Tokyo Disneyland
Topic: Help me Plan next Trip to Tokyo

#	Author	Message
1	Malin Wed 7/2/2008 2:55a	Next year I'm thinking of planning a big trip to Tokyo with the option of staying for up to 2 weeks. Disney with the opening of Monsters Inc will be very high on my list. And 5 of these days would be devoted to visiting the parks. But I would actually like to see more of Tokyo this time around too, reason for wanting to stay longer. I have a couple of questions to get this topic started! 1) I'm looking into staying somewhere that offers 3-5 star accomendation that is close to the centre of everything and caters well to Western guest. Also must be close to train station. 2) How many days longer should I look into booking in order to have time to check out Tokyo?
2	X-san Wed 7/2/2008 4:54a	Not knowing your budget, I can think of 2 ways to approach this (I'll let someone else recommend hotels, SuperDry would be a good candidate as would MagicalNezumi)...one way would be to do Tokyo and ONLY Tokyo and do it right (like, really relax and explore the whole city), and to do that I would recommend 4-5 days. Three days at minimum to give the city it's fair due. HOWEVER, I would recommend strongly that you opt for the X-san special EXTENDED tour of the region, and for that you'll need 9-10 days (any way to cut one day out of your Disney plans?). The reason for this is that I would recommend spending at least one full day in Yokohama, and the better part of another day in Kamakura. These are reasonably easy day trips so you don't need to rearrange your hotel. In addition, I would recommend an overnight excursion or two, to Hakkone and Nikko. Both are POSSIBLE day trips but rather grueling, and aside from that the best way to experience either place is to overnight at a Ryokan (otherwise, it's almost like "why bother"? right?). You could probably leave most of your luggage at the hotel in Tokyo and just bring a backpack for overnighting it, there's no need to pay for two rooms of course (Tokyo hotels are very accommodating). So figuring 2 days in each place, a day in Yokohama and a day in Kamakura, plus a minimum of 3 days in Tokyo (you can enjoy the city other days as well since your return from the excursions can be easily done in a couple hours in the early or late afternoon), my official recommendation would be no less than 9 days if possible. But again, of course your budget is something to consider (maybe a rail pass would be useful for you if you go for the excursions which I would HIGHLY recommend). If this sounds hectic, do keep in mind that Hakkone and Nikko are very tranquil, restful kind of places and with a stay at the proper Ryokan you'll feel like you're vacation starts all over again the next day, and then again on the SECOND excursion ;) Just as an afterthough, I realize I'm thinking like a local...it would probably be useful to turn those two excursions into one and go from Nikko to Hakkone or vice-versa so you're only spending three complete days "out of town". But on the other hand (always another hand lol), like I said they are very restful sorts of trips so it might be nice to spread them out (like one near the beginning of the stay and one near the end). Anyway, hope this helps.
3	Malin Wed 7/2/2008 2:33p	First things first thanks to you X for the detailed reply. I should of mention that the trip I would like to plan would be a once in a life time experience with money being no issue. I've been to the Tokyo Disney Resort a couple of times but I've never actually seen much of the city except for Shinjuku. The problem with Tokyo from my short visits is that the city is very large and so very complex. Every path in the city will take you to about 10 new locations, and I've always strugled to keep by bearings. Even a short walk from the Shinjuku station to the Govement Building is a challenge and I have gotten lost before very easily. But at the same time I kind of enjoyed walking around a strange city with no idea of where I'm going. I guess I'm kind of after a part sightseeing tour but also time to sit back and enjoy the experience. Regarding the excursions another idea I'm looking at is to go on one of these sight seeing tours where you can be dropped off at your hotel each night. Or spending a week in Osaka, which a friend recently did and had a good time.
4	SpokkerJones Wed 7/2/2008 3:52p	The rail pass is the way to go. A 7-day pass costs roughly $260 and includes unlimited travel on all shinkansen services except for Nozomi. You could take the Tokaido line to Osaka on any Hikari or Kodama train, which would cost over two hundred bucks round trip by itself. The journey takes about 3 hours.
5	Malin Fri 7/4/2008 1:02a	Thanks for the advice SpokkerJones its given me plenty to think about. I have with me also brouchers on Australia and China, which are two other destinations I would like to visit at some point in my life. Looks like I'm going to have to review all options here!
6	X-san Fri 7/4/2008 1:13a	Well, your mileage may very but I found Osaka to be a little bland. Great food though. Personally I would recommend Hakkone and Nikko over Osaka (and, really, Kyoto as well but I was thinking in my head that Malin might not want to stray too far from Tokyo. Anyway, good luck with the trip and you're welcome on the response. Re-reading my own comments I would say that if time becomes an issue Yokohama is shippable (but very nice if you have the time, and a great Chinatown). Another option is to do Kamakura and Yokohama all in one day, they are very close to each other.
7	X-san Fri 7/4/2008 1:14a	Er, skippable.
8	barboy Fri 7/4/2008 12:30p	I'm not sure how to interpret #4. You're saying about $260 will give one 7 days of unlimited Shinkansen rides. But does that include getting to Osaka and back or is Osaka another $200+? I guess my real question is: is Tokaido a Shinkansen?
9	trekkeruss Fri 7/4/2008 12:50p	Tokaido is a region as well as a road, but it is commonly used as the name of the first Shinkansen line, which runs from Tokyo to Osaka.
10	SpokkerJones Sat 7/5/2008 1:35a	"You're saying about $260 will give one 7 days of unlimited Shinkansen rides." Yes, for non-Japanese citizens only. You can only buy the pass at certain agencies OUTSIDE of Japan. I know that JTB, a Japanese travel agency, sells the passes. You redeem your voucher for the actual pass in Japan. You can use your pass to reserve a seat on any bullet train EXCEPT for Nozomi service. Here's all the info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J...ail_pass

All times are Pacific Time (US)

Note: Information on the discussion boards is sometimes based on rumors or incorrect information and should not be assumed true. Messages do not necessarily reflect the opinion of LaughingPlace.com or its editors.

More messages:

1-10

11-20

21-30

< Previous Topic

Next Topic >

You must be a registered user to post messages.
Click here to register.
After registration you will automatically be brought back to this topic

Jeff Lange DVDs at
The LaughingPlace Store
The LaughingPlace Store carries all of Jeff Lange's theme park DVDs featuring the best of Walt Disney World and Disneyland past and present.

What's on
The Latest
LP Guide to Bolt updated
Bolt Across America Cross-Country Journey Culminates at Red Carpet Premiere of "Bolt" 16 week tour visits 32 cities, raising awareness for the movie and for the ASPCA
Beauty and the Beast to be released in 3D in 2010
Disney's New Five-Picture Deal With IMAX to Begin With 'A Christmas Carol'
Buffalo International Film Festival presents a film benefit celebrating Mickey's 80th birthday December 13th
Disney's Hawai'i Project Begins with Ground Blessing
The Lion King to perform as part of 2008 Royal Variety Performance and BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night
Walt Disney Imagineering Earns Four Thea Awards
Travel Industry Honors Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo
The Walt Disney Company Grants $1.5 Million to Reforest Fire-Ravaged Areas in Southern California

Click here for The Latest