It sounds exactly like my previous trip in Japan! (Don't tell my boss on the expensive part though :p, not as deadly though @ 100 USD per head BBQ meat)

Like the OP and apparently many others, my wife and I adored our time in Japan. So much so that we'll be returning in a couple of months for a short stay (that could become an extended stay if the situation in Thailand doesn't cool down).

Initially we were worried about the language barrier but the half dozen or so phrases we committed to memory served us well (either that or everyone we came in contact with humoured us). We found the Japanese friendly and extremely helpful i.e., looking for a particular restaurant in Ginza without much luck we stopped into the Hotel Seiyo to ask the concierge/front desk staff if they could point us in the right direction. Instead of a map or a few pointers we got an escort right to the restaurant's door. In our experience this was the norm.

In terms of the cost, it seems that the sensational aspects have become ingrained in the public’s consciousness. Sure you could blow 20,000 yen taking a cab from Narita to central Tokyo, but the fact that there are numerous cost-effective alternatives or that the distance traveled in said taxi could exceed 90 km never seems to enter into the discussion. With a little research it’s possible to get excellent accommodations and service across all price points, which isn’t always true in Europe or North America.

Overall the people were wonderful and the value for dollar was unparalleled.

Too true.

However, I believe that the connections into Tokyo from NRT are not great. Or, actually, extremely disappointing for what one expects from Tokyo after being wow-ed on so many other aspects. I have not taken the train into town, but hear that it does not take you to the centre/is not that convenient. I took the bus which dropped me right off at my hotel (and at others) but it was 1x/hr.

Seems we routinely got reminded how the farmers in Narita screws Tokyo airport, with farmland on runway and turning down Narita Shikansen with legal actions.

Depends on where Jamoldo stays you may want to try the Narita Sky Access after July, taking 36 min to Ueno is at least something on par with Hong Kong. (Or simpler alternative, fly Haneda after October)

Trains work great when you don't have many bags and your lodging is near one of the stations. Trains are not going to beat limousine bus' door-to-door service, but they will always be punctual and often less expensive.

I have always taken train to and from the airport. Mostly Keisei Limited Express because I am on a budget. They are only few minutes slower and costs about half as much as the Skyliner..

I find the train very convenient, just depends on where you are going and how much luggage you might have.

The Narita Express train can take you to the major areas of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Tokyo etc in Central Tokyo.

The new Skyliner service opening later this year can wisk you to Central Tokyo (nippori station) in 36 minutes, where connections can be made to other lines.

As for communications in Japan, my first trip to Japan I knew zero/zip Japanese and getting around I found it was easier then my hometown back in the states! While Thailand maybe cheaper , I guess most SE Asian countries are, the experience is very different. Not to pound on Thailand or anything because it is a nice country, but seeing beggers and child beggers might be a turn off to some who are spending a bit on a vacation. Any case I never found Japan to be very expensive, I was in New York City last week and there was like 4 dollar bottle of Soda! Now that was expensive. Though like any place, you can spend money like kings or you can budget and still have a nice trip.

what is this place? The New Koyo? I always stay at the same place near Nezu - on the Chioyda Line. 5000yen - they have a nice bath - nice ryokan

Look forward to taking this. Too bad it will cost 2400 yen. I might take JR instead if they still have the SUICA + NEX offer in August

I realized that even though Japan can be expensive, the quality you get is extraordinarily high. I vividly remember one experience at the Conrad Tokyo where I wanted to have light dinner in their casual restaurant Cerise. I ordered the croque monsieur, ¥1,600 which I thought was pretty expensive.

What came out of the kitchen was a absolutely delicious dish. Cheese melted to perfection, bread toasted just right, accompanied by a side of perfectly crispy frites and a generous sized, appropriately dressed salad. It was better than any croque monsieur I had in France, even better than the highly raved croque monsieur at Bar Boulud in NY.

Once I factor in the superior dish, along with typically outstanding service one find in Japan, tax and service included, ¥1,600 is a bargain, especially compared to this place that charges €24:

http://www.plaza-athenee-paris.com/u...%20Galerie.pdf

This is so true. My US relatives (other than my parents) are like this. I've lived in Japan for over 14 years, and they have never shown even the slightest interest in visiting. They didn't even come for my wedding. It's not that they're averse to travel -- they've been to Europe and all over the US. But mention Japan, and their eyes glaze over, and they either try to change the subject or give me a litany of excuses. (To be honest, it has really strained my relationship with them.)

At any rate, I'm glad the OP had such a good time! I hope you can get back and have even more fun! Japan is indeed an amazing country.

I stay at the aizuya inn

http://www.aizuya-inn.com/


check it out! Its a great place to stay!

Honestly, the Narita express is very simple and convenient to get into central Tokyo! Whlie its not the cheapest option, the 60 mins is a very quick trip, in my opinion!

Find some new and cooler relatives. :D

Seriously, not showing up to the wedding would have tee'd me off.

Joking aside, it took my parents over 3.5 years to come to China, and it was well after I lived in the mainland (and that my Chinese level had lowered a bit). We did the standard stuff (Great Wall, Terra Cotta Warriors, 5 star hotels, non-Chinese food etc). Before coming, they would do the same thing (change the topic etc) and it would drive me up the wall.

Now? It seems they really enjoyed their visit and since the Embassy in DC gave them a one year multiple entry, they just might be back later this year...

Tell me about it. My mother, who's been coming to Japan and China since before I was born, has been harping to my uncle that he should come visit, it would we well worth it, etc. Well, finally after 45 years of bringing this up, he's finally coming this Spring.

And he's not exactly a homebody. He lives in California and travels to Europe and the Middle East quite frequently, which from California is farther than Japan.

Just to throw my two cents in, I visited Sapporo last year (for the Hokkaido ski resorts) and found the prices perfectly reasonable.

My wife and I lived in Tokyo for almost 4 years in the mid-90s. We absolutely loved it there. You can have anything you want in Japan, and especially in Tokyo. Prices range all over the map, but they are coming down. It's no news that Japan has been seeing price deflation for the last several years. Of course Americans are exposed to exchange rate risk, but the yen prices are deflating. When we lived there, a cup of coffee (a single cup...no refills) in a kissaten coffee shop was 700 yen; call it $7. Prices were the same pretty much everywhere. Then Starbucks showed up. Today there are fantastic "Starbucks Style" coffee shops all over the place and you can get excellent Japanese coffee for less than half what it used to cost, with all the variations you expect in the US.

The same goes for food. The range of prices is mind boggling, but the quality is always first rate. I attended a business dinner with some bigshots from Sony while I lived there. This was a very fancy kaiseki dinner complete with Geisha entertainers (they were all in their 50s:(), and lots of sake and beer. It cost the $ equivalent of $3000 per person. But then I could go to my local ramen shop the next day and have a delicious lunch for $7.

I guess my point is that if you are on a budget, you can get along quite well in Japan. Others have set out examples of hotels/hostels/ryokans, as well as less expensive travel options. It's a great country. Go see it.

Tokyo is expensive the way many major cities are expensive. New York, London, Paris, etc. That said, there are ways to find reasonable prices quite easily, and you don't have to go over the top, just as in London, Paris, etc. The yen is pretty high right now which makes it a little harder, but what the heck!

The biggest challenge I have had in Japan was keeping my wife happy (a picky eater) while satisfying my own cravings for Japanese foods she wouldn't eat.