Travel: Japan - General

[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/

[Happygolucky]

I bought mine at WinterTime. You don’t even need to buy the bottom if you are going in autumn, jeans or long pants will do. If memory didn’t fail me, it was $8.90(before discount) for each top 2 years ago. You can also buy the heat packs just in case it gets too cold, but cheaper to get in Tokyo. Readily available at all convenient stores.

[schellen]

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...

Yup, I used takuhaibin for transferring our luggage from Kyoto to Tokyo. I just went to the convenience store nearest the inn I was staying at and asked them about it. Different stores use different companies. This store uses U-pak, which the inn owner said was the cheapest. I filled up the form which is in Japanese but I managed to find an online guide in English before I left for Japan.

When we had to leave the Tokyo hotel for the airport to go home, I used the JAL service instead. It depends on your luck if you can get an operator who can speak English fairly well. When i was just enquiring, I was lucky; when wanted to make a booking, I wasn't that lucky so after spending about 20 minutes on the phone, I was lightly drenched with sweat due to the effort needed. I chose JAL since their pick-up counter is at the Terminal we are departing from and their \"counter\" is easy enough to locate. Didn't want to spend time looking for a small takuhaibin counter in a big and strange airport just before check-in. I think the JAL English website mentions this service. The lady who answered my call the first time said that you don't have to fly by JAL to use this service.

The good thing about takuhaibin is that there are so many companies offering it and prices are competitive since the Japanese will use them when going on short domestic trips and even when going golfing since their equipment will be a hindrance on the trains.

The \"bad\" thing is that their service personnel and sign-up forms will require some knowledge of Japanese most of the times. Also, I had to send my suitcases to the convenience store/arrange for pick-up by JAL at hotel lobby at least one day in advance. So we packed whatever we didn't need into the suitcases to be picked up and stuffed the rest into smaller cases/bags which we transported ourselves.

[schellen]

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.

Yes, I also get the impression that the sea version wasn't as \"popular\". Maybe next time, we can consider 2 days then. However, we tend to hunt for cheap accommodation so staying near Disneyland or even looking for discounts at a hotel with Sheraton in its name is really not for us. We don't choose hostels though cos we still value our privacy and we have way too much luggage as compared to a normal hostel backpacker.

We (4 adults and 1 kid) stayed at a business hotel, a traditional inn and a budget hotel on our trips there. All were booked online/via e-mail.
The business hotel: http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/
The budget hotel: http://www.sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/
The inn (ryokan): http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/db/kyoto/karatachi.htm

Except for the inn, the rest have many branches. We prefer a location closer to where we like to go shopping.

[schellen]

mckenzy:

[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..

[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?

Don't worry. Just read up on the NEX if you want to use the airport train service. (Note: It's not the shinkansen but it goes faster than normal trains since it only stops at certain stations.) If you intend to use their Suica (like Ez-Link but with more options), get the NEX with Suica deal to enjoy a hefty discount. You can only get this at the \"Green Window\" counters for JR trains though. There's one at the airport.

If you're thinking of getting the JR stored value card (can't remember the exact name), think carefully whether it'll be worth it. We never got it since it'll be wasted on us. If you want it, you must get it BEFORE going to Japan. Limo buses are cheaper and if you stay at a hotel downtown, the bus should take you there. We tend to choose \"more obscure\" hotels so we chose the train. Also, limo buses are still susceptible to jams on the road.

I never bothered to go to Tsukiji cos I didn't want to wake up that early and I wasn't keen on the proceedings anyway. You're right though about the kids probably not being interested.

[schellen]

I bought thermal underwear for both myself (top only) and DD (top and bottom) at Metro/OG. DD just wore this under a long-sleeved top and covered everything with a windbreaker/denim jacket. Bottoms were cargo pants/jeans. I wore jeans too topped with long-sleeved tops or short-sleeved ones where my thermal top's sleeves will show (they're plain white so doesn't matter). mckenzy, I think you can see the photos at sashimi's FB. I just bought a cheap, unlined short coat from This Fashion but since it was my first time experiencing late autumn, I eventually bought a cheap padded jacket in Kyoto. Didn't need it in Tokyo later. (ADD: When we went to Hokkaido on our last trip in June, I just used the unlined coat since I'm already used to the weather. Temperatures were about the same as the time we went to Kyoto in late Nov.)


There's another place that kids will love and you will too if you're a fan: The Ghibli museum at Mitaka, just outside the Yamanote Line. Getting the tickets is a bit tedious since you can't buy them at the museum itself but it's really worth it. Check out the website first and if you're interested and have the time to spare, I'll show you how to get the tickets.
Link: http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/welcome/

[thebusybee]

Hi mckenzy


Wow holiday! I'm waiting for the next chance.

We went 1st time Japan last Sept during DS's 1st BD. Did 1 week in Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto-Himeiji (solely depending on JR 7-Day Pass-really make it worth!), 2nd week went north Honshu - Tohoku region - rent the cheapest car (rather a van- same as S'pore version's Suzuki Every)

These are info given by my sis then...

The following sites are useful:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/
http://www.japanrail.com/
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e623.html

For hotel reservation, this link is very reliable. I made all my bookings thru this site except for Kyoto because most of the Ryokan are family run. The confirmation is instant.
http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/

You can pick up some brochures from JNTO Singapore on the 15th floor of Hong Leong Bldg.
http://www.jnto.org.sg/contact.html

For purchse of JP Pass, go to JTB located on the 4th floor of Takashimaya.
http://www.jtbsingapore.com/1217494813512/


There are way too many things to see/do in Tokyo, advice is to look at your family's liking and focus on your interest. btw, u plan how many days?

We basically love watching the Japs in cities, dine mainly at the corner noodle house most of the time(those need to purch tickets at the machine), cheap and tasty.

The road trip in Tohoku was different, just driving, scenery and onsens!! We're lucky enough to see some snow in Hachimantai after the storm!

We stayed at this Japanese-style hostel in Kyoto, 2 blocks/ bus stops away from Kyoto Station, owner is a Chinese national, staffs can speak/write English. Although shared bathroom, it's very clean and you'll have a feel of Jap home. Recommended to my SIL, her family of 4 just stayed there in July, they were given a en-suite family room in the new premise.

p.s can do your laundry there too.

　IKOI-NO-IE http://www.ikoi-no-ie.com/
　　
　 Tel: +81 (0)75-354-8081
Fax: +81 (0)75-354-8068
　　E-mail: [email protected]

Tips for luggage: pack light and bring minimal necessities, but then for winter maybe a bit tough to bring less. We only brought a big backpack & 2 haversacks, 3 or 4 sets of clothes for adults, the rest DS diapers, clothes, blanket and some packets of milk powder. He was one of the luggage at all time! (cannot walk, strap to either one of us in carrier)

Have fun planning!

[mckenzy]

woah... thats a load of info coming in.... need to slowly digest again... thanks peeps... every bit helps to make the trip more meaningful, cheaper and less stressful (coz now is the time i'm pulling out my hair trying to figure the whole thing out!)


i will plan transport last using: http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/
will skip the JR Pass for another trip


lodging not a major issue at this point as we have some 'connections' so-to-speak... only side-effect to this 'connection' is that we have to book 3day-blocks...

its a 12-day trip... and yes... almost all Tokyo except for the side trip to Hakone for one night...

i think i get the idea about clothes... around that time... just a decent inner layer and if need be, a simple jacket. if really need, get something from there... Luggage configurations will be another tricky thing...

the 3rd itinery so far:

day1(S): UENO - lots to do here... end at Ameyayoko Mkt
day2(S): Harajuku / Omotesando Hills / Aoyamate
day3(M): Tsukiji / Odaiba / maybe Akihabara
day4(T): Asakusa / Tobu World
day5(W): nothing yet
day6(T): Hakone
day7(F): Hakone / back to Tokyo
day8(S): Gotemba Premium Outlet
day9(S): Mt Fuji
day10(M): DisneySea
day11(T): DisneyLand
day12(W): Back to Singapore


Been contemplating Ghibli but not familiar with the culture so might need to crash course with a few of his stories... then again maybe not... my last anime intake was Zoids Genesis... still ... might do it if we are covering Kichijoji area...



Not too keen on a public onsen either so will try to find a Ryokan that offers a private one... seems like its a compromise... if you 'onsen' in private, you have to eat public... if you eat private, you 'onsen' public... wierd eh?


*another small clump of hair falls at this point*



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