Accommodations – Jet-Set Japan

Ikebukuro – Part 1

January 9, 2019January 9, 2019Accommodations, FAQ, Food and Drink, Shopping, Trains, Shinkansen, TransportationLeave a Comment

For the first leg, second part of their first leg, Brandon and his friends stayed in Ikebukuro.

Ikebukuro is located kind of in the north part of Tokyo’s 23 special wards. It doesn’t have the greatest access to and from airports for first-timers with luggage, but it is quite conveniently located for travel to other parts of Tokyo: Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, etc.

Here’s some info about Ikebukuro (based on a template we created in our Recommended Areas to Stay in Tokyo post.

The thumbs up and thumbs down in the access to/from Haneda and Narita is based on whether or not a first-time traveler with luggage would have to change trains. If you are comfortable with the transportation system in Japan, changing trains once or twice might not be too much of a burden, depending on which station you are transferring at, of course.

As for shopping, Seibu Department Store, Lumine Department Store, Tobu Department Store, Parco, Sunshine City are a few major places people go shopping.

For those who want to eat and drink the night away, Ikebukuro has no shortage of places, including a lot of authentic Chinese restaurants near the station’s west gate.

Here is an update version of the “Recommended Areas to Stay in Tokyo” table.

Our next post will be about Sunshine City!

Recommended Areas to Stay in Tokyo

July 27, 2018November 19, 2018Accommodations, FAQ, Trains, Shinkansen, TransportationLeave a Comment

Happy Aloha Friday!

First-time travelers to Tokyo, maybe even those who have traveled to Tokyo a couple times, might not be sure which area they should set as their base camp. Depending on the type of experience you’re searching for, your travel itinerary, and, of course, your wallet.

Here is a list, in no particular order, of train stations that we recommend to stay near when you visit Tokyo. The list is an image, and there is a lot of info. So, click on the image for high-resolution or you can download the image.

In a nut shell, we recommend the following areas: Shinagawa, Shimbashi, Tokyo (Station), Ginza, Akasaka, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ueno. Each area has its own characteristics which appeal to different people. For example, Shinagawa, Shimbashi, and Tokyo are extremely convenient areas because of their access to different train lines, and all three have an image of being major hubs for business people. If you compare the three, Shimbashi has the strongest image of drinking; Tokyo has the most elegance; Shinagawa might actually be low-key compared to the other two.

Akasaka is not a major hub for business people, but there are a lot of companies, government institutions, etc. in the area, so streets in evening will be full with people looking for a place to drink.

Ginza, like Roppongi, Aoyama, Omotesando, is considered to be a high-class area. But even in these areas, there’s always reasonable and quality places to shop and dine.

Shinjuku and Shibuya are geographically next to each other in Tokyo, but Shibuya has an image suited more towards the younger generation (not saying that Shinjuku is for older people). Both areas have a lot of shopping, eating, drinking options, but a lot of visitors to Tokyo are attracted to Shibuya’s “scramble crossing”.

Ueno is located in Tokyo’s shitamachi (old downtown) area, so the atmosphere is different to other areas of Tokyo mentioned above. Ueno is close to Asakusa, and Asakusa has a nice “nostalgic” feel with its shopping arcades.

For more detailed information, check out the list above!

Planning a Trip to Japan ー Booking Flights, Accommodations, and Transportation

June 20, 2018July 25, 2018Accommodations, Booking Flights, FAQ, Trains, Shinkansen, TransportationLeave a Comment

Booking Flights

Prices for flights to Japan from Hawaii range from $650 to about $1000. However, if you travel on off-days, like Tuesday or Thursday, ticket prices are generally cheaper. So, if you are able to fly on a weekday, you can find some great deals.

We usually use Hawaiian Airlines because we fly out from Hilo, so we have to stop over in Honolulu to catch a flight to Japan. For those of you on the Big Island and you use Kona International Airport, Hawaiian Airlines has direct flights from Kona to Tokyo International Airport, which is commonly known as Haneda Airport.

Another important thing for travelers going to Tokyo, there are two major possible airports you can use: Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport). Narita International Airport is located in Chiba Prefecture, which is located next to Tokyo, but it is about 60-90 minutes away from central areas in Tokyo. Tokyo International Airport is located in Tokyo Bay, and you can take a direct train to Shinagawa, which is a major hub in Tokyo. So, depending where you are staying in Tokyo, we strongly recommend looking at how far you will have to travel from the airport to your hotel.

One last tip, which is connected to the next section about transportation. For example, you want to visit both Tokyo and Osaka in the same trip. How would you book your flights? We would recommend flying into Haneda Airport so you can check out Tokyo. Next, you would take a shinkansen (bullet train) to Osaka so you can do some sightseeing there. Lastly, you can fly out of Kansai International Airport, which is located near Osaka and also accessible directly from Kyoto. Flying into Kansai International Airport, and then flying out of Haneda Airport is another option as well.

Transportation (An Introduction)

Traveling to different parts of Japan when you are visiting might seem complicated, but once you understand how the system works, there’s no limit to where you can go. We will explain this topic in more detail in a future post, but there are rail passes, like the JR Rail Pass, which you can use to ride shinkansen that will take you across the country in a matter of hours.

Accommodations

Japan has a ton of options when it comes to accommodations. You can stay at a capsule hotel, where you can sleep in a small tube, or 5-star hotels. Capsule hotels are usually around $30-$50 a night, and 5-star hotels start at about $500 a night. We have found 4-star hotels for $150-$200 a night on weekdays when we are lucky to find this deal. So if you have already bought your tickets, and you are still looking for accommodations, keep doing your research! You might find a great hotel in a convenient area for an awesome deal!

Regarding the size of rooms, hotel rooms in Japan are generally small, about 200 sq. ft. So, it would be best to expect to have a smaller room.

Also, prices for hotels will vary depending on distance from a train station and also where the hotel is located. As mentioned above, if you land in Haneda Airport and want to stay near Shinagawa Station, which has direct access to Haneda Airport and is also a station where the shinkansen stops, prices will more than likely be a little higher. Taking all of this into consideration, we usually book a hotel that is in the $100-range and is also a 5-minute walk to the nearest train station.

Business hotels are another interesting option. Business hotel rooms are extremely small. You have a small desk, a small refrigerator under the desk, a TV on the desk, and your bed right next to the desk. So, if you have more than 2 suitcases, there’s almost no room to walk. However, if you are on a tight budget, prices per night at business hotels usually run under $100. We like business hotels because we explore all day and party hard in to the night! We only need a place for our luggage, take a shower, and to sleep.

If you really want a Japanese experience, you can stay at a ryokan (Japanese-style inn) that has an onsen (hot springs). The featured image is of a dinner at a ryokan, and it was ono!