Hello, I'm going to studying at Yamagata University for a year, starting this Fall (classes start in October, which is weird for someone who's used to going in August). I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the area. What kind of food is there to eat? How tolerant are they toward gaijin?I was planning on buying a rail pass so I could visit Tokyo for some sightseeing, but it turns out I'm not eligible (long-term stay and all. Also train fare from Tokyo to Yamagata is in the neighborhood of 120 USD. Would taking a bus or something be any better?I tried asking /jp/ but it turns out they're actually the Touhou board.
>>39717>I tried asking /jp/ but it turns out they're actually the Touhou board.Lol... haha.. that is true...
Try getting a JR East Pass. if you can't, then take Limited Expresses instead of Shinkansen
>>39721Hmm... thanks for the suggestion. BTW, this is what the University page says about getting there:By Train: From Tokyo Narita International Airport:Take Japan Railroad (JR) Narita Express train to JR Tokyo. Change trains to Shinkansen Tsubasa, a super express train, bound for Yamagata or Shinjo and travel to JR Yamagata. The whole trip takes about five hours.By Domestic Air:You can also fly to Yamagata from Tokyo Haneda Airport, conveniently located in central Tokyo. There is a daily flight service from Osaka International Airport to Yamagata as well.By Car:Take Yamagata Expressway to Yamagata/Zao Exit.By Bus:Take an express bus from Tokyo or Osaka to Yamagata.I'll take any of these options besides air. I don't want to get off one 14 hour flight just to get on another.
>>39725Unfortunately, I'm more familliar with JR West. But look at JR East's Limited Expresses.
>>39725Also, http://www.jreast.co.jp/map/index.html
Well, using the bus you will need to pay about 120 USD for a return ticket, so it would be half the price (or is that already the return ticket fare?).Pulled from the JTB Jikokuhyo of April:Using JR Bus Tohoku (Dream Sakuranbo) you pay 11500 Yen hence and forth.Using Tohoku Kyuukou Bus (Tokyo Sunrise, Rainbow or Superainbow) you pay 11930 Yen.
highway busses are gonna be like, 7000yen or so, I'd guess (I'm in Toyama, which is probably a similar distance away). 8 hours, over night, arrives around 6 am. I h8s the bus though, so I always shink it.