Travel: Japan - General

[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.

[June]

Thanks Starlight. We will get the JR 7 days pass but i will be there for 10 days thus do you know whether they do seel a day or 2 pass? I am staying at JR Shinagawa

[starlight1968sg]

June:

Thanks Starlight. We will get the JR 7 days pass but i will be there for 10 days thus do you know whether they do seel a day or 2 pass? I am staying at JR Shinagawa

The JR pass comes in 7 or 14 or 21 days. This pass is excellent for extensive travelling on JR trains.
You may plan your journey in such a way that you dont use your JR pass for travelling in Tokyo. I think for the travelling in this city, there is another type of pass.
Please check.

[June]

Thanks much!

starlight1968sg:

June:

Thanks Starlight. We will get the JR 7 days pass but i will be there for 10 days thus do you know whether they do seel a day or 2 pass? I am staying at JR Shinagawa

The JR pass comes in 7 or 14 or 21 days. This pass is excellent for extensive travelling on JR trains.
You may plan your journey in such a way that you dont use your JR pass for travelling in Tokyo. I think for the travelling in this city, there is another type of pass.
Please check.

[mamemo]

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.

Hi rain29, I'm also going to Tokyo this november, covering about the same as you. It's going to be a 9-day trip, covering the below
Day 1) Ueno Area: Ueno Park, Ameyoko area, Odaiba at night for the night view
Day 2) Ginza Area: Tsukiji Market, Asakusa via the Sumida Cruise. Evening and dinner at Sunshine City (Ikeburuko)
Day 3) Shinjuku area: Tokyo Metropolitan Building, Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Daiso Harajuku(100Yen shop), Omotesando Hills
Day 4) Hakone: Ouwakudani volcanic springs, Gora Park
Day 5) Odawara Castle then travel to Disneyland
Day 6) Disneyland
Day 7) Yokohama: Ramen Museum, Chinatown
Day Kamakura: Big Buddha plus another shrine
Day 9) Depart

For Hakone, we are staying at one of the ichinoyu hotels. Breakfast plus dinner and private indoor hot bath (hee hee, we are shy)
http://english.ichinoyu.co.jp/

For hotels in Tokyo, we'll be staying at Sutton Place hotel at Ueno (beginning of trip) and Kadoya Hotel at Shinjuku (end of trip). Hotels in Tokyo are super small. As we'll be co-sleeping with 2 kids, we need wide-enough beds. So far these 2 hotels have wide-enough beds.

For Disneyland Hotel, we'll be staying at Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay. Not expensive because they have big rooms (2 doubles and 2 singles) to squeeze all together. A tip: their rooms are cheaper on Wed, thur and fri nights, so try to plan your stay around these 3 days.

Since you have more days in Tokyo, u can spend more days in Disneyland, at least 2 full days. I only manage to squeeze in 1.5 days into my itinerary because my parents also coming with us, don't think they'll like disneyland very much

Let me know if u need more info

Enjoy planning !