Trip To Japan - Pricing and Recommendations

TheHemming wrote: ↑Can anyone recommend who to fly through to get to japan, and know of a good price for flights? this would be may to september of 09.

We have a friend (TESL Teacher) that can provide a room, we just need to get to Naha from Toronto. Our friend can arrange an in japan flight to get from Naha to Okinawa.

May to September is the best time frame for us and her, and it's been our dream to go there. We just don't want to spend everything on the flight ... best going rate I have seen is about $1000/pp + about $500 gas tax.

Let me know if you see anything good.

Naha is in Okinawa. Do you mean from Toronto-->Narita(Tokyo)-->Naha(Okinawa)?

There is no direct flight from Toronto to Naha. You can only fly direct to Narita (Tokyo). Please note that there are two airports in Tokyo, Narita and Haneda. Narita Airport is usually for international flights; while Haneda Airport is usually for domestic flights. If your domestic flight (Tokyo to Okinawa) flies from Haneda Airport, you'll have to find your way from Narita Airport to Haneda Airport.

I booked with Toureast 2 years ago in Summer, it was $1150 incl of tax. You can search their website and find the phone number.

I haven't been to Okinawa, but if you plan to stay in Tokyo, I'll be able to give you some advice. Let me know.

Peppermintpatty wrote: ↑Naha is in Okinawa. Do you mean from Toronto-->Narita(Tokyo)-->Naha(Okinawa)?

There is no direct flight from Toronto to Naha. You can only fly direct to Narita (Tokyo). Please note that there are two airports in Tokyo, Narita and Haneda. Narita Airport is usually for international flights; while Haneda Airport is usually for domestic flights. If your domestic flight (Tokyo to Okinawa) flies from Haneda Airport, you'll have to find your way from Narita Airport to Haneda Airport.

I booked with Toureast 2 years ago in Summer, it was $1150 incl of tax. You can search their website and find the phone number.

I haven't been to Okinawa, but if you plan to stay in Tokyo, I'll be able to give you some advice. Let me know.

You forgot about Kansai International.

Kasakato wrote: ↑You forgot about Kansai International.

Really? I didn't know that there's direct flight from Toronto to Osaka! I'm planning to go to Japan again in 2010, probably Kansai+Shikoku this time. I can find very limited info on Shikoku, and I'm a little worried.

Kasakato wrote: ↑You forgot about Kansai International.

We don't even have flights to KIX anymore from Vancouver. Air Canada stopped because of the cost.

Peppermintpatty wrote: ↑I'm planning to go to Japan again in 2010, probably Kansai+Shikoku this time. I can find very limited info on Shikoku, and I'm a little worried.

Shikoku is a lovely place. I fell in love with the rustic charm and the local specialties (there's a different one everywhere). Look up JTB and JR Shikoku for some information in Japanese.

Also looking for cheap round trip airfare, August 2009.

Have a look at HIS Canada. I have no experience with them but on their website it says you can get it for about $900 round trip:
http://www.his-canada.com/en/air/rt/rt. ... nrt&num=21

thanks for all the updates.

my wife was doing the shopping, so i didn't know which airport was where geographically.

So we have somewhat firmed up our date

We'd probably leave on or around May 1st/2nd and be there for 2 weeks. It's weird to leave one day and arrive at about the same time the next day.

If anyone catches a good rate ... please let me know! if we can get under $3k for 2 people, that'll be awesome.

You can fly into Tokyo, then take night bus/train to your destination. Even domestic ANA flights are not too bad.

For domestic flights within Japan, you should consider taking advantage of the JAL Yokoso fares for foreign travelers.

http://www.jal.co.jp/yokosojapan/

Peppermintpatty wrote: ↑Really? I didn't know that there's direct flight from Toronto to Osaka! I'm planning to go to Japan again in 2010, probably Kansai+Shikoku this time. I can find very limited info on Shikoku, and I'm a little worried.

Rather, I was getting more at:
Please note that there are two airports in Tokyo, Narita and Haneda

I believe Northwest has a flight into Kansai from Detroit, but its ending soon. Its a really nice airport to fly into.

May is a good time. July is the start of the rainy season. A good time to go is when the cherry trees bloom. It's like a national holiday there.

Kasakato wrote: ↑Rather, I was getting more at:
Please note that there are two airports in Tokyo, Narita and Haneda

I believe Northwest has a flight into Kansai from Detroit, but its ending soon. Its a really nice airport to fly into.

Narita handles all the international flights while haneda handles the domestics and some international.

naha is located on the main okinawa island. you'll probably have to have a stop over at nartia.

I've noticed that May usually has cheap flights to Tokyo. About $500 before taxes. A buddy of mine went a few years ago at that price and I saw it again last year. I suggest you fly into Tokyo and as one of the other members said take advantage of the JAL program. It works out to be about $100 each way. I think ANA has a siminlar program as well.

Desalex wrote: ↑May is a good time. July is the start of the rainy season. A good time to go is when the cherry trees bloom. It's like a national holiday there.

Hmm... I'm planning to go at the end of July for 3 weeks. Is that still the rainy season? And just how 'rainy' is the rainy season?

Peppermintpatty wrote: ↑Naha is in Okinawa. Do you mean from Toronto-->Narita(Tokyo)-->Naha(Okinawa)?

There is no direct flight from Toronto to Naha. You can only fly direct to Narita (Tokyo). Please note that there are two airports in Tokyo, Narita and Haneda. Narita Airport is usually for international flights; while Haneda Airport is usually for domestic flights. If your domestic flight (Tokyo to Okinawa) flies from Haneda Airport, you'll have to find your way from Narita Airport to Haneda Airport.

I booked with Toureast 2 years ago in Summer, it was $1150 incl of tax. You can search their website and find the phone number.

I haven't been to Okinawa, but if you plan to stay in Tokyo, I'll be able to give you some advice. Let me know.

Planning a trip to just Toyko for 10-12 days. Hoping you could give me a tips on how to start and also if you can provide me with more info. thanks

Desalex wrote: ↑May is a good time. July is the start of the rainy season. A good time to go is when the cherry trees bloom. It's like a national holiday there.

Spor 13 wrote: ↑Hmm... I'm planning to go at the end of July for 3 weeks. Is that still the rainy season? And just how 'rainy' is the rainy season?

depends on the area but end of may/beginning of June isn't that great of a time to go to Tokyo/Kyoto.

I went last year at that time and it was already starting to rain.

Here is more info on the rainy season in Japan:

Region Start End
Okinawa May-09 June-09
Southern Kyushu May-09 July-09
Shikoku June-09 July-09
Kinki (incl. Osaka, Kyoto) June-09 July-09
Kanto (incl. Tokyo) June-09 July 20
Northern Tohoku June-09 July-09

More info here: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2277.html

Average rainfall in Japan: http://www.infohub.com/destinations/asi ... /70556.htm

unfortunately we didn't get the vacation approved at both of our works, so we booked a new date off.

October 25th, 2009 is now booked on both sides and is our new departure date.

W00T for approved vacation, and I'll need some by then. Ishigaki should be wicked since it should be past the bad weather season.

Spor 13 wrote: ↑Hmm... I'm planning to go at the end of July for 3 weeks. Is that still the rainy season? And just how 'rainy' is the rainy season?

I don't think end-of-July is a "rainy season". Afterall, I think it's all about luck. Who knows when it's going to rain in July? I went to Tokyo in July 2007 and there was a huge rainstorm the evening when I landed. But guess what? It became sunny the next day! Throughout the 15-day journey, it only shower/rain for 3 days only, but the day we left it was raining like crazy (imagaine carrying the luggage and walk to the train station)! I had to change when I got to the airport.

The weather forcast in Japan is quite accurate. You can check up to 10 days ahead. So just keep checking the weather before you leave and make adjustments with your plan (i.e. Go shopping or to a museum in a rainy day; Sight-seeing or Go to a Theme-Park on a bright sunny day...).

KEEP IN MIND: You can't control the weather, but don't let the weather control you either.

Yahoo! Japan weather forcast: http://weather.yahoo.com/Tokyo-Japan/JA ... ecast.html

dokie wrote: ↑Planning a trip to just Toyko for 10-12 days. Hoping you could give me a tips on how to start and also if you can provide me with more info. thanks

Just say it upfront: I am not an expert (I'm not from Japan). However, I did a lot of preparation everytime I go to Japan. I'll PM you over the weekend, or better yet, if you can PM me with some more info, for example:

No. of people travelling/gender/age;
Budget (high-end hotel? business hotel? or hostel?);
Places of interest;
Willingness to try authenic/new food;
Sense of direction...

I'll try my best to help.