TOKYO TRIP REPORT/REVIEWS
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS (With my parents, brother, niece 14yo, nephew 5yo)
Accomodation: Keio Plaza Hotel (Shinjuku area. Okay siya kasi doon ang starting point/pickup point ng tours pati pickup and drop off point ng Airport Limo Bus. With breakfast buffet, pwede na. Booked 2 rooms with them. Both Twin Rooms, one with additional bed. Pagtawid, nandun na ang lahat, restaurants, vendos, convenience stores (Lawson and 711), Starbucks, mini groceries/pharmacies. Around 5 mins walk to train station. The busiest train station in the world for me lolol! Recommended naman pero mukhang mas okay sa Kabukicho side, 'yung area ng Biclo. Mas lively doon.
Weather: Malamig sa umaga (cardigan will do). Mainit 'yung araw sa tanghali, but still windy (shirts will do). Super malamig sa gabi (layer layer!).
Day 1:
- Manila to Tokyo via Japan Airlines. Hands down to Japan Airlines! I've only tried PAL and Cebu Pac before this, sobrang laki ng difference. Ganda ng aircraft, service was exceptional. Food was so-so. Pero kumpleto. With Haagen Dazs ice cream pa :p Ang aga pa ng arrival time namin
Airport Limousine to Keio Plaza Hotel costs JPY4500 roundtrip na. Cheaper than 'yung isa isa bili.
Day 2:
- Panoramic Tokyo City Tour c/o Japanican. Tour was kinda fast paced as expected. Japanese time talaga. Nagseset ng time when to go back sa bus or sa meeting area. Food was so-so. Nakakapagod lang talaga maglakad!!! Recommended if you have limited time sa Tokyo or hindi ganun mahilig magresearch or if you have SCs or kids with you.
Day 3:
- Disney Sea and Tokyo Disneyland. Yes we were able to go to both theme parks in a day. Super paguran lang but okay na din!
Sulit naman. Swerte kami sa pilahan with max 30mins waiting time sa mga rides with FP. Sa isang ride lang kami nag FP, which is the Journey to the Center of the Earth, The rest standby na lang. 'Yung snacks all over Disney Sea lang ang bumuhay sa amin hehe! Was able to watch the Fashionable Easter show! Then sa TDL, after 6 passport ang kinuha namin. We just watched the Dreamlights Parade and the Once Upon a Time, and sumakay sa It's a Small World haha! Sulit na din sa shows pa lang
Shuttle was provided by Keio for free so nakapahinga na din agad.
Day 4:
- Kamakura and Yokohama Tour c/o Japanican. This I think was the part where our money was kind of wasted. Yes maganda naman ang napuntahan but not that worth it. We should have availed of the Mt Fuji tour instead, dahil sunny naman that day. No regrets tho hehe! We were able to go home early and shopped from Harajuku to Shinjuku and went home at midnight hahaha!
Day 5:
- Shopping around our hotel
Transpo: We got ourselves a Suica card, which I consumed in the airport in 711. Hindi ko na naisoli kasi ayoko na lumayo pa :p Baka maiwan ako haha. We just used it sa train ride back to our hotel pag hindi kami nakatour.
Shopping: Who said that shopping in Tokyo is expensive? Lahat ng nabili ko were much cheaper there than here in Manila. I got myself a Baby G watch (2k cheaper there), clothes from Uniqlo, chocolates (Kitkat, Royce etc), toys for my nephew etc.
Will I go back to Tokyo? YES! YES! YES! I love the place, food, shopping places, culture, especially the locals, very accomodating, mabait, smiling face, honest! Iniiwan ko lang minsan bag ko somewhere at hindi ako kinakabahan.
Tips:
- Wear COMFORTABLE!!! yes comfortable shoes when going around. I was wearing my Sperry Topsider the whole time, pinaltos na ako nung shopping sa gabi haha! Sayang.
- Expect long walks so kung DIY ang iti huwag mashadong busy ang araw lalo na if you have SCs and kids with you
- Always bring your passport with you especially when shopping
- Do not be afraid to ask for directions. Kahit hindi makaintindi ng English 'yung locals, super mabait sila ihahatid ka pa kung saan
- Exchange all your money here kasi nahirapan kami makahanap ng okay na currency exchange. 'Yung machine sa hotel, lugi kami :p 116 sa airport then 111 sa machine (dollars to yen)
- OBSERVE JAPANESE TIME ALWAYS!!! First tour namin, 8:05am pickup time. 8:00am nasa pickup point ako at palabas na the group. 'Yun pala 8:05 dapat makaalis na ang bus!
PS. Spotted din pala namin si Patrick Garcia and Nikka Martinez during breakfast namin sa Keio, 5 days daw sila sa Tokyo hehe! Shempre Pinoy, nagpapicture kami haha!
