Travel: Japan - General

[lwm99]

As someone has mentioned, if you only plan to travel within Tokyo and visit Hakone, not worth getting the rail pass.


To see better of the Tokyo Disney Resort, best is to get a 3 days pass, which on the third day you can do park hopping. We usually plan to visit Disney at the end of the journey - check out hotel in the city in the morning, take train to Maihama Station, check in to one of the Disney hotels (Sheraton Grande is good and sometimes great price) beside the station, grab the tickets and go straight to the park. Kids can also rest in the hotel in the afternoon since nearby. Last day just take airport limo to airport.

Not you if your kids are boy or girl. For girls they will like Sanrio Puroland. You may also like Ghibli Museum if you like Hayao Muyazaki’s animation like My Neighbour Totoro. Try to include Odaiba too.

If you like shopping, allocate more time at Gotemba after you visit Hakone.

If you stay around Shinjuku station in the city, it will be very convenient to visit places like Hakone, Sanrio, etc, although not essential.

I don’t think 10 days is too long for Tokyo/Hakone, consider if you spend 3 days at Disney, 2-3 days at Hakone.

[bekithia]

Wow that’s great…and what a coincidence, we too stayed at Ueno Sutton Place and Sheraton Grande!


Love Tokyo. Have fun!

[mamemo]

Hi Bekithia,


What a coincidence !!

Are the hotels good ? I heard Sheraton Cafe is expensive, so I do not intend to eat there...Are there any nearby places to eat instead ?

I heard there are lots of eateries at the Ueno station, did you try ?

[June]

Thanks Mamemo, I got the JR pass as I am coming from Osaka to Tokyo taking the Shinkasen train. I fgured that if I dun get the pass, it will cost me more

mamemo:

June:

Thanks much!
[quote=\"starlight1968sg\"]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.

Just to share, the JR Pass is only worth it if you are travelling out of Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka. Also take note that most lines in Kyoto are not JR lines. Otherwise, it's not worth it if you only travel in Tokyo. One 7 day pass cost SGD400plus for adult. Children is half price.[/quote]

[coldleaf]

mamemo:

Hi Bekithia,


What a coincidence !!

Are the hotels good ? I heard Sheraton Cafe is expensive, so I do not intend to eat there...Are there any nearby places to eat instead ?

I heard there are lots of eateries at the Ueno station, did you try ?

We stayed at Sheraton Grande last Nov/Dec. It was great! Very near to disney resorts so we don't have to rush (a free shuttle from hotel to disney resort line). We didn't eat in sheraton cafe also because it was too expensive. There is another free shuttle bus from hotel to maihama station. Beside maihama station there is a mall called IKSPIARI, where you can find eateries and supermarket there. The prices are cheaper than Sheraton cafe. There is a convenience store within sheraton hotel. You are able to buy sandwiches, japanese rice balls and cup noodles. They are quite yummy.

Btw, there is a huge shopping mall named LaLaport Tokyo-Bay. It's near to JR Minami-Funabashi Station (only 2 stations from maihama station, if I remembered correctly). Definitely worth visiting! There are children playgrounds so parents can take turn to shop.
Hope this helps.......

[mckenzy]

don’t forget Tokyo Sealife Park… a MUST for kids…

[mamemo]

coldleaf:

mamemo:

Hi Bekithia,


What a coincidence !!

Are the hotels good ? I heard Sheraton Cafe is expensive, so I do not intend to eat there...Are there any nearby places to eat instead ?

I heard there are lots of eateries at the Ueno station, did you try ?

We stayed at Sheraton Grande last Nov/Dec. It was great! Very near to disney resorts so we don't have to rush (a free shuttle from hotel to disney resort line). We didn't eat in sheraton cafe also because it was too expensive. There is another free shuttle bus from hotel to maihama station. Beside maihama station there is a mall called IKSPIARI, where you can find eateries and supermarket there. The prices are cheaper than Sheraton cafe. There is a convenience store within sheraton hotel. You are able to buy sandwiches, japanese rice balls and cup noodles. They are quite yummy.

Btw, there is a huge shopping mall named LaLaport Tokyo-Bay. It's near to JR Minami-Funabashi Station (only 2 stations from maihama station, if I remembered correctly). Definitely worth visiting! There are children playgrounds so parents can take turn to shop.
Hope this helps.......

Hi coldleaf,

This is definitely very useful information ! :thankyou:

[mamemo]

mckenzy:

don't forget Tokyo Sealife Park... a MUST for kids...

Hi mckenzy, thanks for the info... Let's see whether can squeeze into my itinerary

[gladtobemom]

bekithia:

Hi Mamemo


We also stayed at the Ichinoyu Honkan while in Hakone! The private hotspring bath in the room was fantastic but how I wish we had gotten the ground floor one. Did you manage to book that?

Hi bekithia!

May I ask if you are allowed to use swimsuits in the private bath?

[mckenzy]

private bath in your room can do whatever you want!


but i wonder if your swim suit will melt or spoil because of the intense heat... hmm