Welcome to another post of helping a reader travel! Here are some travel tips and suggestions generated from reader comments on things to do in Tokyo, Japan.
Last week a reader wrote in asking for Japan suggestions. I was able to cover an itinerary throughout Japan, but wanted to hit on many of the major tourist spots/cities within the country as well. This will include: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and any others that are requested.
Here are some things I am sure readers will want suggestions on:
- Where to stay
- How many days to stay
- Sites to see
- Recommended restaurants
- Anything else you might think is valuable!
If you’ve ever been to Japan, specifically Tokyo, let’s help out reader Jeffrey and I am sure many other interested readers! The goal of this weekly post is to help readers get a top of travel advice from the thousands of Deals We Like readers.
Also, if you have any upcoming travel where you need some help, feel free to email me at dealswelike@gmail.com to be a featured “Help a Reader Travel†Monday special.
Check out many other destinations and comment on suggestions here.
Thanks!
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While not a destination per se, I recommend getting a PASMO card for each person. I was there earlier this year and using PASMO cards saved a lot of anxiety. They have an English-language site:
http://www.pasmo.co.jp/en/
You need to pay cash to buy & load a PASMO card.
There is also the Suica card which works similarly, but we did not try it.
(Tip: To check your balance, hold your PASMO card to a vending machine that accepts them and has a readout. The readout will show your remaining balance.)
Tokyo – very, very large and ever growing. Just look at the Tokyo Sky Tree that just opened 🙂
There are many different parts of Tokyo, and many side trips that you can take from Tokyo. One week would be my suggestion to greatly appreciate everything that Tokyo has to offer.
My suggestion for a hotel is to choose one that’s relatively close to public transit. The best hotels to stay in are the small “business hotels”, which surprisingly offer great rates, not just to Japanese travelers.
The one I stayed in last year in Tokyo – and the one my wife and I hunkered down in for a day while a typhoon blew through – was the Hotel Mystays Asakusabashi. It’s a short walk from the Japan Railways Sobu Line – one stop away from the electronics district of Akihabara, with the Shinjuku retail and transit hub further down the line. It’s also next to the Toei Asakusa Subway Line, which allows easy access to Asakusa and Tokyo Sky Tree, and Shinagawa to the south which is a perfect transfer point to the bullet train towards Kyoto and points beyond. The Toei Asakusa Line also offers commuter service to both of Tokyo’s airports, Haneda and Narita.
That particular hotel also has the benefit of a 24 hour convenience store in the lobby. Perfect for any food or snacks you might want.
My favorite places in Tokyo
– Tokyo Station, which was just renovated and has a new foreign travel desk for Japan Railways inside
– Akihabara, electronics district
– Shinjuku – world’s busiest transit hub and easy to get lost – follow the signs closely! While Tokyo Sky Tree is the big thing in Japan right now, it’s difficult for foreigners to secure advance tickets unless you get there the day of. Another option to consider is near Shinjuku – the observatories at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government skyscrapers. The observatories there are FREE.
– Shibuya – home of world’s busiest pedestrian road crossing.
On the way from Shinjuku to Shibuya is Harajuku, a trendy shopping area which is also close to Tokyo’s most important shrine, Meiji Shrine (also easy to get lost)
All of the above cities are linked by the Yamanote Line, which circles around Tokyo’s major areas.
For side trips, consider Yokohama to the south, the harbor town which also has wonderful chinese food, if you’re up for that…. and Hakone, the famous hot springs region. To the north, spend a day in Nikko, home to the shrine of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.