HURRAY! We booked our flights to Tokyo! I am ecstatic, totally cannot wait to go and wish we would already be leaving next week. Yay!
This trip is going to be amazing. We are planning to stay in Tokyo for a few days and then move on to Osaka, do some day trips to Kobe and Nara, head over to Kyoto for a couple of days and then back to Tokyo for another couple of nights before we have to fly home.
We haven't booked the accommodation yet, but have found a couple of hotels we like. We'll probably be staying near Hanzomon while in Tokyo. No idea if that is a good location or not.
We'll also be there during Golden Week. Again, don't know if that is a good thing. Some people say it will be emptier and better in Tokyo, others said it's gonna be super expensive and crowded and places will shut down. I guess we will just have to find out and see. The only thing I'm a bit worried about is not getting on trains. We are getting the JR Travel Pass but cannot actually reserve seats until we are in Japan. Ah well, I'm sure we can squeeze on some train (I of course picked Friday as the day to move from Tokyo to Osaka). I guess we could always take a bus.
Anyway, now I got to plan what I want to see while there. Uh, I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am about this.
Excuse me, but I will have to jump up and down for a bit before having to go to work...
That's awesome :D
ReplyDeleteYay, that's awesome!!
ReplyDeleteGolden Week, huh? My first month in Japan i was in Tokyo during Golden Week.. to be honest it didn't really seem much different crowd-wise than it usually does, so it should all be fine.
And if you need a guide, or wanna meet up let me know! ;)
Yay you must be super excited! I always think the Toyoko Inn chain are good value for money - you get free Japanese breakfast (onigiri and miso soup) and although the rooms are compact they're not cramped in any way. I'm not too familiar with Hanzon, have only been there for visits to the British embassy...
ReplyDeleteTokyo in Golden Week isn't any better or worse than at any other time in my opinion. But yeah you might have issues with the trains. It depends which way you're travelling at which point in golden week. You will manage to travel, you just might have to stand if you're unlucky...
What's on your must-see list?
*Hanzomon, oops!
ReplyDelete@Mathias: I know, right!
ReplyDelete@-phx-: That's good. I prefer not to be packed onto the train like sardines. If you have time I would love to meet up! Or any tips you have on what to see, all is appreciated! Especially when it comes to food and drink ;-) I am totally gonna stuff my face for those two weeks.
@umebossy: I don't mind standing on the train. Used to that from home (8 hour train ride home from uni with no seat before the holidays). Just want to get on the train.
Must-see list. Oh so many things. Definitely Tokyo Tower and Sky Tree, Odaiba, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Yoyogi Park, Imperial Palace as much as possible really. We also want to head over to Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Kyoto. And I definitely want to go to Yokohama for a day. Need to figure out how to fit it all in.
If you're staying in Hanzomon then you're in a good spot for the imperial Palace, kind of round the back end but still not too far! Just a word of warning you can only get into the outer grounds unless you book the official guided tour.
ReplyDeleteSky Tree I think doesn't officially open until the 22nd of May but if you want a good view of the city I really recommend Tokyo City View at the top of the Mori tower in Roppongi Hills. There's a great modern art museum up there too. Ooh I'm jealous - I want to go on holiday too!
Sooo jealous of you!! xDD ARGH. Take me with you. Lol.
ReplyDeleteBut - you should have tons of fun!! :) I'm happy for you, that you finally get to go!
@umebossy: Thanks for the advice, I will definitely check out Mori Tower. Might skip the modern art museum though (not too keen on art... that gene skipped me).
ReplyDelete@Laura: Just come along. Tokyo is big, there is room for the two of us ;-)
I actually cannot quite believe that I am going yet. Have wanted to go for such a long time that it is very surreal to think that it will happen. And so soon. SHRIEK!
I had all these trip suggestions in my head this morning, but now i've forgotten them all.. D: If i remember them again i'll let you know!
ReplyDeleteAnd i think a little meet-up would definitely be fun. :) I'm off work for most (if not all) of Golden Week so i have no restrictions. :D
Cool! Suggestions are always welcome! I haven't really made up my mind yet on what exactly we want to see, but I let you know and maybe there is something on there you want to see as well.
DeleteIf you haven't already booked your hotel, I'd recommend going on Japanese language websites and using google translate, usually works out cheaper. In Tokyo, I've stayed at the Citadines in Shinjuku a few times. Really good value for money.
ReplyDeleteAnd, since I'm on the unsolictored advice - check out the Amuse Museum in Asakusa. It has some really good exhibits and the bar at that top has an amazing view of the sky tree and the temples.
Thanks. We booked our hotels now. I feel like we got some good deals. We are staying in Shibuya for the first part and then in Asakusa for the last leg of our trip.
DeleteThe museum looks really good. Will definitely check it out while we are there. If you have anymore advice, spill it! I would love to go see places that are not on the tourist map (like izakayas, local ramen shops, weird museums, tiny shrines, or just cool neighbourhoods).