Ok.. I’m a bit nervous. This is basically my first time traveling by myself. To be honest this is the first time outside the U.S. to another speaking country. So I’m a bit nervous but excited.
I’ve been constantly reading the different bldgs on here religiously. I’ve learned plenty of things and it’s been a great deal of help. So I hope now I can get some advice from you guys.
I’m planning on traveling to Tokyo, Japan on December 11th to 18th. So far I’m guessing the weather will be about 50F, so it’ll be freezing (Californian native).
I’m really hoping to see as much of Tokyo as time permits. I’m pretty eclectic on my choices to visit. So I’m open to anything from museums, walks through the park to visiting the hustle bustle of the city & the all nighter nightlife. I know it’s pretty broad but I willing to try anything. Sorry guys I’m making it tougher than it should be. Oh please keep in mind I’m not a budget.
So far I have a few things on my list. Please feel free to add or minus anything on the list. Any suggestion on travel means and places to stay is much appreciated.
Oh by the way, from what everyone is saying I should visit Kyoto… I’m thinking I’ll only have two days to visit. Is it even worth it?

So far this is what I have planned:
11th (Th) – Arrival and check in at either Khaosan Tokyo Ninja or Asakusa Sakura Hostel
12th (Fri) – Day – Open to suggestions Night – Visit nightlife in Shiuya
13th (Sat) – Day – Visit Kichijoji & Meiji-Jingu park Night – Enjoy nightlife in Shibuya or Sinjuku
14th (Sun) – Day – Visit Yoyogi Park then after that open to suggestions
15th (Mon) – Go to Kyoto
16th (Tues) – Kyoto
17th (Weds) – Come back to Tokyo and open to suggestions
18th (Thurs) – Open to suggestions but Departing at 7PM

Now places I wish to go to in Tokyo is Ueno park, Senso-ji, Tokyo tower, Asakusa kannon Temple, Akihabara, Ginza, Tsukiji Market, Goden Gai, Roppongi Hills, Edo, Ghibli Museum and anything else that sounds interesting.

Kyoto – I have no clue. I’m ordering my guide book tonight.

I would love to stay at least 1 night at a Ryoken.
I hope to catch a show with the Kabuki-za.
I’ve heard I need a JR pass… any other passes I should know about?

Whew… sounds pretty ambitious, doesn’t it? Well I know it sounds like a lot but I’m trying to fit everything I can into such a short period of time.
Please if you have any comments or suggestions I would love to hear them. This is my first time traveling so any advice is good advice. Thank you.

You are interested in seeing as much of Tokyo as time permits. But everyone says you should visit Kyoto. I guess that after you get your guidebook (or research online) you can decide if you should visit Kyoto.

Is it worth it? No, not given your (current) expressed interest in seeing Tokyo. Visiting Kyoto will cost you about 23,000 yen extra.

(A JR Pass would cost about 27000 yen for a one-way airport-Tokyo trip plus roundtrip Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo, and then you pay another 3000 to for the other way Tokyo-airport. Not going to Kyoto would cost about 6000 for the airport-Tokyo roundtrip without the pass and maybe another 1500 in JR travel in Tokyo - plus any day/side trips like Hakone or Nikko).

You could go to Hakone for a ryokan stay, soak in a hot spring, see Fuji-san, and get a break from the city. It is not far from Tokyo.

> 13th (Sat) – Day – Visit Kichijoji & Meiji-Jingu park ...

Not to give you advice but just curious. What interests you about Kichijoji ? It is out of the way (in Nakano-Ku Ward) compared to other places you name above that are all central within Yamanote loop line (except the animé place that is also in Nakano isn't it?). My knowledge about Kichijoji is limited. I have been there a couple of times a looong time ago but all I remember is a big shopping arcade street.

Hi

I did Tokyo and Kyoto a couple of years back. Maybe you can find some useful info in my trip report with pictures and links http://gardkarlsen.com/japan_tokyo.htm . Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Thanks for the replies...

mrwunrfl - Wow.. thanks for breaking it down for me. I didn't know it would have been that much. I thought I read that if I were going to purchase a 7 day pass for the JR line.. I would be able to take the Shinjuku train down to Kyoto which should be included in my pass. Did I read this wrong?
Ryokan & Hot springs in Hakone sounds like a good plan. When you refer to Fuji-san, are you talking about the mountain or is that a place to stay? Any suggestions on Ryokan's in Hakone?

kappa1 - Is Kichijoji really out of the way? To be honest I've been looking over my map and I'm still having a hard time locating places. Haaa I hope this is not the case when I get to Tokyo. Well from reading Kichijoji has Inokashira Park. They mention on weekends they have arts and crafts which I would love to check out. Plus I'm hoping to visit the Ghibli Museum which sounds really interesting.
Shopping arcade? Is that something I should check out?

gard - GREAT!! Funny I just saw a link to that just the other day. I've been reading on it. Your info is great on there.

Thanks guys for the advice!!!

The only reason you would need a JR Pass with that itinerary is because you have Kyoto on it.

hyperdia sez that Kichioji is 14 minutes and 210 yen from Shinjuku, or 30 min and 380Y from Tokyo eki on the JR Chuo Line.

A 7-day JR Pass costs 28,300 yen.

If you don't use a pass, then with your original itin you would pay:
3000 airport to Tokyo
1500 estimate, total, on JR in Tokyo
27000 Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo
3000 Tokyo to airport
-----
34500 yen

Your trip is eight days so the pass wouldn't cover one way to the airport, so with the pass, you'd pay
28300 for the pass
3000 to the airport
----
31300

Decide not to go to Kyoto? Then
3000 from airport
1500 JR in Tokyo over a few days
3000 to airport
----
7500

what about the palace??

Correction to my post above : Kichijoji is not in Nakano-Ward in Tokyo Metropolitan area (then even Nakano is outside the Yamanote Loop) but farther away in Musashino city. After Musashino comes Mitaka city where Ghiblu seems to be located. They are all Tokyo suburban area. Approximately 30 minutes train ride from Tokyo central. It's really up to you. If those are your kind of stuff, really why not.

If you intend to visit Ghibli Museum anyway, then you should plan to do Kichijoji and the museum on the same day. I wouldn't bother visiting only Kichijoji when you havev only limited time. There are many shopping arcades in Tokyo like the one in Asakusa so no novelty there. I remember Kichijoji (vaguely) because I have friends living nearby. They have never mentioned the market at Inokashira-Park (that too I have been to a long time ago) to me but that sounds a little more interesting than the shopping aracade.

No wonder my friends never mentioned the market to me. Seems like it started only in January 2007. It takes place usually on Sat, Sun and holidays. It's called Inokashira - Koen (park) Art Market.

Here are pictures of the market I found on the web.

http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article...3/1009815/?P=2

You should switch the itinerary to go to Meiji and Yoyogi at same time on Sunday. They are in the same place, and Meiji has weddings on Sunday that are phenomenally colorful and memorable.

And consider walking down Ometesando Dori (the Champs Elysee of Tokyo) and walk down the narrow pedestrian steeet, Takeshita Dori, of Harajuku at the same time. There is a nice small art museum w/many wonderful Japanese woodblacks right off the left side of Ometesando, called Ota Memorial Museum of Art. Ota Seizo was a collector of "ukiyo-e" -- woodblock art.

Here is a walking tour for Sunday. But you likely won't make it through the whole tour, there is a lot of good people watching to do in the first half of this tour...

http://tinyurl.com/57wepg

btw, Ghibli takes a half day. It is a little far out western Tokyo on the Chou line, and then you go from the station down to the special bus area for Ghibli and wait for the bus, take bus to Ghibli. And if you don't do all of this early, there will be line to get in Ghibli- it is a small museum and the have crowd capacity controls. If you have any interest at all, DO NOT miss it. The xenotrope alone is worth the trip. And don't miss seeing the exclusive animated films that show in the theater at Ghibli.

The 2 times I have gone it was necessary to get tickets in the USA or other home country before going to Japan. You can do this thru any JTB (Japan Travel Office) office over the phone. I have heard since then that you can get them at Lawson's stores in Tokyo, but I wouldn't risk it personally.

On the way back from Ghibli we like to stop at Nakano Mall. It is right at the Nakano metro stop, a few stops back towards Tokyo from Ghibli.

Whatever else you see and do in Tokyo depends entirely on what interests you. There is much to fill your time and much in the way of special interests, but we have no idea what interests you in particular.

A previous poster said what abotu the palace. The Imperial Palace bldgs. (and interior gardens) in Tokyo is not open to visitors. Only on Jan 2 and 12/23 are people allowed inside the gate and grounds to view the royal family who make appearances on the balcony.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3017.html

On your first day in Tokyo, go to Asakusa's Senjosi temple, stroll the street and side streets leading up to it. It will be right next to you if you stay at either the Asakusa or Khaosan hostels.

If you are not on a budget, why are you considering staying in that Asakausa hotel which is basically dorm style? or the Khaosan which is the "cheapest hostel in Central Tokyo." Did you mean to say you ARE on a budget?

I think you are on the very young side, right? I can tell by the interest in all night nightlife.

I do see now that you said you are open to museums, parks, etc. I think you should at this point do a little more research on what is available though, and then come back at that point to have people here narrow your many options.

oh duh I should read your long post more carefully- i see now the list of specifics you are interested in.

What exactly do you mean by visiting Edo in Tokyo? Do you want to visit Edo structures that remain?

Go to Tokyo Tower at night! It is stunning to see the view from up there a/all the lights. And there are interactive maps at the top level observatory where you push a button on a map in front of you and it tells you what area you are seeing out the windows.

1.5 days is not enough for Kyoto. Either shave off a day of Tokyo and have two full days in Kyoto or don't go. If you don't go, maybe do a day trip from Tokyo to Kamakura or Nikko for the temples and structures there.

> What exactly do you mean by visiting Edo in Tokyo?

I thought VE meant this but of course I'm not sure.

http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/

I hope you do decide to go to Kichijoji-we love that park and thought it was well worth the 30-40 min. train ride! We live in Tokyo and Kichijoji was really a nice surprise...It's the most beautiful park we've seen in Tokyo and we had a blast renting swan boats, walking around and seeing all the families, and having yakitori at a nearby restaurant with everyone else. There are also lots of interesting streets with shopping-and of course the ubiquitous Pachinko.

Tsukiji market would be best to do Friday morning (12/12). You will most likely go to bed early after arrival on 12/11 and will get up very early next morning. That's the best time to do it. If you get there early enough, you can see the tuna auction.

For your three days in Tokyo the first time around I would divide the city into three different grids and do the things you can in the grid each day. Tokyo is a large city that is spread out over miles. Day one take the Asakusa, Ueno, Sensoji Temple area and do that. Lots of people suggest doing the fish market on day one due to jet lag but its just the opposite for me. The first day I am most exhausted, I recover usually on day two.

The second day do the Imperial Palace, Ginza, fish market(not necessarily in that order), etc. Then the third day do Shibuya, Shinjuku, and things around that environ. While in Shinjuku visit Shinjuku Gyoen Park, my favorite in Tokyo.

Are you sure its cheaper to fly r/t to and from Narita and buy all your train fares? The open jaw tickets shouldn't be that much more and with the cost of the train tickets alone it might be worth the consideration. By figuring out that option you would save a lot of time and travel and would be able to spend a decent amount of time in Kyoto which would be worth your while as you'll find out with your guide book reading. Your 7 day jr pass will not be valid your whole trip. Have you figured out your train fares on hyperdia.com yet? Use the English button

Here are some site for reading if you already haven't read them

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2158.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/

http://www.japanrail.com/

Aloha!

No need to get the JR pass, which you cannot use on metro anyway. Instead you need either Passmo or prepaid metro card.

I don't think it's worth going to Kichijoji--there are better parks. If you like Japanese gardens, my two best recommendations are Hamarikyu and Rikugien (in northern part of yamanote loop).

Tokyo might have christmas illuminations by the time you get there--try along Omote sando, and Marunouchi area (nr Tokyo station) has special light-ups called luminario (sp). It does get crowded but worth it.

Kabuki is quite enjoyable though you'll need to check the calendar to see if they're performing during your stay. English earphone guide is strongly recommended.

Another vote in favour of Edo museum. There is also a big bath/spa called Oedo Onsen or something near the bay area. You get there by taking a monorail or some kind of tram out of Shimbashi station.

I still think Kyoto is doable, if you leave very early in the morning and come back really late. Still at most you can get 2 days there.

Hakone is perfectly doable, but preferably best enjoyed as an overnight stay. The only problem is, ryokan is quite expensive (I guess anything from JPY20,000-30,000). You can do an easy daytrip to Kamakura instead.

Mrwunrfl,
Thanks.. you really shed some light on the JR pass. I could really save some money by not going to Kyoto and buying tickets over the few days. Well some serious amount saved.. Is the JR pass East is only for Tokyo?

rhkkmk,
Palace?