Suggestions for pre cruise Hotel in Tokyo

[funnymummy]

Hi. I have agreed to travel on 22 night cruise back to Sydney from Tokyo in December and need suggestions for Hotel. Can you suggest any? Mo has booked thru travel agent and we got offered Granbell. I am usually my own travel agent so a bit nervous.
This trip is a negotiation down from the Egypt Jordan tour she has on her bucket list.

 

[Cynicor]

Tokyo is massive. Population of Australia in just the city. Can you give any more info?

First- where does the cruise leave from. I assume Tokyo only has 1 major port (that I can recall, but Yokohama is close enough that some companies would consider it Tokyo).

Budget? I stay at the Conrad but if you don't get a rate on special it's around 400-500 AUD a night. Tokyo hotels with space are quite expensive.

Any accessibility/special requirements? Does she want to go bar hopping or will she fly in, check in, check out and cruise without leaving the place?

Tokyo is seriously huge. It's a little ridiculous to even imagine, so happy to give some guidance but more info needed!!

 

[Cynicor]

It's also really easy to get around the place. Taxis are plentiful and around Perth prices, and the metro is everywhere but slightly confusing for a first timer. So how close would you like to be/ how will she get to the cruise?

 

[funnymummy]

Tokyo is massive. Population of Australia in just the city. Can you give any more info?

First- where does the cruise leave from. I assume Tokyo only has 1 major port (that I can recall, but Yokohama is close enough that some companies would consider it Tokyo).

Budget? I stay at the Conrad but if you don't get a rate on special it's around 400-500 AUD a night. Tokyo hotels with space are quite expensive.

Any accessibility/special requirements? Does she want to go bar hopping or will she fly in, check in, check out and cruise without leaving the place?

Tokyo is seriously huge. It's a little ridiculous to even imagine, so happy to give some guidance but more info needed!!

apologies - it leaves from Tokyo at 5pm - we thought we'd spend 3 days there first
she's nearly 80 (a twin of Hyacinth Bucket) and loves bling with class (she can be naughty) - wants to go to see view of Mt Fuji, and go on bullet/fast train, her preference would be to be able to walk (dodgy knees) out of hotel and look at shops / shopping centre, she loves people watching and culture. we are leaving +1's at home alone.
- I am gold accor and Hilton, and belong to other major chains - TA has offered her 3.5 star with dodgy reviews.

 

[funnymummy]

I will organise transfers from airport to hotel and to port. really i'd like her to be close to some nice shops - would prefer not to pay over $A300/nt
just looked at Mercure Tokyo Ginza "The hotel is in the heart of Tokyo's shopping area, within walking distance from Ginza dori and Harumi dori shopping streets, Kabuki Theatre and Tsukiji fish markets. I know nothing about these areas. Any thoughts?

 

[Cynicor]

Yep, ginza in in the heart of it. At that price in Ginza it will be a shoebox. I prefer the Conrad which is nearby but has more space.
Anywhere in Tokyo you can step out an be around shops, but they don't really have malls like we do, more strips of shops along streets. So then if you like boutiques etc Ginza is a very good area to choose.

I will organise transfers from airport to hotel and to port. really i'd like her to be close to some nice shops - would prefer not to pay over $A300/nt
just looked at Mercure Tokyo Ginza "The hotel is in the heart of Tokyo's shopping area, within walking distance from Ginza dori and Harumi dori shopping streets, Kabuki Theatre and Tsukiji fish markets. I know nothing about these areas. Any thoughts?

 

[funnymummy]

Great, thanks very much - I will look at both then. any suggestions for door to door vehicle (not train) transfers?

 

[Cynicor]

Great, thanks very much - I will look at both then. any suggestions for door to door vehicle (not train) transfers?

Friendly airport limosuine is about your only option, esp if coming in from Narita.
It is a public airport bus with scheduled stops and trips.

Which airport are you using?

 

[Cynicor]

https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/

 

[yohy?!]

Sounds like you shouldn't need to restrict yourself to the well known tourist areas - Tokyo is a walking and public transport city and people watching and culture are abundant just about everywhere, try and plan out your transfers and day trips to zero in on the part of Tokyo you should base yourself otherwise you tend to spend a lot of time travelling to and from the hotel each day.

+1 to the limousine bus, the train from the airport can involve a bit of walking with suitcases.

 

[funnymummy]

Thank you. The airport limousine wins. We are flying into NRT. Then cruise out of Tokyo port. I will look at some day tour companies for the must sees. And have another look at hotels. Did you mean that the it may be best to stay out a bit? Nearer port?

 

[cosi]

You need to double check which Tokyo port you depart from because there a 2

Oi Marine Products Wharf or Yokohama

Also better and cheaper to book day tours in Japan with your hotel staff.

 

[love_the_life]

If you don't want to use the Limousine bus and will be flying into Narita the Narita Express is great if you are staying near the Tokyo Station (I loved the Tokyo Station Hotel but it might be a bit expensive for a larger room) or Shinagawa which has hotels near as well. It is very easy to negotiate and buy tickets for.
An easy day tour (bus) for an overview might be the Dynamic Tokyo tour - it includes lunch and a short tea ceremony as well as a trip up to the top of Tokyo Tower from which if the weather is clear you can see Mt Fuji in the distance.

 

[Pug1]

Thank you. The airport limousine wins. We are flying into NRT. Then cruise out of Tokyo port. I will look at some day tour companies for the must sees. And have another look at hotels. Did you mean that the it may be best to stay out a bit? Nearer port?

Hi funnymummy, just saw this thread and we have recently returned from Japan. I did a review for my Sister-in-Law's travel newsletter and this link should take you to the section on our Tokyo hotel. "http://www.travelmonitor.com.au/category/news/todays-news/category/destination/asia-destination/reviews-asia-destination/" You might have booked already but hope the info helps assuming our moderator allows the link. We saw Fuji from the Grand Nikko and found the trains and airport limousine service to be brilliant. They stop at the door of the Grand Nikko and the Hilton is just opposite Nikko in Odaiba.

 

[funnymummy]

Hi pug n love life . Thanks for this info. I need to get moving on bookings for this trip so I will read up this weekend. It took a bit of a backseat this fortnight

 

[Bazzi]

If you are sailing from Yokohama, I would suggest the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand. We stayed there when departing on a cruise in 2014 and loved it so much we used it as our Tokyo base for three nights last November when visiting Japan - scored a very unexpected upgrade to a harbour suite! Lots of great shopping/restaurants in Yokohama within walking distance from the hotel. We travelled into other areas of Tokyo by train, average travel time of 40 mins. The Limousine bus aforementioned operates a service to Yokohama and within that service, selected departures drop off at the Intercon. Otherwise it is a short taxi ride from the YCat terminal - the main drop off point - to the hotel.

 

[funnymummy]

If you are sailing from Yokohama, I would suggest the Intercontinental Yokohama Grand. We stayed there when departing on a cruise in 2014 and loved it so much we used it as our Tokyo base for three nights last November when visiting Japan - scored a very unexpected upgrade to a harbour suite! Lots of great shopping/restaurants in Yokohama within walking distance from the hotel. We travelled into other areas of Tokyo by train, average travel time of 40 mins. The Limousine bus aforementioned operates a service to Yokohama and within that service, selected departures drop off at the Intercon. Otherwise it is a short taxi ride from the YCat terminal - the main drop off point - to the hotel.

Thanks Bazzi. Can I ask if we stay in Yokohama are we back tracking to do tours like mt Fuji and a bullet train trip

 

[Bazzi]

Thanks Bazzi. Can I ask if we stay in Yokohama are we back tracking to do tours like mt Fuji and a bullet train trip

You could travel by Shinkansen (Bullet train) from Yokohama down to Mt Fuji but it would involve travelling from Yokohama local/metro station to the main railway station Shin Yokohama. I'm sure you would be able to arrange a tour that picks you up from the hotel and takes you to Mt Fuji. We found the Shinkansen quite easy to negotiate and the website HYPERDIA was invaluable in our planning.