We are returning to Japan in October 2016! We are BEYOND excited! We truly love Japan and we cannot wait to revisit some of our favorite places and also to experience some new places in Japan as well.
We will spend 11 days in Tokyo this upcoming October.
We have completed a few things so far, including ordering some Yen (enough to cover all of our meals while we are visiting) and we have also booked our hotel...The Hilton Tokyo Bay.
Yes, we are staying here AGAIN. It wasn't my first choice (my first choice was the Tokyo Station Hotel). However, our original plans didn't have us returning to Japan until 2017. So, I compromised on the hotel location (this is my husband's favorite hotel) in order to move my trip up by an entire year. Also, the price was really too good to pass up. We were able to book a King Celebrio ocean view room INCLUDING daily breakfast buffet for about $130 USD per night! We have paid MUCH more per night to stay here without the breakfast buffet!
This is a stock photo from the Hilton Tokyo Bay website, but this is EXACTLY what our room looked like on our past 2 visits.
So, we will be staying at the Hilton Tokyo Bay for 11 days. Also, the Pro's outweigh the Con's for staying at this particular hotel:
Pros:
We KNOW this hotel. We've stayed here twice before. We are vary familiar with the resort, restaurants, shops, transportation etc.
Complimentary transportation to/from Maihama Station - There is a shuttle that runs every 10 minutes during peak times (every 15 minutes during non peak times).
Easy access to Tokyo from the hotel - 15 minute train ride to Tokyo Station
Direct train from Maihama to Tokyo Station (no transfers needed)
Maihama Station is JR station, JR passes valid here
Located on Tokyo Disney Resort Monorail (Resort Liner)
Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea MINUTES away
Ikspiari - Disney Shopping arcade accessible by complimentary shuttle or via monorail.
Excellent dining options at Ikspiari - everything from TGIFriday's to Kua Aina, Rainforest Café, pizza places, bakeries, grocery stores, clothing, shopping, etc.
We LOVE Ikspiari. Everything you could possibly need can be found here (including a Disney Store).
Cons:
Location - is NOT near Tokyo Station (walking distance) Can't really walk anywhere other than Disney
Access FROM Tokyo Station at the end of the day.....it is a LONG walk through Tokyo Station to reach train back to Maihama
So, that's basically it. 2 cons.
Another new development is that our friends, Penelope and Jim will be travelling with us! They have always wanted to visit Japan and they figured it was a great time to go since my husband and I have been twice already and can show them around.
We've sat down with our friends to plan and we came up with a good list of places/things we all would like to see on this trip.
Here is our "must do" list for our upcoming trip:
#1 must do - MOUNT FUJI!
This will be our third trip and we have yet to visit Fujisan! We will of course not be deciding what day we will do this until the very last minute so that we can keep an eye on the weather forecast. Fuji is known as the "hiding mountain". So, a clear day is necessary for optimum viewing.
#2. Tokyo Disney (of course!)
Even though we have been there a bunch of times (6 times on our first trip and 3 times on our last trip) our friends, Penelope and Jim have never been. Also, they are Walt Disney World Cast Members as well (I am also, Thomas is not). So, Disney Cast Members really MUST visit Tokyo Disney Resort. Right now we have decided to put aside 3 days for TDR. 2 Days will be spent at Tokyo Disney Sea and 1 Day will be for Tokyo Disneyland. We may end up doing more days but right now we've all decided that 3 should do it. Unfortunately, our Disney employee status does not yield us park admission or any discounts at Tokyo Disney Resort the way that it does at WDW, Disneyland California or the other Disney parks around the world. :(
#3. Asakusa
This is one of my favorite places in Tokyo. We feel that it is a "Must-See" spot for our friends. Sensoji Temple, Nakamise Dori shopping, and of course Tokyo Sky Tree! We enjoyed Sky Tree so much that we were planning on revisiting. I think this time we will try to arrive for late afternoon and stay inside Sky Tree until the Tokyo night sky lights up. In April we left the observation deck area too early. We had to wait outside for the Sky Tree to get all lit up. But, I really want to look out onto Tokyo at sundown. Going to try our best to accomplish this on our next trip.
#4. Odaiba
Our friends saw our photos/videos we had posted on facebook from our last trip. They really want to see the Honda robot, Asimo. So, we will go back to Miraikan museum. We had a great time there, and actually spent the entire day. This is the perfect place to spend a rainy day. We'd also like to visit Tokyo Megaweb this time. They have a full showroom of Toyota vehicles, including the self-driving car that you can take a ride in. My husband really wants to dine at the Gundam café. So, we will give that a try this time as well.
#5. Harajuku
We really enjoyed Takeshita Dori while we were there in April so we would like to go back, people watch, eat some crepe's, do some shopping and enjoy all that is Harajuku! Also, we think it's important for our friends to visit Meiji Shrine as well. Hopefully there will be a wedding taking place like there was when we visited in April.
#6. Shibuya
Hachiko! We cannot visit Tokyo and not visit Hachi!! Also, I would like to see our friends reaction to the Shibuya crossing.
#7. Ginza
Oh, how I love you Ginza! This is one of my absolute favorite places in Tokyo. Especially on the weekends when Chuo Dori is closed to traffic and the streets are open to pedestrians for walking.
#8. Ueno
I would like to go to Tokyo University to see the Hachiko reunited with owner statue. Also, while we are there I would love to purchase University of Tokyo T-Shirt! Also, I think a visit to Shitamachi Museum. I really enjoyed this museum in 2013 with my in laws but my husband didn't get to visit this museum. I would really like to go back there.
#9. Kyoto
We have decided to purchase the JR Pass. A trip to Kyoto (even if it is only a day trip) is a must for first time visitors. Plus, this is probably a once in a lifetime trip for our friends. They cannot visit Japan and not see Kyoto. We will book a tour through JTB sunrise for the 1/2 day afternoon tour. This way the motor coach will take us to see:
Heian Jingu Shrine
Sanjusangen-do Temple
Kiyomizu Dera Temple
I would also like them to see Kinkaku-Ji Temple (The Golden Pavilion)
#10. Tokyo Dome City
If the Tokyo Giants make their post season series I would like to go back to another game. We had a great time. I am sure our friends would enjoy this as well.
#11. Shinjuku
I'd love to go back and see Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in the Autumn. We were able to see the gorgeous Sakura (Cherry Blossom) in April. I am hoping to see the leaves changing color in the Fall. Also, on a completely opposite end of the spectrum, we want to see the new Godzilla that sits high above the buildings in Shinjuku! If you stay at the Hotel Gracery you can get a room that Godzilla is right outside your window!
Lastly, if we have the time we would like to see Yokohama.
We've seen lots of photos and some videos of Yokohama. It looks really cool (like everything in the Tokyo area). It's only about 30 minutes from Tokyo Station, so it's definitely something we can easily get to. It's going to be more of a time issue.
I'm not exactly sure how many of these items we will actually get to see but we will do our very best to get to each and every one of them.
I'm going to work really hard to keep my blog updated with planning info. My next blog will be about budget. People always ask me how much it costs to go on a trip like this and how much spending money should they bring. I will go my best to give a really accurate budget in my next blog!
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