Japan?

[Raya]

We're kicking around the idea of gking to Japan in a few years. We'd want to see Disney and a few sights but have no good idea of how to plan such a trip. What are the chances that ABD will ever go to Tokyo/Japan?

 

[Westcoastwild]

I could have sworn it did but maybe it's tauck I'm thinking of. Would think that it'd be super expensive though.

 

[sayhello]

I was told a few years ago that they couldn't find a way to do a Japan trip that was both a good tour and affordable. It just ended up being too expensive. I know a LOT of people (including me) who would love to see them do it, but if *ABD* are saying it's too expensive to be worth it, then it really must be *really* expensive! But I still hold out hope.

Sayhello

 

[aggiedog]

I lived in Japan for 2 years 2 decades ago, and tried very hard to get a family trip organized for my dds graduation this year. I found a great company that offered everything from fully 24/7 guided to DIY packages. We looked hard at doing a 2 week partially guided tour, so I wouldn't have to be solely responsible for getting the 8 of us around. Even that was simply too expensive. For less than half the cost, we are doing a week in France, also partially guided, followed by a week in concierge on MSC doing a Med cruise.

Twenty years ago, coffee was $7 a cup in Tokyo, and gas was $8/gallon. It surely isn't any cheaper now.

Bottom line, I can totally believe Japan would be hard to do even relatively affordably thru ABD.

 

[OhanaCuz]

When I went to Tokyo DisneySea I distinctly remember being shocked that the admission price was much less than US parks. I never expected that.

 

[AquaDame]

This feels really strange.... my husband and I just spent two weeks in Japan in early April this year, almost no holds barred and it honestly wasn't expensive aside from the Disney portion. We found food in general to be ridiculously cheap as are many entrance fees to museums and other landmarks (with some notable exceptions such as Tokyo Tower). "Fancy" coffee could be spendy in a trendy cafe but canned coffee and coffee in the diners was cheap... and heck here in the US Starbucks is often $5-7 for a cup depending. Surely ABD could pull it off... unless the Oriental Land Company doesn't want to play ball maybe? I mean.. they have pulled off Switzerland and Norway and those are FAR more expensive places to go!

 

[Westcoastwild]

This feels really strange.... my husband and I just spent two weeks in Japan in early April this year, almost no holds barred and it honestly wasn't expensive aside from the Disney portion. We found food in general to be ridiculously cheap as are many entrance fees to museums and other landmarks (with some notable exceptions such as Tokyo Tower). "Fancy" coffee could be spendy in a trendy cafe but canned coffee and coffee in the diners was cheap... and heck here in the US Starbucks is often $5-7 for a cup depending. Surely ABD could pull it off... unless the Oriental Land Company doesn't want to play ball maybe? I mean.. they have pulled off Switzerland and Norway and those are FAR more expensive places to go!

Tours of Japan (any group tour I've seen, anyway) are super expensive. Even the young people's "budget tours". Like twice the price of anywhere else, and I looked a lot when I was researching travelling to Asia. So an ABD trip would easily start at 12k a person, I think. And perhaps one of the reasons they haven't do it is that it's the only country I've researched that cars are not commonly recommended, but rail is much, much more expensive than it is in Europe.

So perhaps it's a government regulation that makes them so expensive or perhaps it's just logistics. You've got to get together lodging that westerners would approve of and that would have capacity/wilingness to deal with foreign tour groups, and I suspect that might be a dual difficulty. In the mean time, you've got the people who buy tours who expect a certain class of lodging. The kind of higher end lodging that my grandparents and some of my friends would be happy with IS super expensive in Japan. There are plenty of cheap budget options for the budget traveler, and I've figured that it would cost me less to go to Japan than most western cities, but when I've looked at the high end stuff it's always been at least the price of similar stuff in the Nordic countries and Switzerland if not a lot more.

 

[OhanaCuz]

This feels really strange.... my husband and I just spent two weeks in Japan in early April this year, almost no holds barred and it honestly wasn't expensive aside from the Disney portion. We found food in general to be ridiculously cheap as are many entrance fees to museums and other landmarks (with some notable exceptions such as Tokyo Tower). "Fancy" coffee could be spendy in a trendy cafe but canned coffee and coffee in the diners was cheap... and heck here in the US Starbucks is often $5-7 for a cup depending. Surely ABD could pull it off... unless the Oriental Land Company doesn't want to play ball maybe? I mean.. they have pulled off Switzerland and Norway and those are FAR more expensive places to go!

I don't get it either. I did a group tour of Japan many years ago and it was WAY less than what ABD tours are now. When I got to Japan I was expecting $50 apples and $20 bottled water but it wasn't that way at all. The price of anything didn't shock me. I just now looked at options on Hisgo travel because I was curious and their group tours of Japan are reasonably priced.

 

[RSM]

We are booked with Thompson Family Travel for Japan in 2018. It is a 10 day tour and was ~$7K per person. The itinerary is the most important thing to us, and it looks similar to what an ABD would do. I've stayed in the hotel that is used in Tokyo before, and it is conveniently located and very nice. That being said, it is not on the order of a hotel like the New Otani or equivalent. For us though, staying in 5-star, luxury hotels is not really important as long as it is clean and somewhat well located. My one complaint with the itinerary (much like an ABD also) is that there doesn't seem to be alot of time in Tokyo which is the arrival city, so we will have to go a day or two early and do some stuff on our own.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

All these posts yesterday got me thinking... I've been waiting for an ABD Japan trip, but maybe I should just try to do it on my own. I bet I could do a pretty first class tour for $30k (assuming costs of $7500 PP, which is probably low for what ABD would be). I was contemplating Norway or Peru next summer, but maybe it will be Japan on my own. I'm thinking 3 nights in Tokyo, 4 nights at Tokyo Disneyland, and 3-4 nights in Kyoto. Did a little research last night, and the only thing that's a hassle is that the Disney hotels don't release rooms until 6 months out. I'm not sure I know how to plan for a last minute trip Thanks for the post Raya--it made something click!

 

[aggiedog]

https://www.insidejapantours.com

This is who I was talking with regarding our trip. They will do a full on customized trip with guide, and were very easy to work with, up to the point of dh deciding not to spend that much money. They have an office here in the states, so talking real time was no issue.

 

[tink1970]

When I spoke to the Vacationista Weds she didn't seem to expect a trip anytime soon (of course no way of knowing if she knows more than the bus driver ). I do think it would be fairly expensive (some other tour companies look like they begin at $10K and more...) but if there's enough interest I'm not sure why ABD wouldn't do a small trial. Sadly they have yet to put me in charge

 

[sayhello]

When I spoke to the Vacationista Weds she didn't seem to expect a trip anytime soon (of course no way of knowing if she knows more than the bus driver ). I do think it would be fairly expensive (some other tour companies look like they begin at $10K and more...) but if there's enough interest I'm not sure why ABD wouldn't do a small trial. Sadly they have yet to put me in charge

I'd love to see this, but it takes a LOT of time and money for them to put trips together, and if they thought from the start the appeal would be really limited, I doubt they'd be willing to risk it. But who knows? Maybe they will!

Sayhello

 

[AquaDame]

Tours of Japan (any group tour I've seen, anyway) are super expensive. Even the young people's "budget tours". Like twice the price of anywhere else, and I looked a lot when I was researching travelling to Asia. So an ABD trip would easily start at 12k a person, I think. And perhaps one of the reasons they haven't do it is that it's the only country I've researched that cars are not commonly recommended, but rail is much, much more expensive than it is in Europe.

So perhaps it's a government regulation that makes them so expensive or perhaps it's just logistics. You've got to get together lodging that westerners would approve of and that would have capacity/wilingness to deal with foreign tour groups, and I suspect that might be a dual difficulty. In the mean time, you've got the people who buy tours who expect a certain class of lodging. The kind of higher end lodging that my grandparents and some of my friends would be happy with IS super expensive in Japan. There are plenty of cheap budget options for the budget traveler, and I've figured that it would cost me less to go to Japan than most western cities, but when I've looked at the high end stuff it's always been at least the price of similar stuff in the Nordic countries and Switzerland if not a lot more.

Excellent thoughts - if you are indeed only looking for 5 star hotels like the Hyatt then yes, Japan will be very expensive. If you would look at hotels that are not name brands in the US though, they can be just as nice and much cheaper. That said, their moderately priced hotels I've been in were perfectly in line with what I have seen reading trip reports from other ABDs. Rail travel can be very affordable for foreigners, especially if ABD were to use rail passes and buy seat reservations for everyone. It is not hard to rent a coach in Japan - you just don't want to be the driver over there given how hard it is to read the signs unless you can read kanji. Tons of tours are offered that rely on motor coaches and actually air travel can be cheaper and more convenient than the shinkansen as well according to other forums. We haven't made us of it since we LOVE trains, but it's on my radar if we were ever in a time crunch.

All these posts yesterday got me thinking... I've been waiting for an ABD Japan trip, but maybe I should just try to do it on my own. I bet I could do a pretty first class tour for $30k (assuming costs of $7500 PP, which is probably low for what ABD would be). I was contemplating Norway or Peru next summer, but maybe it will be Japan on my own. I'm thinking 3 nights in Tokyo, 4 nights at Tokyo Disneyland, and 3-4 nights in Kyoto. Did a little research last night, and the only thing that's a hassle is that the Disney hotels don't release rooms until 6 months out. I'm not sure I know how to plan for a last minute trip Thanks for the post Raya--it made something click!

If you are OK with a language barrier now and again I really recommend it. They have to take english in school, so everyone speaks "a little" though sometimes that basically means fluent, lol! Japan is extremely safe and in general people are helpful over there - workers will go out of their way to help us lost foreigners out. We were approached several times by people who just wanted to chat about where we were from and why we were in Japan and there was a lot of english in use though I had a few instances where we couldn't understand each other. I have heard Kyoto can be a little more snobbish towards foreigners but did not experience it at all myself either time I have been there. They are also ramping up for hosting the Olympics in 2020 so everyone is being encouraged by the government to be even more patient and friendly to tourists.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

https://www.insidejapantours.com

This is who I was talking with regarding our trip. They will do a full on customized trip with guide, and were very easy to work with, up to the point of dh deciding not to spend that much money. They have an office here in the states, so talking real time was no issue.

Very funny! That was one of the companies I was looking at last night. I may just try to do day city tours though--I found some great looking ones on trip advisor (cooking classes, walking tours, day trips to Mt. Fuji, etc.). They look like a great outfit thought. It would be nice to have someone handle the point A to point B logistics. I may price it out myself and then give them an itinerary and see what they can come up with to compare. Thanks for passing on!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

If you are OK with a language barrier now and again I really recommend it. They have to take english in school, so everyone speaks "a little" though sometimes that basically means fluent, lol! Japan is extremely safe and in general people are helpful over there - workers will go out of their way to help us lost foreigners out. We were approached several times by people who just wanted to chat about where we were from and why we were in Japan and there was a lot of english in use though I had a few instances where we couldn't understand each other. I have heard Kyoto can be a little more snobbish towards foreigners but did not experience it at all myself either time I have been there. They are also ramping up for hosting the Olympics in 2020 so everyone is being encouraged by the government to be even more patient and friendly to tourists.

I'm fine with the occasional language barrier issue--those can actually make for some pretty funny memories. From my initial research, it seems the biggest issue might be the complicated public transportation. I read that it's awesome, but that it can be difficult to navigate. We love trains, too, and will definitely be looking at the rail pass.

 

[OhanaCuz]

I'm fine with the occasional language barrier issue--those can actually make for some pretty funny memories. From my initial research, it seems the biggest issue might be the complicated public transportation. I read that it's awesome, but that it can be difficult to navigate. We love trains, too, and will definitely be looking at the rail pass.

In Tokyo getting around via the rail system is very doable. There was English included in all of the signs. I had done my homework and knew that we had to switch trains and get on the Keiyo line to get to Disney. I was freaking out a little because there was ZERO signage that said "Disney this way!". I was so relieved when I started to see familiar outlines in the distance after riding for a while.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

In Tokyo getting around via the rail system is very doable. There was English included in all of the signs. I had done my homework and knew that we had to switch trains and get on the Keiyo line to get to Disney. I was freaking out a little because there was ZERO signage that said "Disney this way!". I was so relieved when I started to see familiar outlines in the distance after riding for a while.

Awesome--thanks! I just ordered a bunch of guidebooks so This is looking like a distinct possibility

 

[AquaDame]

I'm fine with the occasional language barrier issue--those can actually make for some pretty funny memories. From my initial research, it seems the biggest issue might be the complicated public transportation. I read that it's awesome, but that it can be difficult to navigate. We love trains, too, and will definitely be looking at the rail pass.

We found that google maps did a great job getting us from point a to point b on public transit. The only confusing part really is making sure catch the right train as some lines share platforms so it would be easy to hop on the wrong train unless it is within a minute or so of the time you are supposed to get on. The trains there really do run to the minute 99.9% of the time! There is also an app called 'Hyperdia' on iOS that was our backup but only has a free trial or there is 'Japan Travel'.

 

[Jitzy]

We would spend the night at the hotel in Tokyo, and then book day trips with Sunrise Tour company in order to have the English speaking guide. I can't speak to their services though for overnight trips. My parents came to visit us and bought the Japan rail pass, it really paid for itself in the trip from Tokyo to Kyoto.