Worlds 2011 Tokyo

[julesgotheblues]

I found some not very expensive (well, by the standards I had set for this ) flights to Tokyo from Poland (not direct though, IIRC) so I'm considering going. I'm so tempted after Worlds in Torino, which was awesome!

Define 'not so very expensive', please? Not that I'd ever dream of actually going, but reaching Poland is easy for me, and then--.

[UMBS Go Blue]

Me, too. Can we organize something???

Sure, once an official website / ticketing contact details are available.

[maatTheViking]

I am considering going and bringing Mr. MaatTheViking. We have never been to Japan and would definitely combine it with some tourism, so we would probably not want to see all the events, though it will depend on the scheduling.

I would be interested if we do the group ticketing thing

[Asli]

Or combine it. That is the way I am planning to do it. Spend a week in Tokyo for Worlds and see a bit of Tokyo and then travel around Japan for 2 weeks. That would be my dream holiday!

Unfortunately mini-Aslis #1 and #2 go enough during my 3-4 short business trips a year, and Mr. Asli would not be too thrilled of my leaving him with the little princesses and making a three-week tour of Japan on my own.

However this year I'm determined to go to the Euros, at least for the second half of the week.

[BreakfastClub]

I'm going with a group of friends and we are already planning the trip. The competition is confirmed at Yoyogi. We first heard pricing and tickets would be available in August, but now our organizer was told that pricing will be available in October w/tix on sale in November - it generally sounds in flux so I would stay alert starting in the summer.

We're doing what Hedwig is planning - traveling around Japan for about 9 days, then 5 days in Tokyo for Worlds. We're pretty hardened veterans who don't watch practices anymore and are pretty disgruntled with the IJS so we will have plenty of time to sightsee during the competition and we are so disgusted with dance we may not attend any of that... Worlds is really more like an excuse to travel Japan!

[midori]

After the worlds would be a great season to trip to Japan. You may also watch many Japanese getting crazy about cherry blossoms

- What arena will it be in?
Yoyogi Gymnasium. The past ISU events in Tokyo were always held in this arena, except 2007 Worlds.

- How many seats?
They have 10037 seats including temporary ones, according to the seating chart for 2005 GPF held in the same arena.
Seating chart for fixed seats: http://naash.go.jp/yoyogi/sisetu/ich...7/Default.aspx

The arena is not small but Tokyo has 14millon people and more in vicinity.
GPF in last December and NHK Trophy in the last season, held in the same arena, both went sold out in a minute

- Is there an official website already?
Not yet IFAIK. I would not expect much for the official website. It is usually just a crap without practical information. Especially for the english one.

- When do the tickets go on sale?
For public individuals in Japan, usually about 3 month before the event.
Not sure for people from abroad. Last GPF they were selling by email.

Sure, once an official website / ticketing contact details are available.

I am also interested in the group ticketing!

I think we should act before that. Last time the official website in English just told us about ticket that "all were completey sold out."

Besides, in Japan public sale is not done by a sole vendor but by 3-7 of them. Event holder allocates seats to each company. I think we should contact JSF well before the allotment is finished. When the ticket information for public is released, it can be too late.

[Marge_Simpson]

I have never been to Japan (would love to go, though!) but would feel a bit nervous touring there on my own. If anyone is interested in doing some group travel before or after Worlds, I would be VERY amenable.

[melonmelon]

I hope that I will be there..
It will be very difficult for foreigner to get events ticket. T.T

[gosia.douceur]

Define 'not so very expensive', please? Not that I'd ever dream of actually going, but reaching Poland is easy for me, and then--.

When I look now, it turns out the flights are actually not as cheap as I initially thought - I thought there were return ones for around 2000 PLN (= around 498 euro) but now it looks like the cheapest return flight is 2916 PLN (= around 726 euro) , which seems to be some kind of a promotion if you fly to Japan on 7th July this year the earliest. Maybe the ones I was thinking of at first weren't return flights, which I didn't notice? Anyway, I posted a question on what kind of prices I might expect for a flight to Japan on a discussion board related to cheap flights and will let you know as soon as I get an answer.

I've never been to Japan either and if I end up going, I'd love to spend some time before or after the competition sightseeing or maybe travelling to some other town(s) but it depends on several factors - how much $ I'd have for this, if my school/work schedule allows to take more days off etc.

The idea with group ticketing is a wonderful one!

[Yunaonlyhope]

I've been to Tokyo twice and I speak some Japanese (JPLT level3). I know some nice, budget hotels in Tokyo and Yokohama as well. Count me in if you are organizing a group tour, because I'm definitely interested in going.

Navigating Tokyo subway is not that hard, Go to "info" centre on subway stations. They will get you a map and draw the line along the route you want to take to your destination. Japanese in general are extremely friendly towards visitors and often go out of their way to help tourists.

Japan outside of Tokyo in February and March is just gorgeous. I strongly recommend visiting Shizuoka, Yokohama as well. Close to Tokyo, yet you can enjoy the beauty of Japan in quieter environment. The only inconvenience I experience was lack of banks that do foreign exchange and indoor smoking. Other than that, I loved, loved, and loved my 2-week stay in Tokyo.

[jlai]

Jan-March 2011 isn't travelling season for me, I'm afraid.
I'll be lucky if I can see the finals at US nationals live.

[tangerine_dream]

Yoyogi seems to be much larger than the National Gymnasium, where the 2007 Worlds were held. Also, Yoyogi is closer to "major fashion action" such as Harajuku...and closer to Shibuya area, so it should be easier to find nearby hotels.

Yup, I'll be there. One foot is already there, so to speak.

I'm just waiting for the first time that a Worlds might be held in Seoul. Perhaps the next Asian host for a Worlds will be Korea (2013, 2014 or whenever)?

Shibuya and Harajuku don't really have many hotels. You'll want to go to Shinagawa or Shinjuku for that (if you want the really posh stuff or more Americanized - read: larger- hotels), or places like Ikebukuro for smaller, better-priced (but too small by many Western people's needs) hotels.

Most Shibuya hotels are love hotels and you probably don't want to go there.

ETA: You'll want to purchase tickets as early as possible. Skating is extremely popular here despite the recession still being felt, and it's not just a few companies selling the tickets. You can buy them from 7-11, 24 hours a day. No waiting.

[lukeanthony]

Well I am definately in for Worlds 2011. It's a shame that tickets come out so late as we will very likely have to book our flights before we know that we have tickets which is always a little nerve-racking. I'm planning on worlds for 5 days then tour Japan for approx 10 days afterwards.

[newfsfan]

I'm definitely interested in going group tour, please count me in.
I am also interested in tour Japan after World to experience cherry blossom.

[Frau Muller]

Shibuya and Harajuku don't really have many hotels..........

There are also a number of mid-priced business hotels. I've already booked the Shibuya Tokyo Inn.

[Rock2]

A few thoughts about Japan having gone there in Summer 2008 to visit a friend who was in the Navy.

Someone mentioned earlier about travelling in the summer. Yes, flights are cheap but it's deathly hot and humid at that time so be careful. The good news about that is that the Japanese aren't that vain, so I walked around with a small towel that I bought, soaked in cold water and wrapped around my neck....to the envy of many of the suit-clad locals.

There is surprisingly little English spoken there. Europeans and North Americans are accustomed to English being at least the second language spoken. Not there...it's Korean from what I can tell! However, that doesn't stop the friendly locals from smilling, articulating the 2-3 words they know in English and employing hand gestures. All quite fun. Restaurants were particularly tough because menus aren't translated although many restaurants -- but not all -- give pictures. I HIGHLY recommend buying a translation dictionary and memorizing 10-20 words such as "beef", "chicken", "water", "tea", "beer" "toilet", "train", "please", "thank you", "yes", "no"....The locals will really appreciate it.

For all the bustle and activity the city is stunningly quiet. The Japanese don't yell or honk horns or spin tires. I couldn't believe it. Rude to talk on cell phone on trains or speak loudly to the person you are sitting with. Shhhhh....be respectful.

I found prices comparable to Toronto...slightly higher.

Harder for me to comment on hotels since I stayed with a friend. We did spend a night in a capsule hotel if you're ok with being packed in like sardines for $30 a night! Too funny...and all the live porn you would want on your closed circuit television! Also in Kyoto we found a buddhist compound with very traditional accomodations on the floor which was way cool. Complimentary meditation sessions, too. Stuff like that does exist if you get crafty.

I will say though that Tokyo is very much spread out and there is no downtown (the city is zoned for mixed use all over so there is no pure residential area and no pure commercial area). So, just look for a hotel near a train stop and you're good to go. The network is amazing...and you only get really packed in like sardines during rush hour hear Tokyo station. It's fine elsewhere and not that crowded.

Do NOT go just for World's. I highly recommend staying. I was there for 10 days. Spent half the time in Tokyo and then had a rail pass that I used to travel to Osaka (bustling with more of a west coast feel), Kyoto (traditional with amazing walking tours and old world feel) and Hiroshima (go for the war museums). Do these places if you want to do "city". Or if you like the bathing culture, Japan has the most number of public baths in the world with hot springs, etc. Look into this and head in the area north towards Nagano for what I would anticipate would be some stunning spa-like retreats.

Oh, on the rail pass, you only get the great deal as a tourist and you must purchase BEFORE you get to Japan. These are not for purchase inside of Japan although hey are validated there. I can't remember if the rail pass covers Tokyo rail system. I believe it didn't.

Those are my tips. I'm sure the Japanese posters on here can jump in with a LOT more...but good luck. I highly recommend!!

[Yunaonlyhope]

I found prices comparable to Toronto...slightly higher.

Did you try bentos' at Kombini (convenient) stores or supa (grocery stores)? You get good meals for $5 to $10. Kombinis are your friends. Little hole in the wall udon places (you will see the picture of udon with sign saying, うどん)　serve good sobas and udons for 500yens or less.

Languages, you are right. Korean and Japanese are remarkably similar. I suspect common ancestry between these two groups. There is a huge group of Korean-Japanese living in Japan (Zainichi Koreans) and Korean students studying in Japanese universities.

And yes, there are so many places to explore, Kanazawa, Kamakura, Kobe, etc, etc. If I go to Japan, I probably wouldn't bother watching figure skating. Plan for a minimum of 2 weeks

[Marge_Simpson]

Are there hotels in walking distance of the arena? And what is the subway stop for Yoyogi?

[UMBS Go Blue]

1) Go to maps.google.com
2) Type in "yoyogi national gymnasium, tokyo"
3) A picture of the arena should come up as the first search result; click on it and a pop-up window will appear within the map
4) In this pop-up, "search nearby..." for hotels; numerous hotels within walking distance will pop up
5) In the map, you will also see that Yoyogi is right next to Harajuku station, a major station, so you could easily hop on a train to anywhere else in Tokyo with hotels.

I don't speak Japanese, but do have familiarity with Chinese characters, so when I was in Tokyo I asked for both an English-language subway map and a Japanese-language subway map that I held side-by-side to figure out where I was going and to read Japanese-language signs more easily.

[RunnersHigh]

There are also a number of mid-priced business hotels. I've already booked the Shibuya Tokyo Inn.

Shibuya Tokyu Inn may be the correct name, isn't it?
I also was there for GPF 2009.

It took about 15 or 20 minutes on foot to the arena or just one stop(Harajuku-shibuya) by the "Yamanote" line. (And it was about 140$ a day without a breakfast.)

FYI,
-. Camera, cam or something related with them (even phone cam) was strongly prohibited from the opening to the victory ceremony. (Ought to be prohibited during the competition but why on earth during the victory ceremony )
-. Vending machines for drinks but you have to go out to eat.
-. Lack of toilets both for men and women... except Arena SS and S(Exclusive toilets for them).
-. So many English signs here and there so no inconvenience at all.
-. Staffs were really kind for me.