satijntje Posted March 25, 2015 Share #81 Posted March 25, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi guys, still not decided if I will make it or not. I need to find a good moment to speak to my wife to propose the trip as my birthday gift :-) We have small twins and the biggest problem will be that my wife will be alone for a full week with the kids...... So I need some time to decide. John 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 25, 2015 Posted March 25, 2015 Hi satijntje, Take a look here Asia One Challenge 2015. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
DigitalHeMan Posted March 26, 2015 Author Share #82 Posted March 26, 2015 Sorry you can't make it, Lars, you are missing an unique experience. Thanks for the good wishes. I can fully recommend Asahi and Sapporo beer, there are certainly more good brands. Some years ago, I said it would be impossible to die of dehydration in Japan, if one has at least a 100 JPY coin (probably more now), there are drink vending machines everywhere*, in the most unlikely places. Talking about practicalities, in my experience, Japan is a country, where cash is used for most transactions. ATMs can be found, for example at post-offices, which have the (Katakana?) sign 〒. My advice would be to make sure one knows the PIN and not just the typing pattern, since the keypads have a different layout (sometimes all digits in one line). Stefan *Apologies for my strange humour, in the post-apocalyptic film I will never make, the actors will find a working drink-vending machine somewhere in a desert and conclude they are in Japan. Hi Stefan, Good advice, Stefan. Drinks machines are still in abundance, but tend to cost 120-150 Yen per drink now. Also most places seem to accept credit and/or debit cards now, but it's still a good idea to be carrying some cash for small items and snacks. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted March 26, 2015 Share #83 Posted March 26, 2015 John, It's sad to hear that Japan is likely to be your last trip, but if Melanie persuades you to return via London and you can include a short stop-over.....! I am sure that all of us here would love to see you. Best wishes Brian 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 26, 2015 Share #84 Posted March 26, 2015 Brian, I am being pragmatic when I say it may be my last trip. But life does throw some wobblies and I may yet (hopefully) maker another trip. Currently my flights are paid to return home after Japan and Vietnam. Vienna for the European One Challenge is 99% off my radar at present. 2016 is ridiculous for me to predict, so I shan't. First step is to get there! I am just enjoying the moment. Roll on Japan! 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted March 28, 2015 Share #85 Posted March 28, 2015 Hi, wife agreed :D Flights are booked. Arriving at Tokyo Narita on Monday morning 18th May at 08:30 with KLM, Departing from Osaka to AMS on Sunday 24th May with KLM at 10:25. First time for me being in Japan, exiting :D The hotels will arranged next week, but recommendations are very welcome in order to be not to far away from other participants! Looking forward meeting all of you there! John 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share #86 Posted March 28, 2015 Great news, John! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted March 28, 2015 Share #87 Posted March 28, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) ...... so I have booked a room at Shinjuku Granbell Hotel, which is a couple of hundred meters down the road from the E hotel. Just a note - Kabukicho is the red light area of Tokyo, but the red light area in Tokyo is a lot safer than other cities, and good for street photography. +1 for me for the Shinjuku Granbell (18-21 May) John 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Bachmann Posted March 28, 2015 Share #88 Posted March 28, 2015 +2 Ritsuko and I booked Shinjuku Granbell 17-20 May. Can also cancel if necessary. Now we have mass and momentum! Any thoughts on the Kyoto Hotel? Once we have an area we are happy with, we'll come up with the official Leica One Challenge Asia document for the meeting points but most of us will already have planned together, but I'd like to see it translated into Japanese to be shared - it has been hard to find the Japanese Leica Forum members. It may also help Christoph get there in the last minute! 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted March 28, 2015 Author Share #89 Posted March 28, 2015 I've been looking this evening in Kyoto, and it's proving tricky. A lot of hotels where there are only one or two rooms left in the hotel. Will have another look tomorrow and finalise somewhere at least - that way I can always cancel later if necessary, and have a safeguard in case I can't find anything better. The last time I was there I stayed fairly close to Kyoto Station. Was fairly well situated to reach most of the sights. +2 Ritsuko and I booked Shinjuku Granbell 17-20 May. Can also cancel if necessary. Now we have mass and momentum! Any thoughts on the Kyoto Hotel? Once we have an area we are happy with, we'll come up with the official Leica One Challenge Asia document for the meeting points but most of us will already have planned together, but I'd like to see it translated into Japanese to be shared - it has been hard to find the Japanese Leica Forum members. It may also help Christoph get there in the last minute! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 28, 2015 Share #90 Posted March 28, 2015 Later today I will search around the Kyoto Station area as well and reserve something as a safety option while looking for maybe better. Possibly lots of travellers do that so cancellations may appear closer to time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share #91 Posted March 29, 2015 I have booked a room on hotels.com at "Sakura Terrace The Gallery" It's on the South side of the station. Not much information to find about it, other than it is a brand new hotel that only opened this month. I can cancel it until May 17th in case we come up with a better alternative, but Kyoto does seem to be busy around this week. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 29, 2015 Share #92 Posted March 29, 2015 Just booked in the same hotel. Bit expensive (for me) but now have somewhere if I can't find cheaper/more suitable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christoph_d Posted March 29, 2015 Share #93 Posted March 29, 2015 Dear all, In Kyoto we've booked the Almont Hotel near the Station. Arrival Saturday 23 rd Rgds C & V Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share #94 Posted March 29, 2015 Dear all, In Kyoto we've booked the Almont Hotel near the Station. Arrival Saturday 23 rd Rgds C & V That's fairly close to the Sakura Terrace Gallery hotel as well. Looks like your hotel is full now. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted March 29, 2015 Share #95 Posted March 29, 2015 +1 for Sakura Terrace The Gallery 39 Higashikujo Kamitonoda cho Minami ku Kyoto 601-8002 Japan +81756720002 ホテルの連絡先詳細 39 Higashikujo Kamitonoda cho Minami ku 京都 601-8002 日本 +81756720002 from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24May. Thanks to Simon for his advice! John Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjheimann Posted March 29, 2015 Share #96 Posted March 29, 2015 I´m in, too. Arrival on monday morning with John, who made me to join. Looking forward and loading the batteries :-) Greetings, fjheimann 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted March 30, 2015 Author Share #97 Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) Good to see more people confirming they will be there! As of today, the list is as below: Confirmed, with arrival dates: DigitalHeMan - May 14th DanBachmann - May 17th StS - May 17th erl - May 18th christoph_d - May 23rd, joining in Kyoto Torgian - Japan based, joining in Kyoto Satijntje - May 18th fjheimann - May 18th Interest shown, not confirmed: farnz lanetomlane Sandokan Coriana6jp jjohan philipus frankwaller torontoamateur Nick De Marco octo Looks like for now most people are staying in the Shinjuku area (with Shinjuku Granbell being popular) and South of the station in Kyoto (with Sakura Terrace The Gallery being popular) Edited March 30, 2015 by DigitalHeMan 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christoph_d Posted March 30, 2015 Share #98 Posted March 30, 2015 For completeness sake: My wife Veronique will join too... Rgds C. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted March 30, 2015 Share #99 Posted March 30, 2015 Just a bit of useful info, especially for anyone flying into Narita airport. it seems a nobrainer to buy a Japan Rail Pass (before arriving Japan - imperative). This will get you from the airport to your hotel in Tokyo, then later to Kyoto and return to Tokyo and Narita Airport, for much less than the individual cost or tickets for each sector. The appropriate pass is valid for seven consecutive days anywhere in Japan! Flying directly to Kyoto is a different ball game, but there are other daily bargain tickets available for local (international) travel. Train travel in Japan, whilst very good, seems very expensive on a single ticket scenario. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
octo Posted March 30, 2015 Share #100 Posted March 30, 2015 Good to see more people confirming they will be there! As of today, the list is as below: Confirmed, with arrival dates: DigitalHeMan - May 14th DanBachmann - May 17th StS - May 17th erl - May 18th christoph_d - May 23rd, joining in Kyoto Torgian - Japan based, joining in Kyoto Satijntje - May 18th fjheimann - May 18th Interest shown, not confirmed: farnz lanetomlane Sandokan Coriana6jp jjohan philipus frankwaller torontoamateur Nick De Marco octo Looks like for now most people are staying in the Shinjuku area (with Shinjuku Granbell being popular) and South of the station in Kyoto (with Sakura Terrace The Gallery being popular) Sorry: you'll have to amend that list. My wife and I arrive Narita on the 16th, booked in the Granbell, Shinjuku, then, according to schedule posted in #34 we will arrive in Kyoto on the 21st, booked in Almont Hotel then fly out of Osaka on the 24th evening. You guys had booked up the Sakura Terrace when I went online. Anyway, the Usual Suspects will stand out, I guess. Looking forward to it. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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