I'm going to Japan :)

[Carrie_Cat]

I know that this isn't the TDL and TDS board but I'm looking for European input and hopefully some DLP fans can help me out.

We have our flights and are going this November for 12 nights

We thought 4 days at the parks including our last day as our flight isn't until night (22.50).

We are going to USJ 1 day for Harry Potter and OH wants to do the rides. We will do this as a side trip from Kyoto where we will spend a couple of days.

The rest of the time would be Tokyo with a day trip to Nikko.

I know that Elstoleno has been and I've read and booked marked your blog.

Is there anybody else ? I'm after a budget view point essentially as we have 2500€ now we have the flights and insurance

So excited http://www.disboards.com/members/elstoleno.291991/

 

[Ware Bears]

Loladelorean went last year - I'd bookmarked the below thread so I could read both her trip report and elstoleno's blog ..... which I still haven't done *sigh*

http://www.disboards.com/threads/ju...trip-to-tokyo-comparisons-with-paris.3449175/

 

[Ware Bears]

And forgot to say that though I'm very excited for you, I'm also very envious!

 

[DLPdaft]

i have no advice to give Carrie, but I'm very excited for you, enjoy!!!!

 

[tennisfan]

Very jealous, Japan is a place I have always wanted to visit

 

[elstoleno]

Enjoy! I'm going back in September so keep an eye on my blog then too ^_^

Send me a message if you need any help planning your trip - but be aware, someone asked me on Twitter for a little bit of advice and my reply took 25min of continuous typing :') I think I may have over-helped! haha

Mind - money wise we took around £3200 between us and came back with £75 worth in coins, and €800 worth (theres a currency stall in Narita so if you've got anything left over and are going on another holiday, exchange it there for a better rate ^_^). We spent around 4 hours in the UFO machine arcades one night though so we did waste quite a bit of money :')

 

[elstoleno]

Oh another point! If you haven't booked your hotel yet, most hotels don't require payment until check in/out so you can book it now, but remember to keep money aside to pay for the hotel

We stayed in the Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro in Tokyo, in a superior room - about €87 per night. 5min walk from Ikebukuro Station - which I think is the second biggest station in Japan so you're sorted for rail links - the Narita Express goes there but not that often so we stay at Hotel Sunny for our last night near Nippori Station, but if you're in Disney your last day you won't need that ^_^

We stayed at the MyStays Maihama for our Disney days but we're hoping to get a Donald Room at the Ambassador this year

 

[DLPDreams]

No advice but just wanted to say 'wow' - I am very envious. What a great experience.

I know it's not the same but we visited Universal in Orlando last summer as part of our stay and we were all blown away by the 'Wizarding World of Harry Potter' - the details are incredible and it just feels so magical walking around. In fact, I think we all preferred it to WDW if I'm honest!

Good luck with your planning.

 

[loladelorean]

Carrie, I went in September as you know and it was every bit as amazing as I hoped it would be! I've replied to your PM but happy to answer any more questions you might have as you get further into your planning.

Word of warning - Universal Studios was the busiest park I've ever experienced and although we went on an average Tuesday we barely got on any rides. The Harry Potter land is sheer madness - a stampede to get a time ticket in the morning so you can go back later, but we decided against the 4+ hour queue for the main ride and didn't get on it. Glad we went and that we saw it, but prepare for the worst crowds of your life! The Disney parks were also busy but so much better organised, and incredibly spacious so it didn't feel stressful.

 

[netimka]

Congrats Carrie and enjoy your planing and tip in Japan...

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Thank you everyone

Right well after reading Rachel and Lisa's posts and blogs and everything else it's all becoming a bit clearer and a plan is starting to form

I booked the 1st night (we arrive in the evening, so at the airport) and the last 4 nights at Disney (chose the Mystays Maihama).

1st day we will get the train straight to Kyoto and do that part first, then come up to Tokyo and then on to TDR at the end

From Kyoto we will visit USJ, and Nara and then on the coast maybe Kanazawa but tbd

Back up to Tokyo will visit Kamakura and Nikko

Will have the 7 day rail pass for the 1st week and after that we will be in Tokyo with a Pasmo card and then in Disney

Did anybody use the tax-free on their purchases as it seems a low amount and easy to do - I read 10,001 for clothing etc and 5001 for food and beauty products ? http://tax-freeshop.jnto.go.jp/eng/shopping-guide.php

It's become a bit more real

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Can't help at all I'm afraid but just wanted to wish a you a wonderful trip and happy planning!

 

[elstoleno]

oo I do love it when trip plans start to form! ^_^

The MyStays Maihama is really nice so i'm sure you'll like it
I don't know if it was just us getting lost in our train station or what, but it took us about three hours to get our rail pass all set up (a lot of queuing up in the wrong places!) so plan on it taking a little while. And if you go over to Hyperdia.com you'll be able to plan all your shinkansen journeys, then once you get your rail pass go to the reservation office and you can reserve your seats on those trains

 

[Shumshine]

I've not been to TDL, but we went to Japan last year.
I agree with your schedule and using the 7-Day Rail Pass--> Read the map for the arrival airport - there are a bunch of signs and I found it was easy to locate the office.

Definitely check out Hyperdia.com -> Super helpfully, and the ticket office is really great to book seats in advance.

Here are a couple of suggestions:
1) Bring lots of CASH, as CASH is king and CC are only used in bigger department stores
2) Download Google Translate App (Offline version)
3) Try booking AirBnB for USJ around Kyoto. (visit the bamboo forests)
4) Try to avoid bring in prescription drugs - they have a VERY VERY strict immigration card

Have a great time, eat lots of Ramen (buy the tickets at the machine), and Japanese citizens are ALWAYS really helpful.