Japan Trip Booked - Your Recommendations or Advice?

[Disney Analyst]

That's it, we've done it! Last night we booked our flight for Japan, November of this year.

So now I have to come to you all: what are your opinions, recommendations, and advice?

We will be visiting for 14 days (16 if you count the travel in / travel out days).

The plan is Tokyo, Kyoto, a Nara day trip, Osaka, and then we come back to finish at Tokyo Disneyland the last few days of our trip.


Saturday - Arrive in afternoon, settle in.
Sunday - Tokyo
Monday - Tokyo
Tuesday - Tokyo
Wednesday - Travel to Kyoto
Thursday - Kyoto
Friday - Kyoto
Saturday - Kyoto (Nara day trip?)
Sunday - Travel to Osaka/Osaka Day
Monday - Osaka
Tuesday - Osaka
Wednesday - Travel to Tokyo Disneyland Resort (could do an evening ticket to a park? Or just relax, check out the resort area?)
Thursday - Disneyland Day
Friday - Disney Sea Day
Saturday - Disney Sea Day?
Sunday - Travel Home

Part of the reason to do Disney when we have is that the Christmas festivities start that week, and we'd love to be there for the Christmas decorations, etc. I was attempting to get most days during the week, but it would give us one Saturday park day, if we decide to do 3 days in the park.

Our goal is to stay at Miracosta, as it's a honeymoon trip and we feel like we can justify being a bit bougie, but I always struggle with hotels... We will spend the entire time in the parks go-go-going, so is it worth it? Or should we stay elsewhere? Stay there for 2 nights, and switch hotels?

Any changes you would make to this potential itinerary? If you have recommendations for places to stay, neighbourhoods to stay, restaurants, tips & ticks, anything... I'll take them.

 

[Kevin_W]

We weren't there quite as long, so basically had a similar itinerary minus the Osaka days.

One thing we didn't do that I wish we'd had time for: stop in the Hakone area on the way to Kyoto for some hiking and to see Mt. Fuji. We didn't do a day trip to Nara (though it looks cool) and did Himeji instead. I really enjoyed visiting Himeji castle - particularly as a Disney fan. We've now visited the "real" White Egret Castle, Akershus/Oslo Stave Church, St. Marks Square, and Eiffel tower/Pont Des Arts bridge. So we're making our way around the world showcase!

We also had Disney at the end of our trip and I liked that. We were fairly tired by that point (though adjusted to the time zone change) and touring temples and such would have been hard, but we had Disney energy!

We're park-all-day people, so couldn't justify something like Mira Costa, but it looks awesome. We stayed at the Grand Nikko (on the monorail) and were quite happy. In Tokyo/Kyoto we stayed in AirBnB's an dI liked that experience vs. a hotel. The recommendation I had read for Tokyo was neighborhood didn't matter much, just stay near a green line station and that seemed like good advice. In Kyoto we stayed near Fushimi Inari.

 

[Disney Analyst]

We weren't there quite as long, so basically had a similar itinerary minus the Osaka days.

One thing we didn't do that I wish we'd had time for: stop in the Hakone area on the way to Kyoto for some hiking and to see Mt. Fuji. We didn't do a day trip to Nara (though it looks cool) and did Himeji instead. I really enjoyed visiting Himeji castle - particularly as a Disney fan. We've now visited the "real" White Egret Castle, Akershus/Oslo Stave Church, St. Marks Square, and Eiffel tower/Pont Des Arts bridge. So we're making our way around the world showcase!

We also had Disney at the end of our trip and I liked that. We were fairly tired by that point (though adjusted to the time zone change) and touring temples and such would have been hard, but we had Disney energy!

We're park-all-day people, so couldn't justify something like Mira Costa, but it looks awesome. We stayed at the Grand Nikko (on the monorail) and were quite happy. In Tokyo/Kyoto we stayed in AirBnB's an dI liked that experience vs. a hotel. The recommendation I had read for Tokyo was neighborhood didn't matter much, just stay near a green line station and that seemed like good advice. In Kyoto we stayed near Fushimi Inari.

Thank you so much, really appreciate the insight from your visit!

How many days did you do in the parks? Did you achieve everything you wanted?

 

[Andy Whitfield]

Im
Going in three weeks, doing one day in universal studios Japan . Book the team labs planet in Tokyo ahead of time , it can sell out . We are staying at the moralists when at Disney

 

[Andy Whitfield]

Miracosta

 

[Kevin_W]

How many days did you do in the parks? Did you achieve everything you wanted?

We did 3 days - 2 at DisneySea (unique park to us) and 1 at TDL.

We only bought premiere access to the BatB ride and accomplished everything we wanted. The only thing I was really bummed about was that it rained for about an hour in the evening on our TDR day and they cancelled the night parade, which was possibly the thing I was looking forward to most. I really wish they had park hopping so that we could have gone back over on our second TDS day and seen the parade.

 

[Kevin_W]

Book the team labs planet in Tokyo ahead of time , it can sell out . We are staying at the moralists when at Disney

I'd second TeamLab Planets - it was neat.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Miracosta

How was your experience booking and getting a room? Did you do it exactly at the 4 month mark of when you’d arrive to check in?

 

[Disney Analyst]

We did 3 days - 2 at DisneySea (unique park to us) and 1 at TDL.

We only bought premiere access to the BatB ride and accomplished everything we wanted. The only thing I was really bummed about was that it rained for about an hour in the evening on our TDR day and they cancelled the night parade, which was possibly the thing I was looking forward to most. I really wish they had park hopping so that we could have gone back over on our second TDS day and seen the parade.

Interesting situation. Maybe we should do the evening ticket to TDR for arrival day, and can try to knock out parade that night. I was considering booking a spot for it the full day we have there.

 

[ThemeParkTraveller]

How was your experience booking and getting a room? Did you do it exactly at the 4 month mark of when you’d arrive to check in?

I stayed at the MiraCosta in January, which is supposed to be a slow period. Not only do you have to book exactly at the 4 month mark, but you need to be on the reservations page the minute it opens (11:00 AM JST) if you want a chance at booking the rooms with the harbor views. I'd say all of those were gone within 10 minutes, which is tough considering there is always a queue to enter the website during this time. Within an hour, the majority of rooms are fully booked with only some individual rooms from cancellations popping up every now and then. I'd definitely do a few test bookings ahead of time to get a feel for the website. You will need to time the queue so that you are let in right as it becomes available.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I stayed at the MiraCosta in January, which is supposed to be a slow period. Not only do you have to book exactly at the 4 month mark, but you need to be on the reservations page the minute it opens (11:00 AM JST) if you want a chance at booking the rooms with the harbor views. I'd say all of those were gone within 10 minutes, which is tough considering there is always a queue to enter the website during this time. Within an hour, the majority of rooms are fully booked with only some individual rooms from cancellations popping up every now and then. I'd definitely do a few test bookings ahead of time to get a feel for the website. You will need to time the queue so that you are let in right as it becomes available.

Good to know - I'm not even sure if I am going to try for a harbor view. Thought maybe Venice side.

 

[TP2000]

Faboulous itinerary! And quite aggressive for a first-timer, but you seem ready to handle it.

I think your overall plan sounds very solid, and it will work well. It's perfect that you saved Tokyo Disney Resort for your last few days, as that's what I've always done and it's a perfect end to the trip. It also helps get the culture shock out of the way, and allows you to experience their clearly superior CM service levels with more insight.

There's already some great logistics and planning advice here (Disney Resort hotels are notoriously difficult to book!), so I'll just offer some general cultural/tourist advice, in no particular order;

• JR Rail Pass. It sounds like you already have this nailed down, but please don't hesitate to splurge on the Green Car upgrade for any Shinkansen legs of your trip. The upgrade is a modest sum, and it makes a difference in making the journey easier and more fun. Splurge!
• Are you flying in to Narita or Haneda? If it's Narita, the Narita Express train is the best way to get to Tokyo Station. Otherwise, the Haneda Monorail is good, or depending on where your Tokyo hotel is, a cab may be worth the cost just to make it easier after your long travel day.
• Not sure where you are staying in Tokyo when you first arrive, but Japan Rail has a FANTASTIC service in Tokyo Station for foreigners. It's called the JR East Travel Service Center, and it's in the north rotunda of Tokyo Station at the main entrance there. They have English speaking staff who can help with anything; train tickets, Green Car upgrades, rail reservations, hotels, sightseeing tips, etc. It's basically a free travel agency for tourists, and if you have a JR Rail pass already they'll help with anything they can! https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/customer_support/service_center_tokyo.html
• Go to the Ginza and visit a department store! Preferably Mitsukoshi, and just plan to buy something. Even if it's a pair of socks, buy them just for the experience of Japanese customer service and gift wrapping. Hilarious!
• Kyoto is wonderful, but can be a bit touristy. Get off the beaten path and explore beyond the temples and museums. Are you or your wife a cook? Visit a knife store and buy a special kitchen knife! Or buy some pretty textiles, or a yukata to wear back at home. The magic of Kyoto is found in its artisans and shopkeepers, in my opinion.
• Museums. Even if I just sort of insulted museums in that bullet above, Japanese museums are generally wonderful. Find one or two in Tokyo or Osaka that you want to visit. There's a cluster of big museums in Tokyo in the Taito City area, their version of the Smithsonian complex in Washington DC. They'll give a great perspective of how the Japanese view themselves and their own history, which is always the fun of travel.
• Don't be such a tourist! You seem like a sophisticated and confident person, so I'm sure you have plans to get beyond the Hilton and Tokyo Disneyland. Japan can be very closed off to tourists in some of the small neighborhoods, even in Tokyo. But try something just off the beaten path or the main drag. I have found that when I walk into a Tokyo or Osaka store or restaurant looking obviously American, I get big smiles and a real attempt at pleasing me as a guest. It's fun to dine once or twice in a mom n' pop restaurant down an alley. Explore!
• Learn some Japanese. On the above bullet, you'll want to know at least the basics of tourist phrases and hospitality verbiage. A non-Japanese person who has obviously tried to learn some Japanese, and isn't afraid to use it badly, will win over hearts and minds anywhere you go. Learn some Japanese, and say it proudly with an International smile!

Also, throw out everything you know about Disneyland trips in America. Tokyo Disneyland is wonderful, but they are still doing things the old-fashioned way in many parts of their operation. It can be a mix of charm and frustration if you're used to TDA's App-based ways of the past decade. But in reality, it can also be freeing to just wait in line for something good.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Faboulous itinerary! And quite aggressive for a first-timer, but you seem ready to handle it.

I think your overall plan sounds very solid, and it will work well. It's perfect that you saved Tokyo Disney Resort for your last few days, as that's what I've always done and it's a perfect end to the trip. It also helps get the culture shock out of the way, and allows you to experience their clearly superior CM service levels with more insight.

There's already some great logistics and planning advice here (Disney Resort hotels are notoriously difficult to book!), so I'll just offer some general cultural/tourist advice, in no particular order;

• JR Rail Pass. It sounds like you already have this nailed down, but please don't hesitate to splurge on the Green Car upgrade for any Shinkansen legs of your trip. The upgrade is a modest sum, and it makes a difference in making the journey easier and more fun. Splurge!
• Are you flying in to Narita or Haneda? If it's Narita, the Narita Express train is the best way to get to Tokyo Station. Otherwise, the Haneda Monorail is good, or depending on where your Tokyo hotel is, a cab may be worth the cost just to make it easier after your long travel day.
• Not sure where you are staying in Tokyo when you first arrive, but Japan Rail has a FANTASTIC service in Tokyo Station for foreigners. It's called the JR East Travel Service Center, and it's in the north rotunda of Tokyo Station at the main entrance there. They have English speaking staff who can help with anything; train tickets, Green Car upgrades, rail reservations, hotels, sightseeing tips, etc. It's basically a free travel agency for tourists, and if you have a JR Rail pass already they'll help with anything they can! https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/customer_support/service_center_tokyo.html
• Go to the Ginza and visit a department store! Preferably Mitsukoshi, and just plan to buy something. Even if it's a pair of socks, buy them just for the experience of Japanese customer service and gift wrapping. Hilarious!
• Kyoto is wonderful, but can be a bit touristy. Get off the beaten path and explore beyond the temples and museums. Are you or your wife a cook? Visit a knife store and buy a special kitchen knife! Or buy some pretty textiles, or a yukata to wear back at home. The magic of Kyoto is found in its artisans and shopkeepers, in my opinion.
• Museums. Even if I just sort of insulted museums in that bullet above, Japanese museums are generally wonderful. Find one or two in Tokyo or Osaka that you want to visit. There's a cluster of big museums in Tokyo in the Taito City area, their version of the Smithsonian complex in Washington DC. They'll give a great perspective of how the Japanese view themselves and their own history, which is always the fun of travel.
• Don't be such a tourist! You seem like a sophisticated and confident person, so I'm sure you have plans to get beyond the Hilton and Tokyo Disneyland. Japan can be very closed off to tourists in some of the small neighborhoods, even in Tokyo. But try something just off the beaten path or the main drag. I have found that when I walk into a Tokyo or Osaka store or restaurant looking obviously American, I get big smiles and a real attempt at pleasing me as a guest. It's fun to dine once or twice in a mom n' pop restaurant down an alley. Explore!
• Learn some Japanese. On the above bullet, you'll want to know at least the basics of tourist phrases and hospitality verbiage. A non-Japanese person who has obviously tried to learn some Japanese, and isn't afraid to use it badly, will win over hearts and minds anywhere you go. Learn some Japanese, and say it proudly with an International smile!

Also, throw out everything you know about Disneyland trips in America. Tokyo Disneyland is wonderful, but they are still doing things the old-fashioned way in many parts of their operation. It can be a mix of charm and frustration if you're used to TDA's App-based ways of the past decade. But in reality, it can also be freeing to just wait in line for something good.

I appreciate all your detailed insight, so thank you! Luckily we are flying with ANA direct to Haneda.

I am definitely the cook of the family, but my partner, he's an amazing baker

We are definitely go-go-go travellers. We did Italy and London in 2018, started in Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Milan, Venice, ended in London. We know how to pack a lot in haha! I think that was a three weeks though.

 

[BrianLo]

JR Rail Pass. It sounds like you already have this nailed down, but please don't hesitate to splurge on the Green Car upgrade for any Shinkansen legs of your trip. The upgrade is a modest sum, and it makes a difference in making the journey easier and more fun. Splurge!

Unfortunately they doubled the JR passes prices coming out of COVID. Though I agree with the sentiment I liked the Green Car Splurge.

Now it's incredibly difficult to break even with the passes and you are frankly better off going al la carte. You need to take a Shinkansen basically every day to break even (Shinkansen, not a bunch of local or regional trains) and I'd never recommend such an itinerary.

The a la carte options also don't require you to waste an hour or two of your vacation trying to pick up the pass from a centralized station.

 

[BrianLo]

This is my favourite website for Japan itinerary building and things to see/do.

Japan Travel and Living Guide

Everything about modern and traditional Japan with emphasis on travel and living related information.

www.japan-guide.com

If Ghbili is important to you, the museum is impossible to get into. But the new Nara park's "grand warehouse" provides a very equivocal type of product. Complimentary if you are a nut. You'd want a ticket that lets you do the five other things like go into Howl's castle or the witch huts.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Unfortunately they doubled the JR passes prices coming out of COVID. Though I agree with the sentiment I liked the Green Car Splurge.

Now it's incredibly difficult to break even with the passes and you are frankly better off going al la carte. You need to take a Shinkansen basically every day to break even (Shinkansen, not a bunch of local or regional trains) and I'd never recommend such an itinerary.

The a la carte options also don't require you to waste an hour or two of your vacation trying to pick up the pass from a centralized station.

Yes, I had seen that. There is a calculator to determine if a pass is worth it, and it would cost us more then we'd use it.

We'd probably just buy our two Shinkansen tickets as needed, and then use Suica for the rest of our transit needs.

 

[TP2000]

Unfortunately they doubled the JR passes prices coming out of COVID. Though I agree with the sentiment I liked the Green Car Splurge.

Oh, really?! I hadn't realized that.

I had a trip to Japan planned for fall, 2020 purposely after the Olympics, but we all know how that worked out. Then I tried rescheduling it twice into 2022, but Japan still remain closed to tourists, so I gave up.

I've got hotel reservations in the fall in Osaka to attend the '25 World's Fair, but haven't pulled the cord yet on the flights. I'm torn between ANA and JAL and their various new cabin products. My last trip to Japan was on Singapore Airlines, which was phenomenal, but I need to go all-in this time and fly a Japanese carrier.

The a la carte options also don't require you to waste an hour or two of your vacation trying to pick up the pass from a centralized station.

I don't mind the a la carte thing, as I'm an avid pre-planner. I have wanted to try one of those swanky tourist trains they have, like the Seven Stars Kyushu or the Shiki Shima, but booking those from America is harder than scoring a harbor view suite at the MiraCosta!

They really don't make it easy for tourists to book those luxury trains, which I assume is on purpose to keep the obnoxious and loud foreigners out. I half don't blame them, and yet I'm very well behaved and I think I'd bring some international style and elegance to the bar car!

 

[BrianLo]

Yes, I had seen that. There is a calculator to determine if a pass is worth it, and it would cost us more then we'd use it.

We'd probably just buy our two Shinkansen tickets as needed, and then use Suica for the rest of our transit needs.

Oh pro tip. Do you have an iPhone?

Go into your wallet and buy a suica or passmo now. It's amazingly convenient, just add money to it. You don't need to even double-tap your power button like you'd pay with a credit card, literally just tap your phone on a reader whether it's on or off.

Maybe these things are obvious, but I now fall into the old fart category and my Japan knowledge was a decade out of date. This time I sort of discovered these changes along the way. I had an iPod touch the first time I went to Japan (not the phone).

One more thing for a Canadian friend, Japan is NOT cashless. It's even behind America by a mile. I never travel with cash or use cash. But you need currency in Japan- often.

 

[BrianLo]

I had a trip to Japan planned for fall, 2020 purposely after the Olympics, but we all know how that worked out. Then I tried rescheduling it twice into 2022, but Japan still remain closed to tourists, so I gave up.

I had a month long trip planned for 2020 that I had planned extensively in 2018. We all know how well that worked out!

But I finally did it this past Fall. Unfortunately I made some mistakes like buying several rail pass products, because it used to be a great deal. I just assumed and never really re-researched anything. Then I realized the error of my ways after the fact.

PS I'd also love to do those fancy rail journeys.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Oh pro tip. Do you have an iPhone?

Go into your wallet and buy a suica or passmo now. It's amazingly convenient, just add money to it. You don't need to even double-tap your power button like you'd pay with a credit card, literally just tap your phone on a reader whether it's on or off.

Maybe these things are obvious, but I now fall into the old fart category and my Japan knowledge was a decade out of date. This time I sort of discovered these changes along the way. I had an iPod touch the first time I went to Japan (not the phone).

One more thing for a Canadian friend, Japan is NOT cashless. It's even behind America by a mile. I never travel with cash or use cash. But you need currency in Japan- often.

Yes, iPhone all the way. I've already scoped out the Suica Card on our Apple Wallet transit pass section! So we will be ready to add it before our trip and add funds to it.

Also will use Airlo to get a data only esim, so we can use data.