First time to Tokyo
Mar 7, 2012 | 4:27 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 12
Have you considered the JR Rail Pass? You do not mention how you are getting from NRT/HND to Hakone, to Kyoto, etc, but the Shinkansen tickets add up fast and facilitate day-tripping to Kyoto from Osaka or Kobe. Thus you would also have a run of most rail in Tokyo and Osaka as well as the NeX and maybe bypass the need for a flight from Osaka back to Tokyo (which is not all that convenient relative to the train). The only thing you would not get is the private line to Nara.
will be renting a car to go to Hakone. I have not decided on how to go to Kyoto though.
Mar 7, 2012 | 8:34 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I was also once on a bus that took 3 hours to make it the approximately 50 miles from Narita Airport to Yokohama.
Long-term residents may find it advantageous to rent a car in certain circumstances, but the train system is so fast, efficient, and comprehensive that it seems like a waste for a short-term tourist to rent a car.
You have two options for going to Hakone by train: 1) Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara and then buy the Hakone Free Pass, which gives you access to the train, buses, funicular, the boat and aerial tramway, 2) The "Romance Car" train from Odakyu-Shinjuku (adjacent to JR Shinjuku) with the Hakone Free Pass.
If you have a reservation at an inn that is not on the standard tourist route, you can always find a bus or even a cab (I've seen cabs in the most out-of-the-way places) to take you there. Print out the inn's Japanese-language web page to show to the driver.
Mar 7, 2012 | 3:21 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 21,780
While I agree that getting out of Tokyo in a car can be a nightmare, I also think that having a car can enhance your Hakone experience, as there are a lot of attractions that are not easily accessible by train, and the buses can be cumbersome. So maybe head to Odawara by train and rent a car from there?
Mar 8, 2012 | 7:41 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 12
Have you considered the JR Rail Pass? You do not mention how you are getting from NRT/HND to Hakone, to Kyoto, etc, but the Shinkansen tickets add up fast and facilitate day-tripping to Kyoto from Osaka or Kobe. Thus you would also have a run of most rail in Tokyo and Osaka as well as the NeX and maybe bypass the need for a flight from Osaka back to Tokyo (which is not all that convenient relative to the train). The only thing you would not get is the private line to Nara.
Shinkansen to Kyoto. We have made Kyoto as our base.
And a flight back to Tokyo
Mar 8, 2012 | 7:44 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 12
Going to Hakone by car is a bad idea unless you are familiar with driving on the left and really want to experience the often horrendous traffic on the way out of Tokyo. I was once on a bus to Tsukuba (since replaced by a train) that took over an hour to get out of Tokyo at 10AM on a weekday morning. It was stop-and-go until we reached the outer suburbs. Tsukuba is only 50 kilometers from Tokyo, and over half the trip was struggling through Tokyo traffic.
I was also once on a bus that took 3 hours to make it the approximately 50 miles from Narita Airport to Yokohama.
Long-term residents may find it advantageous to rent a car in certain circumstances, but the train system is so fast, efficient, and comprehensive that it seems like a waste for a short-term tourist to rent a car.
You have two options for going to Hakone by train: 1) Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara and then buy the Hakone Free Pass, which gives you access to the train, buses, funicular, the boat and aerial tramway, 2) The "Romance Car" train from Odakyu-Shinjuku (adjacent to JR Shinjuku) with the Hakone Free Pass.
If you have a reservation at an inn that is not on the standard tourist route, you can always find a bus or even a cab (I've seen cabs in the most out-of-the-way places) to take you there. Print out the inn's Japanese-language web page to show to the driver.
I was also once on a bus that took 3 hours to make it the approximately 50 miles from Narita Airport to Yokohama.
Long-term residents may find it advantageous to rent a car in certain circumstances, but the train system is so fast, efficient, and comprehensive that it seems like a waste for a short-term tourist to rent a car.
You have two options for going to Hakone by train: 1) Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Odawara and then buy the Hakone Free Pass, which gives you access to the train, buses, funicular, the boat and aerial tramway, 2) The "Romance Car" train from Odakyu-Shinjuku (adjacent to JR Shinjuku) with the Hakone Free Pass.
If you have a reservation at an inn that is not on the standard tourist route, you can always find a bus or even a cab (I've seen cabs in the most out-of-the-way places) to take you there. Print out the inn's Japanese-language web page to show to the driver.
Yes, I drive on the left side.
I think we're getting the Hakone Free Pass too, I'm not too sure though. My partner is planning on that.
Mar 9, 2012 | 12:10 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SUV
Programs: UA *G MM
Posts: 7,216
In the interest of providing an opposing viewpoint, here are three areas of Yokohama that I think are worth leaving Tokyo to check out:
And if you want to check out a baseball game, you'll probably find much better seats available in Yokohama Stadium than in the Tokyo Dome.
And if you want to check out a baseball game, you'll probably find much better seats available in Yokohama Stadium than in the Tokyo Dome.