There's been some discussion about some SH members making a trip to Japan in 2012. We can use this thread to kick ideas around and share info.

I'm not Japanese or anything but I have gone to Japan to see SCANDAL twice before so I can try to share tips that helped me have a successful trip.

- Start learning any Japanese you can right now. Japan isn't like Europe where just about everyone speaks English fluently. You can technically get around without speaking any Japanese but every little bit you can learn will help your trip go easier for sure. In my experience staff speak workable english in the airport, train stations and some hotels, but if you encounter anyone at a restaurant/shop or out in the street who speaks strong english it's really rare. Even if you can't speak anything of substance, being able to say "Sorry, I can't understand Japanese" in Japanese goes a really long way, just as a sort of courtesy that you're at least trying.

- Research Japanese culture and customs. Basically watch every video this guy has on youtube, especially the How To playlist. https://www.youtube.com/user/TheJapanChannelDcom It was incredibly helpful to know ahead of time about things like Suica cards for the trains and how to avoid embarrassing yourself in public.

- Rent a Japanese iPhone/smartphone. I've used these guys before: http://www.jcrcorp.com/ I recommend airport delivery and return because it's very easy to do at Narita where the staff speak workable English and then you have it to use for the entire trip. I went alone on my trip and the Japanese iPhone was absolutely essential. Look up translations online, get train maps, use the gps to find where you want to go, etc etc.

guess I am gonna type here what I did just now..

All prices are in SGD
Here comes an estimation..since I been to Japan a couple of times..

Depending on the Girls, we will most likely be staying in japan for a week or so..
I would say get ready around 4k would be sufficiant.. unless u tend to over spend on shopping.. You dun really need so much anyway..

Bare minimum is around 2k

2ndly.. Language, since we are going in a group.. I believe some of us..(me with my half baked Nihongo) can speak and or read..

3rd. Lodging, depending on the amount of peeps going.. Renting an apartment is far cheaper then hotel and their location is awesome too.. and those who can cook.. Cooking is far cheaper then eating out:D

Ramen is expensive and so is sushi.. for me, I usually eat only Lunch unless I am damn hungry, I grab a Onigiri at the conbini .. conbini (convient stores) are all over the place.

4th: Transportation.. JR past are all over the place, estimated around 2-300 SGD for 1 week worth of unlimited traveling

___\

7350legend wrote:ok... for such a big thing... the bare minimum i need now to gimme the chance to go is to get into triple science... ok i'll cut down on scandal music for now and mug for the next 23 days!

listen and mug.. they give u the motivation, their voice reminds u of the possible trip in March/June

Serenula wrote:

7350legend wrote:ok... for such a big thing... the bare minimum i need now to gimme the chance to go is to get into triple science... ok i'll cut down on scandal music for now and mug for the next 23 days!

listen and mug.. they give u the motivation, their voice reminds u of the possible trip in March/June

lol ok! Yeah, I'll just tell myself i'm doing it for SCANDAL! This will double my motivation together with my future politician dream. lol

7350legend wrote:

Serenula wrote:

7350legend wrote:ok... for such a big thing... the bare minimum i need now to gimme the chance to go is to get into triple science... ok i'll cut down on scandal music for now and mug for the next 23 days!

listen and mug.. they give u the motivation, their voice reminds u of the possible trip in March/June

lol ok! Yeah, I'll just tell myself i'm doing it for SCANDAL! This will double my motivation together with my future politician dream. lol

You wanna be the next Colonal Sanders?..uhh I meant Tony Tan

Awesome, watching this thread. Let's go together!

Serenula wrote:

7350legend wrote:

Serenula wrote:

7350legend wrote:ok... for such a big thing... the bare minimum i need now to gimme the chance to go is to get into triple science... ok i'll cut down on scandal music for now and mug for the next 23 days!

listen and mug.. they give u the motivation, their voice reminds u of the possible trip in March/June

lol ok! Yeah, I'll just tell myself i'm doing it for SCANDAL! This will double my motivation together with my future politician dream. lol

You wanna be the next Colonal Sanders?..uhh I meant Tony Tan

No actually my dream is to improve welfare and quality of people's lives, change the education system to allow a broader scope of thinking amongst the students and solve the conflict between the ruling and opposition parties to bring about peace amongst the people

Sounds great, if I am still alive.. u got my support

Awesome idea is awesome :D. I will try to go

Serenula wrote:Sounds great, if I am still alive.. u got my support

thanks

+1.
Hopefully I can learn more fluent Japanese before this trip happens..
(More importantly the budget ...)

boonlenglbl wrote:+1.
Hopefully I can learn more fluent Japanese before this trip happens..
(More importantly the budget ...)

I am here to clear all question bout budget, even planning the trip is fine with me, all I need is confirmations~

Ask me ANYTHING :D

A couple thoughts that came to mind,

- Even traveling in a group, be prepared for it to be intimidating talking in Japanese to native Japanese speakers. I'm not saying it's terrible, but just be prepared for it to be difficult for you the first couple of times. The first time I was surrounded by native speakers and could really hear just how clumsy my speaking was it was physically impossible to speak lol I just couldn't make myself talk for the first few times I wanted to say "thanks" or whatever to someone. I think if I'd known it was going to be intimidating instead of being 'surprised' by it it would have been a little easier.

- Plan lots of extra time around events that you REALLY want to get to (like a SCANDAL concert). When I saw SCANDAL in Osaka it was at a college a bit out from the center of the city and it literally took me the full day before the day of the show to figure out how to get from my hotel to the college and back. Kept taking the wrong train, or the wrong train line/company :p Or like, it took me half an hour to figure out how to buy my train card the first time, etc lol. Stuff just takes longer than you'd expect to figure out when you don't know the systems.


I don't mean to make it sound harder than it is or anything. Japanese people are incredibly polite and friendly and things really aren't that hard to figure out. Just that every bit of preparation ahead of time makes things easier and gives you more time to relax and enjoy Japan while you're there.

I would like to go, but my parent wont allow me to go a forgein country by myself.

320x200 wrote:A couple thoughts that came to mind,

- Even traveling in a group, be prepared for it to be intimidating talking in Japanese to native Japanese speakers. I'm not saying it's terrible, but just be prepared for it to be difficult for you the first couple of times. The first time I was surrounded by native speakers and could really hear just how clumsy my speaking was it was physically impossible to speak lol I just couldn't make myself talk for the first few times I wanted to say "thanks" or whatever to someone. I think if I'd known it was going to be intimidating instead of being 'surprised' by it it would have been a little easier.

- Plan lots of extra time around events that you REALLY want to get to (like a SCANDAL concert). When I saw SCANDAL in Osaka it was at a college a bit out from the center of the city and it literally took me the full day before the day of the show to figure out how to get from my hotel to the college and back. Kept taking the wrong train, or the wrong train line/company :p Or like, it took me half an hour to figure out how to buy my train card the first time, etc lol. Stuff just takes longer than you'd expect to figure out when you don't know the systems.


I don't mean to make it sound harder than it is or anything. Japanese people are incredibly polite and friendly and things really aren't that hard to figure out. Just that every bit of preparation ahead of time makes things easier and gives you more time to relax and enjoy Japan while you're there.

Agreed entirely with you. I will do a full length trip lay out like I always do, which inside will include
Timings,
Trains,
Location,
Prices,
and directions

^_^

@xKai you are NOT alone

Serenula wrote:

boonlenglbl wrote:+1.
Hopefully I can learn more fluent Japanese before this trip happens..
(More importantly the budget ...)

I am here to clear all question bout budget, even planning the trip is fine with me, all I need is confirmations~

Ask me ANYTHING :D

Thank you in advance
I only have one LAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE barrier to cross..
Nope, not the language, not really the budget either...
MY PARENTS... XoX

EDIT:
@xKai: LOL, AS SERENULA SAID, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Will mark this thread to check out often, and update myself as well.

Thanks for the thread and tips!

hehehe i guess a lot of people's barrier is their parents...Actually its the same for me Orz

boonlenglbl wrote:

Serenula wrote:

boonlenglbl wrote:+1.
Hopefully I can learn more fluent Japanese before this trip happens..
(More importantly the budget ...)

I am here to clear all question bout budget, even planning the trip is fine with me, all I need is confirmations~

Ask me ANYTHING :D

Thank you in advance
I only have one LAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE barrier to cross..
Nope, not the language, not really the budget either...
MY PARENTS... XoX

EDIT:
@xKai: LOL, AS SERENULA SAID, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Will mark this thread to check out often, and update myself as well.

Thanks for the thread and tips!

Same here! My parents are the biggest barrier i have to cross too. If they say no, then it'll be no. So from now on i'll have to put on a good show, make sure my results are up to standard, make sure there'll be little worries for them

i've been to japan 15-20 times... i forget exactly how many times. i know the layout of tokyo pretty well but i really want to visit osaka. count me in on this!

This is was from my MOST recent trip to Japan. This is always how I will create the Itinerary. This is what you can expect if our trip is a GO



24/3/2011 Day 0 [Thursday]
Arrive at Changi airport 2 hours before boarding for checking in. Boarding will commence at 11:55pm SGT. This is an overnight flight, est. 7hours so get comfy.
Flight No. : SQ638
Aircraft : A380-800
Terminal 3
25/3/2011 Day 1 [Friday]
Trip summary: Going to Shinagawa, Asakusa and Akihabara.
Arrival at Narita International Airport Terminal 1 7.30am JPN time.
Clearing customs will take about 15min~30mins depending on the crowd
Following that will be proceeding to collecting the JR pass at the Narita station.
It will take approximately 30mins also depending on the crowd at the collection area
Then you will proceed to Narita Terminal 1 and to the platform to board the NEX to Shinagawa Prince hotel to drop our bags.
Narita Airport Terminal 1 Shinagawa
0945 68 mins 1053
NEX 12

After all the Check in details are settled proceed to having a meal. We will proceeding to Asakusa Temple.
Shinagawa Kanda(Tokyo) Asakusa(Tobu)
1227 12 mins Arr:1239
Dep:1242 10 mins 1252
JR Yamanote Line(Inner loop) Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Additional
160 yen/pax
Completing that, you can proceed to Akihabara or split up if you have your own agenda to complete.
We will meet up for dinner after, venue and time to be confirm on day itself.
After dinner, return to the hotel and rest for the next day.
*For Return trip, follow above train table in reverse. Time will differ

Thoughts about tickets for a Scandal concert,

- In my experience they sell out so fast that most likely you will end up buying your tickets second-hand from somewhere like YJA.

- Personally I'd consider the ticket price as a large part of your expenses. The first time I saw them I paid like $1,200 for my plane ticket, $1,000 for my hotel costs, $1,000 for eating/transportation/shopping, and then... $75 for my Scandal ticket lol. My seats were good and the concert was great and everything but after spending so much to get to Japan and stay in Japan if I was to go again I'd probably try to plan for maybe $500 if not $1000 on the concert ticket to get closer seats.

- Maybe if a large enough group is making the international trip it will get enough attention that we can get some help with the tickets. I read that for I think a SNSD concert in South Korea there were like 100 fans making the flight so the South Korea board of tourism helped them buy tickets to guarantee they could get to see the show. Later on once we know better who is going and when we can try to get in touch with Japan's tourism board, Sony, Kitty, Scandal, etc to see if they can assist in any way. Maybe they will, maybe they won't, but it's worth a shot.

320x200 wrote:Thoughts about tickets for a Scandal concert,

- In my experience they sell out so fast that most likely you will end up buying your tickets second-hand from somewhere like YJA.

- Personally I'd consider the ticket price as a large part of your expenses. The first time I saw them I paid like $1,200 for my plan ticket, $1,000 for my hotel costs, $1,000 for eating/transportation/shopping, and then... $75 for my Scandal ticket lol. My seats were good and the concert was great and everything but after spending so much to get to Japan and stay in Japan if I was to go again I'd probably try to plan for maybe $500 if not $1000 on the concert ticket to get closer seats.

- Maybe if a large enough group is making the international trip it will get enough attention that we can get some help with the tickets. I read that for I think a SNSD concert in South Korea there were like 100 fans making the flight so the South Korea board of tourism helped them buy tickets to guarantee they could get to see the show. Later on once we know better who is going and when we can try to get in touch with Japan's tourism board, Sony, Kitty, Scandal, etc to see if they can assist in any way. Maybe they will, maybe they won't, but it's worth a shot.

Going in groups will ALWAYS be cheaper~ and as you said.. liasing would be a great idea too~

Serenula wrote:This is was from my MOST recent trip to Japan. This is always how I will create the Itinerary. This is what you can expect if our trip is a GO

Nice! That's great amounts of detail :)

320x200 wrote:

Serenula wrote:This is was from my MOST recent trip to Japan. This is always how I will create the Itinerary. This is what you can expect if our trip is a GO

Nice! That's great amounts of detail

I learnt from my uncle who is great at event plannings~ ^_^