Shopping Taking a Trip to Japan for Dollies? Info & Advice

Alright. So I'm not sure if this is allowed. If not, mods, please feel free to do what you need to do then, with my most humble apologies. ^_^;;

That being said..

My husband and I want to take a trip to Japan for our 10th wedding anniversary (so 2010) during a DOLLPA. We'd like to take one sooner, but we've heard nothing but people telling us "you better have $10,000 to go!!". *sigh*

In any case, my husband and I thought, if anyone would know the answer to this, the wonderful people here would!

We'd be traveling from the midwest, to Japan, and (obviously) back again during a DOLLPA. And we're wondering .. how much does a typical (your example if you went would be awesome!) trip to Japan cost? What did it include? Did you buy a doll?

We're only curious as to how much we should have saved, to have a good time, and bring home something REALLY special. ^_^ (my husband was debating if I could FINALLY get the yo-tenshi I've always wanted, or allowing me a FCS dolly, pending which dollpa we attend! ^_^) We'd be looking at a week if we did. ^_^

Any and all help in helping us know how to arrange this better (since this would be the FIRST time either of us left North America) would be more than appreciated. ^_^ Thank you all!!

Oh! And if you can think of anything that may help us in planning, please do! hehe. ^_^;; Because places like Travelocity and stuff.. yea.. not so much a help! lol.

 

Well, first it will depend on how long you stay, and where you want to be and what you want to do. I did two weeks of hostel hopping. An FCS will take at least a month to do and you need to have a Japanese address if you want to do one in Japan. They won't ship to the US.

I highly reccomend talking to a travel company, or if you only plan a week, there are some wonderful groups that do cheap deals. That's how I did my first trip to Japan, and it was very nice as they helped organize airflight and hotel. As well, nothing on that travel trip was mandatory, so if you decide to go off on your own you are free to do so.

 

Thank you both for the input!! ^_^!!! This is really helping us!

As far as FCS, well that's just poo! lol. Ah well. I guess I'll just have to settle for a yo-tenshi or two.. *fake sigh... giggles*

And I will definitely check with a travel agent on that then! ^_^ I wish we could stay longer, but my mom and dad would only be able to sit for our daughter for a week, MAYBE 10 days at most. *nod* ..

Thanks again! I can't wait to hear from others too!

 

I think if you're going here for only a week or so you should really plan all your visits!
Make a little scrap book with maps to places and stuff but do remember that japanese maps... Suck. Well, those you find on the sites and stuff at least, pretty inaccurate. You get lost very easy.

It all really depends on how long you're going to stay but if you want to stay longer I would recommend renting a room at a guest house or and apartement with Sakura House or J&F. The rooms probably won't be silk and roses but it's much cheaper.
If you want to travel around Japan make sure you check out this http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html
You can basically ride any trains with this, you can go to Osaka and Kyoto with Shinkansen (bullet train) and stuff.
That site is very helpful all in all to answer any questions and look for sightseeing spots.

Hm, sorry, a bit messy. I hope it's a bit helpful at least.

 

It totally depends on how long you stay. When I took my first trip to Japan I was there for seven days which cost me $2,180 with spending. I didn't buy a doll. I didn' think to then though XD! Thats also not including any cash I probably took out on my credit card lol - I love to shop there! It also includes a tour I went on to Mt Fuji, Hakone and a ride on the Bullit Train ^^;

Next time I go though I'm needing to save up $3,078 but I am going for longer [obviously] and need more spending money XD I don't know if I'd buy a doll though, I'd worry about the flight back. But saying that, my brother brought a guitar while we was in Japan and it came back pretty unscathed!

I've been to Japan twice now and I adore it. I can take the subway now despite knowing next to nothing in Japanese [I can say little things like 'I'm very sorry', 'Excuse Me', 'Thank You', 'Are you a fucking moron?']. The subways are pretty easy to follow. Anyone thats lived in London and had to work in the center will be able to manage it perfect XD

People ask me all the time why I don't go somewhere else. And it's a simple answer. I've never felt happier than when the plane lands in Japan. The whole time I'm there I'm so happy. The people are lovely and there is so much to see every single time. And I miss it when I have to go home ;_;

 

http://www.jnto.go.jp/

Check out the list of low-cost hotels/ryokan. You can book online (which is great when your Japanese is a little chotto) and get some great deals on lodging. I ended up paying less than $50 per night the last time I was in Tokyo

 

My husband and I will be leaving next Wednesday for our third trip to Japan. Like indrisfynn, we'll be there for 11 days, staying mostly in Tokyo with a day trip to Kamakura.

The first time we went in 2004, we spent a week in Tokyo and then another week in the Kyoto area. With our flight, JapanRail pass, food and lodging, the trip cost about $3500 and we spent probably another $2500 on stuff, including a doll. Like she said, it's easy to spend even more, because Japan is a shopper's paradise. This time, we'll have about $4000 just for buying stuff, since I'm going to both Dolpa and Doll Show.

Good luck with your plans and trip!

 

Kellyhime - thank you SO much for that!!! It's an incredible help hearing about everyone's trips, what to do, what not to do, where to go, and about how much to raise. Thank you SO much yet again, that is actually a BIG help for us! .. And keeping in mind that $4000 should cover 10 days (well, around there anyway) for travel expenses, I know we could likely have a good time with anywhere from $2500 to $5000 in spending total! .. Although, it does seem close to $10,000 that extra $1,000 makes a world of difference when talking about it. lol.

Thanks so much again!

 

If you want to make a dollie trip before you go to Japan for your anniversary, I know there are loads of showrooms in Seoul. Of course, it wouldn't really be much cheaper than Japan, but you'd be able to visit lots of different companies, not just Volks, though you could visit VolksKorea there.

I went to Tokyo this month, I tagged along with my bf. I will admit dolls were my big motivation to go ^^;

It is possible not to spend a ton of money. We booked the hotel really earlier and got an amazing deal, the hotel was Royal Park and it's stunning. I've stayed in most of London's top hotel's and this 3 star hotel blew them all away. So look it up on hotel booking sites cos it's got a metro station in the basement, very practical for getting around Tokyo! I stayed 7 nights and I spent altogether less than 15,000Yen on food. You can eat good food cheaply. Volks in store prices are all, I think, the same as their site, but seeing the dolls model the clothes and seeing the dolls up close really helps to choose. Ask to look in the boxes they won't say no! ^^

If you managed to go to a Dollpa, I reckon it would be worth travelling across the world for.

 

My post will be a little formal because I've got lots to do today. I spent 2 months in Japan and it was pretty inexpensive. You can buy tons of cheap food at the convieniant stores. Stay at Hostels for about $25 - you and your husband could probably share a cheap 2 person dormitory. Get a JR Rail pass if you wanna travel.

Hostels: http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/
JR RAIL: http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html
Best Guide: http://www.japan-guide.com/

 

I'd definately be interested in knowing....I have a feeling when my husband and I finally get around to going to Japan it is going to be one expensive affair. I can't imagine saving money by staying at Youth Hostels or eating from Convenience stores.....I guess I'm spoiled.

 

idrisfynn and I tried the budget route last time - staying in a $25/night...hellhole ...for backpackers, and hitting a lot of convenience stores. Really not worth it, and didn't actually save any money. We all caught terrible colds and were completely miserable.
This time we went for the 8100yen/night ryokan and local restaurants and actually spent less money because the food we ate had more nutritive value for the money and we got better sleep.

 

But the food at convenience stores is sooo good! My favourite is Family Mart, I'm addicted to the jingle they play when the doors open. You can get the softest, yummiest pork buns. But don't worry, plenty of restaurants are good and cheap. You won't know you are eating cheap if you choose it right. Of course, you could go for 16,000Yen set menus at some restaurants if that's what you like! But then you could buy half an MSD for that.

I spent more than twice as much on dolls than on food and drink in Japan....lol

Maz- I didn't know you were going to Japan! Don't forget surgical tape stuff or bandages to cover your tattoos if you go swimming. Get good stuff; mine fell off, it was actually tragic!!

 

I've been to Japan on vacation four times, so I can say that my average cost range for an entire trip, including purchases, was in the $4000-$5000 range, which varied depending on how long I was there and how much traveling I did within the country itself. In a week, I can't see anyone being able to cover much more than Tokyo. It's a big place with LOTS to see. I couldn't cover it in my first trip, which was only a week. And I wasn't hitting doll companies, since I wasn't a collector yet.

Many people have suggested hostelling or ryokans, but neither of those things really are my thing. But Western-style hotels are expensive, so I usually stay at business hotels. The average room per night is $55-75, depending on where the hotel is located. The rooms are generally small and the beds might be a bit hard at first, but they're all you really need if you're not planning on spending much time in your hotel room. In a place like Tokyo, you're not going to want to waste the trip in your room ^_^ I recommend the Toyoko Inn chain. I've stayed in other business hotels, but my best experiences have always been at the Toyoko Inn (though avoid the older one in Takamatsu like the plague - I think they were trying to freeze me out there).

A lot of the other things I was going to suggest have already been mentioned. The convenience store food is good for breakfast, but maybe not for all meals? Japanese food IS really cheap, but so is McDonalds and KFC if you really can't take Japanese food anymore (which, if you're there long enough, DOES happen...)

Oh, and Tokyo Tower is a bit of a rip-off. For a good aerial view of the city, there's a free observation deck at Tokyo City Hall. Even though they've recently blocked the best view with an expensive restaurant that may or may not give you a good seat to see it. You can see the other three sides, though.

I second this with the absolute bottom of my heart. The maps in the travel guide I had on my first trip (Lonely Planet) were utter garbage. Many of the landmarks were in the wrong place and I spent half the trip lost. Once I bought that atlas, I barely ever got lost again unless it was out of sheer stupidity on my part.

I like to go during cherry blossom season because the weather is pleasant for walking and the accompanying festivals are ABSOLUTE LOVE.

 

My trips are normally around $3000-$4000. I spend a lot of money when I'm there too, normally on CDs, magazines and concerts.

I stay in Tokyo through an entire trip, although I have made it up to Yokohama before.

I recommend Sakura House/Hostel/Hotel [there are 3 branches, I stayed in hostel] They have great service and friendly staff! And GREAT prices.

 

Ooh, what fun! I love Japan, and to go there for a Dollpa would be my idea of dollie heaven.^^ I went to Japan over the New Year for 8 days, and all told spent less than $1500 on transportation (including airfare), accommodations and food. (I was traveling solo.) We shall not discuss what I spent on ...souvenirs.:3

Regarding transportation, airfares can be as low as $600 roundtrip on ANA or United - keep an eye out for fare sales. And I third (fourth?) the suggestion to get Japan Rail Passes (remember to get them before you leave). They're great and will save you a TON of money. Example: On my last trip, I took side trips to Kyoto and West Japan. Without the JRP the train fares would have come to about $400, and that's BEFORE adding all the local train fares,including the impulsive10pm "I'll just pop out to Harajuku for dinner" trips.XD Not to mention it saves you from having to decipher the train maps to figure out your fares. Just flash the pass at the station master and he'll wave you right through.

Food is inexpensive if you eat where the Japanese do (and you don't have to eat from konbini all the time!XD). I would always start my day with breakfast at Yoshinoya for under 600yen, which would keep me going for quite a while. Most of the big train stations have small restaurants in them, where the most expensive entrees are around 800yen... avoid the station bento boxes, though, they're overpriced and not great.:P

For this trip I stayed at the Oak Hotel, a very nice budget hotel in Asakusa, which I would heartily recommend for price, service and location. But if you want something more upscale, I recommend the Shinagawa Prince. It's right across the street from the Shinagawa train station, which is on the Yamanote line (the one line you'll probably be spending most of your time on). Check their website for special Internet rates.

Hope this helps!

 

I got kicked out of an onsen for having tattoos too.
H

 

Let's see.. a couple more things... You don't need a JR pass unless you're going to travel to another city like Kyoto. If you travel to more than 1 city a JR pass is a major bargain. If you never leave Tokyo it's far cheaper to just buy your tickets one at a time. A trick my friend and I learned on my very first trip to Japan, many years ago, is rather than worrying about figuring out how much your fare is going to cost, just get the cheapest fare and then use the fare adjustment machine before leaving which lets you know exactly how much you owe.

Personally I've never missed Western food, even when I've been in Japan a month. But then I have all manner of digestive problems here in the USA and in Japan (except the one time I got food poisoning... don't eat oysters at cheap yakitori place) they magically disappear. Go fig.

I concur with the books recommended, and also you can feel free to just point to phrases in the book if you are uncertain of your pronunciation. Just point to the Japanese and they will look at it and go "Oh!" and then help you out. In any train station there will be several people looking to see if you need help so if you feel lost just look around with a lost look on your face a few minutes and one or another of the people will come help you.

Not to put down youth hostels or anything but you are far MORE likely to have something stolen by another foreigner than you are by a native Japanese. I lost my JR pass and had it returned to me, and was travelling with some friends who left their laptop in a bookbag at a store and when we finally backtracked to it, someone had turned it in and was waiting for us.

Another useful thing is to have the hotel (especially if you're staying at one where someone speaks English) give you one or more business cards showing their name, address and phone number. If you have a problem or need help, friendly strangers can contact the hotel to make arrangements for you. Also, it helps if you ever need to take a cab... just show the card and don't worry about trying to explain where something is.

Enjoy your trip!
H

 

Gah, I can't believe I missed this thread. I have been to Japan 19 times *blush* and I leave on Tuesday on my 20th trip to Japan. ^^

I always find the most expensive part of my trip hands down in souvenirs, which is really all about how much you want to spend. If you want a FCS (which as stated you need a Japanese mailing address to order) they start at around $412, a Yo Tenshi should a Sato event be taking place costs about $360 (remember I am using about the current exchange rate, as the rate fluctuates, so do prices) As for a Yo-tenshi, those are only available at special events at Tenshi no Sato. Many Dolpas have LE Yos, but NOT Yo-tenshi. Tenshi are only available for sale at Tenshi no Sato.

Have you thought about going to a smaller Dolpa like Hometown Osaka/Kyoto and trying to go to a Tenshi no Sato event? You could sightsee in Kyoto and the Kansai region which in all honesty has much better tourist sights than Tokyo and not need a rail pass at all. I only say this because just going to doll things unless your husband is also a collector might get a bit boring for him and this is your anniversary. Plus you could get lucky and get to see the start of the sakura.

It's important to note that just going to a Dolpa does not guarantee you a doll. It also involves lots of waiting in line patiently for long periods of time. (like 3-4 hours) Tenshi no Sato events are also sometimes closed to the general public. This last event was Volks VS and ViP members only on the first two days.

http://www.jtbusa.com/enhome/
JTB is a good place to get some ideas of airfare. Just remember the prices quoted generally do not include tax or the fuel surcharge.

Do you or your husband have any frequent flier miles? Turning in miles for a ticket is a great way to save money. My next trip, I paid for my ticket, but my husband's I used miles for. Hotel prices can really vary. A lot depends on what you need or expect in a hotel room. In general I've found all hotel rooms in Japan are smaller than their equivalent in the US, but are generally cleaner and safer. There are no real "bad" parts of Japanese cities, and mostly you are paying for convenience and having ensuite bathrooms. My last trip, I stayed in a lovely traditional style hotel (shared toilets) and separate shared baths (which one put up an in use sign for so they were semi-private) that was extremely close to Arashiyama. I paid 7600 yen for a double or about $68. You can use some of the hotels/ryokans in the low cost guide put out by JNTO, but I admit some of them I've liked and some have been awful. There are lots of sites to check out depending on what amenities you need.

I would HIGHLY recommend not going on a tour unless it was specifically set up as a doll tour. While a tour might take you to certain tourist sights, you will not have enough free time to shop and trying to go to a Dolpa would be pretty impossible.

Airfare depending on airport should generally run you $750-$1000 per person. Hotels can cost anywhere from $60 on up. I am a vegetarian and I do not like conbini food. I like eating in low end nice table service restaurants which run about 2000-2500 yen per person. Two things to remember, the Japanese do not tip at restaurants and portions are nearly always smaller and an actual portion size.

You will need to be careful about your packing. There are no porters really in Japan, and while if you're staying some place longer you can forward baggage from nicer hotels to other hotels, trying to get luggage around can be a chore. I made the mistake of trying to bring a 23 inch wheelie on a bus in Kyoto. I would NEVER do it again. I love sightseeing in Kyoto, but I personally HATE the buses there. The routes are confusing, the buses are jerky and narrow, and I just will never do them with luggage again. Should you go to Kyoto, make sure where ever you stay is accessible by something other than bus! (And cabs can get very expensive quickly too!)

Personally, I don't think Japan is really that much more expensive as a destination than Europe, Caribbean, or Disney World, but it is a much longer flight XD;

Good luck!

 

Im not planning on going swimming and er... id need an awful lot of surgical tape.. loads and loads .. what the issue etc with tattoo's as now concerned.

we are staying in expensive nice hotels and wondered what the reaction will be. Tho non on arms etc just wondered ??

 

My arm tattoo was showing in an expensive hotel (though we got a good deal). I never got stares on anything said, I think they are too polite. I walked around all day with nothing said to me.. I think Tokyo is modern enough that people are used to seeing tattoos, though it's still a shocking thing, it's not enough to get you taken to one side or anything, in my experience. I would definately try to keep them covered if possible on the metro, I swear that's the place where you get most stares for holding hands, talking loudly etc.

 

I never got any problems with my tattooes either. My wrist tattooes are completely visible and sometimes my upper arm ones can be seen, but never got any stares or anything ^_^!

 

ok thanks everyone for you replies, I never considered my tats lol, and have loads, tho im a 37 blonde mother of 2 lol, but most are on back, tummy and both calfs...

I hope I dont look like a ganster , but out of politness I will keep them covered, tho my biggest one, a huge anime/manga angel across whole of lower back, is covered at all the time.

 

I've lived in Japan twice on exchange, and also been there on vacation. It's an absolutely wonderful place to go and you will definitely enjoy yourself.

I've stayed at Hotel New Koyo twice there, it is very, very cheap, and I never had any problems there, but you DO get what you pay for. The rooms are tiny, bathing communal, etc. It is all foreigners and I tend to second the notion that you are more likely to have foreigners steal your stuff than Japanese. Also this hotel is a bit out of the way so you probably want somewhere much more central.
I also stayed at a nice Ryokan which I enjoyed very much and was quite cheap, but I'm not going to recommend it to you, as they first refused to let me stay because I am a foreigner, even though I can speak fairly fluent Japanese. They only let me stay because my Japanese friend phoned them up and told them off. So, even tho it was nice, I can't recommend. *bleh*

I totally agree that conbinis are the bomb if you want to eat cheap. Depends on your tastes I guess, but since I was a poor student most of my times there, conbinis were a godsend for me! And I actually really like most conbini food.

I 4th (?) the suggestion for the Tokyo Bilingual Atlas -- it is the best purchase I EVER made, and the whole time I lived there, I carried it everywhere with me. As a result, I never, ever got lost.

The Bilingual Atlas also has detailed maps of the subway system in the front. Use them! The subway system in Tokyo is very convoluted and can be very confusing at times. A lot of people stick to JR lines because they are more foreigner friendly, but you can save a lot of time (and money) switching between JR and the Metro and other subway lines. And heck, there's a lot of places you CAN'T get to if you stick to JR! If you get lost in any subway station, stand near the ticket machines, hold a map, and look terribly confused. There are always Japanese people who speak a little English and are happy to help!

I also 2nd Ryochan's comment that the Japan Rail Pass is only useful if you are travelling outside of Tokyo. If you want to make stops to, say, Kyoto or whatever, then definitely get the JRP -- one round trip to Kyoto on the Shinkansen and you've covered the cost of the JRP and then some. However, if you are planning to stay entirely within Tokyo, don't bother. You'll probably lose money as you will spend half your time in Tokyo on the Metro, where you can't use the JR pass.

Also, if you really want to get a doll, I honestly suggest that you go for a Standard. The only way to get a doll at any of the events is to stand in a queue for HOURS, and this still does not guarantee you the doll. For example, any of the Tokyo Dolpas, you will be in a queue of literally thousands of people. (This is some photos (one, two, three) I took of the LE doll queue at 8am. That is TWO HOURS before Dolpa even opens!) You have to stay in the queue until you get to the front, or hear that your doll is sold out. I know of people who have still been in the LE doll queue at 2pm. Since Dolpa only goes from 10am to 4pm, wasting most of it in the queue is not the way to enjoy it. Especially as you might wait till 2pm, only to have your doll sell out anyway! It's better to go to Dolpa and enjoy the event itself than to spend the entire time outside bored!
Sato events are probably not as bad (I haven't attended them) but you still have to queue up from early in the morning and queue for some time to get your doll. In addition, to be invited to a Sato event, you have to be a member of the Japanese VS or VIP club. You can't attend a Sato event without an invite as a member of these clubs. And you can only join them if you are a resident of Japan.

I realise this is probably disheartening and not what you want to hear, and for that I'm very sorry, but unfortunately getting a LE type doll in Japan is NOT as easy as it seems. Having tried to get LE dolls in Japan, and talking to friends who have tried, I can honestly say that the American/Western market has it much easier than the Japanese. (I've stood in the snow in Japan for 5 hours to get a doll, while my overseas friends were sitting in the warmth of their homes clicking 'refresh'. *sigh!* )

Oh yeah, and I made this photo guide which will probably help you a lot:
http://www.crysania.com/cassiel/volks-directions.html
Some of the pics may be a little out of date in regards to signs and such, but mostly you should have no problem navigating with these pics.

And I couldn't possibly hope to give estimates of how much I've spent in Japan, but let's just say it's a LOT. Shopping over there is soooo bad for you, suddenly you want everything! I never go shopping here at home, but in Japan, I spent all my time shopping.

(And it's probably good in that sense that I'm not there anymore, but damn, I want to go back!)

 

Wow!!! SOOOOO Much information! First off, thank you ALL for responding!! And thank you all for your input and suggestions! Believe me when I say we're taking every single one of them into consideration! ^_^

Uhm, the only other thing to specifically comment on, is the dollpa. I actually wanted to attend a Sato event (but to lack of any other way to put it, I just put 'dollpa') to get the yo-tenshi.

I had read somewhere that you had to wait in line from early morning if you wanted to even get one. So we had originally figured we would stand in line several hours before the opening (since I'm used to do this for concerts and stuff. hehe). *shrug*

But, to hear all of that information, I have to admit, I'm crushed. I don't know how to explain it, but, it's like, I feel like the one dolly I felt I had a chance at (because I'm not picky by any means on which one to get) at obtaining, just keeps slipping through my fingers. And my husband has made it QUITE clear that he's in no way planning on spending any more than $450 for a Yo-Tenshi at ANY point in time. (as he put it, it doesn't matter how 'rare' it is, the fact of spending double the price of them is simply not going to happen. :'( ) Which is why the idea of getting one at a "dollpa" came in. ^_^

I have to admit now, I'm feeling rather down. Don't get me wrong, we still want to visit Japan for SO many other reasons. But I just feel like if I walk into the Volks stores there now, Especially Sato, I'm going to get even more depressed seeing the little set up of the yo-tenshi's there. T^T ..

I know now the FCS can't be done. And that's okay. We have family in AZ, and said they'd be more than happy to venture to Cali to check out the store on vacation one of these times we're there. ^_^

But I dunno if I'd wanna go to Japan to get a dolly that I know I could get back home. .. I guess I'm wierd that way. -.-

Anyway, thank you all so very very much for all the input and stuff! Though it's kind of saddening, I would rather be saddened by this information, than have someone lie to me, get there, and find out there wasn't a chance in.. well.. you know.. .. in me getting one to begin with. :P .. heh. So thank you. ^_^

 

I cant speak of cost,

but I highly recommend going to an onsen while you are there. This was one of the huge highlights of my trip. There are a few onsen with gorgeous waterfalls, or views... and some that allow co-ed (with bathing suits) outdoor baths too. There are SOME onsen that allow tattoos. If it's an issue, feel free to email me about it and I'll dig up the address for you. A friend of mine had LARGE tattoo, and we had no problems there (other than the staring that we got the whole trip. between me being super tall and her tattoo. haha.)
Some even have private baths in your room. XD

Since we did a lot of traveling, we got the travel train pass, which was great.
I really recommend staying in a traditional japanese inn at some point if you can too. (I'd prefer to stay in those for the whole trip!)

There are antique doll stores in Japan too, not just VOLKS.

as for SATO one-offs, you can apply if you have a japanese address (or a friend in japan with an address)

As to DOLPA... I would say, visit the website for dolpa and get the list of dealers. VOLKS gives the URLS for these dealers and so you can see which are your favorites. Things sell out very fast at a dolpa and the most popular dealers sell out almost instantly, so you have to plan your line of attack carefully. Once you go to your first favorite dealer, your second favorite may already be sold out.

if you don't mind curry and ramen shops, you can easily eat for about $8 a meal, etc. Also in the bottom of department stores like Isetan, there are fabulous foods you can get for affordable.
But make sure you go to some nicer places too as obviously japan is known for awesome sushi and tempura and lots of traditional set meals. One of the onsen we went to had fabulous food,... multicourses of stuff I had no idea what it was, but it was delicious!

I HIGHLY recommend the book: "Tokyo City Atlas: A Bilingual Guide" by Kodansha. It's a life-saver.

Also, I recommend printing out the addresses and Cassiel's VOLKS store guide:
http://denofangels.com/sdfaq-buyingq.html#q05
also, if there are other places you want to visit, I recommend printing out the address in english AND in Japanese, that way anyone can read it.

If you are scared about not being able to find things or having problems, staying in a hotel that has english speaking staff can be very helpful too. They can help you find things and make calls and reservations for you.

 

Aimee - thank you SO much! I won't forget to print up things in both languages now that you mention it. It's such a great idea! !!

We've already decided that staying at an english speaking hotel would probably be best. heh. Since my Japanese is no where near 'good'. But rather, enough to get me by on an 8 year old level? .. Maybe? hehe.

I will keep that in mind about planning the dealer to go to VERY carefully. *nodnod* I wouldn't want to miss out on a chance to get a dolly I realllly want. ..

Thank you so very very much for all of this! ^_^!!!

 

Boy that tattoo_ok! onsen sounds like fun!
I've been to many sento (bathhouses) and a few onsen and have only been asked to leave once. It was in a very rural but beautiful onsen and I think I was scaring the little old ladies. Children are universally fascinated and often want to touch them. Their mothers are usually good-natured about it, apologizing profusely rather than yelling at their children (as many an American mother might if their child embarrassed them in public). Of course, I'm used to getting many furtive stares which I'd get with or without tattoos since I tend to stay in areas that few foreigners come to, so it's already a novel concept to see a large American in a bathhouse.
(sorry for the non-dolly derailment)

Dolly comment: see if you can go to Kyoto and see Tenshi no Sato. Even tho the sei-tenshi will make you cry, it is a really amazing place. Plus, Kyoto is wonderful as well.

H

 

As far as food expenses.....you can do real well with noodles, or 'fast food' type places with sushi on conveyor belts, etc. I was there on business, but when I was alone I tended to eat inexpensively (usually noodles or sushi) for around $10 a meal. My hotel included breakfast, but it was a business-class hotel and not cheap.

If you need a pizza fix, there's a place called Pizza Express in Harajuku which isn't bad--and which was also one of the few restaurants that served Diet Coke (which was available in machines and such, just not at restaurants for the most part).

And my fave sushi place was a little one with a conveyor belt under the Yurakucho JR station. My coworker and I had all the sushi we could eat for less than $22--and only that high 'cause he was going for the specialty stuff. And he ate a lot more than I did. Individual 2-piece servings ranged from 180 Y to about 400 Y.....still cheaper than sushi here.

The other thing I was told at the beginning of my business travels is that you don't have to worry about cleanliness and food poisoning issues in Japan--you're safe to eat anywhere you want. I found that to be true. I have a difficult stomach here, but never had *any* trouble anywhere in Japan (except for one regrettable octopus incident, but that was a high-pressure situation and how I realized I'm not a fan of octopus).

And the food in the convenience stores is actually not bad. And it's fun to go in the snack aisle and try to figure out what things are. I spent an entire morning looking for something LifeSaver-ish (sore throat from a cold) and never did quite find what I wanted....but I sure had fun trying.

If you're interested in non-BJD dolls and toys, there's KiddyLand in Harajuku, and Hakuhinken Toy Park in Ginza--right near the Shimbashi JR station. You might also find accessories for your BJDs in places like that.

Also, don't underestimate those little 'capsule toys' that come in boxes--a lot are just the right scale for smaller dolls.

Marseille

 

Can you just buy one way or back and forth tickets?

 

A Rail Pass is good for one week and is 28,800 yen or around $250. A shinkansen ticket between Tokyo and Kyoto is 13,220 ONE WAY. So, yeah you could buy two tickets but it's 26,440 yen which is only 2360 yen less, which with a 1 week pass you could easily use. (It's 3000 yen on the NEX from Narita airport to Tokyo.) It takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes by shinkansen to get from Tokyo to Kyoto. If you buy a one way ticket, you need to then arrange your flights to either arrive in KIX or Narita and then leave from the other. You will still need to pay train fare between the airports and Kyoto or Tokyo, both of which are at least 50 minutes by express train from the nearest major International airport. There are buses which are generally cheaper, but they can get caught in terrible traffic if you're unlucky.

If you do not take a shinkansen and instead just use special and special rapid trains, assuming you get lucky with connections it will take at least 8 hours and 40 minutes one way and still cost at least 7980 yen.

Generally speaking if you plan to go from Tokyo to Kyoto or vice versa it is useful to get a rail pass, if you can. It is commonly held that a JR Rail Pass is one of the best bargains in Japan

You can take the bus from Tokyo to Kyoto, I'm not sure of the price but I know it is cheaper. My friend who took it from Osaka to Tokyo swore off ever doing it again, and you will be on the bus for I believe 8 hours or more.

 

I've taken the bus from Tokyo to Nagoya, and from Tokyo to Kyoto and vice versa, and I do not recommend taking the bus unless you are a cheapskate. (ie poor student like I was!) It takes about 8 hours and is mindnumbingly boring. You can take the nightbus as I generally did, which saves you trying to find a night's accomodation, and you CAN actually sleep -- they give you pillows and blankets and the chairs are quite comfortable, and it goes 11pm to about 6-7am so is the right time for sleeping -- but it's still not the same as a good night's sleep and I wouldn't go to Sato the day of arriving after a trip on a night bus.
From memory a night bus is around 4,000-6,000yen one way or 8,000-11,000yen both ways. A round trip on the same route, buying your tickets both ways at once, is generally fairly cheaper than paying the cost of going each way separately. (If that makes sense.)

 

=) Thanks rkold and Cassiel. ^^' Trains are expensive. I might have to rethink our train plans... I was like, "oh, we'll just take a train. It'll be easy." I might give in to taking a tour afterall. I was trying not to take a tour because when we did one in Europe they kept rushing us and taking us to stupid places.

 

Ha! That's funny. I LOVE the subway: the endless banks of ticket machines whirring and clattering, the little price charts, the transfer tunnels, the lack of vandalism. I was delighted to discover that my new coat has a pocket on the front that's exactly the size of a Japanese subway ticket. *is dorky*

 

I love the subway in Osaka and Tokyo, but Kyoto. ~.~ The subway system is not very extensive and you just usually get stuck with buses instead. Though to be somewhat on topic, you can take JR and use a rail pass to get to Tenshi no Sato.

I've heard the Kintetsu private line (non-JR) is the best way to get from Kyoto to Nara, and if you want to go to say Koya-san, you also need to take a private line (Nankai I think?)

I agree with you, Dezarii about passes not being so useful for local transportation within Kansai, but if you want to go from say Kyoto to Himeji or Okayama or Hiroshima on a day trip, it's quite useful. In general, rail passes are best and most economical for long distances that involve shinkansen or limited express trains. I would never get one if I was going to just stay in say Tokyo. (In fact I've not.)

It's important to note that rail passes are not available to students or residents of Japan, so it's not just a matter of being cheap, technically you're not supposed to get one.

 

Waii, I love Miyajima. It's actually one of the places I'm considering on my next trip going on a day trip. Miyajima is another location one needs to beware of marauding deer though.

To add to what Dezarii said:

Himeji is the most amazing castle in all of Japan and the separate gardens (get the combo ticket are just gorgeous in Fall) Himeji is only about 1500 yen and 1 hour by Special Rapid train from JR Osaka station. You can get a Kansai pass for 2000 yen for the day and use it to cover the train fare to Himeji round trip.

Kobe also has a Volks Sumika if you want to go to more than just the Osaka one. ^o^

The Osaka History Museum right across from the Castle is amazing. It has gorgeous costumes on display and offers free tours of the basement area and its archaeological dig at specific times.

One warning about Koyasan is it is on top of a small mountain and it gets cold there far faster than the rest of the region. When I was there in November, while most of the snow had melted there were still huge snow drifts off to the sides in places and it was freezing cold. I also probably disliked my lodging there more than any other place I've stayed in Japan. While the room was huge, it was poorly heated (this is normal but still not fun) and the ensuite toilet smelt horrible. The cemetery is amazing, especially when the mist comes in.

I so love Japan

 

If your husband is into capsule toys (so I am I ^_^) then I'd say a trip to Tokyo's Akihabara area is an absolute must. There are a lot of shops there that sell singles and full sets of them. And if you're going to Osaka, I can recommend Den Den Town for the same sorts of shops. There's an entire store there dedicated to just Gundam stuff. I was quite amused by that.

Four trips and I STILL haven't seen Miyajima or Himeji. I really have to put them on the itinerary next time.

 

OMG! My husband is going to be THRILLED! An ENTIRE store dedicated to GUNDAM?!.. I can see us spending a DAY in there! lol. On a side note, he's also interested in the VOLKS store too now (instead of just walking it, tryin to get a Tenshi, and leaving :P), now that he found out about "ROBOFIE". hehe. ^_^

 

Im out in Japan at the moment and have to say the JR pass is the best thing we purchased, we use it all over Tokyo (apart from getting to the hotel in now unfort lol) and also used it to get to Kyoto and to Tenshi no Sato, I would highly recommend it.

and as said Kyoto is lovely, even without the trip to Tenshi no Sato, we would have had a great time there.

Our hotels are amazing, tho higher end of the budget. Food can be expensive, but really depends on where you go etc, we have eaten cheaply and also had more expensive meals, so any budget can be ok.

I would not really recommend cabs unless for short journey as the price can be high, especially if stuck in traffic

and one thing here in Japan they eat there evening meal early and most places finish/close at 9.30, which we didnt know, this includes hotel restaraunts lol so be warned, tho you can get room service (which was good as we found on 1st night in Japan )

 

How everyone is convinced Japan is so expensive I don't know, but I went there 4 years ago and it wasn't all that bad in my opinion. Just like the others have said expect the meals to be on the more expensive side if you want to go to a nice resturant. The pass if you're going to be there for awhile is definatly worth it, I know it got a bit expensive for my host family to pay for me riding the train to school where I went with my host student.

I'm with mystical about the cabs, while nice they are super expensive.

Don't forget to get to the whole Asakusa temple in Tokyo, that whole area is wonderful and there is a company named "Hato Bus" that has english tours available that visits Tokyo Tower, the Imperial Gardens, and the Asakusa temple for an adult back in 2003 it was 4500 yen with tax included. I would highly recommend that cause you don't have to pay for the observation pass for Tokyo Tower and you get a nice English tour lol. Oh make sure, if you do this, when you're at the Asakusa temple get your fortune done for 100 yen and those have an english translation on the back .

I don't have an idea of how prices may or may not have gone up since it been 4 years and the train fare is based on how far you're going from the station you get on at. Would definatly ask someone how to read those and know the kanji of your stop since the train stuff is only in kanji.

 

If you like to eat later, eat where the businessmen eat. Those places are open till midnight due to people who work till really late.

As for tours, I'm personally not keen because then you have to be near annoying tourists ( obnoxious tourists really ruined Nijo castle for me..) But if middle age couples in bright patterned shirts and loud voices don't bother you, it sounds like a good way to see it all and save money.

btw don't bother going to the Body Shop for toilettries. It's all imported and super expensive as a result. It's weird to go into a high-street shop from over here and it's all expensive with like 9 staff greeting you in white gloves and immacualate suits. Surreal even. Ooh and ethical shoppers looking for a trainer fix: New Balance in Harajuku. The guys working there have such a nice uniform...I hope my partner didn't notice me staring...eek..

 

I thought that be worth mentioning. You just need to put 100 yen in the box then shake the can and let a stick come out, then look at the kanji, match it to one of the drawers, and pull out your fortune. Very nice ^^

 

Lots of useful tips in this thread! ^_^

I do have a few of questions though.

Several people have mentioned that the taxis are expensive, can anyone give me an idea of just how expensive?

If you are staying at the bigger more western type hotels, will they arrange a taxi for you?

Also, does anyone know if there are taxis at the airports?

We have to get from the airport to our hotel in Yokohama, then from there to our hotel at Tokyo Disneyland.
After our stay at Tokyo Disneyland, we are flying to Itani(?) airport, and will need to get from the airport to our hotel in Kyoto.
Finally, we will need to get back to the airport to fly back to Tokyo, where we will overnight before flying out the next day.

Linda can get in and out of taxis, and her chair does fold up, though not as compactly as her British one did that Delta airlines destroyed.

I'm beginning to wonder if we wouldn't be better off trying to arrange for a private car and driver if such is available.

This is beginning to look like it is going to prove to be an interesting trip since neither Linda nor I can speak Japanese.

Has anyone tried one of those translator devices that you can find in catalogs like Sharper Image?
We have seriously considered ordering one for this trip.

Related to dolls, is the Akihabara Store close to Yokohama?
I am hoping to have one day to go exploring Volks stores while we are staying at the convention hotel, without Linda if I can convince her to stay at the hotel and rest that day.
So I'm thinking Akihabara is my best bet.

I doubt I'll have any time while we are at Tokyo Disney for Volks shopping since Linda will be wanting to spend that time in the parks.

I've told her I am definitely going to Tenshi no Sato in Kyoto, and I've told her I'd really like to have naming ceremony there for Lue if I can schedule one.
Of course she keeps forgetting what I've said, and keeps telling me I'm not bringing Lucifer with me, so we will see.

Now, I'm a little confused, I know you can't do an FCS without a Japanese address, and I know there are dolls in kit form available, but are there assembled dolls that you can purchase at the stores and take with you that day?

This will all be taking place in August/September.
I know, not the best time to go, but that is when Worldcon is always held.
Is anyone else going to be attending the Worldcon in Japan and staying after for a bit, or will anyone else be there during that same time?
Maybe we could go check out the Volks stores together. ^_^

 

My friend told me about this shop in Kyoto, where you make an appointment, and spend the whole day completely costomizing your doll. They make it for you while you're there...from scratch. The whole doll.

Were I a millionaire, and if I could speak Japanese, I would totally do that.

 

JRyu,

from reading your post I'm not sure if you've understood how big Toyo really is.

From Narita Airport to Tokyo it takes around 2 hours really. From Around Tokyo to Yokohama around 40 maybe.

Disneyland is not really in Tokyo, but in Chiba, more or less on the way to Narita. But none the less, not even close to a Volks store.
The Akihabara showroom is not close to Yokohama but pretty close to the Tokyo station, there is however a store somewhere in Yokohama too.
http://www.volks.co.jp/jp/volks/sr/sr_yokohama/index.html

There are taxis, of course, all over. How much they cost, I'm not sure of. Easiest way to get around is by train to major stations and then by foot once you get there. At the train stations you will recieve help from the staff with ramps for the chair to get on the trains and sometimes stair elevators where there is no normal one.

I would recommend you to always have pen and paper with you so you can write down the location of where you want to go, as japanese can have problems understanding accented (real) english.

Do alot of research and plan your outings well.
Here are some helpful sites:
http://www.japan-guide.com/ Good for locations, culture stuff, even for asking questions
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html Easy way to find the best train route to where you want to go.

A bit harsh of an explanation, but I think you'd want to be prepared rather then totally shocked once you get here.

 

Hmmmm, I thought I had made a post at one point about taxi prices but now I can't see it.

Just to warn you now August is extremely hot and humid in Tokyo. I've been in NYC (w/o AC), Houston, Orlando, and Tokyo in August, and Tokyo was by far the most unpleasant. Most Japanese stores are not super air-conditioned like they are here, so please just be aware of this.

Rates vary by city and cab company. This past trip, I was in a small city called Takasago in Hyogo-ken. I paid 1000 yen for a 7 minute cab ride, and paid over 2000 yen for my 15 minute one. One thing to note about cabs is sometimes the trunk space is not available for passenger use. This could be a problem for the wheel chair not matter how small it folds, let alone any luggage you both have.

Unless you are extremely wealthy you can not take a cab from Narita to Tokyo. The two main ways one gets from the airport are: train or shuttle bus. If you are staying in a big Western style Hotel, the shuttle bus might go there. (I know for example the Sunshine City Prince in Ikebukro has direct shuttles) You would need to check with your hotel. The bus trip varies in length based on traffic. In good traffic it can be as fast as 40 minutes and in bad traffic can be 2 hours+ The majority of JR NEX trains just run Narita to Tokyo (and take about 50 minutes) but I know there are some that end in Ofuna and so might go to Yokohama. The Keisi line which is cheaper than JR runs to Ueno or Nippori. Both are useful if you're staying in that end of Tokyo. (Ueno and Nippori are the opposite direction from Yokohama and so I would not suggest using the Keisi.)

Yokohama is about 20-30 minutes by rapid train from Tokyo station. (It's important to note Tokyo station and Tokyo are not the same.) I shudder to think of that trip in a car simply because of the traffic.

Tokyo Disney is quite far from Yokohama and I don't think there is any direct service. You need to take the train back to Tokyo Station where you then change for the Keio line to Tokyo Disney. Not including the transfer it would be like 50 minutes. I generally do not take cabs in Tokyo, but if you were cabbing it from Yokohama to Disney it would probably easily cost you several hundred dollars one way.

I've never looked into hiring a car since I am sure it is very expensive. You might want to contact your hotel to see if they have information, but be prepared, it will be very expensive.

Your next problem is getting from your hotel in Tokyo Disney to Haneda Airport. There should be some sort of direct shuttle bus, but you should talk to your hotel at Tokyo Disney ahead of time. Itami is an airport located in the city of Itami in Hyogo. There should be some sort of service from the airport to Kyoto. It is probably shuttle bus, as there are no direct trains.

Shuttle buses should have room for a wheel chair since they generally have storage bins beneath for luggage.

Regarding Tenshi no Sato. You can buy kits for MSD Ken, Mika, Sakura, Maggie, Myu, Hisui, and Kohaku. There might still be some for Nasya, Shinsyia, Mario and Marie. I've not checked lately. You can also buy all the other regular line dolls and any LEs that are still in stock. (Emma, I think I saw one of the SwD dolls) You need a Japanese address for FCS because they're never sure how long it will take to make the doll for you and they need to be able to ship the doll to you.

I went to Tenshi no Sato about a month ago and just to warn you now, there is no elevator at the station. I've been told what this means is you get to wait until the station attendants can carry your friend in her wheel chair to the other side. Depending on where you are staying, once again you could take a cab, but it is likely to run you about 2000 yen each way.

There is a Volks showroom in Yokohama. (or at least there use to be) You might want to look into visiting there. It's likely to be a much easier trip than trying to go back into Tokyo. ^^;

I don't know a lot of Japanese and I've never bought one of those translators despite having been to Japan many times. It just takes a lot of patience and I usually have a small dictionary. It's also good to have a pen and paper with you, as most Japanese people can read a lot more English than they can speak.

I would definitely contact all the hotels you want to stay in to ask advice ahead of time and just give yourself a lot of extra time for transfers and traffic if you're traveling by bus.

Good luck!

 

O_O

Wow, that is worse than I had thought and if you had taken the Chiyoda line to Ometosando station and changed to the Ginza line which goes direct. I believe it would be closer to 250 yen. o_O;;

Wow.

For anyone reading this who does not know Tokyo geography, Asakusa, Ueno, and Harajuku are all in what is considered "central" Tokyo. Ueno and Harajuku are stations on the Yamanote Line, a main line that circles "central" Tokyo.

http://gojapan.about.com/gi/dynamic...www.jtb.co.jp/sunrisetour/2003/info/mapt.html

This map doesn't show the subway lines, but does give one a good idea of the layout of Central Tokyo.

Yokohama and Tokyo Disney are far enough away they are not shown.

 

I'm not sure, I have to ask her. n.n

 

So I've made the decision to finally go on my dream trip to tokyo!

So... I plan on going in the spring to see the cherry blossoms and for a little bit warmer weather than snow I want to know where i should go, what i should see etc. I want to stay in tokyo, and im looking up rates etc right now. What is the best way to get around? How much do you think i will need daily to eat and shop? How much Japanese should i know (i.e. start learning NOW for 9 months from now?)

And to anyone in Tokyo, would you like to have a dolly meet when i come? Im going to bring one of my Unoas (she deserves to see her birthplace once again Prob brie as i will have had her longer...

Any help is much appreciated!

 

I went to Tokyo in May (well rather I went to Japan, and went to Tokyo for a couple days, and I think it really depends on what sort of stuff you're into. I went to Tokyo Disneyland with my boyfriend, explored Shibuya and Shinjuku (really fun, we went to a bunch of places where they went in the film Lost in Translation because we were staying in the skyscraper district... just to see the most amazing view of the city, I highly recommend going to the Park Hyatt Hotel bar on the 59th floor an hour before it closes so you don't get hit with a 20$/person cover charge), went to Harajuku of course for Sunday (I'm huge into Japanese street fashion).

Since I already had gone to Tenshi no Sato and was going to the Volks store in Osaka (plus I was with my not-so-doll-supportive boyfriend the whole time), I didn't go to any of the Volks showrooms. However if you're not going to multiple other places as I did, you NEED to go, because it's really amazing even just to browse (all I did in Osaka was buy 15$ worth of zippers XD). Somewhere in the FAQ I think there is a link to a website where they have guides with pictures on how to get to all the different Volks stores, it was invaluable when I was looking for it in Osaka and for finding Sato.

I know this really awesome hotel you can stay in Tokyo too! It's called New City Shinjuku (at least if I remember correctly that's what it's called). Ok it's not that amazing, essentially like a Holiday Inn, but it's only 12000yen/night for a double occupancy and is located in the Skyscraper District which is like a 10 minute walk from Shinjuku Station. You can get hostels for ridiculously cheap, but I had injured myself and couldn't walk long distances so we needed a convenient location. Plus having very nice beds and space and a private washroom/shower was really nice. While traveling elsewhere the hostels I stayed in, while half the price of that hotel were a little... ummm... sketchier in terms of quality of the room/building and the location they were in. ^_^;

 

Do not disregard Expedia as well. Our university (Akita International) does a great deal of business through them (even before Expedia Japan opened) as they could arrange some stupid discounts and get things together in a trice.

Or, if you have an STA close to you, they also offer very nice deals - and are not restricted to student travellers.

Depending on which Dolpa you attend (the season), you may well luck into a business hotel in a fallow patch (especially in Kyoto or Osaka). Usually a little spartan, but always very comfortable and inexpensive.

I would also advise making Kyoto or Osaka the base for a Doll-stay (with or without a Dolpa on hand). A visit to Tenchi-no-Sato will repay that location very nicely - especially if you can justify one of Sato's FCS affairs (when taking 'furrinas' to the place, I have always found the staff to be very accomodating).