2014 FYVE JAPAN CAMP
Came in at $1580 flying Qantas to Tokyo, with a 5 day stop over, then onto Sapporo. I went with Qantas because they leave at night time and get to japan in the morning so I don’t lose a day travelling.
I’m pretty much the same, $1575 and 5 days in Tokyo,
Flight dates are 7/2, 13/2 & 7or8/3.
I’ve just paid the holding $25 with the rest due Thursday midnight. Here’s hoping the magic card arrives before then! 
Now all I need is accom for 4 nights in Tokyo, recommendations?
Now all I need is accom for 4 nights in Tokyo, recommendations?
A shit load but I may need more specific criteria! 
For a first timer I’d definitely recommend staying in Shinjuku. Shinjuku is the biggest most lively area of Tokyo and has heaps of shops/entertainment/food and drinks available. It also has the bonus of being one of the best stations to easily get to anywhere else in Tokyo/Japan. Pretty much every line goes via Shinjuku importantly including the NEX.
As for hotel it kind of depends on budget and location.
I’ve stayed at Shinjuku New City Hotel and Shinjuku Washington hotel a few different times. They are both pretty decent for the money ~$80-90/night (as long as you understand rooms in Japan are small!)
They are both around a 10minute walk from the main Shinjuku JR station (or you can catch a subway line train to tochomae which is a few minutes away if you are feeling lazy) They are in the skyscraper/business district right next to the metro gov building (you will probably head here for the free observation deck at some stage). It’s a nice area with some impressive buildings but you will need to head closer to the station for nightlife.
Washington probably has the slight edge as it has an underground tunnel that you can walk all the way from the station to the front door which is handy if the weather is bad. it also has a variety of restaurants down stairs as well as a couple of FamilyMart 7/11 style places which come in handy for a quick snack or chuhi/beer. There’s also a pachinko parlour next door if you fancy industrial deafness. I originally gave New city the flick as they only had WIFI in the lobby and not in the rooms but that was a while a go and may have changed.
If you want to pay more ~$160/night I would recommend Shinjuku Prince Hotel. It is located right next to the station in the red light district of Kabukicho. You are right in the centre of the city/nightlife. Don’t let the red light factor worry you (or in your case turn you on) as Japan’s dodgy areas are so very tame/safe and generally really enjoyable to be around. In fact it’s the place where my parents stayed in April and they loved it (helped that they were lucky and got a room near the top with views straight out over Shinjuku) It’s worth considering if you want to be right in the heart of it, easy station access and it does save you the walk too and from the hotel each night. I considered staying here on my most recent trip but in the end I went with the cheaper hotel, longer walk more spending money option.
At the other end of the spectrum you have capsule hotels (very cheap, very weird, claustrophobics need not apply), love hotels (you pay by the hour… 
) or the Park Hyatt (super expensive but it’s where lost in translation was filmed, I’m yet to spot Scarlett Johansson though!)
Quite a lot of the hotels offer discounts for a variety of reasons (days booked, early booking etc) I’ve tended to find the best discounts are if you book 45 days or more out. You will also find sometimes it’s better to book via the hotels website rather than something like tripadvisor and vice versa. Generally you don’t pay until you get there and even then there’s no deposit required.
Let me know if you need more info.
Yeah, I reckon Shinjuku is the go too!!!!!
It’s the Central Hub of Tokyo, has the Busiest Train Station in the World (I think), and is super easy to navigate your way to other areas, as they have some English posted about the place!!!!!
I stayed in the Hilton, which was about a 10 min walk, had a direct tunnel to the Maranouchi Line that was our access to Tokyo Station for the Shink to Nagano!!!!! (Not that you’ll need that, unless ya gonna do some sort of day trip from Tokyo Station?????)
The Hilton is $$$$ though, but man it was pretty damn good, and the Breaky was one of the best I’ve ever had!!!!!
All depends on what ya really wanna do, as to where ya wanna stay I guess?????
Once ya got that nailed, get onto Trip Advisor to see what options are in that area!!!!! That’s how I do all my research!!!!!
Yea I definitely should’ve been more specific, im looking for something cheap something like a hostel, but atleast its given me a location to start with.
Is this one in about the right area?
Ace Inn
A quick glance and it looks good for the money!!!!!
Got a Station next to it so ya can access the Rail Network (And most importantly the Yamanote Line, that gets you around Tokyo the easiest way) , and it gets good feedback from TA!!!!!
And while it looks to be around a 15-20min walk to the heart of Shinjuku, it’s on the East side of Shinjuku Station (The opposite to where I’ve stayed), but I reckon it’ll suit you perfectly cause there’s a bit ore Noise & Lights over that area!!!!!
Only negative for you might be the 2-4:30am Lockout????? Although I’m sure you could just pull up a bit of gutter out the front if ya miss the time!!!!! Just make sure ya have a really warm jacket, gloves and thermals on, cause it gets friggen cold in the city!!!!!
Yea I definitely should’ve been more specific, im looking for something cheap
Is this one in about the right area?
Ace Inn
Personally I think you are sacrificing a fair bit of the experience just to save a fairly small amount of money (I reckon $80 in a good location wit your own room is achievable). It’s in the middle of no where (the main action in Tokyo is generally in a pretty tight radius around the main stations generally JR) and personally I really think a hostel environment would really detract from the overall Japanese experience.
Miz is right though you’ll probably like the East side of the station/Kabukicho most.
If money is tight I’d be more inclined to stay somewhere a little cheaper such as Ueno, Ikebukuro etc and stay closer to their stations with a real room to yourself rather than plonking yourself in between much of anything with a bunch of gaijins.
Got a pretty busy start to the day here so can’t look now but I’ll have a look later if I get a chance for other options seeing as hostels and capsules (which I couldn’t do for 4 nights) seem to be on the cards.
Yeah, stayin at a Hostel/Bakpackers ain’t my cup of Sake!!!!!
Unless ya lookin to meet people and go out sight seein/partyin with some new founds?????
Yeah, stayin at a Hostel/Bakpackers ain’t my cup of Sake!!!!!
Unless ya lookin to meet people and go out sight seein/partyin with some new founds?????
Should have asked your advice on Sake! Meant to bring some back with me but it all varies so much in taste I was a little overwhelmed by the choice. I did pick up Dad a big bottle of top of the line whisky for xmas.
Yeah there’s a time and place for hostels/backpackers (I use them myself quite often at the snow) I just don’t think 4 nights in Tokyo is it. You would probably agree that throwing yourself into it and living like one of the Japanese is where you get the best experiences and memories doing that with a group of gaijins makes that harder and will even find you barred from areas such as Golden Gai.
Next up we’ll be recommending Ryokans! 
After a really quick search there’s plenty of capsule options for around $30/night in much better areas but I’d honestly find it very hard to recommend 4 nights in one but I’d still pick it over the hostel with capsule style beds option.
Yeah, stayin at a Hostel/Bakpackers ain’t my cup of Sake!!!!!
Unless ya lookin to meet people and go out sight seein/partyin with some new founds?????
Should have asked your advice on Sake! Meant to bring some back with me but it all varies so much in taste I was a little overwhelmed by the choice. I did pick up Dad a big bottle of top of the line whisky for xmas.
Yeah there’s a time and place for hostels/backpackers (I use them myself quite often at the snow) I just don’t think 4 nights in Tokyo is it. You would probably agree that throwing yourself into it and living like one of the Japanese is where you get the best experiences and memories doing that with a group of gaijins makes that harder and will even find you barred from areas such as Golden Gai.
Next up we’ll be recommending Ryokans!
When it comes to Sake, I just asked the Locals!!!!! And always “What one do you drink”?????
Just ask for the style that you’re after!!!!! Hot or Cold!!!!! More often than not it will turn out to be one of the cheapest!!!!!
And as for Ryokan!!!!! Definitely worth the money!!!!! When I’m on holiday, I’m on HOLIDAY!!!!!
If ya wanna stay with a heap of Pisshead Aussies, just go to the Shred!!!!!
When it comes to Sake, I just asked the Locals!!!!! And always “What one do you drink”?????
Just ask for the style that you’re after!!!!! Hot or Cold!!!!! More often than not it will turn out to be one of the cheapest!!!!!
And as for Ryokan!!!!! Definitely worth the money!!!!! When I’m on holiday, I’m on HOLIDAY!!!!!
If ya wanna stay with a heap of Pisshead Aussies, just go to the Shred!!!!!
Yeah I’ve had some really nice sakes so easy to drink compared to our hard spirits. Never thought to ask what they were though. The bottles are so cheap and often beautiful themselves.
Yeah my Ryokan experience in Hakone was lovely. I’ve stayed in plenty of Japanese style rooms before so it was more really about the meals/service. To be honest I found it a touch awkward being served and treated like royalty whilst dressed in nothing but a yukata, I often wanted to jump in and help (especially when they cleared dinner and started setting up the bed) but understood that it was all part of the tradition/experience. The 10+ course Japanese dinner we had was a work of art. We wussed out on breakfast and went with the western option which was still lovely. It felt strangely like leaving family as we got the typical wait out the front and wave/bow as we left. Definitely an experience worth doing!
Yeah, Kaiseki is a must do!!!!!
And yeah, while I’ve done the Japanese Breaky a few times, I still can’t get my head around Fish instead of the ol Bacon ‘n Eggs deal!!!!!
Although the soups/broths can be awesome!!!!!
You been watchin Destination Flavour Japan on SBS????? (It’s on Demand too)
* Oh, and we found a good tip with a Futon, is to ask if you can have another mattress as it makes it sooooo much more comfier!!!!!
Dylan, I haven’t stayed at this one but this seems to have decent reviews/price/location as well http://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00078/index.html
Not sure if it’s a wise choice for Dyldo the Pass Out Drunk to stay in the hub of Seediness?????
He’ll end up gettin sold as a sex slave in Nigeria if he slips up there?????