mjs

The Keio Plaza is a huge 4 star hotel west of the train station in Shinjuku which is popular with groups. It’s about a 10 minute walk to the train station. Lots of Tall Government buildings. Reasonably priced. Train station is complex and probably the busiest in the world. Great connections everywhere except for the bullet trains. I’ve been through the station 100+ times and I can still get lost. The most interesting part of Shinjuku with shopping and restaurants mostly on the other side of the train station from the Keio Plaza

kja

If you aren't yet fully committed, I second the idea of going straight on to Kyoto if possible, and if not, you might want to look at someplace near Ueno Park -- it's convenient to the airport transportation and is, indeed, a park with several excellent museums.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3019.html

flygirl

I like Guenmai's idea of fashion theme! I just saw that indigo fabric is something to buy.

my plane is nonstop from IAD and lands at 330 PM ish. I think I'm going to stay in Tokyo the first night.

I am liking the idea of Shinjuku area more and more.

Still digging.. thank you for sticking with me,

Guenmai

I read that Shinjuku station IS the busiest train station in the world. I went over to that train station from Maruouchi as I needed to get to both Keio Department store and Odakyu Department store (next to each other) to get to the Yacco Maricard clothing sections in both stores. I had also been in Shinjuku station some days before that as I went to both Takashimaya and Isetan department stores. I remember spending a lot more time in the Takashimaya/ Isetan area than in the Keio/Odakyu (west) of the station area.

Happy Travels!

Guenmai

As for fashion, I went out here in L.A., to find possible fashion trends as this season has seemed pretty boring and trend-less. I hadn't been in the stores for quite a while as I was in S.E. Asia for 6 weeks and got home just 2 months ago. Plus, since I'm more into the Asian fashion/clothing scene, I hadn't given western clothing a lot of serious thought lately.

Well, one thing that I did discover, while at The Grove last weekend, was that the kimono jacket is big again. I saw some gorgeous, short ones especially at one of the boutiques there. They were original, vintage ones from Japan and silk, but $595.

I bought a gorgeous, heavy, faux silk, short kimono jacket last summer at Zara in Seville at the big sale. Their window mannequins were dressed in kimono-style jackets. I think my short one cost me around $35. I have also recently ordered one from Nordstrom/Top Shop and am waiting for its arrival. For me, they are part of my normal clothing as I have worn that style jacket for decades.

When I get back to Japan, I'm going to drop into Harajuku Chicago boutique (Kyoto) as, from what I remember, it's walking distance from the Royal Park Hotel as the Royal Park is on Sanjo-Dori (street) just a wee bit to the left of the river on the below map.

This time, I will be able to really take my time and go through the selection on the upcoming trip. The entire second floor is stocked with pre-owned kimonos, kimono jackets, yukatas, etc. On the last trip, I was focused on finding the right kimono in Daimaru Department store, of which I did. I was buying it for a special occasion here at home.

Tokyo also has several locations of Harajuku Chicago store, but Kyoto is much more manageable.

Since I will have the room at the Royal Park Hotel, it will come in handy for shopping as I can shop, drop purchases back to my room, and then go out again and continue looking as I know what I'm looking for when I'm out shopping. Then, at night I can taxi back over to my regular hotel room in Higashiyama.

Two months ago, I was walking out Wilshire on my way to Neimans when I noticed a young, Asian woman wearing a gorgeous kimono jacket over a western-style flowing dress. Styled really great. I quickly walked after her to ask where she had bought it. She was also on her way to Neimans and we got to the door at the same time and then I asked her. She said that she had just bought it, pre-owed in Kyoto. I asked what shop, but she couldn't remember. But, from her description, I said to her that it sounded like Harajuku Chicago store. We had a great talk and chat about both Asian fashion and Kyoto.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/原宿シカゴ-京都市
https://www.yelp.com/map/原宿シカゴ-京都市 Map to Harajuku Chicago-Kyoto

Happy Travels!

flygirl

Oh thank you thank you! I will look there too! I love clothes shopping.

I have a kimono-like jacket I bought in Carmel of all places about 8 years ago. a recent fashion school graduate had opened her own boutique there and I brought home some lovely clothes. I should take a photo of it and post it here.

I am also going to visit Harajuku area in Tokyo, I heard it's quite a place to see fashion and do some shopping.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3006.html
I read somewhere in the past week that there is a very early morning fish market so if you have insomnia go check it out. Usually on international trips I either sleep like the dead the very first night, or I do just like I do at home which is fall asleep quickly and sleep half the night then awake for a few hours then back asleep the other half - but that is usually middle of the night not 5 AM. I can't recall where that market was though.

What is interesting is that I wonder if I will be fully affected by jet lag - my trip to Australia in December I more or less adjusted within a day although what helped is that after the 24+ hour travel time, I landed in the morning and my friend met me at my hotel mid-morning and we spent the entire day together running around and then after he left I wandered the botanical gardens until it was time for dinner, then when I finally fell asleep I was good and tired.

This trip is long but it's nonstop - 14 hours - and when I land it will be middle of the night at home and I am sure I will nap at least 3-4 hours on the plane. The trick will be making sure I fall asleep by midnight.

Another question: in Melbourne I was so delighted to discover the laneways. I see some photos in Tokyo of what look like laneways - narrow little alleys bursting with food stalls or little shops. Are those all over, or concentrated in certain areas? thank you!

Guenmai

Flygirl: Since you will be out shopping for clothing, one design company that I really like and have been wearing for years, is Yacco Maricard. You might also like that line. I have a solid collection of the clothing. The company is Japanese, but has its clothing made in Thailand so I have access to a lot of it in Bangkok.

While in Tokyo, I really wanted to go to the flagship Yacco Maricard boutique in Jingumae. I had my hotel call the boutique to make sure it was still there, but although it was, they were doing a major renovation and it wasn't going to be finished by the time I left Japan. That's why I ended up in Shinjuku at the two department stores that carried the clothing line. Since I go in summer, the sales were really great.

Yacco Maricard clothes are comfortable and really easy to wear. Plus, I love the colors. I also have their cotton jackets as their clothing is really good for our weather here in L.A. They also have clothing for colder seasons.

Below are some links. I have included the link to their Bangkok flagship only so that you can scroll down and see the clothing collection as I feel that the Bangkok link showcases the collections better than the actual Yacco Maricard website. I have been to and purchased at the Bangkok, flagship boutiques. But, I usually get the clothing at the departments stores of which I prefer the collection at Central at Chitlom-Bangkok. It will be interesting to see the collections at the Tokyo flagship.

Since Harajuku Chicago is also located in Jinjumae (Tokyo), hopefully I can knock out two birds with one stone as the flagship, Yacco Maricard boutique is also in Jinjumae.

Yacco Maricard-Spring 2018 collection
SPRING / SUMMER 2018 YACCOMARICARD

List of Yacco Maricard stores/departments within stores in Tokyo
Store Location 'Japan' YACCOMARICARD

Bangkok Yacco Maricard boutique-scroll to really good photos of the actual clothing
Store Location YACCOMARICARD

The above Bangkok link didn't post the entire, continuous, photo collection like it did in my original link. So, you will need to click on, Store Details, for the various stores and then the individual photo collections will appear.

Happy Travels!

ticino

I would stay in one of the "high" hotels, the silence and the views are amazing. Most will have some park within walking distance. My favourite is the Ritz Carlton but we have tried a few others and all are fantastic. From the RC you can walk to Yoyogi park via a cementery and Aoyama/Omotesando. It's a lovely walk full of interesting cafés, boutiques, etc.

I always use sleeping pills when travelling long-haul (usually twice a year, sometimes three) and I have always managed to avoid problems with jetlag. I take a sleeping pill that needs a prescription for the plane, and prescription-free melatonin for the following nights if needed (usually not).

Btw little alleys are everywhere in Tokyo, even in Ginza.

flygirl

Hi everyone

I have stepped up the pace on my reading. I have tagged a number of things to see or do and it's a mishmash! There's no way I will see them all but it's my process - get a lay of the land, tag things I'd like to try to see, and when on the ground see what happens - at least I have options and many times I end up doing or seeing things which have nothing to do with what I've read about. I'll come back this weekend with my random list.

I thought these looked interesting, in the meantime:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...itecture-tokyo

https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainmen...uilding-guide/

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3053.html

and Japan Guide had a few videos about "top 5" in Tokyo and Kyoto.




Thank you again for everyone's ideas.

Guenmai

As for Kyoto, I posted that, 5 Things to do in Kyoto, video on one of my comments way upthread, but on my computer screen all of my video posts are showing a blank, white space.

I'll read your other links in a few minutes.

Happy Travels!

flygirl

Thank you. Not wedded to that hotel but it seems like Shinjuku would be a good place to spend Thurs-Fri-Sat nights of my trip.

How far away (if you recall) is the interesting part and is it easy to walk to from that hotel or an urban jungle with no good sidewalks to the interesting side?

Guenmai

The link below has (approximate) walking times from the Keio Hotel to other areas in Shinjuku. As far as walking the area, I didn't find a lack of sidewalks or walking problems in the area aside from the crowds of people as when I was there it was very crowded in that area.

https://www.hotels.com/ho106211?_=12...hinjuku+hotels

As for getting from one side of Shinjuku Station, to the opposite side of Shinjuku Station, the below Google map shows your hotel. Just click on the left arrow to get rid of the info covering your hotel location.

Your hotel is to the left (west) of Shinjuku Station on the below map. I was both west and east of Shinjuku Station. The first time that I took the train there, from Marunouchi, as I was headed to Isetan Department store and the area around it (east) and the second time, I was headed to both Keio and Odakyu department stores west of Shinjuku Station.

I spent more time walking the area east of the Shinjuku train station. It took me around 20 minutes to walk from Shinjuku Station to Isetan department store. I had no mix-ups in Shinjuku train station on either time that I was there.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Is...7!4d139.704616

Happy Travels!

kja

Hmm.... On your other thread, several of us noted that we did not like the area around the Keio Plaza Hotel. What more do you want people to say?

flygirl

Thank you Guenmai, very helpful information!

The Keio Plaza Hotel is on the same side as the Park Hyatt albeit a 15 minute walk. I'm going to assume that the closer you get to the Park Hyatt the more appealing it becomes, too.

I see the Shinjuku Granbell which looks to be somewhat near Shinjuku Golden Gai. Checking that one out now.

edit: it looks great and I took the Luxury Designer Double with Kitchen (don't need kitchen but the bathroom looks nicer than the next level down which was Luxury studio)

Digital_Traveler

If you are under 45, like to eat drink and experience the culture maybe consider going slightly farther afield. Places like Koenji, Kichijoji or Shimokitazawa have tons to do and see. Shopping, cafes, bars, clubs and endless places to eat. And Shimokitazawa is only 5 minutes from Shibuya on the express. Just a thought.