Travel plans
 

Hello people of Japan forum!
I have for a while now been planning a trip to japan, but the travel agencies here in Norway aren't helping much when it comes to prices and such.

so, i need some help from you folks (yes i have googled).
What do you have to pay for a hotel room in Tokyo? (about two weeks)

I want to go just to have fun, a couple of nights out in the city, visit some temples, maybe go to some big convention or something.
I JUST WANT TO DO STUFF!

I'm also thinking about saving some money and have a swordsmith make me a proper katana.

I'd be happy to meet up with people from this this forum, I don't speak japananese (except from a couple of words).

im thinking about going sometime in 2012.

Gramzon,

Depends on where you look in Tokyo as to what kind of price you can find. And the more "non-Japanese" style the hotel... the more it will cost you. Business hotels can be found for about $120 USD a night or so.

If you stick to a "hotel" you might find it a little more expensive than if you look at other possible lodging options... like some of the VERY basic ryokan. You can find one for about $70 USD a night or so.


In my spare time I practice Iai. Are you aware of the price to have a Japanese smith to actually fabricate a katana? If you are looking for a genuine Nihonto....... you'll need a mortgage ;) . And a full custom fabrication will take longer than a couple of weeks.

best,

.................john

Yeah, i know how much a swordsmith costs, and im thinking about using some money i inherited for that. (i still need to save up what i have to pay in advance).

sure, thanks for the info about the ryokan.

how is the city life at the clubs and bars?

whats is the age limits for drinking, smoking, driving etc and what diseases should get a shot for?


and how well do they speak english?
i were in italy and france and had to do a crash course in learning those languages, because they don't speak or understand english.
should i sign up for a course in learning basic japanese?

About swordsmith, i am not 100% sure, but I don't think you are allowed to export anything that is forged by a renowned family...

They don't speak english well, most major cities will have people than can do brief communications, and thats about it.. rural area, not a chance...

There is an export license (and documents) needed for a forged and clay-tempered steel live blade (sharp sword). Non-steel (alloy) training (unsharpened) Iaito can easily be exported.

Cheap junk (non-functional) sharp "wall hangers" out of stainless and other such are everywhere. NEVER swing one!!!! The blade has a nasty habit of seperating unexpectedly from the typically tack-welded-on tang (the part that is in the tsuka ..... the handle)....with the expected disasterous results.

best,

.....................john

Drinking age is 21

As for your blade ... do you have any idea about how much a commission like that goes for ? Not to mention that's IF whomever decides to accept it and by that I mean an artisan such as you mention and that it one hell of a big IF.

We're not talking about a couple hundred or thousand dollars here but tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Don't expect to hear any english at all, I was spoken to in english twice during my time (I don't count the hotel) and both times it was by restaurant owners.

If your looking for bars and clubs speaking english then it's Ropoggi you want though god knows why you want to go there.

In Japan? I believe it is 20.

That's like going to Harlem, New York to get a slice of pizza. Most drink names can be stated in English and everyone understands what you mean. I have never had trouble getting a beer anywhere in Japan, and believe me, I have tried just about everywhere.

A GOOD newly forged katana by a top contemporary smith like Ono Yoshimitsu will likely go for about $50,000 and up. A really basic one (if you could find it) might be had for $15,000 to $20,000.

I hope the OP has a BIG inheritance :D .

best,

...............john

PS: Drinking age in Japan is 20.

Well I am beyond the age of worrying about things like legal age for anything at this point ;)

Vending machines didn't care how old you were for alcohol unless you were buying smokes then you had you had swipe a passcard. Took me a few tries until a guy came out of his store and swiped it for me, then I got it :D

It submits the document to Agency for Cultural Affairs.
The license book will be published in about two weeks.
When the Japanese sword is mailed, the license book is submitted to customs.
If the delay of time and the permit that chooses the sword is considered, the stay of three weeks might be necessary.

sure, enough about the sword already xD

And thanks for the info, it's been great help, but you can keep the awesomeness coming!

If you haven't done so, check the other threads here about "going to japan". They all contain good info that might be of help.

As far as bars go........ if you don't know about "hostess bars" ...... be careful. You can end up needing a major loan to get back out the door after a couple of drinks and socializing with the ladies. Or need to deal with a couple of guys that have lots of tatoos ;) .

The best "Japanese" experience for bars is to find some izakaya. These are the very small bars (some seating less than a dozen people) that the Japanese tend to frequent. They are everywhere. Each tends to serve its own particular specialty of "bar food"......and they often are great places to have dinner over a few drinks.

You mentioned what "shots" (medical) to get for Japan, I think. The US government does not recommend any for Japan other than the usual childhood immunizations and stuff like having tetanus up to date. If you are staying in Tokyo (and not spending much time in Kabukicho ;) :cool: ) you likely won't need any special shots.

best,

..............john

"hostess bars"?
is that some kind of prostitute bar?
i think ill stay away from those places, know any names on places i should stay away from in tokyo?

Just be careful and don't attract any attention if you travel around Kabukicho after 8:00PM

I'd stay away from bars and pubs around Roppongi...

Host and hostess clubs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

:ywave:

It is a uniquely Japanese thing. Imagine paying prostitute prices for just having a nice conversation with a pretty lady.

Foreigners shouldn't worry too much about hostess bars. There are plenty of "normal" places to get drinks. Foreigners aren't usually targeted for Japanese hostess bars, as the owners know tourists aren't going to want to pay their outrageous prices. However, they foreign businessmen (with business credit cards) can be targeted, especially by SE Asian and Chinese hostesses. Just say "No thank you" and keep walking.

Overall, it's nothing to lose any sleep over.

There are so many great areas in Tokyo to get drinks... why anyone not looking for trouble would feel the need to go to Roppongi or Kabukicho is beyond me... but it seems these are the only places people talk about. I liked Ueno and Asakusa, and the beer garden at Ebisu is fun, clean and safe.

I don't drink, do I wouldn't know, I am only suggesting those are the places to avoid at night...

I agree completely.

A lot of foreign tourist information things indicate that these are the places for "lively nightlife". Unfortunately they don't exactly define that term all that well. So some tourists are misled into those areas. So I think the reason it gets discussed so much is to warn off people a bit.

I'm guessing Kabuki-cho has to be one of the largest "red light" districts in the world........ with legal and illegal all happening up-front and side-by-side.

I too like Ueno and Asakusa a lot.

best,

.............john

I agree. I am just wondering out loud why when people talk about "drinking in Tokyo" these are the main places that come up.

Yes, I think you are probably right. I hear Kabuki-cho has been cleaned up a bit, but it still, if you are not looking for a special massage or thousand dollars of Dom, I am sure there are plenty of places within walking distance of the hotel that are perfect.