Travel: Japan - General

[zac's mum]

Did anybody else find the size of the hotel rooms a problem, especially in Tokyo? My recent trip, we couldn’t even open our large suitcase without everybody else climbing onto the bed to get out of the way, because there was simply not enough floor space!


Maybe I am too pampered…previously we stayed in 5-star hotels which were more normal sized (international standard size). DH’s company paid for those. This time round we paid for own 3-4 star hotel.

[cool_hi]

zac's mum:

Did anybody else find the size of the hotel rooms a problem, especially in Tokyo? My recent trip, we couldn’t even open our large suitcase without everybody else climbing onto the bed to get out of the way, because there was simply not enough floor space!


Maybe I am too pampered...previously we stayed in 5-star hotels which were more normal sized (international standard size). DH’s company paid for those. This time round we paid for own 3-4 star hotel.

The rooms we booked either had 1Queen &2 single beds..
Or 2 queen beds,so the room size were ok,no problem with opening luggages:)

The apartment hotel in osaka also good size with 2 queen beds,small sofa & coffee table(great for eating fastfood/snacks),kitchenette with fridge(we no intention & definitely too tired to cook),but the washing machine is definitely useful:)
(I think some may need to cook due to food allergy like my friend's daughter,so they need to cook food for her..& thus seldom travel)
I do hear people complain abt small room size,cannot even open luggahes properly etc..cannot imagine coz we will sure have problems packing & squeezing stuff into luggages esp before flying back!! :roll:

Gosh!! Recalling all these make me miss Japan So So much..better stop talking about the trip..lol

[Estéema]

zac’s mum,


It’s not just you. It’s not just you, but it is true the space limitation for cities like Tokyo & Osaka. We organized ourselves such that we remove or shift everything to one corner or stack up things we won’t use & was able to put one big luggage on table top next to TV & the other blocking the small 5-hanged wardrobe to back our luggage. These are not even floor space. To be fair, we had additional beds so, it might be sufficient.

[Zeit]

Estéema:

There's no kitchenette unless u book airbnb, which I think is more challenging now.

Good that Esteema highlighted this in case some people don't know about the new law that kicked in 2 weeks ago.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Sharing-Economy/Airbnb-removes-80-of-Japan-home-share-listings

[bluegal6]

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.

Hi Zeit,

Thanks for helping with the itineraries. Probably will stay at Kyoto, not sure if Osaka safe to go in dec after the recent earthquake. I am trying to draft out my itineraries and ask for opinion later.

[MyPillow]

cloud, thks for the info on usj. Good that can bring some light snack to munch.Since there is no re entry .of course play till evening then take dinner.

Wish your dd2 all best for P1 reg

coolhi- which tokyo hotel u stay with 2 q beds or compli shuttle? I know citadines has a small kitchenette.

I dun have issue with small hotel room cos I will check the floor area of the room b4 booking.
Economy room ie small like 11 to 16sqm of course v small to squeeze in more than 2 pax.
usually i check room config , to put in 2a 2kids - i looked for room min 30sqm ( Keio Plaza room is good size) i think triple share is 33sqm. If no more family room/superior/deluxe rm, i get 2 rooms side by side (which then i dun mind per room is about 15sqm)

[bluegal6]

Hi Ladies,


Very draft itineraries, may I have your comment if it’s doable…
Went to Japan before we tour group, am amaze they could cover so many places but when we free and easy, seems like need so many days…

Day 1\tTokyo
Day 2\tKyoto
Day 3\tKyoto
Day 4\tMt Fuji (Gotemba premiun outlet)
Day 5\tSki Resort (Snowtown Yeti )
Day 6\tTokyo (Disney Sea)
Day 7\tTokyo
Day 8\tTokyo
Day 9\tTokyo (Home sweet home in the late afternoon)

Thanks

[starlight1968sg]

bluegal6:

Hi Ladies,


Very draft itineraries, may I have your comment if it's doable....
Went to Japan before we tour group, am amaze they could cover so many places but when we free and easy, seems like need so many days....

Day 1\tTokyo
Day 2\tKyoto
Day 3\tKyoto
Day 4\tMt Fuji (Gotemba premiun outlet)
Day 5\tSki Resort (Snowtown Yeti )
Day 6\tTokyo (Disney Sea)
Day 7\tTokyo
Day 8\tTokyo
Day 9\tTokyo (Home sweet home in the late afternoon)

Thanks

Take note from Tokyo to Kyoto is quite a distance by the bullet train.
Do you have any specific reasons to go to Kyoto as you plan to stay there for only 2 nights?

[starlight1968sg]

bluegal6

Guided tours will of course cram many places within a limited time.
It is one size fits all
DIY means you can plan on the places of your interest and spend more time there.
As of now, I still prefer DIY and surely many countries including Japan is highly doable.

[Estéema]

Going Tokyo in Dec, it’s wintertime & many places in Kyoto too covered in snow to enjoy much. Too cold too.


We went in early autumn & it was great fun at the Bamboo Groove & it was near the River ride which we took & then my kids did the rafting. Fun but I doubt yr young kids can do rafting. The River ride shld be good & safe for yr kids. There’s a whole stretch of shopping - good, trinkets, momentos, etc

You might want to skip Kyoto & go for the Snow Monkey instead, together with yr Disney fun, Snowtown & Mt Fuji.