Hi guys! This is my 2nd Itinerary check. This one is more refined after the first one. Was hoping to look for some advice and see what can be improved.
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5th
Land at Narita @ 1425 Local
Clear customs, get rail pass/suica all that
Shinkansen from Ueno to Sendai @ 1702/1706/1726
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6th(Explore Sendai)
Sendai Mediatheque
Aoba castle
Zuihoden
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7th
Yamadera temple
Mitsui outlet park
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8th
Akiu waterfalls via bus @ Sendai station
Rairaikyo gorge
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9th
Naruko Gorge hiking trail
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10th
Matsushima bay
ferry down to Minatomachi
Shiogama Shrine
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11th
Climbing Mt Izumigatake
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12th
Hitome Senbonzakura(lets hope I catch the cherry blossoms)
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13th
Hitome Senbonzakura again(if i dont catch the cherry blossoms)
else Aeon mall Natori
Leave for Tokyo @ 1630
Settle into Tokyo hotel
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14th
Nezu Shrine
TenQ space museum
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15th
Teamlabs Planets
Odaiba
Atago Shrine(Minato city one)
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16th
Shiromaru
Okutama Mukashi Michi Trail
Mt Atago Trail (the Okutama one, not the Kyoto one).
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17th
Battleship Mikasa
Exploring Minato Mirai
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18th
Hiking in Kitakamukara
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19th
Tokorozawa aviation museum
Kichijoji town and Inokashira park
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20th
Akihabara/Nakano broadway/Ikebukuro
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21th
Continue the 20th itinerary
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22nd
Shibuya Sky
Cosmoplanatarium Shibuya
Shibuya shoppingggggg
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23rd
Museum of Aeronautical sciences
Fly off from Narita @ 1815
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Questions:
\-On my first check I was told that the 6th could be a little too crowded. Is it better now?
\-Has anyone heard/tried sensory deprivation chambers in or around Tokyo, im looking to try one but reviews online are scarce and all over the place
\-is checking in to hotels in the late evening too late? Should I check in earlier?
\-How useful is the Suica card in shopping malls and other areas outside the stations, such as Shibuya for example, or Mitsui outlet park. Do most places like restaurants or shopping malls accept it?
\-Linking on from the previous question, I heard Mitsui outlet park isn’t as accepting of credit cards too, is this true?
\-Is it still recommended to use cash as a primary form of payment, or is a credit card fine? Especially for more out of the way areas such as Okutama or Akiu
\-Any dates that I should swap around that I missed, like to maybe rest abit after a hiking day
\-For those that saw my original post, I’m scrapping the Ryokan idea due to budget. Thanks for the advice though
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Thanks for all the help, hopefully this Itinerary is wont need too much editing
1 comment
-is checking in to hotels in the late evening too late? Should I check in earlier?
Check what is the check-in time for your accommodation. I’ve checked in in different places even after 9pm. Like I landed in Fukuoka at 9:25 pm and checked-in after 10pm (that was after check-in time for my hostel, but I did advise them I would be late and they were ok). So as long as you are within check-in time or you tell them, it’s all fine.
-How useful is the Suica card in shopping malls and other areas outside the stations, such as Shibuya for example, or Mitsui outlet park. Do most places like restaurants or shopping malls accept it?
Things might have changed since my last visit, but IC card (suica) were not accepted in that much places, don’t expect most stores and restaurant to accept it.
-Linking on from the previous question, I heard Mitsui outlet park isn’t as accepting of credit cards too, is this true?
From what I see it’s all individual stores, so that really depend on store by store level. I think it is more likely they accept credit card than IC card.
-Is it still recommended to use cash as a primary form of payment, or is a credit card fine? Especially for more out of the way areas such as Okutama or Akiu
That is a strange way to phrase the question. If if they you have choice between the two, it’s really up to you, go credit card all the way if you can. I cannot give you a recommendation to use one or the other, but of course don’t expect all small restaurant and shops, especially deeper in the countryside, to even accept credit card.
Overall, yes it would just be good to always have cash with you. If you run low, then withdraw some from ATM. Just don’t expect to always be able to use your card.
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As for JR Pass, make sure it’s even worth for your specific trip.