... DARK!
1. You've read James Clavell, you've seen any Ozu, you never leave your Nintendo, you trembled before "Dark Water", despite your 30 years you've watched "My Neighbor Totoro" with a smug smile, you were afraid to the life of Richard Chamberlain Shogun in and you know the difference between shojo and seinen?
2. Nothing here but all you dream of disorientation and discovery?
Here is some information on the destination and how we set up the project.
prices, the language barrier
Japan remains a very expensive destination, prices are very high, especially in Tokyo. In addition, in 2009, the exchange is not favorable to the euro.
However, organizing one's own journey, we can reduce costs and make the trip possible, whatever their budget.
Forget the overpriced tours and without Interests:
- do not speak Japanese is not an impediment, a basic English sufficient
- it's easy not to lose,
- Take the train is incredibly easy,
- the Japanese have a some sense of organization, are very friendly and always ready to serve you.
Guides
The Lonely Planet Japan ": the reference. Complete but a bit thick to carry, on-site preferred version "Tokyo and Kyoto. The Backpacker
"Tokyo / Kyoto" first edition, still unclear.
Guide Hachette see "Japan", very illustrated.
Forums Travel, a wealth of tips (always pass information with those guides anyway) :
The Backpacker
Travel Forum
Climate
Prefer April (cherry blossoms) and May or the fall colors and mild climate. Avoid June to September (rainy) and July-August heat wave.
Transportation
Count € 750 about the direct flight Paris / Paris Tokyo / Osaka on Air France or Japan Airlines .
and views: doing research with Finnair, or from London (with stopover) and Brussels.
In 2009, Air France cut prices with a flight to Brussels / Tokyo, preliminary move by train to Roissy included, € 383. Unbeatable!
Count 11 h 30 on the outward flight and 13 hours to return. Bias in April: 7:00.
Compare prices: http://voyageforum.com/billets_avion/
The train, subway
Quite expensive but very good level of service, punctuality ... Note that it is not necessary to book seats on trains Japanese, there are cars "unreserved seats.
For small hollow: possibility to buy on the docks or in a shinkansen "ekiben" (contraction of "eki" station, and "bento", which means a box lunch from the canteen and the picnic basket and each region has its specialty) .
There is a JR Pass for non-Japanese residents, valid for 7, 14 or 21 days, which gives unlimited access to the entire network Japan Railways, including some Shinkansen and Yamanote Line in Tokyo (circular line from downtown) sold here internet, fast and serious.
schedules and fares on the site Hyperdia to calculate the profitability of the past according to its route.
The "Suica" card
prepaid card valid throughout the Tokyo subway system, refillable, returnable, which avoids buying a ticket for each trip, especially as prices vary depending on the distance.
Cycling
In Kyoto.
Hosting
It seems cheaper to book hotels in France rather than negotiate a price on the spot: it was really for us, is that still the case?
Our choice:
the Park hotel in Shiodome, Tokyo (review on tripadvisor ): great view, very classy design hotel, a neighborhood slightly eccentric (Ginza 10 'walk), the
Toyoko Inn at Nihonbashi Bakuro, Tokyo, a hotel chain basic, no charm, very clean and functional, located in neighborhoods that are not tourist prices very competitive
the Traveler's Inn in Kyoto (critical on tripadvisor) when everything is complete, there remains this hotel for foreigners, dusty, old-fashioned but well-located (midway between the path of the Gion and philosopher) very helpful staff and good atmosphere, free bike hire, the opportunity to test the rooms to the Japanese
the Sunroute Plaza in Shinjuku, Tokyo (review on tripadvisor ), very good 3 star, beautiful lobby, near the top.
From 2 to 4 stars, 70 to 137 € the night. The rate of
Toyoko offset the Park Hotel and we were able to remain in an acceptable average over the entire stay. Enough to afford a little luxury on the cheap end.
But to each his level of demand, the dormitory hostel (from 25 €) at "5 stars" through the night in a temple, you see.
Another time, we will test the ryokan, and renting traditional house in Kyoto, experiences that seem interesting as long as you reserve well in advance.
Service charge: food, shopping and outings
is about 85 € for 2 per day. Without missing but without folly.
can largely be reduced by optimizing the average travel and purchasing meals at Konbini (ie, convenience store) corner.
Sample Itinerary
For a first approach of Japan and for a period of 15 days:
- multi-destination flight Paris / Tokyo, Osaka return / Paris: it saves the JR Pass and time spent in transport,
- a week in Tokyo, Nikko excursion, or possibly Kamakura Fuji season,
- a week in Kyoto, Nara excursion (one day) and Himeji (one afternoon).
Change
Before departure, online at Yes-exchange and Multi-currency (impeccable, we tested) or on site at Narita airport . Compare rates. Some links
JNTO: Japan National Tourist Office, French, Japan
guide, a guide full of information but in English, or it French,
ITCJ : booking website in English, free,
Cherry blossom : the advancing front of cherry blossoms (principal!) or here,
Metropolis: concerts in Tokyo, Japanese
Concepts ,
Culture Japan, Japanese
guesthouse,
The Tokyo subway , route calculation,
Keisei Line ,
Street Numbering Japan.
Well, I hope this memo will be useful (and I hope you do it because it means you are heading for an unforgettable journey) , it is not exhaustive but already long enough.
And it's a minimum!
But remember, the journey begins long before departure.
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