Nagasaki can be a real pain to get out of.  If you are going to Saga (or by extension, Tosu, Karatsu…)  your last local train to get out is 7:30 pm.  The last White Kamome Limited Express leaves around 9:30.  You came to Nagasaki for the Lanterns / o-bon / fireworks / (maybe even the nightlife, though I am not sure why) so why not enjoy it by staying the night?

Hostel Akari, newly remodeled in 2008, is the answer. I have stayed at this hotel twice and it’s quite cozy.   The location is easy to find (just a few blocks from the Spectacles Bridge) and the staff are friendly.  They have English speakers, but will of course, be delighted to speak with you in Japanese, if you want to have a chat.

Dormitories are 4 or 8 bed.  I stayed in the 4-bed one on the 4th floor.  It had an aircon and was comfortable.  There were two toilets just across the hall and a small bath with a three showerheads (though, curiously, only one stool and basin!)  The bath looked nice: big enough for a couple of folks to enjoy, though I sense that most hostellers would be disinclined to bathe naked together.  Baskets are provided in the small changing area, but  it’s BYOT (bring your own towel + washcloth).  Also, body soap, conditioner, and shampoo are available for 100 yen each.

On other floors they have doubles and twin rooms, as well as singles and three person bunks. The twin I stayed in (on a separate occasion) also had an aircon and had an ensuite toilet and bath…so it was basically like a hotel room, but not as sterile and impersonal.  Twins are 6000 yen (3000 / person)   Dorm bunks are 2500 yen.

There is no curfew:  you let yourself into the lobby via keypad, then use your key to access the stairwells and yet another key for your room.  So pretty secure.

Downstairs, there is a toilet and a den area, where you can use one of the two public computers, watch TV or one of the DVD there, read or learn how to make a paper crane (the hostel collects them for peace ceremonies) .

The lobby has local information, including a bulletin board with things to do on a rainy day.  They also arrange cultural experience (such as an upcoming straw-thatching workshop) and rent bikes (500 yen for the day).   Encrypted Wifi internet access (they provide the key) is available throughout the hostel.

For more information, or to make a reservation,  visit the hostel’s website.  Reception is open from 8 am to 1 pm, then from 3 pm to 8 pm.

Hostel info:

2-2 Kojiyamachi, Nagasaki-city, Nagasaki, 850-0871 Japan
095-801-7900
akari
@nagasaki-hostel.com

• Business hours
  8:00am-8:00pm
  (Closed for lunch 1pm-3pm)
• Check In
  3:00pm-8:00pm
• Check Out
  by 11:00am

BONUS: If you stay on the 8th, the hostel will give you 500 yen off your room to commemorate their 1-year anniversary.  This date falls during the Nagasaki Lantern Festival, so it’s particularly convenient, as the festival sprawls through the same area that the hostel is in.

Planning a trip?  Ryosuke Imai can help!   Imai is the CEO of Wonder Years Co, Ltd.   He studied in California and speaks fluent English.

This year, I wanted to take a long ski trip to a large ski area.  I found an appropriate area, but after thumbing through a half dozen travel brochures, visiting two big-name agencies, and scouring the web, I learned that there are no departures from Fukuoka for my destination!   A few days later, I happened to run into Ryosuke at a festival and remembered his agency.  I emailed him with an inquiry and he gave me a quote and travel options within a day or two–no problem.   So if you are thinking about taking a trip, why not contact Wonder Years?   Their office, located in Hakata-ku, is open M-F  9:00 – 18:00.  They accept payment in cash or via furikomi (bank transfer).

Wonder Years Co. ,Ltd
5th Floor AQUA Hakata
5-3-8 Nakatsu, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi
Fukuoka 810-0801, Japan
TEL:  092-287-9638               M-F 9:00 – 18:00
FAX: 092-287-9501

If you are new to Japan and have a car, one thing that you need to know is that highways (expressways)  are not free to use.  They are all toll roads.  In exchange for your hard-earned yen, you get the privilege of a higher speed limit, two lanes to work with, and no stoplights.  It can cut travel time dramatically–it’s as much as 400% faster.

Generally, tolls are done like parking tickets:  you take a ticket and then pay when you exit.  A few toll roads (for example, the Kyuragi toll road between Taku and Karatsu) require you to pay a fixed toll as you enter. But generally, it is ticket-based.

Nexco (Nippon EXpressway COrp.), the company that  runs the tolls roads, has this website in English that can give you information on using the expressways.

http://global.c-nexco.co.jp/toll/methods.html

So you want to go skiiing or snowboarding in the winter? Here are some things you need to know to get started.

The number one thing you should keep in mind is that January (and early February) are great times to go skiing…but you will have just finished the big Winter Break and New Year’s holiday… so both money and nenkyuu will be tight. You can alleviate the money cramp by putting away some money each month starting in the fall. If you can spare 5 man yen a month, then you should be in a good position later. Put it into an envelope or another banking account or something. And for get it’s there until you need to start paying for things.

Hokkaido is a good place to go: Niseko is popular among international tourists. Rusutsu is wonderful and a bit less trafficked. Resort hotels are expensive but have the added benefit of getting you out on the slopes quickly and, if you are renting equipment, letting you keep your equipment between ski days (rather than getting back in the breadline for skis every morning). I recommend a trip to Hokkaido. But be aware that round-trip airfare from Fukuoka is rarely under 5 man(!) yen. Another option for lodging are 民宿 (minshuku–Japanese Inns / boarding houses). Compared to big hotels, these are hard to find (you may need a Japanese-reading friend to do online research for you or get a recommendation from someone). Another option is hitting up Tatami Timeshare (login to AJET’s website first) and find a JET in Hokkaido. Be aware that although buses do exist, you really need a car to see Hokkaido–so your best bet is to tag along with Hokkaido JETs who are planning to go skiing and have a car with some space.

Tottori-ken also is famous for skiing, though I can’t comment on what it’s like.

The Japanese Alps are another option. I’m going to give them a try this year.

For smaller (cheaper) trips, consider Hiroshima-ken. You and some friends can get a weekend skiing there for around 3 man yen each. Travel agents in Fukuoka are good to consult about this. The usual routine is:

THURSDAY: pack.

FRIDAY NIGHT: go to Fukuoka City , get on an overnight bus.

SATURDAY: go skiing starting from 5 or 6 am (it takes awhile to get gear and get oriented). Stay overnight at a ryokan .

SUNDAY: take a shuttle/bus back to the ski area for another day of skiing (finish up around 4 or 5) and then get back on the bus and get home that night.

These small trips are a good way to try your hand at the “other” winter sport (skiing for snowboarders/snowboarding for habitual skiers). I learned the basics of snowboarding in Geihoku, Hiroshima two years ago. If you are taking a huge, expensive trip to Hokkaido, you may be loath to spend one of your (expensive) days falling on your butt. Closer to home, it’s no big deal.

Finally, Kyushu skiing, while not fabulous (I hear) is available. For a trip you can actually drive to, consider Miyazaki ken. They have Gokase, the southernmost natural snow skiing in Japan, but I have heard that the pistes are a bit crowded.

And what article about skiing would forget to mention Tenzan, Saga’s very own ski area? A typical exchange about it goes something like this:

Co-worker: “And you can go skiing on Tenzan!”

You: “Uhhh… in Saga? It’s too warm.”

Co-worker ( a bit defensively/blithely oblivious) “They MAKE the snow! You can go skiing no matter what the weather!”

You: (silently consider the role ground temperature plays in keeping the manmade snow…snow. Ultimately, you decide not to argue about it and just smile and nod thoughtfully.)

–

BOOKING:

Especially if you want to go around the Snow Festival in Hokkaido, BOOK NOW. Things fill up fast. If you are a procrastinator, you can always go on the HAJET (Hokkaido-AJET) annual ski trip. In the past, they have set their deadline in December (yes, December is “procrastinating” when it comes to booking ski trips). They already have a sign-up/inquiry form on their website if you want to take a look. The biggest problem with the HAJET trip is that they only do one day of skiing, and if you are going to Hokkaido, that is just not enough. One option might be to work out your own accommodation and airfare and then go skiing for a couple of days before the event, joining up with them after. Actually, I kind of want to do that now. But no, Jesse, this year it’s Japanese Alps…which will ALSO be kickass. The HAJET trip will usually require a day or two of nenkyuu, so be sure you can handle that. Finally, if you are fond of mutton/lamb, the HAJET trip usually includes an option for a farewell enkai which is almost always ジンギスカン (”Ghengis Khan”– all you can eat mutton yakiniku, veggies). They give you these HUGE bib-apron things. Oh, good stuff!

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT:

I don’t recommend busing to Hokkaido. There actually IS a ferry that goes 3 times a week from Fukuoka to the Muroran in the southern part of Hokkaido. It takes a long time, something like 38 hours, and makes one stop in N. Honshu. The length of time it takes is the biggest detractor. Another alternative might be to ferry to Kansai (Osaka, for example) and then take trains the rest of the way up. But be sure to compare prices.

NIGHTLIFE:

Aside from nomihoudai (I don’t drink the night before skiing because of the risk of being dehydrated), another great way to increase your ski trip enjoyment is to go to an onsen. Certain JETs, who shall go unnamed, have been known to sneak into ski resort onsen after a hard day on the slopes. Somehow, the snow outside makes soaking in hot water that much more sugoi.

Make this article better! If you have questions or comments, please use the contact form to send a quick note to me.

(Note: these are merely my opinions and suggestions. I purposely left out food and people as highlights, but definitely try the local food and meet some local people. I guarantee it’ll make your trip more interesting. Another note: one person’s dream vacation is another’s nightmare and vice versa, so take care when listening to other people’s opinions of places to go — including my own. Do your own research, relax when you get there and have fun. Bon voyage!)

Thinking of travelling outside of Japan this year? The best advice is to plan ahead, especially for those peak holiday travel times (Christmas, Golden Week and summer vacation). Generally speaking, it is best to check prices and book a flight about three to four months in advance. In most cases, booking well in advance still only guarantees you a spot on a waiting list. What’s going on, you ask? My guess is your friendly travel agent is putting you (tormented soul with money in hand) on the waiting list so that they can wait and see if a big tour bus full of package tourists will be taking the same flight and hence spending a lot more money on their flight, hotels and car rental. Pure economics my friend. It seems to be common practice here. But not to worry, if you start early, you’ll more than likely be going on your trip. The point is book early and you’ll be the first in line on the waiting list; book at the last minute and you’ll be at the end of the queue. Simple as that.

The most common travel agencies are JTB and H.I.S. Feel free to pop in, grab a calendar and start finding cheap quotes. Another option is to e-mail Ogizuka-san (ogizuka@willtour.com) at WillTour in Fukuoka (she speaks English and is very quick getting back to your requests).

Tips

1. Feel free to book a few flights to a few different destinations. You can always cancel the ones you don’t want later.
2. Always check about visas ahead of time. Most travel agents will let you know and many can do the paperwork for you (at a price). Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam all definitely require visas. China and Vietnam will cost you at least 10,000 yen to do in Japan. Cambodia and Laos are much cheaper to have done in Bangkok.
3. For some destinations (e.g. Okinawa and Bali) you might want to ask about a package trip. The flight with hotel and car rental just might be cheaper than a flight alone.
4. March and the beginning of April is when many ALTs find they have little or no work. It’s a great time to get away and take advantage of some cheaper fares.

Destinations

Don’t know where to go? Here’s a quick list of popular spots for holiday-bound JETs.

Australia

• highlights: scuba diving, beaches, nature, everyone speaks English like Paul Hogan
• best time to go: winter here in Japan, summer there

Cambodia

• highlights: Angkor Wat, the killing fields
• definitely the poorest country in S.E. Asia
• need a visa
• best time to go: winter (dry season) / summer (rainy season, but the jungle is lush around Angkor)

China

• highlights: Great Wall, Forbidden City, terracotta warriors, hill tribes, natural beauty
• keep in mind that it’s a big country and Tibet is easier to reach from Nepal
• need a visa
• best time to go: spring or fall

Fiji

• highlights: scuba diving, surfing, great beaches
• a more expensive destination than southeast. Asia, but for many, when are you going to visit South Pacific islands again?
• direct from Seoul
• best time to go: summer

Indonesia

• highlights: Bali, Lombok, temples, culture, Kodomo dragons, scuba diving, surfing
• best time to go: summer

Laos

• highlights: Van Vieng, Luang Prabang, incredible scenery, hill tribes, the Mekong River, plain of jars
• need a visa
• best time to go: winter

Malaysia

• highlights: Sabah, Sarawak, scuba diving, nature, wildlife
• best time to go: spring

New Caledonia

• highlights: French colony, scuba diving, tribes, reggae music
• one of the most expensive South Pacific islands
• a great bike trip destination
• direct from Osaka
• best time to go: summer

New Zealand

• highlights: spectacular nature, hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding
• best time to go: if you like snow head in the summer; if not, winter

Philippines

• highlights: lots of little islands, scuba diving, wonder of the world rice terraces
• best time to go: winter or spring

South Korea

• highlights: shopping in Seoul, nature, DMZ
• from Saga it’s easy to do as a long weekend either flying to Seoul or taking the Beetle (hydrofoil) to Pusan
• best time to go: autumn or spring

Thailand

• highlights: temples, hill tribes, elephants, beaches, scuba diving
• considered by many to be the easiest place to start travelling in southeast Asia (i.e. lots of JETs)
• best time to go: winter

Vietnam

• highlights: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hoi An (hand tailored goods), Mekong Delta, Vietcong tunnels, hill tribes
• need a visa
• best time to go: winter