Expert: Markos - 10/27/2006

Question
I want to journey to Japan, however, after some of the planning, I got stuck a few areas. I want to stay at Regency Hotel for a few nights, then go to kyoto. I won't be taking a car or bus, but by train and walking. From Nakafuto Station how can I find a close Kyoto hotel under $200 USD? I know nothing about how to get to places. I hope it would be ok if I don't have a JR pass.

Answer
Hi, the budget traveler's guide book is the Lonely Planet guides. You shouldn't go to Asia without one. You can buy it on Amazon.com
You could buy the Lonely Planet guide to Japan, or if you plan on going other places in Northeast Asia, you can get "Northeast Asia on a Shoestring", by Lonely planet as well.  I lived in Japan for four years, but never got to Kyoto. I have made the error of going to the wrong train station more than once. The train station names are so similar. So be careful about that. Sorry, I don't know the specifics of Kyoto, but those guide books should be able to help you out tremendously. In fact, unless you know the place, I don't know how to do it without a shoestring guide. Know this though, the whole budget and backpackers world is using those books now. Other books are really useless.

Good luck,
Mark