Ack! Help Needed!

[windandwater]

This is mostly aimed at girl_starfish, though I guess zerotwofan and anyone else with relevant information can help.

Miguel is going to be going to Japan after he leaves Thailand on a 4 day/3 night layover before heading back to the US. He's going to be there with Margerita and they don't seem to know anything about Japan. They're going to be pressed for cash, too.

So, what are the sights they MUST see while they're there? Cheap accomodations? Cheap food? Informative websites help as well.

Tell me! Or Miguel says he's going to sell me to the highest bidder at the Full Moon Party!


EDIT...

Okay, Miguel just told me that he might be in Tokyo alone. ^^; He doesn't know if Margerita has changed her plans or not (like many people have). Ah ha... he's male. I should tell him about capsule hotels and love hotels.

Comments

[girl-starfish.livejournal.com]

To give advice on what they must see, we really need to know what they want to do. Tokyo is the best place for shopping, but if you want to see stuff, then you'd need to be making day trips to Nikko and Kamakura and stuff. The cheapest accomodation I found was actually online, and make sure he books in advance, especially if he wants to stay in youth hostels. Capsule hotels are okay for one night periods, but not exactly restful, so for 3-4 days I'd recommend some where with a decent bed.

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

He doesn't know what he wants to see. Just some touristy things. He says a daytour or something. I know there's Mount Fuji and Tokyo Tower and stuffs... come on, Louise! You're in Japan!

*huggles*

[girl-starfish.livejournal.com]

Tokyo Tower is apparently way overrated. And really Sera, there is so much to do and see in Tokyo, it is really hard to narrow it down. I have to say that Nikko is incredible, and really worth it. Its two really old, really huge temple complexes, maybe an hour or two from Tokyo by train, just the right size for a day trip, but if he wants to overnight there there is a good cheap youth hostel.

Cheap food--in Tokyo? Well, you can find hole in the wall ramen and curry places that are about 800 yen a meal, same with MacDonalds, and stuff, but for more interesting meals, it'll be 1000-1500 lunch and 2000+ dinner. Be careful with clubs and that, find out what the covercharge is.

Accomodation is cheaper the further away you are from the centre but that means you'll spend more time on the trains. The subway and train system are really easy to navigate though. Does he have any Japanese?

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

I know, I know. But then again, I've never been to Japan before, except for a short layover in the airport on the way to the Philippines. I think he'll be hosteling, but any suggestions are welcome as to what to see and do.

And I told him about the ramen. ^^;;

And no, he doesn't know any Japanese at all, I don't think. He's pretty much flying blind, though now he's doing a bit of research on the internet.

[girl-starfish.livejournal.com]

The youth hostel I stayed in was really cool, but a bit far so if he's only there a short time, and doens't have much japanese, I wouldn't recommend it.

However, a friend recommended this place to me:

Taito Ryokan, Asakusa Tokyo.
www.libertyhouse.gr.jp

You have to reserve space by e-mail in advance, but Asakusa is very central, and this place has great staff apparently. E-mail is jptaito@libertyhouse.gr.jp but check the website first.

[driftingdoll.livejournal.com]

Here's a Tokyo hostel list: http://www.hostelsweb.com/cities/tokyo.html

I stayed at the Jimbocho Sakura Hotel for about $35 a night. I stayed in one of those group rooms, built for 6 people, but there was only one other person with me. In all, it was a pleasant experience and I would do it again.

[driftingdoll.livejournal.com]

There's nothing impressive about Tokyo tower, espcially if he's ever seen the Eiffel Tower. Even if he hasn't, it's not that great :P And it's hard to find, so it's not worth it.

[sharona1x2.livejournal.com]

I don't know that I can really help much. I was on a tour, so everything was all planned out for us. Sorry!

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. ^^ Well, I was just asking on his behalf. It doesn't hurt.

[sharona1x2.livejournal.com]

I did manage to write a report on the first half of my trip, if that would be of any interest at all. You can see it here. I have a few links in it to other sites. Unfortunately, I haven't typed up anything about the Kyoto half of the trip (not that your friend would need that anyway).

[windandwater.livejournal.com]

Wah, cool. *glomps* I'll be sure to lead him to this. Thanks ever so much!

[driftingdoll.livejournal.com]

I can think of a few things to do...

In Harajuku (a place in Tokyo), he can go to the "Meiji Jingu Shrine" AND see Harajuku. That would be a perfect mix of past and present Japan. Harajuku is the place where the gothic lolitas dress up and wander around on weekends. There's LOTS of shopping in the area as well. Both are at Harajuku Station.

He should go do karaoke if he has someone to sing with. Everyone should do Japanese karaoke at least once, if they can.

He can go to the Imperial Palace, which is something that I didn't get to do, but my family did. It's around Tokyo Station.

And he should go to Ginza, because that's the EXPENSIVE area to shop. He needs to go into the basement of the department stores and buy food XD They have all sorts of stuff! But in Ginza is the Mac store (Apple) and it's 4 stories high, and the Sony store, and a whole bunch of other stores :P Hmm... Oh! He should go to Shinjuku and Shibuya too!

The hard part is that I don't know what kind of things he likes to see :P If he wants to find anime, just tell us, and we'll give directions to Manarake and such :P

Have him visit this page if he needs ideas : http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html