Let's go sightseeing!: A local's trip report

[DreamSweetsLove]

Hey guys! My mother is coming to visit in 2 weeks and I thought it would be interesting to do a sightseeing trip report from the point of view of a local. I'm still working out how to best use our time but this is what I have so far!


8.24 Go to Haneda airport and stay in a airplane themed capsule hotel (women ok!) since it's a very early flight! (First Cabin website in English http://first-cabin.jp/en/ )

8.25 Arrival at 4:55am! Have breakfast at the airport and then take an airport bus back home. Get settled and have afternoon tea at Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. Maybe do an after 5 passport and go to TDS for a little bit.

8.26 I'm going to let my mom take it easy in the morning and then we will go meet my husband's family for lunch. We will probably go to the SkyTree this day!

8.27-28 Kyoto and Nara!

8.29 Odaiba?

8.30 Check in at Disneyland Hotel and go to Disneyland!

8.31 Checkout and go to TDS

9.1 Daytrip to Kamakura

9.2 I will let mom recover from sightseeing in Kamakura the day before and work in the morning then take mom out into the city.

9.3 Kiddo goes back to school. Sightseeing Ginza and have tea at La Duree. Maybe check out Yurakucho and Marunouchi area.

9.4 Shibuya, Harajuku and maybe Omotesando. Lunch at Criston Cafe?

9.5 Undecided. (Akihabara?)

9.6 Fingers crossed that TDL will have Halloween previews today. Check into Miracosta!

9.7 Tokyo DisneySea's Halloween event start! Checkout from Miracosta. (Halloween Daydream 11:30 , 4:30 ; Halloween Street 10:45 , 4:15)

9.8 Departure date.


The schedule is a little hectic but it's only two weeks so I want her to see as much as possible. Any tips or advice is appreciated and very welcome since usually I don't enjoy the city as a tourist.

 

[battymum]

Nothing to offer, but I will look forward to reading the detail to help me flesh out my own itinerary!

 

[DreamSweetsLove]

I don't usually do trip reports so I wonder if it's ok to use this as an organization for the trip as well... In any case I think this could be useful for other people too so I will keep some cafe choices in this space! I'll keep adding ideas for cafes here.

Interesting cafes:

Asakusa

Kyushokutoban
I haven't been here yet but the idea is interesting and fun! It recreates the Japanese school lunch experience, waitresses dressed as students serve up food the Japanese school kids would eat in a school like setting.
http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/eat/kyushokutoban-school-cafeteria-chic-306212

Shibuya

Streamer Coffee Co.
I absolutely love this coffee shop located in Shibuya! The owner Hiroshi Sawada is an expert at latte art and in 2008 became the world champion. I think it's a great way to get our day started the day we go to Shibuya!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TywQyGEwDc&feature=plcp
http://metropolis.co.jp/dining/dining-diary/streamer-coffee-company/

Christon Cafe
I've taken some people here in the past and it has always been a nice place to relax. It's a themed cafe decorated with religious imagery and decoration (statues, stained glass, altars) from Europe and has a pretty cool atmosphere.
http://www.notquitenigella.com/2008/07/08/christon-cafe-at-shinjuku-tokyo/

Ginza

Ladurée
One of my favorite places to go with girlfriends in the city when we go on an afternoon out! Not Japanese but there is only one shop that just opened in the US and not near where my mother lives. Ladurée is of course famous for the creation of macarons as we know it today!
http://8tokyo.com/2008/08/27/laduree-salon-de-the-cafe-japon-2/

Henri Charpentier
An elegant cafe with a great lunch menu and lovely sweets. Famous for it's crepe suzette which they cook at your table in front of you.
http://8tokyo.com/2011/02/15/henri-charpentier/
http://www.henri-charpentier.com/en/

Yanaka

Himitsu Do
I haven't been here yet the shaved ice looks amazing and the area it's in has some interesting sight seeing opportunities!
http://8tokyo.com/2012/07/14/himitu-do/

Akihabara

AKB48 Cafe & Shop
Fun and cute with a lively fan atmosphere outside. The food is actually good and at a reasonable price. Not to mention last time we went there we totally missed out on the talking toilets...
http://www.25cafes.com/2012/06/27/akb48-cafe-shop-in-akihabara-tokyo-japan/

***-Cha Cafe & Kitchen
Out of the way but no table charge and famous for it's costumes and unlike @Home Cafe no wait to get. We've taken some friends here before and it was a good time at a good price!
http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/drink/tokyos-best-maid-cafes-798315
http://www.***-cha.com/

 

[DreamSweetsLove]

Nothing to offer, but I will look forward to reading the detail to help me flesh out my own itinerary!

Ok! I hope it can help!

 

[BecBennett]

Man, I wish your mum had done this trip before my holiday! I would have loved to see how a local does Japan!

 

[DreamSweetsLove]

Man, I wish your mum had done this trip before my holiday! I would have loved to see how a local does Japan!

There is always next time! You can come for Halloween or Christmas!

 

[DreamSweetsLove]

The vacation package stuff arrived today! Since mom's time is limited and the TDL summer show is done by lottery we decided to go with the vacation package. It includes hotel, tickets (park hoppers), monorail tickets, some souvenirs, some snack vouchers and breakfast at the hotel, some FP's, and most important reserved seating for the shows. (The finale at TDL and Oasis at TDS) I'm really good at winning lottery tickets but really didn't want to risk it since we really would only have one chance to win it if we didn't go this route.

 

[BecBennett]

That's an awesome idea, I didn't know that existed either

That's half the problem with trying to organise a holiday in a country where they speak another language, you miss out on a lot because in my case I just shook my head and gave up after a while

 

[DreamSweetsLove]

That's an awesome idea, I didn't know that existed either

That's half the problem with trying to organize a holiday in a country where they speak another language, you miss out on a lot because in my case I just shook my head and gave up after a while

Unfortunately right now it's only available in Japanese but I hope in the future they will add an English language option because it makes things much easier. It's pricey but if you are not a local and want to get the most out of your trip I really think it's worth the extra money. They have lot's of different packages, some focused on rides, some on shows, packages for a romantic getaway or for family trips.

Vacation Package link:
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/online/package/index.html

 

[PrincessInOz]