Finally Going to Japan!

[Stanton]

You also mentioned spending your first night in Tokyo at "full tilt." Assuming you're not jetlagged, I would not wander too far from your hotel, as there's plenty to see around Shinjuku. If you've never been there, Japan is quite a culture shock and even little things like figuring out how to buy a transport card take a bit of time, much less navigating your way around such a densely packed environment. It really brings you out of your comfort zone to be thrust into an environment where you can't read most of the signage, but you'll be glad you experienced it.

We had to "crash" the second full day we were there (in Tokyo Disney). Luckily our hotel was literally connected to the park. We started out the second day OK (this is after 2 nights worth of sleep) and after lunch we just couldn't stay awake anymore; we slept, went back into the park for the rest of the night...and slept again. We were pretty much OK the rest of the trip (cruise), although I took naps occasionally (it was vacation after all).
Also, we paid for a cab on one of the legs (I think it was back to the terminal) just to avoid getting lost with luggage in tow. And take some cash with you to get started (like $50 worth); you can always hit an ATM in country when you need more. Having said that, we used very little cash (almost all CC transactions). Oh, and don't forget to notify the CC companies (and bank) what countries you'll be in before you actually get there.

[Jedlacks]

It's hard to add to the suggestions already given, because you do not have much time. There is too much to do, but avoid all restaurants that have less than 10 seats and are in the basements in Tokyo. My wife, son and I spent a little less than US$400 on appetizers one night. Also, start thinking about your next trip there.

One more thing, your American cell phone carrier may not work there, so check it out before you go. I usually order a sim card to the hotel before I get there, and I also use wifi messaging and calling.

[cwerdna]

When I was there I met up with cwerdna for the Tokyo Motor Show and he's been to Japan a few times, I'm sure he'll have other tips as well.

Indeed. I saw this thread last night but I’ve been way too busy and too tired to chime in.

I’ve been to Japan 5x and each of them has included some time in Tokyo. Last time, I went flew to Nagasaki and took trains from there back towards Nagoya then Tokyo, sightseeing along the way (e.g. “Battleship Island”, Fukuoka, Beppu, Miyajima, Kobe, Osaka, Himeji Castle, Nagoya, etc.) ending in Tokyo, including at least 2 days at Tokyo Motor Show.

Will try to chime in this weekend.

I love Japan and have been considering going again near the end of this year for Tokyo Motor Show again + other sightseeing. Not sure what the latter will be, yet.

[91040]

mwalsh- You could come to the Santa Ana meeting tomorrow if you want info on Tokyo.

[mwalsh]

mwalsh- You could come to the Santa Ana meeting tomorrow if you want info on Tokyo.

Sorry, man, working some consulting hours today. That was the deal with the wife - if I took the consulting work over these last two weekends I could blow the extra income on a nice vacay.

We're not going until next spring, so plenty of time to connect. I was just all excited about getting our flight to NRT squared away the other day. Don't tell Mrs. W. if you should happen to see her between now and then, but I splurged on JAL First Class as a birthday/anniversary treat for her (not a massive extravagance because I paid with points - it only cost $148 cash). She's only going to find out when I walk us up to the First check-in counter on the day. She's never flown First before, and I think everyone should at least once in their lifetime, so I'm rather hoping the JAL product will be quite special, particularly as there are only 8 seats in the F cabin (versus 14 in the typical British Airways long-haul cabin).

[cwerdna]

We're not going until next spring, so plenty of time to connect.

So, spring of 2018, right?

If so, ok... .whew, I'll have plenty of time to write up some tips.

[mwalsh]

Planning now includes having chosen a hotel for the four nights in Tokyo and transportation from the airport - we're going to be staying a the Hotel Century Southern Tower in Shinjuku and getting to the hotel from NRT on the Limousine Bus. I really wanted to take the cool N'EX train, but we'll have so much luggage that I'll pretty much have to porter by myself (Naomi really can't be of any help), that I think the train would just be too difficult.

I think I said in an earlier post that I was originally interested in the Hotel Sunroute Plaza but it turns out that they have no English programming on the TV. So for my wife's sake we're going with the HCST which offers BBC and CNN in English (and has slightly bigger rooms).

I was also somewhat interested in the JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom, but my wife doesn't like the idea of having to trek the luggage around the corner from the Sunroute Plaza (where the Limousine Bus stops), even though it's not really any distance.

[RonDawg]

N'EX is a cool-looking train from the outside, but on the inside it's just like any other train. It doesn't run at the high speeds of the shinkansen (bullet train) either. Most of its speed comes from the fact that it makes relatively few stops.

[cwerdna]

N'EX is a cool-looking train from the outside, but on the inside it's just like any other train. It doesn't run at the high speeds of the shinkansen (bullet train) either. Most of its speed comes from the fact that it makes relatively few stops.

On the note of cool looking trains, my favorite is the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/500_Series_Shinkansen. Another pic at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JRW- ... Himeji.jpg.

Unfortunately, if the Wikipedia entries are right, the numbers of active 500-series will only decline. I saw lots of lots https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N700_Series_Shinkansen and I think some of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/700_Series_Shinkansen when I was there almost 2 years ago. I'm pretty sure I rode https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_Series_Shinkansen on my trip in 2001 and none are in-service anymore.

I can definitely say their tunnel boom reduction work done on the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/700_Series_Shinkansen worked, and I guess the N700 also incorporates it. On my early trips to Japan (first in 2001), I distinctly remember hearing and feeling the tunnel boom upon entry and exit. It's much less pronounced on the newer trains.

[Glover]

Japan is a wonderful country. There are very friendly people. I dream to visit there