3 days Tokyo or Hong Kong?
Jul 16th, 2003, 07:46 PM
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3 days Tokyo or Hong Kong?
This will be my first visit to Japan and I've never visited Hong Kong. I will have already toured Yokohama, Mt. Fuji, Nikko, Hakone on a tour. I'd like your opinion on this choice: An extra 3 days in Tokyo or 3 days in Hong Kong?
Jul 17th, 2003, 06:26 AM
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Hong Kong, by a wide margin.
Tokyo is a pleasant enough place, but the city is enormous. It can take a lot of time to get from one area to another, and it can also be difficult to find the places that you're looking for. In terms of character, Tokyo struck me as just another big city.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, is a traveler's delight. It's amazingly easy to get around, and every block teems with action for all of your senses. The view of the harbor (especially from the Kowloon side) might be the greatest cityscape in the entire world; nothing in Tokyo can begin to compare.
Finally, English-speakers who don't speak the local language (Japanese/Cantonese) do much better in Hong Kong. Far more signs are in English in HK, and you won't find many shopkeepers in the main tourist areas who don't speak reasonable English. I'm afraid the same can't be said for Tokyo.
Tokyo is a pleasant enough place, but the city is enormous. It can take a lot of time to get from one area to another, and it can also be difficult to find the places that you're looking for. In terms of character, Tokyo struck me as just another big city.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, is a traveler's delight. It's amazingly easy to get around, and every block teems with action for all of your senses. The view of the harbor (especially from the Kowloon side) might be the greatest cityscape in the entire world; nothing in Tokyo can begin to compare.
Finally, English-speakers who don't speak the local language (Japanese/Cantonese) do much better in Hong Kong. Far more signs are in English in HK, and you won't find many shopkeepers in the main tourist areas who don't speak reasonable English. I'm afraid the same can't be said for Tokyo.
Jul 17th, 2003, 06:40 AM
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I also would say Hong Kong, but here are some things to consider first:
I assume Tokyo is your point of arrival in Japan. How much time are you spending in Tokyo now as part of your plan/tour? If it is only 2 days, then you could add a day or two on the "back end" to see what you missed. You could also go to some close-in areas to Tokyo, like the popular hiking areas are Nikko and Chichibu-Tama National Park.
What about a trip to Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka or other interesting smaller towns? Do you have any interest in going north to the more uninhabited parts of Japan like Daisetsuzan National Park on Hokkaido?
Is your flight back to the US from Tokyo or can you leave from Hong Kong? If you have to go back to Tokyo this will probably take a day off your planned 3 days. The flight time between Tokyo to Hong Kong non-stop is about 4.5 hours. Tokyo time is two hours ahead of Hong Kong.
What time of year are you going? Hong Kong is very hot and humid and prone to rain from about April to October, but has a very mild and wonderful "winter" of 70 degree temps and sun. The summer months are bearable, but if you are giving up spring or fall in Japan to experience hot and humid in Hong Kong, it may not be worth it. Also late July through about October is typhoon season. While rare, a large storm would close everything, and you could be sitting in your hotel room for 1 or 2 days of your trip.
I assume Tokyo is your point of arrival in Japan. How much time are you spending in Tokyo now as part of your plan/tour? If it is only 2 days, then you could add a day or two on the "back end" to see what you missed. You could also go to some close-in areas to Tokyo, like the popular hiking areas are Nikko and Chichibu-Tama National Park.
What about a trip to Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka or other interesting smaller towns? Do you have any interest in going north to the more uninhabited parts of Japan like Daisetsuzan National Park on Hokkaido?
Is your flight back to the US from Tokyo or can you leave from Hong Kong? If you have to go back to Tokyo this will probably take a day off your planned 3 days. The flight time between Tokyo to Hong Kong non-stop is about 4.5 hours. Tokyo time is two hours ahead of Hong Kong.
What time of year are you going? Hong Kong is very hot and humid and prone to rain from about April to October, but has a very mild and wonderful "winter" of 70 degree temps and sun. The summer months are bearable, but if you are giving up spring or fall in Japan to experience hot and humid in Hong Kong, it may not be worth it. Also late July through about October is typhoon season. While rare, a large storm would close everything, and you could be sitting in your hotel room for 1 or 2 days of your trip.
Jul 17th, 2003, 12:27 PM
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Thanks for your replies. I will already be in Japan mid-Oct. for 10 days as part of a package tour because of a conference that I will be attending in Yokohama. The end of the tour will include 1 day in Tokyo where we will depart from.
The same tour company offered an extention option of 3 full days of touring Hong Kong for what I considered to be a good price being that it includes everything (air, room, transportation, meals)and depart from Hong Kong. Or we could extend our trip in Japan for an additional 3 days but would have to go at it alone and depart from Tokyo.
So those are my two options and I'm left with two weeks to make a choice.
The same tour company offered an extention option of 3 full days of touring Hong Kong for what I considered to be a good price being that it includes everything (air, room, transportation, meals)and depart from Hong Kong. Or we could extend our trip in Japan for an additional 3 days but would have to go at it alone and depart from Tokyo.
So those are my two options and I'm left with two weeks to make a choice.
Jul 18th, 2003, 06:13 AM
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In that case, I would stay in Tokyo, as 1 day will not be enough to see it. You can relax a bit as well, rather than trying to take in a whole new country (and completely different culture) after 10 days in Japan. Save Hong Kong for the next trip.
Jul 19th, 2003, 07:01 PM
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I humbly recommend Hong Kong. You will love Nathan Rd, the view from bay on the Star Ferry, the Peak tram, the double-decker bus ride to Stanley Market, the night markets, the great food, all easily do-able in 3 days. Hong Kong will move you.
Jul 20th, 2003, 01:38 PM
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Hong Kong - have been lucky enough to have been there several times and I can't get enough of the place
friends who have stopped over for 2-3 days have managed to cram in loads, from the different outlying areas, the markets, the resturants, the nightlife, the remples - you name it
the tourist board gives you a wealth of info when you are there aswell as a card that you can get stamped at each place you visit for money off
amandac
friends who have stopped over for 2-3 days have managed to cram in loads, from the different outlying areas, the markets, the resturants, the nightlife, the remples - you name it
the tourist board gives you a wealth of info when you are there aswell as a card that you can get stamped at each place you visit for money off
amandac
