Japan - Tokyo - Hakone First Timer

[Jonathan Ang]

to TS:

Yes, for Hakone, it is ESPECIALLY important to plan the time you are going to take each ride because each ride has a "last ride / last bus" timing.

This is relevant to when you are IN HAKONE, and not travelling there. I'm sure "how to get there" is already covered in the posts our other CS bros and sis liao.

1) The place is complex because of the different transport you can take within HAKONE: cable car, buses, boats etc. You don't wanna miss the boat, so to speak.

2) The boat ride is the one that I missed the first day. The boat ride is in the middle of the whole Hakone, so if you missed it, you probably can't continue unless you take other transport. I was engrossed at a museum for too long, so I got to the pier at 5:25, thinking I could catch the last boat at 5:30pm. However, there was strong wind which upset the schedule, so they told me the last boat was cancelled. And 5:30-6pm is the last ride for most other alternative means of transport! I had to head back to my hotel and continue the same part of the trip the next day. Wasted half a day for nothing.

Lesson learnt: start your trip early, watch your time, KNOW what time is the last ride/bus/boat, but don't PLAN to get on it, always plan early.

Hope that helps.


As for Getting there, I took the normal ride instead of the Romance Car, my experience is that, its ok (its Made in Japan!), and not too bad. Most of the time I was sleeping so I wouldn't really bother about, spaciousness, view, food or even the hassle of changing train really. So I didn't really wanted to part extra $$$ on the romance car.

Hakone, I would rec 1 night there will do. Nothing very much there, but the rides were pretty fun and cool.

Hmm seems like most people said 1 night will do..I already booked two haha!

I want to go slow paced and just chill in the ryokan for one of the days..so expensive...might as well enjoy it :bsmilie:

You need the boat right to get to another part of Hakone to continue the circle?
I'm not sure what time I should head toward Hakone..early/late morning, or late afternoon, since the check in time is @ 6pm

 

[Tumber]

Hey Jonathan,

12 days in Tokyo alone will be too long, seriously. Perhaps you can venture to Kyoto and Osaka. Hokone for 2 nights is ok, can stay at Osen hotel. But beware of the cost. Takayama is another place you should not miss!

 

[Jonathan Ang]

Hey Jonathan,

12 days in Tokyo alone will be too long, seriously. Perhaps you can venture to Kyoto and Osaka. Hokone for 2 nights is ok, can stay at Osen hotel. But beware of the cost. Takayama is another place you should not miss!

Hi...really?!

Hmm..not sure if i shld cancel my booking..but

12days includes flight...so actual number of days i can spend in japan is 10? first day/night cannot count, and last day only have time to wake up and fly off.

so that leaves me with 7 days in tokyo..or 6 1/2 counting the travelling to and from hakone

 

[Tumber]

Hi...really?!

Hmm..not sure if i shld cancel my booking..but

12days includes flight...so actual number of days i can spend in japan is 10? first day/night cannot count, and last day only have time to wake up and fly off.

so that leaves me with 7 days in tokyo..or 6 1/2 counting the travelling to and from hakone

Hm... I think it should be ok if you want to go slow. Can make day trips out to Niko, Yokohama etc. Furthermore, since you have made your bookings, just stick to your plans. Again, dont miss this place, Takayama. Not too sure how long you need to travel there. All the best for your trip, im sure you will love Japan, just like i do!

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5900.html.

 

[Jonathan Ang]

Hm... I think it should be ok if you want to go slow. Can make day trips out to Niko, Yokohama etc. Furthermore, since you have made your bookings, just stick to your plans. Again, dont miss this place, Takayama. Not too sure how long you need to travel there. All the best for your trip, im sure you will love Japan, just like i do!

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5900.html.

Yes i thought of going nikko! (yup will travel down to yokohama cuz cheap to go there)
But nikko..nikko is ex..160 to n fro. any cheaper? I would love to go lol.

Takayama?

 

[KYFoong]

On your check in at Hakone, go there early. Leave your bags at the ryokan then go off sight seeing. Take a nice hot bath after that and have dinner at 8PM. Hot bath after dinner not as fun as empty stomach. 2 nights stay is good feeling of being a little relax. You can visit the same site twice (for those you like to see). Different time of the day gives you different settings.

 

[aspenx]

My planned schedule is a little based on my friend's 7 day in tokyo but expanded for 12 days.
There was an option to go Nikko for the waterfall but to&fro train ticket is like 160sgd per person told my gf not worth >.<

It doesn't even cost that much even if you take a detour and visit Utsunomiya.

Anyways, you can get round trip passes to Nikko from Asakusa for less than half of the amount your gf thinks it will cost.

 

[aspenx]

Yes i thought of going nikko! (yup will travel down to yokohama cuz cheap to go there)
But nikko..nikko is ex..160 to n fro. any cheaper? I would love to go lol.

Takayama?

Might as well go to Kamakura since you're heading to Yokohoma already.

 

[flowerpot99]

Wow.

Takane : you should go sleep first ba!

KYFoong: I counted le the JR pass not worth it, not travelling across states much ~ I estimate the daily travelling to not exceed 1000yen in train.

I also planned my accomodation le

first 7 nights in shinagawa prince hotel main tower
next 2 nights in hakone (ryokan :bsmilie: zomgz 260sing per person per night lol)
subsequent nights in ueno fountaine villa !

Takane:

[tokyo metro government building, free visiting and much higher view

fish market definitely have to go and also try the sushi around there.. but bring more money
google for kiddyland tokyo, hakone volcano egg, and of course, must try the tokyo banana]

good advise! iw as thinking of the tokyo tower but the government building seems like a viable alternative!
Didn't read much about the hakone volcano egg, will try. Tokyo banana?? get from their supermarts?

Hi Just went Japan during mid april. Your trip seems very close to mine.

First 7 night at Shinagawa Prince hotel
next 2 night at Hakone (Fujiya hotel)
Last 4 night at Citadines (ard Shinjuku area)

But too bad, during my trip it was raining 50% of the time and had to stay in doors. On some days temperature drop to 4 degrees only, so it is very chilling to walk ard especially when its raining. Some things I could share with you.

1. Think if your trip is like mine (mainly ard Tokyo) the JR pass is not worth it. Just get a Suica card for general travel (used ard 4000yen in all), a one day pass for Odaiba, a 3 day pass for Hakone should be enough. BTW I took the romance car back from Hakone to Shinjuku. The scenery was quite nice along the way.

2. No need to bring umbrella there. They are selling at 100-150yen at the cheap shops all around.

3. Sunset really early there. Ard 5-6 it will be dark already.

4. Went fish market and they were closed to visitor during the month due to some reason. Not sure if they have opened yet. However, you can still go there for the freshest sashimi. Try their sea uchin, its a whole bounchy ball of meat and not those mushy ones we see here.

5. The government building is quite a good place to vist. 360 view of Tokyo and lots of things to buy there. Try the machine that take a photo of you and ur gf and print instantly. Then choose the key chain you like and put you face on it. Its cool and funny haha. Just take note of those rude korean and china tourist.... Keep pushing me around.

6. Didnt go Tokyo tower as it was too cold for us to venture there. But if I could go again I will bring some food there and have a picnic there. Think night time is nicer and more romantic. Can head ard Roponggi too since its nearby.

7. Every thing is expensive in Tokyo but they seldom chop carrot. Just eat what ever you feel like eating there (is all expensive la, after few day every thing will look "affordable") You can buy the common food/gifts on the last few days back as they are all the SAME PRICE in Tokyo. In fact, airport have them too...

Maybe will post some of my trip photos for your reference. Have fun

 

[Jonathan Ang]

It doesn't even cost that much even if you take a detour and visit Utsunomiya.

Anyways, you can get round trip passes to Nikko from Asakusa for less than half of the amount your gf thinks it will cost.

Huh really? How to? I didn't know - All i did was to use Hyperdia to calculate the cost! And it's me who thinks it's that expensive not her LOL.

Might as well go to Kamakura since you're heading to Yokohoma already.

Isn't Kamakura town past Hakone? As in got to bypass the stop at hakone? What's there to see there? Shall do a google search later. colourful pages NSFW :bsmilie:

Hi Just went Japan during mid april. Your trip seems very close to mine.

First 7 night at Shinagawa Prince hotel
next 2 night at Hakone (Fujiya hotel)
Last 4 night at Citadines (ard Shinjuku area)

But too bad, during my trip it was raining 50% of the time and had to stay in doors. On some days temperature drop to 4 degrees only, so it is very chilling to walk ard especially when its raining. Some things I could share with you.

1. Think if your trip is like mine (mainly ard Tokyo) the JR pass is not worth it. Just get a Suica card for general travel (used ard 4000yen in all), a one day pass for Odaiba, a 3 day pass for Hakone should be enough. BTW I took the romance car back from Hakone to Shinjuku. The scenery was quite nice along the way.

2. No need to bring umbrella there. They are selling at 100-150yen at the cheap shops all around.

3. Sunset really early there. Ard 5-6 it will be dark already.

4. Went fish market and they were closed to visitor during the month due to some reason. Not sure if they have opened yet. However, you can still go there for the freshest sashimi. Try their sea uchin, its a whole bounchy ball of meat and not those mushy ones we see here.

5. The government building is quite a good place to vist. 360 view of Tokyo and lots of things to buy there. Try the machine that take a photo of you and ur gf and print instantly. Then choose the key chain you like and put you face on it. Its cool and funny haha. Just take note of those rude korean and china tourist.... Keep pushing me around.

6. Didnt go Tokyo tower as it was too cold for us to venture there. But if I could go again I will bring some food there and have a picnic there. Think night time is nicer and more romantic. Can head ard Roponggi too since its nearby.

7. Every thing is expensive in Tokyo but they seldom chop carrot. Just eat what ever you feel like eating there (is all expensive la, after few day every thing will look "affordable") You can buy the common food/gifts on the last few days back as they are all the SAME PRICE in Tokyo. In fact, airport have them too...

Maybe will post some of my trip photos for your reference. Have fun

Wow..that sounds really similar. Same hotel for the first 7 days too! I could really use your input on the itinerary :bsmilie: :thumbsup: for the trip photos !

Okay, I shall plan to go to the government building then :bsmilie:
I think when I go there it's slightly lesser Singapore's temperature...so says some websites

 

[takane]

the ticket to hakone that costs 2000 yen/pax is unlimited ride within hakone 2 for days, however, it is only 'to-and-fro' hakone ONE TIME! so if you go back shinjuku at end of the day, byebye liao.. romance car is good during morning peak period.. cause you'll save alot of times since it only stops at 2 other stations then whack all the way. if u're going mountain area, chances are you can find the roast sweet potato, dont be greedy, get the small one, its already pretty big =P
tokyo banana at airport can buy, 2 variety, 1 biscuit type 1 is soft bread type, get the soft bread type.. ur gf most likely will go gooey after eating it.. mine did
like flowerpot, mine was abit cold, 7-18 degress, the cold isnt that bad until the wind blows.. your balls will want to shrink all the way into your bones for warmth..
oh yeah, if you do take pork, try the mcpork there *no offense to muslim bros here*, its quite nice with teriyaki and blackpepper sauce mixed
oh and yes, you can bargain for the stuff you intend to buy there, but dont try to cut too much, i'd recommend 2-5%, i didnt know until i was on the way back, and a fellow japanese planemate was teaching the guy beside what to do in future trips
if you're using the hakone pass, the boat is free, so far i've seen 2 different types of pirate ship. you can top up to be in the 'VIP' cabin, though not much diff, just that you get seating, chance to take picture with the 'pirate captain' *which u'll need to use their cameraman and pay up* when they play the introductory msg on the boat, dont bother, look around yourself, the timing is usually off 2-5 mins -_-

 

[aspenx]

Huh really? How to? I didn't know - All i did was to use Hyperdia to calculate the cost! And it's me who thinks it's that expensive not her LOL.



Isn't Kamakura town past Hakone? As in got to bypass the stop at hakone? What's there to see there? Shall do a google search later. colourful pages NSFW :bsmilie:

:sweat:

I think you should look into bus and rail passes from the Tokyo metropolitan area rather than just Hpyerdia alone. Hyperdia only searches for routes by more or less regular transport.

For $160, you can get a bus pass to Hirosaki (in Aomori) and back actually.

I also suggest that you consult get familiar with Japan's geography to plan your trip better.

Earlier, someone suggested that you visit Takayama. Sure, it's a great place, but it's in Gifu-ken which will take you almost as long to get there than to Osaka unless you take the bullet train.

To spoonfeed you a little, Yokohama is ~30mins south of central Tokyo. Kamakura is another ~30mins further south and they are both in Kanagawa-ken. Hakone is in Shizuoka-ken which shares its border with Kanagawa-ken.

You can go: Tokyo -> Yokohama -> Kamakura -> Hakone and it won't be a long detour.

Kamakura is like a small Nara. Temples, little trails etc. The Odakyuu-sen is also a highlight imo.

 

[barracuda]

1. Tsukiji market is a fun place to visit. If you wanna eat sushi at the more famous shops such as Sushi Dai or Sushi Daiwa, you'd better get there early. The last time I was there at around 7am, there was already a long queue at Sushi Dai. The price is around 3500 yen for a set meal of 7 pieces of sushi. To me, the sushi was just so-so.

The market itself is full of activities & visitors, I have blogged about it here: http://fearstar.blogspot.com/2009/12/tsukiji-market-part-i.html

Next to Tsukiji market there is a Hama-rikyu Gardens (&#27996;&#38626;&#23470;&#24681;&#36060;&#24237;&#22290, which is a very nice place to sit back & relax. From there, you can also take a river cruise to Asakusa along the sumida river.

2. In summer, the day time is much longer. In June, dawn should come at around 5-6am, and dusk at around 7pm.

3. Imperial Palace East Garden is good place to visit during spring & autumn for the cherry blossom & foliage or if you are a fan for Japanese gardens. Not too sure about summer though.

4. There is a free tour guide service offered by some volunteers at http://www.tokyofreeguide.com/. You might want to check it out.

Enjoy your trip

 

[aspenx]

Was just looking through the others' posts and have some opinions to add.

I've been to Tokyo for a 11day period. It's seriously not enough...
Then again, it probably differs a lot between people.
I visit museums, parks, second hand clothes stores, second hand book stores...
Didn't get to the second hand camera stores then because I wasn't that much into photography at that time.

Your gf might want to do some shopping and depending on her taste and budget, Shibuya 109 alone is enough for a girl/lady to visit a couple of times.

I also don't really agree that "everything is expensive". If you can read Japanese, and are willing to eat standing up, there is a lot of good food at very affordable prices to be had.

If hotels/ryokans/hostels are expensive (which they are ), there are even cheaper alternatives to spend the night at.

 

[yujun]

anyone who visited tokyo and stay at shinjuku prince hotel?
hows the location and the hotel?
seems like everyone chose shinagawa..

 

[aspenx]

anyone who visited tokyo and stay at shinjuku prince hotel?
hows the location and the hotel?
seems like everyone chose shinagawa..

Happening place. Very accessible as it's right near the Tobu-Shinjuku line and less than 5mins walk from the Yamanote line which you will be using when you're making your way there from Haneda or Narita.

 

[barracuda]

I also don't really agree that "everything is expensive". If you can read Japanese, and are willing to eat standing up, there is a lot of good food at very affordable prices to be had.

If hotels/ryokans/hostels are expensive (which they are ), there are even cheaper alternatives to spend the night at.

Agree! If you are willing to buy from supermarkets, then it will be even cheaper. In their fresh food section, the prices drop by the hour

 

[aspenx]

Agree! If you are willing to buy from supermarkets, then it will be even cheaper. In their fresh food section, the prices drop by the hour

You mean convenience store and not supermarket right.

Late night snacks at 2 for 99yen...... and the convenient stores are really so much more convenient than the nearest 7-11 from my place in Singapore which will take me more than 15mins to walk to. :angry:

 

[Jonathan Ang]

So many good info I have to quote so many people :bsmilie:

the ticket to hakone that costs 2000 yen/pax is unlimited ride within hakone 2 for days, however, it is only 'to-and-fro' hakone ONE TIME! so if you go back shinjuku at end of the day, byebye liao.. romance car is good during morning peak period.. cause you'll save alot of times since it only stops at 2 other stations then whack all the way. if u're going mountain area, chances are you can find the roast sweet potato, dont be greedy, get the small one, its already pretty big =P
tokyo banana at airport can buy, 2 variety, 1 biscuit type 1 is soft bread type, get the soft bread type.. ur gf most likely will go gooey after eating it.. mine did
like flowerpot, mine was abit cold, 7-18 degress, the cold isnt that bad until the wind blows.. your balls will want to shrink all the way into your bones for warmth..
oh yeah, if you do take pork, try the mcpork there *no offense to muslim bros here*, its quite nice with teriyaki and blackpepper sauce mixed
oh and yes, you can bargain for the stuff you intend to buy there, but dont try to cut too much, i'd recommend 2-5%, i didnt know until i was on the way back, and a fellow japanese planemate was teaching the guy beside what to do in future trips
if you're using the hakone pass, the boat is free, so far i've seen 2 different types of pirate ship. you can top up to be in the 'VIP' cabin, though not much diff, just that you get seating, chance to take picture with the 'pirate captain' *which u'll need to use their cameraman and pay up* when they play the introductory msg on the boat, dont bother, look around yourself, the timing is usually off 2-5 mins -_-

mcpork? Seriously !! LOL Okay!
Yea will be getting the hakone pass. Seems like most people recommend going early...think that means I'll be lugging my baggage all around to tour since check in @ 6. Wha. Tokyo Banana...is a biscuit/soft bread? Hah? Can i buy back to SG to let my friends try?

:sweat:

I think you should look into bus and rail passes from the Tokyo metropolitan area rather than just Hpyerdia alone. Hyperdia only searches for routes by more or less regular transport.

For $160, you can get a bus pass to Hirosaki (in Aomori) and back actually.

I also suggest that you consult get familiar with Japan's geography to plan your trip better.

Earlier, someone suggested that you visit Takayama. Sure, it's a great place, but it's in Gifu-ken which will take you almost as long to get there than to Osaka unless you take the bullet train.

To spoonfeed you a little, Yokohama is ~30mins south of central Tokyo. Kamakura is another ~30mins further south and they are both in Kanagawa-ken. Hakone is in Shizuoka-ken which shares its border with Kanagawa-ken.

You can go: Tokyo -> Yokohama -> Kamakura -> Hakone and it won't be a long detour.

Kamakura is like a small Nara. Temples, little trails etc. The Odakyuu-sen is also a highlight imo.

Yeah on closer checking nikko has passes which include transport and some admission fees! I will need to see if i can allocate a day to nikko itself then...

What you mean by rail passes from the Tokyo Metropolitan area? I read that there are day passes but I'm not sure if it's worth it based on the estimated travelling cost per day (maybe certain days ?)

1. Tsukiji market is a fun place to visit. If you wanna eat sushi at the more famous shops such as Sushi Dai or Sushi Daiwa, you'd better get there early. The last time I was there at around 7am, there was already a long queue at Sushi Dai. The price is around 3500 yen for a set meal of 7 pieces of sushi. To me, the sushi was just so-so.

The market itself is full of activities & visitors, I have blogged about it here: http://fearstar.blogspot.com/2009/12/tsukiji-market-part-i.html

Next to Tsukiji market there is a Hama-rikyu Gardens (&#27996;&#38626;&#23470;&#24681;&#36060;&#24237;&#22290, which is a very nice place to sit back & relax. From there, you can also take a river cruise to Asakusa along the sumida river.

2. In summer, the day time is much longer. In June, dawn should come at around 5-6am, and dusk at around 7pm.

3. Imperial Palace East Garden is good place to visit during spring & autumn for the cherry blossom & foliage or if you are a fan for Japanese gardens. Not too sure about summer though.

4. There is a free tour guide service offered by some volunteers at http://www.tokyofreeguide.com/. You might want to check it out.

Enjoy your trip

Thanks for the tip on the Hama-rikyu Gardens! I intend to take the river cruise down to Odaiba. So one of the days would be tsukiji fish market --> cruise --> Odaiba ..is it feasible?

Was just looking through the others' posts and have some opinions to add.

I've been to Tokyo for a 11day period. It's seriously not enough...
Then again, it probably differs a lot between people.
I visit museums, parks, second hand clothes stores, second hand book stores...
Didn't get to the second hand camera stores then because I wasn't that much into photography at that time.

Your gf might want to do some shopping and depending on her taste and budget, Shibuya 109 alone is enough for a girl/lady to visit a couple of times.

I also don't really agree that "everything is expensive". If you can read Japanese, and are willing to eat standing up, there is a lot of good food at very affordable prices to be had.

If hotels/ryokans/hostels are expensive (which they are ), there are even cheaper alternatives to spend the night at.

Thankfully, we're not that keen on shopping. Who knows though...when she goes there you never know what may happen tho! Yea I intend to visit museums and parks. Get to shoot !

 

[aspenx]

Yeah on closer checking nikko has passes which include transport and some admission fees! I will need to see if i can allocate a day to nikko itself then...

What you mean by rail passes from the Tokyo Metropolitan area? I read that there are day passes but I'm not sure if it's worth it based on the estimated travelling cost per day (maybe certain days ?)

Thankfully, we're not that keen on shopping. Who knows though...when she goes there you never know what may happen tho! Yea I intend to visit museums and parks. Get to shoot !

IMO, the free places in Nikko are already very nice to explore. Mt. Nantai in Nikko however will require proper gear and quite alot of endurance to climb (in case you are inclined to hiking).

I mean "bus/rail passes". They are sort of different from day passes which like the name implies, can only be used in a day. They are just special packages for traveling to and fro some of the more popular tourist spots near Tokyo.

Museums: Ueno might be the one-spot solution for you. Lots of museums there. The zoo might also interest you.

Parks: Maybe you can consider shrines/temples too. Also, some parks in Tokyo are not worth going to in June. &#26032;&#23487;&#24481;&#33489; (Shinjuku Gyoen) might be a nice place though. Personally, the parks in Chiba are more attractive to me.

And I don't think you need to worry about your luggage in Hakone. Just head to the JR station most convenient for you and find a locker to dump your things in. The biggest lockers are 843mm by355mm by 575mm. 500 yen for the calendar day or till the last train departs the station.