Man, you guys are going to love it... Japan is a great F***ing place... As Shiroboi mentioned, keep an eye on your money... I don't know how many military I saw run out of money over there, because they'd be stupid and just spend like crazy... Plus, remember to keep an eye on the currency exchange, it changes on a daily basis... One day it could be 118 Yen to the dollor, then next it could be 105... It's usually not that drastic, but you get the point... You'd be surprised how much of a difference that little bit makes... I used to pay my rent for my house I had out there, I'd only have to pay $1,500 a month, instead of the $1,800 because of the exchange rate... Another good tip, instead of exchanging cash, or just pulling out money from an ATM there... Go to a bank or post office and exchange travelers checks, they exchange for more than cash does...

 

Hey guys, If your looking for cheap Japan airfares here's a few I have used in the past.

http://www.jtbusa.com/enhome/airsearch1.asp
http://www.iace-usa.com/index_us.htm
http://www.kintetsu.com/

Makes sure you guys go to the rest stop near the Yokohama bridge on a Saturday night that's where they all meet up .

Make sure you visit superautobacs

 

Sounds like a lot of fun. Wish i had extra cash.

 

wish i had extra cash also

 

so what would we be looking at here? Seems like about a $2500.00 trip if one doesn't live in LA. I don't know about too many people sharing a room, in Japan, as it's my understanding hotel rooms are half the size of u.s. rooms.

 

Thanks Mows, those are some great tips. I was checking Thai Baht Exchange rate yesterday which dissapointingly is not in my favor. On a whim I did check the current dollar to yen exchange rate and its at $1=121 yen which is great if you're planning a trip. Its surprisingly good since the dollar has been weak lately.

Yeah, and for the sharing of a room, forget about it. I don't think any of you are close enough to share a "semi-double" room unless you're bringing a wife/girlfriend with you. When it says semi double, it means full sized futon with a small walking space, a TV and a locker. Also, unless you want the experience, don't stay in capsule hotels. They are really for a last ditch effort. (Think of a capsule hotel room as a coffin with a TV.)

enjoku, awesome recommendations. The thing we've been lacking to date is some solid info as to where Japanese Evo members meet. Jackpot.

evrblazin, last time I went to japan, it was airfare, in your case $800 approximately. Plus about a $1,000 for a week. You might need more if you're going to go cross country as it does cost money to get from prefecture to prefecture. If you're frugual, you'd be surprised at how far you can stretch your money. I would bring $500-1000 per week that you spend there and I'd make sure I had emergency cash in your checking account in case you run out. Trust me, you don't want to run out of money. I did that on my honeymoon and it pretty much ruined my last day there.

 

Just a heads up guys for food you don't have to spend that much just look for Fuji Soba restaurant, it's pretty cheap about $5.00 US per meal. Just choose your food from the display window outside the restaurant then pay at the vending machine. The vending machine then would spit out a meal ticket then give that ticket to the cook. The cook will just call out your order when it is ready.

Here's a pic of that restaurant



Also for meeting other Evo's or other Tuners try this location underneath the Yokohama Bridge it on a rest stop every Friday and Saturday nights.

Look for *** Daikoku Futo ***

Also if you to go Super Autobcas in Shininome they normally post where the local EVO club meets up.

You can check this article
http://www.jingai.com/omoshiroi/hotrod.html


I have a few more tips I'll post later maybe a few pics of my trip last year.

 

Ah yeah, the ticket machines. Easy way to pay since you really don't have to speak japanese at all. Just put in your money, select your dinner from the pictures and get the ticket. Give the money to the guy at the counter and he'll give you your food. Strange but it works. There are a ton of places like the one enjoku mentioned. The average quickie meal is like 5-7 dollars.


Another tip:

The easiest way to do the monetary conversion in your head is to think about yen as being like a penny. thus 100yen = $1.00
Just move the decimal place over two spaces and it will give you a rough estimate on how much it costs in dollars.

If you're looking for souvaniers, you can get some cheap ones at the 100 yen store, the japanese version of the dollar store.

 

Japan is so boring, I know I've been there 4 times in the Navy. Go somewhere good like Hong Kong/Singapore/Thailand. Things are alo cheaper there since the currency exchange works in our favor unlike Japan.

 

Getting stationed in Okinawa is not the same as being on the mainland. Many Japanese don't even consider okinawa part of japan. I've been to japan twice and had an amazing time both times. My only regret is I didn't get to spend more time there. My wife is Thai so I've been to other parts of asia. Sure, you can get more bang for your buck in developing countries. It all depends on what you're going there for. If you want shopping, thailand and singapore rule. If you like Japanese cars, go to the motherland, you won't be dissapointed.

 

I went to Japan for the 05 TAS and I must say the place is amazing. I took the trip through Boomplustoys (every year they put together a TAS package) it only cost $1400.00. This included airfare, hotel, translator, limo bus service

 

Like we are going to understand what the cook is going to say. I guess I'll just pick whaterver looks good on the container.....

 

Yeah you choose the number then enter it in the vending machine

 

Update:

i will be completly updating the thread, but the trip is offical, and we will be going.

there will be a strict limit of 15 people allowed to go. Hiro from J on Demand will hopefully be our tour guide throught the whole trip, and let me tell you.. the places he can get us into are amazing. the places we talked about going are crazy!

hes the man basically.

Very official times will be coming within the next month..

 

Ok so this is the head count 15. Ill get right on it.