Japan Planning Thread Part 2

[Takoneko]

This is a thread for anyone planning a trip to Japan. All budgets and styles of trip are welcome.

I got so much out of the first thread and would love to be able to continue the conversation with everyone who has been so helpful.

I fly tomorrow morning!

First Thread

I so often had my luggage lost bu airlines that for the last 15 years I've done carry on only. It's super easy for Japan, as as to post above you don't need toiletries. Also most hotels have washing machines and driers and laundry service.

You could order your clothes online and have them delivered to your hotel. When I got to our beach hotel in Japan I realised that the Japanese beach fashion is very different from Europe (it's more swim dresses with arms and bums covered up), so I ordered a couple of these Japanese swim dresses via Amazon Prime next day delivery to the hotel. They had large sizes. I ordered extra large as I feared Japanese sizes would be tiny but it was pretty roomy and a bit too large, but perfectly wearable.

Thank you - but rejoice the bag has arrived!

@Riverswimmers Very glad to hear that! What’s next on your itininerary?

Has anyone sat in the rear observation deck on the romancecar to Hakone. Is it worth it? We’re only going one way as on to Kyoto afterwards. Thanks.

I researched the romance car in detail but then DH said he'd rather go in a car with a guide...

I’m going back to Japan second week of November for 9 days. Internal flights from Tokyo to Okinawa for 5 days 4 nights. Can anyone suggest an itinerary or where to stay please?

I think it’s officially out of season but I’m hoping to swim in the sea and an outdoor heated pool. I think things close, no lifeguards on the beaches and outdoor pools are closed but if anyone has been and it’s been open could you let me know where?

Also has anyone got a recommendation for a luxury hotel near Tokyo Station please? I’m thinking that’s a good area to stay as I will be in Tokyo 1 day/night then back to the airport then back to Tokyo for 3 nights.

The Mandarin Oriental is the one that springs to mind. I can’t speak from personal experience, as it’s a completely different league to the sort of places I stay in, but it looks phenomenal and the location is pretty impossible to beat.

@JapanOnceMore Ignore what I just said. I’ve just realised the hotel I’m thinking of is the Shangri-la. The Mandarin Oriental does look fab but the Shangri-La is the one right next door to Tokyo station. Having never stayed in either they somehow got switched in my brain.

@JapanOnceMore the Tokyo Station Hotel looks fabulous. It caught my eye when I was booking, but sadly had to keep on scrolling!

@Pusspot that looks good thanks! It’s reviewer rate is high too.

@Takoneko hello OP 👋 I was a different user name on your first thread. I have read up to returning from your last trip, will catch up again. Shangri-La looks amazing but at £900+ per night I will have to pass.

I’m going on a day trip to Yokohama if anyone has been and has tips?

The Tokyo Station Hotel is offering smoking rooms - who knew they even existed anymore! Last trip I didn’t see any smoking at all except in the designated boxes by train stations.

@JapanOnceMore I’ve seen that option in a few Japanese hotels online. Seems so old fashioned to us. We had to be careful to book the correct room category.

Hello again!

I’ve just booked the Royal Park Hotel Iconic Shiodome for next year. There was a decent price on booking.com (£200 per night with genius discount). It’s a couple of stops away from Tokyo station but still pretty convenient. Might be worth a look?

That is a decent price as it is a slick hotel and great location. So without reading back you have another trip booked 😃. Excellent news as thread 3 will come from it. What’s your general plan?

I’m struggling to plan for Okinawa. The no lifeguards on beaches and getting around by electronic bike feels a bit risky travelling alone. I have no concept of how remote/quiet the islands will be in November. Probably bustling but realistically I can probably wheel a bike 50m in an emergency.

@JapanOnceMore We’ve booked flights for next Easter. The rough plan this time is to do the Hokuriku Arch and Tohoku. I’ve actually booked two different hotels with free cancellation for Tokyo that I will decide between later. That one is swishier but not where we originally planned to stay. I’ve also booked one in Shinjuku that’s less swishy but we’ve never stayed on that side of Tokyo before and we might fancy a change of scenery,

That’s such an interesting route that I nearly changed my mind from Okinawa, yes I would like to stay in a new area of Tokyo too.

I have found a hotel with an outdoor pool open in November so Okinawa it is!

Halkulani Okinawa hotel in case anyone is reading and looking for cheaper flights (Nov not Oct) but open pools. All beaches are closed in November for swimming but water sports and guided snorkelling are still open. Fingers crossed I get the 24 degrees weather in Nov. Looks like a more reasonably priced hotel in Tokyo will have to off set the mini break in Okinawa.

@Takoneko good point about booking and free cancellation I will do that for Tokyo thanks.

Well what do you know until you look. Okinawa has a bus service from airport to hotels at c¥2,000 each way rather than the c¥30,000 taxi. Got to love Japan you can even book on line in advance.

Does anyone know the domestic flight carry on luggage allowance?

Is it a JAL flight? If so, it’s one personal item plus one carry-on. The size of carry-on depends on the plane type, so check the website. You will also be allowed a checked bag free of charge on JAL up to 20kg on a domestic flight.

@JapanOnceMore If you’re now looking for more modestly priced hotels, we’ve had really good experiences with the Daiwa Roynet and Sotetsu Fresa chains. I’ve actually booked a different Daiwa Roynet for the next trip (up in Morioka) and would gladly stay in either of those chains again. Their hotels are often in really great locations right by metro or train stations and we felt they offered really good value for money with good amenities. We were especially impressed with the Sotetsu Fresa, which was the cheapest, but really nice.

The Sotetsu Fresa looks good 2 min walk and looks very clean. Thank you.

Here is a surprising fact. Some excursions have an upper age limit of 59! Better squeeze them in while I’m still allowed 😆