Travel: Japan - General

[sweetpea]

bluegal6:

Hi All,

I need advice here on our Dec holiday trip.
There's two adults and two kids, not sure travelling with luggages will be an issue or not.

Day\tLocation\tHotel Location
Day 1\tTokyo\tHotel 1 (near Haneda airport)
Day 2\tSapporo\tHotel 2 (near Sapporo)
Day 3\tSapporo\tHotel 2 (near Sapporo)
Day 4\tSapporo\tHotel 2 (near Sapporo)
Day 5\tNiseko\tHotel 3 (near Niseko ski resort)
Day 6\tTokyo\tHotel 4 (near Mt Fuji)
Day 7\tTokyo\tHotel 5 (near Taito area))
Day 8\tTokyo\tHotel 5 (near Taito area))
Day 9\tTokyo\tHome sweet home

We have not book the hotel, would like to hear some advice on the transportation first before we booked the hotel.

Bluegal6,
For Day 1, if time permits, rather than staying at Haneda, you might want to travel all the way to Chitose and stay at Chitose Airport Hotel (book at japanican.com, free onsen, not expensive, fantastic view of runway for some rooms, free breakfast).

Best to choose hotels near train stations and also served by hotel-to-hotel shuttle services. For Sapporo hotels, you might want to consider those that have underpass linking to train stations as well eg Sapporo Grand Hotel (we stayed here) and Hotel Gracery. Would not suggest travelling on trains with young children AND luggages (I have 3 kids). If you have to do that, opt for reserved tickets.

Suggestion:
Day 1: Sin to Chitose
Day 2: Sapporo (eg half day city tour, Christmas Market at night)
Day 3: Sapporo (eg Noboribetsu - take local train, need to book return tickets at the same time when you purchase at counter - not at ticketing machines)
Day 4: Sapporo to Niseko (take hotel-to-hotel limo bus, comes with one rest stop/toilet break, about 3hrs)
Day 5: Niseko
Day 6: Niseko to Tokyo (Niseko to Chitose Airport about 3hrs, so half day gone already)
Day 7: Tokyo (eg day tour to Mt Fuji and Hakone)
Day 8: Tokyo (Disneyland or DisneySea)
Day 9: Tokyo to Sin

For Tokyo, we went to Disney Sea as it is the only one in the world.

Flights logistics: we flew on ANA for both international and domestic flights. Upon arrival at Haneda International Airport, we collected our luggages and then check-in the domestic flight at the International Terminal (ie we check-in our luggages at International Terminal for our domestic flight). After checking in our luggages, we went through customs, then make our way on International-Domestic shuttle bus to Domestic Terminal. Very interesting ride as we rode on the planes' tarmac. Allow 2.5hrs for this as you need to grab some food since domestic flight don't serve food.

Hope this helps.

[vinegar]

Is it possible to do free n easy in jpn??

[Estéema]

vinegar:

Is it possible to do free n easy in jpn??

Very possible. We did F&E all the time whether Hokkaido, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, or any parts of Japan.

Their train stations connects you to almost everywhere & very efficient (even with big luggage). You hv options to pay for luggages to be sent to yr next hotel destination or lockers (mostly available except big ones are hotly after) at every station to relieve u for a hands-free sightseeing experience.

Now I sound like mktg Japan. But it's just that I love to travel ard Japan, love the food & the culture of orderliness & politeness.

[zac's mum]

vinegar:

Is it possible to do free n easy in jpn??

Definitely! We just did F&E Tokyo in June, getting around everywhere by their train system + walk.

A few qualifiers though. Make sure any kids are able to handle their own luggage. That will free up yourself to handle your own luggage haha. For long-distance train, always get reserved seats. Timings can be changed. Staff at ticket offices and airport can all speak English. If u need directions, ask these people, or the young Japanese students. For meals, u can ask for English menu, or u can just point and gesture. Plenty of restaurant staff are from PRC or Taiwan (though they speak fluent Japanese). So u can try ordering in Mandarin if really stuck.

[bluegal6]

sweetpea:

Bluegal6,
For Day 1, if time permits, rather than staying at Haneda, you might want to travel all the way to Chitose and stay at Chitose Airport Hotel (book at japanican.com, free onsen, not expensive, fantastic view of runway for some rooms, free breakfast).

Best to choose hotels near train stations and also served by hotel-to-hotel shuttle services. For Sapporo hotels, you might want to consider those that have underpass linking to train stations as well eg Sapporo Grand Hotel (we stayed here) and Hotel Gracery. Would not suggest travelling on trains with young children AND luggages (I have 3 kids). If you have to do that, opt for reserved tickets.

Suggestion:
Day 1: Sin to Chitose
Day 2: Sapporo (eg half day city tour, Christmas Market at night)
Day 3: Sapporo (eg Noboribetsu - take local train, need to book return tickets at the same time when you purchase at counter - not at ticketing machines)
Day 4: Sapporo to Niseko (take hotel-to-hotel limo bus, comes with one rest stop/toilet break, about 3hrs)
Day 5: Niseko
Day 6: Niseko to Tokyo (Niseko to Chitose Airport about 3hrs, so half day gone already)
Day 7: Tokyo (eg day tour to Mt Fuji and Hakone)
Day 8: Tokyo (Disneyland or DisneySea)
Day 9: Tokyo to Sin

For Tokyo, we went to Disney Sea as it is the only one in the world.

Flights logistics: we flew on ANA for both international and domestic flights. Upon arrival at Haneda International Airport, we collected our luggages and then check-in the domestic flight at the International Terminal (ie we check-in our luggages at International Terminal for our domestic flight). After checking in our luggages, we went through customs, then make our way on International-Domestic shuttle bus to Domestic Terminal. Very interesting ride as we rode on the planes' tarmac. Allow 2.5hrs for this as you need to grab some food since domestic flight don't serve food.

Hope this helps.

Hi Sweetpea,
Thanks for your advise, as my sis joining us on the second day thus flying over to Hokkaido on Day 2...
But after much consideration, seems like the there's lots of logistic to do... I better don't be too greedy and aim to cover lots of places. Thus Hokkaido trip shall postpone to next year and this year concentrate on Japan mainland will do...

[Zeit]

Bluegal6


It’s possible to squeeze in Sapporo into 8-9D, but it’ll be super tight like those tour packages itin! I’d rather pair with Osaka like CloudCloud did. There are quite many things in Tokyo to see for first timers:

Day 1 - Arrival/Check-in Taito district hotel
Day 2 - Disneyland or DisneySea
Day 3 - Tsukiji Fish Mkt (am), Imperial Palace (Tokyo, Ginza area), Sensoji Shrine (Asakusa, Nakamise shopping st)
Day 4 - Day tour Mount Fuji/Hakone
Day 5 - Shinjuku (am), Harajuku (optional Meiji Shrine), Shibuya (night)
Day 6 - Tokyo - Osaka (3 hrs) - Check in Osaka hotel
Day 7 - USJ
Day 8 - City sightseeing (Osaka Castle)
Day 9 - Osaka - Tokyo / open jaw: Osaka - SIN

There are good museums and Ueno zoo for kids near your hotel in Taito, but if you want to pair with Osaka this time, I think you can skip museums.


In the past before Osaka-Tokyo NOZOMI Shinkansen replaced the slower train models & before USJ opened, tourists loved to pair Tokyo with Nagoya or Yokohama.

[vinegar]

Estéema:

vinegar:

Is it possible to do free n easy in jpn??

Very possible. We did F&E all the time whether Hokkaido, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, or any parts of Japan.

Their train stations connects you to almost everywhere & very efficient (even with big luggage). You hv options to pay for luggages to be sent to yr next hotel destination or lockers (mostly available except big ones are hotly after) at every station to relieve u for a hands-free sightseeing experience.

Now I sound like mktg Japan. But it's just that I love to travel ard Japan, love the food & the culture of orderliness & politeness.

Thks..i hv not been to jpn. My family prefers free n easy. Can most of them speak n understand english? Do their signboards come wf English translation?

Do most of their hotel or motel hv kitchenette?

[Cloud Cloud]

MyPillow:

Cloud Cloud:

Day 1 - arrive in Tokyo

Day 2 - fish market/Tokyo tower
Day 3 - day trip to Mount Fuji
Day 4 - Disneyland
Day 5 - take Shinkansen to Osaka
Day 6 - Osaka
Day 7 - day trip to Nara
Day 8 - universal studio
Day 9 - Osaka Castle
Day 10 - home sweet home

You can Google to see which are the sites you like to visit. Plenty of choices and most accessible by trains.

Really miss japan, clean toilets, nice food, good customer service. We usually eat at those small shops with the vending machine. Cheap and nice. Did not buy much, only some snacks from airport. The air ticket and hotel stay made up half of our budget.

dec go again ?
can share where to find good eat (small eateries) or buys in osaka city ?
my elder one into jap animation now , he was thrilled in tokyo akihabara last yr-
any tips for Uni Studio theme park, which to q first etc ? which is must ride ride
unlike tokyo disney, uni studio fast pass must pay

Wish I could but already booked carribean cruise and Hongkong tour.

For eateries, we usually just walk into those with the vending machines, those with the counter seating type. The staff usually don’t speak English so we refer to the pictures on the machine and the Chinese characters. The drinks are usually free.

For US, most people rush for the Harry Porter ride. Quite a sight to see the youngsters running towards the ride. Lucky we bought some food ( like rice dumpling) at the mini mart outside the studio before we went in. Food inside the park is limited choice and ex. We had our dinner at one of the restaurants outside the park. Plenty of choices.

Forgot the name but there is a chain department stall (like our OG) where children toys like Sylvanian Families are much cheaper than those sold in Singapore.

[Estéema]

vinegar:

Estéema:

[quote=\"vinegar\"]Is it possible to do free n easy in jpn??

Very possible. We did F&E all the time whether Hokkaido, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, or any parts of Japan.

Their train stations connects you to almost everywhere & very efficient (even with big luggage). You hv options to pay for luggages to be sent to yr next hotel destination or lockers (mostly available except big ones are hotly after) at every station to relieve u for a hands-free sightseeing experience.

Now I sound like mktg Japan. But it's just that I love to travel ard Japan, love the food & the culture of orderliness & politeness.

Thks..i hv not been to jpn. My family prefers free n easy. Can most of them speak n understand english? Do their signboards come wf English translation?

Do most of their hotel or motel hv kitchenette?[/quote]There's no kitchenette unless u book airbnb, which I think is more challenging now. Not all speaks English. At the main stations, they do hv staff who communicates in English. At the info counters, which helps tourist a lot, u can find English speaking staff. In fact, u can get very comprehensive maps, some gives descriptions of what u can expect (food, mkt, shopping, castles, zoos, electronics, etc).

My family uses these maps to navigate btwn stations & get tonour sightseeing. Fr these maps, we travel easily to Tokyo (found tt we can stay near other tourist sites & travel into DisneySea & save staying in those expensive Disney hotels with so call bus shuttle) as the train goes right into entrance of both Disney. My DC then P6, was able to navigate using the maps. So, whenever we're lost and cld not find English speaking Japanese, we just point to the intended location on the map for help.

Btwn travels, there're lots of eateries & restaurants at all their stations just like those u'll see at Tanjong Pagar stn. Some counters sells bentos on the go. When we're traveling out close to mealtimes we S'times but bentos to eat on the train. Japanese trains are one of the best I've experienced so far - very functional & clean, they include overhead bar-shelves for yr belongings, coat hook, umbrella hooks & collapsible holder for yr bentos. On our recent Europe trip, I cldnt find coat hangers on some trains.

[cool_hi]

Estéema:

There's no kitchenette unless u book airbnb, which I think is more challenging now. Not all speaks English. At the main stations, they do hv staff who communicates in English. At the info counters, which helps tourist a lot, u can find English speaking staff. In fact, u can get very comprehensive maps, some gives descriptions of what u can expect (food, mkt, shopping, castles, zoos, electronics, etc).

My family uses these maps to navigate btwn stations & get tonour sightseeing. Fr these maps, we travel easily to Tokyo (found tt we can stay near other tourist sites & travel into DisneySea & save staying in those expensive Disney hotels with so call bus shuttle) as the train goes right into entrance of both Disney. My DC then P6, was able to navigate using the maps. So, whenever we're lost and cld not find English speaking Japanese, we just point to the intended location on the map for help.

Btwn travels, there're lots of eateries & restaurants at all their stations just like those u'll see at Tanjong Pagar stn. Some counters sells bentos on the go. When we're traveling out close to mealtimes we S'times but bentos to eat on the train. Japanese trains are one of the best I've experienced so far - very functional & clean, they include overhead bar-shelves for yr belongings, coat hook, umbrella hooks & collapsible holder for yr bentos. On our recent Europe trip, I cldnt find coat hangers on some trains.

Just sharing:
Our osaka apartment hotel near shin-osaka JR station,has kichenette:)
&our hotel near disneyland with free shuttle to disneyland is cheaper than our hotel in tokyo city area(not Shinjuku prime area)..
So Do check around
Our tokyo city hotel (tokyo hotel east 21) has airport limousine bus ..& also complimentary shuttle bus(1hrly in mrng & evening-night) to& fro disneyland but journey ard 20-30min,
So we took the complimentary shuttle to disneyland aft chk out,to go disneyland terminal & take the free shuttle to go Oriental tokyo bay hotel(which has shuttle bus every 10min)..
As We do not wana brave the crowd in train aft a long day(in case it's crowded),esp coz we went both Disneyland and disneySea over 2days..

I took a lot of effort to check & think thru how to travel fm airport to hotels with luggages & kids,and within tokyo..
Esp coz was our 1st time f&e in japan..(previous trip many yrs ago was with tour group when my elder gal was 1yr old:)
With kids,i feel that easiest is via bus than tain esp for 1st timer..can be quite overwhelming esp when u 1st arrive aft a long flight:)

In osaka only stay 1 hotel as our base,to go hiroshima,kyoto,nara ,UsJ & kobe,so no problem with luggages:)

Hope info helps:)