Travel advice for a Japan visit

[Mamma Marsha]

Has anyone taken a trip to see their Sailor in Japan? Cheapest time to go (if any) once there, places to stay. or stay away from:/  flight advice. currency?

I would like to save now for a trip in 2014 to Sasebo, Japan.

[Anti M]

Google Golden Week in Japan.  Avoid those dates in spring.  New years is also a major holiday to avoid.  Summer is just miserable with the humidity.

Currency: cash is best in Japan.  Do not exchange at the airport, on base is usually the best.  Your sailor can help with that.  Everything will be expensive, but don't let that keep you on base eating fast food.  See if you can get into the Navy Lodge, they have kitchenettes, which would be good for breakfasts.

When I went to Sasebo, sailor went to sea for a week.  I took the train and stayed in Kyoto, the ancient capital.  But there's a lot to do near base, your sailor can book MWR tours.  Those are very good to see local things.

[Mamma Marsha]

Thanks for the info!

[Anti M]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnbUSH4g9lc

[shortymom]

We went to Yokosuka in 2011. It was an experience. Our son is an officer so he had an apartment and we stayed with him, but I would never again go over there unless my son was around to guide us. When you don't know the language it is challenging. Your cell phone will not work over there unless there have been changes that I don't know about. If you get a chance to go, I would go but just do all the preparing you can do and if possible your son needs to be available for you.

[Mamma Marsha]

Thank you! We do communicate w/ phones thru wifi and an apt called tango. So far do good. Plane tickets are outrageos.

[jenismer]

I went at the end of November and it was awesome!  We took the bullet train to Hiroshima and Kyoto.  It was expensive, but amazing.  I hope to do that again.  We took the train around Tokyo which was really fun.  On the way to Yokosuka one day we went to Kamakura.  We stayed in Tokyo at the New Sanno which is the military hotel.  VERY comfortable.  The cost is according to your sailor's rate so for us it was extremely reasonable.  I didn't go anywhere without my sailor because it was a little overwhelming.  My flight - which was the week of Thanksgiving - was under $1300.  I'm planning to go back next spring.  Kyoto is definitely on my list again, as well as Tokyo Disney.  I think my favorite food was the ramen at the place right outside base in Yokosuka.  We traveled fast and hard on our trip.  We stayed Japanese style in Hiroshima.  THAT was interesting to say the least.  It was kind of an accident that we ended up at the hotel that we did, but I'm glad we did it.  There were 3 mats on the floor, each with a pillow and a blanket.  My sailor said it was worse than sleeping on the ship.  Yikes!  It was the trip of a lifetime fore sure.  I can't wait to go back. 

[Anti M]

LOL, I slept on the floor for nine years in my little Japanese house.  When I got to the states and we got a real bed, I had a terrible fear of falling off for months and months.

In the Yokosuka area, another great place to visit is Nikko.  Simply amazing. so lovely, so much history.  That;s where the real original Three Monkeys see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil are located .... an intricate carving.  

Tokyo Disneyland is a blast, like another world.  MWR has military discount tickets.

We used to go to the New Sanno very often.  Sunday brunch is legendary.

Nagasaki is near Sasebo, so consider a visit to the Peace Memorial.  I didn't go, I couldn't bear it.  

[sherry73]

How much was the bullet train to hiroshima?  And where did you get on.  We are going in December and I would love to make that part of our trip.  Thanks for your help!  We are a bit nervous about the whole thing.

[Anti M]

From Sasebo, you have to go up to Fukuoka to catch a bullet train.  Not sure if Hiroshima is an easy trip from there.  Kyoto certainly is.  

[jenismer]

Oh gosh - I can't imagine sleeping like that for very long.  I'm going to put  Nikko on my list for my next trip.  Thanks for that! =)  When we were in Hiroshima we went through the museum and walked the grounds.  Hard to believe such devastation had ever happened there.  The last thing we did was ring the bell.  Just the thought of it gets me all watery eyed.  No one understood my reaction to it when I got back.  Going to Hiroshima changed me forever.  

[Anti M]

I probably had a better, thicker folding foam futon than an inn would use.  I like a firm mattress, so the think foam on tatami mats was perfect for me.  

I never got to Hiroshima, even though we were right by it on the island Miyajima for a visit.  My father was with us, he's a three war vet, he cannot bear the memorials.  When we live din Hawaii, he could not go to the Arizona monument.

[Coz56]

My husband & I are going in just a few weeks with the hope that our sailor will be available to spend time with us but there is no guarantee. I have a good friend who has been to Japan to see her son who is a civilian teacher. She and her husband gave great advice to make the trip easier. Check with your cell phone company about service in Japan, you may have to change your sim card or there may be an app for your phone that will at least enable you to text while in Japan. Call your credit card company so they know you are going so there will less chance of interruption of your credit.  Exchange some money before you go. My friend said it took her bank 4 days to get her money exchanged. You will need Japanese currency for transportation from the airport. My friend said that casual dress is  acceptable. I was concerned that I would be inappropriate in jeans and khakis but she said that was not a problem. I am planning on taking one dressy skirt just in case. She and her husband recommend having change purses because the paper money is not as handy as coins. They both said that change purses made the trip much easier. Bring extra memory for your camera and bring a cord to connect camera to TV so at the end of each day you can delete what you don't want to get the most out of what memory you do have. Umbrellas, hats,band aids, neosporin, since you walk a lot you may get blisters that need attention, 2 pair of good walking shoes so you can switch daily, any OTC medication you take regularly and of course your prescription medications, protein bars for the flight, drink water on the plane whenever you can, get up and walk as much as possible, my friend's husband got a blood clot in his leg from the long trip, she got up and moved around more than he did during the flight and she is convinced that is why he got a blood clot. Check with you primary care doctor about taking an aspirin before or during your trip.  She recommended street food she said it was all good! There is something called tako yacci she was not sure about the spelling but she said it is a street food that is dough wrapped around fish and cooked to a very high temperature so let it cool or you will burn your mouth. She recommended including a visit to the big Buddha stature which my sailor already has said we are planning on visiting.