Ways of Getting to Japan

Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:41 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Airfare is pretty cheap depending on time of year traveled. For example summer time is the most expensive time to travel. But fall, winter and early spring is the cheapest times to travel. $1500 is a little high, wait until 2months out before your trip andlook for airline discounts. Another way is getting consolidator fares, by going to a travel agency that specialized in travel to Asia, they usually have better deals that aren't published fares.

As for transportation within Japan, transportation is pretty cheap depending on where you travel.

For example if a person is just visiting Tokyo and surrounding areas in the Kanto Area (ie Kanagawa where Yokohama or Hiratsuka is located). Then getting a Japan Railpass is a waste of money.

For example:
A 7 Day JR railpass costs 28300Y (roughly $280 usdollars). Since single fare tickets range anywhere between 120Y-190Y in Central Tokyo (by JR trains) Depending on distance traveled, one would have to ride the trains over 150 times in a 7 day period to make the railpass economical. So its certainly a lot cheaper to go by single fare tickets or one or two day passes depending on how much travel you do.
Not to mention the JR railpass is only valid on JR trains, not subways or other train lines.

Now, the JR Railpass is good if you travel to Kyoto (or beyond) from Tokyo and return within a 7day period.

The 14day JR Railpass, is economical if you do extensive, extensive, travel around the entire country.

As for stop overs in Hawaii it can be more expensive do to certain fare rules one mayhave when purchasing an airline ticket, depending on where you started.

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:00 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

The sky miles might work through another way too.
I think Delta will allow you to receive skymiles from a sponsor card holder too.

A friend of mine transfered miles to another traveler all the time, and he gets gazillions of those things for just travelling frequently.

The next thing is, try to find out if you can get special discounts through another airline.
The cheapest ticket roundtrip in London with JAL was £775 (app $1500).

If you go with China Air you can get it for nearly half price. But you will have to be willing to do stop overs in totally different places than you thought of.

And the best thing, if you really have "friends in high places" (excuse the pun) working for an airline, they get great deals too.

Also dont forget to pay your airfare taxes in departing country.
If you dont they will slap you a landing tax in Tokyo as well.
A friend of mine who works for an undisclosed airline can fly for $1 to any location they service and bring a friend along for $60. Regardless of the destination. That price was supposedly one way so double it up to get back home Smile

(If you want to)

I'm a travel agent for a Japanese travel agency call Nissin. If you're going to japan you want to go through a Japanese travel agency of some sort. There are lots of reason for this, first of all we get special deals from the airlines to give you unpublished fares to Japan. That means you'll get a cheaper ticket through us then lets say delta directly. If you were going to Germany, you WOULDN'T want to go though a japanese travel agent because they wouldn't have any special fares to Germany. We would give you the same price as if you went to the airline direct.

Second, if you want to get a cheap ticket get it as early as possible. The discount tickets sell out pretty fast so you want to do it AT LEAST 4 months in advanced. Don't expect to get a good priced ticket a month before departure.

Next depending on the season that you go you'll pay a lot or a little. High priced fares start from May and end the 1st of September. You don't want to go during this time because it's the travel season. Proably the cheapest time to go to japan is february through april.

Finally, since right now is december and special contracts are ending Japanese travel agencies won't have the new fares for feb - april until the middle of january.

There are lots of japanese travel agencies out there, I'd like to say you could go through mine, but since it does mostly business you'd be paying 20 extra dollars for service you couldn't use... I know how hard it is to be a student, so even though they are a rival company I'd say IACE travel is your best bet. If not get a hold of Nissin.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Nex

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:04 pm Post subject: OH! Post Rating: 0

OH and I almost forgot,

In addition the the JR railpass they people have been talking about there are also, airpasses that allow you to do the same thing but by plane.

For example, a ticket from tokyo to okinawa cost somewhere around 300 dollars, but if you get one of the special air passes offered by ANA or JAL you can fly each leg of your trip for a flat fare. That means that you'd pay about 165, per segment and you could use that fare to fly anywhere. Flying from Okinawa to Hokkaido would cost you 165 instead of the price it really is. If you want to know the names of the airpasses so you can find out if that's what you want to do just PM me and I'll give you those names.

as for the JR railpass, that's a really good deal and it's only available to those who are visiting japan. Japanese peeps can't use them. Unless your Japanese American.

there's the 7 day rail pass and 14 day rail pass like stated previously, but for each there are two types. There's the green and the ordinary. If you get the green pass you'll have to pay more money, but you get reserved seats which means for sure that you'll get to sit down. If you get the ordinary you won't have reserved seat (You'll probably be able to sit down but there may be a chance you might have to stand for some of your trip). You might as well suck it up and get the ordinary, I'd only recommend the green to people of old age.

Peace!

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:17 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

i had the regular 7 day pass, it is really useful, though it cost me around HK$1900 (around 29,000 Yen), but it is useful if you plan to do a round trip or visit multiple cities, for example, I went to Osaka and Kyoto from Tokyo, then back to Tokyo, saving me some money and the time to buy the pass and the annoyance of paying large sums of cash to do so. JR pass only gives access to JR train and Shinkansen though, although no Nozomi line (that has the fewest stops and thus is fastest). Also, it does not count for the airport shuttle, forgot what it is called, but the one to and from Ueno to Narita. Oh wells, Japan is awesome, and I think the passes are either 7 days, 14 days or 21days? I thought there was, maybe I am mistaken, but I do not think I am. Also, there are other JR passes that are cheaper but limit the area you can travel in, such as the East pass or the Hokkaido pass <http://www.japanrailpass.net> That has more information

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:56 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 4:22 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I think the mileage saver cards are a great idea. However, trying to save up 60,000 miles to make it to japan might take you a while. If you keep an eye on the internet deals (the sites that strictly deal with japan), you can get a pretty cheap deal., I bought my ticket for 497$, flying out of San Francisco with japan or american airlines...i can't recall...got like 14000 points for the trip. And you can save on your hotel buy going thru priceline. All you need to do is plan ahead and know where you are going to be on certain days. I got most of my hotels for 85$/night for a 4-star hotel. So if you are not picky and just need a place to crash, then just go for lower grades.

And while you are there, charge what you can.....more mileage. But make sure you have the money to pay to it off. Don't spend money you don't have. Roll Eyes

Being a college student, if permissible, pay your tuition and all your books w/ the same credit card, and then pay off the bills when the statement comes. You wil be amazed how fast the miles accumulate. I put everything on my credit card....gas, groceries, shopping, shopping, and shopping! And I have gotten so many free stuff from the mileage...several tickets to hawaii, free hotels, etc. Big Smile

Good luck!

Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:25 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

AIRBUS.

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:36 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Wonder if I can study abroad....If there are some good programs, Im packing my bags and heading off to Japan

Must go to Japan before I even start college!

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:39 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

my brother went to japan with his best friend for about three weeks. and im so excited cuz this year for summer were going for about 2.5 weeks Smile

WHEEEEEe but were also goign to taiwan to see my moms old house.. funn!

Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:46 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

i want to travel the world someday

So far, most interesting place Ive been to is Vietnam

and Boston for boarding school...well those are the only two places Ive been

I even told my mommy I was gonna move to Japan and live there xP

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:46 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Or if you are in college and have a year where you are not gonna be taking alot of major related courses you can apply for a study abroad program. Im not sure if all colleges have them though. Im currently in the process of applying to study abroad in Hong Kong. But thats getting off topic. Plus if you recieve financial aid for college, I was told by my study abroad counsler that i can use that to pay for my expenses and tuition if i get acepted. Good deal if i say so myself. Plus, its STUDY ABROAD meaning that you get to meet cute asian college chicks. w00t