Well, I might go to japan sooner or later and since this forum is full of people that has gone to Japan / lives in Japan I'd like to ask you some questions: - Does the JRPass work for subway? Does it work for Shinkasen? - That law that doesn't permit selling old systems is for real. Like, I will not be able to buy a Mega CD, Neo Geo, or whatever? - Best ku to stay in Tokio? - Best month to go? (withouth typhons, godzillas (joke ), etc). Well I'm Spanish so the language isn't really a problem, the Japanese pronunciation is the SAME as the Spanish pronunciation, so I will try to learn some more volcabulary, kanji's and learn finally the both katakana and hiragana completly, since I alredy know some Japanese. Some questions regarding language: - Are train stations in Kana or in Romaji too, apart from Kanji? - I've seen in photos that the game stores in Japan classificate the videogames per it's starting syllabe (like, ka, tsu, etc...). Is that common, or there are shops that use Romaji too? - Could you recommend me some shops? I know Super Potato and Sofmap are a tourist ripoff trap, like Saturn games for 3000Y. - Cosplay is kinda main / middle stream in Akihabara? I'd like to get some anime dress. - Cute places you've been for sightseeing, or visiting? I know there're a lot of questions but the best way to get informed is when you get told by someone that has idea.
No doesn't work on the Subway but does work on the JR lines across Japan, you will find the Yamanote line and the Sobu line your friends. It's valid on all JR trains, except a few odd ones run by private companies or ones that pass over private lines and the JR Pass will tell you those in detail and the Nozomi trains on the Shinkasen (these are the ultra fast trains or in real terms 20 minutes less to get to Kyoto from Tokyo...). Hahahahaha.... if you can't find a Neo Geo in Akihabara then I'll buy you a copy of Samurai Spirits. Depends on what you want to do. Spring / Autumn as its not too hot and not too cold and it's generally quieter. They are generally in Kanji, Hiragana and Romaji although you will see some in Katakana too. It's worth just writing down or remembering the Kanji of stations outside of central tokyo as they may not have Romanji names. Games will be stored as the starting syllable, A, KA (GA), SA (ZA), TA (DA), etc so it's worth knowing the Hiragana / Katakana tables. Don't expect the games to be in perfect order though. Some shops will sort games into genres, but again don't expect games to be accurately sorted, generally they will be Bishojo, Action, Sports, Puzzle, Shooting (including Robot shoot games and Shoot 'em ups), Statergy, RPG, etc, etc. I've never seen a shop with games in Romanji order... You can find bargains in both if you know what you are looking for but don't expect to find Radient Silvergun for less then Y10,000... Apart from that no, just look around Akihabara there are many games shops... Cospa in Akihabara is your best bet as is Mandarake in Nakano. Go to Asakusa for the famous temple enterance, the olde theme park harking back to the 60s and the famous golden turd.
Well, I've had a lot of luck venturing OUTSIDE of the known areas and just looking around the suburbs (for instance, across into Chiba). Found plenty of gems there - granted, no really high-profile stuff, but I'm really happy with my boxed complete Panasonic Q that I bought in Koiwa for 80e :033:
Freak show in front of Meiji Shrine on Sundays is a classic if you're a toursit. I personally think Asakusa is the most overrated tourist spot in the country. Ugly temple, and cheap shit for sale out front. Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen, Yoyogi Park, a stroll through Ginza, a cigar & scotch in the Hyatt in Shinjuku, and looking at the sluts in Shibuya are all a better investment of time... to me anyway.
Thanks a lot to everyone for the answers. A thing I forgot to ask is the mobile phone area. I heard you use iMode or some strange ASDFGHCDMA on Japan, so our mobile phones will not work, really? I have a Nokia 3650 (3600 for the states / Canada / South america) and I'm thinking if it will work. Another thing, if I bought a FOMA mobile phone (they look amazing), for the time I stayed in Japan, it would work outside there? Prepaid phones require filling papers or something? There you go a mall, get a phone from the shelve, pay it, and you have a phone ready to call with 20€-50€ preloaded credit. Thanks.
Word. Yoyogi park is really really great, and Ueno park is probably worth a visit too, since it's so close to Akihabara (especially during cherry blossom, I think that park alone holds 1000+ cherry trees). A great place to eat your lunch after a long day in the electric district. Mori Arts Center in Roppongi is a modern arts museum located at the top of one of the tallest buildings in Tokyo, and has an observation deck for a 360 degree view of the city. It's open until 1 o'clock (AM), or as they've put it, until 25.00. I went there around midnight for a nice Snatcher-esque view, but I'm sure it's just as exciting during the day.
There is no such thing as prepaid cards in Japan. Neither can you buy a mobile phone without a Alien Registration Card (外国人登録証明書 gaikokujin tourokushomeisho) or Japanese bank account (well this is preferable). If you got a friend over there you could always ask them to buy one for you in their name though. Since you are obliged to take a subscription, the fee to buy the phone will be quite high (as opposed to getting it for free if you use it long enough). Mobile phones in Japan are normally region locked and cannot be used outside of the country. Vodaphone (now softmap) does have a few models you can 'unlock' for use abroad (there are shops around Shinjuku and other places), but they are not that good IMO. =)
Prepaid phones have been around for ages. Check w/ your provider and see if they offer international roaming in Japan. Even if they do, it will be far cheaper to rent one at the airport.
One thing I do know is that Japan (apparently) has no GSM coverage so European mobiles will not work... my provider offers roaming in Japan but my Sony-Ericsson W810i (quad band, GPRS, EDGE) didn't work. Apparently, calling by UMTS does work. Oh and if you want a nice, cheap (hey, it's free) view of the city, visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, AKA the city hall. It's the tallest building in Tokyo and like I said, entrance is free and the bar has a daily happy hour
JRPass has been covered but remember to make sure you only use the right kind of Shinkansen, can't remember if it is Hikari or Nozomi but one or the other (the fastest) can't be used without the extra reservation fee. Best area to stay in Tokyo, what do you want to do and what's your budget? I've lived in Suginami-ku - 10 mins from Shibuya and Setaguya-ku - 10 mins from Shinjuku while I have stayed in a hotel in Jimbocho - 10 mins walk to Akihabara. I preferred Suginami-ku personally, real easy to get to the rest of West Tokyo which I really like and only a short ride to Shinjuku and then Chuo to Akiba if you really feel the need. I hear Taito-ku has some cheap hostel type hotels but never needed them. Being able to be in the center f the city (as Jimbocho kinda is) is good as you have less hassle from last trains. I love to walk so going home from Shinjuku to Jimbocho was a pleasant walk for me and very nice in the middle of the night once trains had long since stopped. Mind you, if you miss the last train just find a karaoke place and crash there for a bit while waiting for the fun that is the first train. Slowly sobering business men and teens going home having just got laid for the night... a strange mix. I think given the heat you're used to in Spain so long as you avoid the really hot times like August/September you'll be fine. Also you may want to avoid winter if you are used to the heat as city homes often lack central heating and that trip to the petrol station for paraffin can be a right bast. JNTO can give you bilingual maps for the big cities but you'll probably not need them. Loads of English on the transit systems and plenty of street side maps in English as well. Super Potato has to be seen but don't rely on them as everyone knows about it. Trek along the back roads in Akiba and always remember this snippet; Look up! So many good shops in Japan are on the upper floors of buildings. Learn how to read GAME in Katakana and you're golden. Also, don't be afraid to just walk into a shop you think may be a game shop, if it's not just say sorry and about turn. The best cosplay place I saw was probably Madarake, the biggest one in in Nakano market. Search it out, it's worth it. They also have some good choice in games. Sightseeing tips are difficult to offer withot knowing what you want, traditional or modern? Quiet secrets or mass appeal? I often went along to Kijichoji at the end of the Inokashira line (also on the Chuo) as it has some great shops, nice places to eat, Inokashira Koen and an easy journey to Ghibli museum which is really great. Do you like sports or beer? Or better yet both? Baseball to me is a lost cause, those Americans took Rounders and abused it..... but I digress...... the Swallows home, Jingu Stadium, is at Gaienmae which is just 3 or so stops from Shibuya. The game goes at a slow pace with the occasional respite from the beer girls delivering beer to you in your seat each time a hit is made. The stadium is old, 1950's old I think and although the Tokyo Dome is amazing the atmosphere is terrible. The age of the stadium just lends that little better to a crowded feeling and the beers helps time move along. Other places to have a look at would include: Hie Jinja - very quiet shrine tucked on top of a hill near Ropponji/Akasaka. Ninja Restaurant - We had a great time here for a friends birthday, very unique. 1F Akasaka Tokyu Plaza 2-14-3 Nagata-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Shimokitazawa - About as bohemian as Tokyo gets, be it rock, reggae or hard dance odds are it's playing here somewhere. Also a youth fashion centre ahead of the trends that Shibuya spits out. Inokashira line from Shibuya or Odakyu line from Shinjuku. Yoyogi Koen, Weekend Market - at the weekend the park has a second hand market and unsigned bands play along the entrance way from the Shibuya side. Anythig else? Nothing like typing out something on the internet when you know you should really get onto that pile of work over there...... EDIT: This is right, no GSM. My 3G phone on Vodaphone worked for texts though. No Voda over there anymore though. Good recommendation, try not to go on a Wednesday though as one of the towers is closed and it's the best one for views (faces the bay area). Tallest building in Sunshine 60, you have to pay 600y to get ot the top bbut on a nice day it is worth it.
Thanks a lot to everyone!!ichi!!1! Maybe around 2000€ (1300€ Valencia - Milan - Narita, and coma back + rest for stance / food). I don't include here things like shopping, museum tickets or whatever else. About the zone, I just care about it having some train / subway on the zone. I heard about an hotel called New Koyo, very cheap, but kinda shit. Anyone has opinions? Thanks for the advice, I think I will expend a whole day (10 am - 10 pm) by Akihabara searching stuff, untill I don't have 100 Kgs in games and anime I will not go back to the hotel! :110: My Japanese isn't that much bad :lol:, I can read Hiragana and Katakana kinda fluidly just there are some syllabes that I still don't recognise pretty well, plus I know some Kanji, not a lot, just some. I like both from those two, the travel isn't a Akhibara - Den Den Town trip XD, more like we want (we're several people) to see good things in like 2 weeks. Knowing how centralised is Japan, we could, for example, from Tokio see Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka... (Shinkashen)? I heard about the museum of peace in Hiroshima (or was it Nagasaki?), it's good? Well that's a kind of strange point, sports are a thing like I'd see here but not in Japan, but still if there's some cool stadium sure I'd go. Thanks a lot. Thanks, I will remember that. :nod: ありがとうございます！！！！！！！！！一！！！六！！！１！！１！！五！！
