Paper or Plastic

I'm considering applying for a credit card. I'll probably get around a $500 spending limit, but it's something I'll be able to pay off and the $500 will certainly help pay for some things. I need a VISA card, because I'm not sure how well accepted MasterCard is in Japan. I've looked into State Farm, CITI Bank, and some college's card thus far. CITI is the only one that actually lists the card's terms and conditions before you apply for the card. Although my mother has said that she prefers Chase bank's card. I'll do a little window shopping, but I'll probably decide on a CITI card, despite the low spending limit.

Oh well, I'm sure Japan has some very nice park benches to sleep on.

Incurring Debt

According to maps.google.com, a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto costs about 13,000 JPY, which is roughly $150USD. I didn't even think to check the price of train tickets when I asked for a host family in Kyoto. Perhaps getting a host family in Kyoto was not such a good idea. I believe akihabara is in Tokyo anyways, and all my acquaintances live around the Tokyo area. But then again, by staying around Tokyo I would be traveling the areas I already know about Japan. I think I'll have to apply for some credit cards or something. I need about $4,000 to live comfortably in Japan for a month, but I'll be able to make maybe only $1,500 at most. Time to start a borrowing spree.

Also, if anyone happens to ever be reading this, donations would -really- help right now.

Found a Host Family

So, I've decided where I'm staying. Using the LA PROVINCE website (linked at the bottom of my blog), I've snagged a host family that's apparently in high demand. I've paid the 15,000 JPY; or about $170USD for the registration fee and I've been given my host family's contact information. It will cost me 70,000JPY, or approximately $800USD, for 28 days from July 21st to August 18th. Wish me luck on raising that sort of money in two months!

Apparently, I will be staying with the Tanaka family, located somewhere in the middle of Tokyo by the Yamashina (Zarai Station [whatever that means]) railway station. They live within walking distance of the train station, which is good since I don't think I'll have to get a bike or anything to roam around the country.

None of the family are smokers, according to LA PROVINCE. They live in a very large house as well, by Japanese standard. My room will be 6 tatami large (approximately 9x12 ft). They also have Internet access, which I'm hoping is wifi.

Finally, the person whom I'm in contact with from my host family mentioned that Japan is nice and hot during the summer, and that there is a large lake called Biwa that's nearby. I'll have to remember to pack some swimming trunks!

I'm really looking forward to getting to know my host family better. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of them as of yet. So instead, I've enclosed a picture of the lake Biwa aqueduct, linking back to the Kyoto University website where there's quite the informative article about the lake.

Lake Biwa and Kyoto University