Please Help On My First Trip to Japan
 

This is my first time to Japan and I am travelling 2 people (me and my mom), travelling from March 31 – April 6. I have some questions that I still confused about. Really appreciate your help/thoughts/advice:

1. My flight will arrive in HND around 5 a.m., after immigration I think we will be out by 5:30 am. Planning to go straight to Hakone. Will spend 2 days 1 nights in Hakone, I heard there is Hakone Day Pass, is it worth it? Our hotel is in Hakone-Yumoto station for March 31.
How to get from HND airport to Hakone Yumoto station by train? which line (JR, Odakyu, etc) and how much does it cost? can we pre-purchase it in the states?

2. If we buy Suica card at the station, can we use credit-card like Sapphire Preferred or Barclay Arrival to load it? And can we use Suica card in Hokkaido too, especially in Sapporo and Hakodate?

Since it’s less than 7 days, we are hesitating to buy JR Pass since it cost around $250 at current currency conversion. And we heard we cannot use JR Pass in Hakone since it’s mostly run by Odakyu. We only in Tokyo for a night , then fly to Sapporo by plane. From Sapporo we will go to Hakodate (I check it’s by JR Hokuto express line). I heard most stores/restaurant in Japan don’t accept credit cards. So if we can buy Suica and load with miles/points earning credit cards, that would be better. Otherwise, we can to buy JR Pass in USA first by using credit cards so can use unlimited ride in Hokkaido only, but we only stay in Hokkaido for 4 days so maybe not really maximize the value of JR Pass, only use it for maybe Shinkansen from Tokyo to Odawara before using Odakyu line for Hakone trip, and then use it in Hokkaido, and then for HND - NRT transfer including Keisei Skyliner, so not sure about going this way…please advise.

3. Can we pay by credit cards if we buy something at konbini (convenience stores like 7-11, Lawson) and eat at ramen or sushi restaurant?

If you are not spending any time in or around Tokyo, I don't know how much benefit you would get from a Suica card. You won't be able to use it on Hokkaido.

JR Hokkaido has a 3-day or a 5-day Rail Pass that might be of benefit to you. http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/...ss/rail01.html

Many hotels and restaurants and most stores will accept credit cards. That said, I highly recommend getting some cash at HND upon arrival. The ATMs have the best exchange rate but you can also exchange cash at the exchange windows if that won't work for whatever reason. It is perfectly safe to carry cash in Japan and it makes things much easier, using vending machines, making small purchases and paying entrance fees at various attractions. Most temples, museums, castles and such will have a small fee of a few hundred yen. Those typically won't take cards. Likewise, little mom and pop restaurants will probably prefer cash payment. You shouldn't need a lot of cash but even a few thousand yen will come in handy.

Have you seriously considered your visit plans? You are arriving at the start of cherry blossom season and places like Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and even Tokyo will be ablaze in beautiful color. Hokkaido, on the other hand, will still be in the early spring thaw and not nearly so pretty. The best time to visit Hokkaido is May-October or during the dead of winter for the snow festival.

I don't waste time in Hakone so will let others address your questions about that. Likewise transport between HND and NRT. It shouldn't be a problem but my first-hand experience does not include that link.

The Hakone day pass is worth getting because there's a standard tourist circuit of (if I remember correctly) train, bus, aerial tramway, funicular, and bus again for getting around the park.

I, too, wonder why you are going to Hokkaido in April unless there are some people you want to visit. It may be hard to find hotel accommodations in Kyoto during cherry blossom season, but not in Tokyo, and you can see cherry blossoms in Ueno Park and along the Sotobori (the canal south of the Imperial Palace that used to be a defensive moat), as well as in other places.

Thanks for your help. Since this is my first time to Japan, I didnt know that hokkaido is not in full blooming of cherry blossom yet. The reason we go to hakone is because I'm traveling with mom and usually elderly people don't like shopping or metropolitan city but they like to see nature. Hakone is famous for hot springs and we hope we can see Mt. Fuji. Does Sakura also blooming in hakone area since it's not too far from Tokyo and you said at that time the Sakura will be full bloom in Tokyo and Kyoto and hakone is in the middle of both.
Also hokkaido... We plan to go hakodate and sapporo, hakodate for the famous night view and morning market where we can eat fresh seafood. There is also a famous Park called goryokaku there where people always see Sakura blooming but as you said by the time I'm there it would not blooming yet so I guess we will miss it.
So here are my plan so far :
3/31 arrive HND, go to hakone, stay one night.
4/1 hakone half day, then go back to Tokyo, explore Tokyo a bit at night, stay one night in a Sakura.
4/2-3 fly to hokkaido(used miles for free flights) , take train to hakodate, stay 2 nights (use hotel points for free stay).
4/4-6 sapporo. Then fly to Tokyo(used miles for flight).
4/6 go home.

Thinking of canceling my hakone trip and go to Kyoto instead.. But wonder if can find standard award availability in the hotel so I can use points... I have hilton, choice, and Marriott points. Not sure have to pay penalty if canceling my booking in hostelworld.com.... Have to check the cancelation rule again but before that want to ask your advice if it's worth it to go to Kyoto on Sakura season since the crowd will be super crazy....
Any advice and thoughts on my itinerary above are greatly appreciated.

I doubt you will find any rooms in Kyoto at this late date and I don't really think it is worth it for only 1 day. Hakone is probably fine for what you want although I have no idea what the blossoming schedule there might be. It is sort of "between" Tokyo and Kyoto but is a little higher in elevation. I think the blossoms will depend on how warm it is during March. Just have to wait and see. If you were to cancel that 1 night, I'd say you'd be better off to stay in Tokyo and see the sakura there rather than go all the way to Kyoto for only 1 night. Plus, there is the expense of the shinkansen bullet train that would not be covered by any pass. For such a short visit with most spent on Hokkaido, you are better off to stay closer to Tokyo. Hakone is pretty close.

I hope you plan to see more of Hakodate than just the night view at the top of the tram and the old fortress. The waterfront is beautiful and interesting and the morning market right next door is fascinating. There are several little places at the market where you can get a fresh seafood breakfast at a very reasonable price if you get there early. I was there between 6 and 7 each morning and had cafe owners come out to tempt me to come in to their place every day. Fresh crab, roe or uni over rice with a side of miso soup and pickles may not seem like "breakfast" to many westerners but I have to admit I was in heaven.

The Hakodate JR Station is the most beautiful I have seen anywhere in Japan. Of historical and cultural interest, Hakodate has many 100+ year-old colonial buildings left that have been well maintained, including some beautiful, well preserved 19th century churches and public buildings. The Museum of the Northern Peoples has a wonderful display of Ainu artifacts and examples of their culture. Any good guidebook or wiki entry on Hakodate will give you many more things to see and do than you will have time for. The same is true of Sapporo, although it is a much larger and more modern city. There is a tram to a mountaintop there as well for nice views, a wonderful walking park/arcade and a very nice botanical garden, just to list a few.

EDIT:

Hakodate Station (late September)

http://jfrader.smugmug.com/Travel/Ho.../DSC1768-M.jpg


Hakodate waterfront.

http://jfrader.smugmug.com/Travel/Ho.../DSC1676-M.jpg


Hakodate harbor.

http://jfrader.smugmug.com/Travel/Ho.../DSC1746-M.jpg

Thank you so much for your help and it's always nice to know fellow traveler who loves Japan. The last 2 pictures of hakodate waterfront and harbor are very nice, I feel it's similar to the pier in my hometown San Francisco. Not sure what to do around that area since it's similar to my hometown (SF). Probably a walk or stroll but sailing the harbor maybe will be expensive.
Can you please let me know the name of the nice botanical garden in sapporo and tram to mountaintop? I want to go there. Also the museum of Northern people.
I love seafood so will definitely check the morning market, is it different if you go there super early in the morning verse in the afternoon?
You are right, maybe will stay in Tokyo area if I can hakone trip. The great place to see Sakura blossom in Tokyo is ueno Park, isn't it? Any other great place? My hostel is around asakusa area.

You know, you will enjoy your trip more if you do at least some of this research yourself.

The tram I mentioned is the ropeway to the top of Mt. Moiwa. The botanical garden is owned by Hokkaido University and is right next door. Most fish oriented markets in Japan are really only open in the mornings. They are there to sell the day's catch to locals. You might find some of the stores open in the afternoon but most of the crab, fish and such will be gone. Those little, local markets are always called "morning market." They aren't like Fisherman's Wharf in SF, that is an all day tourist trap.

Here is a pretty good guide to Sapporo that will help you with the above and a lot more:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2163.html

And one to Hakodate:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5350.html

The Museum of Northern Peoples is just off the main streetcar line in Hakodate, near the Suehirocho stop:

http://www.hakodate.travel/en/things...thern-peoples/

As for sakura in Tokyo, if they are in bloom, you should find plenty in and around Asakusa. Senso-ji temple has some as does the riverside park. Ueno is only 2 stops away on the subway and Ueno Park is quite near the station. Aside from cherry trees, Ueno Park has the National Museum, which is worth a visit.

Another, interesting way to see the sakura from Asakusa is to take the water taxi down to Hama Rikyu Imperial Garden. This is my favorite viewing place. The last time I visited during sakura season, the place was awash in pink and very beautiful. From Hama Rikyu, you can walk to Tsukiji Market or Ginza - or just buy the round-trip ticket and return to Asakusa when you are finished. I don't know your mom but can almost guarantee she would love it.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

I couldn't work out how to load a suica card with a credit card, the machine I used took cash only. It may be possible, perhaps one of our frequent visitors / residents can chime in? IMO you will need some cash too - I found that not everywhere took credit cards / suica.

Yes, I always start by getting about US$100 worth of cash from a Citibank or 7/11 ATM to pay for miscellaneous expenses. Small restaurants and souveniro shops are particularly unlikely to take credit cards.

Loading your Suica with a credit card isn't possible from the station ticket machines. Those are cash only.

However, both Suica/Pasmo offer an auto-recharge service targeted towards regular users/commuters, where say your balance falls bellow 1,000 yen, then simply tapping it at the ticket gates it'll automatically top it up. I don't know all the details but believe you can only link Japanese credit cards for this purpose.

I think Hakone's wonderful and it'll actually work well into your schedule on the day of arrival. If you're not going to do the hot springs up in Hokkaido, then Hakone will give you a good chance to enjoy it. En route, you can get a taste of the bullet train from Shinagawa to Odawara. After accounting for the time to drop off your bags at the hotel and a bite somewhere, you'll probably get to the Open Air Museum right around opening time. See that, then lunch and then take the ropeway up to Owakudani (potentially a great viewing spot for Mt.Fuji) and by then it's getting close to check-in time and you're probably getting really tired from jetlag. Next day, forget about the so-called Hakone loop. Just go straight to Tokyo upon check-out. There's a lot to see in Tokyo.

Canning Hakone and instead staying the first two nights in Tokyo will work just as well. I would definitely do that if you're doing hot springs in Hokkaido or if hot spring is not a big agenda for you. There's just so much to see/do/eat in Tokyo.

Agree with abmj-jr... not worth trekking all the way to Kyoto for that purpose/timeframe.

The Hakone loop is something I recommend to visitors for whom covering long distances by foot is a concern or a problem, that might include those with young children and/or elderly relatives.

If your companion isn't particularly energetic but likes to sit and see changing scenery and have the chance to exchange a few words with a succession of fellow visitors (mostly Japanese tourists), then the Hakone loop is ideal. Unchallenging and restful yet gives the feeling you have been very active.

Thanks...so that's mean no hope for US credit card holders like us :(
Or...alternative is buy the 7 days JR Rail Pass which allow you to use JR train including Shinkansen in all Japan. Buy from local travel agent in US like JTB and pay with Arrival Plus credit card, then MS the card thru RB load or something like that and redeem the arrival plus' points to waive the cost of that JR Rail Pass....what do you think, is it good option?

This is a great idea! I agree with this and am really interested to get the Hokkaido Rail Pass! Thinking of getting the 3 or 5 days pass. Can I pre-purchase it in USA through travel agency here like JTB and pay with credit card? or it has to be ordered thru online or in midorimadoguchi in Japan?

You should be able to get it from any travel agent that specializes in Japan. I use TTA and have them send it to me by mail but if there is a JTB office near you they can do it.

The JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is one you can also purchase after arriving in Japan, unlike the country-wide Passes. Whichever is easier.

Here is a link about how to purchase the Hokkaido Rail Pass:

http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/...ss/rail02.html