Cheap travel in Japan

[kaphinated]

I was talking to pikacheeka about my Japan trip and I realised that maybe other ppl reading my travel journal might find it helpful and it was a bit long for a comment -  so here goes:

Japan Rail offers a thing called the Rail Pass, which is Pass that can be used on all JR transport for 1, 2 or 3 weeks. You can buy one that covers all of Japan, or get one for

Comments

[kaphinated]

I learnt it at night school for about a year, but that was about 2 years ago. Mostly its fine if you can do the basic hello/thanks type of words but, as I think I said in a comment above, knowing a few basic Kanji can help, but isn't essential. I'll put a list together for ya.

It very easy to do stuff with no Japanese at all tho, most people speak a bit of English, and all the signs are dual language. The lines are colour coded too, and most guide books have a map, or you can pick up a small one from a tourist info office.

The ATMs and subway ticket machines all a have "english" button to swap language too.

I stayed in Akebonobashi in Shinjuku ward. It was a pretty residential area with a small shopping street nearby for supermarkets and 7eleven, cafes and a few places to eat etc, but it was only 2 stops away from Shinjuku station on the subway, where there is a lot of shopping, resturants, the Sakura House main office and the biggest train station not just in Tokyo but the WORLD. I was thinking I would write a bit of "how to eat in Japan"

[pikacheeka]

Oh, okay. So you probably know as much as I do or will when I go. And YES, a list of useful kanji would be awesome. Most books I have teach you very bizarre ones to start out with. I can read the elements. Woohoo.

That's what I've heard. Nice to hear it again though. I'm sure I will panic and forget Japanese as soon as I need it, as always happens.

Yea I don't mind where I stay really, as long as it isn't in the middle of nowhere and a pain. Shinjuku station should be kind of intimidating for me, I think... XD