First time to Japan, Chiba.

[Matt87]

[FONT=Georgia]Hey people

My name is Matt and I'm 17 from Australia and im coming to Japan in October for 2 months. It will be my first time out of Aus. Im gonna be by my self untill i get to Chiba where I am staying, Im staying with my friends parents. Im not sure what there area is like. Its in Chiba and its called Sawara-shi. I wanna know whats the closest train station, closest shops....ect and if its a alright area.

I'm also wondering if there any groups or places where people like me and other westerns go to hang out or ect...i wanna get to know people who have had the expericnce and knowledge of living in Japan. I just want to talk with some one who is not Japanese so i can at least interact with them and maybe learn something. :relief:

Anyone in the area or surrounding areas please contact me and i would love to hear from you...


Thanks, Matt :cool:

[ArmandV]

You are lucky to be able to go to Japan at a young age, but old enough to really appreciate it.

For starters, it appears that the main train between Tokyo and Chiba is the Sobu line. I've never been to Chiba, so I could not tell you what to do there.

But the main thing is, since you have several months to study up on things before you go, get yourself some travel guide books and maps. One good source is the Japan National Travel Organization (JNTO). Their website is JNTO (http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/). You can get free maps and guide books from them. They have an office in Sydney and there's a link to it.

I am sure other JREF members here can steer you to other sources for info.

[Dutch Baka]

GANBATE NE, daijoubu !!!! :p :p
enjoy ne!!!

[Row]

aww ur such a lucker =D

[kuntow]

I always advocate a visit to the Costco in Chiba City. But then again, I'd been stuck in inaka for two months on the other side of Chiba and was craving cheap pizza which only Costco can provide. :-)

[Matt87]

Hey guys

Thanks for the info ArmandV..

I have got plenty of books and maps...im gonna get some more that are small enough for a bag or something...they are fairly big. Well im gonna do some research on the Chiba area...um is it easy to find internet cafes around the place? i will be using them alot.

And from my 2 months stay....im just trying to get a rough idea of spending money...how much is suttible for that amount of time? Im intrested in going to most of the attractions....i wont be going out everyday....i just want to get a rough idea. :wave:

like food....i want to buy some eletrical stuff....gifts to bring back all that stuff....


also....im going to be catching trains ....so i just want to get a day pass...for unlimited travel....any prices?

thanks guys...appriciate it..

<Matt> :p :p

[ArmandV]

Hey guys

Thanks for the info ArmandV..

I have got plenty of books and maps...im gonna get some more that are small enough for a bag or something...they are fairly big. Well im gonna do some research on the Chiba area...um is it easy to find internet cafes around the place? i will be using them alot.

also....im going to be catching trains ....so i just want to get a day pass...for unlimited travel....any prices?

thanks guys...appriciate it..

<Matt> :p :p

The only day passes (unlimited) I know of are for the Tokyo city limits only on JR trains and Eidan subway lines. The cost is 1,580 yen per adult. There's also one for the JR lines only in the Tokyo city limits at 730 yen per adult.

There are plenty of Internet cafes around. I had no trouble finding any.

The reason I keep emphasizing maps is that Tokyo has a weird addressing system and it is easy to get lost. A friend who has traveled to Japan a few more times than me still gets lost. A good map is your best friend in Tokyo.

[m477]

Chiba city or prefecture? Chiba prefecture is a very large, diverse place...

[ArmandV]

Chiba city or prefecture? Chiba prefecture is a very large, diverse place...

Excellent point. I've always assumed he's been talking about Chiba City.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

There is one Internet cafe in Sakura-shi, Chiba. :cool:
http://www.itagaki.net/pc/ic/chiba.html
A Japanese Internet cafe is comics coffee shop.

The Internet cafe which all over Japan is for
http://www.itagaki.net/pc/ic/

A homepage to search of an effective course of a train
This can search some courses to purpose Station and time, a rate.
But it is the kanji input. :sorry:
http://ekitan.com/
Other
http://transit.yahoo.co.jp/
http://transfer.www.infoseek.co.jp/Train?pg=tr_route_top.html&sv=SR
http://www.excite.co.jp/transfer/
http://transit.msn.co.jp/

This is a homepage supporting translation. :wave:
http://honyaku.yahoo.co.jp/transtext
http://www.nifty.com/globalgate/
http://www.infoseek.co.jp/Honyaku?pg=honyaku_top.html
http://translate.livedoor.com/
http://www.ocn.ne.jp/translation/
http://www.yakushite.net/WebObjects/YakushiteNet.woa/guestIndex.html

[Matt87]

Im Staying in Chiba Prefecture...its Called Sawara Shi...is that out of the city?

[epigene]

When you say "out of the city," do you mean "out of Tokyo"?

Sawara is a city, although small. If you're asking if you're far from Tokyo, yes, you're a bit far. You're much closer to Narita International Airport where you'll land when you arrive in Japan.

If you want to go to Tokyo, expect it to be a full day trip. Tokyo Disneyland may be a bit closer.

Still, living in a small city is quite nice. Hope you enjoy your stay! :cool:

[Matt87]

Is Sawara nice? Yeah i wont be going into Tokyo City every day...maybe twice a week...or when ever i want to. Yeah i knew it was close to the airport. Im going to go to Disneyland a couple of times when im there. I heard sawara is like forest part of Japan..is that correct?

thanks epigene
Matt

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

It takes 1 hour 50 minutes in local train from Sawara Station to Tokyo Station. :-)
A rate is 1,620 yen.
A limited express train takes 1 hour 20 minutes.
A rate is 2,520 yen :relief:

I have been to a play in Sawara-shi from Tokyo.
It is the town which is clean in old row of houses along a city street. :bravo:
There are many national treasures in Katori major shrine.
Of course there is McDonald, too.
http://www.i-sawara.jp/travel/index.php

[epigene]

Matt,

I'm sorry I don't know much about Sawara. I live in the western part of Tokyo. In his post above, Nagashima-san says there are national treasures in the city that you can get to see. Check the URL.

I don't know if it is located in the forest section of Chiba Prefecture. Still, it should be a nice, small town with Internet cafe and MacDonald's!:giggle:

[Pachipro]

Hiroyuki Nagashima-san: Thank you very much for the links to the translation web sites and the train rate sites. As I will be going to Japan next week, this is very handy! :cool: :-)

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Hiroyuki Nagashima-san: Thank you very much for the links to the translation web sites and the train rate sites. As I will be going to Japan next week, this is very handy! :cool: :-)

どういたしまして。
:wave:
Additional information
It is a site of a Japanese map.
http://www.mapion.co.jp/

[ArmandV]

どういたしまして。
:wave:
Additional information
It is a site of a Japanese map.
http://www.mapion.co.jp/


Is there an English version of this?

[Matt87]

Thanks soo much guys and Hiroyuki Nagashima :cool:

Its all helpfull info....!
The train ride doesnt seem that long...i can withstand that time to travel....i will have music or something to read. :cool:

Im checking out that site....its got some good maps and info...

Thanks
Matt :p

[GaijinPunch]

The Japanese transit system has basically given birth to a huge market for books and magazines... make sure you take plenty of English ones unless you like reading Japanese stuff (or want to shell out for month-old magazines).

Anyways, there are plenty of people that commute 1 hour and 50 minutes each way per day in rush hour, so you could definitely do it in the off hours.

As or a monthly pass... they are available OUTSIDE of Japan. Ask a travel agent for them. AFAIK they're a couple hundred bucks (USD) a week, but are worth it if you're going to go far away, as they cover the Shinkansen as well. See if you have a Japanese travel agency near you.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Is there an English version of this?

There are a few sites with a map for English.

http://www.hotspot.ne.jp/en/servicearea/servicearea.html :relief:

http://www011.upp.so-net.ne.jp/mametaro/index-e.html

http://www.mid-tokyo.com/index.html.en
subway
http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/eigyou/subway/welcome/
norikae annai English
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperd01.cgi
map search
http://www.jnto.go.jp/mapindex/E/index.html

[Matt87]

Curious to know....Ayumi Hamasaki...does she do concerts all the time? and are tickets expensive.......and wat about shopping centre apperences?

She is kool, i wouldlnt mind meeting her.

any one leave a reply...

[Mike Cash]

Excellent point. I've always assumed he's been talking about Chiba City.

Hint: The "shi" in "Sawara-shi" means "city"

[Matt87]

ahh i didnt know that mikecash
...
now i know about the Shi at the end of a town...is the city..

KOOL...thanks mate

[Mambo]

Sawara is a nice little place in the middle of nowhere. Not a lot to do there except drink and gaze at festivals and passing schoolgirls.
And the train ride may not worry you, but the infrequent nature of them might. I suggest paying close attention to the timetable otherwise you could be stuck at where-ever you are try to leave from. How do I know this? I live just out of Chiba city and have been to Sawara a few times on business

[Matt87]

Sawara is a nice little place in the middle of nowhere. Not a lot to do there except drink and gaze at festivals and passing schoolgirls.
And the train ride may not worry you, but the infrequent nature of them might. I suggest paying close attention to the timetable otherwise you could be stuck at where-ever you are try to leave from. How do I know this? I live just out of Chiba city and have been to Sawara a few times on business


Yeah, I will get a Time Table as soon as i get there...i need to know what stations i need to get on and off at like the major one in toyko city? :bluush:

And I want to know how to read the time table...they look confusing.....

thanks mambo :p :p :p :cool:

[Matt87]

Question.....

What will the weather be like in September, October and November? I heard it is Storm Season...is it? and will it start getting cold? someone please help....

Thanks :cool:

[ArmandV]

Having been to Japan in November, it only rained one night I was there and the rest of the time it was roughly in the 60s (farenheit). For me, it was light-jacket weather; for the locals, it was parka weather.

[Matt87]

Is it hard to Find clothe sizes for people that are visiting? Im a tall guy and im just curious to know if i would i need to bring heaps of clothes or, can i buy some? I got a GAP shirt from Japan sent to me one, it fitted fine....

[Ewok85]

Hey mate

May is windy, cold and has the odd shower, warming up for summer in June-July when it gets humid. The cold wind is a real killer.

Take a jacket you like, pants, and t-shirts. You should be fine with just the one jacket.

Have fun!

(Oh the shopping in Japan is fine, you'll get stuff that fits OK and the pricing is OK too :D)

Edit: Just pulled my map out to check where you are, Sawara is about 30mins north-east of Chiba city by train. You're close to the Narita city though, I recommned you go check out the temple there, its pretty big and very very popular at new year :wave: