Hate to say it... but another Tokyo hotel post..
May 13th, 2007, 05:56 PM
#1
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Hate to say it... but another Tokyo hotel post..
I have researched and researched and researched but don't know where to stay. I am finding Tokyo quite overwhelming!
We have a stopover there for two nights next March. We would like to do the following:
*see the fish market and have some fresh sushi
*visit Roppongi crossing
*spend one day in Hakone if clear weather (we enjoy countryside and would like to see Mt. Fuji)
*shop at Oriental Bazaar or somewhere similar for souvenirs.
*try shabu-shabu somewhere
*prefer restaurants with English menus or that are easy-to-navigate during our jet-lag (we are good travelers but want to "ease into" Asia)
Given the above, suggestions for neighborhoods to look at? Shinjuku? Shibuya? Ebisu?
Specific hotels? We would prefer to stay around US$150/night but could go up to $250/night.
Thanks so much in advance!
We have a stopover there for two nights next March. We would like to do the following:
*see the fish market and have some fresh sushi
*visit Roppongi crossing
*spend one day in Hakone if clear weather (we enjoy countryside and would like to see Mt. Fuji)
*shop at Oriental Bazaar or somewhere similar for souvenirs.
*try shabu-shabu somewhere
*prefer restaurants with English menus or that are easy-to-navigate during our jet-lag (we are good travelers but want to "ease into" Asia)
Given the above, suggestions for neighborhoods to look at? Shinjuku? Shibuya? Ebisu?
Specific hotels? We would prefer to stay around US$150/night but could go up to $250/night.
Thanks so much in advance!
May 13th, 2007, 06:25 PM
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Re restaurant: English menu -- I think you either have to go to very touristy or high end places frequented by foreigners. But I do not think it is necessary. If you go to "working" class restaurants, they have wax replicas of what they serve with prices in their show windows. Simply point what you want to the server. The replica always looked better than the real food...
Conveyor belt sushi is another option: just grab what you feel like eating -- after understanding the pricing and the house "rule."
Conveyor belt sushi is another option: just grab what you feel like eating -- after understanding the pricing and the house "rule."
May 14th, 2007, 06:21 AM
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I think you can achieve what you want to do in almost any central locations.
Tsukiji and Roppongi are on Hibiya line subway, Oriental Bazaar is near Harajuku/omote-sando served by multiple subway lines. (I also recommend Matsuya department store in Ginza for good Japanese crafts).
Try Serina in Roppongi for shabu shabu, though there are other places throughout the city. Most department stores and shopping centres have restaurant floors that have replicas outside.
Hakone will take a whole day--either JR train to Odawara or Odakyu line (out o shinjuku) to Hakone Yumato. It may be still chilly. You can visit Open Air sculpture museum, walk the historical pass. (I personally didn't "get" the boat ride and the sulpher egg near the lake).
Tsukiji and Roppongi are on Hibiya line subway, Oriental Bazaar is near Harajuku/omote-sando served by multiple subway lines. (I also recommend Matsuya department store in Ginza for good Japanese crafts).
Try Serina in Roppongi for shabu shabu, though there are other places throughout the city. Most department stores and shopping centres have restaurant floors that have replicas outside.
Hakone will take a whole day--either JR train to Odawara or Odakyu line (out o shinjuku) to Hakone Yumato. It may be still chilly. You can visit Open Air sculpture museum, walk the historical pass. (I personally didn't "get" the boat ride and the sulpher egg near the lake).
May 14th, 2007, 02:02 PM
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We just go back from Tokyo and South Korea, I had the same overwhelming feeling while planning. But everything went really smoothly. Mr. Hester had been to Tokyo before but he was no help in the planning.
As far as the food goes, we went to a lot of places that have pictures and you point. We ate sushi off the revolving belt. We ate at one sushi places a couple of times; it was so good. We ate ten small plates and we were full and it only came out to $10.00 I don't remember the Yen amount. We had Shabu Shabu in Korea and it was so good! There was this cream puff place in Shibuya that was so good, in fact there were two.
We stayed at the Shibuya Tokyu Inn. The room was really small but it was ok, it was clean and the staff was friendly. The hotel is located right off the big shibuya crossing. The hotel was not noisey at all at night and we slept with the window open. It cost 21,000 yen ($174.00) a night. We like to be right in the middle of the action so to speak so that is why we stayed there. The subway is right there and lots of places to eat and shop.
Some of the sights we saw were the Imperial palace, National Museum of Japan and the zoo. All were reached by a very simple subway ride. I loved the zoo, we actually got to see Ling-Ling the giant panda. The museum was very good also. We looked for the transportation Museum (Mr. Hesters pick)but could not find it, oh darn my heart was broke. Also Mr. Hester was so disappointed that we didn't make it to the camera museum.
We took the subway to different districts and than did a whole lot of walking to see the sights. I didn't list everything we saw it would take to long. It was very easy to find our way around with a good map. One thing we did learn was to wait until after 10 am to take the subway. You can't even imagine how crowded it got. I have been on subways all over the world and have NEVER experienced anything like it. It was scary. It got so crowded (it wasn't crowded when we got on) that you couldn't hold on and didn't need to because it was packed so tight you couldn't move, kinda like a sardine can! But I must say it was our fault for not thinking it out about the work rush hour which is somewhat later than we are use to in the USA.
Coming in from Narita we took a taxi to Shibuya and on the way back to Narita we took the Limosine bus and it worked really well. You can pick up the bus at a lot of major hotels even if you didn't stay there. Just look in your guide book.
Like I said before I was overwhelmed when I started our planning but everything worked out great. Fodorites were great help.
I am sure you will have a wonderful trip as we did.
As far as the food goes, we went to a lot of places that have pictures and you point. We ate sushi off the revolving belt. We ate at one sushi places a couple of times; it was so good. We ate ten small plates and we were full and it only came out to $10.00 I don't remember the Yen amount. We had Shabu Shabu in Korea and it was so good! There was this cream puff place in Shibuya that was so good, in fact there were two.
We stayed at the Shibuya Tokyu Inn. The room was really small but it was ok, it was clean and the staff was friendly. The hotel is located right off the big shibuya crossing. The hotel was not noisey at all at night and we slept with the window open. It cost 21,000 yen ($174.00) a night. We like to be right in the middle of the action so to speak so that is why we stayed there. The subway is right there and lots of places to eat and shop.
Some of the sights we saw were the Imperial palace, National Museum of Japan and the zoo. All were reached by a very simple subway ride. I loved the zoo, we actually got to see Ling-Ling the giant panda. The museum was very good also. We looked for the transportation Museum (Mr. Hesters pick)but could not find it, oh darn my heart was broke. Also Mr. Hester was so disappointed that we didn't make it to the camera museum.
We took the subway to different districts and than did a whole lot of walking to see the sights. I didn't list everything we saw it would take to long. It was very easy to find our way around with a good map. One thing we did learn was to wait until after 10 am to take the subway. You can't even imagine how crowded it got. I have been on subways all over the world and have NEVER experienced anything like it. It was scary. It got so crowded (it wasn't crowded when we got on) that you couldn't hold on and didn't need to because it was packed so tight you couldn't move, kinda like a sardine can! But I must say it was our fault for not thinking it out about the work rush hour which is somewhat later than we are use to in the USA.
Coming in from Narita we took a taxi to Shibuya and on the way back to Narita we took the Limosine bus and it worked really well. You can pick up the bus at a lot of major hotels even if you didn't stay there. Just look in your guide book.
Like I said before I was overwhelmed when I started our planning but everything worked out great. Fodorites were great help.
I am sure you will have a wonderful trip as we did.
May 14th, 2007, 02:37 PM
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Ok....the fish market is great if youv'e never seen one before.
Roppongi Crossing? Is there supposed to be something happening there?
Shibuya crossing is much more exciting and picturesque than Roppongi. Even the Ginza or Shinjuku at night if you want to see people and lights!!!
Don't worry....lots of English menus around(just ask) and lots of picture menus with plastic food samples everywhere. Have you seen these websites?
http://www.bento.com/tf-rest.html
http://www.travelotica.com/travelgui...nirs-10030.htm
http://www.frommers.com/destinations...5_indshop.html
Aloha!
Roppongi Crossing? Is there supposed to be something happening there?
Shibuya crossing is much more exciting and picturesque than Roppongi. Even the Ginza or Shinjuku at night if you want to see people and lights!!!
Don't worry....lots of English menus around(just ask) and lots of picture menus with plastic food samples everywhere. Have you seen these websites?
http://www.bento.com/tf-rest.html
http://www.travelotica.com/travelgui...nirs-10030.htm
http://www.frommers.com/destinations...5_indshop.html
Aloha!
May 14th, 2007, 11:18 PM
#6
Yes, Tokyo is huge. Any of the wards that you mentioned would be ok. But if you just get a hotel close to a subway (easy to find) then you'll be ok. Better is at a stop on the Marunouchi line.
Ginza is only 3 minutes from Tsukiji.
Roppongi Crossing is an art exhibition:
http://www.mori.art.museum/eng/exhibition/index.html
at Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills.
Ginza is only 3 minutes from Tsukiji.
Roppongi Crossing is an art exhibition:
http://www.mori.art.museum/eng/exhibition/index.html
at Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills.
May 14th, 2007, 11:20 PM
#7
Another consideration for the hotel is that I would want it near a Narita Express stop, if I was using the Narita Express. Or a hotel that is served by the airport limo bus, if using Narita Airport.
May 15th, 2007, 03:40 AM
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We stayed at the Keio Plaza a couple of years ago and it was lovely. The room was pleasant, if not glamourous, and quite large. The bathroom was a fair size with a posh toilet and a shower (with a pull around curtain, not a real stall). We were provided with cotton kimonos and room slippers as well as bathroom slippers. We were about a block from the electronics market and the enormous Shinjuku Station. The location was wonderful.
We traveled everywhere by subway with very little problem. People were always offering to help us, young people in particular who learn English in school and like to practice it.
We were at the market at about 5 a.m. but missed the tuna auction. I'm not sure they let tourists in to that anymore but the market is certainly worth a visit.
I envy you your trip! Have a wonderful time!
We traveled everywhere by subway with very little problem. People were always offering to help us, young people in particular who learn English in school and like to practice it.
We were at the market at about 5 a.m. but missed the tuna auction. I'm not sure they let tourists in to that anymore but the market is certainly worth a visit.
I envy you your trip! Have a wonderful time!
May 15th, 2007, 12:04 PM
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We have stayed at the Keio Plaza and were very happy with our room there.
There is a post office right out the back door(atm machines) and next to the po is a world of restaurants and little shops to keep you busy for hours.
If you do opt for the Keio go on their website that I listed below and join their EIC club if you want to take advantage of the benefits like free brkfst, late checkout, daily paper, etc.
The Toto toilets in the rooms are enough of a reason to pick the Keio Plaza, lol.(if your new to this forum you might not get this joke)
http://www.keioplaza.com/index.html
Aloha!
There is a post office right out the back door(atm machines) and next to the po is a world of restaurants and little shops to keep you busy for hours.
If you do opt for the Keio go on their website that I listed below and join their EIC club if you want to take advantage of the benefits like free brkfst, late checkout, daily paper, etc.
The Toto toilets in the rooms are enough of a reason to pick the Keio Plaza, lol.(if your new to this forum you might not get this joke)
http://www.keioplaza.com/index.html
Aloha!
May 15th, 2007, 12:18 PM
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Just to give you an idea of the size of our room at the Keio Plaza, we had two double beds, a small round table with two chairs, and a long, low dresser, and we still had lots of room.
There was a very nice lounge off the lobby where we had drinks a couple of times (live music one night), and our room came with breakfast every day, including the option of Japanese breakfast. The regular breakfast buffet was quite nice with several choices and the Japanese breakfast was, well, interesting.
There was a very nice lounge off the lobby where we had drinks a couple of times (live music one night), and our room came with breakfast every day, including the option of Japanese breakfast. The regular breakfast buffet was quite nice with several choices and the Japanese breakfast was, well, interesting.
May 15th, 2007, 04:36 PM
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Wow, thank you so much to all who replied to my post!
For those who stayed at the Keio Plaza, how much did you pay and where did you book? I see prices of $232/night for the cheapest room (one queen bed) on their website.
Thank you again to all who replied. Hester, thanks for your comments! I am glad you enjoyed Tokyo and hope we will too!
Liz
For those who stayed at the Keio Plaza, how much did you pay and where did you book? I see prices of $232/night for the cheapest room (one queen bed) on their website.
Thank you again to all who replied. Hester, thanks for your comments! I am glad you enjoyed Tokyo and hope we will too!
Liz
May 15th, 2007, 04:44 PM
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I'm sorry, Tim, I can't remember how much we paid but I'm sure it would be different now. We were there at the Christmas season which is not a holiday season there (New Year's is their big holiday) so maybe prices were lower.
May 15th, 2007, 04:45 PM
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We booked off the site i posted.
For next March book now at a cancel able rate and I would recheck the site religiously as they change prices constantly.
I know lots of tour agencies use the Keio so you might want to check with your local agencies later on when the time gets closer. H.I.S. comes to mind.
Aloha!
For next March book now at a cancel able rate and I would recheck the site religiously as they change prices constantly.
I know lots of tour agencies use the Keio so you might want to check with your local agencies later on when the time gets closer. H.I.S. comes to mind.
Aloha!
May 31st, 2007, 04:22 PM
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I have to say, hands down, Park Hotel Tokyo. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this hotel. Have stayed there twice, each time for 5+ days. So convenient, wonderful rooms, impeccable service, UNBELIEVABLE price.
http://www.parkhoteltokyo.com/
http://www.parkhoteltokyo.com/
