If you are looking to travel to Tokyo, and wondering what to do there, these are some great ideas of how to spend your time in Tokyo. I just got back from Five Great Days in Tokyo and here is what I did. I have to admit, I was really overwhelmed at visiting this metropolis, the world’s most populated city, with around 40 million population! But quite frankly, the neighborhoods in Tokyo, with their tree lined stone streets, and the blooming hydrangeas everywhere made it feel very cozy and small, like San Francisco or Paris.
TRAVEL DAY – Arrival to Tokyo Haneda Airport in the afternoon. Overnight at the Villa Fontaine Grand Hotel.
Highly recommended. It’s right in the international airport terminal at Tokyo Haneda Airport, and you do not even need to go outside, nor take any transportation. I walked over to the hotel from my arrival gate. Gotta love that! And the walk over there was amazing. I passed one after another cute, neat, clean, colorful and interesting shops along the way! It was culture shock joy and appreciation!
The hotel room was perfect for me! I just got the standard room, not the fancy animae rooms, which looked super cool on the website before I left San Diego. My standard room included a spa or Onsen ticket for each day, and a breakfast buffet for each morning. Both were excellent experiences and the room was well-appointed. I gave a room tour here, and the bathroom included a perfect temperature bathtub to soak away the stress of travel.
That’s what I did the first night, and I slept like a baby. I felt like I was in a cocoon, the room was so quiet, cozy and clean.
Wednesday June 5, 2024
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TRAVEL DAY BACK HOME TO SAN DIEGO
Getting from the Nihombashi area where we stayed back to Haneda International Airport by bus, is easy. There are no transfers involved. Once you get the hang of the Tokyo Metro, it is really easy and organized! Not to mention efficient, and of course punctual!
In order of lowest to highest cost and niceness, I would rate these hotels as follows:
Hotel Smile – least expensive and least nice, but great base to stay at and sleep, while out exploring Tokyo every day!
Hotel Niwa – Very nice and pretty, centrally located. The restaurant rocks, we did the five course lunch there, and I would go there again. We did not see the actual rooms, but I imagine they are fairly luxurious.
Villa Fontaine – Highly recommend for the value of all things considered. Right in the Haneda airport terminal, included breakfast buffet, spa ticket included for the onsen experience, and added bonus of a free shuttle into Tokyo! I would definitely stay here next time too.
Imperial palace hotel – If cost is not an issue, please stay here if you can. It looks amazing and the location overlooks the Imperial Palace Gardens and moat, it has the luxurious feel to it, and the pastry shop downstairs I highly recommend.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
