Tokyo-Hakone April'19

[Pseudomonas]

Hello everyone!

Attached is the draft itinerary planned for my trip to Tokyo, Japan.
Apart from shopping and indulging in gastronomical experiences, i plan to propose to my partner during this trip

Appreciate your input and suggestions/criticisms are welcome.

Travel period: 4th April to 11th April

4th April
0715 SQ 636; Departs Singapore 22:50 (3/4/19) and Arrival HND 0645
Travel from Haneda Airport to Shinjuku
Check in to Hotel located around Shinjuku area
Shopping around Shinjuku

5th April
Disney Land (Proposal)

6th April
Sakura sightseeing and photoshoot:
Shinjuku Gyoen
Naka Meguro Canal
Uneo Park

... any recommendations around these locations

7th April
Tokyo > Hakone

0900 Shinjuku Station to Hakone Yumoto Station
(via Romance Car)
1030 Hakone Yumoto Station to Miyanoshita Station via Hokane Tozan Train
(via Hokane free pass)
1100 Arrival at Hakone Ginyu Ryokan
1230 Hakone Shrine & Tori Gate
(Walk to Miyanoshita Bus stop, alight at Motohakone Bus stop; then 10 minutes walk to Shrine)
1330 Ancient Cedar Avenue
1430 Back to Hakone Ginyu to enjoy the Onsen experience
(from Hakoneshishozen Bus stop to Miyanoshita Bus stop)

8th April
Hakone> Tokyo

1400 Check in to Hotel around Tokyo Station
1100 Shopping @ Shibuya (Don Quijote)
1300 Lunch @ Harajuku Gyoza Lou
... suggestions for meals and places appreciated


9th April
0700 Breakfast @ Outer Tsukiji Fish Market (Dawai Sushi)
1100 Visit Imperial Palace
1300 Lunch @ Ginza
1400 Explore Ginza
1800 Dinner: Tokyo Station Ramen Street (Rokurinsha Ramen)

10th April
Tokyo > Chiba Port (to visit a friend)

0900 Tokyo station to Chiba Minato Station
(via Keiyo Line (red))

Attractions to visit: Kamogawa Seaworld

Chiba Port > Tokyo

11th April
1110 SQ637; Departs Narita; arrival to Singapore 1720

Questions:
In Tokyo,
1) This trip involves Tokyo, Hakone and Ichihara,Chiba- should i purchase the JR Tokyo wide pass?
2) Travelling in Tokyo (for 5 days): Would the unlimited Tokyo subway ticket from Klook OR IC (SUICA) card OR would the JR Tokyo Wide Pass suffice for travelling within Tokyo.
3) Given the validity of 7 days on the JR pass- should i activate it on 5th April instead of 4th April (as i would need to take the Narita express train to Narita airport from Tokyo Station on 11th April) i.e first day would involve purchasing individual passes for travel
Best option to travel from Haneda Airport to Shinjuku? (Considering Airport limo bus if i activate the JR pass on the 2nd day of travel)

In Hakone,
1) Would you guys prefer to purchase the Fuji Hakone Pass vs Hokane Free Pass for travel within Hokane?
2) If we purchase the JR Tokyo wide pass, should we travel to Hokane by taking the Shinkansen Kodama from Tokyo Station to Odawara station instead?( vs romance car via Shinjuku station)
3) 32inches luggages- anyone faced difficulties fitting them in carriages of both Romance car and Hokane domestic train?



Apologise for the lengthy post
Appreciate everyone's help and thanks in advance!

 

[thwysg]

Daiwa Sushi? It already moved to Toyosu Fish Market in October. It belonged to the Inner Market, not Outer Market. Forward your luggage and travel light.

 

[evilerniex]

1) This trip involves Tokyo, Hakone and Ichihara,Chiba- should i purchase the JR Tokyo wide pass?
hakone free pass is probably more worth it. i am not sure where is ichihara. but the cost of travelling from tokyo station to chiba station is just 640yen one-way.

2) Travelling in Tokyo (for 5 days): Would the unlimited Tokyo subway ticket from Klook OR IC (SUICA) card OR would the JR Tokyo Wide Pass suffice for travelling within Tokyo.
i personally will go for suica for the flexibility to use both metro and JR. but it depends on where u are heading to in tokyo. tokyo wide pass is not necessary

3) Given the validity of 7 days on the JR pass- should i activate it on 5th April instead of 4th April (as i would need to take the Narita express train to Narita airport from Tokyo Station on 11th April) i.e first day would involve purchasing individual passes for travel
Best option to travel from Haneda Airport to Shinjuku? (Considering Airport limo bus if i activate the JR pass on the 2nd day of travel)
u shld not be getting 7-day JR pass. it will not be worth it.

In Hakone,
1) Would you guys prefer to purchase the Fuji Hakone Pass vs Hokane Free Pass for travel within Hokane?
hakone free pass more worth it since u are not heading to kawaguchi or mt fuji area

2) If we purchase the JR Tokyo wide pass, should we travel to Hokane by taking the Shinkansen Kodama from Tokyo Station to Odawara station instead?( vs romance car via Shinjuku station)
tokaido shinkansen is not covered by tokyo wide pass. anyway, u dun need tokyo wide pass

3) 32inches luggages- anyone faced difficulties fitting them in carriages of both Romance car and Hokane domestic train?
i have not tried, so no idea. but if u are just going hakone for one night, maybe pack a smaller bag for a night, and leave ur main luggage with hotel if they allow? or send ur main luggage to the next hotel

 

[apeape]

dont think a jr pass is worth it for your travels. Haneda to Shinjuku there's a direct train that cost ¥400 one way and took only 30 mins IIRC. there's also like a rail that you can take to Tokyo station I think, not sure how much that costs though.

 

[vofzxy]

Better check the Imperial palace part
The current emperor stepping down on 30th April 2019

Sent from Sony G8142 using GAGT

 

[Pseudomonas]

Daiwa Sushi? It already moved to Toyosu Fish Market in October. It belonged to the Inner Market, not Outer Market. Forward your luggage and travel light.

Oh yes, thanks for highlighting!
Will look into Takkyubin for forwarding the luggages.

 

[Pseudomonas]

1) This trip involves Tokyo, Hakone and Ichihara,Chiba- should i purchase the JR Tokyo wide pass?
hakone free pass is probably more worth it. i am not sure where is ichihara. but the cost of travelling from tokyo station to chiba station is just 640yen one-way.

2) Travelling in Tokyo (for 5 days): Would the unlimited Tokyo subway ticket from Klook OR IC (SUICA) card OR would the JR Tokyo Wide Pass suffice for travelling within Tokyo.
i personally will go for suica for the flexibility to use both metro and JR. but it depends on where u are heading to in tokyo. tokyo wide pass is not necessary

3) Given the validity of 7 days on the JR pass- should i activate it on 5th April instead of 4th April (as i would need to take the Narita express train to Narita airport from Tokyo Station on 11th April) i.e first day would involve purchasing individual passes for travel
Best option to travel from Haneda Airport to Shinjuku? (Considering Airport limo bus if i activate the JR pass on the 2nd day of travel)
u shld not be getting 7-day JR pass. it will not be worth it.

In Hakone,
1) Would you guys prefer to purchase the Fuji Hakone Pass vs Hokane Free Pass for travel within Hokane?
hakone free pass more worth it since u are not heading to kawaguchi or mt fuji area

2) If we purchase the JR Tokyo wide pass, should we travel to Hokane by taking the Shinkansen Kodama from Tokyo Station to Odawara station instead?( vs romance car via Shinjuku station)
tokaido shinkansen is not covered by tokyo wide pass. anyway, u dun need tokyo wide pass

3) 32inches luggages- anyone faced difficulties fitting them in carriages of both Romance car and Hokane domestic train?
i have not tried, so no idea. but if u are just going hakone for one night, maybe pack a smaller bag for a night, and leave ur main luggage with hotel if they allow? or send ur main luggage to the next hotel

Thank you for the detailed reply and explanation!
Yup, i think it makes much more sense to purchase the Suica and Hakone free pass for this trip.

Any recommendations for accommodations around Shinjuku area?
Was looking at Keio Hotel Plaza but unfortunately it is fully booked on the main website.
Alternatives include Shinjuku Prince

 

[Pseudomonas]

dont think a jr pass is worth it for your travels. Haneda to Shinjuku there's a direct train that cost ¥400 one way and took only 30 mins IIRC. there's also like a rail that you can take to Tokyo station I think, not sure how much that costs though.

Thanks!
Will definitely not purchase the JR pass for this trip

 

[thwysg]

Thank you for the detailed reply and explanation!
Yup, i think it makes much more sense to purchase the Suica and Hakone free pass for this trip.

Any recommendations for accommodations around Shinjuku area?
Was looking at Keio Hotel Plaza but unfortunately it is fully booked on the main website.
Alternatives include Shinjuku Prince

I like JR Kyushu Blossom. Sunroute Shinjuku a bit small. Fully booked? For what dates and room type?

 

[Pseudomonas]

I like JR Kyushu Blossom. Sunroute Shinjuku a bit small. Fully booked? For what dates and room type?

Shifted my trip forward. Therefore, was looking to book on 31st March to 3rd April before travelling to Hakone. Apparently all room types on the official website.

Just had a look at JR Kyushu Blossom- excellent reviews; thanks for the recommendation!
Website offered 95,200 JPY for 4 nights in a non smoking double room, around SGD 290/night.

 

[caishenye]

This year's (2018) blooms were earlier due to the climate. Next year might return to normal (mid-Apr). Remember to check your sakura bloom forecasts. The reports start streaming in around mid-Jan.

Hanami locations wise, Shinjuku Gyoen and Chidorigafuchi are my favourite. Ueno has far too many tourists. Yoyogi has some quiet spots and is more popular with locals. Sumida river park could yield a surprise for you - walk from Ueno towards Asakusa, using Skytree as your landmark and you can't miss it.

Due to the climate in the mountains, Hakone's sakura does not bloom until much later and could get misty but I love the cold misty mountain environment every time I go there during sakura season.

 

[Pseudomonas]

This year's (2018) blooms were earlier due to the climate. Next year might return to normal (mid-Apr). Remember to check your sakura bloom forecasts. The reports start streaming in around mid-Jan.

Hanami locations wise, Shinjuku Gyoen and Chidorigafuchi are my favourite. Ueno has far too many tourists. Yoyogi has some quiet spots and is more popular with locals. Sumida river park could yield a surprise for you - walk from Ueno towards Asakusa, using Skytree as your landmark and you can't miss it.

Due to the climate in the mountains, Hakone's sakura does not bloom until much later and could get misty but I love the cold misty mountain environment every time I go there during sakura season.

Thank you for all the valuable advice!
Yes, Shinjuku Gyoen and Chidorigafuchi are definitely on top of my list.
Considering Yoyogi Park and the Naka Meguro Canal too!

Any recommendations for Ryokan in Hakone? Unfortunately, Ginyu Ryokan unavailable now. Good hotels are getting booked real quick during the popular weeks!

 

[caishenye]

Thank you for all the valuable advice!
Yes, Shinjuku Gyoen and Chidorigafuchi are definitely on top of my list.
Considering Yoyogi Park and the Naka Meguro Canal too!

Any recommendations for Ryokan in Hakone? Unfortunately, Ginyu Ryokan unavailable now. Good hotels are getting booked real quick during the popular weeks!

Ginyu is like 5 star type ryokan... the premium is for exclusivity so the rooms are usually few.

These days I stayed at the cheap ones. The one I keep returning to is Kinokuniya Ryokan near Ashinoyu, which is 100m away from bus stops that ply the Hakone routes. It's old and tired - everything feels like Showa era which is actually how I like it but like everything old in Japan, they are relatively well maintained with good service.

You are visiting during sakura season which is why they are charged high. I was contemplating Kyoto next year and everything remotely resembles a ryokan is booked out. Even onsen hotels are charging ryokan prices during this period.