It all started with dreaming, “Someday, I will visit you”. Few months had passed; it still feels like a dream. After months of preparations and plans I finally made it there and it was way beyond my expectations. Travelling in a casual and unhurried manner allowed me to experience the culture, to make decisions, to do things on our own and to interact with the local people. This exploration was great; it was an amazing adventure I must say.
TOKYO, the City of Neon, the people and the commuting systems impressed me a lot and I appreciate its beauty!
Before the adventure begins, I tried not to think so much about the earthquakes, radiation, expensive costs and many other this and that which people have told me about Japan. The main thing I was considering was whether to sign up a tour package or free-and-easy. I am glad that we have made it there by our own.
Since, I was the unofficial guide and in charge of planning and doing the itinerary, I will share some of my experiences here especially for the first-time travellers to the city. The information might be not completed, you are always welcome to update me your suggestions and recommendations. Thank you :)
Honestly, just thinking about planning the 6D5N Tokyo trip already scared me because the research had been so stressful as it was my first time to travel to Japan, I had no idea how big is the city, what is the culture and also communication barrier. Therefore, I had put extra efforts to plan the itinerary to make sure everything goes well. There are so many attractions, so many food, so many day trips caught my attention. Hope you enjoy!
Flying to the Land of the Rising Sun
We took AirAsia X and had purchased the flight tickets on last year October. We managed to get the promotion price at RM850.80 included one meal, excluded AirAsia Insurance and baggage. We bought one way premium seats and return with economy seats for our parents at about thousands plus only included one meal and 25KG baggage for each of them. I think we got a very good deal for the air fares to this trip.
All the AirAsia X flights to Japan will only operate from Tokyo Haneda Airport - Internationalal Terminal (currently only Haneda to Kuala Lumpur). Check in counters for this flight is located on 3rd Floor Counter (as at May 2012).
Our flight took off at 15:00 and touched down at Haneda Airport at about 23:00 (Time in Japan). Checked in hotel at midnight, settled down everything and went to bed at 01:30.
Get into the City of Neon, Tokyo (From Haneda Aiport to Ikebukuro)
By bus
Airport Limousine Bus stops at certain places, it is the most convenient, fastest and cheapest way to get into the city saving you the time of navigating Tokyo's subway. Please take note on the schedule for the latest bus depart from Haneda Airport. The bus ticket counters are located right in front of the arrival hall.
travel hours: 55 minutes
cost: ¥1,230
reference: limousinebus.co.jp
By Train
If you are arriving at Haneda Airport before midnight, I would suggest you to go by train if you are not travelling with plenty of luggage and family because the train ride would be the best way to experience the country for the first time.
You may take Keiyu Line to Shinagawa and change to JR Yamanote Line to reach Ikebukuro.
travel hours: 42 minutes
cost: ¥650
reference: haneda-tokyo-access.com
By Car (hire a driver)
Our flight touched down at Haneda Airport at around 23:00, I did not want to take the risk rushing everywhere in the airport to get onto the public transport. Therefore, I hired a driver via online to avoid missing the last train or bus. The cost is really expensive but I think it is worth for five person. Despite having the high-speed on highway, the service was not bad, the driver was very punctual (Japanese is very particular about time, please be punctual) and they replied my email within 24 hours if you have any inquiry.
travel hours: 50 minute
cost: ¥19,000 (two ways)
car type: Toyota Hi-Ace (9 seats, 6 guests, 5 suitcases)
email: narita@airporttransfer.jpairporttransfer.jp
Getting around Tokyo (Transportation)
Tokyo is a very big city. The cost of public transportation is not cheap but their railway system is really impressive and I am very sure you will not get lost in the subway stations. I would recommend you to spend some time to study about their subways first.
Types of Subway
Tokyo's subway network is operated by two companies, Tokyo Metro Line and Toei Subway Line. Another line in Tokyo is Yamanote Line which is the most important train line connecting Tokyo's major city centers.
Tokyo Metro Line
Color
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Line
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Japanese
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Route
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orange
|
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銀座線
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Shibuya to Asakusa
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red
|
|
丸ノ内線
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Ogikubo to Ikebukuro
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Marunouchi Line Branch Line
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丸ノ内線分岐線
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Nakano-Sakaue to Hōnanchō
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silver
|
|
日比谷線
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Naka-Meguro to Kita-Senju
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sky blue
|
|
東西線
|
Nakano to Nishi-Funabashi
|
green
|
|
千代田線
|
Yoyogi-Uehara to Kita-Ayase
|
yellow
|
|
有楽町線
|
Wakōshi to Shin-Kiba
|
purple
|
|
半蔵門線
|
Shibuya to Oshiage
|
dark aqua
|
|
南北線
|
Meguro to Akabane-Iwabuchi
|
brown
|
|
副都心線
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Wakōshi to Shibuya
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Tokyo Metro Line has 9 lines as above with different colours, it is very helpful and easy to figure out on the map.
Toei Line
Color
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Line
|
Japanese
|
Route
|
rose
|
|
浅草線
|
Nishi-Magome to Oshiage
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blue
|
|
三田線
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Meguro to Nishi-Takashimadaira
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leaf green
|
|
新宿線
|
Shinjuku to Moto-Yawata
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ruby
|
|
大江戸線
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Hikarigaoka to Tochōmae via Tochōmae,
Roppongi and Ryogoku
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Toei Line owns four major lines such as Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku and Oedo Line which can bring you to many tourist attractions. The lines are also very easy to be found on the map.
JR Yamanote Line
Please take nota that JR Lines do not run 24 hours, the service is ended at 00:00 and start again around 05:00. A trip round the whole circle takes approximately one hour with JR Yamanote Line. It stops at the major centres in Tokyo such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinigawa and Tokyo.
Ticket: Economy-One-Day-Pass
If you’re covering a lot of ground within a day, daily pass will help you to save a lot. Buying ticket via machine is very easy as English language is provided. You may go to youtube to watch and learn how to buy the ticket via machine. I planned to stay in Tokyo only, so I did not get a JR pass. You should certainly get a JR pass if you plan to go to Kyoto or Osaka, it is not cheap but it is worth for the unlimited rides on the JR lines.
Type of One-Day Pass
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Tokyo One-Day Free Ticket (Tokyo Free Kippu)
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Toei Subway and Tokyo Metro Lines Common One-Day Economy Pass (Ichinichi Josha Ken)
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Toei One Day-Economy Pass (Toei Marugoto Kippu)
|
Ticket
|
|
|
|
Available on
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· Toei Subway Line
· Tokyo Metro Line
· JR East Trains within Tokyo's 23 wards.
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· Toei Subway Line
· Tokyo Metro Line
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· Toei Subway Line
|
Fares (1 pax)
|
¥1,580
|
¥ 1,000
|
¥ 700
|
reference:
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My Experiences and Thoughts of Japan's Railway Systems
Tokyo has the busiest subway system in the world. The railway-route-map really confused me at first, but I slowly had a better understanding about their railways after spending some time on the map. I must say that their railway system really impressed me a lot. Here are my observations:-
All the stations I have been to including trains are super clean, you will find no litter. What surprised me is, there is no any trash bin.
It is pretty safe to take the subway in Tokyo, I had never worried about getting pick pocketed.
When I travelled on working days, I noticed that was a sea of black or dark blue suits on both working men and women just like man in black! And they walked really fast !
The subway was quite packed during the rush hours in the morning at between 07:00 - 08:00. I witnessed the people outside were being pushed by the worker onto the train when the doors are difficult to shut. In big stations like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, there are few pushers whose duties are to push people on the train during the rush hours in the morning and evening. Just before the train departs, they will greet everyone ended with a 90 degree bow, when the trains arrived, if any passengers are trapped, they go to push them. It happened too quickly, I did not manage to take a video or photo.
Surprisingly, I saw many of them are still using flip phones instead of smartphones.
The trains have electronic readouts in both Japanese and English that showed what stop you are currently and what is the next stop. The subway stations have numbers which are very helpful for us as we would know automatically how many stops to get to our destination.
- Most of the big stations like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro have quite a numbers of entrances and exits, where you can get really confusing. Don't worry, they have very clear signs board leading you from the platforms and to the exits/ entrances/ lines. In the event that you did not manage to find the way, you just have to bring your ticket and map to the station staff and they will guide you.
Some of the subway stations are really deep down, we had taken several very tall escalators to get up to the ground level.
Accommodations
Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro (サクラホテル池袋)
address: Toshima-ku Ikebukuro 2-40-7, Toshima Ward Tokyo, 171-0014, Japan
contact: +81339712237
room type: One (1) Standard Double Room with Extra Bed & One (1) Standard Double Room
cost: For the two (2) room stated above for five (5) guests, four (4) nights = ¥41,040, exclude breakfast.
email: info@sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com
reference: http://www.sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/
This hotel is very tourist-oriented, targeted to the non-domestic traveller, yet offers great value for money. Rooms are small like any other budget hotels in Japan, but very clean and tidy. The location is great and close to Ikebukuro station, and many shopping malls and eating spots. Supermarket is just around the corner (you'll have to ask reception for the location, it's not so obvious). The staffs can speak very well in English, they were very friendly and attentive. You may ask the staff to show directions and give ideas and advices on your itinerary. Overall, we were very satisfied with our stay, considering this is a budget hotel.
Tokyo attractions to be continued on next post ... stay tuned!
Do click and open the link below, enjoy this short video captured and done by my younger sister; please watch in 720P or 1080P. Thank you :)
