http://forum.gaijinpot.com/ Traveling Around Japan en Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:28:18 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forum.gaijinpot.com/images/misc/rss.png http://forum.gaijinpot.com/ http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125572-Starting-Point-for-a-Road-Trip&goto=newpost Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:07:34 GMT Gentlemen, I am planning a trip for a big anniversary that is coming up in early July. It is essentially going to be a 2.5-day drive date to and around Sendai. The missus and I absolutely love driving, but we do not really want the starting point of the road trip to be right inside Tokyo, since... Gentlemen,

I am planning a trip for a big anniversary that is coming up in early July. It is essentially going to be a 2.5-day drive date to and around Sendai. The missus and I absolutely love driving, but we do not really want the starting point of the road trip to be right inside Tokyo, since we agree that Tokyo traffic is annoying and it is just generally a pain in the butt to drive in the capital.

I assume the further north one goes from Tokyo, the more relaxing driving becomes. The current plan is to leave late Friday afternoon using [Train Line] to arrive at [Place], where we pick up a rental car, and drive on to Sendai. Then we spend Saturday and most of Sunday having fun, and driving around to see stuff, before returning to [Place] and using [Train Line] to get back into Tokyo.

The alternative would be Shinkansen tickets, but it looks like that would be twice as expensive than the cost of renting a car and paying for fuel.

Tokyo->Sendai, Sendai->Tokyo, 2 people = 44,000円
Renting a car for 2.5 days = 13,000円～ + fuel ～10,000円 = 23,000円～

That said, where would be a good starting point for our road trip?
We're both not from Tokyo, so we have no clue.

Also, if there are any must-see recommendations for Sendai, or the area in general, please do share.
Both of us have never been there.

Your helpful advice is - as always - highly appreciated. :) ]]> sleepycat http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125572-Starting-Point-for-a-Road-Trip http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125506-Thailand-Trip-July-25th-2013-Looking-for-travelling-partners&goto=newpost Sat, 15 Jun 2013 03:12:24 GMT Thailand Trip July 25th 2013 Looking for travelling partners hey, i live in sapporo, and going to thailand on july 25th 2013, my brother from america was coming, but he cant afford it now, im going by myself, but i want to have some travelling partners. i plan to rent a car, and drive all over... Thailand Trip July 25th 2013 Looking for travelling partners

hey, i live in sapporo, and going to thailand on july 25th 2013, my brother from america was coming,
but he cant afford it now, im going by myself, but i want to have some travelling partners.
i plan to rent a car, and drive all over the country.

if any one has any ideas, or thoughts please let me know, or respond here,
im a 31 year old male, im straight. looking for other males, to travel with.
im from seattle washington, been living in japan a year and a half,
trying to practice thai as well ]]> Docdemort http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125506-Thailand-Trip-July-25th-2013-Looking-for-travelling-partners http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125372-The-Vent-About-J-Cyclist-Thread&goto=newpost Thu, 06 Jun 2013 03:21:06 GMT Sorry, this thread just had to be done. Why do J-cyclist insist on using the right lane--into oncoming traffic? Sorry, this thread just had to be done.

Why do J-cyclist insist on using the right lane--into oncoming traffic? ]]> Hijinx http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125372-The-Vent-About-J-Cyclist-Thread http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125366-Traveling-domestically-as-a-foriegner&goto=newpost Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:06:36 GMT Just a quick question, Currently in Japan on Visa Waiver Program, passport stamped for full 3 months (expires on 14th July), I'm thinking of checking out another part of Japan which would be easiest via a domestic flight, I'm assuming i just show them my passport and return ticket (that shows i return before VWP expires) and i won't have any problems?

Also which line do i go in when returning to Haneda? I'm going with a few friends who are all Japanese nationals so i obviously can't just follow them.

Thanks! ]]> naoneo http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125366-Traveling-domestically-as-a-foriegner http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125326-Excuse-Notes-and-Commuter-Tickets&goto=newpost Fri, 31 May 2013 04:40:34 GMT Hello Internet. I wanted to go to work this morning only to find out the trains were delayed. The hieroglyph scroller dutifully scrolled 人身事故 every other minute, but it later changed to a more harmless euphemism; 信号確認. I asked for some sort of confirmation that the trains broke down in order to... Hello Internet.

I wanted to go to work this morning only to find out the trains were delayed. The hieroglyph scroller dutifully scrolled 人身事故 every other minute, but it later changed to a more harmless euphemism; 信号確認. I asked for some sort of confirmation that the trains broke down in order to show it to my employer, but the station staff said that my employer would most definitely have to call JR and that there is no such thing in Japan.

I assume the reason for this was that I said something along the lines of 「会社にあげれる確認書はいただけませんか。なんか、 電車が本当に中止したかどうか確認したいんですから。 」 which didn't make the right parts of the aged station employer's brain click.

Please teach me the correct way to ask.


And one more request:

When I did finally arrive, I decided to extend my 定期券, since I was going to be late anyway. I don't need to go to work this weekend, so I wanted it to start from June 3, but also work today (last day). Aparently this is too much for a Suica IC card to handle, so they insisted on handing me a 磁気定期券.

I once heard that you can just go to a multifunction ticket machine and load a magnetic ticket onto your existing Suica card. So when my Suica 定期券 expires tomorrow, I can just do something like this, right?

Thank you. ]]> sleepycat http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125326-Excuse-Notes-and-Commuter-Tickets http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125280-PR-Holders-Which-line-at-Airport&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 08:46:46 GMT I haven't traveled outside of Japan since getting PR status, but I've read that PR holders can use the Japanese National's line for immigration at Narita/Haneda.

Isn't truth to this? ]]> frownsarefun http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125280-PR-Holders-Which-line-at-Airport http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125271-Beaches-in-Japan-Not-Okinawa&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 12:15:11 GMT I don't want to go to Okinawa in July. Too crowded and too many kids.

Where else are good beaches in Japan? Any recommendations? Thanks. ]]> EmDee http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?125271-Beaches-in-Japan-Not-Okinawa