Big Bruno's Tokyo Trip 3

Well thought I would post a Cronology of my trip. I leave later today. I try to update throughout the trip on what is going on as well as report on the tokyo game show and what is up and coming. since I am heading out today I thought I would go over how I prep just in case anyone is planing on a trip.
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Day 0
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booked the flight and Hotel back in on June 6th. I usally shop around the best I can, Sometimes I route through L.A. so I can see some friends then fly out. But this time I decided to head straight out from houston. I am fliying Northwest this time cost $1061.00 round trip. about $200 more then I usally get but oh well. Hotel I am staying at is the same I stayed at the last 2 times, the Villa Fontaine Ueno. It is a business class hotel. good price, your own bathroom, free internet and just a few blocks away from Akiharbara This time a good friend of mine is coming out with me so it helps a bit on the room cost.
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So I few checklist items
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1. Passport (make sure you have one )
2. Travel guide (usally I go to Half price books to get a used copy, however tis time bought a ne lonely planet guide for only $20)
3. print and plan some events.
I hate going on tours I prefer to schedule my own time. so planed a few things which I will cover as I go.
4. save up your spending money
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Packing,
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bring 2 suitcase and a duffle bag. packing the small suitcase and duffle bag in the large suitcase with my cloths. This is so I can bring back more stuff.
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Money,
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well looks like the Yen is around 115 a dollar (from 122 several months back) so My exchange should be around 111 at Narita (which I found is best to just convert it there) . now several ways you can go
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1. cash -. have to covert from US to yen and back if you don't spend it.
2. Travel checks - still have to convert but you get a better rate. however you lose that advantage by paying for the traveler checks. They are covered from loss though.
3. Credit card. they give you pretty much an exact exchange rate however most card charge 3% on conversion. If you are luck you have a 1% card (which I have this trip) this actually saves you the most but you need to call your card before your travel so they will not deny your charges, also not everywhere takes credit in Japan.
4. ATM. I have yet to find a ATM machine I can use in Japan. the conversion fee 1% plus your bank fees if any.
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This trip I am taking mostly cash.
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well that most my prep I end up arrive Tuesday Afternoon local Japan time..
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DAY 1
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Ok Arrived in Japan about 1pm local time Tuesday. I hate long flight could not sleep Much. new thing in toyko they will soon be fingerprinting you when you come in, however did not start yet. so get through custom then to our lugage to about 30 min. Exchange rate at the Airport was 112.3 yen to the $ which is a little better then I expected. So I converted all my cash to Yen then headed to the train to take to Ueno. There are 2 trains to take, an express (3,000 yen) or reg JR line, keisa ( 1,000 yen) we took the reg line. then from the train caught a Taxi to the Villa Fontaine Ueno (900 Yen) finally arriving around 3:45pm local time. so from airport to hotel was about 2 1/2 hours.
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so had some time left so we decided to go to akiharbara. Checked out a few of the gaming store and local shops. Just browsing today will have some pictures to share
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here are some pics from Day one
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Welcome to Tokyo
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170447.JPG
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random city Pic
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170453.JPG
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Room Pics
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170458.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170455.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170457.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170456.JPG
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Some pics from Akiharbara
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170464.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170467.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170468.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day1/P9170473.JPG
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Day 2
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Woke Up real early about 3am (usally happens after Jet Lag). so we decided to leave the hotel around 5 Am to head out, First stop Ueno Park. Of course everything was closed there that early in the morning' we wander around for a bit and took some pictures then decided to go to the ghibli. I followed the instruction written here ( http://digilander.libero.it/joe.chip/ghibli_e.htm ) however I will say upon visiting the JTB a notice was put out stating that they will no longer be selling ghibli tickets after sept 30,2007. so after that date I am not sure where you can get them. anyway trip to mitaka was about 40 min from our station. got there around 9am and the JTB does not open until 10:30, so we look around the town eat some breakfeat and hit a local game store. once the JTB open we purchased out tickets for 1000 yen then walked back to the station to catch the BUS to the museum for 150 yen. this is my second time there since I went last year as well. This time the move was about a lost dog. I liked the water spider movie a little better but this one was good as well. The visiting exhibit was the 3 bears which was kinda cool, last year was wallace and gromit. other then that there was nothing to new I noticed, some changes in the gift shop and some of the artwork displayed. we finished out tour around 2pm so decided to walk back to the station and head back to the hotel. along they way we made a quick stop by Shinjuku at looked around then went back to the hotel.
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My feet are killing me. Mistake #1 NEVER BUY NEW SHOES BEFORE YOUR TRIP I bought some Dr. scholl's shoes since my shoes were a bit worn and I needed a new pair. I also thought It would be better on my feet. well since they are not broken in of course I have tore me feet up. I am hopefull it will be better tomorrow but if not I will just suffer through.
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A little later that night we went back to akiharbara and I hit Mak-jp . I know these guys from previouse trips and really thank they are better to deal with then the guys from g-front. I picked up several games which i will list below. I also hit some more shops in Akiharbara. Just be prepared to come across several hentai figures, games, dvd's and books as you look through stuff. Usally it is sectioned off but sometimes not. Also you have to walk thorugh each floor to get up to the one you are looking for. well I bought several DVD's of beatmania and some other game mixs, stuff I could not get in the US. I also picked up the internation version of X-2 and virtual on marz.
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Now I am calling it a night but will be up tomorrow. depending on how my feet are will decided what I will do.
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Pics from Ueno park and Ueno
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http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180017.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180040.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180072.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180075.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180096.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180095.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180122.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180129.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180135.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180142.JPG
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Ghibli Museum (You can not take pictures inside)
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http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180170.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180180.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180186.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180190.JPG
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Couple of pics from Shinjuku
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http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180218.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180221.JPG
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Akihabara and Stuff bought for the day
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http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180003.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180006.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180009.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day2/P9180011.JPG
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Stuff bought
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Azumanga dioah for Naomi
fist of the North Star for Atomiswave
Rumble fish 1 for atomiswave
Beatmania dvd Vol 1& 2
Final Fantasy X2 internation + last Mission
Nitro Live Mix DVD
Kung Fu generation Music Videos
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Next Day 3

sorry not a lot of time to write but here are some pics

http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/day3/

well basically Day 4-5 was the TGS which I uploaded pics to the SNK-Capcom site to view

Day 6

Tokyo game show in the morning and the Koenji Pop Festival 2007 at night. here are some pics of the cokeman at the TGS

http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/Day6/P9220016CM.JPG
http://www.neogeocentral.com/images/Toyko3/Day6/P9220017CM.JPG

Phil