Things to do near Tokyo!

[defiantforce]

Hi Everyone

First and formost, Happy new year to everyone!

We (Fiance and I) just booked our flight(s) from Brisbane-Melbourne-HongKong-Taipei (Stop)-Taipei-Tokyo(Stop)-Sydney-Brisbane between Feb-Mar this year.

We have 4days & 3 nights in Tokyo and are wandering if anyone has good idea what to do in and around Tokyo? We only just got back from Tokyo/Kyoto in April 2010, so we pretty familiar with all the shopping area and business district (thanks to my finace's non-stop shopping).

We are thinking about either head north of Tokyo or head south to Nagoya or Mt Fuji!

Any suggestion!

Thanks in advance

Big Kev

 

[Hvr]

I reckon February is a great time to go to Japan and will also be there next month.

Have you visited Tokyo Tower? Lots of good walking around there with heaps of parks etc.

Odaiba? A fun place with a sea side carnival atmosphere, ferris wheel with totally transparent cage. The Toyota museum is awesome and if you take your international drivers permit you can book a drive of the latest Toyota vehicles.

Kamakura is a great day trip but probably not on the weekend.

I will also be in HKG and TPE later this month. Maybe our paths will cross? Have you looked here? or here?

 

[thewinchester]

If only I'd finished posting my Asia 2010 trip report which covers Japan, I could simply send you there for ideas and information

We are thinking about either head north of Tokyo or head south to Nagoya or Mt Fuji!

Mt Fuji is a must if you've not yet done it. If you're happy to do it with a tour group, the JTB Sunrise Tours are the best, and they can be booked off Viator or most other good travel sites.

Have you visited Tokyo Tower? Lots of good walking around there with heaps of parks etc.

While the parks are Ok, give Tokyo Tower a miss and head over to Tokyo City View in Roppongi Hills (Enter: Adults JPY1500). Accessible from four different subway lines, inc. Roppongi Station which is directly linked undercover to the complex.

This place is not only higher up and less crowded, but also has far better views - and an open air viewing deck on Level 55 (extra 300JPY, secure lockers available for your stuff, large cameras w/their straps Ok).

 

[redcow]

Good article in Saturdays SMH on 48hrs in Tokyo

 

[blu]

Mt Fuji itself will be offlimits in midwinter. Head to Hakone as a day trip:
Hakone Travel Guide

 

[farawaymum]

I can also recommend a Hakone day trip- you can do it on the train without an organised tour- the quirkily named Romance Train from Tokyo is great fun , but remember to book a day ahead -it is really popular.The open air museum is easily reached on foot as part of this trip and is fantastic- it features an amazing sculpture park and a Picasso Museum right by one of the stations on the Hakone Tozan railway that is a switch back train over the mountains- riding this "zig zag" train is quite an experience!

 

[defiantforce]

Thank you guys,

Thats alot of information there!

We've been to Mt Hakone already in April 2010, and most of Tokyo in fact. I believe the plan has changed, My Mrs wants to head straight to Osaka on that night. The timing are very tight. I am not sure if we can make it?!

We flying CX450 and lands at Narita T2! I had a look at the timing on the NEX (to tokyo station) and then the Shinkansen (to Osaka), the timing is very tight. Assuming there are no flight delays, we should be able to make it. However, has anyone done this before and worked (or not worked!).

Furthermore, We are only there for a fewdays, can we ask Qantas to hold our luggages for us so we dont have to travel around Japn with them? The Narita and Tokyo luggage is very expensive!

PS. Hvr, which date are you in Taipei, we will be in taipei in late Feb!

Kind regards

Big Kev

 

[ozimax]

Anywhere in Nippon is great. I love the place, the culture, food, people, buildings and yep, even the corny TV shows which are wacky to say the least. You will enjoy your time in Tokyo.

 

[thewinchester]

We flying CX450 and lands at Narita T2! I had a look at the timing on the NEX (to tokyo station) and then the Shinkansen (to Osaka), the timing is very tight. Assuming there are no flight delays, we should be able to make it. However, has anyone done this before and worked (or not worked!).

N'EX trains depart from NRT every 30min, and journey to SHINAGAWA is 66-67min (and you know how on time Japanese trains are).

Looking at Hyperdia (the go-to website for Japanese train timetables in English), there's Shinkansens from Shinagawa that leave every 10min to Shinosaka from 6pm to 9pm, so if you miss one you'll easily be able to catch another.

From Shinosaka, you can take a 4min journey on the JR Kyoto line into the city centre, or in my view it'll be far easier to catch a cab. By the time you get there the main expressway into the city shouldn't be too bad and it'll put you straight at your hotel's door anyway.

Furthermore, We are only there for a fewdays, can we ask Qantas to hold our luggages for us so we dont have to travel around Japn with them? The Narita and Tokyo luggage is very expensive!

Most airlines won't hold luggage if you're leaving the terminal, and I very much doubt QF or their handling agent at either location will let you do it.

Best suggestion is to use the left luggage service, as they are usually pretty reliable by my experience. Most airports have pretty good coin locker services, but would only use them for a day or less IMHO.

Service info and pricing for NRT can be found at: Airport Guide : Baggage Storage | NARITA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Same info for ITM is at: Kansai International Airport | Service Facilities | Baggage