Thursday, March 29, 2012

Needs help......money, cc, geisha, and other things

This is my schedule we are going on a group tour. This is FYI for the questions I have.





1. Most of our breakfast and dinners are included. My friend is only planning on bring 50000 yen will that be enough? I%26#39;m shooting for 150000 yen. We don%26#39;t plan on doing souveniors. But I was hoping on going out at and enjoying the night life.





2. Credit Cards. I%26#39;m american express which I know puts me at a disadvantage since I have a feeling they aren%26#39;t allowed in alot of place. Debit cards can any atm card be used or do I have to look for a special symbol?





3. Travelers checks are they worth it?





4. Overweight in japan. My friend is Big she is in the upper 200 she worries about having problems in japan. We are planning on going to take geisha pics but she%26#39;s worried they wont be able to accomadate her.





5. Safety. We are two women with minimal knowledge of japanese and we are curious to see if we can make it around town at night. Is it safe or should we be weary. We are from one of the not so safe cities in america.





6. Economy. Here in the states I%26#39;m finding sales galore but is that true in japan with the recessions is it more likely we%26#39;ll find better deals or is everything expensive as we expect.







We have less then 35 days for our trip and we are looking forward to it. We are going in a group and thou I have a feeling we have differing ideas on what we are doing in our spare time but we will work it out. Thanks for reading this post and better yet for answering ANY and all advice will be appreciated.





Day 1 - Osaka





Board your overnight flight to Japan.





Day 2 - Osaka





Arrive in Osaka, where a Go Ahead representative meets you after you clear customs. Later, join your fellow travelers at tonight’s included dinner. (B in flight, D)





Day 3 - Osaka





Today’s guided tour offers a look at massive Osaka



Castle, once the mightiest castle in Japan, with a museum dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the leader who built the castle. Next, make an excursion to Kobe, where a local guide leads you on a tour of this port city, including the Kiku-Masamune Sake Museum and Memorial Park, dedicated to the victims of the 1995 earthquake. Return to Osaka for this evening’s dinner. (B, D)





Day 4 - Kyoto





En route to Kyoto, step back in time on a guided visit to Japan’s ancient capital of Nara. Discover its exquisite pagodas and architecture, including the Todaiji Shrine, home to the world’s largest bronze statue of Buddha, and the Kasuga Shinto Shrine with its thousands of paper lanterns. Upon your arrival in Kyoto, uncover the city’s past on a guided tour, including the intricate 17th-century Nijo Castle, the gold-leaf covered Golden Pavilion and the strikingly red Heian Shrine, constructed in 1895. Tonight, venture to Kyoto’s famed Gion geisha district for dinner and a performance of traditional Japanese theater. (B, D)





Day 5 - Kyoto





Full-day trip to Hiroshima. You’ll see many moving reminders of that day, including the A-Bomb Dome, a building that partially survived the blast; Peace Park with its Cenotaph for the victims; and the Peace Memorial Museum. Next, view the dazzling Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima. Its colossal red torii (the entry gate of a shrine) “floats” in the ocean during high tide. (B, D)







Historic Hiroshima has rebuilt itself into a modern-day metropolis, but your full-day excursion there will remind you of its moving past.





Day 6 - Kyoto





Discover Japan’s lush countryside as you wind your way through misty mountains to the Miho Museum. Designed by I.M. Pei, the Miho seems to melt into the mountainside. Next, watch artisans at work in the pottery village Shigaraki, famous for its 1,200-year-old ceramics traditon. Return to Kyoto this evening for a feast of fresh sushi. (B, D)



Day 7 - Kyoto





On today’s visit to Mikimoto Pearl Island, you’ll see how pearls are cultivated and watch the famous Ama Pearl Divers, as they dive into Ise Bay to collect pearls the old-fashioned way. After visiting Osatsu, a traditional fishing village, stop at the Ise-Jingu Shrine. Its nearly 200 buildings are reconstructed every 20 years, in keeping with Shinto custom. The current structures were remade in 1993. (B, D)





Day 8 - Hakone





Board a high-speed train to the resort town of Hakone, nestled in the Owakudani Valley. Soak up the valley’s tranquil beauty during your cruise of Lake Ashi, formed after Mount Hakone erupted 3,000 years ago—and enjoy fine views of Mount Fuji looming in the background. Afterwards, relax in Hakone’s famous thermal hot springs. (B)





Day 9 - Tokyo





Your guided tour of Hakone includes a visit to the Open Air Museum, featuring more than 200 Picasso originals. Then travel to snow-capped Mount Fuji, standing an imposing 12,388 feet high. Enjoy panoramic views of lakes and villages from the mountain (weather permitting) before arriving in Tokyo for a traditional tempura dinner. (B, D)





Day 10 - Tokyo





Japan’s bustling capital comes into focus on today’s guided tour. Get a bird’s-eye view of Tokyo from the top of the Tokyo Tower. Nearby is the sacred Zojoji Temple, founded in 1393. Visit Meiji Shinto Shrine with its elaborate Inner Garden and view the unparalleled Imperial Palace. Cruise down the Sumida River before exploring Tokyo’s old town, including the ancient Asakusa Kannon Temple built in 645. Next, explore the famous Ginza district and watch a traditional Kabuki theater performance. This evening, savor a traditional kamameshi dinner, a casserole served in cast-iron pots. (B, D)





Day 11 - Tokyo





Nikko, known for the stunning Toshogu shrine. After exploring the shrine complex, journey to Nikko National Park for breathtaking views of Lake Chuzenji, Mount Nantai and the spectacular Kegon Falls. (B, D)





Those with an appreciation for natural beauty will want to take advantage of this excursion to Nikko, a national park of rivers, lakes and wooded highlands.





Day 12 - Tokyo





With a free day in Tokyo, you might visit the boutiques of Ginza or Shinjuku. Return to Tokyo and join your fellow travelers at tonight’s Farewell Dinner. (B, D)

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