Planning a trip to Niigata

[The Pond Digger]

In another thread it was stated it takes a minimum of 2k to 3k to visit Japan on a fishing excursion.

So lets say you have an "IN" with someone that will take you into the private sector of Niigata to visit some of the breeders. Let's say you even have a stack of thousand dollar bills to drop on some koi!

What is the best time to go? I would love to be in Niigata around the time they are harvesting the mud ponds!

I would also love to be there in the dead of winter when the banks of the streets are six feet deep in snow! Visiting the green houses in the dead of winter would be awesome in the true sense of the word AWESOME.

Which time season would you choose to visit as your first visit?

It would be nice to do some additional touring of say some bonsai gardens, karate studios, hot sushi spots, experience a real Japanese shiatsu, get a tattoo of a DRAGON, consume much saki and other Japanese cultural experiences.

Not including the cost of purchasing koi, what would be a dollar figure goal a person should stash for a trip to Japan?

Looking forward to the different feedback.

[koiczar]

How much time do you want to spend there? How much traveling and where, besides Niigata, would you want to go. What type of foods interest you? What level of hotel can you consider as acceptable? Lots of variables are involved in the answer. Suffice to say, if you just went to Niigata, koi hunting, and you live in California, you could go for around $1500.00 including airfare, hotel, food (not including high end restaurants but good noodle houses and maybe even a little sushi/saki), and your train and car transportation. The hotels you stay in are not that expensive. Now, staying in Tokyo or Kyoto or Osaka, now that can cost you quite a bit more. So will the food and sightseeing adventures, depending on your mode of transportation. You could easily spend $3000-$4000 for a week in those places-and that's per person!

Mike

[aquitori]

Mike has touched on alot of the factors to planning a trip...One thing I would also add is find a tour guide or dealer that you are comfortable guiding you through Niigata.

[trac]

If you are going sight seeing starting from Tokyo I would suggest a Rail Pass just the cost of the Shinkansen alone from Tokyo to Niigata would probably pay for it. I think the rail pass is running about $265 for a 7 day pass right now with unlimited travel, unreserved Shinkansen seating. So you could go almost anywhere on the JR line I've used it to go to Niigata and down to Osaka and then all the way down to Kochi I sure got my moneys worth out of it.

If you want cheap hotels probably look for a Business hotel real cheap but VERY Small :-) at least for what you may be used to last one I stayed in had about a foot of space from head of the bed and part of the side just enough room for one suitcase at least the one I stayed at in Tokyo which was about $45 a night pretty darn cheap for Tokyo :-) Oh of course you should check if it's real cheap it probably has community bath facilities so ask first.
Niigata area Business hotels are probably a bit cheaper and probably bigger.

Side streets have the best food and cheaper prices so look around if you are on a budget.

Terrance

[The Pond Digger]

What is the travel time between Tokyo and Niigata? What is the sight seeing like during the travel on the rail?

The Pond Digger

[The Pond Digger]

Of course I knew my questions would create questions.

For all of the trouble to make the trip to Hawaii, I can't imagine staying there for less than three or four days. I imagine one week in Japan would be a bare minimum. Please Advise........

I like food PERIOD! You should see my belly! I'm not just bald, I'm plump! The good news it's one of the few things that is paid for in full!

I thought I was thrifty on my trip to Hawaii and the room was still 250 a night! The original choice was 450! So it sounds like there is room for play with someone quoting 45 per night for a tiny bed. The little lady has no desire to make the journey with me so, I could handle a couple roaches but community baths I might frown on.

As far as transportation goes.....I'm not good at being a passenger but don't plan on getting behind a wheel while I'm there. The rail pass sound like a plan. I am still curious to know what the travel time is between Tokyo and Niigata.

So it looks to me like I will be shooting for 5k so I have some extra cash for that shiatzu, dragon tattoo and gifts for the family.

Now you could dump me off in Mexico and I definately wouldn't starve or go without from lack of communication! "Puedo trabajo para una cervesa y tres taquitios." Besides having an escort/translator in Japan is there a crash course book (Japanese Language for Dummbies) I should consider so I know how to order food, beer or a tattoo, I mean koi with the proper ettiquite?

Looking forward to understanding the terrain and culture. Your feedback is much apprieciated.



Respectfully,

The Pond Digger

Quote: Originally Posted by koiczar How much time do you want to spend there? How much traveling and where, besides Niigata, would you want to go. What type of foods interest you? What level of hotel can you consider as acceptable? Lots of variables are involved in the answer. Suffice to say, if you just went to Niigata, koi hunting, and you live in California, you could go for around $1500.00 including airfare, hotel, food (not including high end restaurants but good noodle houses and maybe even a little sushi/saki), and your train and car transportation. The hotels you stay in are not that expensive. Now, staying in Tokyo or Kyoto or Osaka, now that can cost you quite a bit more. So will the food and sightseeing adventures, depending on your mode of transportation. You could easily spend $3000-$4000 for a week in those places-and that's per person! Mike

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Pond Digger What is the travel time between Tokyo and Niigata? What is the sight seeing like during the travel on the rail? The Pond Digger

I have done the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagaoka Station (it is where you get off for Niigata) many times and I have never really paid attention to the time it takes. I think it is 2 - 2 1/2 hours. There is not a lot to see as about half of the trip is in a tunnel.

[The Pond Digger]

Very Interesting!

The Pond Digger

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell Peters I have done the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagaoka Station (it is where you get off for Niigata) manay times and I have never really paid attention to the time it takes. I think it is 2 - 2 1/2 hours. There is not a lot to see as about half of the trip is in a tunnel.

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Pond Digger Very Interesting! The Pond Digger

Actually it is many tunnels. With the high speed train you need a direct route through the mountains.

[trac]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Pond Digger Of course I knew my questions would create questions. For all of the trouble to make the trip to Hawaii, I can't imagine staying there for less than three or four days. I imagine one week in Japan would be a bare minimum. Please Advise........ I like food PERIOD! You should see my belly! I'm not just bald, I'm plump! The good news it's one of the few things that is paid for in full!

You might starve just joking portions are smaller than the average American meal so definately look into the side streets so you get a little bigger portions and its cheaper! so you can get more

Quote: I thought I was thrifty on my trip to Hawaii and the room was still 250 a night! The original choice was 450! So it sounds like there is room for play with someone quoting 45 per night for a tiny bed. The little lady has no desire to make the journey with me so, I could handle a couple roaches but community baths I might frown on.

$250 to $450a night yikes! but if you have the other half with you probably anything less would get you grief Sheesh maybe it's the bigger hotels (Hilton, Prince Hotel, Hyatt,)that cost that I haven't checked lately... I know some others that are cheaper but still really nice.

Now remember $45 room in Tokyo is probably the size of some of your Home bathrooms and those hotels are pretty much a no frill hotel for business travelers on the cheap. I know I did pay a decent $100 a night at the Shinagawa Prince hotel in 2005 they had a web special that was pretty decent.

Quote: As far as transportation goes.....I'm not good at being a passenger but don't plan on getting behind a wheel while I'm there. The rail pass sound like a plan. I am still curious to know what the travel time is between Tokyo and Niigata.

I think the travel time is about 3 hours but a lot of the way is in tunnels and sunken railways. as you get nearer to the country you will see some really nice sites like 600 year old homes with roofs made of reeds still looking beautiful. but that passes by a bit quickly. If winter time you will see a lot of people skiing or taking the train to go skiing.
Oh word of advice Bentos on the train are not that great get one at the train station its a bit better.

Quote: So it looks to me like I will be shooting for 5k so I have some extra cash for that shiatzu, dragon tattoo and gifts for the family. Now you could dump me off in Mexico and I definately wouldn't starve or go without from lack of communication! "Puedo trabajo para una cervesa y tres taquitios." Besides having an escort/translator in Japan is there a crash course book (Japanese Language for Dummbies) I should consider so I know how to order food, beer or a tattoo, I mean koi with the proper ettiquite? Looking forward to understanding the terrain and culture. Your feedback is much apprieciated. Respectfully, The Pond Digger

Tattoos I wouldn't know where to get one maybe Harajuku or Shibuya?? gifts Ueno might be a good place to check out one side is shopping the other Motorcycle alley (where I used to go to buy my bike racing parts for my GP bike)

Whee I would just say wing it and have fun Niigata side I can't really tell you much where to go I just followed my friend who lives in Tokyo.

T.