Japan Time

[rkold]

Spring is in the air, which means time to start thinking about Japan and Golden Week. I lucked out, and I think found a great air fare but am now trying to figure out how best to spend my time.

I want to:

See muscatlove (South of Osaka)
See yanchamonkey (South of Osaka)
Go to Doll Show (Tokyo)
Go to Dolpa (Tokyo)
Go to 5/4 Super Comic City to get the Kashi extras (Tokyo)
Go to Sato (Kyoto)

The problem is trying to figure things out with rail passes and ideally I want to leave Japan 5/7 so I can make it home in time to see the husband on his birthday.

I'm starting to think I should fly into Tokyo, go to Doll Show, then turn in my pass, see Jenn and Kate, make a late day trip to Tokyo on the 3rd, stay overnight the 3rd and 4th, go back to Kansai post Dolpa. Go to Sato on the 6th, and then try to get in a bit of Comic City Osaka before flying out. I need to find a Haruka schedule, I know getting from Intex to Tennoji isn't so painful, but I will have to find a left luggage place cause giant suitcase and Intex===BAD. If my flight is late enough aka post 4, it's totally do-able, since I once did Doll Show and flight out the same day. (It just involved left luggage.) The real question is, my rail pass will be expired unless I get two weeks: 4/30, 5/1, 5/2, 5/3, 5/4, 5/5, and 5/6, is 1 week. If I get 2 weeks, I can fly into Osaka, which I prefer, cause I like leaving from LGA over JFK. (more restuarants, shorter trip, etc. and O'Hare has a Starbucks!)

I can go to Sato on the 6th, if I leave Tokyo after Dolpa on the 5th, trains are fun.

I need to decide soon, so I don't lose my airfare. Anyone have any thoughts or ideas?

Comments

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

Two weeks, yay. I think you should have hubby go with you. ;-D Has he ever been to Japan?

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Kennis has been to Japan once. He went with me in August 2000.

While I have no compunctions against dragging Kennis to events with me, it might even be fun, lol Kennis hates to travel and has no vacation time. I think his job gives him like 2 weeks +personal days, but by the time he is done taking off for all the minor Jewish holidays I'd never heard of until he converted, it's gone. It's really frustrating for me. He takes 4 days for Passover and 4 for Sukkot, and they're holidays where he won't drive or go to the movies or do any work, so it's not like real we could do something.

His one week of vacation/vacation we spend visiting his family.

My office of course does not know I am planning this trip and will not until I buy my tickets, but since I am hourly and they will have close to two months warning, they should be able to deal. I did warn them that I go to Japan for GW.

[reynardine.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain about vacations--Bob gets a TON of vacation time because he was able to count his military service as seniority when he went to work for the government. I, however, when I'm working, get very little vacation at all. This new job seems to be pretty flexible about things, but I'm not sure yet.

And yes, someday, I may actually get out and travel again. Finances are a bit tight, you know how that goes. :-)

Oh, btw, could I ask if you could bring back a couple of things for me? Will pay, of course!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Of course! But you have to be good this time and tell me what it is and if it's something I'm not sure of, where to find it. lol *waggles finger* I don't mind looking around for people, truly. I had a friend ask me to go to some gothic lolita store in Harajuku. (Once she gave me a real addy, it was fine and I even bought myself something there lol)

I can't really read Japanese though, so I do some help, unless it is something I know well.

[reieien.livejournal.com]

I would say, if you want to do them all and have time and money to spend, then take the 2 weeks JR rail pass and fly in and out of Kansai Int'l airport. That way you get more time to see both Jenn and Kate. ^^

Ah, but a heads up about JR rail pass during GW, it will be really crowded. So when you exchange the ticket for the pass, try to get reserve seats for the exact dates and time you want to travel.

I wish I could go with you so I can shop for anime stuff. ;.;
Ah well, I can live vicariously through your trip to Japan. ^^v *hugs*

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Oddly I have generally had good luck with seats, and it helps that I'll be just one person. If I fly in and out of Kansai, I won't need to take my luggage if I go to Tokyo for only a day or two which also helps.

The one time I had bad luck was on the Kuroshio, cause there are not as many of them and they are the fastest way to get from Kate to Shin-Osaka/Kyoto.

I wish you could come too!!! The airfare is really good. *__________*

I wrote to Kate just in case she has GW plans, since I keep missing her since I haven't been waking up in the morning. Jenn stays up later. lol

*hugs* I hope we get to see each other again at some point, I want to meet your hubby! :)

[reieien.livejournal.com]

Actually, if my LSAT exam was not on 6/12, I would really hop on the chance to go with you. I'd love to see you, Kate and Jenn again.

Good idea. I hardly ever see Kate on AIM. And some how I keep missing her on Skype for some reason. -.-;;

However, some time in the future, my hubby wants to visit NYC. He's never been there. We're thinking probably some time in the fall. Not sure yet. Hopefully, we'll get to see you and isachi. ^^v

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh LSATs I don't think I shall ever take that.

But yes, I feel fortunate cause the airfare is good too!

I don't use skype so I never catch Jenn or Kate on it lol

If you come to NY we can karaoke here! I know a place, which Jenn found, that has some Japanese songs (Korean as well) and lots of English songs. <3333 My husband isn't into karaoke so maybe they can go do something else while we sing! I like this place because they have a lot of showtunes.

I haven't seen isachi in ages. It's hard because while we're not so far apart, it gets expensive and time consuming.

[dilettantka.livejournal.com]

Let's get together for dinner when you're in Tokyo this time!!!

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yes, it would be nice. :)

I'm not sure how long I am going to be in Tokyo. At the moment, I am probably going to fly in and out of KIX.

I should definitely be in Tokyo the nights of the 28th, 3rd and 4th. I am probably going to try and stay in Odaiba on the 3rd and 4th. I shall prob miss Day 1 of SCC, it's not Seed day, and go to Dolpa on the 5th instead. (As well as try to catch some things at Comic City Osaka)