Travel: Japan - General

[schellen]

mckenzy:

schellen, sashimi's pics on FB are very useful... esp about the trains... quick question about the coin lockers: if i don't want to bring all my luggage around, especially when we take an overnight at a Hakone Ryokan, will the coin lockers be able to fit huge suitcases? and are they conveniently located and safe (people won't break-in)...? or can i leave them at the hotel concierge for a day or two? when in Oz or UK the hotels are pretty okay with this but not sure about Japan though...


thanks for the offer on the itinery... no worries... will be quite different... i must say that i am on my 3rd revision of our itinery already... change here change there... very messy... priorities keep changing... and ideas keep coming-in... so the more we know the more we change... sigh...

<snip>

Currently the 3rd revision includes:

- home base in Tokyo
- day trip to Mt Fuji
- day trip to Gotemba Premium outlet
- 1 night at Hakone near the Little Prince Museum/Venetian Glass Museum
- 2 nights at Disney area (not Disney hotel) to settle both Disney attractions

in between are the smatterings of Tsukiji market, Ueno, Harajuku (for the Bugis feel), Akhihabara for the Otakus...

Would like to have more daytrips out of Tokyo to get out of the 'shopping' area...

i think we would have covered the Autumn foliage by going to Hakone region so no real need to take another side trip for that...

what else have i missed?
..

You're welcome.

Coin lockers availability vary from station to station but they are generally secure. Just make sure you have lots of coins (preferably the 500-yen, 100-yen and 50-yen ones). My friend went to Japan on her own and she used the lockers too but usually, there is a 24-hr limit so if your stuff is still in there after 24 hrs, the station staff will take them out and you'll have to go look for them to retrieve your stuff. It's best to check first. My friend didn't have huge suitcases; she stayed in hostels and inns and moved around quite a lot so I don't think the lockers can take the size and weight of such suitcases. Plus, you might have to lift them up quite high off the ground for lockers at higher heights.

Dunno about hotel concierge keeping luggage for you too. They may not indicate in their list of services provided but you can ask. They may charge a fee for it though. I only deposit luggage in front of the reception/front desk when we arrive before check-in time or check-out way before flight time and wish to go elsewhere first before returning to claim our stuff a few hours later.

Yup, I think our itineraries are very different. Have you gone free and easy in Tokyo/Japan before? If yes, I think you'd have figured out the ways to get to-and-from the airport and the train system.

As for the weather, should be no problem with a good coat. My DD complained of the cold at first but gradually got used to it. I think cos in Kyoto, we were closer to the mountains and countryside, and it got colder on the last day we were there cos it rained. But in Tokyo, it was warmer since it was a city. My PILs went on their own with DD most of the time in Tokyo to sightsee and shop so that sashimi and I could shop too, separately as well.

If you're heading to Tsukiji, do check ahead if the market will be open. It closes at least one day of the week so check to avoid disappointment. Of course, don;t need to tell you to go really early if you want to watch the proceedings and eat the freshly caught fish.

We also went to Odaiba but there isn't really much there since it is an expensive touristy area. There's also a \"Little Hong Kong\" in one of the many malls there but it didn't interest us so we didn't check it out. Your wife may be interested in chilling out at Venus Fort, a mall specially catered to women. I think there is also a hot spring \"resort\" at Odaiba though I doubt that it's cheap. The highlights of Odaiba for us were:
1. Crossing the Rainbow Bridge
2. Riding on the unmanned trains on the Yurikamome Line
3. Miraikan (Museum of the Future), you can spend hours here

About Disneyland and DisneySea, my impression is that the latter will interest older kids/teens more so my family has never been there. We always chose to go to the former everytime.

[Happygolucky]

Hi Mckenzy,


Can consider getting the kids the three layer cotton(cheap at less than $10 per piece at winter time) thermal wear. My kids just wore that with a long sleeve T-shirt and windbreaker. They are light and comfortable, save the hassle of lugging thick winter wear.

There isn’t a need to travel out of Tokyo to get out of the ‘shopping’ area.
(1) DO visit Ueno - the Ueno zoo and The science museum is enough to take up the whole day. The Ueno park has very nice autumn leaves too.
(2) Odaiba - can also spend a whole day there visiting the Miraikan, Mega Web etc.

At Hakone, we visited Owakudani, the Little Prince Museum, Gora Park, The Picasso Museum and the Yunnessun all within 1 day. We stayed 1 night but our 1st day ended up - having train delays and traffic jams and rushing to get back to hotel be4 5pm. (Cable car stopped operating at around 5pm). The little Prince Museum is interesting only if you have read the book. Should have stayed one more night to explore the other museums.

It’s not true that the Disneysea caters more to the older kids. There are many rides for young children. If you are staying at one of the hotels near Disneyland, you do not even need to queue up for the disney tickets. There is check-in counter(for the hotels) near the train station. Luggage can be checked in then and tickets can be purchased on the spot.

[tamarind]

I brought my daughter to Japan in April this year. It was a wonderful trip. We visited Disneyland and Disneysea, and went around Tokyo in the subway. Note that young children 5 years and below travel free in the subway, regardless of their height.


Please feel free to view my blog, including photos of the hotels we stayed and the places we visit :
http://tokyowithchloe.blogspot.com/

[schellen]

Happygolucky:

It's not true that the Disneysea caters more to the older kids. There are many rides for young children. If you are staying at one of the hotels near Disneyland, you do not even need to queue up for the disney tickets. There is check-in counter(for the hotels) near the train station. Luggage can be checked in then and tickets can be purchased on the spot.

OIC, didn't know about that. Thanks!
I guess DD prefers the land version since the characters are more familiar to her. As for the sea version, I think she only knows The Little Mermaid.

[mckenzy]

The journal was very well written and pulls a few surprises... the takuhaibin service looks like the answer to my hotel transfer woes... no need for coin lockers after all.. phew! cannot imagine lugging all that baggage into one much less lifting it up to the upper lockers...


rain seems to be putting a damper on quite of a number of trips to Japan... as i understand it, the period we'll be travelling is pretty dry... hope it stays that way...

CMF:

Yes try to plan as many day trips as possible - the buses and trains all run very on time and the journey itself are most often scenic too.

You may want to check out this link for some experiences which someone else had in Tokyo with her kids - some useful tips there :

http://hedgehogtravel.blogspot.com/2008/09/tokyo-with-kids-hai.html

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[Happygolucky]

Schellen,


Of course, most kids, including mine, prefer land to sea. But not so much queuing at Sea. The next time you go, can consider having the two day ticket(cheaper for each theme park) and staying at the Sheraton near Disney. Often has discounted internet rate. Managed to book a family room with 2 double bed and 1 single bed for less than 19000 yen.

[mckenzy]

schellen…


<Have you gone free and easy in Tokyo/Japan before? If yes, I think you’d have figured out the ways to get to-and-from the airport and the train system.>

[mck]nope… but i think shouldn’t be too complicated. its either the limo or the shinkansen correct? we’ll be arriving late(2030hrs) so kill one day already… by the time we reach tokyo should be about 11ish near midnight…

need to plan a transport that’s a hotel drop-off. other wise in the middle of the night cannot find hotel sure-recipe for disaster…

<If you’re heading to Tsukiji, do check ahead if the market will be open. It closes at least one day of the week so check to avoid disappointment. Of course, don;t need to tell you to go really early if you want to watch the proceedings and eat the freshly caught fish.>

[mck]actually after much thought, was wondering if the auction is really something that is worth waking up so early for…

i have a feeling the kids won’t appreciate it much… more of a priority is trying out the fresh seafood which should be obtainable after the auction from 7am onwards?




<We>

Will take the above pointers plus HGL’s megaweb


Disney looks formidable. This one needs a strategy. Fast passes sounds like a lifesaver… is it available only for ‘passports’?

[CMF]

Yes need a "strategy" for fast passes! They are available to all ticket holders. As there needs to be a gap (3 hours I recall) between each fast pass you take for each ticket, you can try to ensure that if not your whole group is going to take a particular ride (which you are taking a fast pass for), you use those other tickets to obtain fast passes for other rides in the meantime. Since not all rides have fast passes, do check out the different timings for fast passes and when they are available, so that you can plan your rides etc. Tokyo Disneyland is definitely worth a viist - clean and everyone is so so polite! Have fun!

[mckenzy]

Hi Happygolucky,


Where do we get the ‘three layer cotton’ thermal wear…? will it be at wintertime, coldwear…?

[mckenzy]

I like the picture showing Chloe flat out on the bed... i can imagine my whole family doing that every night when we get back to the hotel!!

tamarind:

I brought my daughter to Japan in April this year. It was a wonderful trip. We visited Disneyland and Disneysea, and went around Tokyo in the subway. Note that young children 5 years and below travel free in the subway, regardless of their height.

Please feel free to view my blog, including photos of the hotels we stayed and the places we visit :
http://tokyowithchloe.blogspot.com/