Travel: Japan - General
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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! -
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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Dear Mckenzy,
If you are going to Kichijoji, you must try the steak at Steak House Satou. Good value for money and very tasty steak(I'm not a beef lover to start with but the steak was simply delicious). A small eatery on the 2nd floor of a popular meat shop. matsusaka beef (松阪牛), 5000 yen set or 「松定食」3500 yen. We even ordered the 8000 yen set but too marbled to my liking.(ordered 3 different price sets for 2 adults and 2 kids).
take the north exit from Kichijoji station, entering the busy shopping street in Kichijoji, and find the busy meat shop at the first junction. -
I used this site to plan and also do last minute checks on train services (using my mobile when in Japan). It's in English.
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi
Usage is pretty straightforward. -
mckenzy:
Actually for my kids, their favourite place is the hotel room ! We normally don't do much sightseeing in one day, because young kids get tired easily and they are always asking to go back to the hotel. To them, simply staying in the hotel room is also a lot of fun :roll: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/ -
tamarind:
Actually for my kids, their favourite place is the hotel room ! We normally don't do much sightseeing in one day, because young kids get tired easily and they are always asking to go back to the hotel. To them, simply staying in the hotel room is also a lot of fun :roll:
Hmm, actually my DD prefers to go out. But if the hotel has its own onsen, she doesn't mind going back a bit earlier than usual. :roll: -
Looking at your itinerary,
day3(M): Tsukiji / Odaiba / maybe Akihabara
day4(T): Asakusa / Tobu World
You can take the ferry from Asasuka to Odaiba. So you can plan a day with these 2 places in mind.
day6(T): Hakone
day7(F): Hakone / back to Tokyo
day8(S): Gotemba Premium Outlet
day9(S): Mt Fuji
If you plan a few out out-of-town trips, try stay in Shinjuku area, as many trains/buses leave from there.
Mt Fuji, Gotemba, Hakone are in the same area, better to stay around there for 2-3 nights rather than taking day trips on days 8 and 9. It could be tiring for both parents and kids.
2 days at Tokyo Disney Resort (TDR) is bare minimum, especially it will be very crowded in November with the Christmas theme, especially for TDL (DisneyLand).
We normally stayed in the city for a few nights, then move to a hotel along Disney monorail line. We stayed at Sheraton few times, got as low as 13,700 yen per night when we went there last week. Got a room with 2 double beds and 2 (optinal) pull out beds underneath the double beds, and the room faced TDR. But November will be a lot more expensive at Sheraton. We stayed at Sunroute when we went in November two years back as that was the cheapest then.
My young kids love both TDL and TDS. Spend at least 3 days there if possible. You will appreciate to stay at a hotel nearby during those few days. The food in TDR is expensive. We spent about 5000 yen per meal for 2 adults 2 kids.
To cut ride/show waiting time, you need to be familiar and know the strategy to use fastpass at TDR. And be at the park not later than the opening time. Otherwise you will spend more time later in the days. -
I am deciding between package tour vs free and easy. Planning to go with my 6-yr old kid in ealy Nov to Tokyo Disneyland and nearby areas, including Mt Fuji. Can anyone share your F&E itinerary?
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Hi lwm99,
How do you get from Hakone to Tokyo? Do you take a flight or train?
TIA -
radiantmum:
I am deciding between package tour vs free and easy. Planning to go with my 6-yr old kid in ealy Nov to Tokyo Disneyland and nearby areas, including Mt Fuji. Can anyone share your F&E itinerary?
Have you looked at mckenzy's and lwm99's itineraries yet?
I'm sorry I can't offer mine since I do mostly shopping rather than sight-seeing in Tokyo.