Originally our itinerary included a trip to Hiroshima but I figured we’d start at the farthest point of our journey — Beppu — first.  After checking out of the Sunroute Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, my son and I stopped by the JR station right next door to the hotel to exchange our Japan Rail coupon for the actual rail pass and to reserve our seats on the shinkansen to Beppu.

We easily located the JR Ticket area and spent just a little time in line before being called to the counter to receive our tickets.  The ticket agent spoke very little English and I utilized absolutely none of my rudimentary Japanese.  All was well, however, until I read the time of departure on our tickets.  With just under 15 minutes to make it from one side of the station to the other, we were dead in the water from the start.

The wheels were burning on our rolling luggage as we wheeled our way to the platform, stopping briefly to ask directions to the correct shinkansen track.  We made it just as the train pulled off and a sense of utter disappointment dropped over us like a cloud.  Luckily, all we had to do was wait until the next train and pick up from there.  There are times , however, when the simplest task becomes the most difficult.  This was one of those times.

We hopped the next train from Tokyo, heading to Shin-Osaka.  We were to catch a connecting train from Shin-Osaka to Kokura and then again from Kokura to Beppu.  The late start, however, threw off our entire schedule and we encountered even more trouble in Kokura. 

Since we’d missed our connecting train as a result of missing the initial one, we were pressed to find the platform and track from which we were to depart.  We asked a few people we passed when finally, a JR employee pointed us to a train on the opposite track to where we stood.  The conversation was strained as he did not speak much English and again, I did not use any of the Japanese I’d learned.  This, I learned, would turn out to be a drastic mistake.

Heeding the JR  の かいしゃいん(JR no kaishain = JR employee’s) pointing finger, we boarded the shinkansen he indicated and rode off into the sunset.  Well, not exactly.  Shortly into the trip, I realized we were on the Nozomi.  Firstly, the Japan Rail Pass does not include the Nozomi line.  It is the only train NOT covered by the pass and there we were, riding it as if we’d purchased a legitimate ticket.  Secondly, this particular train was not headed in the exact direction we wanted.

Panic set in as we rode the Nozomi into the afternoon but after a while, I just figured “let the chips fall where they may”.  No one ever asked us for a ticket and when I finally got my bearings, I decided we’d just go to Hiroshima with a side-trip to Beppu instead of the other way around as originally planned.  No big deal, right?

Wrong.

Pulling into he Hiroshima station a couple hours later, we jumped on a steetcar, missed our stop and traveled several kilometers before being able to disembark and get turned around.  Finally, we made it back to our desired stop and walked down the main street in search of a hotel.  The one we’d booked for the night after next, The Hotel Intelligent, was full and just when we thought we’d be sleeping in the streets, we lucked into the Hotel Active a short ways down the road.

The Hotel Active, at 8800 yen/night turned out to be a great hotel.  Comfortable and centrally located, it was a welcome end to the harried day we’d had.

 The geat ending to this story … we ended up being able to visit the A-Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Park on the 64th anniversary of the atomic bomb. 

It was a sobering journey but there was also a feeling of peace and celebration in the air as we were greeted excitedly by two of the sweetest おばさん (Obasan - aunt, auntie, old lady) who cheerfully welcomed us to Japan and Hiroshima, and were just excited to meet アメリカじん (Amerikajin - American) up close and personal.

LESSON LEARNED:  Sometimes fate convenes and lays to waste the best laid plans.  Be flexible and open-minded during your trip.  You just might end up where the Universe intended you to be, regardless of where you expected to be.

Unfortunately, it seems some force of the Universe had different plans and 4 days into the trip saw nothing but a plague of mishaps.  Since this blog (as my son reminded me) is not meant to whine, vent, rant or rave, but is a place to lay out my mistakes so that others can learn from them, I’ll go ahead and bare my soul so that you may become wise to the best way to travel to Japan. 

Let’s start with the domestic side of things and how I got “grounded” in the good old U.S. of A …

Saturday, August 1 dawned bright and clear in the Florida panhandle as the kid and I headed from home to one of our local airports.  Being as it was very early in the morning we made good time and managed to arrive at the airport a little over an hour before our plane was to depart.  I’d used Airtran’s online check-in the night before so all was set and our timing was perfect.  We boarded the plane quickly, efficiently, and with minimal problems thanks to dilligent Airtran gate staff.  Much to our amazement, the flight took off on time and landed in Atlanta a few minutes early.  We claimed our bags in record time and rushed to the Delta/NWA gates to check in.  This is where the horror began.

REWIND…

Friday afternoon saw our clinic with minimal patients and myself with absolutely no clients to see for my program.  With free time on my hands I logged into the Northwest Airlines website armed with my itinerary and ticket number.  Clicking on the “check-in” link, I was shunted to a webpage where I meticulously entered all requested information including my name, address, phone, and passport number, and upon completion was told my son and I had been checked in.  At the prompt to print our boarding passes the computer spit out an error message … “unable to check you in, please see a gate agent”.  Now, even though I wasn’t that busy, I was still at work and had to make like I was actually doing something productive for the great state of Florida so I decided I would try again later, from home.

Which I did.  To no avail.  Later that evening, from our desktop PC I tried again to check in online, only to receive the same error message.  Despising the next step, I picked up the phone and placed a call to NWA’s customer service.  After holding for an indeterminable amount of time and having to shout my answers to the automated customer service rep, I finally spoke to a human being.  Unfortunately, the humanoid told me I was  trying to check in on the Delta Airlines website for a NWA flight.  Huh???  Lo and behold, the human was correct.  I hung up, pulled my chair up to my computer and tried again.

Imagine my surprise (and horror) when the same thing happened.  This time, however, I kept an eye on each step and actually watched with my own two eyes (four, counting my glasses) as I was passed from the NWA website to the Delta site in order to check in.  No wonder!!!  Who could forget that Delta and NWA had merged?!?!?  Continued calls to either airline’s customer service centers, however, netted no resolution and with a tired mind, I decided I would just check in at the airport.

Once we arrived at the Atlanta Hartsfield International airport we rushed to the Delta counter to check in.  Here, we were told to check in using the kiosks, which we tried and received another “FAIL”.  From there, we were asked to stand in an even longer line under a sign that read “Kiosk Check-In Help”.  We counted 2-3 agents behind the desk and upwards of 40 people in line.  You do the math.

After having stood in line for 2 hours and missing our flight while we did, we finally managed to speak with a gate agent who had either woke up on the wrong side of the bed or needed a refresher course in customer service.  Instead of assisting us in our plight, he instead placed the blame squarely on our shoulders for basically not being at the airport as early as 6am in order to check in for our 2:20 flight.  I reminded him that ALL the websites I visited (Delta, NWA, and Priceline through whom I purchased the ticket) said to be in line 2 hours before flight time and that we had, indeed, done just that.  Mr. Gate Agent (actually named Elrico H. by the looks of his name tag) placed a call, indicated dishonestly to the person on the other end that we had “just gotten into line” then turned to me and said there was nothing Delta could do … take up my issues with Priceline.

The next few hours were spent making numerous calls to Priceline who stuck by their guns in the “sorry ma’am, there’s nothing we can do about it” department and speaking with several different Delta employees.  On the verge of despair but more angry than anything, I was asked by Priceline to go ask Delta one more time about fixing the problem.  Deciding one more time couldn’t possibly hurt anything, I rounded the corner into another area of Delta’s airport space and was astounded to see the “International Check-In” sign.  We’d been standing in the wrong line all along and though we’d specifically stated we were on an international flight to Tokyo, Japan fom the very beginning we were still directed to the domestic side of the house!

Tears of anger and frustration began to flow and if at that very moment every Delta and NWA flight had fallen out of the sky, I would not have cared.  Tears, however, seem to put airline employees on alert, as an attendant rushed to my aid at the sight of the water washing away the remainder of my makeup.  Luckily, this lovely woman understood what I was saying through my choking and sputtering, and placed me in line to speak with Yolanda at Delta’s International Check-In counter.  By the time Ms. Yolanda and I spoke, I’d calmed down and she’d hooked us up with a hotel for the night, food vouchers to get us through the evening and next morning, and overnight supplies to use to freshen us up as we prepared to board the next day’s plane to Tokyo.  Inside 15 minutes, Ms. Yolanda had set things to right, all the while apologizing profusely on behalf of Delta Airlines.

Sunday, August 2 we arose bright and early and headed to the airport via hotel shuttle.  Bypassing the check-in counters and baggage regristration areas, we walked through security, boarded our plane according to our newly issued tickets and arrived without further incident in Tokyo 14 hours later. 

• Mistake #1:  We had personal plans that would have placed us in Atlanta on the day of our departure so I originally bought tickets from Atlanta to Japan.  Unfortunately, those plans fell through and in hindsight, should never have been made.  ALWAYS PURCHASE TICKETS IN A DIRECT ROUTE, NEVER USE “PASS THROUGH” TICKETS”.
• Mistake #2:  Had I paid better attention to our surroundings, I probably would have realized I’d been directed to the wrong check-in line.  DON’T BE AFRAID TO QUESTION AIRPORT PERSONNEL, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST FEELING YOU HAVE BEEN MISDIRECTED.
• Mistake #3:  This one was unavoidable for us as we tried to check in online and was not permitted to do so.  However, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, CHECK IN ONLINE TO AVOID UNNECESSARY WAIT TIMES.

So there you have it.  You would think a seasoned traveler such as myself (ha ha) would have not made such errors, but we’re all human, right.  Next time — and believe me, I’m already planning a next time — we’ll all know better, right?  Right!!!

Happy Traveling.  Hope you learned a thing or two.

Read about more “Japan” mishaps here…

After culling through what seems like a million websites advertising Japanese accommodations, I found myself reading with interest, the ratings and comments left by myriad vacationers and visitors.  By far, the biggest issue with potential for complaint or that caused people to leave lower scores for certain accommodations was a lack of space.  Most of these lower ratings were left by visitors traveling to Japan for the first time while seasoned vacationers to Japan typically advised about the smallish rooms but still left more positive feedback.

Taking my research a little further than I’d originally intended, I took a look at the square footage of rooms offered by a major player in the American Hotel industry — The Hilton.  As you can somewhat see by the chart above, Hilton Hotel suites in Japan generally contain 32-50% less space than comparable Hilton Hotel suites in North America.  At the same time, Japanese hotels that do not necessarily have an American counterpart, may contain even less space because they operate solely by a Japanese (space) standard [reference Hotel Sunroute Shinjuku] rather than a modified standard as do most American hotels in Japan.

Does this mean Japanese accommodations should be viewed as lesser than “Western” accommodations?  Absolutely not!!!  I had the opportunity to stay at a Japanese hostel last year in the Asakusa area and was completely bowled over by the sense of camaraderie I and my bunk-mates experienced.  Such a small, enclosed space made it easier for us to make connections, to bond quickly and to end up exploring a city foreign to us, together.  Staying at a ryokan last year also made a lasting impression on me as I was able to experience more fully a more traditional look at Japanese culture during my stay.

Because I will be taking my son with me this time around, we’ll mostly be staying at hotels with just a quick 2-day stop over at a hostel in Beppu.  Since he is a whopping 5′10″ (and still growing at just 15 years old) to my 5′5″ (okay, okay … 5′ 4.5″) I was a little concerned about leg room for him.  After much discussion and of regaling him with stories of my stay last year, he assures me I have no reason for concern.  His excitement at the prospect of just being in Japan overrides all issues of space.  We’ll just try to invoke some space saving techniques such as …

• Packing lightly — taking only the necessities and instead of bring a boatload of clothes, we’ll make sure to bring (or purchase) laundry detergent (available in travel sizes at most stores like Wal-Greens, CVS, Wal-Mart and Target) in order to make sure we have fresh, clean clothes each day.
• Use the “Garanimals Method of Packing” — back in the day an innovative children’s clothing company came up with the ingenious idea of making a line of clothes that were easily interchangeable with other pieces in the line.  Parents simply matched up an animal tag from a shirt or blouse to the same animal tagged bottom and ta-da, a matched outfit for the day.  Last year I took about 2 blouses per pair of pants and kept everything pretty much in the same color scheme.  This way, I could mix and match clothes quickly and easily and still save space in my suitcase by not having to pack so much.
• Use easy to handle bags — instead of the usual upright, rolling suitcase, we will each take a rolling duffel bag.  With its collapsibe sides and flexibility, the duffle’s design makes it more easiy to fit in odd or tight spaces than a rigid suitcase.

And that’s that.  While Japanese rooms may be a bit smaller than what we’re used to, Japan hosts a veritable feast of rooming options that you won’t find anywhere else.  From modern to traditional and back again, curling into a tighter ball to sleep at night is well worth the trade-off — adventure, culture, history, and loads of fun!!

Just a few notes …

• Hilton Guest rooms typically include a double bed or two twin beds and a private bath.

• Hilton Deluxe rooms typically include a queen bed or two double beds and a private bath.

• Hilton Suites typically include two king beds or two queen deluxe beds, or might encompass more than one sleeping area/room and at least one private bath, sometimes two.

• The Hotel Sunroute guest room is called a “single” and contains one twin or semi-double bed and a private bath.

• *The Hotel Sunroute deluxe room is called a “double” and contains a double or queen bed and a private bath.

• *The Hotel Sunroute Suite is called a “twin” room and contains two single beds and a private bath.

• *NOT all researched rooms are shown in the above illustration/chart.

As the time draws near for our 2-week “natsu-yasumi” (Japanese for Summer vacation), I find myself inundated with research into transportation choices.  Information abounds in regards to the Japan Rail Pass (see more information here) which is a pass available outside Japan and only to foreigners/visitors for transport on Japan’s network of shinkansen, or “bullet” trains.  My son and I will be using our passes to travel from Tokyo to Beppu, Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka and Nara.  The rail pass is an economical solution for long-distance trips and for travel further outside city centers.  There is, however, the question of how to travel within Japan’s humongous metropolitan areas.

While walking will get you to a lot of places and I definitely recommend a good pair of comfortable walking shoes, Japan is a fairly large environment so eventually you’ll find yourself needing to make use of the subway (metro rail) and/or a bus or two.

At first glance, Japan’s metro rail system can seem extremely intimidating.  A virtual mash-up of pathways owned by a virtual mash-up of private rail companies, the metro is none the less surprisingly efficient and navigable.  Luckily, the system has somewhat given itself over to the pressure of the toursim industry and as a result, a large number of metro workers have a great grasp of the English language as well as a cultural penchant for helping you get to your destination.

Knowing I would most likely spend a right bit chunk of time traveling on the metro rail last year, I asked for and was given some great advice on the most economical and efficient way to travel.  Instead of purchasing separate tickets each time I used the rail, I purchased a PASMO card which alleviated the need to carry money specifically for rail fare as well as the need to actually calculate fare amounts from point A to point B.  Because there are several companies that operate specific segments or lines, there are a few options when it comes to prepaid rail cards.

PASMO:   A convenient transportation system using an integrated circuit (IC) card which allows repeated use of a single rechargeable card. PASMO cards can be purchased from a number of private railways, subways and buses but the easiest method of purchase is to use a metro station ticket vending machine. PASMO cards can be purchased in amounts of ¥1000, ¥2000, ¥3000, ¥4000, ¥5000, and ¥10,000. A ¥500 refundable deposit is included in the purchase price.

The PASMO card can be used on just about all trains in the Greater Tokyo region, including Japan Railways (JR) trains, subways, and monorails, but cannot be used on shinkansen.  Many buses in the greater Tokyo region also accept the PASMO card.

SUICA: A rechargeable integrated circuit (IC) card issued by the JR East rail company. The SUICA card is virtually interchangeable with the PASMO card and can be used on just about all trains, subways and buses in the Greater Tokyo, Sendai and Niigata regions.

The SUICA card has a bit more range than the PASMO card in that it can be used on JR trains in the Osaka, Okayama and Hiroshima regions (in place of the ICOCA card) and in the Nagoya and Shizuoka regions (in place of the TOICA card).  The SUICA can also be used in the Sapporo region in place of the KITACA card.

NEX: I’m throwing the Narita Express (NEX) pass in here on general principal. If you’re flying into Narita, getting to your accommodations which will most likely be in downtown Tokyo, can be a bit tricky and a little expensive if you’re using a limousine service. A NEX ticket will allow you access to an express train that runs every hour during off-peak times and every 30 minutes during peak times. The NEX offers direct service from the aiport to a host of major Tokyo stations and is often sold as a “special” in conjunction with the SUICA card.

With Japan embracing more and more, the idea of toursism, more and more travel specials seem to pop up.  You can read a most excellent article by Shane Sakata of The Nihon Sun on some great special discount tickets as of July 2009.  You can also find some pretty comprehensive rail/travel information by Honor Dargan of Tokyotopia that includes tips on trains, taxis, walking and even cycling in Japan.

In conclusion, save yourself some hassle and invest in a rechargeable metro pass.  Funds can be added to both the PASMO and the SUICA card with a simple transaction at many station ticket vending machines.  The 500 yen deposit included in the purchase price of either card is refundable (less a handling fee) once you’re finished using the card.  Using the card is as simple as passing it over, or holding it parallel to, the ticket reader at appropriately marked ticket gates, and either card will free you from the need to to determine somewhat complicated fare calculations.  All in all, the less you have to worry about, the more you can enjoy your trip.

]]> http://www.gisuru.com/?feed=rss2&p=655 http://www.gisuru.com/?p=634 http://www.gisuru.com/?p=634#comments Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:20:38 +0000 Shiira http://www.gisuru.com/?p=634 Saturday, June 13, 2009 dawned a bright, pretty day if not a bit humid.  To be expected around this time of year in the Gulf Coast area.  The atmosphere hung heavy with a heat index rivaling that of the Serengeti. But nothing would stop us from making that trek to our local library in order to turn in our passport application. Trek we did.  Turn it in we did.  But have we received a passport?  Nope!

Several weeks have passed and the fear of not receiving my son’s passport in time for our trip has gripped my heart like a vise.  Religiously I’ve checked The U.S. Department of State’s Travel webpage (direct link here), hoping that by some miracle the status has changed from “currently being processed” to “already sent it to ya, now stop clicking our links!!!”.  No such heavenly happening had taken place as of this morning.  So, with shaking hands and thumping heart, I called the dreaded toll-free phone number (1-877-487-2778) and waited a surprisingly short amount of time before speaking with a customer service “agent”.

Rather cheerfully I was informed the regular processing time for passports is 4 - 6 weeks.  Information I already knew.  The kick in the pants???  That’s 4 - 6 weeks from the time it arrives in the government offices, NOT from the time the application is processed at the processing facility!!!  Unfortunately, our application had not been received by the “powers that be” until June 23rd, a full 10 days after we applied and a time period that totally pushed the envelope of the 4-6 week processing time.

Silently I contemplated as the agent waited patiently for what she probably assumed would be an inevitable outburst.  I was, of course, miffed … upset … peeved … p.o.’d … pissed … mad… angry … you get the picture.  BUT!!!…  this was no one’s fault but my own.  By waiting longer than necessary to get the paperwork done, I’d placed my son’s first trip abroad in a rather precarious predicament.  Sooo NOT cool!!!

Steeling myself, I asked for my options and with a sigh of what I believe was relief at my calm demeanor, the agent whispered “expedite”.  Huh?  Come again. “Expedite?” I whispered back.  And as our voices resumed normal speaking range, the miracle unfolded before me.

So, this is the deal.  If you find yourself in a silly calamity like the one mentioned above, you can expedite the passport application while it is in process.  Yes, you have to pay an additional fee ($60.00 to process and around $15.00 for overnite service) but the load off one’s heart and mind is well worth the extra expense.  Simply call the toll-free number listed towards the beginning of this article, wait through the menu options until you get to speak to a real live person, and tell them you want to expedite your passport application.  You will be asked for identifying information such as the applicant’s name, social security number, address of record, etc.  You might also be asked for the application locator number which you will be given every time you check the status online.  Have your credit or debit card handy and the agent will authorize the payment right over the phone. That’s all.

It may take a day or two (or three) for the payment authorization to hit your bank or credit card company but surely it will be there.  I’m told it should take around 5 days for the process to complete and for the passport to reach our house.  I’m not sure if that’s 5 days from the date I requested expedition or 5 days from the authorized payment.  No matter, however, as 5 days in any form is way better than an additional 2-3 weeks and the chance that my kid would be jipped out of this most wonderful opportunity.

Take NOTE.  Do as I say and not as I do.  Get your passport early!  Do not pass go, do not collect $200.00 (sorry, flashback to family monopoly night).  Just get your butt on the ball and get that passport.

10:00am      Japanese Dialogues w/Korey Keen

11:00am      Japanese Together From Scratch (Episode 2) w/Marzia

1:00pm       One Step Closer To Speaking Fluent Japanese w/Ginny Kim

3:oopm       Veteran Japanese Beginners Class w/Ginny Kim

And let’s throw in some Social Marketing, just to round things out a bit…

4:00pm       Learn Advertising via Bum*vertising w/Koichi

You should come join me.  Take individual classes or choose as many as you want for the low-low (low) price of $29.00/month with the eduFire Superpass.

But if you’re from a small town as I am, the idea of driving in Japan is pretty intimidating.   First off, there are millions of people and literally, thousands of cars on the roads at any given time.  Japan is a busy place and often, folks are in a hurry to get where they’re going.  The impact of a rushed society on traffic can be absolutely harrowing.  Not to mention the hordes of pedestrians crossing the roads, as well as sharing the streets with motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles.

Last year, I took this video of a street crossing in Shibuya.  I was waiting for friends in a Starbucks coffee shop right across the street from the infamous Shibuya station where the statue of Hackiko, the faithful dog  sits at the exit. 

As you can see, there’s a lot to contend with while driving in Japan and it can be quite an undertaking.  Not surprisingly, most foreign visitors rely on walking and public transportation rather than renting a vehicle to drive themselves.  If you are amongst the brave of heart, however, you can apply for an International Driving Permit in the U.S. which gives you permission to drive in Japan.

The International Driving Permit, or IDP, is essentially proof that you possess a valid drivers license in your home country.  It is a document translated into 11 languages that allows traffic authorities in other countries to read the content of your drivers license.  The IDP must be carried in conjunction with your U.S. drivers license and is accepted by nearly 180 countries across the world. 

For “just in case” purposes, I purchased the international driving permit but thankfully, never had to use it.  The process was simple and simple is good.  I downloaded the IDP application from the  AAA website and took it, along with 2 passport sized photos and my Florida state drivers license, to my local AAA office.  The fee for the service was $15.00 and took less than 15 minutes to complete.  You walk out with your signed IDP in hand with advice to carry it along with your passport which should be carried on your person at all times while you are in Japan.

Now you’re ready to drive if you need to.  Just be aware the Japanese drive on the left side of the road.  The maximum speed on local roads is usually around 60 kph (37mph) or less, while highways/expressways vary from 80-100 kph (50-62mph).  There are no left turns at a red light in Japan as may be the case in other countries. 

While on the whole, drivers are courteous in Japan, there have been cases of boso-zoku (crazy drivers) who continue through intersections even after a red light.  Be cautious and do not follow suit.  As for signage, traffic signs in bigger cities can ususally be deciphered with ease but those in the country-side can be a little more difficult.  Regardless of the ease of understanding of the signs, however, remember you have the added pressure of driving on the opposite of the road than what you are used to as well as to paying close attention to intricately networked streets.  The pressue can be immense. Be careful.

 The international drivers permit is valid for 1 year from the date of purchase so mine is still good for my upcoming trip.  I think, however, I will stick to trains, metros, walking and the ocassional taxi cab to navigate my way around the city. 

To those of you brave enough to hop in a car and chauffer yourselves, remember … taking out a pedestrian is worth 50 points.  Oh wait … sorry … that’s only in the (Crazy Taxi) game.

*** For more information ***

• Drivers-dot-com
• Japanese drivers license & driving test tips
• International Drivers Permit-dot-com
• IDP WikiHow

• WHAT does Japanese yen look like?
• WHO’s going to help me convert my home country’s currency to Japanese yen?
• HOW should I convert my home country’s currency to Japanese yen?
• WHEN should I convert my home country’s currency to Japanese yen?
• WHERE should I convert my home country’s currency to Japanese yen?

WHAT…

Japanese money is called yen, often pronounced “en” when stated in conjunction with a particular spoken amount as in go-hyaku-en (500 yen), or ni-sen-hyaku-en (2,100 yen).  It is often marked by these symbols: ¥ and 円.

Japanese paper money, called bank notes, come in denominations of ¥1000, ¥2000, ¥5000, ¥10000.

Japanese coins come in denominations of ¥1, ¥5, ¥10, ¥50, ¥100, ¥500.

WHO…

If you’re absolutely unsure about Japanese currency, feel free to consult your personal bank. Tell them you’re planning a trip to Japan and need to exchange or convert U.S. currency before you leave.  They can either provide the service or at the least, point you in the right direction.  Otherwise, there are several alternatives online.

HOW…

Last year, I used ezForex.com and was very pleased with the service as well as the simplicity by which I was able to procure the foreign currency.  With ezForex you have the option of paying for your oder by credit/debit card or by e-check (electronic bank draft).  E-check transactions receive the best conversion rates.  Once your order is placed, it is shipped overnight by FedEx and should arrive to your doorstep within 2-3 days depending on when you order - weekday or weekend.  The flat rate for shipping was $14.50 last year and a check of the site today shows it is still the prevailing flat rate.  One bit of caution with ezForex — there is a $200.00 minimum purchase so be ready to buy at least that much and always keep an eye on conversion rates.

Recently I purchased $200.oo worth of Japanese yen through Wells Fargo and was pleased with their service as well.  As with ezForex, Wells Fargo uses a simple, self-explanatory web page to make your purchase.  Their minimum purchase amount is also $200.00 but their flat shipping rate was $8.00 versus ezForex’s $14.50.   Conversion rates were the same.

 WHEN …

As we stated before, at least a little Japanese currency is required as soon as you land in Japan.  You’ll need to pay for transportation from the airport, perhaps pick up a little something to eat or pay for your accommodations upon check-in.   As a result, please make sure you have converted an appropriate amount of currency before you leave your home country. 

WHERE …

You can convert currency before you leave home by purchasing online as we discussed above or you have other available options.  Check with your personal or any local bank to see if foreign currency services are available.  You can also exchange currency at many major U.S. airports.  Check Currency Exchange Reviews to see if your departure airport offers this service.  If not, have no fear.  Both the Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport have foreign currency exchange booths or banks.

Locations in Japan where you can also exchange currency include:  local Japanese banks, some Japanese hotels, main post offices and some department stores.  There are also ATM’s throughout Japan that are normally clearly marked that accept foreign cards.  I had the opportunity to use one such machine around the corner from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku.  Luckily I was with a friend, MayRose, a native of Japan, who made quick work of withdrawing funds from my American bank account.  When I was faced again with such an adventure -a few days later in Akihabara- it took me a few minutes to get through the menus but in the end, I was successful at making yet another withdrawal from an ATM.

And those are the basic who’s, what’s, and where’s of WHEN TO YEN.  Things to remember:

• International credit cards are accepted in some places, such as larger restaurants and department stores but cash is ususally best.
• With crime rates lower than many countries, it is relatively safe to carry cash on your person but still take care to be safe at all times.
• Americans generally despise coins, tossing them aside in a non-chalant manner.  Remember, however, the 100- and 500-yen coins are equivalent to a little under $1.00 and $5.00 respectively.  Be careful not to count these coins as useless!
• Foreign transactions through your bank account or credit card might incur foreign transaction fees.  Consult your bank or credit card company to see what these fees might be.  (Side note:  my credit card company charged me $1.23 for the 200-yen purchase from Wells Fargo and $0.46 for booking a Japanese hostel online).
• If purchasing foreign currency online, work out your budget to determine how much to buy.  Once you have this figure, try to make one purchase so that you cut down on shipping fees.  Last year I made the mistake of purchasing twice, paying $14.50 each time.
• Keep an eye on the conversion rates and purchase when the rates are best.  Good sites for this include:  Yahoo Finance, XE-dot-com and CNN Money-dot-com.

 So, go get that yen and I’ll see you in Japan.

 Just as with just about anywhere on Earth, the weather in Japan goes through seasonal changes and it’s important to understand what the climate might be like while you are there.  There’s nothing worse than packing for the wrong season!!!  Since I will be traveling this year in August, let’s start with Summer!!!  (we’ll cover other seasons in other articles).

The summer season in Japan spans June, July and August, and contains a rainy season — about 40 days in June and July — where precipitation can reach up to about 275 mm.  Depending on region, the Japanese summer is generally hot and humid with the coolest temperatures prevailing in places of higher elevations, like Hokkaido.

Temperatures during the summer are generally from 12C/54F at a minimum to 33C/91F maximum.  These figures are estimations based on historical data so remember, they are not written in stone.  The thing to remember is that there is a lot of humidity in Japan, which often makes the weather feel warmer and heavier than it really is.  Sort of like Florida. 

And speaking of which, I did this little weather comparison between my local (NW Florida) area and Tokyo today on wunderground-dot-com…

This gives me a bit of an idea of what to expect and how much I can handle once I get to Japan.

As for packing for the summer season, I consulted with TokyoTopia and found some great advice.  She says to pack light cotton clothing.  I’m thinking white, cotton screen print tees for my son which he already has plenty of, as well as light colored cotton shorts (if I can talk him out of his jean shorts), white socks and light colored sneakers.  For myself, light colored or white cotton blouses along with capris/pedal pushers, light or white socks and light colored sneakers as well. 

TokyoTopia also reminds us not to forget our deodorant.  Japan, especially Tokyo, contains masses of people so it’s always a good idea to try to stay as fresh as possible.  I definitely plan on packing the deodorant as well as baby wipes to carry with me wherever I go, just in case I might need a quick wipe down while I’m out and about.  Also, I plan on curtailing my use of perfume and/or strongly scented body sprays during my visit.  My experience last year says there will be times where we are in close, even intimate, proximity to many others and in the summer heat, perfume can get a little stinky.  Fresh and clean, I believe, is the best way to go.

Lastly, I’ll need to remember sunscreen and insect repellent.  Wherever there is water, humidity, and hot weather, there are bound to be mosquitoes.  Living in Florida has taught me this.  Living in Florida has also taught me that even nationalities with darker skin tones are prone to sunburn so bring sunscreen no matter what!!!  You’ll most likely be spending a lot of time walking around under the hot sun, more than what you are used to, so take every precaution.  (Hmmm…I might even invest in a hat).

So, key words for summer packing:  light, white, cotton, deodorant, insect repellant and sunscreen (and an umbrella during June/July).  Drink plenty of water if you’re visiting during this time and be mindful of the possibility of heat related illnesses, especially if you are not used to high heat weather.

If you’re traveling during the summer as I am, enjoy and perhaps I’ll see you in Tokyo.

So back to the passport … 

We went to a photo shop called “Snappy Photo”.  We were running a little behind, getting to the store around 1:45 knowing the store closes at 2:00.  My “parental unit” was a little hyper as we walked in.  She gets that way sometimes when she’s got a lot going on or if she’s stressed.  I guess she figured it’d be too late to get the pics done but the guy behind the counter was like “no problem, come on back”. 

“Back” was a little room off to the side of the main counters.  I had to stand in front of a white pull-down shade and the photo guy told me not smile or anything.  It’s a new rule for passport pics he said.  So, I didn’t.  Smile — I didn’t smile.  He snapped the little remote control thing-y and a flash went off in my face.  Wasn’t really expecting that but it wasn’t so bad.  He told me to meet him back at the register and 5 minutes later I had my passport photos.  They cost $9.95 for two and of course, my mom paid. 

From the photo shop we went to the library to turn in the passport application.  Since I’m only 15 my moms had already filled out everything online and printed it out.  Something called a DS-11.  I guess that’s the form number of the passport application thing-a-ma-bob.  She’s always explaining things to me but I only listen, like, 1/2 the time. 

While we were waiting to be waited on, one of the librarians from my old elementary school called out to me.  I was surprised to see her since she was my favorite librarian at my favorite school and I hadn’t seen her in a few years.  Those were the good old days.  We talked for a minute but she wasn’t the one who was going to make me sign my passport stuff.  Some other librarian did that.  I didn’t know her, but she was nice.

She asked for my I.D. but I was like “dude, I’m only 15″ and she was like “wow, you’re so tall and grown-up looking for 15″.  My mom gave her my birth certificate instead and then showed her own I.D. — her driver’s license.  I got a peek at my birth certificate and noticed my dad isn’t listed on there.  I was like “mom, what up with ‘dat” and she just gave me “the look”.  You know the one — it says zip your lips before I punch you in the eye.  Turns out my parents weren’t married when they had me (snicker) so she had to prove that she’s in charge of me or whatever.  Otherwise, both my mom and my dad would have had to be there for me to get my passport. 

After the librarian lady looked over everything, she read me an oath.  I can’t really remember what it said but something about not lying about what we wrote on the application and swearing the guy in the pics was really me.  I had to hold up my left hand while she read it.  Made me sorta feel like an idiot but I did it cause I didn’t want my moms to smack me.  After she read it I was like “yeah, oaky” but she said I had to say “I do” instead.  Like I was getting married or something!  Adults are so complicated!!

And that was all there was to it.  Except mommy-dearest didn’t realize she didn’t have any checks in her checkbook to pay for the passport.  She ended up having to run out to a gas station up the street and get some money orders.  One for $60.00 which was the cost of the passport, and one for $25.00 which was the processing fee.  Luckily the librabrian lady was real nice and said she’d wait for mom to get back.  Once she did, we put the application, the $60.00 money order, my birth certificate and pictures, and a copy of my mom’s license into an envelope to be sent off to some government agency. 

And that’s it.  I guess I should have the passport in the mail within 4-6 weeks.  I hear the government can be kind of slow so I hope it gets here in time.  Maybe I should try to send a note to President Obama and ask him to keep an eye out for it since he’s always answering people’s e-mails and stuff.  But he’s probably got more important stuff to do so I guess I’ll just wait.