So me and thatonechick were talking about if we ever got married, how we wanted to go to Toyko for our Honeymoon. Well, while I am playing Dead Island, she decided to pull up a YouTube video entitled " 25 Things To Do in Tokyo, Japan (Watch This Before You Go) " by a guy named Mark Wiens. I swear, we both had so many moments while watching this video. 
Well, we got to talking about what we wanted to do there, and we decided that we wanted to do it all. We wanted to do the shrines, ferries, subways, anime and manga places, the shopping, museums, food, anything and everything, we wanted to do. So, we decided that we were going to need to a Tour Guide. Then, we realized just how much that would take from our budget. So, we decided we would find some local, and "hire" them to take us wherever we wanted to go, and they would also translate anything we wanted or needed translated, and this would be going on every day for at least 2 weeks, to maybe up to 4 weeks. 

So, I thought we would come to Vizzed to see if anybody lives in Toyko, and knows everything do there, and is fluent in both English and Japanese. We want some advice on what we want to do, what we have to do when we come, and what a reasonable budget would be for the both of us. 

Now, this is not an ad, heavens no. But, it could very well lead to something in like... 3 or 4 years if everything goes good with me and thatonechick. 

So... anybody live in Toyko? 

I didn't live there long term but I spent enough time to give you some good ideas on what to do and where to go.  I have a lot of experience in Toyko, Kyoto, around Mt. Fuji, and Hiroshima.

Here's the deal, as long as you can say 'please,' 'thank you,' 'excuse me,' 'yes,' 'no,' 'I'm sorry,' the general greetings, and goodbye, you'll be fine.

I have kindergarten level Japanese and my wife speaks none.  Even off the beaten track most places have their broken English translations (hilarious) and they have pictures of everything for you.  Maps are maps and if you can read a map the names aren't important.  The subway is automated and corrects your money when you put your ticket in if you over pay and the whole place is very polite and kind.  YOu'll have a lot of kids shouting their basic English conversation at you from across the street.  Also, many, many people are good at reading and writing English and do that better than speaking.

You don't *need* a translator or a tour guide.  Get a book or two and read and pick what you want.  Plan the trip and be read to puzzle over yen.  It's more fun and a better adventure if you don't have someone holding your hand the whole time you're there.

warmaker : Do you think $2,000 per person ( not including hotels ) would be good for 2 or 3 weeks, maybe 4? 

thing1 : It depends on what you want to buy there.  Not including flight and hotel you could pull it off.

You'd be looking at $100 U.S. dollars a day per person for food, for activities, transportation, and buying things?  That's not a ton of money to survive daily while being a tourist somewhere but it is completely doable.  If you're not against walking, you can save some money on the fare for cabs or the subway (which is fun to watch during morning rush hour).  But if you start going to some of the serious entertainment, you'll be spending a little more than that each event.

100 to 150 a day U.S. dollars is a good range estimation for everything excluding hotel and flight.

warmaker : So, if me and my girlfriend do end up going, how much are we looking at total, since you seem to know a lot. We want to do a lot, and plan on eating out at least twice a day. We plan on visiting every shrine we can, all major landmarks, and maybe even a festival or two. We want to do it all. We are thinking of no less than 2 weeks, and maybe up to an entire month. We both plan on doing some shopping ( not to heavy, but nowhere near light, either ). Oh, and probably during winter, too. We are not too sure about when, to be honest. 

So, how much do you think we will need for both of us in American Dollars ( also converted to Yen, if you can, please ) for everything, including what I mentioned above, airfare, and hotels?