these are fading away slowly)
Thank you for a detailed response!
Damn, this is great to know. Thank you for this; I may DM you in months leading up to any planned visit.
Definitely on subsequent trips (I assume you are talking about the Shinkansen?). It seems overwhelming to visit multiple sections of the country on a first trip outside the United States in a limited timeframe. I do know that those bullet trains are on time by the minute, from the conversation I last had with my aunt.
The guesses are Al Jarreau - Glow and GFK - Apollo Kids last I checked.
Oof it’s still Jarreau??
I haven't seen anything to disqualify it, but hard to say the clues are a lock for either.
It looks to be ~$278/week now.
I will further consider this, based on both of your comments/feedback. As I understand it, they are engineered so that when the train is running on full speed, you don't feel any forces (G force of 1)?
