Any of you fellow Giant Bombers are going? I really want to, but my friend doesn't have $1500 to spare this september. If I go to Japan, it'll be for at least two weeks since it'll gonna be my first time and I want to experience as much as possible.

Man I should honestly go. All the Japanese babes that'll be there... We'll see. Probably not but here's to hoping!

Damn, this sucks. A ticket plane along with an 8-day stay in a four-star hotel came just under $1500 on Expedia.ca. My parents were willing to pay half the price, since they agreed it would be something worthwhile to experience, but my friend can't find the money. It feels as if a golden opportunity has just been thrown away. I'm sad. :(

I haven't yet decided if I'm going or not. I've been in Japan just about 5 years and only gone twice. The last time I went was in 2006. 2005 was great as it was my first chance to get hands on with the 360, which wasn't coming out for a few more months. I went in 2006 because a co-worker wanted to go and didn't want to go by herself. The last two years I skipped because there really wasn't anything I felt a strong desire to make the trip for. Now that I live on the other side of Tokyo from Chiba (where TGS is held), it's a minimum 90-minute train ride with at least 3 transfers.

For those of you considering it, is there anything at the show you're excited about this year, or is it just the idea of TGS itself?

No, but I am doing PAX, which is just as good because you get to hang with fellow gamers

Now that I live on the other side of Tokyo from Chiba (where TGS is held), it's a minimum 90-minute train ride with at least 3 transfers. For those of you considering it, is there anything at the show you're excited about this year, or is it just the idea of TGS itself? "

@DrewInJapan said:

Now that I live on the other side of Tokyo from Chiba (where TGS is held), it's a minimum 90-minute train ride with at least 3 transfers. For those of you considering it, is there anything at the show you're excited about this year, or is it just the idea of TGS itself? "

Wow, you're telling me it takes 90 minutes to get from one side of Tokyo to the other by train? We're far from the Montreal subway system I'm accustomed to.

i'm not made of money

I'd rather go to PAX. I just don't like the idea of all the games and trailers being in another language and having to deal with translation and all that stuff.

" @AuthenticM said:

@DrewInJapan said:

Now that I live on the other side of Tokyo from Chiba (where TGS is held), it's a minimum 90-minute train ride with at least 3 transfers. For those of you considering it, is there anything at the show you're excited about this year, or is it just the idea of TGS itself? "

Wow, you're telling me it takes 90 minutes to get from one side of Tokyo to the other by train? We're far from the Montreal subway system I'm accustomed to.

It depends on where you are and where you're trying to get to. Tokyo Game Show is not in Tokyo itself (and hasn't been for some time now). It takes me about 25 minutes to so to get to Tokyo from Yokohama, then I've got to cross all of Tokyo, and THEN head out into Chiba (the prefecture east of Tokyo) to get to Makuhari Messe, which is the convention center where TGS is held.Also the 23-wards of Tokyo (what most people think of when they think of Tokyo) cover about 620 square kilometers. Montreal is about 365. Bit of a size difference there. "

Message KaosAngel, he is a Giantbomber and lives in Tokyo, maybe he can help you out in someway.

I've got a question for you: would a tourist like me, who don't speak Japanese at all, be really handicapped ? I mean, I'd be going over there on vacation, sightseeing and stuff. Is English enough for this? I'm sure they hire bilingual people over there for airports, hotels and stuff, no? "

@DrewInJapan
Thanks a lot for your advice. If my friend can manage to find the money, we're definitely going. I calculated that it'll cost me $300 more if I chose the 4-star hotel over Taito Ryokan. Since my mom is paying a part of the trip for me, we'll go for the hotel this time. Know anything about Prince Hotels? I spotted the Tokyo Prince Hotel, which seems quite convenient. Do you know any restaurants, vistae, places or other stuff that you would recommend to western tourists who want to experience Japan as much as possible in 7 days? I would greatly appreciate further advice.

The Prince hotels have a pretty good reputation, though I've never been in one. You may want to consider staying in Shinjuku if you can find a place there at a decent price. When my parents came to Japan last year they stayed at the Shinjuku Washington Hotel. Shinjuku is wonderfully convenient, as most of the major train lines pass through Shinjuku Station. (This also makes the station very large, busy and potentially confusing.) 

I'd rather visit Giantbomb Headquarters and go grab a beer with Dave afterwards. How much would that cost, i wonder...

What kinds of stuff are you interested in? Give me some ideas and I can give you better pointers on things you might like to see.

Yes! I'll be there for TGS with some buddies. I'm coming form Australia and I've got a bunch of cash saved up! If anyone is living in Tokyo and wouldn't mind meeting up and having lunch or beers or something before or after TGS I'll be around for awhile and I'd love to make some Japanese speaking friends.

I'll try my best to do my whiskey brothers proud and upload pictures of all the booths, merch and babes I see :D