Need help on planning 7 days Tokyo itinerary (Mon - Sun) (Feb Winter period)

Hmm..

There's not much JR Pass related questions in here :D

Well, just some thoughts because I'd hate to leave you hanging. I really recommend you visit Asakusa, Kappabashi and Tsukiji fish market while you are in the city. Of course, the Skytree would alos be great.

Regarding metro passes, you should be fine to purchase multiple metro passes on arrival. You can read more about these here.

Regarding hotels, I personally prefer to stay in one place rather than move around, but as it's a Honeymoon you may think of staying in a really nice hotel/ryokan for a few nights? I recommend looking into staying around Shibuya/Daikanyama/Nakameguro personally, but it is very much down to individual taste. The area around the station is a little dead in the evenings (it's more a business district), so possibly it's better to avoid there.

Hope this helps!

Hi Mari,

thanks a lot for your earlier advice.

I have work out my 70% of my itinerary.

These are the places i will want to go.

1. Imperial Palace (Kokyo) & East Garden - Tokyo Station
2. Asakusa Kannon Temple & Nakamise Market - Asakusa Station
3. Kappabashi - Asakusa Station
4. Shinto Shrine - Nezu Station
5. Tokyo Disneyland - Maihama Station
6. Ameya Yokocho - Ueno Station
7. Akihabara - Akihabara Station
8. Ginza - Ginza Station
9. Tsukiji Fish Market - Tsukiji Station
10. Harajuku & Takeshita Street - Harajuku Station
11. Shibuya & Daikanyama - Shibuya Station
12. Ghibli Musuem & Inokashira Park - Kichijoj Station
13. Roppongi & Sky Tree Tower - Roppongi Station
14. Odaiba & Oedo Onsen Monogatari - Odaiba Station

How should i sequence the itinerary so that i can save on the transportation? Should i still get the One-Day or Two Day Special Metro Passes if i foresee i will be stuck at one place for some time? Especially my Day 2 & Day 3. Going Disneyland & Disney Sea wholeday.

Hi there!

Looks like a great list. I personally recommend purchasing the 1 or 2 day metro passes for those days when you'll do lots of travel. The 2 day pass works out at ¥490/ day. As a single subway ride can easily be ¥250, it pays for itself after 2 rides. For the days where you'll only be doing a little bit of travel, or using JR lines (such as a trip to Disneyland), I recommend you simply pay as you go.

Hope this helps!

Hi Mari,

Would you recommend to stay at Ryokan Sawanoya which is located at 2-3-11 Yanaka, Taito, Tokyo Prefecture 110-0001, Japan

or to stay at Sukeroku No Yado SADACHIYO which is located at 2-20-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
111-0032?

Considering the list of places above, which will be more cost & time savings an for a metro pass?

If i want to get from Haneda airport to Sukeroku No Yado Sadachiyo,

The website indicates
10 mins walk fromTawaramachi Station for Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
15 minute walk from Asakusa Station for Tobu Line, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and Toei Asakusa Subway Line
5 minute walk from TX Asakusa Station for Tsukuba Express Train Line

My question is there seems to be so many different lines (train companies) "Tokyo Metro Ginza Line", "Tobu Line", "Toei Asakusa Subway Line" & "Tsukuba Express Train Line".
Are these train lines all covered under the 1 day or 2 day metro passes? or i have to foot the balance of the charges? Are there any lines that i should avoid throughout my Itinerary?

Hi there!

Placement wise, both Ryokan are close to metro station, but I think the Sukeroku No Yado SADACHIYO is best placed as it is close to Asakusa, Senso-ji temple, the Skytree, and Asakusa station has the more useful lines (Asakusa and Ginza metro lines).

There are many rail operators in Tokyo. I think the best way to think about it is in terms of Major and Minor operators:

Main Operators * JR * Tokyo Metro

Minor Operators * Toei * Keio * Tokyu * Nippori

The JR Pass will cover the JR lines, the Tokyo Metro Pass will cover Metro lines. Both passes do not cover travel on the minor company lines currently and you will have to pay if you use these. Tokyo trains are pretty competitively priced, so there are no lines to avoid (except maybe the Tsukuba Express, which will not be useful for you at all).

For reference, here is a map of all the lines in Tokyo. With the metro pass you'll be able to use all the lines under the Tokyo Metro on this map, so be sure to consult the legend in the bottom right corner to orientate yourself to the available lines (right hand list of lines are all Tokyo Metro lines).

From Haneda airport, I recommend using the monorail to Shinagawa, then changing to the JR Yamanote line to take you to Ueno. At Ueno change to the Metro Ginza line for Asakusa. You'll have to pay for the monorail and the JR Yamanote line, but from there you'll be on metro lines.

Hope this helps!

Hi Mari,

Apologies for troubling you again.

If i want to add in the following 3 places to my itinerary, Could you advise how i can get to those location from Tokyo?
Duration of each trip & whether i should get a 7-day JR pass in this case.

1. Cat Island (Tashirojima) - Going there to see the cats (Morning session)
2. Izakaya Kayabukiya Tavern (Utsunomiya) - Going there to see the monkeys (Dinner 7PM-9PM)
3. Kyoto (Whole day)

I only booked my accomodation in Tokyo from 04 - 07 Feb. So from 08 - 10 Feb, if the above 3 places are too far, i have the option to book accomodation at (e.g Kyoto) instead of rushing back to Tokyo before midnight.

thanks!

Hi there!

Not a problem!

If you include these extra locations, I certainly recommend a 7 day pass as you'll make excellent savings with the addition of these. You'll also get JR travel flexibility for the 7 day period, and will be able to include JR travel around Tokyo and your trip to Disney. All of these destinations will require the use of the bullet train to do them in good time. Here's the breakdown and suggested itineraries for your 3 extra legs:

1. Tokyo > Ishinomaki (for ferry to Tashirojima): ¥11,640 (205mins, 422km)
2. Ishinomaki > Tokyo: ¥12,150 (207mins, 432km)
3. Tokyo > Utsunomiya: ¥4,800 (50mins, 109km)
4. Utsunomiya > Tokyo: ¥4,800 (54mins, 109km)
5. Tokyo > Kyoto: ¥13,420 (164mins, 513km)
6. Kyoto > Tokyo: ¥13,420 (161mins, 513km)

JR ticket cost: ¥60,230 for 6 legs

• 7 day Japan Rail Pass (¥28,300) saving: ¥31,930

You can look up precise train timetables and costs at the Hyperdia travel planning website and learn how to use Hyperdia for JR Pass holders through our video blog.

I think I'd certainly look into booking a night in Kyoto. Kyoto in the evening is a great experience, so that's a must I think. As for Ishinomaki, if you think you'll be able to do a day trip, then I think you'll be able to fit the whole trip into the day, but it does depend on how long you want to spend on Tashirojima etc. As you mentioned you'll be visiting in the morning session, you may want to travel up to Ishinomaki the evening before so that you can make an early start to the island the following day.

Hope this helps!