Hotel in Tokyo

Old May 3rd, 2015, 06:43 PM
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Hotel in Tokyo

Still trying to decide which hotel to stay at with my 12 year old granddaughter. We are only there a week and it will be in the middle of July so it will be hot. Ideally I'd like to spend about $250 - $300 per night and be close to the public transportation and interesting places to eat. I'm nervous about finding my way around but also want to make it fun and interesting for her.
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Old May 4th, 2015, 02:25 AM
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Middle of July would be the end of the rainy season: relatively cool with possible rain or very hot with no cloud.

Place for stay will be depended on your choice of destinations. I just think of Harajuku, Daiba, and TDL... If so, Shibuya/Shinjuku, Daiba, or Maihama would be reasonable.
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Old May 4th, 2015, 06:14 AM
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I know she would like Harajuku so possibly the Shibuys/Shinjuku area. She also likes anime, shopping - possibly some sumo wrestling although I have a feeling that might be difficult. I want to try and avoid Disneyland since she can see that in North America. Other ideas are the Ueno district for electronics, Asakusa for a rickshaw ride and a museum? that displays all the plastic food. Oh to be 12 years old
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Old May 4th, 2015, 07:06 AM
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Are you only going to Tokyo? I have to say, there were other places in Japan I liked much more than Tokyo. Any chance you can get to Kyoto for a few days?
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Old May 4th, 2015, 11:55 AM
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Hi Kathie,

I would consider taking Paige to Kyoto since it would give her a chance to go on a bullet train but I am not familiar with the city and would appreciate your ideas on what to do (for a 12 year old) and where to stay. Thank you
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Old May 4th, 2015, 01:57 PM
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We stayed at the Hyatt, but there are lots of options.

I'd suggest going out to Aryshyama, visit a few temples, walk on the path through the bamboo forest.

In town, visit Gion, maybe walk the philosopher's path.

You might find our photos useful: www.marlandc.com/Japan-2013
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Old May 4th, 2015, 08:04 PM
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I've looked at your photos and they were very helpful. Aryshyama looks beautiful but I'm still concerned about only having one week, suffering from some form of jet lag and moving around on trains with all our luggage in hand - I'm 65 and not in great shape!
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Old May 5th, 2015, 10:38 AM
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Well, no need to take your luggage on the train, use the amazing luggage delivery service! Personally, if I had just a week, I'd spend it all in Kyoto. But it sounds like you are familiar with Tokyo and like it.

Any chance you can fly into Narita and out of Kansai (Osaka)? That would make a two-city visit even easier.

But do what works for you.
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Old May 5th, 2015, 12:37 PM
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Kathie, can you please expand on the luggage delivery service? I might be interested in using it going the other way (Kyoto to Tokyo).
Thanks.
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Old May 5th, 2015, 12:45 PM
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The luggage delivery service in Japan, called Takuhaibin, is simply fabulous. There is a nice write-up abut it in japan-guide.com

Your hotel in, say, Tokyo, arranges for your luggage to be shipped to your next hotel. You get your luggage to the concierge desk by 4 pm (it was for us) and when we arrived at our next stop, the luggage was already there. The cost was very reasonable, about US$13 per case when we did it. No hauling around suitcases! I wish we had such an efficient service here in the US!
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Old May 5th, 2015, 10:18 PM
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It will be hot in Japan in mid July. Tourists seem to like Kyoto a lot so it is a reasonable destination if you have the time. How many full days do you have? This does not include your day of arrival or departure. There is plenty to see and do around Tokyo although the summer is not best time for the city. Trips to Hakone, Nikko, Kamakura or a Onsen in the Izu Peninsula would be options to get you out of the city. Ahkihabara is the part of Tokyo for Animae and electronics. There is a zoo and Museums and a park at Ueno as well as a shopping district. She might like the Ghibli museum but do reserve far in advance. Disneyland Seaworld is different from the US parks and can be seen during the evening for a reasonable price.
I like the Westin Ebisu for a reasonable 5 star hotel. Rooms are large with two queen beds and the location is a 10-15 minute walk to the Circle train line and subways. Cost should be around $300/night. Close to Shinjuku and Harajuku as well as Shibuya. Mitsubishi department store next door with nice food department for take out food. Burger King across the way if you must. Fair number of ordinary Japanese restaurants near the train station. Lots of french bakeries everywhere, especially at train stations if you want a break from Japanese foods.
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Old May 7th, 2015, 12:46 PM
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Thanks, Kathie.

My initial search on the Japan-Guide forum seems to indicate that Takuhaibin same-day delivery may be possible, but it's unlikely. I'm still researching it, but if true, this won't work for me.
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Old May 7th, 2015, 03:22 PM
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For what it's worth, we went from Tokyo to Kyoto on our last trip and still used the Takuhaibin service for our luggage. We just sent it the day before our train travel. We carried one day's worth of clothes in a backpack the next day, so it was light and easy. It was so nice to arrive at our hotel in Kyoto and have our luggage waiting for us in the room. I'll never do it any other way again.
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Old May 9th, 2015, 03:25 AM
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> anime
Akihabara and/or Ikebukuro would be the best, as well as Tokyo West (Ghibli, Asagaya, Nakano, and Suginami).
Akihabara
http://akiba.or.jp/english/index.html
Otome Road (Maiden Road) / Ikebukuro
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otome_Road
Ghibli/Mitaka
http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/
Asagaya Anime Street
http://www.jrtk.jp/asagaya-anime-street/
Nakano Broadway
http://www.nbw.jp/index_e.html
Suginami Animation Museum
http://sam.or.jp/english_home
> shopping
Harajuku(low-teens), Shibuya(high-teens), Shinjuku(all ages), Ginza(adults)
> sumo wrestling
12 Jul - 26 Jul in Nagoya. Need a bullet train ride.
http://www.sumo.or.jp/en/ticket/year_schedule
Sumo museum in Rygoku.
http://www.sumo.or.jp/sumo_museum/
> Ueno district for electronics
That should be Akihabara.
> Asakusa for a rickshaw ride
Near Kaminari-mon:
http://ebisuya.com/en/branch/index.h...ch_kaminarimon
> a museum(?) that displays all the plastic food
In the Kappa-bashi area. E.g.:
http://www.ganso-sample.com/en/shop/kappabashi/
All place have a direct access from Shinjuku, except Nagoya, Ginza, Asakusa, and Tawaramachi(Kappabashi). Shibuya has a direct access to the latter three by the subway Ginza-line.
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Old May 9th, 2015, 04:00 AM
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Here are some alternatives for Disney Land / Disney Sea:
Asakusa Hanayashiki
http://www.hanayashiki.net/e/index.html
Yomiuri Land
http://www.yomiuriland.com/english/
Tokyo Dome City
http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/
Aqua City Odaiba
http://www.aquacity.jp/en/top
Sanrio Puroland
http://en.puroland.jp/
Tokyo SummerLand
http://www.summerland.co.jp/english/index.html
Tokyo Solamachi
http://www.tokyo-solamachi.jp/english/
Gundam Front Tokyo
http://gundamfront-tokyo.com/en/
Ooedo Onsen Monogatari
http://www.ooedoonsen.jp/en/top/
Namoco NamjaTown
http://www.namco.co.jp/tp/namja/pdf/english_guide.pdf
KidZania Tokyo
http://www.kidzania.jp/tokyo/en/
Lego Land Tokyo
https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.jp/tokyo/en/
Arakawa Yu-en
http://www.city.arakawa.tokyo.jp/yuuen/
Toshima-En
http://www.toshimaen.co.jp/
JoyPolis
http://tokyo-joypolis.com/
Sunshine Aquarium
http://www.sunshinecity.co.jp/aquarium/index.html
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Old May 9th, 2015, 04:50 AM
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We very much liked the Park Hotel in Tokyo, but I agree that Kyoto is a far more lovely and interesting city.
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Old May 10th, 2015, 06:43 PM
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Here is a 2nd vote for the Westin Ebisu. I took my then-13 yr old son to Japan, and the next yr took my 12 yr old daughter. Both times stayed at the Westin in Tokyo. Loved it. I don't know if there is a pool, as we went in April both times.

I did a trip report on both trips, which you can find by clicking on my name and looking at my trip reports. It was several yrs ago, but many of the places I took them are in the lists other posters have listed above.
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Old May 11th, 2015, 05:08 AM
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BTW, Disney Sea was wonderful. It is unlike anything here in the U.S. Best theming of any park we have ever been to. My daughter and I loved it. I covered it in the trip report I did on my trip with her. The Little Mermaid underground dayglow part of the park was mind-blowing. It was a great day and overnight for us there.
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Old May 24th, 2015, 07:02 AM
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I've looked at the photos and info for the Westin Ebisu and it looks lovely but a bit out of my price range. I'm now considering the Hotel Century Southern Tower for it's proximity to the metro and Narita Express. Any feedback about this hotel? My rough itinerary is Day 7 - get to the hotel, Day 2 - sightseeing tour (any recommendations?) and Harajuku, Day 3 - (haven't decided yet) Day 4 - Studio Ghibli (we have tickets) Day 5 - I believe it's a statutory holiday - Marine Day - don't have plans
Day 6 - day trip to Kamakura, Day 7 - no plans yet, Day 8 - no plans but our flight leaves at 5:00 p.m.

Not much time over all but will slot in anime, fish market, sumo wrestling exhibit or museum,rickshaw ride in Akasuka, possibly the zoo.

For one week we will only have carryon luggage and an extra bag to take home with all our shopping.

Thank you for all your comments, I'll look at all the websites.

Thank you for all the very useful information.
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Old Jun 4th, 2015, 12:39 AM
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We spent our first two nights in Japan on our first trip at the Hotel Century Southern Tower, having got a great deal on a booking about a week or so before departure.

I elected to make a last-minute change to itinerary when I discovered that a national holiday listed as being the first Monday of the month was, for some reason I'm still not clear on, scheduled for the second Monday of the month instead. I'd booked us into a hotel within the Tsukiji outer market area itself but since we would be there on a Sunday and then this national holiday Monday, the fish market would have been closed, so it no longer made sense to stay there.

Anyway, back to the Hotel Century Southern Tower, we were very happy with the choice. It's up in the top of the tower, so I think all the rooms have a view out over Tokyo, I adored our view. We booked room only, and didn't eat any meals in the hotel, as they were pricy, we were happier to get out and about for breakfast in local cafes and bakeries instead.

The location was very good, and very convenient indeed for the station, though it's a VAST VAST station with a large number of exits very far apart so do make sure you take with you explicit instructions about which exit to use and how to find the hotel. Once you've done it once, you won't struggle again after.

The area is a nice introduction to Tokyo, there are some excellent department stores nearby, and you can walk within 10 minutes to areas with inexpensive restaurants -- right by the station is mostly international chains, which we weren't interested in.

A few notes on stuff near there:

Piss Alley, now known as Shomben Yokocho, which translates to the less unsavoury name of Memory Lane, I think. Golden Gai also nearby.

Shopping/ browsing especially in department stores (Isetan, Tokyu Hands, Takashimaya basement foodhall) -- make sure to visit food hall floor.

Tocho Tower (Tokyo Metropolitan Govt Building, free, for views, though hotel itself has great views)

Hanazono Shrine
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