Travel: Japan - General

[June]

Hi, we are planning for a trip in Dec to Osaka/Tokyo too and here is the itineary to share:


Day 1: Arrival Osaka
Day 2: Universal Studio
Day 3: Osaka Aquarium & shopping in Osaka
Day 4: Shinkasen to Tokyo / Shopping at Harajuku
Day 5: Sanrio
Day 6: Shopping at Shinjuku
Day 7: Fish Mkt, Shibuya & Tokyo Tower
Day 8: Disneyland
Day 9: Disneysea
Day 10: Mt Fuji

[nms1]

lwm99:

rain29:

Hi, I am planning our first trip to Japan in Dec, will be travelling with hubby + 2kids (6yrs & 10yrs old). I have a rough itinerary, need some of your comments and helps.


Day 1 : Arrive Narita/Haneda Airport. (reach there early morn). Proceed to hotel follow by Sea Life Park.
Day 2 : Disneysea
Day 3 : Disneyland

Day 4 : Hakone, Mt Fuji (stay 1nite at Hakone)
Day 5 : Hakone Venetian Glass Museum and Gotemba Outlet/ Back to Tokyo

Day 6 : Asakusa, Ueno , Ameyoko
Day 7 : Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku
Day 8 : Akihabara, Imperial Palace and Ginza

Day 9 to Day 14 : Osaka/Kyoto/Hiroshima (still planning)

Queries
1) We intend to stay at two different hotels in tokyo, so that we can save time on travelling. Any cheap hotel to recommend around Disney area for day 1 to day 3 and another hotel for day 6 to day 8.

2) For Day 1, what can we do at night.

3) Anyway to cut short our Tokyo stay, places that we can give a miss or not to miss.

4) Any hotel to recommend for Hakone.

5) Which day should we insert Osaka/Kyoto/Hiroshima, should we go upon arrive at Tokyo or at the end of the trip.

Looking forward to hear a reply soon as hubby chasing me to book air tickets. Thanks in advance.

I think you are trying to do too many things in one trip. Although it could be done, it will be very tiring for the family. If this is your first trip to Tokyo, you may want to consider Hakone/Osaka/Kyoto for another trip, and have a more relaxed itinerary in Tokyo.

I would say 10 days is too long for just Tokyo as a lot of it isn't really that exciting for younger children. I would suggest spending half the time in Tokyo then jumping on the Shinkansen down to Osaka and Kyoto. You might even be able to fly into Tokyo and out of Osaka to save travelling time.

If you prefer to stay around Tokyo then you could do side trips to Yokohama & Kamakura (day trips) as well as Nikko ( a long day trip). Remember Hakone is in the mountains so it will be very cold in the winter.

[mystuff_corner]

You need at least 2 days to cover Disneyland, I think you can have a day trip to Nara (45 mins train journey from Osaka), your kids will like the deer farm.

[tankee]

do your kids like \"Thomas & Friends\" or \"Hamtaro\"?


if yes, you may want to divert and spend some time at Fuji-Q highland

http://www.fujiq.jp/english/index.html

[mckenzy]

hi rain29…


we put Disney at the end of the trip so that the kids have something to look forward-to… we decided if we did it on the first leg, the rest of Japan they might just drag their feet…

aside from that… Hakone is enroute to Osaka… you may want to consider Tokyo - Hakone - Osaka… fly in to Narita, stay Tokyo region, stay at Hakone (recommend 2 nights, 1 night not enough) - train down to Osaka and fly off from Kansai. or you could work it the other way round: Osaka region - Hakone - Tokyo


if you are travelling to Japan in December, do remember that nightfall is at about 5pm. So plan your routes carefully… ideally… shop during night part near train stations. you don’t want to wander around the streets in the night if you are in unfamiliar territory.

[rain29]

Thanks for all your advise.


We decided to focus just Tokyo/Hakone, we want a free and relax trip so decided not to have too many places for our 1st trip. Are the following places suitable for kids.

Asakusa, Ueno, Ameyoko, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Akihabara, Imperial Palace and Ginza.

[starlight1968sg]

rain29:

Thanks for all your advise.


We decided to focus just Tokyo/Hakone, we want a free and relax trip so decided not to have too many places for our 1st trip. Are the following places suitable for kids.

Asakusa, Ueno, Ameyoko, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Akihabara, Imperial Palace and Ginza.

Ueno, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Akihabara, Ginza are all stations on the Yamanote line. They have large shopping centres where you can shop till you \"drop\".
There is a shopping lane at Asakusa temple where it sells the famous ningyo yaki.
Imperial Palace has beautiul gardens to walk around.

[June]

Can I ask whether is it very difficult to get to Disneyland on our own. As I am considering Grand Prince Takanawa (which provides free shuttle bus) vrs Shinagwa Prince. The upside of Shinagwa Prince is that it is very near to the JR Shinagawa but they don’t provide the free shuttle whereas Grand Prince Takanawa is lightly further and need to walk a uphill (accordingly to trip advisor) but they do provide the free shuttle bus to Disneyland.


So the question is: Should I walk further to and fro JR everyday jus for the free shuttle bus or stay nearer to JR but find our own way to Disneyland. Anyone advise?

[June]

Side track: Wondering anyone have any kids winter hat and gloves which you want to let go, please do pm me

[starlight1968sg]

June:

Can I ask whether is it very difficult to get to Disneyland on our own. As I am considering Grand Prince Takanawa (which provides free shuttle bus) vrs Shinagwa Prince. The upside of Shinagwa Prince is that it is very near to the JR Shinagawa but they don't provide the free shuttle whereas Grand Prince Takanawa is lightly further and need to walk a uphill (accordingly to trip advisor) but they do provide the free shuttle bus to Disneyland.


So the question is: Should I walk further to and fro JR everyday jus for the free shuttle bus or stay nearer to JR but find our own way to Disneyland. Anyone advise?

There is a station called Maihama station just outside Disneyland. If I remembered correctly, it belongs to JR line.
I am unsure of the location of your hotel. I always stay within walking distance from a JR station because I will buy a JR pass to facilitate my travelling.