Japan

Before purchasing any JR Pass, use the The JR Pass Calculator to work out if it works out cheaper. Punch in your itinerary and then see. I find these days since the price rise it isn't worth it anymore. You really have to ride that rail to get your money's worth. In the old days, you can literally break even with a single return trip from Tokyo to Osaka. Now you have to do it 2 and a half times.

Japan Rail Pass Calculator

A simple calculator to compare regular JR fares with the cost of the Japan Rail Pass.
www.japan-guide.com www.japan-guide.com
 
Just piggy-backing onto this thread as I'm heading to Tokyo in September too for work (Tokyo Game Show), it'll be my first time and a trip that's always been on my bucket list. Excitedly nervous, but luckily we have a colleague who lives in Tokyo to help us around the place and another colleague who's visited before.
Only going to be there for one week sadly, but I have 2 days to spend after the show that we'll use for a bit of sight-seeing/touristy things before I fly back. The 17+ hours travel time each way is going to be fun as I have to hop across to Amsterdam from the UK to pick up my connecting flight to Japan. :)
 
@Raymond Lin

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but since we're on the topic of wider Japan planning, I'd love to get your thoughts on my very high level draft plan for 20th Oct - 4th Nov.

First time in Japan. Couple in our mid 30's. Open to anything - be it food, experiences, sightseeing, travel, hotels etc. The only thing we have booked at the moment is direct flights from Heathrow to Haneda.

Mon 20th: London > Tokyo (depart 09:10)
21st: Tokyo (arrive 07:00)
22nd: Tokyo > Kyoto
23rd: Kyoto
24th: Kyoto > Osaka
25th: Osaka
26th: Osaka > Hiroshima (day trip)
27th: Osaka > Hakone (overnight for ryokan with onsen)
28th: Hakone > Tokyo
29th: Tokyo
30th: Tokyo
31st: Tokyo
1st: Tokyo
2nd: Tokyo
3rd: Tokyo
Tues 4th: Tokyo > London (depart 09:35)

2 nights Kyoto
3 nights Osaka
1 night Hakone
8 nights Tokyo
Day trip to Hiroshima

Open to any changes - either more day trips or shifting the nights around. The obvious tweaks to me are reducing Tokyo to 7 nights and spending 1 night in Hiroshima rather than a day trip, or doing 3 nights in Kyoto instead of 2. Also mindful that we want to minimise travel where possible (advised this many times by friends and others across reddit etc).

Thoughts?
 
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Robi said:
@Raymond Lin

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but since we're on the topic of wider Japan planning, I'd love to get your thoughts on my very high level draft plan for 20th Oct - 4th Nov.

First time in Japan. Couple in our mid 30's. Open to anything - be it food, experiences, sightseeing, travel, hotels etc. The only thing we have booked at the moment is direct flights from Heathrow to Haneda.

Mon 20th: London > Tokyo (depart 09:10)
21st: Tokyo (arrive 07:00)
22nd: Tokyo > Kyoto
23rd: Kyoto
24th: Kyoto > Osaka
25th: Osaka
26th: Osaka > Hiroshima (day trip)
27th: Osaka > Hakone (overnight for ryokan with onsen)
28th: Hakone > Tokyo
29th: Tokyo
30th: Tokyo
31st: Tokyo
1st: Tokyo
2nd: Tokyo
3rd: Tokyo
Tues 4th: Tokyo > London (depart 09:35)

2 nights Kyoto
3 nights Osaka
1 night Hakone
8 nights Tokyo
Day trip to Hiroshima

Open to any changes - either more day trips or shifting the nights around. The obvious tweaks to me are reducing Tokyo to 7 nights and spending 1 night in Hiroshima rather than a day trip, or doing 3 nights in Kyoto instead of 2. Also mindful that we want to minimise travel where possible (advised this many times by friends and others across reddit etc).

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

It looks good, not too rushed and I approve.

My first trip was quite similar but I worked my way up from Fukuoka, and then from Kyoto to Tokyo I stopped over at Hakone too.

Things I would recommend....or change

I would take 1 day out of Tokyo and add it to Kyoto, you only have 1 full day there and IMO, not enough. To see some of the places, like Fushimi Inrari and Arashiyama, need to go to these 1st light each day so that is 2 separate days. Unless of course you don't mind crowds. Kyoto btw is ABSOLUTELY rammed at the moment and not like how it was, I have been like 4 times so I am happy to skip it. But if I am a 1st time visitor, I would be torn between staying too long vs seeing all the places at an hour where it is lowest of tourists. Kyoto has enough to see for a week if you like historical stuff.

Do you have plans in Tokyo? 8 days is quite a lot, perhaps a day trip to Kamakura/Enoshima or even a day trip to Mt Fuji view from Lake Kawaguchi? You have time to do all those and enough time left for the usual Team labs/Cat temple, Shibuya, Pokemon center and all the retro game hunting you want to do.

p.s. if you do plan to get 2nd hand games, try Hiroshima over Tokyo. Prioritise that, as Tokyo has been cleaned out by tourists for a while now. What's left are stores charging prices that is not much different than eBay prices.
 
Robi said:
@Raymond Lin

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but since we're on the topic of wider Japan planning, I'd love to get your thoughts on my very high level draft plan for 20th Oct - 4th Nov.

First time in Japan. Couple in our mid 30's. Open to anything - be it food, experiences, sightseeing, travel, hotels etc. The only thing we have booked at the moment is direct flights from Heathrow to Haneda.

Mon 20th: London > Tokyo (depart 09:10)
21st: Tokyo (arrive 07:00)
22nd: Tokyo > Kyoto
23rd: Kyoto
24th: Kyoto > Osaka
25th: Osaka
26th: Osaka > Hiroshima (day trip)
27th: Osaka > Hakone (overnight for ryokan with onsen)
28th: Hakone > Tokyo
29th: Tokyo
30th: Tokyo
31st: Tokyo
1st: Tokyo
2nd: Tokyo
3rd: Tokyo
Tues 4th: Tokyo > London (depart 09:35)

2 nights Kyoto
3 nights Osaka
1 night Hakone
8 nights Tokyo
Day trip to Hiroshima

Open to any changes - either more day trips or shifting the nights around. The obvious tweaks to me are reducing Tokyo to 7 nights and spending 1 night in Hiroshima rather than a day trip, or doing 3 nights in Kyoto instead of 2. Also mindful that we want to minimise travel where possible (advised this many times by friends and others across reddit etc).

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Depends what your likes and priorities are of course but I'd definitely add more time to Kyoto and include a day down Hiroshima way to visit Miyajima. The Kyoto public transport system in comparison to Tokyo makes it harder to dash about so quickly in my opinion which takes up more time if you're walking more.

We had a bit less time and didn't go to Osaka but split it 4 nights Tokyo, 4 nights Kyoto, 2 nights Hiroshima then 1 final night back in Tokyo before travel the next morning. Stopped off at Himeji on the way back from Hiroshima > Tokyo. Didn't feel too rushed anywhere really even though there would, of course, be more still to see if we went back.
 
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Raymond Lin said:
It looks good, not too rushed and I approve.

My first trip was quite similar but I worked my way up from Fukuoka, and then from Kyoto to Tokyo I stopped over at Hakone too.

Things I would recommend....or change

I would take 1 day out of Tokyo and add it to Kyoto, you only have 1 full day there and IMO, not enough. To see some of the places, like Fushimi Inrari and Arashiyama, need to go to these 1st light each day so that is 2 separate days. Unless of course you don't mind crowds. Kyoto btw is ABSOLUTELY rammed at the moment and not like how it was, I have been like 4 times so I am happy to skip it. But if I am a 1st time visitor, I would be torn between staying too long vs seeing all the places at an hour where it is lowest of tourists. Kyoto has enough to see for a week if you like historical stuff.

Do you have plans in Tokyo? 8 days is quite a lot, perhaps a day trip to Kamakura/Enoshima or even a day trip to Mt Fuji view from Lake Kawaguchi? You have time to do all those and enough time left for the usual Team labs/Cat temple, Shibuya, Pokemon center and all the retro game hunting you want to do.

p.s. if you do plan to get 2nd hand games, try Hiroshima over Tokyo. Prioritise that, as Tokyo has been cleaned out by tourists for a while now. What's left are stores charging prices that is not much different than eBay prices.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for the detailed response.

We accepted a long time ago that most sights will be packed with tourists, which is fine. We also have no issue with early or late starts to avoid the crowds. I think removing a night from Tokyo and adding it to Kyoto makes most sense.

In terms of plans in Tokyo, apart from all the typical stuff we were considering a day trip to DisneySea and Mt Fuji (possibly to view from Kawaguchi). I'm on the fence regarding Nintendo World (appreciate this isn't Tokyo) and we're going to Disneyland Paris in December, whereas DisneySea appeals because it's unique to Japan.

Yes, we're planning on lots of shopping, including retro / 2nd hand stuff. Do you think it's worth spending a night in Hiroshima and throwing in a visit to Miyajima too?

Hakone onsens - do you have any experience or recommendations? We're after a private open-air onsen with kaiseki breakfast/dinner, ideally with a decent view. I heard Gora is a good location and also to avoid paying a premium for a view of Mt Fuji because the chances of actually seeing it are slim at best.

Kinnotake Tonosawa, Gora Hanaougi and Madokano-Mori are all on our list, but I won't lie, there are so many options to choose from it's actually quite overwhelming.
 
Clarkson said:
Depends what your likes and priorities are of course but I'd definitely add more time to Kyoto and include a day down Hiroshima way to visit Miyajima. The Kyoto public transport system in comparison to Tokyo makes it harder to dash about so quickly in my opinion which takes up more time if you're walking more.

We had a bit less time and didn't go to Osaka but split it 4 nights Tokyo, 4 nights Kyoto, 2 nights Hiroshima then 1 final night back in Tokyo before travel the next morning. Stopped off at Himeji on the way back from Hiroshima > Tokyo. Didn't feel too rushed anywhere really even though there would, of course, be more still to see if we went back.
Click to expand...
Good to know re: transport in Kyoto. Thank you.

Miyajima + retro shopping in Hiroshima likely now justifies an overnight stay (on top of the original stuff we had planned).

As posted above, I think we're also going to reduce Tokyo by a night and add that to Kyoto.
 
Kyoto has only 2 underground/train lines in the city.

Kyoto Subway Lines – Kyoto Station

www.kyotostation.com www.kyotostation.com

The most popular places are not near any of those stations and I always walk from the center to Kiyomizu Dera, 30mins walk. I try not to catch the bus from the center of Kyoto out. I would catch it back in but never out because it is packed like sardines.
 
Resurrecting this thread again @Raymond Lin.

I'm stuck between two hotels in different areas for our final 5 day stint in Tokyo. I honestly don't know what to go with as they cater to different needs. Both are coming in at the same price with upgraded rooms and breakfast.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi - Tokyo

5 minute walk to Tokyo Station. Also close to Otemachi and Kanda stations. Easy access to all of Tokyo.

7-Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson literally on the doorstep. Lots of restaurants and izakaya.

Quieter area in comparison to the other hotel, but closer/better transport links.

233ft room, larger than average size in Tokyo.

THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku

5 minute walk to Tochomae Station. 15 minute walk to Shinjuku Station.

7-Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson nearby. Short walk to busy shopping and nightlife.

Quieter part of Shinjuku right next to the park.

215ft room, larger than average size in Tokyo.

_

The Otemachi hotel is nicer and more premium with a bigger room. It's further away from the tourist/nightlife epicentre, but closer to major transport links which will absolutely help across the 5 days, including returning to Haneda.

The Shinjuku hotel is closer to a major area for shopping, eating and drinking. Great, but we aren't planning to spend 5 full days in Shinjuku boozing with tourists. Further out from major transport links.

It's also worth mentioning that we're staying in Shibuya for the first 2 days at the start of the entire trip.
 
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Robi said:
Resurrecting this thread again @Raymond Lin.

I'm stuck between two hotels in different areas for our final 5 day stint in Tokyo. I honestly don't know what to go with as they cater to different needs. Both are coming in at the same price with upgraded rooms and breakfast.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi - Tokyo

5 minute walk to Tokyo Station. Also close to Otemachi and Kanda stations. Easy access to all of Tokyo.

7-Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson literally on the doorstep. Lots of restaurants and izakaya.

Quieter area in comparison to the other hotel, but closer/better transport links.

233ft room, larger than average size in Tokyo.

THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku

5 minute walk to Tochomae Station. 15 minute walk to Shinjuku Station.

7-Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson nearby. Short walk to busy shopping and nightlife.

Quieter part of Shinjuku right next to the park.

215ft room, larger than average size in Tokyo.

_

The Otemachi hotel is nicer and more premium with a bigger room. It's further away from the tourist/nightlife epicentre, but closer to major transport links which will absolutely help across the 5 days, including returning to Haneda.

The Shinjuku hotel is closer to a major area for shopping, eating and drinking. Great, but we aren't planning to spend 5 full days in Shinjuku boozing with tourists. Further out from major transport links.

It's also worth mentioning that we're staying in Shibuya for the first 2 days at the start of the entire trip.
Click to expand...

Depends on a few things

1 - Your itinerary for those 5 days.
2 - how you are getting back to Haneda.

btw, I checked for you that the limo bus route to Haneda, it doesn't stop at your hote, but several near the Knot, including Shinjuku Washington, which you can just go to their front desk and get a bus ticket the day before. Then the only distance you need to carry the suitcase is across the road. That alone woudl sway me if there is a lot of luggage.


However, you will need to walk further everyday in the Shiinjuku station, but not really a problem or that different. I was going to pick the Tokyo Station side for the Mitsui Garden but the limo bus 1400yen straight to the airport is much nicer than the train back.
 
WqmGOIt.jpeg
Random;

I’m still in Japan at the moment. I discussed loads of the trip with @Raymond Lin and it’s been perfect. It’s my second time to Japan.

Anyway here’s a few things I’d say get one of these bad boys (see pic, can’t move it to the bottom!) it’s honestly a life saver and once you’ve got to much change just throw the entire amount into the little coin thing in 7/11 and you’ll get notes back. Perfect.

I’ve been using my Barclay card where I can, more and more places are accepting cards but you have to have the physical card it - Apple Pay only works in the bigger shops. This trip there has been a few places that are actually cashless!

Get a suica card on your phone it’s utter class and you don’t need to fumble about looking for the ticket/card. Don’t even need to unlock your phone. Absolute game changer! Can use it on vending machine, shops as well. Even the kids used it with no issues or problems.

Busses and trams - you’ll need cash, it’s just easier. Busses grab the ticket you enter in the middle. Pay as you leave. You just throw (or place) all the tickets in the slot - there’s a screen that tells you the cost based on how many stops. Just have it ready and throw the cash in as you leave. I’m not sure how the passes work on the buses but we only used the buses a couple of times to go to more remote places like mt Fuji and caves.

RL was right about mt Fuji too, I summited it in less than 3h, spent an hour and a bit at the top (walked around the and had something to eat and drink) then took 2h to get down.

We didn’t bother with the JR rail pass. Didn’t work out cheaper since the massive increase. The bullet train is a piece of cake as well, just use the machine. Select the station you’re going to select that day - green is 1st class. We are a big group and only once we couldn’t get reserved seats all together so just got on the next train which was like 7 minutes later.

A few things I’ll be considering for my next trip if I do, do the golden triangle if I’m with family that haven’t been before is. I’d stay in Osaka and just do the hour travel to Nara, kyoto etc

I’d spend an extra day in hakone, there was just something about that place.
 
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The cash thing, I took this photo after 1 day. This was taken first thing in the morning because I had a little giggle with myself that after basically 12hrs this was the amount of change I got. The blue thing is something I picked up in Amsterdam a few years back that I keep in my car for loose change for parking but I grabbed it with me when I parked at the airport and it had been also a life saver lol

1 day!

To get rid of it .... there are 2 ways

1 - Make a conscious decision to spend it at convenience stores. It feels like a jackpot when they have a machine that you can put change into, instead of handling it over to the cashier.
2 - If you have a PHYSICAL Suica card or Pasmo card, you can top it up with cash at the station, they accept most of the coins except the 1 and 5. so basically think of it 10p and up.

Then I threw most of the 5 yen into temples and shrines, when you go up to them, there is a little box with the "triangle" slots on the top...you will know when you see it, it's where people "donate" money, before you make a prayer and the ritual. It is tradition to throw in 5 yen, not 1 yen, not 10 yen but 5 yen.

GkmUiZi.jpeg
 
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Me and a friend will be planning a trip for probably 2027 so looking for some advice.

Any information regarding how to best optimise the flights from the UK to Tokyo would be great (Would it be direct flight or stop off in ME?) And anything else that would be helpful such as best areas to stay for easy access to tourist areas. Worth hiring a car? Wouldnt mind seeing if we could hire a GTR for the stay.

Its somewhere we have always wanted to visit and hopefully we get the shot at it, i understand its planning for the future but for it to align for us both we have to plan farrrrrr ahead.. :)

Thanks
 
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ZXSpectrum said:
Me and a friend will be planning a trip for probably 2027 so looking for some advice.

Any information regarding how to best optimise the flights from the UK to Tokyo would be great (Would it be direct flight or stop off in ME?) And anything else that would be helpful such as best areas to stay for easy access to tourist areas. Worth hiring a car? Wouldnt mind seeing if we could hire a GTR for the stay.

Its somewhere we have always wanted to visit and hopefully we get the shot at it, i understand its planning for the future but for it to align for us both we have to plan farrrrrr ahead.. :)

Thanks
Click to expand...

There are direct flights, right now you are looking at about £1k. Fly with BA, ANA, JAL are the main ones.

Connection either through Helsinki, FinAir which runs by BA, Shanghai (China Eastern) or Cathay which stops at Hong Kong. I am sure there are others that stops at the ME or Singapore but it is never the quickest when i looked at those, or cheapest. Cheapest is always China. Best one of all of them is ANA, JAL second.

You don't need to hire a car unless you are going to the sticks, and like REALLY into the sticks. Don't hire a car for the sake of it, almost every motorway is toll, so it won't be cheap even if there are 2 of you with fuel and rental added.

Make a list of where you want to go first, then check google maps for transport, then only then decide if you need a car. Unless you really want to hire a GTR. If so then, take it through the Hakone with view of Mt Fuji....perhaps something like this, which ticks 2 boxes.

fun2drive-japan.com

Ultimate Hakone Drive – Long Term Driving in Hakone – Only 2 hours from Tokyo

Enjoy a 4-hour JDM car rental adventure on Hakone Skyline, Ashinoko Skyline, and Turnpike—roads featured in Initial D and MF Ghost. Drive legendary touges with Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi views. Only 2 hours from Tokyo.
fun2drive-japan.com
 
Raymond Lin said:
There are direct flights, right now you are looking at about £1k. Fly with BA, ANA, JAL are the main ones.

Connection either through Helsinki, FinAir which runs by BA, Shanghai (China Eastern) or Cathay which stops at Hong Kong. I am sure there are others that stops at the ME or Singapore but it is never the quickest when i looked at those, or cheapest. Cheapest is always China. Best one of all of them is ANA, JAL second.

You don't need to hire a car unless you are going to the sticks, and like REALLY into the sticks. Don't hire a car for the sake of it, almost every motorway is toll, so it won't be cheap even if there are 2 of you with fuel and rental added.

Make a list of where you want to go first, then check google maps for transport, then only then decide if you need a car. Unless you really want to hire a GTR. If so then, take it through the Hakone with view of Mt Fuji....perhaps something like this, which ticks 2 boxes.

fun2drive-japan.com

Ultimate Hakone Drive – Long Term Driving in Hakone – Only 2 hours from Tokyo

Enjoy a 4-hour JDM car rental adventure on Hakone Skyline, Ashinoko Skyline, and Turnpike—roads featured in Initial D and MF Ghost. Drive legendary touges with Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi views. Only 2 hours from Tokyo.
fun2drive-japan.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for that.. This is exactly one of the things we wanted to do. Drive the Hakone, to MT Fuji along with the wangan and Daikoku Parkway although i do believe there is a company that does tours (Fast and Furious Style lol)to the parkway that is about a 3-4hr trip from Shibuya/Shinjuku area whish is about £81. We would probably want to go out to maybe Fuji Speedway and Ebisu.

Not really bothered about where we stop to be honest and Hong Kong/Shanghai would be great for the experience.
 
ZXSpectrum said:
Thanks for that.. This is exactly one of the things we wanted to do. Drive the Hakone, to MT Fuji along with the wangan and Daikoku Parkway although i do believe there is a company that does tours (Fast and Furious Style lol)to the parkway that is about a 3-4hr trip from Shibuya/Shinjuku area whish is about £81. We would probably want to go out to maybe Fuji Speedway and Ebisu.

Not really bothered about where we stop to be honest and Hong Kong/Shanghai would be great for the experience.
Click to expand...

I usually fly direct but I am going via HK with Cathay in Nov and save myself £300. Only takes like 3hrs longer.
 
My wife and I are in the early stages of planning our honeymoon to Japan next April. We'll be going in the school easter holidays. Will there still be cherry blossom - 29th March to 12th April?

We need to plan what we want to do so we can book flights - a mate is going same time but is in and out from different airports based on his itinerary.
 
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