Japan--who's got the hookup?

[hogginthefogg]

So we were planning a trip to Thailand for early February, but we canceled it last night. We're now trying to change our itinerary to a trip to Japan. I'm about to wrap up my first Japanese class this week, so I'll be able to get by OK linguistically. For now, we're thinking of focusing on Tokyo and Yokohama. I'll be traveling with my wife and we're looking for reasonable hotel recommendations. A few things to keep in mind:<b, 21<b, 21We're not trying to stay in a hostel, but we're also not trying to break the bank with our hotels. I've heard that you can find a nice room for two for roughly $100/night. Is that so? <b, 21<b, 21We can't do a place with public baths, as I am covered in yakuza-style tattoos. I am well aware of the stigma and plan to remain covered up.<b, 21<b, 21We're not there to go shopping. Beyond the odd souvenir, I doubt we'll buy anything but food. <b, 21<b, 21Thanks in advance!

 

[Swayze]

Dude, I'm the Japan on the cheap expert. Holla at me. I got doing the whole country on the cheap on lock.<b, 21<b, 21Kimi Ryokan in Ikebukuro, Tokyo is cheap and you get the Ryokan experience. <b, 21<b, 21<a href="http://www.kimi-ryokan.jp/" target="_blank"1http://www.kimi-ryokan.jp/</a1

 

[Swayze]

Also, when in Feb? I will prolly be in Jp in Feb. (Not trying to intrude on your fam trip though).

 

[hogginthefogg]

Yes! Glad to hear it. And we're looking at Feb. 4-14 or so.

 

[The-gaffler]

remember when the turtles went to japan?

 

[jimey]

</font1

<font class="small"1Quote:</font1<h, 21<b, 21I'm about to wrap up my first Japanese class this week, so I'll be able to get by OK linguistically. <b, 21<b, 21<h, 21

<font class="post"1<b, 21just found today <a href="http://www.iknow.co.jp/" target="_blank"1http://www.iknow.co.jp/</a1 and looks good.

 

[Swayze]

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<font class="small"1Quote:</font1<h, 21<b, 21Yes! Glad to hear it. And we're looking at Feb. 4-14 or so. <b, 21<b, 21<h, 21

<font class="post"1<b, 21<b, 21So you'll be in Japan on Valentine's Day? Nice. Tell your wife that, according to Japanese tradition she has to get you a gift, and you will not be reciprocating because when in Rome...

 

[TheeeCasualMale]

Toyoko Inn. It's a chain with hotels all throughout the major cities in Japan. Pretty inexpensive and they have private bathrooms and all that.

 

[yuichi]

I'm sure you can find cheaper ones, but me and my gf LOVED the pseudo-Bali style hotels here. Incense burning up in the lobby, Bali jungle music, massage chairs, etc. <a href="http://www.balian.jp/shinjuku/price/room_pretty.html" target="_blank"1Balian Shinjuku</a1 The cheapest one I just looked up is about $130/night. Maybe for a night, it might be cool.

 

[Swayze]

</font1

<font class="small"1Quote:</font1<h, 21<b, 21I'm sure you can find cheaper ones, but me and my gf LOVED the pseudo-Bali style hotels here. Incense burning up in the lobby, Bali jungle music, massage chairs, etc. <a href="http://www.balian.jp/shinjuku/price/room_pretty.html" target="_blank"1Balian Shinjuku</a1 The cheapest one I just looked up is about $130/night. Maybe for a night, it might be cool. <b, 21<b, 21<h, 21

<font class="post"1<b, 21<b, 21That looks like a Balinese themed love hotel.

 

[yuichi]

<font class="post"1<b, 21<b, 21Basically.

 

[Young_Phonics]

Gotta peep Kyoto my daimey.

 

[Swayze]

</font1

<font class="small"1Quote:</font1<h, 21<b, 21Gotta peep Kyoto my daimey. <b, 21<b, 21<h, 21

<font class="post"1<b, 21<b, 21Oh he will go. I used the Golden pavilion at the golden hour argument. <b, 21<b, 21 <img src="http://www.timothysykes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/golden_pavilion.jpg"1

 

[hogginthefogg]

U ALREADY KNO.<b, 21<b, 21Also, can I expect to act like this while in Nihon?<b, 21<b, 21<img src="http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2818/rampage2lu0.gif"1

 

[Swayze]

<font class="small"1Quote:</font1<h, 21<b, 21U ALREADY KNO.<b, 21<b, 21Also, can I expect to act like this while in Nihon?<b, 21<b, 21

<font class="post"1<b, 21<b, 21Ask Million Dollars.

 

[hogginthefogg]

UPDATE: We leave for Japan next Thursday. Itinerary is 5 days in Tokyo, 5 days in Kyoto (day trips to Yokohama/Nara/possibly Osaka). We got great deals on hotels (Toyoko Inn in Kyoto and Sunlite Shinjuku in Tokyo); average is just under $100/night. Got the Japan Rail passes and all that good stuff, so we're set.

Plan: little to no shopping, tons of walking, and many, many bowls of ramen/soba. Wifey wa ninshin shite imasu (preggers), so no raw fish for her, but we're not too concerned, otherwise.

So one last time: cheap eat recommendations in either city? Food will be our only major expense, and while we're not exactly scurred, we also don't wanna blow the budget by dropping $150 a day on food (which sounds like it would be easy to do).

 

[rkwpark]

all those big department stores have food on the bottom floors. if you hit them up before they close around 7:30pm you can grab the bento's (premade boxed foods) etc at discounted prices. i would cop some bakery items for the next mornings breakfast and a bento box for the next days lunch while i was out sight seeing etc.

there is a really good tofu restaurant in shibuya that i liked, if i remember the name I will post it. hope you got a good map to find your way around.

have fun. i was there a little over 16 days and it was not enough.

 

[yuichi]

There`s this bomb Okinaya style BBQ in Sangenchaya which is relatively close to Shibuya. It`s like at most 30 bucks per person and the ambience is real nice. Real spacious, real laidback. It`s in a small alley with a bunch of other eateries. Just holler at a restaurant guy around "Carrot Tower" in Sangenchaya and be like "Okinawa resutoran doko desuka?!" I also heard there`s a reallly popular and really good Nabe (hot pot) place in the same area.

Watch out for the restaurants that let people smoke though! Obviously no good for your wife. Take pictures and post em when youre back! Have fun!

 

[grandpa_shig]

hi hoggi. have fun. sorry i have no recommendations and even if i did i couldnt tell u how to get there.

anyways, i was just wondering, how is it that you are going to prolly one of the biggest shopping meccas in the world and u arent gon go shopping? whatever you want, theyll have it. and in about 120 different colors. i mean, i am no shopper by any means, but thats like going to disneyland for the funnel cakes F*ck THE MATTERHORN.

in any case, youll be pleasantly surprised by the cost of things out there. i think even nyc is more expensive in both food and clothing. also, get to know the combini. u can survive off nigiris and genki drinks for like a buck a pop. and NOMIHYODAI!!!!

 

[Aser]

if you do decide to do any shopping, here's one related to food. Buy a Japanese chef's knife (gyuto), it'll be much cheaper (30-40%) than it is in the US. I suggest brands like Misono, Hiromoto, Suisin, Masamoto, at 240mm/9.4" at least. There are a few knife shops around Tsukiji fish market.

Being winter, you might want to look into shabu shabu, nabe, etc. Besides ramen/udon/soba, there are also yakitori joints, izakayas, etc....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E65pCqHOjm0

http://www.rameniac.com/resource/archives/C64

have fun....