Some first timer questions

[caressofvenus88]

hi all Japan experts, planing to go Japan first time early December this year for 7d or 8d with family (2 kids, youngest 10 years old) . Defintely going Tokyo, and maybe 1 more nearby prefecture/city. Kids want to get anime merchandise and me want to stay at a traditional ryokans (with tatami/onsens.. etc). Also hope to maybe try out the shinkansen. So have some very general first timer questions:

- which is the best/most popular/value for money airlines there?
- what is a interesting prefecture/city nearby Tokyo to stay 1-2 nights?
- what are the local tours (preferably available in Klook) which is better to join on tour rather than go by ourselves?
- Any think to look forward or look out when going in Decemeber?

Thanks in advance!

 

[s7460597]

Nearby trip to Hakone, Kawaguchiko, Nikko, Kamakura.

December will have winter illumination.

Anime shopping at Akihabara and nakano Broadway.

Budget airlines air Japan and zip air. Haven't tried yet.

 

[thwysg]

Adding onto anime shopping:
- Tokyo Character Street @ Tokyo Station
- Sunshine City and Animate @ Ikebukuro
- Tokyo Solamachi @ SkyTree

 

[Hisashiburi]

Stay mostly at Tokyo and just do a 2d1n trip to Hakone to stay at a ryokan.

-Stay 3d in Tokyo
- Use luggage forwarding to send main luggage to another hotel in Tokyo
- Stay 2d1n or 3d2n in Hakone ryokan with just small overnight bags
- Stay 3d in new Tokyo hotel to experience a different part of Tokyo

 

[tc4237]

Value would be scoot/zipair/Japan air.

But don't discount Cathay and Malaysia airlines. They sometimes have good offers. (esp if add on luggages)

 

[wwenze]

Kids want to get anime merchandise

How comfortable are you with R18 material being visible in public spaces

 

[s7460597]

Value would be scoot/zipair/Japan air.

But don't discount Cathay and Malaysia airlines. They sometimes have good offers. (esp if add on luggages)

Have to see what's the price difference and the transit time to see whether worth it not.

 

[kidz]

hi all Japan experts, planing to go Japan first time early December this year for 7d or 8d with family (2 kids, youngest 10 years old) . Defintely going Tokyo, and maybe 1 more nearby prefecture/city. Kids want to get anime merchandise and me want to stay at a traditional ryokans (with tatami/onsens.. etc). Also hope to maybe try out the shinkansen. So have some very general first timer questions:

- which is the best/most popular/value for money airlines there?
- what is a interesting prefecture/city nearby Tokyo to stay 1-2 nights?
- what are the local tours (preferably available in Klook) which is better to join on tour rather than go by ourselves?
- Any think to look forward or look out when going in Decemeber?

Thanks in advance!

For
7-8 days
Just stick to Tokyo and forget about travelling away. Can do a trip to see Mt Fuji (Hakone area)
For Dec 2024, everything is expensive already, Cheapest should be Scoot or Zipair. Do compare prices with all airlines.

 

[caressofvenus88]

Thanks all for the input!

Now contemplating 1-2 night stay between Hakone or Kawaguchiko. Hakone seems to be more well known for its ryokans but Kawaguchiko has a better view of Mt Fuji and also Fuji-Q highland (i just found out). Need opinion on which is better?

How about a night stay at Hakone ryokan and a day trip to Kawaguchiko Mt Fuji? Just that looking at the map, looks like will waste time with overlapped travelling to the 2 locations from Tokyo...

Stay mostly at Tokyo and just do a 2d1n trip to Hakone to stay at a ryokan.

-Stay 3d in Tokyo
- Use luggage forwarding to send main luggage to another hotel in Tokyo
- Stay 2d1n or 3d2n in Hakone ryokan with just small overnight bags
- Stay 3d in new Tokyo hotel to experience a different part of Tokyo

Yea, has something like this in mind. staying at 2 different hotels in Tokyo. What is luggage forwarding though? will the main luaggge be at hotel B (before) or hotel A (after) Hakone/Kawaguchiko stayover? FOC?

Airlines wise, is it a good time to book now? worried there will be no seats left then trip needs to be call off. I have experience with budget airlines to SEA countries but flight to Tokyo is ~7 hours.. Are the planes for budget flight to Tokyo from scoot/zipair/Japan air..etc similar to the ones that travel to SEA countries or are planes with like bigger leg space allocated for longer flights?

How comfortable are you with R18 material being visible in public spaces

depends on what kind. Revealing/bloody still ok.. but not like sensual kind in action...

 

[wwenze]

depends on what kind. Revealing/bloody still ok.. but not like sensual kind in action...

Just showing some anime tits, not doing it

On Sundays the main road will be closed for cars and open for walking

13:00-17:00 (October-March)
13:00-18:00 (April-September)

 

[Hisashiburi]

There is a luggage forwarding thread here on this Japan forum.

Basically, send your luggage from Hotel A to Hotel C which takes usually 2 days.
In the meantime, u can carry light luggage to Hotel B.
When u get to Hotel C, luggage will be waiting for u.
Have to pay per piece of luggage.

To Japan, sometimes, budget airlines not that cheap.
U can also consider stopover (non direct ).
Takes a bit longer but can be cheaper.
Can also see the stopover city if the time is long enough.

 

[tc4237]

1st time in Tokyo, I would do hakone only. Slowly...

For kawaguchiko, need to drive and need more days. 3d 2n or more if want to put 1 day for fuji q. (idk if fuji q have kids ride)

If got spare days, go Yokohama. And Tokyo Disneyland, since have kids.

 

[archlover]

since you guys are on Hakone topics,
which are of Hakone do you think good to stay?
i was considering Hakone Yumoto area, since it was the "entrance" to Hakone...
but will Gora or Near Lake Ashi area is better? Lake Ashi have better view?

thanks!

 

[rrr2015]

Now contemplating 1-2 night stay between Hakone or Kawaguchiko. Hakone seems to be more well known for its ryokans but Kawaguchiko has a better view of Mt Fuji and also Fuji-Q highland (i just found out). Need opinion on which is better?

since u going with kids i think kawaguchiko offers more for whole family. there are ice caves, gardens (if in season). whatever don't rush just pick one & go.

 

[Adam80]

Value would be scoot/zipair/Japan air.

But don't discount Cathay and Malaysia airlines. They sometimes have good offers. (esp if add on luggages)

Need to factor in transit
i tried transiting using cathay last trip quite tiring
i reach airport ard 12? to check in/return router/omiyage
NRT 1420
HKG 2025 (need to brisk walk to connecting plane)
SGP 0025

reach home ard 2am...next day i take MC

 

[s7460597]

Need to factor in transit
i tried transiting using cathay last trip quite tiring
i reach airport ard 12? to check in/return router/omiyage
NRT 1420
HKG 2025 (need to brisk walk to connecting plane)
SGP 0025

reach home ard 2am...next day i take MC

Just had a look using Google flights, mas is around 12 hours all in. A china airline about 21 hours. Think depends on flight timing.

 

[caressofvenus88]

ZipAir schedule is open for Decemeber booking, less than SGD 2.5k for Tokyo return flight! PSA for anyone who is waiting for this!

 

[thwysg]

$2,500 per pax? So expensive?!

ZipAir schedule is open for Decemeber booking, less than SGD 2.5k for Tokyo return flight! PSA for anyone who is waiting for this!

 

[s7460597]

$2,500 per pax? So expensive?!

Should be for lie flat seats.

 

[haido80]

Ops, it's $2.5k for 4 pax