I’m leaving the country for almost two weeks and as usual, I am slowly freaking out. Each time I prepare to go overseas, I get more and more anxious until I’m so keyed up that only getting on the plane (and thus losing control of what I can do to prepare) calms me down. I don’t know why this happens, and it’s certainly not based on anything rational. I always love the trip once it starts. So I’m sure Becca and Karen are laughing at me as they read this. They’ve traveled with me the most and are all too familiar with my pre-trip freakout.
I’m doing my best to keep it in check with over-the-top organization. I have a one-page list with all the hotels and ryokans we’re staying in, along with address, phone number, website, confirmation number, and total owed. I have a packing list and am 75% packed already. I have about 5 different maps, and have started marking the location of all our hotels on it. (How did I ever go to Europe the first time without any accomodations lined up? These days I can’t seem to handle that kind of uncertainty.) I have 5 different tour books, which is a completely absurd amount, but each one seems to have some bit of information that of course I feel like I must have.
Most of all, I’m freaking out about the whole “cash-based society” thing. I’ve been told, and read, that most places, including some hotels, don’t accept credit cards. And if they do, sometimes the cards don’t work. I’ve been told to carry as much cash as I think I’ll need, but I’m not really in love with the idea of carrying the amount of cash we’ll need for a 12-day trip, including accomodations. Did I mention Japan is an expensive country? And that the yen is getting stronger by the day? That’s a lot of cash to carry.
I seriously need to calm down. I mean, it’s Japan. Not the middle of the desert. We’re talking first world, high tech, very friendly country. So I’m just being a wacko. At least I recognize this, right?
In the end, I am very excited about vacation and seeing a new country. It has been 2.5 years since I last left the U.S and it’s about time I ventured into the world again. I’m not taking my laptop, and my iPhone apparently won’t work (should’ve upgraded to the 3G version, eh?), but it being Japan and all, I feel quite confident that I’ll find a computer here and there to post some quick updates.
Sayonara!
Sarah- deep breath.
Ok, I can tell you from my experience that the no credit card thing is true. I always tried it first and if it happened to work- great! But more often that not it did not work. You have to bring the cash with you. Basically, if is a US-based chain you are visiting (like we stayed at the Park Hyatt- they took Amex no problem!) they will prob take a Visa or an Amex. If it is a Japanese business they most likely will not. You can do travelers checks, but getting them cashed anywhere but the airport or a US based hotel will be tricky. My flight got all messed up and at the Narita airport I had to buy a new ticket. They would not take my company Visa, but my personal Amex worked. It is hit or miss.
Now, the reason for the deep breath- everyone and everything in Japan is over-the-top organized. And people will go way out of their way to help you. You will get the best service of your life there no matter what you are doing.
If you are going to Tokyo- the not-to-be-missed is the Fish Market. Try your best to get there! And if you can find a guide to take you, do it!
I was thinking about writing to Jose and asking if he knew about your tendency to freak-out prior to a big trip. Ah, well he’s a big boy.
Surely you don’t need to carry 12 days worth of cash! Maybe 3-4 days at a time. Surely Tokyo and Kyoto should have ATM machines where you can refresh your cash supply. Or am I wrong?
So so so jealous. Welcome Jose to the world of Sarah’s pre-trip freak out 🙂
I’ve read that while ATMs are plentiful, most of them don’t take foreign cards. From people who’ve been there, I’ve heard both sides — those that said they were able to find ATMs, and those that said it was tough, so take lots of cash.
Japan is so amazing, you will love it. So many wonders. Enjoy the packaging. No one can package stuff like the Japanese. And the sweets full of red bean paste are just sooo alien to a boy from Ohio.
Hope you and Jose have a great trip!!!
I don’t think I can help her find a road race for this trip … 🙂
Jon, you’re not trying very hard!
http://www.namban.org/index.php/races/toda_half_marathon/
And there’s always the Tokyo hashes-I think they have nine:
http://tokyohash.org/
Enjoy your trip, Sarah! I think it’s the piped-in, recirculating air that’s calming. The low oxygen puts me to sleep before I find out where the exit rows are.