Jetstar have had a mad sale on over the last few days and managed to pick up return flights for me, the mrs and my kid for 1300. So we're heading to Japan boy!!!!
Anyways, i'm keen as to take my little girl to Disney land and Disney sea so i'm gonna get a 4 day pass and hit them both hard... Other than that, i'm keen as for Sega Joyopilus, and to spend some coin in the fishing gear sector, but other than that, i have no idea what else to do...
Anyone spent any time there and have any advise? We're going for 10 days and staying in Tokyo in November.
Good hotels, places to see, things to do, best ways to travel etc etc are all things i would love to know more about if you don't mind sharing the love.
I'm talking from my experience 10 years ago so a lot could have changed since then but I found it pretty cheap moving around the skirts of Tokyo and Hiroshima with their local trains (JR). It's a bit tough reading the signs for what train to catch but not impossible to ask for help etc.
There's plenty of nice gardens you can go to in Tokyo (although there are more in Kyoto), I can't really remember the ones I liked but it'd be pretty easy to find out and lots of hotels give you a map with things to see on it.
I'd also recommend going to Akihabara, there's always lots of cool shit there, and if you want you can have a great family adventure and visit the 8 story sex shop.
is that a typo in the subject line? i'm not trying to be an ass, but lately have seen 'advise' in teh place of 'advice' and now i'm questioning whether i'm right or not? can someone confirm/deny?
How much are you willing to move around the country? If you plan on going outside of Tokyo at all to any of the other major cities, invest in a Japan Rail Pass before you leave Aus for considerable savings. (Kyoto is pretty beautiful in early november, but can also drive up domestic tourists checking out places like Arashiyama)
Hotels wise I've always been cheap, but I can recommend that you make sure you end up somewhere on the JR Yamanote line, easiest way around the major sights in Tokyo. (Though if you have the 4 day pass for Disneysea/land, may want to consider the resort there, the parks are a little out of town and changing lines at Tokyo station can be a source of tears for some)
In the middle of packing to leave the country actually so I'm just going to give the fastest rundown I can. If you can think of specific areas you want to ask about just top up the thread.
Joypolis in Odaiba in pretty neat but you can also get a very similar fix by hitting up Akihabara (more accessible than Odaiba for most).
Check out the relatively new Tokyo Sky Tree if you want and have no qualms with heights.
Asakusa is probably an easy choice for a cultural sight within Tokyo
Has your kid had any exposure to Spirited Away/Princess Mononoke/Ghibli films? If so the Ghibli museum is located in Tokyo and while we were there generally every kid was going apeshit with happiness/whimsy (was pretty easy to feel like a kid for me too). Tickets can be purchased on an English site, need to get them a fair bit in advance though
Tsukiji fish market is another obvious one if you don't mind an early start.
Take the family out to dinner somewhere in Roppongi hills or Ginza.
Go to a "DVD bar" alone. One of the many wacky experiences I had in Tokyo. Loved that city so much. You'll have a blast if you have no fear and try anything
Take lots of $1 coins. The locals love gifts. If someone helps you out and is real nice give them a coin or something Aussie. Its not a tip, they love kangaroos/koalas and see it as a cool tokens/gift. Also make sure people know your from Australia. If people think your Americans they will avoid you.
I liked walking around the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park in Hiroshima. It is a very moving place to go if you are interested in the recent history. Nagasaki was pretty rad too.
Kyoto to me was lots of the same/same. See a couple of temples and gardens and you've seen them all.
Take lots of $1 coins. The locals love gifts. If someone helps you out and is real nice give them a coin or something Aussie. Its not a tip, they love kangaroos/koalas and see it as a cool tokens/gift. Also make sure people know your from Australia. If people think your Americans they will avoid you.
I got to say that some of the tourists that pass through my little stand love it when I point out all the different animals on our coins, (not the $2 coin, saying that is an animal would appear racist)
i've run out of change once when I pointed this out to a lovely older couple, who (unknown to me at the time) told the rest of the large tour group
Kyoto (+other parts of Kansai) is pretty rad, would be a shame to miss it. Be careful booking accommodation in Kyoto late November as it is peak "leaf viewing" season in Kyoto and everything is booked out weeks in advance.
Thanks for the help fellas, i will make a B line for the Cairns night markets before i fly out and buy up bulk souvenir type things before we leave.
The Mrs has been looking at hotels and we're looking at the Avanshell Akasaka Hotel. It looks like it's pretty close to the subway, and fairly central...
Seems like a good hotel too from reviews, and should be big enough for the 3 of us. We can get a good room for around 800 for the 10 days too which is pretty good.
Anyone know this area and if it's a good base to explore from?
They do some great day trips and guided tours. The Mt. Fuji and Hakone National Park Full-Day Tour & Full-Day Nikko World Heritage Tour were fantastic. I also recommend the Guided Walking Tour of Kamakura as well.
Ueno is a good area, with the Zoo and 4 or so museums. It's near the Tokyo Skytree too.
Disney - Try to avoid the weekends and public holidays and take a book or something to do while waiting in lines for the rides.
Get some yen before hand. It's pretty much cash based for a lot of stuff. Cash machines, you can use the ones in 7-11s (you will trip over them in Tokyo) or the Post Office. They only dispense 10,000 yen notes though - http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2208.html
Akasaka should be no problem, the only issue is that you'd likely have to get the Chiyoda-sen subway line to Hibiya station and walk to Yurakucho station to meet up with the JR Yamanote line and get around to the major stations.
I think you'd also be able to go directly from Tokyo station but it'd require another subway line as a tranfer point...
Probably after the first time you did it, you'd have no dramas
An upside is your proximity to Omotesando station. Upmarket shopping, eats etc..
Could also imagine you'd get quite nice views if you were up high enough around there.
Get some yen before hand. It's pretty much cash based for a lot of stuff
On my recent trip in July I went over with about $250 aud in yen (¥20,000) to start with, and then just VISA cash advanced my way through the rest of the trip, withdrawing ¥50,000 to ¥60,000 only saw $20 in fees (for approx $600 to $720) worked out pretty well overall. Better than losing too much money to cash exchange places here in Australia
On my recent trip in July I went over with about $250 aud in yen (¥20,000) to start with, and then just VISA cash advanced my way through the rest of the trip, withdrawing ¥50,000 to ¥60,000 only saw $20 in fees (for approx $600 to $720) worked out pretty well overall. Better than losing too much money to cash exchange places here in Australia
Agreed, that's pretty much what I do too. Auspost and most banks can order in foreign currency. I don't know how they compare with the Travelex places
You should watch this video on youtube - it is a very decent and accurate guide on how to eat sushi while you're out as well as customs you may not be aware of.
He said November so the tail end of Autumn leading to Winter. Nice time for it. 10-17 on average if http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2273.html is anything to go by.
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