We found out a few days ago that Thomas was chosen with 18 other employees from his company to take part in a Lean Excellence program. This was great news, and he was quite happy that his employer nominated him (he had no knowledge of this until they told him he was chosen from all of the company employees-worldwide....he works for a very large company....they bring good things to life) An extra bonus to this privilege was the fact that this program takes place in Tokyo! To make this even more exciting.....I get to go too!
We will be travelling the last week of August/first week of September 2013 for a total of 11 days.
There is plenty to get accomplished in this very short timeframe. But maybe I better start with this stuff first:
1. Renew passport - which expired last year and I didn't renew DOH!
2. Come back down to Earth and wrap my head around this trip of a lifetime
3. SHOP - there are a few things that I need before I even go any further. So, Amazon came in quite handy for some guide books - 3 to be exact...I figure I can start with those and hit the library for a few more
4. Get a library card (I haven't yet changed my Maine library card for a NJ library card)
5. Tell everyone I've ever met that "I get to go to Japan! Woo Hoo!" - after my mother in law got the news she was so excited that she decided to join us on this trip! My mother in law, and Thomas' step dad will be travelling to Japan with us! This is going to be FANTASTIC because we can all get lost together! I mean, we can all tour Tokyo together!
6. Coordinate with MIL. Since they will be arriving ahead of us trying to figure out when/where they will meet up with us
7. Book DVC Tokyo Disney resort
8. Come up with plan B - because Disney Tokyo resorts are all booked :/ Plan B will consist of taking the train to Tokyo Disneyland
9. Purchase JR train pass
10. Book the First night of our stay and the last night of our stay (not covered under employer) - DONE! Used our Hilton Honors points - Both nights cost us nothing but our Hilton Honor points! BEYOND thrilled about this!
11. Book airfare. Simple right...wrong! Especially when you have to put up the $$ and wait for a reimbursement..... and need almost $2K each for flights :$
12. RESEARCH....Samantha Brown where are you when I need you? Oh - you're on Youtube!
13. Shop again - Tokyo will be about 110 degrees when we go and no shorts/tank tops/sneakers for this trip! So a suitcase of sundresses it is!
14. Change the date on the Disney Western Caribbean cruise that I was supposed to go on with my mom on August 31st. - I could only change the date by 2 weeks to get the same fare/stateroom category/itinerary...and my mom does NOT like spending more money or changing itineraries. So, I'll be getting back from Japan and getting on another flight ten days later.
15. Um....learn some Japanese! I only know how to ask "Where is the bathroom?" in English and French so I better learn that one first!
16. Sell everything I can on Ebay to help with Souvenir shopping....and there will be souvenir shopping in Japan!
17. Start a blog to document this amazing opportunity
18. Update said blog so I have documentation of this amazing opportunity.
OK. That should get me started.
Hope everyone enjoys the trip planning with me. I will use this blog while I'm planning and also when I'm in Japan to do updates and post photos for friends and family to follow along. I hope you enjoy reading about this amazing trip!
April 29th, 2013
This little 10 day trip has now been extended to almost 3 weeks! I will now be touring Japan for 9 days with my in-laws on a group tour that will show us 5 nights in Tokyo, and 3 nights in Kyoto. I'll then go back to Tokyo and spend 5 nights in Tokyo Bay at Tokyo Disney, and then 2 last nights back in Tokyo. So, all of my hotels are all set up (most meals included on the 9 day portion) but I haven't booked my flights!! I'm waitin' on Thomas! His mom & step-dad are all set with theirs but I am trying to do the impossible and get the same flight as them on the departure from Newark and then the same return as Thomas from Tokyo back to Newark. I have a feeling I'm going to end up flying by myself! Ack!
Here's what the itinerary looks like (the first 9 days are with the tour) -- I'll be interested to see how much or little of this gets changed between now and August! The private tour portion should stay the same because it's already planned for us (except for some of the optional day tours that are offered).
Depart the USA for Japan.
DAY 2, Tuesday - Arrive in Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to hotel.
Grand Prince Hotel NEW Takanawa (click to visit website)
Balance of the day at leisure
For those with early arrivals, there is an independent tour that I'm interested in through viator.com-
Harajuku - Explore the exciting district of Harajuku, renowned worldwide for its mix of youth culture and extreme street fashion. See where rock stars and fashionista's shop to create new styles and trends. Browse the high-end fashion stores at Omotesando Hills.
DAY 3, Wednesday - Tokyo City Tour
Today, enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Tokyo Tower including views of Ginza, Tokyo Bay, Yokohama and even Mt. Fuji in clear weather before participating in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at Happon-en Japanese gardens. Enjoy lunch at the beautiful former manor, the Chinzanso restaurant. Next, stroll through the Imperial Palace considered the largest castle in the area. It is the former site of Edo Castle and the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. Afterward, embark on a relaxing Sumida River Cruise to Asakusa where you can appreciate the city's unique and beautiful skyline. Later, stop and admire Asakusa Kannon, Tokyo's largest Buddhist temple, followed by a visit to the bustling Nakamise shopping arcade known for delicious food and delightful shopping.
DAY 4, Thursday - Full Day in Tokyo
The day is at leisure to explore the enormous, ultramodern metropolis of Tokyo independently or choose one of our optional day tours below.
*Optional Day Tours:
1. Full Day Mt. Fuji & Hakone with Lunch - Enjoy a full day tour to Mt. Fuji and Hakone, the most famous National Park and resort area in Japan. Set amidst the scenic volcanic mountains and wooded forests of Mt. Fuji's Five Lakes region on Lake Ashi, Hakone is renowned for its hot springs, outdoor sports, and natural beauty. Drive halfway up Mt. Fuji to the Fifth Station where, depending upon the weather, you will enjoy panoramic views of the park and lake below. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant nearby. Afterwards, drive to Hakone for a relaxing cruise on Lake Ashi. After your cruise, ride an aerial cableway up and down Mt. Komagatake for sweeping views of the surrounding scenery
2. Ginza (I am choosing this one because Ginza is the Beverly Hills of Tokyo!)
Spend the day exploring Japan's most modern city on this afternoon tour featuring Tokyo's shopping highlights visiting Ginza -the world-renowned shopping and entertainment district.
DAY 5, Friday - Full Day in Tokyo
Enjoy your last full day at leisure in Tokyo. For a different view of the city, stroll Ueno Park and visit the Tokyo National Museum, housing a collection of fascinating artifacts from across Asia.
Optional: Full Day Nikko Tour with Lunch - Enjoy a full day tour to Nikko, a small historical city at the entrance of Nikko National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site served as a center for Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for centuries. Nikko is home to several temples and shrines, including the Futarasan shrine and the Rinnoji Temple. Visit the Toshogu Shrine, the mausoleum of the first Tokugawa Shogun, a gorgeous complex of colorful structures featuring the superb craftsmanship of Japan's 17th-century artisans. Stop for an authentic Japanese-style lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, enjoy a scenic motorcoach ride up the mountain via the hairpin turns of the Irohazaka Driveway. Arrive at Lake Chuzenji, which is located at the foot of Mt. Nantai, and is known for its extraordinary depth (529 ft.). Next, visit Kegon Waterfall, one of three mystical waterfalls in Japan. Descend the Irohazaka Driveway via a different route for an early evening return to the hotel.
?? Not sure if I will do the optional tour today. I think I may want to revisit Ginza or Harijuku to SHOP!
DAY 6, Saturday - Bullet Train to Kyoto
After breakfast, you will take a leisurely, guided, stroll to the train station for your bullet train to Kyoto. Upon arrival, you will be met at the platform by your Kyoto Tour Guide. Your luggage will be transferred to and from the train separately. Balance of the day at leisure.
DAY 7, Sunday - Kyoto City Tour
Embark on a full day tour of Kyoto, one of the best preserved architectural cities in Japan. Enjoy visits to Nijo Castle known for its unique architecture and Nightingale floors, the Golden Pavilion famous for its shimmering golden exterior and its diverse architectural style, and the Kyoto Imperial Palace recognized for generations as the seat of the Empire. Enjoy a buffet style lunch at a local restaurant before a visit to Heian Shrine built in honor of Kyoto's 1,100th anniversary and Sanjusangendo well known for possessing 1001 life sized statues of Kannon, goddess of mercy. Lastly, have a chance to visit Kiyomizu Temple, a national treasure of Japan named for the waterfall that runs throughout the temple grounds. Please note that the order of the day's sightseeing is subject to change due to traffic conditions
DAY 8, Monday - Full Day in Kyoto
Enjoy a full day at leisure in beautiful and serene Kyoto, a city that once served as the Imperial capital of Japan. Having escaped the fire-bombings of World War II unscathed, Kyoto is home to 1600 Buddhist Temples, 400 Shinto shrines, and several historic palaces and gardens
Optional Tours:
1. Nara Tour -Enjoy a tour of Nara, an ancient city known for its "sacred" tame deer, which wander the area freely. Visit the Todaiji Temple with its image of Buddha, the vermilion-hued Kasuga Shrine, and Deer Park.
2. Osaka - See Osaka, the commercial centre of western Japan! Get a grand view of Osaka from the Aerial Garden Observatory on the 40th floor, and visit Osaka Castle and its museum of the castle’s history, which also documents Osaka’s attempt to become Japan’s capital before it was moved to Tokyo. From there, take a riverboat cruise for another breathtaking view of the city.
3. *Hiroshima: (I am choosing this tour)
Visit Miyajima, famous for its Itsukushima Jinja Shrine. Its red torii gate appears to be standing in the sea during high tide. Walk through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to promoting peace around the world.
Visit Miyajima, famous for its Itsukushima Jinja Shrine. Its red torii gate appears to be standing in the sea during high tide. Walk through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to promoting peace around the world.
Yes, the rest of the group will be returning to airport to head back to the U.S. while I take the Shinkansen (bullet train) back to Tokyo Station! From here I will then need to get a transfer to Tokyo Bay so that I can check into my Tokyo Disney Resort!
Day 9 – part II
Take JR Keiyo Line to Maihama Station (Tokyo Disney) and check into Hilton Tokyo Bay – This is a Tokyo Disney Official Resort. There are only 3 Disney resorts on property. And as you can guess they not only cost more, but are mostly booked for my August dates (there are some concierge suites available but we’re talking almost $1000 per night!) So, for now I am booked at the Hilton and will just keep checking back to see if anything opens up at one of the Disney Resorts (on DVC points). Official resorts receive many of the same benefits (guaranteed park admission, ticket purchases at hotel, transportation to the parks, etc.)
Hilton Tokyo Bay (click to visit website)
Hilton Tokyo Bay (click to visit website)
Depending on the time I arrive I may not go to Disney on this day --but they do offer an after 6:00 PM pass at a much discounted rate so if I have the energy I will be going! If not, I will spend the afternoon exploring Ikspiari which is like the Japanese version of our Downtown Disney.
Day 10, Wednesday – Tokyo Disneyland!
I plan to spend my first full day at Tokyo Disneyland today. I’m really excited to see the Japanese version of Disneyland! Of course, I’m just as excited to see the shops/merchandise than I am to ride the attractions. I’m really curios to see the differences on my fave’s like Pirate's & The Haunted Mansion!
Day 11, Thursday – Tokyo Disney Sea
I plan to see Tokyo Disney’s newer park, Disney Sea today. Again, I’ll be hoofin’ it on my own.
Day 12, Friday – Tokyo Disneyland and Ikspiari (which as I mentioned is supposed to be like a Downtown Disney on steroids)
Day 14 – Sunday – Today we check out of the Hilton Tokyo Bay and into Hilton Tokyo. So, we will more than likely do some sight seeing in Tokyo. Since I’ll have had seen a lot of Tokyo the week prior, we can revisit places I think he may enjoy
Day 15 – Monday – Thomas is determined to ride the bullet train. Maybe we will do a day tour of Mt. Fuji since it is quite doable in a day from Tokyo if riding the Shinkansen.
Day 15 – Monday – Thomas is determined to ride the bullet train. Maybe we will do a day tour of Mt. Fuji since it is quite doable in a day from Tokyo if riding the Shinkansen.
Day 16 – Tuesday – Back to the U.S.A.!
Day 17 - Wednesday....home at some ungodly hour!
Day 17 - Wednesday....home at some ungodly hour!
I will be checking in and updating my blog whenever I have news to share!
April 30th, 2013
It's FINALLY starting to sink in that I'm actually going to Japan! Flights were all purchased, tours, hotel & transfers all booked!
Thomas was able to book his flight last night (we were all waiting on him, since it is technically his work trip after all!)
My in-laws were booked on their flights yesterday.....and last, but not least I secured my flights today!
I leave on a Monday with my in-laws. I'm so thankful that we are all traveling together. It's going to be an amazing trip. I still can't believe it. I'm really so happy that they asked me to join them on the tour portion of the trip. I'm sure Thomas would have liked for me to be on the departing flight with him, and to stay with him during his program but, this is a great opportunity to see this much of Japan, for this length of time. Also, he is staying in Hino-Shi (West Tokyo) - it's an industrial area so, there's really not a lot for me to see/do there. Which is why I'm going solo to Tokyo Disney after our tour ends and he'll join me after his program finishes. Plus, lets face it....I breathe Disney so how could I NOT go?! When will I ever get another opportunity to stay at Tokyo Disney for 6 days?! Oh, did I mention we changed our plans and are now staying at Hilton Tokyo Bay an extra night? Thomas wants to see Disney Sea so we will stay until Monday now. Check out Monday afternoon and head to Hilton Tokyo for one night. Before our evening flight home on Tuesday.
My adventure begins when I depart for Tokyo on Monday morning:
The flight leaves at 8:50 AM - and it's NOT direct :(
The connecting flight is via Denver at least it's only an hour and a half wait and then I'll finally be off to Japan! I'm scheduled to arrive in Japan 3:30 PM on Tuesday! ACK!! Guess that optional day tour won't work for me :(
The dreaded return portion:
There are some good things, and some not so great things about the return flight that Thomas & I are on. I could have actually saved money and had a better connector, but I wanted to be on his flight with him coming home. They were even able to get us seats together on both portions which is good - If I'm going to be tired and cranky who better to torture than my own husband? The flight out of Tokyo leaves at 5:35 PM - which I like because it will give us another 1/2 day to see some more of Tokyo together (he'll only have Saturday, Sunday, Monday and 1/2 day Tuesday to do sight seeing). The connector is through San Francisco this time. It arrives at 10:55 a.m. and the connecting flight doesn't leave until 3:20. We will arrive back at our home airport at around midnight....I bet we get home at 2:30 a.m. Then the jet lag better pass quickly, as I will then turn around 9 days later and head out for my 7 night Disney cruise with my mom .....I am planning on ONLY relaxing when I'm on the Disney Fantasy - no excursions! Just REST! Besides, I've already been on this itinerary 3 times so, there's nothing that I feel like I have to rush out and see this time.
So, the hardest parts of planning and coordinating are taken care of (I hope). Now I get to have fun shopping for everything I'm going to need, researching all of the places I'm going to see and learning some basic Japanese! I had ordered the complete Instant Immersion program from Amazon and it arrived last night....HATE IT! They claim to be "better than Rosetta Stone" well, I have Rosetta Stone Italian and French, and this program doesn't even come close. My uncle had mentioned that he can get me Rosetta Stone Japanese if I want it - so, I'll be taking him up on that offer when I see him this Saturday!
I did learn a few things from the crappy program I wasted $50 on....
Where is the ladies toilet - Josei-yoo no o-tearai
Hospital - Byooin (which is how my nephew used to say "balloon" so, I'll never forget how to say this one....and if you know me, it's probably a good thing that I know how to say it)
Coffee - Koohi
Yes - Hai
No - iie
Water - Mizu
Good morning - Ohayoo
Good afternoon - Konnichiwa
Good evening - Konbanwa
Please - Onegaishimasu
Thank you - Arigatoo
Actually, maybe it was worth the $50 just to learn those things....but I still want the Rosetta Stone!
I've been researching Tokyo Disney (amongst a million other things) & I'm super glad/surprised how inexpensive their park tickets are (they call them Passports) compared to WDW - for me to have 6 days of park passes and Thomas to have 3 days it comes to $416 USD. I thought it would be at least double that!
Here's a map of Tokyo Disney (it's not the easiest to see everything on there but if you click on the map it will give you a bigger size) but my resort is at the top right corner (Hilton Tokyo Bay) - Disneyland is literally right across the street! Maybe I'll get a good view of Space Mountain! It looks like I'll need those first 3 days without Thomas to get accustomed to the parks (although Disneyland is pretty much laid out like the Magic Kingdom). But, Tokyo Disney Sea is so unique.
I can't decide which part of this trip I'm most looking forward to most - Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima or Tokyo Disney?! It's just so much to process still :)
Last word of the day......Sayoonara!
May 10th
OK, so preparing for a "Trip of a lifetime" is almost a full time job. I've got more "To-Do" lists than I can even keep track of at this point. I've also set multiple reminders on my calendar for some things that I just can't forget to do - such as purchase my Tokyo Disney park passes 60 days in advance! I'm still a little fuzzy on how it works for "Official Resort Guests" I know that they say you are guaranteed admission even if the parks are at capacity but you have to have tickets purchased in advance. How much in advance I'm still not sure. I know that I'm supposed to print up ticket choices on line and then when I get there present that certificate and pay for them. I'm surprised at the lack of information available on Tokyo Disney - maybe I'll write a book about it when I get back! There are a few blogs out there (Lurkyloo has the BEST one - check it out by clicking this link - disneytravelbabble or you can find her trip reports on the Disboards). Most trip reports and info found on the net is a few years old - hence, this blog. Hoping to pay it forward just like Carrie (Lurkyloo) has done for weary travelers like me.
I seem to be a lot more focused on the Tokyo Disneyland portion of my trip right now because it's the part of the trip that I'll be going solo until Thomas finishes his program - although he is considering staying with me after work each night and then hopping the train back for his meetings. This will depend on his itinerary. Plus, I will be on a guided tour of Tokyo and Kyoto for the first 9 days and with my in-laws...so someone will be there to do all the hard work, planning and thinking for me! And, as I mentioned it's hard to find a lot of info on Tokyo Disneyland. There is literally ONE book on Tokyo Disney (which I have downloaded to ibooks) but it is a few years old. Interestingly, I did learn that I will have to pay to use the monorail. It is ¥250 which is currently $2.45 in USD to ride the monorail ONCE. There are multi day passes which enable you to ride as many times as you want - I'll need 7 days and they only go up to 4 day multi passes. I'll need a 4 and a 3 day which will come out to about $25 - just to ride the monorail! That seems so crazy to me since our WDW monorail is F-R-E-E!
But....here's what our "free" Walt Disney World monorail looks like
May 19th
In exactly 3 months at just around this exact moment I will be arriving in Tokyo! I have been researching around the clock! (what else would you expect from a Space Science major?) Speaking of which I'm not sure what I will do about school while I am away. I will be enrolled in 2 classes while on this trip. Both classes end on August 25th which is not good timing at all as I will be touring Japan that week and there will be multiple hotels, cities, etc. I only have 4 classes left until I graduate (woo hoo!) but I will be required to take final exams during that week and I'm not sure if the professors will be able to grant me an extension. This is too much stress to worry about right now so I'll just use my Scarlet O'Hara mentality and worry about it tomorrow (after all, tomorrow is another day).
OK for all you ladies out there...let's talk luggage! I LOVE my new luggage set that was purchased specifically for this trip! My in-laws only take carry on luggage when they travel and from what I have read about traveling in Japan it is best to have minimal luggage... I can't believe I will be using a carry on for such a long trip! This is also important because I will need to go from Kyoto to Tokyo Bay on the bullet train and I will need to be able to handle my luggage as easily as possible. So, I have ordered this set of Samantha Brown (THE travel channel GURU) luggage:
It's FINALLY starting to sink in that I'm actually going to Japan! Flights were all purchased, tours, hotel & transfers all booked!
Thomas was able to book his flight last night (we were all waiting on him, since it is technically his work trip after all!)
My in-laws were booked on their flights yesterday.....and last, but not least I secured my flights today!
I leave on a Monday with my in-laws. I'm so thankful that we are all traveling together. It's going to be an amazing trip. I still can't believe it. I'm really so happy that they asked me to join them on the tour portion of the trip. I'm sure Thomas would have liked for me to be on the departing flight with him, and to stay with him during his program but, this is a great opportunity to see this much of Japan, for this length of time. Also, he is staying in Hino-Shi (West Tokyo) - it's an industrial area so, there's really not a lot for me to see/do there. Which is why I'm going solo to Tokyo Disney after our tour ends and he'll join me after his program finishes. Plus, lets face it....I breathe Disney so how could I NOT go?! When will I ever get another opportunity to stay at Tokyo Disney for 6 days?! Oh, did I mention we changed our plans and are now staying at Hilton Tokyo Bay an extra night? Thomas wants to see Disney Sea so we will stay until Monday now. Check out Monday afternoon and head to Hilton Tokyo for one night. Before our evening flight home on Tuesday.
My adventure begins when I depart for Tokyo on Monday morning:
The flight leaves at 8:50 AM - and it's NOT direct :(
The connecting flight is via Denver at least it's only an hour and a half wait and then I'll finally be off to Japan! I'm scheduled to arrive in Japan 3:30 PM on Tuesday! ACK!! Guess that optional day tour won't work for me :(
The dreaded return portion:
There are some good things, and some not so great things about the return flight that Thomas & I are on. I could have actually saved money and had a better connector, but I wanted to be on his flight with him coming home. They were even able to get us seats together on both portions which is good - If I'm going to be tired and cranky who better to torture than my own husband? The flight out of Tokyo leaves at 5:35 PM - which I like because it will give us another 1/2 day to see some more of Tokyo together (he'll only have Saturday, Sunday, Monday and 1/2 day Tuesday to do sight seeing). The connector is through San Francisco this time. It arrives at 10:55 a.m. and the connecting flight doesn't leave until 3:20. We will arrive back at our home airport at around midnight....I bet we get home at 2:30 a.m. Then the jet lag better pass quickly, as I will then turn around 9 days later and head out for my 7 night Disney cruise with my mom .....I am planning on ONLY relaxing when I'm on the Disney Fantasy - no excursions! Just REST! Besides, I've already been on this itinerary 3 times so, there's nothing that I feel like I have to rush out and see this time.
So, the hardest parts of planning and coordinating are taken care of (I hope). Now I get to have fun shopping for everything I'm going to need, researching all of the places I'm going to see and learning some basic Japanese! I had ordered the complete Instant Immersion program from Amazon and it arrived last night....HATE IT! They claim to be "better than Rosetta Stone" well, I have Rosetta Stone Italian and French, and this program doesn't even come close. My uncle had mentioned that he can get me Rosetta Stone Japanese if I want it - so, I'll be taking him up on that offer when I see him this Saturday!
I did learn a few things from the crappy program I wasted $50 on....
Where is the ladies toilet - Josei-yoo no o-tearai
Hospital - Byooin (which is how my nephew used to say "balloon" so, I'll never forget how to say this one....and if you know me, it's probably a good thing that I know how to say it)
Coffee - Koohi
Yes - Hai
No - iie
Water - Mizu
Good morning - Ohayoo
Good afternoon - Konnichiwa
Good evening - Konbanwa
Please - Onegaishimasu
Thank you - Arigatoo
Actually, maybe it was worth the $50 just to learn those things....but I still want the Rosetta Stone!
I've been researching Tokyo Disney (amongst a million other things) & I'm super glad/surprised how inexpensive their park tickets are (they call them Passports) compared to WDW - for me to have 6 days of park passes and Thomas to have 3 days it comes to $416 USD. I thought it would be at least double that!
Here's a map of Tokyo Disney (it's not the easiest to see everything on there but if you click on the map it will give you a bigger size) but my resort is at the top right corner (Hilton Tokyo Bay) - Disneyland is literally right across the street! Maybe I'll get a good view of Space Mountain! It looks like I'll need those first 3 days without Thomas to get accustomed to the parks (although Disneyland is pretty much laid out like the Magic Kingdom). But, Tokyo Disney Sea is so unique.
Last word of the day......Sayoonara!
May 10th
OK, so preparing for a "Trip of a lifetime" is almost a full time job. I've got more "To-Do" lists than I can even keep track of at this point. I've also set multiple reminders on my calendar for some things that I just can't forget to do - such as purchase my Tokyo Disney park passes 60 days in advance! I'm still a little fuzzy on how it works for "Official Resort Guests" I know that they say you are guaranteed admission even if the parks are at capacity but you have to have tickets purchased in advance. How much in advance I'm still not sure. I know that I'm supposed to print up ticket choices on line and then when I get there present that certificate and pay for them. I'm surprised at the lack of information available on Tokyo Disney - maybe I'll write a book about it when I get back! There are a few blogs out there (Lurkyloo has the BEST one - check it out by clicking this link - disneytravelbabble or you can find her trip reports on the Disboards). Most trip reports and info found on the net is a few years old - hence, this blog. Hoping to pay it forward just like Carrie (Lurkyloo) has done for weary travelers like me.
I seem to be a lot more focused on the Tokyo Disneyland portion of my trip right now because it's the part of the trip that I'll be going solo until Thomas finishes his program - although he is considering staying with me after work each night and then hopping the train back for his meetings. This will depend on his itinerary. Plus, I will be on a guided tour of Tokyo and Kyoto for the first 9 days and with my in-laws...so someone will be there to do all the hard work, planning and thinking for me! And, as I mentioned it's hard to find a lot of info on Tokyo Disneyland. There is literally ONE book on Tokyo Disney (which I have downloaded to ibooks) but it is a few years old. Interestingly, I did learn that I will have to pay to use the monorail. It is ¥250 which is currently $2.45 in USD to ride the monorail ONCE. There are multi day passes which enable you to ride as many times as you want - I'll need 7 days and they only go up to 4 day multi passes. I'll need a 4 and a 3 day which will come out to about $25 - just to ride the monorail! That seems so crazy to me since our WDW monorail is F-R-E-E!
But....here's what our "free" Walt Disney World monorail looks like
And here is what the monorail looks like at Tokyo Disneyland...
I started following @TokyoDailyLife on twitter- WONDERFUL people who I simply asked ONE question about my train anxiety (from Tokyo Station to Mahaima - Tokyo Disney) and even though they are not a "travel info" related twitter account (they provide info of daily life for those living in Tokyo) they have gone out of their way to assist me with this portion of my trip! Not only did they provide websites, maps and info on the train line that I need to transfer to (Keiyo line from Tokyo Station to Mahaima = 3 stops), they actually posted a photo of EXACTLY where I need to be in Tokyo Station! Amazing! Domoo arigatoo gozaimasu! (Thank you very much!)
Here is the actual photo @TokyoDailyLife sent me of where I need to go (Red is Keiyo line)
I'm really wow'd by the detailed assistance they have given me. I am very thankful and so relieved!
I broke down and purchased Rosetta Stone Japanese 1-3....had to do it. The Instant Immersion software just fails in comparison (I already own Rosetta Stone Italian and French so I can easily compare the software.) While you do learn a little on Instant Immersion it's just not cutting it. I've also asked Thomas to start learning with me a little bit each night after dinner...so far I'm sitting there every night by myself :/
Last bit of travel info of interest for today - is this company called EconnectJapan (click for link) that rents wifi-to-go and also sells simcards for cell phones which enable you to pay once for internet connection that will keep you connected all over Japan. The simcard will cost me ¥ 6912 which is about $70 USD and the wifi-to-go device would cost ¥ 4,100 which is about $40 USD. You pay once and have wifi wherever you go. Apparently, free/public wifi isn't as easy to find in Japan as one might think (so I have learned by doing about a billion hours of research). Whichever one I choose, they will deliver to my hotel for me. The wifi-to-go device has to be returned on my last day in Japan (I can give it to my hotel guest services at check out) but the sim card expires after 30 days, so I don't have to remember to return it! I really basically stumbled upon this info on accident - again, pointing to the lack of info needed for a trip like this out there. I'm learning so much - I think my "Unofficial Tokyo Disneyland Guide Book for Obsessed Planners" will be a best seller!
Sayoonara,
Jen
May 19th
In exactly 3 months at just around this exact moment I will be arriving in Tokyo! I have been researching around the clock! (what else would you expect from a Space Science major?) Speaking of which I'm not sure what I will do about school while I am away. I will be enrolled in 2 classes while on this trip. Both classes end on August 25th which is not good timing at all as I will be touring Japan that week and there will be multiple hotels, cities, etc. I only have 4 classes left until I graduate (woo hoo!) but I will be required to take final exams during that week and I'm not sure if the professors will be able to grant me an extension. This is too much stress to worry about right now so I'll just use my Scarlet O'Hara mentality and worry about it tomorrow (after all, tomorrow is another day).
OK for all you ladies out there...let's talk luggage! I LOVE my new luggage set that was purchased specifically for this trip! My in-laws only take carry on luggage when they travel and from what I have read about traveling in Japan it is best to have minimal luggage... I can't believe I will be using a carry on for such a long trip! This is also important because I will need to go from Kyoto to Tokyo Bay on the bullet train and I will need to be able to handle my luggage as easily as possible. So, I have ordered this set of Samantha Brown (THE travel channel GURU) luggage:
I LOVE this set! The top piece actually slides right onto the telescoping handle so you literally will have a free hand while traveling! No heavy bags weighing down on your arms! The top bag will go under the seat in front and the 21" will fit in the over head. I love this set. I hope she got the trademark on this idea because it is genius! And when you remove the bag that bottom part zips so it's like an extra large pocket -- like I said...she's a genius!
On Saturday I did a "mock packing" ...even though my husband thought this was crazy since it is only May -- but everything fit great inside my carry on luggage! I even have some extra room! Thomas will be bringing a very large checked piece of luggage...and there will be an empty duffel bag in his luggage to fit all of the souvenirs that I purchase.... although, I wouldn't rule out buying an other piece of luggage when I'm in Japan!
I have recently stumbled across a GREAT website on Tokyo Disney called Uranezu.com (click here for the link to the website). There are great photos of the parks, menu's from the restaurants and loads of helpful information! I've been emailing with the Website creator who has been nice enough to correspond to my emails. I am really thankful for all of the contacts I've made over the net (Tokyo Daily Life, disneytravelbabble.com and Uranezu.com). They have all made my travel planning so much easier. Uranezo.com has shown me some merchandise items available for the 30 year anniversary of Tokyo Disneyland that I HAVE to buy...plus, I love that even dessert items come in souvenir mugs (mago-koppu) and plates (sara).
Youtube is also a great tool for trip planning. I've been able to see videos of all of the hotels that I will be staying at as well as train stations in Tokyo and of course, there are lots of videos on there about Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea.
Looking into dining options for the first half of the trip while I am in Tokyo and Kyoto (as someone who is highly allergic to shellfish I do not eat fish at all...or red meat...or anything fried...or anything with milk/cream) I see there are several places that do offer vegetarian options that are not fish. Also, there are a lot of Italian restaurants in Tokyo...and this NY Italian cannot wait to try some Italian food in Japan! I will of course like to eat Japanese food as well.
I think I may have pre-judged the Instant Immersion Japanese learning program that I purchased. I've actually been learning quite a bit. I probably should have given it a few weeks before dismissing it and ordering Rosetta Stone Japanese. I guess I will have two good sources to use now. But, Thomas and I have been practicing a lot and we are really pleased with the amount we have learned --including most importantly that I am allergic to fish - "watashi wa sakana ni arerugi gozen"
Another tip from online research is to keep checking hotel rates because they tend to fluctuate. I've already called Hilton and guaranteed a lower rate. This of course is not an option for the 1st portion of the trip that I will be on the guided tour since that has already been pre-paid. But, it helped with the Tokyo Disney portion as I will be there for quite a few nights (7). I may just prepay the entire hotel stay as this will save me about $400. I am just a little nervous to do this so early as there is no refunds/cancellations/changes allowed once you chose the pre-pay in advance option. But I am still trying to utilize my Disney Vacation Club membership and use points for one or more nights at one of the Disney resorts. I'm hoping the daily phone calls will result in some sort of pixie dust miracle! Hey, I'm a former Cast Member so I know they exist!
Sayonara for today :)
Jen
P.S. I guess I'm not like Scarlet O'Hara at all...I just phoned my school and spoke with my student advisor - she's already putting in an extension request for me! Now, back to Japan planning!
June 3
Thomas and I have been practicing speaking Japanese every day. We are using both the Instant Immersion Japanese software as well as the Rosetta Stone software. I think the combination of the two is perfect. I know it's quite an expense but I would recommend learning this way to anyone. The audio companion from Instant Immersion was worth the cost of the entire program. It is tailored to travelers/visitors so they don't waste a great deal of time teaching you things you will not necessarily need to know --unlike the Rosetta Stone program that teaches you many things...including "this sweater is too large"... I'm pretty sure I'm not going to need to say that to anyone in my 3 weeks in Japan in August!
I have learned and retained quite a bit including greetings, goodbyes, introductions, numbers, days of the week, how to ask where to buy train tickets and lots of other good travel lingo that I'll be needing.
I've recently ordered quite a few boxes of All American Taffy to give as Omiyage while in Japan. Cash tips are frowned upon and small gifts from where you are from are more greatly appreciated (called Omiyage). I thought that since I'm coming from New Jersey some salt water taffy would be perfect!
I've been doing quite a bit of shopping for this trip (and not complaining about it...I love to shop!) New luggage (see previous post), new walking shoes (sandals & sneakers) new summer clothes, new camera bag, and I'm considering a new ipad case that has a keyboard to make blogging/twitter-ing a bit easier.
We've also set up Skype accounts so that we can easily communicate with each other as well as family back home while we are gone..... I have to admit, the thought of Skyping with my dogs has crossed my mind more than once HA!
I'm pleased to say that much of my "To-Do" list has disappeared! I'm an over-planner/over-organizer but I need to do this for my own sanity. I need to see things are "squared away" as my grandfather used to say. My next big To-Do will be changing some American money into Yen and booking my hotel in Tokyo Disney. I'm still worried about doing this so far in advance, but the savings to pre-pay is quite large at about $500 USD.
The worst case scenario is if Thomas' work trip gets moved/cancelled we'll still go to Japan in August! He'll just have to get a new flight and get added onto the guided tour because we are going to Japan!
Ha ga itai desu......unfortunately I learned the meaning of this over the weekend....I have a toothache! And I'll be heading off to my Dentist now. Sorry for the quick update, but I hope I have more planning news next week!
Sayonara!
June 10th
Since the U.S. dollar is down and the Yen is up you can imagine that the hotel rates have gone a little crazy over the past week or so. I ended up pre-paying for my hotel in Tokyo Bay and actually reserved the plan that includes the breakfast buffet. So, I ended up paying more than I originally wanted to pay - or would have paid if I would have just pre-paid a few weeks ago...not really happy about that. But, I am glad I did it last Thursday because on Friday the rates jumped up an ADDITIONAL 150 Yen PER NIGHT! Some rooms are up to 460 Yen per night! WOW! A few weeks ago the same rooms were 250 Yen per night! All in all I am happy that our hotel is pre-paid and all we have to do now is show up!
I had watched Samantha Brown's Asia series a few weeks ago (unfortunately this is not on youtube so you have to pay to see this but it is on iTunes). When she was in Japan she did a few days in Kyoto and had participated in an event called the Maiko Experience in Gion where you get to be dressed as a Geisha (actually a Maiko - this is an apprentice Geisha in training). Gion is located in Kyoto. This area was built to accommodate the needs of travelers and visitors to the Yasaka Shrine. It quickly evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well known Geisha districts in all of Japan. I did some research and found out where to experience this. I had quickly emailed them to see if I would be able to easily arrange for a taxi to bring me back to my hotel after my experience is complete and they quickly replied letting me know they would arrange that for me and, because I will be participating by myself that they recommend the basic package. I will just add some additional photographs to this so that I have a good amount -- since I will not have anyone there to take pictures for me :( I will let my mother in law know about this experience as I am sure it is something she would love to do. But, I'm not sure if she will change her Hiroshima plans. If you would like to see the place I am interested it is AYA Maiko Experience website please click here.
I was so excited to find this experience! I cannot wait to do this. It's a true once in a lifetime experience to get formally dressed as a Maiko - in Gion, Kyoto! The only unfortunate part of booking the Maiko experience is that I will not be able to go to Hiroshima with my in-laws. I did struggle with this decision however, as someone who was at the World Trade Center on 9/11 it was very hard to get through that and the idea of visiting a place where so many innocent people perished brings up quite a bit of anxiety for me. I am in NO WAY comparing the two events, although both were horrific. I am only saying that I suffered quite a bit of anxiety as a result of 9/11 and to put myself in any situation that brings up that specific type of anxiety is not healthy for me. I did not return to NYC for 7 years after 9/11 and I have still not been to downtown Manhattan since 9/11. I am not ready or comfortable at this point in my life to revisit that area. My mom was a bit concerned with my visiting Hiroshima. It will be a very emotional experience and I worry about having that fearful type of anxiety as a result. In stead I will take part in this very interesting and fun Maiko experience. It will be a great way to spend my last day in Kyoto.
There is a Geisha dinner in a Ryokan (a traditional Japanese Inn) that is located in Kyoto that we can book and I know my mother in-law was looking into this. I believe this is the one she had researched - it's called the Kyoto Cuisine and Maiko Dinner (click for link) I will have to see if she had booked it for us or not? She is currently in Sicily for 3 weeks. When she returns I have a lot of things to tell her!
Back to the Yen again.....still have to get to the bank and acquire some Yen. I was just waiting to see if it happens to drop a little to where it was a few weeks ago. If not, I will get just a small amount and whatever else I need I will acquire in Japan. Or, I may just get some travelers checks since they are easily replaced should something happened to them.
June 21st, 2013
Konnichiwa! It's the first day of summer! Wow! I can't believe my trip is under two months away! It's starting to feel real now - especially since I've really been able to get a lot of things done and crossed off the massive "To-Do" list.
Here are some of the things that have transpired since my last blog update last week:
Happy News: Thomas' college roommate is Japanese and lives in Fukuoka, Japan. We have not seen him since our wedding day almost 13 years ago! He has just given us great news that he will come to Tokyo to spend a few days with us!
As you can see from the map below - he lives very far from Tokyo. We cannot even begin to say how happy we are that he & his family are going to make this trip to spend some time with us. He is truly a dear friend. It seems unfair that he keeps making long trips to see us - he did this to attend our wedding too!
Here's a photo of the 3 college roommates at our wedding.
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Here's what I've picked up so far:
We only found out this good news a few days ago so I've only purchased the cars and ordered the NY Yankees hat so far. I'm sure I'll buy a few more items for him, as well as something for Daisuke and his wife -- and their baby girl who is 8 months old. But, I was pretty sure that the hot wheels/matchbox cars are a good pick for a 3 year old boy. Daisuke had given us a beautiful clock from Japan for our wedding gift. It is displayed in our home and we have used it every day since we've received this lovely gift. I think about him every time I look at it.
I found a really cool website Veltra.com (click for link) that has some really interesting day trips/excursions for Tokyo and Kyoto. Since time in Kyoto will be limited (as our tour group does have tours set up) I will only have the 1 free day there and I've already booked the AYA Maiko Experience. My options are pretty limited but there are a few dinner options with Maiko entertainment. I'm not sure if I want to do a tour of the Gion district and the dinner or just the dinner experience. Interestingly, the dinner only experience is about double the price.
There is also an interesting Night tour for Tokyo with a tour of Shinjuku -- this is the quintessential Tokyo city - modern and laden with Neon lights! The cost is quite affordable at only $5,000 Yen per person. I am leaning towards booking this as I will have 2 free evenings while in Tokyo (as the tour days end early).
United Airlines Drama - OK, so when Thomas' trip was extended I changed my return flight to come home a day later and on a direct flight. United very quickly charged my account the $250 change fee and I thought that was that....WRONG! I logged on to just view my itinerary (call me crazy, but I love logging onto my United Mileage Plus account and seeing that my next flight is to TOKYO!) When I logged in it showed that my reservation was INCOMPLETE and needed to be re-ticketed! Somehow I was moved off of my return flight and was put back on a flight for the day prior but not even on the originally booked flight - a completely different flight! When I finally got through and spoke to a United representative they said that someone changed my flight the day before I called (which is odd since the ticket change was 8 days prior). I did eventually get back on the correct flight but the seat I had chosen when I originally made the change was now occupied and I had a middle seat in the 2nd to the last row of the plane :( Well, this bothered me all week so yesterday I paid to upgrade to Economy Plus and now I'm in a bulkhead seat with more legroom and nobody in front of me. On a short flight I don't mind when people recline into my space (OK I do, but I can deal with it on a 2 hour flight) on a 12 hour and 52 minute flight I'd prefer not to deal with that. So, let's add another $150 onto the ever growing Japan budget!
Camera bag.... yep, returned the original Jo Totes bag and exchanged it for a smaller one. The models on the website must be 6' tall....because the bag looked normal size when they were carrying the bag for the online catalog....I'm 5'3"......it was 1/2 the size of me! So, I ended up with a MUCH smaller bag.
It's nice but I'll still be squeezing my camera and stuff in to it. I was trying to avoid that however, I do like the fact that this bag has separate zippered compartments for my wallet and personal items as well as an area for my camera/equipment. The best part is that it looks like a regular handbag. Most camera bags are masculine and just not chic at all.
We are heading up to visit with my in laws this weekend so, I'm sure we'll settle the excursions and extra plans while I'm there. I bet this Japan trip will be "The" topic of conversation this weekend since we haven't seen them since this trip came about.
Sayonara - for today!
July 19th, 2013
Konnichwa friends!
A few other things that I've gotten accomplished this week - I purchased a new SD card for my DSLR Camera. This one has 32GB and it can hold over 9 THOUSAND photos! I hope this will be enough for 19 days in Japan! I usually take about 2-3 thousand on any given trip so I hope this will be large enough to hold the photos I will take while on this amazing journey. I will still bring along an extra card or 2 just in case.
I also ordered a new case for my ipad that has a Bluetooth keyboard. This will come in handy for blogging/writing my trip report.
July 19th, 2013
Konnichwa friends!
It is hard to believe that I am finally one month away from my much awaited trip to Japan! We learned about this trip back in April - that seems so long ago. I am so lucky to have become friends with the website creator for Uranezu.com. She has been an amazing source of help, knowledge and advice.
We email each other quite a bit and I'm happy to say that I will get to meet her in person when I visit Tokyo Disney! It is probably the only time in my life that I will get to go to Japan, so I'm very glad to be able to say hello and thank her in person. There are just so many wonderful things that I am looking forward to on this trip and meeting my new friend is right at the top of my list!
Yesterday, I received her most wonderful package in the mail!
This is a fantastic surprise! I did not expect for her to send me so much information! I had sent her some WDW and Disneyland info (as she hasn't visited either park in quiet a few years). I mailed her some Mickey Ears, the WDW/DL planning DVD, park maps and brochures, Disney coloring books and activity books and some lithographs of New Fantasyland as a thank you for all of her advice and she surprised me with all of this info! Domo arigato gozaimus!
My favorite part of the Tokyo Disney information.....the available merchandise of course!
Of course every piece of literature that she sent is fantastic! The info on Tokyo, Kyoto and Tokyo Disney is going to be of great help. I have just started to go through all of the info. It is so much fun to look at and it is definitely getting me more excited for my trip!
I noticed that both Disneyland and Disney Sea offer park tours. I would like to attend these to learn as much as I can about both parks. The only thing is they can't be reserved in advance if you live outside of Japan so I will have to try to book them in the day of. This could be tricky during the busy summer season but it is worth a try.
Wi Fi To-Go! - DONE!
I've ordered my Wi Fi To-Go device through econnect Japan! Here is the link to econnectjapan.com Now I'll be able to Skype, tweet, Facebook and email throughout my entire trip! It was a bit pricey but, I do need it for 19 days so, it's well worth it. This little portable device has high speed unlimited data. Best of all, it will be delivered to the first hotel that I am checking into in Tokyo the day before I arrive. I'll be able to connect to the web right away on day 1
I also ordered a new case for my ipad that has a Bluetooth keyboard. This will come in handy for blogging/writing my trip report.
I've been able to get so much accomplished on my To-Do list that there really isn't anything left! I am really most excited to pack my luggage! I know I have 30 days until I leave, but I am constantly thinking about what I will be packing. I am very excited! The only thing that worries me is leaving our dogs for 3 weeks. They are older dogs (12 and 14 years old) and I've never been away from them for so long. We have someone who we trust (a great friend) staying at our home with the them the entire time we are gone so, I know they will be spoiled, but I will miss them terribly :(
Well, that's my update for now. With only 4 weeks to go I may only have one or two more pre-trip updates. It's so close I can't believe it!
Sayonara for now!
August 3rd
Just a little over 2 weeks to go! Very excited, nervous, anxious....a bunch of emotions going on! I am VERY ready for this trip to begin already!!!!
Meeting new friends!
I'm very excited to meet my new friend, who runs a FABULOUS Tokyo Disney fan website called Uranezo.com (please check it out if you have any questions about Tokyo Disney - she has everything posted from restaurant menus, photos of merchandise, current shows/promos, etc.) She has informed me that she and some of her friends would like to officially welcome me to Japan! I am in amazement that I will be able to meet friends from so far away! I am coordinating a meeting time and place with her for my last full day at Tokyo Disney. It looks like we will meet at the Aqua Sphere at Tokyo Disney Sea. I will have to buy some more Omiyage for them! I'm not sure what else to bring other than the Salt Water Taffy I've already picked up. I'm waiting to see if they trade Disney pins. I'm not really a pin-trader (actually, I've never traded 1 pin!) but I do have quite a few pins that I've collected since my honeymoon in 2000, and then as a cast member we were given pins on occasion, plus I have some nice DVC pins and Disney Cruise Line pins. They may be unique to the Tokyo Disney fans (as many of them have not been to WDW). So, I'd like to bring them and perhaps trade for some Tokyo Disney Pins.
Packing list!
Of course there is a heck-of-a packing list for this trip! I just hope I don't forget important items. The best one I've found to use as a template can be found on Independenttraveler.com
Celsius...
Thanks to former President Jimmy Carter - Celsius is giving me a headache!
Why are we the only country NOT using the metric system??? Because Jimmy Carter nixed that back in the 70's. Now I'm scrambling to figure out how hot it's going to be when I'm in Japan. I am trying to remember that 20 Celsius is about 70 degrees F. and 30 C is about 86F.....anything in between the two is fine.....anything over 30C will be brutal!
Who knew all this math would be involved....13 hour time difference, using military time AND the system.....lots to figure out!
Ueno Park
My in-laws and I have decided to spend one of our free days in Tokyo by visiting Ueno Park. This seems to be a smaller version of NYC Central Park. There are many museums, a zoo, vendors, etc. Easily we can spend an entire day here.
Lastly, and definitely NOT least.....let's talk buckets people....I mean POPCORN buckets! These are a HUGE hit at the Tokyo Disney Resort. There are MANY different flavor types of popcorn available -- everything from plain, banana, caramel, black pepper, CHOCOLATE and many more. But even more popular are the buckets that the popcorn comes in. They are very collectible! Here's a few that I think are adorable!
With only 2 weeks left, I may only have 1 more post before I head off to Japan!
August 18th
Well, I can't even begin to say how excited I am to be leaving on this amazing journey! I started out with almost 4 months to countdown and now I'm literally HOURS away from the biggest trip of my life! I'm packed and ready to go! Here's a look at my FABULOUS packing skills! 6 dresses, 3 pairs of capri pants, 3 shirts, 1 bathing suit, 1 camera bag, undergarments, socks, 2 Scarves, toiletries, 2 hats, 1 rain jacket, 1 umbrella, 1pair of sneakers, 1 pair of sandals.....and a Partridge in a pear tree (just kidding) and incredibly, it all fit in carry-on luggage! I followed Samantha Brown's advice and rolled my clothing (never did this before). I was able to roll 3 dresses together at once, 3 shirts together at once, 3 pants, etc. This is my luggage before putting in my case that holds all of my undergarments, socks, belts. etc. That fit right on top and..... Voila!
Another thing that is weighing down my tote bag/personal carry on...
I'm bringing 2 cameras!
Here's why.... My DSLR is quite cumbersome yet I feel that I must bring it. It takes the most gorgeous photos. I'm used to it, I have extra batteries to charge, extra lenses, etc. it's a Canon and its fabulous. I'd forever be saying "I should have brought my DSLR!" So, my idea was to purchase a point and shoot Canon (because they are amazing cameras). I ended up with the new powershot that has built in wifi. It's nice and light and easy to use (which my DSLR is not ....this is an issue when you ask people who speak your own language to take a photo of you much less someone who doesn't speak your language!). So, I convinced the hubby that the point and shoot would be great to use own days that I'm not it on tours, and when he arrives HE can use the new camera as it will fit in his pocket. We can ask people to take our photo with this easy to use camera and we'll end up with double the amount of photos! He said yes so I ordered it right away!! I've been taking some test shots and it really does take some nice photos! The colors are very vibrant.
I have to thank my friend Yoshie once again! She sent me a map with notes to help me navigate my way from the Shinkansen to JR Line going to Tokyo Disney once I reach Tokyo Station.
This is a TREMENDOUS help to me! I have this map all packed in my luggage!
As much as I love this blog, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to update the blog during the trip so I figure I'll just Tweet and Instagram tons! I'll be keeping a journal so I can put a detailed trip report together for the blog when I return. And then post it with photos on here as well. So any blog entries while I'm touring Japan may be short, sweet and to the point!
Well, I think that just about covers everything.
My next post will be from Japan! - as long as my Wi-Fi to go device shows up like it's supposed to!
Click here for Days 1 & 2 - Travel Days and Arriving in Tokyo
Wow Lucky you .... :)
ReplyDeleteWhich guide books you took ? I mean you purchased them or were they free to be downloaded ? Could you recommend some for me too ( preferably free versions) , also do you have any names of good books available in paperbacks from any of the local bookstores ?
I used Frommers Japan, Lonely Planet Tokyo, DK eyewitness Tokyo, DK eyewitness Japan and Time Out Tokyo all were paper back guide books. I also downloaded on mi iPad: Travelers Series Guide to Tokyo Disneyland Resort. If you go onto Amazon you can buy the guidebooks from last year or the year before for very low prices. Things don't really change that much in a years time so the books I had even though they were last years editions were just fine.
DeleteThank you :)
DeleteHi , Reading the above entries made me so excited , and made me feel a part of your excitement and worries for the near coming trip lol , almost like like I am actually there ... Pre-planning and bookings for any trip may be so mind boggling for someone like me , so I wanna ask for your help .so On June 10th entry you mentioned Pre-paying for the hotel room . Please bear with me as I have no knowledge as to how the reservations thingy are done, as these things are not common here , and we have never done online purchase etc ... .(I am a crazy Disney Fan , and its my dream to go to any Disney park , specially Tokyo Disney is stuck in my head now , so I'm preparing myself and getting all knowledge and help I could , so that miraculously one day when I will visit , I would be ready , anyone could dream right ... ) Ok so by what I gather is that you paid in advance for the hotel booking and then the prices rose but as you already had booked , the price remains the same right ? Ok and also you paid by credit card ? I donot have a credit card . So first I have to get a credit card , then I would have to go to Hotel's website , and reserve the room , and once I click Enter after filling in all details , they will take the money from my credit card ? Isn't there a way that you could reserve /book a room , and pay in cash , when you actually go there ? I do not know anything about online deposits and Credit cards things ....
ReplyDeleteI chose the prepay option as the rate was a little lower and I was able to know exactly what price I would pay as I was aware of the current currency rate for Yen to US dollar. You can reserve a room and pay at check in and the rate shown would be what you pay - say 230,000 Japanese Yen per night. That would be your rate to pay yes, but if the Yen price at check in was more than the U.S. Dollar I would be paying higher conversion. When I booked the US dollar and yen were almost equal so it would be $230 USD per night buy if the yen price became much stronger than the USD on the day I checked in it would be a higher conversion for me. I did no want to take that type of risk.
Delete