Where is the best place to exchange currency?

I will be taking Australian dollars to Japan to exchange into Yen.

From where and who will I get the best exchange rate Narita, Shinjuku, Banks, Hotels, ATM%26#39;s????????????

Yipeeeeeeeee the Yen is going up against the Aus$ up to 65 today. I hope it keeps going up.

Where is the best place to exchange currency?

Today’s rate at Mitsubishi Tokyo Bank

Cash selling 74.88, buying 55.48

Daikokuya

Cash selling 74.59, buying 55.59

Travelex

Cash selling 75.39, buying 55.73

Not greatly different, Travelex in Shinjuku located at the convenient area, 1 to 2 min from Subway Shinjuku Exits.

Travelex in Shinjuku.

141 Bldg 1F, 1-4-2 Nishi-Shinjuku

Tel:03-3342-5552

Your hotel may be the worst.

Where is the best place to exchange currency?

That awful buy/sell difference for cash.

Travelers cheques(Mitsubishi UFJ): 67.18 sell 63.02 buy

You get 63.02 yen with TC, versus 55.48 with cash

ATM is similar to TC. But take into consideration the flat fee charged by your bank.

Am I reading that right? The cash rate in Japan is 55Yen to the AUD? When the official rate is somewhere nearer 65. If that%26#39;s the case, I would imagine I%26#39;d be exchanging my cash in Oz before heading over?

Could be best to get as you need, use the ATM at Narita, then maybe Post Office ATM%26#39;s. You dont want to be holding unspent Yen to convert back to AUD %26amp; get hit with commissions twice.

Does that mean that the exchange rate via a Japanese ATM is better than the cash rate? I usually use a combination of cash and ATM when I travel, but that cash rate is appalling

I am wondering about this too. Last time I got 100,00 yen from our bank in Australia before we left, then topped up using our ANZ card in 7 eleven convenience stores from the ATMs a few times.

I don%26#39;t remember exactly what the exchange rates and charges were, but as this was June/ July last year, we were getting quite a good exchange rate of nearly 100 yen to the A$.

Is it a good idea to wait until getting to Japan before getting any yen?

For my Aussie buddies.

Seems like we should get our Yen before we leave Aus.

American Express is today quoting 62.60 for cash and travellers cheques that you can order online or from your local post office.

I think I will order mine next Monday as we leave in 2 weeks. I am taking cash and about A$500 in travellers cheques that I can use to pay hotels towards the end of our 3 week trip if we still have them and have not needed to use along the way.

Need to have a good look at budgeting now for food and other unknown costs so we take about the right amount of cash but will use ATM%26#39;s if we get left short.

Pam

Pamies, we are going to Tokyo for only 2 days August at the end of a long trip. I don%26#39;t want to take heaps of yen but like you am so confused with cash rate/e xchange etc. I might have spare US dollars not sure, but hey hope the Aus stays up as they reckon it will.

Let me know when you are back what you think is best.

Thanks

No worries Cartoon. Look for my post in early May after we get back.

It has been suggested to me by another TA member to allow A$150 per day for 2 adults to cover the costs of meals, the odd extra transport (we will have JR rail passes) and entry fees. Some of our hotels have been paid for but some I still have to pay in cash.

It scares me that I will be carrying nearly A$4,000 cash in Japanese Yen during our 3 week stay.

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where to stay for about 100/night in Tokyo

Is this even reasonable? If we are not in any central location, we would prefer to be near a major metro that can get us around easily.

We would love to rent an apartment and will be in Japan for a little over 1 week in July. I am trying to look online for them now...

Any advice would be great to help with the best neighborhoods...

thanks!

where to stay for about 100/night in Tokyo

Read this thread:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g298184-i861-k2057…

In addition, if you are ok with a less-than-perfect location and no frills amenities, then there are several options in Tokyo (assuming you have 2 travelers in total). Unlike here at home, even budget hotels in Japan are clean and safe, though rooms can be small.

Check these:

www.wmt-tokyo.com/akasaka/roomrates.html

oakwood.com/serviced-apartments/…Tokyo.html

If you just need a simple, non-apartment style hotel room, then there are even more options. However, you need to make a quick decision and book ASAP.

where to stay for about 100/night in Tokyo

Thanks. Yes there%26#39;s only 2 of us... and we don%26#39;t care much about apartment amenities vs. hotel. Just need a clean, safe place to sleep and shower :-)

I really like the Weekly Mansion. Is there any place in Kyoto or Osaka like this?

Thanks again

Kyoto:

Duo Inn and Palaceside Hotel offer rooms with a kitchenette. However, both are exceptionally popular and get booked up months in advance. There are great reviews in TA about these properties that you can read about.

Another good place to check:

www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/asia#1430

Osaka:

I don%26#39;t know much about Osaka, but here%26#39;s what I found--

http://www.wmt-osaka.jp/

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298566-d631898…

Osaka is much more affordable than Tokyo.

http://www.tokyustay.co.jp/e/index.html

http://www.hvf.jp/eng/

http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/

http://www.hotelpricefinder.com/

Thanks everyone! I am not in much need of a kitchen, but going from my European travel experiences - apartment rentals tend to be cheaper and less hassle than hotels.

If there were a cheaper hotel I would be interested in that as well. I will take a look at the links sent!

In Japan, the no-frills, plain-jane business hotels are cheaper than apartment style hotels or vacation rentals.

Double occupancy per room, good/reasonable tourist locations

11000 http://toko-hotel.com/index.html

10000 apahotel.com/hotel/…index.html

10500 (Asakusa) http://www.vistahotel.co.jp/

9800 Weekly Mansion Gotanda (Japanese website)http://www.wmt.co.jp/reserve/gotanda/index.html

10800 pelican.co.jp/asakusacentralhotel/…index.html

Toyoko Inn is a well known business hotel chain. The rooms are small with little or no closet space. The luggage typically has to go under your bed and the walls are somewhat thin. It has free computer terminals at the lobby and a very basic breakfast (usually just a roll and coffee). It is clean and safe and you will find many tourists staying there. Cost of a room is 9,240 Yen including tax. In terms of location, the Shinjuku and Ikebukuro areas are more interesting, but those hotels are all about 10+ minutes walking from the station. Shinagawa is more of an office area but the hotel%26#39;s location seems to be much closer to the station itself. Otsuka is also another possible choice since it%26#39;s close to the station and just one stop from Ikebukuro. The English website for booking is:

http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/

For about the same price as Toyoko, you can stay at Dormy Inn at Akihabara (electric town), Hatchobori (near the center of Tokyo%26#39;s business district), or Asakusa. Dormy Inn is a chain that even has a hot spring bath in the hotel%26#39;s public area so it%26#39;s great to soak for a bit at the end of the day. The rooms are also better furnished than Toyoko. The hotel%26#39;s website, however, is only in Japanese. Rakuten only pulls up the Asakusa location.

http://www.hotespa.net

Thank you again everyone! Very helpful!

Online Accom Booking & Traveling without advance booking?

Hi,

We are traveling through Japan from April 10-May 1 as part of a larger round the world trip. We are wanting this trip to Japan to be a little bit open in terms of bookings and dates to give us the flexibility to stay longer in a particular place if we like it or move on if we don%26#39;t.

We are booking essential accommodation when we arrive, but am after some advice on how easy booking accommodation on the fly is?

We realize that we are traveling in a busy period and are already struggling to find mid priced accommodation on weekends in Kyoto/Nara. (11th and 12th of April)

Are there any good websites that anyone can recommend for booking Japanese/Western accommodation?

And how easy is it to book accommodation when we arrive? Either through the Tourist Info Offices or in person at the Hotel/Ryokan?

We are planning to travel from:

Tokyo

Kyoto

Nara

Takayama (close to festival time)

Matusmoto

Toyama

Noto Hanto

Niigata

Sado Island

Tokyo

Budget wise we are looking for accommodation in the price range of between 10000-20000 Yen for 2people.

Many thanks in advance.

Online Accom Booking %26amp; Traveling without advance booking?

Outside of the large cities during peak period, you can usually find hotel availability. I suggest you perhaps call ahead a day in advance to check a hotel or two if you are going to the larger cities and alternatively, the very small places with small number of hotels.

Rakuten is an English booking engine for Japanese hotels:

http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/

Toyoko Inn is a chain of basic and clean no-frills business hotels with rates around 8,000 to 9,000 Yen per double:

http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/

Dormy Inn is another chain of business hotels that is a little better than Toyoko, about 10,000 Yen per double:

http://www.hotespa.net/business/en/index.html

Roynet is another business chain, about 10,000 to 12,000 Yen per room:

http://www.daiwaroynet.jp/english/index.html

All of the above chains are reliable.

Hokkaido Itinerary

Dear all,

My friends and I am planning to visit Hokkaido end of May. We will be there for 7days and will be driving. Starting point will be Sapporo. We are a bit confused and not sure where to go. This is our rough itinerary. Please feel free to comment/suggest.

Plan A

Day 1 - Sapporo

Day 2 - Sapporo + Otaru

Day 3 - Furano + Biei

Day 4 - Ashakihawa zoo

Day 5 - Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park+Shibazakura Park

Day 6 - Obihiro

Day 7 - Kusiro (Lake Akan and see birds)

Day 8 - byebye

Should we visit Hakodate?

Plan B

Day 1 - Chitose Airport to Hakodate

Day 2 - Otaru

Day 3 - Furano

Day 4 - Ashikawa Zoo

Day 5 - Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park+Shibazakura Park

Day 6 - Kusiro (Lake Akan and see birds)

Day 7 - Back to Sapporo

Day 8 - Bye Bye

There are no particular preference. We just want to have fun and get most out of Hokkaido. Definitely would love to enjoy the scenery, see flowers and eat eat eat.

Hokkaido Itinerary

Have you checked the distance between Hakadote and Otaru as in your Plan B? There is no bullet train between the two cities so you may be tired just from the train ride. I would stick with Plan A. The rest of the trip looks great. Check-out the breakfast buffets in any Sapporo hotel for excellent Hokkaido food, especially seafood.

Mac

Hokkaido Itinerary

We will be driving around so not sure is that ok. Btw, just want to check can pejaro(mmc) %26amp; x-trail(nissan) fit 5 ppl and 5 luggage? thanks!

Skip Hakodate. It%26#39;s too far away for just one city. You%26#39;d have a much nicer time with less driving and more time enjoying the tour.

For the rental car, a mini-van type vehicle is more comfortable and has more actual luggage space than an SUV.

I agree.

Skip Hakodate. Too far away.

And why Obihiro? Just a big city. No particular places to go there.

other thoughts:

You don%26#39;t need a car to go and see Otaru. It%26#39;s a 30 minute train ride f rom Sapporo. Trains every 20 minutes. Easy.

Lake Akan - yes.

Kushiro - may not be so many birds there in May, but there are the bird breeding centers where they have birds in pens.

Abashiri? Shiretoko?

amanda

Thanks everyone for the reply. I have come up with 3 plans. Please advise which is better:

Plan A

Day 1 Chitose - Sapporo

Day 2 Sapporo - Furano

Day 3 Sapporo - Biei

Day 4 Biei - Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park+Shibazakura Park/Taknoue park - Abashiri

Day 5 Abashiri - Asahikawa

Day 6 Asahikawa - Otaru

Day 7 Otaru - Jouzankei+Niseko/Noboribetsu

Day 8 Jouzankei+Niseko/Noboribetsu - Chitose - byebye Hokkaido

Plan B

Day 1 Chitose - Sapporo

Day 2 Sapporo - Furano

Day 3 Sapporo - Biei

Day 4 Biei - Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park+Shibazakura Park/Taknoue park - Abashiri

Day 5 Abashiri - Lake Akan - Kushiro

Day 6 Kushiro - Tokachi - Otaru

Day 7 Otaru - Sapporo

Day 8 Sapporo - Chitose - byebye Hokkaido

Plan C

Day 1 Chitose - Sapporo

Day 2 Sapporo - Furano

Day 3 Sapporo - Biei

Day 4 Biei - Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park+Shibazakura Park/Taknoue park - Abashiri

Day 5 Abashiri - Shiretoko

Day 6 Shiretoko - Kushiro

Day 7 Kushiro - Otaru

Day 8 Otaru/Sapporo - Chitose - byebye Hokkaido

Btw, need to check something. We%26#39;re planning to see the moss pink flower at Shibazakura Park. Since the flowers bloom earlier this year, do you think we can get to see end of May?

Thanks!

Some driving tips and the model courses.

Tsurui-village, Kushiro Marsh area are good for Tancho cranes. Near JR Kushiro station, there is a food court/market building for cheap, fresh %26amp; delicious seafood. If you go to Shiretoko, go all the way to Kamuiwakka river onsen(no car allowed beyond the Five Lake area).

鈥okkaido.lg.jp/NR/鈥ap_E_b.pdf

Do the Japanese get ';Easter Baskets';?

I am visiting my company%26#39;s office in Tokyo and we are trying to figure out something to bring them that would represent a custom of what we do back home in our families. Being that it%26#39;s almost April it%26#39;s also almost Easter. Are Easter baskets a custom in Japan or would us bringing one be something they would not normally see?

Do the Japanese get ';Easter Baskets';?

no easter baskets in Japan, but people would love it, its soooo cute.

Do the Japanese get ';Easter Baskets';?

Goodness, LordJezo, you%26#39;re going to bring beer AND Easter baskets? That%26#39;s going to be quite a party at your office!

They don%26#39;t sell egg coloring kits, so be sure to bring one from home. Good news, though -- they sell boiled eggs at the convenience stores! Maybe you could do a demonstration! :-)

I agree that Easter is non-existent in Japan. It would be something unique and fun for them to see. You can print this out and show them: http://tinyurl.com/dmrfvu which is a Japanese page describing Easter eggs.

I think you%26#39;ll start a trend, the same way Santa and Halloween have become popular. Great idea!

Macsubi

People don%26#39;t even know what Easter is.

Religious knowledge of Japanese is very poor. They think Christian churches are places for weddings.

Amazingly, many people don%26#39;t even know the means of Christmas.

Well. I don%26#39;t want Easter as another commercial methods to sell items. I%26#39;m absolutely sick of it. So if you bring them Easter baskets, please, explain the meaning of the custom. Please!!!!!

I don%26#39;t think the average American, me included, can make the connection between Easter baskets and religion. They will probably wind-up going to Japanese children who will appreciate and remember something nice. It%26#39;s the thought that counts.

Macsubi

asabu or susukino area

Hi, there, appreciate some advise on the above 2 areas. I wish to know which area is suitable to stay for a 2 weeks holidays in Sapporo, my priorities are transportation and also food and hopefully some quietness at night. Wish to know a little bit more about surrounding area as well. Kindly advise. Thanks

asabu or susukino area

Susukino is downtown. It%26#39;s the nightlife district. Your hotel probably won%26#39;t be noisy, but there will be lots of activity on the street. It%26#39;s good for restaurants and access to all three subway lines. Very colorful for people-watching and evening entertainment. It%26#39;s within walking distance of the downtown sights. If it were me, that%26#39;s where I%26#39;d stay.

Asabu is 40 blocks north. It%26#39;s the northernmost stop on one subway line so access is good, but you wouldn%26#39;t be as central as in Susukino and you wouldn%26#39;t have access to as many subway lines. Restaurants will close earlier, but because it%26#39;s a subway terminus there will be places to eat. It%26#39;s not a sightseeing area.

You can check out Google street view to get an idea of each area.

I assume you%26#39;re using Sapporo as a jumping-off point for trips to nearby places. You don%26#39;t need two weeks to see Sapporo. There are several rent-a-car offices near both locations.

asabu or susukino area

Yup - Susukino is the place to stay.

It is the nightlife area, but it%26#39;s safe and clean. Lots of restaurants and things to see and do.

Asabu is a local subway/bus terminal suburb.

and 2 weeks...it%26#39;s a long long time to stay in Sapporo!

Travelling here is pretty easy for a visitor, there is an excellent train system and buses and a lot of English information. Also you can send bags on ahead with a delivery company.

Definitely don%26#39;t stay 2 weeks at Sapporo. Sapporo itself is worth about 2 days max. Stay another day if you want to do a day trip to Otaru. Otherwise, you should either take the train or rent a car to drive around. With two weeks, you have enough time to see most of Hokkaido.

Definitely stay at Susukino. Whenever you feel there are too many people around, just walk one subway stop south (about 10 to 15 minutes on foot) and take a break at Nakajima Koen (park). During the day, even Susukino or Odori Park aren%26#39;t that busy anyway.

Bao,

The breakfast buffet in the Richmond Hotel%26#39;s Modish Cafe is great and a bargain. The food and cooking is all local. Afterwards, you can walk it off in the connected shopping mall.

Macsubi

Stroller from Magome to Tsumago?

My husband and I were hoping to hike the trail from Magome to Tsumago (the easier way, with more downhill) with our twin baby boys in May. While we can carry them in backpacks, it would be much easier if we could use our stroller, which is a pretty rugged 3-wheeled jogging-type stroller. Are we foolish to try this, or is the trail sufficiently maintained that we might be able to manage it?

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Stroller from Magome to Tsumago?

If wheels of your stroller are big, it might work. It%26#39;ll be bumpy, though. Take a look:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6078.html

Stroller from Magome to Tsumago?

Bumpiness wouldn%26#39;t be a problem--the boys are used to the brick paved sidewalks of Boston :-) Is it paved like that the whole way? I had seen those pictures, but wasn%26#39;t sure if it was only showing the nicest parts of the trail

%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Is it paved like that the whole way? I had seen those pictures, but wasn%26#39;t sure if it was only showing the nicest parts of the trail%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

Yes, it is well paved the whole way--those pictures are showing the roughest, most authentic parts :-)

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