Tourist attractions in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo

[kmedina]

I'm planning a 3-leg trip to the Asian Disneyland parks in 2023. I'd love advice on what attractions to visit in each city. In Tokyo, I have some ideas, but I am starting fresh in the other two. Between now and then, I plan on reading some trip reports. The only thing I'm sure of so far is I will spend less tan 144 hours in Shanghai, because I do not want to get a Visa. Other than that, I do not know how much time I will be in each place. I was thinking roughly 7-10 days in each of the other two, but I can go for less if I am unable to fill my time. Thanks!

 

[Douglas Dubh]

We did four days, five nights in Hong Kong back in 2016. We spent two days doing the hop on hop off bus, including going up to the Peak and spending a few hours at the zoo and the maritime museum and then two days at Disney. If I go back I’d like to ride the gondola on Lantau island to see the Buddha and make a day trip to Macau.

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

I loved the Nan Lian garden and chi lin nunnery at Diamond Hill and the Sik Sik Yen temple. Also took a ferry to Lamma island and hiked from one end to another then the ferry back to central. The giant buddha is also worth a trip. Hong kong park and the zoological gardens are good. The Star Ferry is a must and watching the lights on Victoria harbour and central from the promenade in Kowloon is great. Also just walkiing in Kowloon and Wan chai is great.
What are your plans for Tokyo ( I have been about 8 times and love the city- with a week in Tokyo a trip to the 5 lakes and Mt Fuji is possible.

 

[kmedina]

We did four days, five nights in Hong Kong back in 2016. We spent two days doing the hop on hop off bus, including going up to the Peak and spending a few hours at the zoo and the maritime museum and then two days at Disney. If I go back I’d like to ride the gondola on Lantau island to see the Buddha and make a day trip to Macau.

I suggested Macau to my husband. We're from Vegas, so I thought it would be cool to check it out and compare. The very reason I want to see it is the reason he wants to pass. We do not even gamble here, so he does not want to go there. I like the gondola idea. Thanks.

I loved the Nan Lian garden and chi lin nunnery at Diamond Hill and the Sik Sik Yen temple. Also took a ferry to Lamma island and hiked from one end to another them the ferry back to central

Thanks. I looked those up. Wow, they are beautiful. Looks like they have some seriously stunning sights to see.

 

[wishing4PA]

I'm sure you could fill a full week or 10 days in Tokyo, but for me, the bullet trains are almost an attraction in themselves, since we don't have such train travel here. I'd expand my horizons, even if it's only for a long day trip or a quick overnight and take a shinkansen there.

 

[kmedina]

I'm sure you could fill a full week or 10 days in Tokyo, but for me, the bullet trains are almost an attraction in themselves, since we don't have such train travel here. I'd expand my horizons, even if it's only for a long day trip or a quick overnight and take a shinkansen there.

Thanks, now, I just need to figure out where to take it.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

I suggested Macau to my husband. We're from Vegas, so I thought it would be cool to check it out and compare.

I’m not a gambler, but I think it would be cool to check out the casinos, and there’s some old buildings in the downtown area that sound interesting.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

I just need to figure out where to take it.

On our first trip we took it down to Kyoto for an overnight. I wouldn’t recommend that; I would have really liked another night there so we had a full day to look around. Yokohama and Kamakura are good day trips from Tokyo, but I don’t think they have bullet trains for those.

 

[wishing4PA]

On our first trip we took it down to Kyoto for an overnight. I wouldn’t recommend that; I would have really liked another night there so we had a full day to look around. Yokohama and Kamakura are good day trips from Tokyo, but I don’t think they have bullet trains for those.

There's one to Nikko now that I was considering myself.

 

[kmedina]

I’m not a gambler, but I think it would be cool to check out the casinos, and there’s some old buildings in the downtown area that sound interesting.

Yeah, that's my line of thought, too. I've never been to Atlantic City (hope to someday), but I have been to Reno. It's neat to check out competing cities.

On our first trip we took it down to Kyoto for an overnight. I wouldn’t recommend that; I would have really liked another night there so we had a full day to look around. Yokohama and Kamakura are good day trips from Tokyo, but I don’t think they have bullet trains for those.

Thanks. I will Google those areas.

There's one to Nikko now that I was considering myself.

Thanks. I will look into that one as an idea on where to take the train.

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

The Shinkansen which goes to Kyoto/Osaka stops at Shin-Yokohama but from the maps it is a bit further out than the main Yokohama station so it would be probably not much longer to take trains from Tokyo straight to the main Yokohama station.
Some ideas for a day trip
https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/easy-day-trips-from-tokyo/I found there is plenty to do in Tokyo for more than a week especially with 2 or 3 days at Tokyo Disneyland

 

[kmedina]

The Shinkansen which goes to Kyoto/Osaka stops at Shin-Yokohama but from the maps it is a bit further out than the main Yokohama station so it would be probably not much longer to take trains from Tokyo straight to the main Yokohama station.
Some ideas for a day trip
https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/easy-day-trips-from-tokyo/I found there is plenty to do in Tokyo for more than a week especially with 2 or 3 days at Tokyo Disneyland

Thanks. Yeah, I think filling time in Tokyo will be a breeze.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

Since no one has mentioned Ocean Park in Hong Kong, thought I should do that. I haven’t been but I’ve heard it’s a nice park. Another idea is to fly into Osaka instead of Tokyo, and spend a few days there. We did that on our second trip to Japan. We took the train down to Hiroshima and Myajima Island one day, and spent another checking out some shopping areas near our hotel and the castle. You could also spend a day at Universal and a day trip into Kyoto.

I haven’t been to Shanghai, but when I do I’m figuring on spending a day on the Bund and another visiting a water town, in addition to a couple days at Disney.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

If you’re thinking of going in the spring, I’d go to Hong Kong first, Tokyo last. If in fall, Tokyo first and Hong Kong last. I can’t recommend going in summer, everywhere will be hot and humid.

 

[kmedina]

Since no one has mentioned Ocean Park in Hong Kong, thought I should do that. I haven’t been but I’ve heard it’s a nice park. Another idea is to fly into Osaka instead of Tokyo, and spend a few days there. We did that on our second trip to Japan. We took the train down to Hiroshima and Myajima Island one day, and spent another checking out some shopping areas near our hotel and the castle. You could also spend a day at Universal and a day trip into Kyoto.

I haven’t been to Shanghai, but when I do I’m figuring on spending a day on the Bund and another visiting a water town, in addition to a couple days at Disney.

I like the idea of Kyoto and Universal. Thanks. I'll look into the Hong Kong and Shanghai suggestions as well.

If you’re thinking of going in the spring, I’d go to Hong Kong first, Tokyo last. If in fall, Tokyo first and Hong Kong last. I can’t recommend going in summer, everywhere will be hot and humid.

I don't know what season yet. It will most likely be Christmas break or Summer vacation, so we do not need to pull the kids out of school. The only problem with making it over Christmas break is I have to squeeze everything into 2 weeks, and I was hoping to make it more like 3. I know it will not be Spring. Having it over Christmas does give us six more months to save, but the costs will probably be more expensive, too.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Since no one has mentioned Ocean Park in Hong Kong, thought I should do that. I haven’t been but I’ve heard it’s a nice park. Another idea is to fly into Osaka instead of Tokyo, and spend a few days there. We did that on our second trip to Japan. We took the train down to Hiroshima and Myajima Island one day, and spent another checking out some shopping areas near our hotel and the castle. You could also spend a day at Universal and a day trip into Kyoto.

I haven’t been to Shanghai, but when I do I’m figuring on spending a day on the Bund and another visiting a water town, in addition to a couple days at Disney.

Ocean Park is pretty outdated and no longer competitive compared to amusement parks in other countries. The shows are really boring and the rides will feel shakey and old compared to the rides at Disneyland. Since OP is visiting Tokyo, I would recommend taking a trip out to Hakkejima Sea Paradise instead. Otherwise, the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium has better exhibits than Ocean Park and shows at the Shinagawa Aqua Park are better than the shows at Ocean Park.

I don't think it's worth spending too much time at the actual Bund but you can walk around Nanjing Road, go up one of the tall towers on the other side of the Bund (Shanghai Tower for the tallest or just get a drink/dessert at the Park Hyatt in the IFC to save money) and visit the aquarium since they're relatively close.

I don't know what season yet. It will most likely be Christmas break or Summer vacation, so we do not need to pull the kids out of school. The only problem with making it over Christmas break is I have to squeeze everything into 2 weeks, and I was hoping to make it more like 3. I know it will not be Spring. Having it over Christmas does give us six more months to save, but the costs will probably be more expensive, too.

For Christmas, you'll be seeing illuminations in Tokyo and mall displays in Hong Kong. Caretta Shiodome usually partners with Disney so they have a mini-illumination show and some Disney displays in the mall (they've had Aladdin, Frozen, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast as past themes). Tokyo Disneyland ends the Christmas event on actual Christmas Day and crowds during New Year are very bad so I'd visit there first. Unless you want to pay a huge amount to do the Tokyo Disneyland New Years Event, Hong Kong is probably the best place to do New Years for fireworks at the harbor. At this time of the year, the temperature will be near freezing in Shanghai and Tokyo with a chance of snow.

The summer shows at the Disney parks will involve water and you WILL get soaked at Tokyo Disneyland unless you are standing far away. In Tokyo they tend to have a lot of stamp events in the later part of the summer. The most famous is the JR Pokemon stamp rally where you can get a booklet stamped at various JR stations and then get a prize for free. As a tourist, you'd probably just have time to get the small prize for getting stamps at 6 JR stations. Avoid being in Hong Kong on July 1st because Disneyland will have elevated crowds and there will likely be a lot of police closing off politically sensitive parts of the city and frisking people.

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi,

Agree with gelatoni fan. If you want to visit Tokyo Disneyland , go earlier before the 25th . Tokyo disneysea is also great ( the main decorations are in the Mediterranean Harbour, American Waterfront, and the Lost River Delta (the mermaid lagoon side ) which had lots of 'Feliz Navidad' signs -very festive.
The Carretta Shiodome is also grear and worth visits ( I was at the nearby Conrad and often made a detour to see it ( go at night as during the day the outside illuminations are off and it just looks like metal christmas tree frames with lights).
Japan-guide.com has a site on Winter illuminations

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2303.html
I liked the Marunouchi ( and the Kitte building) area- two buildings had star wars inspired illuminations
Tokyo Midtown ( Roppongi hills)
Tokyo Midtown Hibya
Shinjuku station Terrace ( south end)
Odaiba
Tokyo dome
Yebisu Garden Palace

 

[kmedina]

Ocean Park is pretty outdated and no longer competitive compared to amusement parks in other countries. The shows are really boring and the rides will feel shakey and old compared to the rides at Disneyland. Since OP is visiting Tokyo, I would recommend taking a trip out to Hakkejima Sea Paradise instead. Otherwise, the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium has better exhibits than Ocean Park and shows at the Shinagawa Aqua Park are better than the shows at Ocean Park.

I don't think it's worth spending too much time at the actual Bund but you can walk around Nanjing Road, go up one of the tall towers on the other side of the Bund (Shanghai Tower for the tallest or just get a drink/dessert at the Park Hyatt in the IFC to save money) and visit the aquarium since they're relatively close.



For Christmas, you'll be seeing illuminations in Tokyo and mall displays in Hong Kong. Caretta Shiodome usually partners with Disney so they have a mini-illumination show and some Disney displays in the mall (they've had Aladdin, Frozen, Tangled, Beauty and the Beast as past themes). Tokyo Disneyland ends the Christmas event on actual Christmas Day and crowds during New Year are very bad so I'd visit there first. Unless you want to pay a huge amount to do the Tokyo Disneyland New Years Event, Hong Kong is probably the best place to do New Years for fireworks at the harbor. At this time of the year, the temperature will be near freezing in Shanghai and Tokyo with a chance of snow.

The summer shows at the Disney parks will involve water and you WILL get soaked at Tokyo Disneyland unless you are standing far away. In Tokyo they tend to have a lot of stamp events in the later part of the summer. The most famous is the JR Pokemon stamp rally where you can get a booklet stamped at various JR stations and then get a prize for free. As a tourist, you'd probably just have time to get the small prize for getting stamps at 6 JR stations. Avoid being in Hong Kong on July 1st because Disneyland will have elevated crowds and there will likely be a lot of police closing off politically sensitive parts of the city and frisking people.

Great, I will look into those recommendations. Thanks for the tips around Christmas and Summer time. They're very helpful.

Hi,

Agree with gelatoni fan. If you want to visit Tokyo Disneyland , go earlier before the 25th . Tokyo disneysea is also great ( the main decorations are in the Mediterranean Harbour, American Waterfront, and the Lost River Delta (the mermaid lagoon side ) which had lots of 'Feliz Navidad' signs -very festive.
The Carretta Shiodome is also grear and worth visits ( I was at the nearby Conrad and often made a detour to see it ( go at night as during the day the outside illuminations are off and it just looks like metal christmas tree frames with lights).
Japan-guide.com has a site on Winter illuminations

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2303.html
I liked the Marunouchi ( and the Kitte building) area- two buildings had star wars inspired illuminations
Tokyo Midtown ( Roppongi hills)
Tokyo Midtown Hibya
Shinjuku station Terrace ( south end)
Odaiba
Tokyo dome
Yebisu Garden Palace

Thanks, I will look into these.

 

[China Expat]

Used to live in China...my faves:

Hong Kong: THe giant Buddha via the tram, the Peak, ride a boat in the harbor to see the evening laser show.
SHanghai- Stroll the Bund, ride up the elevator to the top viewing platform of the tallest skyscraper-SHanghai Tower, the Pearl Tower, visit the Yu garden, Nanjing Rd. YOu will need two days for Shanghai Disney, one for HK Disney, three for Tokyo DIsney and Disney Sea.

 

[kmedina]

Used to live in China...my faves:

Hong Kong: THe giant Buddha via the tram, the Peak, ride a boat in the harbor to see the evening laser show.
SHanghai- Stroll the Bund, ride up the elevator to the top viewing platform of the tallest skyscraper-SHanghai Tower, the Pearl Tower, visit the Yu garden, Nanjing Rd. YOu will need two days for Shanghai Disney, one for HK Disney, three for Tokyo DIsney and Disney Sea.

Thanks for the tips. Is Hong Kong DL really small? I was planning 2 days there.