Japan?

[BluesTraveler]

Have you considered the Nat Geo Japan trip?

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

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'.

Thanks so much. Super helpful, and I did read about how punctual the trains were. I'll make a note of the app in case google lets us down.

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.

Thanks so much--I'll check sunrise out, and I read about the rail pass. It sounds like a great deal!

Have you considered the Nat Geo Japan trip?

I love nat geo--actually doing my second trip with them in November--i did look at their trip, but the parks are a huge draw for us. That's why I was waiting for Disney. Adding a 4 day park stay to the nat geo trip for a family of four is a lot--it's not out of the question, but I kind of like the idea of doing it on our own and upping the hotel luxury. Have you done one of their family trips?

 

[BluesTraveler]

Thanks so much. Super helpful, and I did read about how punctual the trains were. I'll make a note of the app in case google lets us down.



Thanks so much--I'll check sunrise out, and I read about the rail pass. It sounds like a great deal!



I love nat geo--actually doing my second trip with them in November--i did look at their trip, but the parks are a huge draw for us. That's why I was waiting for Disney. Adding a 4 day park stay to the nat geo trip for a family of four is a lot--it's not out of the question, but I kind of like the idea of doing it on our own and upping the hotel luxury. Have you done one of their family trips?

No - we had never done a guided group trip at all until Alaska last year. DH and I were skeptics of the model, and now we swear we can never go back!

 

[disneyholic family]

japan is much cheaper than it used to be - relatively speaking...
years ago, it was beastly expensive compared to other travel destinations..
but that's no longer the case..
it's not that japan has gotten any cheaper, it's that everywhere else has caught up...

as for how to do it - we do DIY....it's really not that difficult to do japan on your own if you plan carefully in advance..

as for disney, i was debating a trip for us this summer and surprisingly, it would have been cheaper for us than what our upcoming WDW trip in august is setting us back...

so maybe we'll do it next year...

oh and by the way, japan is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! definitely a place worth visiting at least once!!

.

 

[AquaDame]

japan is much cheaper than it used to be - relatively speaking...
years ago, it was beastly expensive compared to other travel destinations..
but that's no longer the case..
it's not that japan has gotten any cheaper, it's that everywhere else has caught up...

as for how to do it - we do DIY....it's really not that difficult to do japan on your own if you plan carefully in advance..

as for disney, i was debating a trip for us this summer and surprisingly, it would have been cheaper for us than what our upcoming WDW trip in august is setting us back...

so maybe we'll do it next year...

oh and by the way, japan is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! definitely a place worth visiting at least once!!

.

It also "helps" that their economy has been pretty stagnant - they've been fighting off deflation for decades now. If anyone is interested here is a bit about what is going on and what they are trying to do to spur growth again:

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/abenomics-and-japanese-economy

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

No - we had never done a guided group trip at all until Alaska last year. DH and I were skeptics of the model, and now we swear we can never go back!

LOL. I do both, but I'm moving away from the big group travel like ABD. My sweet spot is the 15-25 number.

japan is much cheaper than it used to be - relatively speaking...
years ago, it was beastly expensive compared to other travel destinations..
but that's no longer the case..
it's not that japan has gotten any cheaper, it's that everywhere else has caught up...

as for how to do it - we do DIY....it's really not that difficult to do japan on your own if you plan carefully in advance..

as for disney, i was debating a trip for us this summer and surprisingly, it would have been cheaper for us than what our upcoming WDW trip in august is setting us back...

so maybe we'll do it next year...

oh and by the way, japan is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! definitely a place worth visiting at least once!!

.

I'm really excited. The more I think about it and look into the things, the more confident I am that I can make this a pretty spectacular, 1st class trip for a fraction of the cost of what ABD would likely charge. We'll see. Nat Geo has a family trip that is in the $6k range, so not sure why ABD couldn't model something similar. And I hear you about Disneyworld. We're doing a quick trip in July/Aug and it's costing more than I expected.

It also "helps" that their economy has been pretty stagnant - they've been fighting off deflation for decades now. If anyone is interested here is a bit about what is going on and what they are trying to do to spur growth again:

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/abenomics-and-japanese-economy

Thanks for posting--I'll check it out.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

I've taken the family to Japan twice, in 2014 and again last year. It's not hard to get around and see things and if you stick to major areas the language barrier isn't a problem. Unless you want to special order food in a restaurant. If you need some ideas or have questions about day trips let me know.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I've taken the family to Japan twice, in 2014 and again last year. It's not hard to get around and see things and if you stick to major areas the language barrier isn't a problem. Unless you want to special order food in a restaurant. If you need some ideas or have questions about day trips let me know.

Thanks so much for the offer, I'm sure as I get deeper into planning I'll be taking you up on it No dietary issues with my family and all eat wide variety of foods so special requests probably won't be an issue.