Is my plan realistic?

Here's my deal. I'm planning a trip to Japan for just a few days. I'm not looking to set up a whole extravagant vacation or anything. Quite the oposite actually. My plan is that I really have no real plan. I was just going to pack a back pack with a couple changes of cloths, some essentials, and bring about $1000 in cash. Basically just fly in and go from there. Sort of an adventure. I'd basically just be on foot seeing the sights and whatnot. Some obsticles that I face is that I speak little to no Japanese. I could probably brush up on it a bit before I leave but I would have very limited knowledge of the language.

Do you think this is a good idea, or am I setting myself up for a very bad situation? What are some obstacles I could encounter?

 

OK, now I have travelled Japan on my own 4 times before (and a bunch of other group trips) and am planning a trip for next summer right now - so here goes.

Yeah bring lots of cash and some credit cards. Just a quick note, travelling with backpack OK. But really do make sure you have somewhere booked to stay the first couple of nights. Cos if your backpack ends up delayed or something you will need an address to send it on to. Now you can book a place when you get there, but you may have to give a hotel address before you leave the baggage area. So for peace of mind book a place in advance for your first couple of nights.

Besides anything it is often a lot cheaper to book in advance. I don't know what budget you are on but the cheapest places fill up fast with school trips and other gaijin. Maybe I am extra nervous but I always have planned accomadation in advance, get it so you don't have to pay in advance for it, or reserve (youth hostels) then just don't turn up if your plans change.

I always do unplanned things but I sort my accomadation well in advance. Especially if you speak little japanese, it is going to be easier to sort this stuff out in advance. Rather than in japan.

As for other unscripted stuff. Just get all your maps online and info before you go, so it is in English. Find out where the hell your hotels and stuff are before you go, otherwise with no japanese you could get screwed.

Also do things like find out how to get to nakano broadway (etc) before you go. It will be much harder to find it when you are there - with no japanese.

Personally I think you will have a great time, I always do. Just do your planning in terms of where you go and stay. What you do when you get there you can leave to chance. Get some casual japanese sorted and a decent budget (I always exceed mine by around 40 odd percent) and you will have a damn good time.

 

that scares me a bit.. not that it's that big of a deal to have a hotel lined up, but that they really are that restrictive. am I going to encounter that sort of thing a lot?

 

I assume you don't have a Japanese passport. Therefore you will need to fill out a landing card before arrival and you cannot leave japanese immigration without declaring where you are going to be next. Of course you could just say any hotel's name. However if your baggage is then delayed you are going to need somewhere for your stuff to be delivered.

Don't worry you will not encounter that admin stuff much on a holiday! Just hotels sometimes require payment in advance as well (if you look dodgy - or it may be policy of downmarket hotels) and may need to give copies of credit cards or passports. It is the usual admin stuff you will encounter anywhere. Don't worry you are not going to see the nasty side of japanese admin!

 

They will not let you out of customs (in fact, they will probably turn you around and send you home) if you do not have a valid address on your card. Just get the address of some hotel and write it there. It's not like they check.

 

Man I guess I have a lot to learn about this... What's this about a landing card? Also I was planning on getting a passport before leaving, thats not a big deal.

So basically,

#1 get passport
#2 have a hotel lined up (and written on a card of some sort?)

Is there any other little details?

LOL, I had this idea in my head that I could just fly into Japan like any airport in the US, walk outside and go from there.. I guess that was wishfull thinking.

 

A landing card is for immigration - it states your intentions in the country, from which immigration can decide whether they will let you in or not.

You've obviously never travelled very far abroad before....might be worth getting used to the immigration and passport control somewhere you know the language first before trying somewhere completely alien like japan

 

Ok - I think a little checklist is in order,

passport (who the hell does not have one of these anyway!)
Get your accomadation sorted - the cheaper places' staff will not speak good English.
The landing card is easy. Don't worry you can always ask for help on the plane.
Work out how the hell you are going to get from the airport to your hotel. I assume you will be flying into kansai or narita. Both are in the middle of nowhere. Taxi cost a small fortune. Result - work out the train lines you are going to take. I speak japanese (quite well) and I messed up on the trains on one occasion. I'm not trying to scaremonger but it is better to do these things in advance.

If you want to venture beyond kyoto/tokyo you probably need to do quite a bit of reasearch to get things right.

 

I believe you should try to get a JR Railpass before you depart to Japan. If you are planning on using the train a lot, it is really recommended you buy one.

Trains should not be too much of a problem, as most Japanese is written in romaji or even English as well.

 

Yes, forgot about the old railpass - very much recommended.

As perkunas said don't worry about trains or indeed when you are on them. The problem comes in working out which stop to get off at then finding your hotel. Often stations are vast and unless you know exactly where you are going it is tough. The moment you are outside the station that is when the useful english stops. My mistake I referred to was that I got off the train far too early, thinking that I could walk to the Youth Hostel, it turned out to be far longer than I thought (like half an hour with heavy suitcase.

I know I could not have found half the hotels I have stayed at without a map in advance. Now I just get a phone number and ask for directions when I am near by.

 

Two main options to get from Narita into Tokyo.

The excellent Narita Express from Narita to Tokyo and Shinjuku stations has to be booked in advance. You use to be able to book in English in advance online until they cancelled the service a month or so ago, so I don't think you can use the service now. Here's the URL anyway:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/index.html

The other option is the Keisei Skyliner. I haven't travelled on this before, but I know it's a popular choice.

http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/keisei_us/top.html

There are buses as well, but avoid taxis which will eat all your spending money before you even start.

A JR Pass is worthwhile if you only intend to make one trip via Shinkansen and if you're planning to travel a lot, it'll save an absolute fortune. Also handy for using the JR network around Tokyo as you don't need to worry about buying tickets.

http://www.japanrailpass.net/

 

I've gone into the country like 20 times, and never booked it once. You can, but it's by no means required. What happens if your plane is an hour late or early, or more likely, a line out to the runway in customs?

If you're staying in the Ueno-side of town, this is a good option. Otherwise, move on. You'll get stuck in Ueno having to go to the Ginza or Yamanote-line w/ your crap.

I know people that swear by buses, but I've never tried. I'm 188cm -- no way I'm sitting on a damn buss for 90 minutes when I can walk around in a train.

 

Heh, then all that running I did last time was pointless OH:

I'm just quoting the website. I've always booked in advance.

 

Fraid I'm in the same boat as Gaijinpunch, never booked ahead. And when leaving from narita, never booked ahead either.

But I always stay around shinjuku area (where most of my chums are) so the other options may be as good. But at least the train has buffet carts etc.

Hmm, I'm getting so keen to go this summer - can't wait.

 

If you have an extra $18 or so, get in the Green Car. It seems like a waste, but you've got another 1.5 hours on that train, and you might even have to wait 50 or so minutes for it to come. This is assuming you've just gotten off a 12+ hour flight. In short, you'll be tired. I'm all about the Green Car.

 

I supose the hotel shuttle is out of the question? :/

 

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