Trip Invite Land of The Riding Sun 28 Sept to 11 Oct 2028 ?

[grantmac]

Wow. This really has gained momentum. I would prefer to keep the group limited especially if we are organizing and coordinating so I’d say 7 is OK otherwise it can become quite a challenge when trying arrange accommodation. .
However it’s not a monopoly so if anyone wishes to tag along under their own steam it’s a free world….

And as said once we start then a commitment will be asked for…albeit a long way off and some might have kicked the proverbial bucket by then…..

We will look at accommodation options as well and if they don’t suit then fine to drop out or find something else. I don’t do B&B for £50 a night and would want to stay somewhere special which is reflective of the location and holiday experience. Japan is not cheap for hotels in the city but outside and the traditional style hotels are cheaper and very nice to stay in.

A good deal of info and let’s take it from here. I think the “pattern is already full” as they say and I think that we are already at 8….

 

[leadfarmer]

As Martin kindly put details of a countrywide hire firm, I did a quick search, they do categories 1 to 7, 1 being cheapo, 7 being the top end stuff.

Cat 5..Honda X Adv 750, CB1000 Hornet SP etc with panniers and top box (No idea what they'd come with?) incl CDW appears to be c £1150

Cat 6.. a Ducati Desert X £1300 for 2 weeks. That's a great price IMHO. A Kawasaki Versys 1100 and Honda Africa Twin Adv Spt are also cat 6!
(Honda X Adv 750 is Cat 5.)

Cat 7 bikes - £1650 all incl x 14 days....GS1300, RS1300, Gold Wing DCT etc.

AI tells me that October is peak touring season so book the bikes up to 6 months in advance to be sure to get what you want

 

[grantmac]

Yup. If you want to get what you want you need to have all booked up by this time next year….including flights and hotels….

And I agree with @Arsey in that arriving a day before to deal with jet lag is not a bad idea.

I will probably use ANA for travel by air….

 

[EVskiy]

Yup. If you want to get what you want you need to have all booked up by this time next year….including flights and hotels….

And I agree with @Arsey in that arriving a day before to deal with jet lag is not a bad idea.

I will probably use ANA for travel by air….

Flights might be a toll order as normally from experience, flight schedules are only published 6 months in advance. Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[EVskiy]

Yup. If you want to get what you want you need to have all booked up by this time next year….including flights and hotels….

And I agree with @Arsey in that arriving a day before to deal with jet lag is not a bad idea.

I will probably use ANA for travel by air….

Jet lag is indeed utter bitch! 14 hour flight, meant we had ti be up at just before 3am UK time for our departure at around 09:30am. You land I. Japan at around 6:30-7:00am local time. I can’t sleep in flight, so by 2pm local time….



.. I was f****d, while waiting to gain entry into a hotel, which was another two hours away.

 

[Arsey]

Jet lag is indeed utter bitch! 14 hour flight, meant we had ti be up at just before 3am UK time for our departure at around 09:30am. You land I. Japan at around 6:30-7:00am local time. I can’t sleep in flight, so by 2pm local time….

View attachment 551767

.. I was f****d, while waiting to gain entry into a hotel, which was another two hours away.

FFS
Try going to Tokyo and back in 53 hours

 

[Arsey]

Flights might be a toll order as normally from experience, flight schedules are only published 6 months in advance. Please correct me if I am wrong.

You are wrong
For example , you can book a BA flight today for next October

 

[js46]

Wow. This really has gained momentum. I would prefer to keep the group limited especially if we are organizing and coordinating so I’d say 7 is OK otherwise it can become quite a challenge when trying arrange accommodation. .
However it’s not a monopoly so if anyone wishes to tag along under their own steam it’s a free world….

And as said once we start then a commitment will be asked for…albeit a long way off and some might have kicked the proverbial bucket by then…..

We will look at accommodation options as well and if they don’t suit then fine to drop out or find something else. I don’t do B&B for £50 a night and would want to stay somewhere special which is reflective of the location and holiday experience. Japan is not cheap for hotels in the city but outside and the traditional style hotels are cheaper and very nice to stay in.

A good deal of info and let’s take it from here. I think the “pattern is already full” as they say and I think that we are already at 8….

Wow this has defiantly moved at a pace, one of the first to show interest and I have already missed the opportunity as the group has been established. If you are thinking of a "back-up list" for the possibilities of people dropping out, then I/we would like to be included.
Many thanks.

 

[SpeedTriple]

Ooh, Japan....

Interested.

 

[grantmac]

There indeed does seem to be a lot of interest, really too much to organize an amateur trip by ourselves so obviously we might have to disappoint some but as @js46 has requested, once we get going on organising then we will share all details for people to make thier own arrangements if they really want

 

[grantmac]

You are wrong
For example , you can book a BA flight today for next October

Indeed and most carriers do the same. I was told for our last Japan trip to check ANA as they release thier tickets exactly a year in advance and offer some great deals to early bookers. They weren’t wrong.

Jet lag is a pain but manageable if you know how. @Arsey is the best placed to help here

 

[snakebasket]

In all seriousness I’d be up for a 2028 trip there. Not enough experience to manage / arrange all myself.
So maybe a group of enthusiasts to get together and start planning. Maybe a small group who have experience of more exotic trips. Maybe 3 ?
Happy to help out. Advantage working for a Jap employer and having a lot of Japanese colleagues who can give me tips…
I am also with @Arsey on this one. $14k is a lot of dosh and fair enough they need to make a living but I am pretty sure with some help also from @snakebasket we should be able to set something up for half that.

Over to the next opinion and let’s get it started….

Sorry for the tardy response; i was tied up with poppying yesterday. Obviously I will help where ever I can . I did do much research before I booked an organised tour (even Missenden Flyer vids...!??). Price comparison to Compass is not straightforward as their package includes transfers, authentic hotels with Japanese cuisine, excursions (including Hiroshima and Bullet train), petrol and tolls and a full support team including a Japanese fixer. Expensive but well worth it. I've done plenty of foreign trips often alone or with a select group of mates so an organised tour wasn't my first choice.

 

[grantmac]

Sorry for the tardy response; i was tied up with poppying yesterday. Obviously I will help where ever I can . I did do much research before I booked an organised tour (even Missenden Flyer vids...!??). Price comparison to Compass is not straightforward as their package includes transfers, authentic hotels with Japanese cuisine, excursions (including Hiroshima and Bullet train), petrol and tolls and a full support team including a Japanese fixer. Expensive but well worth it. I've done plenty of foreign trips often alone or with a select group of mates so an organised tour wasn't my first choice.

Thank you. Will definately reach out for some advice on your recent trip