Going to Japan/China alone for the first time

supesman

Senior member
Feb 11, 2001
714
0
0
I was quoted a ticket R/T for $980 on Nippon Airlines leaving LA on Dec. 26th to tokyo and then i'll be going from tokyo to HK and then back from HK to tokyo and then tokyo to LA. i think the ticket price is pretty reasonable.

I've never traveled alone before so i was wondering if it's a good idea. i don't want to take tours because there are places in japan that i want to visit where they may not have them, Hagi, etc.. I'm sure it's safe, i just don't know what kind of stuff to pack (how much) and if i should just take a backpack instead of a suitcase.

Prob. be staying in hostels but i haven't made reservations, dunno if i have to. If anyone has traveled alone or even stayed in hostels etc and knows where there are cheap ones around Japan i'd appreciate some feedback. Don't need anything for HK and shanghai 'cuz i have friends there :) TIA
 

dc

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 1999
9,998
2
0
980 round trip? crap. i'm wanting to head to japan around that time also. :(
 

supesman

Senior member
Feb 11, 2001
714
0
0
Originally posted by: dc
980 round trip? crap. i'm wanting to head to japan around that time also. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

but that also includes the trip from japan to HK, so i don't think it's too bad.
 

supesman

Senior member
Feb 11, 2001
714
0
0
Originally posted by: UglyCasanova
<blockquote>quote:
<hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>supesman</b></i>
wow, thanks for the pic casanova, HK looks great!<hr></blockquote>

I have like 500 more in high resolution if ya want em. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

wow, 500! maybe if you can send me pics of places that i should visit when i'm there. i'm mostly looking for the cultural experience but i'm sure anything and everything is interesting.
 

skim milk

Diamond Member
Apr 8, 2003
5,784
1
0
sounds like a blast

have fun

it would be even more fun if you went with some people but that's just me
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
if you're in tokyo, the Nihonbashi has cheap hotels. I stayed there in June for ~$65/night. Granted, I had made reservations as well. It was a business hotel or something I stayed at.. I can't remember the name though. A bit difficult to find, lucky thing my friend there had been there before and vauguely knew where it was :)
 

Kaieye

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,275
0
0
sawanoya ryokan is a great place to stay. Cheap but no toilets in your room - you have to go down the hall. Near Ueno Park/Zoo. They also speak English there and can be found at Google.
 

zimu

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2001
6,209
0
0
something i've been dying to do, i'd definitely not go in some arranged group. you meet hundreds of fellow travelers at hostels and they all want to meet people and get laid. so go have fun!
 

AndrewR

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,157
0
0
My wife and I just returned (as in, about 10 hours ago) from Tokyo, and we had a great time. I can't help you on the hotel because we stayed at a DoD-only hotel at Tegenjibashi (Hiroo Station). For sights, though, here's what we visited:

-Ueno Park and National Museum of Western Art -- park was ok, but museum looked interesting. Highlight of the park for me was the memorial to the Shogi-tai soldiers, which I believe was the inspiration for the Last Samurai movie. There's a Matisse exhibit right now (Y1300 entrance fee, we didn't enter since I've seen a great portion of Matisse's works), National Museum (of history? not sure exact name) has an Ancient China exhibit opening in a week or so which looked really good.

-Yasukuni shrine and Imperial Palace gardens -- I wanted to see the shrine because of the international controversy every time the Prime Minister visits yearly since there are WWII Class-A war criminals enshrined there (along with 2.5 million others...), the gardens are a nice walk with some great picture opportunities - don't miss the MASSIVE koi in the moats (saw 2+ ft fish on eastern side south of east gate)

-Roppongi -- we're not the partying kind anymore, but we did visit the Grand Hyatt (of Lost In Translation fame [wear nice clothes]) and also went to the 52nd floor viewing platform (enclosed) at night. The view is awesome at night, and I got some interesting pictures (a lot of back lighting from the glass unfortunately on most). Some very nice (and expensive) restaurants in the area.

-Ginza -- we walked around this shopping district and found a good Vietnamese restaurant. We visited Printemps, a French department store, and browsed the expensive stuff.

-Shinjuku -- train station is interesting enough to merit a visit since it's the busiest in the world (over 2 million per DAY). There are some surprisingly inexpensive but very good restaurants for lunch in the Takashimaya "Times Square" shopping center up on the 12-14th floors.

National Insitute for Nature Studies (Meguro) -- This is a nice nature walk in the middle of Tokyo if you're looking for some greenery and a slew of noisy crows (as well as a crane or two). It's Y210 to get in, but it's a pleasant break from the steel and concrete hustle and bustle.

Senoji and Asakusa -- oldest and most traditional shrine in Tokyo (in the "old" district, not really old construction-wise, just considered that way), the "Thunder Gate" is interesting, and the long shopping stall walkway is fun if always crowded. The actual shrine is worth a look, and there are little areas nearby that are worth exploring as well. Be mindful when taking pictures of the smaller shrines since many are to honor babies that died (you'll see them decorated with baby bibs), and you might annoy the locals by taking pictures.

Tsukiji -- I wanted to get up early and visit the fish market, but my wife wasn't willing to wake up at 5am. :) Should be an interesting visit to THE sushi market in Japan.

One word of advice: BRING VERY GOOD WALKING SHOES. You'll be taking the train, but the stations are not well appointed with escalators. Transfers are sometimes 500m away also.

Email me or PM me if you have any specific questions about Japan. I'll be able to provide info on Hong Kong when we go in November, but I haven't been yet. ;)
 

lsman

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2001
3,869
0
76
www.flickr.com
Originally posted by: Actaeon
Originally posted by: lsman
may as well get hold of these:
NO-PCI

or the NO-PCI+

What does that do?

I want to know too.

Seems like cards that you fill your PCI (or PCI express) slot with.
They lower the noise and thus make you sound card produce better sound.... some say it does.