Tokyo will be cold but Kyoto will be colder. You'll need warm clothing. In Tokyo you can manage will a basic 2-layers (I do OK with a tshirt under a slightly thicker shirt), a sweater over that, and a warm jacket. That should short of give us some temperature adjustability because we'll be moving around between heated places and the open. Gloves are not needed but I think Kyoto may be colder.
They take credit cards in many places in Japan, but remember that use is not as widesread as it is in the US. You'll need to carry cash. Of course, you can pay for stuff like Hotel (and even taxis) with a card.
2000 yen
between 1000 yen to 2000 yen (might need to take a taxi ride)
budget between 1000 to 2000 yen at least. Extra, depending on if you guys drink or not. A beer is called cheap under $5.
A flat rate of 1500 yen, for train+subway+bus. A 1000 yen ticket for the Ed-Tokyo museum.
500 yen (morning sashimi at tsukiji) 500 yen for coffee/breakfast 1000 yen for a Ramen lunch (you'll be stuffed) Budget 500 yen for snacking at my nearby market-street
Might be costly. This is unknown territory! budget some 3000 yen for eating alone
Yes, they charge. 600 yen average for seeing some of the prettier ones. At $5 to see a temple, I'm counting on the collective advice of everyone I know here about what's the best thing to see, and where.
You're covered if you have a 700 - 1000 yen bus pass.
Our sunday visit to this ancient city will cost us 2000 yen each. Nara in connected only by bus, and rides are 100 yen each. Budget for some 8 rides. Budget 1000 yen for eating, which includes local snacks and breakfast. Frankly, I don't know what the heck we will be eating here.
Again, budget some 1000 - 2000 yen.
Plan to do quite a bit, maybe some fancy stuff. So watch out for a 3000 yen dent.
We plan to go up the Tokyo tower. I belive that's some 2000 or (shudder) 3000 yen. ALternatively, there's another high-rise nice-view museum with a gallery that charges 1500 last time I went.
Save some 5000 yen in hand, lest we get waylaid. Possibilities abound!
Raja, Jindal can get a train from right outside tjeir hotel to the airport for 1000 yen (slow but convenient) Arun, you might need a cab ride. Budget 800 yen from my house.
Remember to convert your dollars to yen - *before* you leave the US. That way, you will not have to do it at Narita airport. This is for 2 reasons - 1, at Narita the nice Japanese gentlemen at the counter will put you through a lot of polite but redundant paperwork to give you yen for you dollars. 2,since you land at 1630 or so, it might be a good idea to get the earliest train to Tokyo, so if you have no check-in baggage, you can jump aboard the 17:13 skyliner train to the city.
Look at http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/keisei_us/top.html
At Narita airport, it's easy to find the Skyliner counter. Tickets cost some 2000 yen. Look at the timetable. http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/keisei_us/html/st_ueno_day.html Aim to catch the 26th (17:13 at term1, 17:16 at term2) train, if you can't, then it'll have to be the 28th (17:35).
The Skyliner heads straight for a stop called Ueno, the last stop. so it's a no-brainer. Basically I will be waiting for you at the exit. There's only one exit for the Skyliner trains at the Ueno station.
Call me on 090-9683-3676 (From abroad, that's +81-90-9683-3676) Mail me on faiz-mobile@t.vodafone.ne.jp, I get mail on my phone. I also have an extra phone I will be giving to you guys. I'll carry it on the day I puck you up, so you have 2 numbers where you can reach me. The number is 080-3459-6295.