Japan next Spring - recommendations?

The Other Mr Morgan and I have blown 200,000 Miles on a pair of Gs to Japan next spring. He's going out for five weeks to explore, and I'm joining him for the last two weeks to focus mostly on Tokyo and Kyoto.

Does anyone have any "don't under any circumstances miss..." recommendations?

And also, I really wanted to splurge for us on our Tokyo hotel to round the trip out, and the Mandarin Oriental was first choice, but it's showing pretty much no availability through the end of March/beginning of April - does anyone know if that's typical?

The obvious 'fallback' (and it seems crazy to call it that) is the Park Hyatt, but does anyone have any other really special hotels that they'd recommend?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Great time of year to visit Tokyo Jon. I'm suprised that the MO is that full already - all I can guess is that they havn't released all the rooms or people are booking up early for Cherry Blossom, which is around then.

We stayed in both, for us the MO just pipped the PH, but both are perfectly posh and both well connected (the MO is right on top of a Subway and the PH is a short walk to Shinjuku)

What not to miss...well has to be a trip on the bullet train (the Nozomi is the fastest service, which goes to Kyoto and Nagoya). If you can find them a visit to the yakitori stalls under Shinjuku station. You won't hear much english here but if you know the basics and can point you'll be fine. Also, pop over to Harijuku on a sunday afternoon to see all the "Harijuku Girls" hanging around by the entrance to the Meji Shrine park.

And the food is great - so much choice!

We didn't go to Tsjuki (sp) fish market, but would have loved to and hear its a must see...followed by sushi for brekkie [:p]

cheers!

Dean

without exception the best hotel I have ever stayed at is the Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi(right next to Tokyo station) quite simply outstanding.The Conrad isn't bad either but not in the same class staff wise but it's handy for the fish market.I would recommend a visit to Himeji castle(four hours on the Shinkansen from Tokyo) Kurosawa made Ran on location here and You only live twice used it also.

[RichardMannion]

Take a look at the Bitches TR here:
http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18759

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by jaguarpig
without exception the best hotel I have ever stayed at is the Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi(right next to Tokyo station) quite simply outstanding.The Conrad isn't bad either but not in the same class staff wise but it's handy for the fish market.I would recommend a visit to Himeji castle(four hours on the Shinkansen from Tokyo) Kurosawa made Ran on location here and You only live twice used it also.

Ooh you've sooo made my day - coincidentally I'm booked in at that Four Seasons next week. Then dinner at the Conrad on the Friday night.

Historically I have stayed with friends or been working outside of downtown, so this time I took an educated guess of where to stay. Four Seasons are generally top notch in my experience, although one or two don't quite cut the mustard in the realms of the uber upper echelons of hotel luxury and service, most notably for me the one at Vancouver, the Pierre in NYC and the Regent in Sydney.

Howard

[fozzyo]

One definite thing *not* to do is get stuck in the railway station like we did!!

Stuff definitely to do, the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental is heavenly!! And the treatments simply outstanding ... the Thai Massage I had was one of the best I've received. Though be careful of extra charges for the Spa Suites.

If you like Disney definately do Disneyland and Disney Sea. Disneyland (Magic Kingdom) is good but not too much there. Disney Sea on the other hand is fantastic!! One of the best non Magic Kingdom parks I've been too - Tower of Terror there is superb, we are still trying to work out some of the effects!

MO is an amazing hotel and I would definitely recommend staying there, if not the PH - particularly if you liked Lost in Translation. You walk around going "oh my god they filmed this bit here" and "oh they filmed that bit here too". While the PH has a slightly better location the MO was my fave, the concierge were outstanding.

Mat

Ooh you've sooo made my day - coincidentally I'm booked in at that Four Seasons next week. Then dinner at the Conrad on the Friday night.

Historically I have stayed with friends or been working outside of downtown, so this time I took an educated guess of where to stay. Four Seasons are generally top notch in my experience, although one or two don't quite cut the mustard in the realms of the uber upper echelons of hotel luxury and service, most notably for me the one at Vancouver, the Pierre in NYC and the Regent in Sydney.

Howard

Oh b*****s I just booked the 4 Seasons Vancouver about 20 minutes ago for next Feb:DOn the bright side 2 rooms for 2 nights comes in at £438 all in.
Gordon Ramsay at the Conrad was ok(horrendous jet lag and a few too many on the plane didn't help the experience)although it certainly helped getting HH Diamond status:D.

Ekki at the FS Marunouchi was outstanding the Kobe beef was unforgetable(taste texture and the price [:0]).Do ask for the escort to and from the NRT express platform they dust the A8 off to drive about 50m,but they do know the quick way down to the platform.

Originally posted by jaguarpig
Oh b*****s I just booked the 4 Seasons Vancouver about 20 minutes ago for next Feb:DOn the bright side 2 rooms for 2 nights comes in at £438 all in.

It's OK, but a bit tired with the service being OK, albeit indifferent all told. The location isn't the best either, but it's still only a short walk to any action.

My favourite room in Vancouver thus far has to be one of the 180 degree balcony suites at the Pan Pacific. It comes with a 180 degree terrace overlooking the harbour, Fraser river and valley with Grouse Mountain in the background and the cruise ships in the foreground. Sadly the PP caters largely for the convention and B&S brigade too, so don't expect great service, but the views are simply stunning. Just hope that it ain't foggy!

I suppose the other option is the Fairmont Waterfront, but I've not stayed there since it used to be a Canadian Pacific hotel, perhaps ten or twelve years ago when it was newly opened. I remember it as being rather nouveau minimalist, but things may have changed.

But, I guess that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Of all the hotels in downtown Vancouver, the only one I've ever stayed at more than once is the Four Seasons. Maybe they are the only game in town after all.

Sorry I am way OT now, but many thanks for your other suggestions on Tokyo.

Cheers, Howard

Howard is the YVR 4 Seasons on the original site,it's 16 years since I was last there and I thought it was well located then.Can't remember for the life of me the address but it was a dark glass clad building on a street corner,I think the rat hole we stayed at next to it was called the Ming court hotel.
Have a good trip to NRT, we are heading to BKK after spending the last August bank Holiday in Tokyo.

Originally posted by jaguarpig
Howard is the YVR 4 Seasons on the original site,it's 16 years since I was last there and I thought it was well located then.Can't remember for the life of me the address but it was a dark glass clad building on a street corner,I think the rat hole we stayed at next to it was called the Ming court hotel.
Have a good trip to NRT, we are heading to BKK after spending the last two August bank Holidays in Tokyo.

The most memorable thing for me is the inside/outside pool with small rooftop garden (if you can call the 4th floor rooftop), but if you didn't do the swim/gym thing you might not have noticed it. The lobby is a rather uninspiring windowless space. You have to go up one or two storeys from street level to reach the lobby.

Regarding the location, no, it is not far from anything, but neither is it adjacent to anything, like the harbour, for example, that the PP and Waterfront are.

Again aplogies for being OT.

Howard

Thanks Howard and sorry also for heading OT.

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Take a look at the Bitches TR here:
http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18759

Thanks,
Richard

It's been required reading since we first started thinking about doing this Richard - In fact reading that, the hotel review and the Molecular Tapas review inspired quite a lot of my drive to go to Tokyo (and my first choices for hotel).

I have been seriously looking at the FS, jaguar - it gets very good comment on various review sites.

Thanks for other suggestions all.

[fozzyo]

OMG! Molecular Tapas ... you have got to do that! And you need to book it asap. The Mandarin Bar it is in is well worth some pre-dinner and post-dinner drinkies. And you'll get lots of hot towels too, you can't have enough hot towels we found!

Jon,

Been to Japan twice now. Suprised no one mentioned a rail pass for at least a week (unlimited travel on most JR trains). If you are interested I can forward details of a company I used both times to purchase these tickets.

I have stayed in both Dai Ishi Annex and Park hotel, both of which are close to Ginza (Tokyo). In Kyoto we have stayed at the Westin, new Hyatt and Shimizu (modern Ryokan) all are very good.

The museum at Hiroshima is very moving and worth spending time at.

Enjoy

Jeremy

[mitchja]

Jon

Keep trying the MO as it took us a few months to get room reservations as they didn't seem to release rooms until a few months before.

Regards

Jeremy, The Mrs is certainly looking to make much use of trains for his grand tour, so details on a good supplier of passes would be very helpful, thanks.

And James, thanks for the tip - I had wondered how far in advance you'd had to book. I'll probably book a fallback just in case but I'll keep trying the MO.

Originally posted by jaguarpig
without exception the best hotel I have ever stayed at is the Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi(right next to Tokyo station) quite simply outstanding.

Blimey the hotel just quoted me an xfer from NRT to FS at Y52.5k one way (I'm on a reward UC ticket, so no free xfer). No wonder you took the train. That's more than my room rate pn. Still if it's anything like the transfer FS did for me at HKG in April I will gladly lie down aboard the welcoming golf buggy situated for me at my arrival gate, with suitably attired oriental ladies wafting cool air at me, and take it like a man.

H

Howard the NRT express is a very pleasant trip in,very easy to get to the platform at NRT just ask the 4 Seasons to meet you at Tokyo station they do this for a very modest fee, I don't think they even charged for the escort back.They will be waiting on the platform as the train arrives they carry all your bags to the car and with the standard of the staff they would probably carry you if you asked them.Save a few Yen for a nice bottle. Cheers Chris

[RichardMannion]

Hi Howard,

We were quoted an obscene rate by the MO for a transfer from NRT to the hotel, hence why Sarah sorted out the transfer for all of us at a third of the price.

Agree with JP on the N'Ex though - very good and shows how overpriced the Heathrow and Gatwick Express are.

Thanks,
Richard

A regular taxi into Tokyo is Y19k-Y20k[:0].Getting from/to NRT by car is an expensive business.
Last year we used the airport limo bus also very good service and reasonable price, drop off and pick-up at all the big hotels.
In comparison I have just booked hotel provided transfers for next week in HKG £45, BKK £30(taxi is quoted at US$6-$8,didn't fancy a Tuk-tuk:D).

Jon, please forward me your Email address via a private message and I will send you some information.

Jeremy