18. Takayama Accommodation

Great Western Hotel

I had actually booked a double room here ages ago, and when I stopped smoking back in February, I had to contact the places I'd booked and ask to change my booking to a non-smoking room. Unfortunately all the non-smoking double rooms were booked, so I ended up cancelling. After having seen the cost of the double room at K's House hostel, I noticed this hotel had rooms for a similar price but much bigger of course and better appointed.

Above: Spa and wellness centre

Above: Twin room

Twin Room - Non-Smoking

Room size: 23 m²
Beds: 2 single beds

Soundproofed, air-conditioned room with a smoothly sophisticated decor. Each room includes a refrigerator, an en suite bathroom and flat-screen TV with video-on-demand movies available for purchase.

An extra bed can be accommodated at extra charge.

Room facilities: Air Conditioning, Desk, Heating, Interconnected room(s) available, Soundproofing, Shower, Bath, Hairdryer, Free toiletries, Toilet, Bathroom, Slippers, Pay-per-view Channels, Telephone, Radio, Flat-screen TV, Refrigerator, Electric kettle, Wake-up service, Alarm clock.

The hotel also has a Spa and wellness centre, including sauna, hot tub and massage.





K's House Takayama

This is a hostel on one of the main roads a few streets down from the railway station, and a three minute walk away.

Double Room
Room size: 6 m²

Simple room with a double bed, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and an en suite bathroom.

Amenities like toothbrushes, yukata robes and shaving kits are not provided. They can be rented between 08:00 and 21:00.

Room facilities: Air Conditioning, Heating, Shower, Bath, Toilet, Satellite Channels, Flat-screen TV

Free WiFi is available in all rooms.


Hotel or Hostel?

I know I save $18 of I stay at the hostel, but $207 for a room that's 6 m² is over priced. The hotel room at $225 is 23 m². Do I save $18 ot "treat" myself to the larger room in a hotel? I like the idea of their wellness centre and I wouldn't mind having a massage. From what I've been reading, everything closes early in Takayama and by 8 o'clock, the streets are dark and empty. How boring, especially as it'll be summer when I'm there, it would be lovely strolling around in the evening. With this in mind, if I was staying in the hostel, I'd have company, meet other people in the common areas (lounge etc), listen to people's stories of their travels, perhaps get some advice etc.

I will have been staying in a 6 m² for my week in Kyoto, although that room has a single bed so it won't be as cramped, and in a four bed dorm for my night in Kanazawa, perhaps I might really look forward the the larger room. The hotel room in Tokyo where I spend my last four nights, is 14 m² - a single room. Hmm.... perhaps I will go for the hotel after all. I have to make a decision in the next few days - by next Saturday at the latest. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

17. Bathing Rule When Drunk

I found this fab place in Tokyo - it's called the Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari. It says, "Te Ooedo Onsen Monogatari is a lavish hot spring theme park on Odaiba. It is a great place for the uninitiated to first experience a Japanese hot spring bath, and is also a fun, special treat for people of all ages."

Their website gives a list of 14 rules and etiquette regarding bathing (communal). But Rule No. 2 has me stumped -

Hmm... does that mean it's okay to enter the bath if you're only a little bit drunk? Or tipsy or half-pi**ed? What if you're three sheets to the wind but not under the table?

So ..... if you're muddled, plastered, sloshed or inebriated but not completely off your face then it's alright to enter the bath. Just remember which one is the correct one. (If your a fella, don't go in the ladies' bath)

17. GEAR Ticket Booked

GEAR - A Show with a Difference

My ticket for GEAR is booked, I need to be there an hour before the show starts to collect and pay for it. GEAR is a non-verbal performance at the Art Complex 1928 building. I don't know what the story line is but it involves mime (of course if it's non-verbal! - naturally!), juggling, break dancing and magic acts, using the latest technology stuff. Sounds very interesting. Some friends who visited Japan last year saw the show and raved about it.

This is the Art Complex 1928 building where the show is. Knowing what it looks like, I'll know what to look for when I'm there.

It dates from 1928 (well obviously!) and was originally the Kyoto office of the Mainichi Newspaper. Today the building houses restaurants, a café and a theatre.

16. Language and Culture

Today, I learned something very important - never, ever, ever say, "Chin-chin" when raising your glass because chin-chin is a Japanese colloquial word meaning penis. That would be what you'd call a cultural cock-up.

To prevent raised eyebrows and offence, say "Cheers" instead, or better still, the Japanese "Kanpai" (乾杯)

15. I've got a little list

Thinking about how I have to get my skates on and make a final decision about which accommodation I'm going to choose, I started to write a poem in my head to the tune of "I've Got a Little List" from The Mikado! I didn't get very far, only the first verse but it's enough or at least a start for you to see the tempo. With the video clip underneath it makes for a bit of light entertainment and good all round fun.

BTW, for those dreadfully un-edumacated folks who don't know one end of an operetta from another, the Mikado is set in Japan (very appropriate) Nanki-Poo, the son of the Mikado (a rich dude, the local big-wig with pots of money and power) flees his old man's court cos he doesn't want to marry Katisha - an old bat old enough to be his grandmother! He dresses up as a minstrel and falls in love with the new kid on the block Yum-Yum who he reckons is a bit of alright and who he 's got the hots for.

As some day it may happen that accommodation must be found,
I've got a little list - I've got a little list
Of guesthouses and hotels in the cities I'm around
And they may have been missed - they may have been missed.

I've got 'em on the list--I've got 'em on the list;
And they'll none of 'em be missed--they'll none of 'em be missed.
Because I've made a little list!

Today's quote: I'm really very sorry for you all, but it's an unjust world, and virtue is triumphant only in theatrical performances ~ W.S. Gilbert, The Mikado

14. Tokyo accommodation to get sorted

I really need to make a decision on where I will stay in Tokyo. The first place I booked was a hostel, but my finances have changed and I can optimistically look at staying in a hotel. Still need to budget though and not splash out as if money grows on trees.Yes well, the first place I looked at was a hostel in Shinjuku and someone said Shinjuku is a good area for transport, it's a transport hub, you can go anywhere from there. And my JR Pass will still be valid, so if I get the JR train from Shinjuku (Yamonote line) I can use that to get on and off and travel around seeing Shibuya, Harajuku (for grannies?) Ueno. It can also be used to do a Yanaka walk by getting off at Ueno, following the walking map and getting back on the Yamonote train line at Nippori.

I also think I would like staying in Asakusa but I cannot use my JR Pass there so would have to be buying metro or subway tickets. I had thought to spend the first day in Tokyo, the second day out of the city on a day trip, and my last full day in Tokyo. Another thing to take into account is the distance from hotel to train station. As I'll have a nearly checkout this needs to be factored in. Staying in Shinjuku, I would have to leave earlier than if I stayed in Asakusa and of all the hotels, only the Dormy Inn EXPRESS Asakusa does breakfast from 6:30am. This of course should not be a reason to choose this hotel, there are other, cheaper hotels.

Shinjuku

East of station
Imano Tokyo Hostel 6 bed female dorm $179 - ( 11/12 mins 900 m)
Tokyu Stay Shinjuku - $562 - (7 mins 550m)
Toyoko Inn Tokyo Shinjuku Kabuki-cho (RED Light district) $398 breakfast (13/14 mins 1.1km)

West of station
Nishitetsu Inn Shinjuku $471 - (11 min 950m)
Kadoya Hotel - $577 - (6 mins 500m) nice colours


Shibuya
Tokyu Stay Shibuya Shin-Minamiguchi includes breakfast, microwave, washing machine - $567 (8 mins 650m)
Shibuya Granbell Hotel - $596


Asakusa
Richmond Hotel Asakusa $493 (9 min 750m)
B:CONTE Asakusa $534 (7 mins 700m)
Red Planet Asakusa Tokyo Single Room with View $544 (8 min 650m) **

Via Inn Asakusa $376 (7 mins 600m)

Asakusa Central Hotel Ladies floor $405 (5 mins 400 m)
Dormy Inn EXPRESS Asakusa breakfast included Double room station side view $561 (2 mins 190m)

I've since done some more editing, cancelled some, kept some and have four left in Shinjuku, one in Shibuya and six in Asakusa. The easiest way to check their locations is from the maps I did. The red X'x show the hotels I selected. I am leaning towards Shinjuku rather than Asakusa.

Shinjuku

Asakusa

13. JR Pass

MY JR Pass arrived today from JTB. Junior handed it to me saying gee their drivers are lazy. It had been put on the floor outside. Oh, ah well, it didn't require a signature. And it came. I opened the envelope with anticipation trying to make head of what I was seeing.
It tells you to check
a) Your name (must be the same as your passport),
b) Ticket name (Type of Ticket, Duration, Adult/Child)
c) Exchange deadline (Please check the exchange deadline written)
d) You have been given both the "Passenger Coupon" and "Exchange Coupon".

Above: What a JR Rail Pass Voucher looks like

The above isn't mine, it was floating around on the internetosphere

Always check your ticket
Or in this case, your voucher. Always check, it pays to check. They (JTB) had made an error. I was surprised at this, because the JTB Corporation is the largest travel agency in Japan and one of the largest travel agencies in the world. They specialise in tourism. For some reason, I had the idea JTB were the "Official" Japanese tourist company in Australia. I don't know where I got that idea from, maybe from reading some of their stuff. Anyway, I won't say I'm not disappointed because I am. Very. Disappointed. One can only hope things carry on more smoothly in Japan than they have so far. And the trains run on time.

JTB gave me the wrong one!
They gave me a 7 day pass, and I ordered and paid for a 14 day pass. I checked the confirmation email and yes, it definitely says 14 day pass and the amount $560. Then I checked my account and yes, the amount of $560 had been debited to my account last week. I rang them but of course it was after office hours so will have to ring them tomorrow. I hope they don't tell me I have to post the incorrect one back to them, I wouldn't be a happy chappy if that happens. I mean I paid $7.00 to have the thing delivered to em, but I'm damned if I'm expected to pay to post back when it's their mistake. Bugger. I wish I'd gone with the other mob after all now, not only would I have saved $8, but I'd have received some free stuff and most likely the correct voucher.


Today's quote: Smart people learn from their mistakes. But the real sharp ones learn from the mistakes of others ~ Brandon Mull