Is 6D5N enough for first timer to Tokyo?

[sellbuyboy]

Or too short?

Also whether any affordable hotel to recommend

 

[reddevil0728]

Or too short?

Also whether any affordable hotel to recommend

I reckon regardless of how long you spend in one trip.

Tokyo will probably still be a multi trip kind of location.

unless of course you don’t like it at all

 

[deodorant]

Or too short?
Also whether any affordable hotel to recommend

I'm a huge fan of the dormy inn premium chain. Good breakfast (for business hotel standards), decent onsen, free yakult and ice cream after onsen, free ramen at supper, and rooms aren't as tiny as like, APA hotel. The kodenmacho outlet is my default every time I'm in Tokyo.

6d5n for a first timer in Tokyo is just about right i think. Can always go back for 2nd and 3rd trip if you like it.

 

[concreteman]

the APA chains are fine.

 

[tjkb230]

6D5N is perfect for first timer. Can always go back if really like it as there are lots of flight options, both full fledged or budget flights available.

 

[sellbuyboy]

Thank you. So I should be looking out for APA hotel? Is Ueno area ok?

Was thinking to travel end of Sep. Any opinion?

 

[s7460597]

Your haven't mentioned your interests. If going Disney, not enough.

Depends on your arrival and departure timing. May not have as much time as you think.

There's day trips out of Tokyo also.

 

[AST781]

Or too short?

Also whether any affordable hotel to recommend

For this duration, just stay put in Tokyo. Don't do silly things which angmos love to do like taking JR from Kanto to Kansai and then back again. Total waste of time and money.

 

[saffronsatire]

Thank you. So I should be looking out for APA hotel? Is Ueno area ok?

Was thinking to travel end of Sep. Any opinion?

If you prefer ueno, you can compare prices of the different hotels. I've never found ueno to be cheap for my dates and room sizes aren't big. Since you're solo, it should be fine.

I've only stayed at APA in another city once years ago. Room size was fairly manageable for 2 pax but my mom in another room complained the housekeeping was poor and room was dusty. I didn't really notice for my room.

Shinjuku is really popular choice but prices are on the higher side for the room sizes, unless the location is further from the main JR station. I've friends who go to Tokyo yearly and almost always stay at Shinjuku.

Probably you can narrow down to a few train stations on the JR yamanote (or keihin-tohoku) line. For me, I may stay at different areas depending on the price for my dates.

End Sep still rather warm when I went some time ago though definitely better than now.

 

[archlover]

it really depends on you, but for me 5-6 days is not enough for first timer in tokyo

as for the hotel, i prefer more central area like ginza - shimbashi - hamamatsucho, ueno feels a bit too east, while shinjuku feels a bit too west haha...

anyway usually i prefer hotel nearer to smaller station as larger station like shinjuku / tokyo station, will take more time for you to walk in to the platform..

 

[zoossh]

Or too short?

Also whether any affordable hotel to recommend

All the advices here are reasonable

you can’t cover everything in 5 days but since you are likely to fly into Tokyo for other places in Japan, you can return on other trips

transport across town can take a hour, and many corners are big enough to fill an entire day. 5 nights gives you only 4+ days minus fly in and out. If factor in shop pack and rest only 3 days

If you stretch a little more by another 3-4 days,,it will give you ample time to travel out to 1 excursion near Tokyo.

 

[class]

It is never enough

 

[Joe Maya]

I remember 6day 5 night during my first trip in Japan back in 2014. It was the best holiday ever. I had go back to Japan 4 times and still haven't recreate that magic.

Now Japan is super crowded but yea stick with Tokyo if it's your first time.

 

[CyberTan]

I remember 6day 5 night during my first trip in Japan back in 2014. It was the best holiday ever. I had go back to Japan 4 times and still haven't recreate that magic.

Now Japan is super crowded but yea stick with Tokyo if it's your first time.

I’m thinking of visiting Japan sometime in May 26. Heard its going to be a lull period among tourists

 

[s7460597]

I’m thinking of visiting Japan sometime in May 26. Heard its going to be a lull period among tourists

Unlikely for Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. But a lot depends on the places themselves. For example gion in Kyoto is an old district and is quite small so gets overcrowded easily.

 

[thwysg]

Unlikely for Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. But a lot depends on the places themselves. For example gion in Kyoto is an old district and is quite small so gets overcrowded easily.

Add in Arashiyama. Super long queue outside Arabica coffee stand at 10am when I finished my breakfast at Muku. And it wasn’t even yet peak autumn season. Close to mid Nov.

 

[AST781]

I’m thinking of visiting Japan sometime in May 26. Heard its going to be a lull period among tourists

May still crowded for the big cities but definitely much lesser crowd, and hotel prices are friendlier too. Weather is nice too for May in the low 20s.

 

[AST781]

Add in Arashiyama. Super long queue outside Arabica coffee stand at 10am when I finished my breakfast at Muku. And it wasn’t even yet peak autumn season. Close to mid Nov.

That coffee stand even at the peak of August summer heat also long queue one loh. From my summer experience in 23.

 

[thwysg]

I’m thinking of visiting Japan sometime in May 26. Heard its going to be a lull period among tourists

Not true. Ninnenzaka in Kyoto seems to be always crowded, friend showed photos of the street in early March. Very slow human traffic.

Can’t comment much, since I’ve been avoiding all the touristy streets and famous temples/shrines in Kyoto in all my trips.

 

[CyberTan]

Not true. Ninnenzaka in Kyoto seems to be always crowded, friend showed photos of the street in early March. Very slow human traffic.

Can’t comment much, since I’ve been avoiding all the touristy streets and famous temples/shrines in Kyoto in all my trips.

Haven’t visited Kyoto all my life. Wanted to find a good period to travel to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo that isn’t too cold and crowded. Have my itinerary all planned out. Planning to go Minoh Park, Lake Biwa as well

Will be going there in May 2026 with my father.