Anyone familiar with visiting Japan?
Discussion
Yeah ANA/Lufthansa is what's coming up cheapest now. I'm scouring the airline's websites too for their best prices.
Turkish Airlines were cheapest when I looked around 6 months ago, via Istanbul, but they're not coming up in the search results now.
ANA have apparently ordered 3 A380s though which I'd love to fly on.
Turkish Airlines were cheapest when I looked around 6 months ago, via Istanbul, but they're not coming up in the search results now.
ANA have apparently ordered 3 A380s though which I'd love to fly on.
smithyithy said:
As I'm looking at booking a return flight from to and from Haneda, that means my 3 weeks will start and end in Tokyo, so my itinerary will have to reflect that. Is there any benefit of ending the trip elsewhere and flying back from there? So for example my itinerary would be linear rather than a 'loop', or is Toyko the standard airport for most flights? (Seems that way).
Any reason you are stuck on Haneda (HND)? I would search for TYO (Tokyo-all airports) which includes Tokyo Narita (NRT) as well. Piece of piss to get from Narita into Tokyo.Using different arrival and departure airports is usually more expensive, IMHO. Unless you have a specific trip itinerary in mind, I would arrive and depart from Tokyo.
Also, I know you want to leave from Birmingham but don't overlook London. Two hours on the train/tube could save you hours of layover in a dump like Frankfurt. Also London gives you the options to do stopvers pretty much anywhere. Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok (bring on the ladyboys!) etc etc. 3 weeks is long enough to make your trip even more epic.
I've flown to China on Finnair and was impressed by them.
We flew to Japan in Oct '14 with Lufthansa via Frankfurt on the way there and Munich on the way back. We paid £550 each and that was flying into Haneda. Haneda is closer to Tokyo and was dead easy to transfer using the monorail. We were able to cash-in our JR Pass at the airport and then use it on the monorail into Tokyo (changing at Hamamatsucho onto the JR Line). I've just done a very quick check and the JR office at Haneda may not be open when you arrive to exchange your voucher - so check that out if you fly to there.
PS the food on Lufthansa going out was dreadful, it was a bit better coming home.
We flew to Japan in Oct '14 with Lufthansa via Frankfurt on the way there and Munich on the way back. We paid £550 each and that was flying into Haneda. Haneda is closer to Tokyo and was dead easy to transfer using the monorail. We were able to cash-in our JR Pass at the airport and then use it on the monorail into Tokyo (changing at Hamamatsucho onto the JR Line). I've just done a very quick check and the JR office at Haneda may not be open when you arrive to exchange your voucher - so check that out if you fly to there.
PS the food on Lufthansa going out was dreadful, it was a bit better coming home.
sooperscoop said:
Any reason you are stuck on Haneda (HND)? I would search for TYO (Tokyo-all airports) which includes Tokyo Narita (NRT) as well. Piece of piss to get from Narita into Tokyo.
Using different arrival and departure airports is usually more expensive, IMHO. Unless you have a specific trip itinerary in mind, I would arrive and depart from Tokyo.
Also, I know you want to leave from Birmingham but don't overlook London. Two hours on the train/tube could save you hours of layover in a dump like Frankfurt. Also London gives you the options to do stopvers pretty much anywhere. Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok (bring on the ladyboys!) etc etc. 3 weeks is long enough to make your trip even more epic.
I agree on also looking at Narita, I've flown into both and it is east to get into Tokyo from either. I also agree about also including Heathrow in your search, I see the National Express to get there as similar to a connecting flight from Birmingham to somewhere in Europe. Whilst Virgin were still operating their Heathrow to Narita flights that was my preferred route.Using different arrival and departure airports is usually more expensive, IMHO. Unless you have a specific trip itinerary in mind, I would arrive and depart from Tokyo.
Also, I know you want to leave from Birmingham but don't overlook London. Two hours on the train/tube could save you hours of layover in a dump like Frankfurt. Also London gives you the options to do stopvers pretty much anywhere. Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok (bring on the ladyboys!) etc etc. 3 weeks is long enough to make your trip even more epic.
Planet Claire said:
I've flown to China on Finnair and was impressed by them.
We flew to Japan in Oct '14 with Lufthansa via Frankfurt on the way there and Munich on the way back. We paid £550 each and that was flying into Haneda. Haneda is closer to Tokyo and was dead easy to transfer using the monorail. We were able to cash-in our JR Pass at the airport and then use it on the monorail into Tokyo (changing at Hamamatsucho onto the JR Line). I've just done a very quick check and the JR office at Haneda may not be open when you arrive to exchange your voucher - so check that out if you fly to there.
PS the food on Lufthansa going out was dreadful, it was a bit better coming home.
That seems to be the flights I'm seeing coming up cheap. Haneda is 50 minutes to Shibuya / Shinjuku via limo bus for about £8 which is great, Narita is about double that I think. We flew to Japan in Oct '14 with Lufthansa via Frankfurt on the way there and Munich on the way back. We paid £550 each and that was flying into Haneda. Haneda is closer to Tokyo and was dead easy to transfer using the monorail. We were able to cash-in our JR Pass at the airport and then use it on the monorail into Tokyo (changing at Hamamatsucho onto the JR Line). I've just done a very quick check and the JR office at Haneda may not be open when you arrive to exchange your voucher - so check that out if you fly to there.
PS the food on Lufthansa going out was dreadful, it was a bit better coming home.
sooperscoop said:
Any reason you are stuck on Haneda (HND)? I would search for TYO (Tokyo-all airports) which includes Tokyo Narita (NRT) as well. Piece of piss to get from Narita into Tokyo.
Using different arrival and departure airports is usually more expensive, IMHO. Unless you have a specific trip itinerary in mind, I would arrive and depart from Tokyo.
Also, I know you want to leave from Birmingham but don't overlook London. Two hours on the train/tube could save you hours of layover in a dump like Frankfurt. Also London gives you the options to do stopvers pretty much anywhere. Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok (bring on the ladyboys!) etc etc. 3 weeks is long enough to make your trip even more epic.
Using different arrival and departure airports is usually more expensive, IMHO. Unless you have a specific trip itinerary in mind, I would arrive and depart from Tokyo.
Also, I know you want to leave from Birmingham but don't overlook London. Two hours on the train/tube could save you hours of layover in a dump like Frankfurt. Also London gives you the options to do stopvers pretty much anywhere. Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Bangkok (bring on the ladyboys!) etc etc. 3 weeks is long enough to make your trip even more epic.
Craikeybaby said:
I agree on also looking at Narita, I've flown into both and it is east to get into Tokyo from either. I also agree about also including Heathrow in your search, I see the National Express to get there as similar to a connecting flight from Birmingham to somewhere in Europe. Whilst Virgin were still operating their Heathrow to Narita flights that was my preferred route.
Definitely not stuck on the idea, but Birmingham is on my doorstep so just makes it a lot easier to get there and back, from experience our trains aren't the most reliable things, and it's the added hassle of getting a super early train there if it's a morning flight out, and train(s) home after ~14 hours of travelling.But I will look into it, I know London opens up a lot of options and perhaps if it does offer much shorter flights then it could be worthwhile. My sister recently flew to Dominican Republic from Stanstead I believe, but she had to get a train from Brum > Euston then tube Euston > Stanstead. They stayed a night at a hotel a mile from the airport for their early morning flight. It just seemed like a lot of pre-travel before even setting foot on a plane.
Some of the stopovers suck though. Like 12 hours in Qatar.. What am I to do in 12 hours? If I could do a full day stopover somewhere interesting then perhaps I could add a night there and add it as part of the trip.
Damn shame Virgin don't fly direct anymore though.
Also, although not a major concern, I'm looking at the planes for the flights, I've read that ANA use the 747 which are a bit old now and are 3-4-3 seating, whereas I believe some of the other flights use 777 or similar Airbus which are 2-5-2. I always try to book window seats so that would be better.
I'll do some more searching for London flights though, thanks for the advice so far!
Edited by smithyithy on Sunday 10th January 15:09
I'm only 10 minutes from BHX, National Express is the best way to get to Heathrow, as you don't need to go into Central London and out again. It is no worse than a connecting flight.
Flights over Russia tend to be shorter time in the air than flying via the middle east, last time I looked flying with Emirates it would have been 18 hours in the air, vs 12 to 13 from North Europe.
The monorail is the best way to get into central Tokyo from Haneda, it's less than 30 minutes. It's 45 minutes on the train from Narita, in both cases the stations are underneath the arrivals hall.
Flights over Russia tend to be shorter time in the air than flying via the middle east, last time I looked flying with Emirates it would have been 18 hours in the air, vs 12 to 13 from North Europe.
The monorail is the best way to get into central Tokyo from Haneda, it's less than 30 minutes. It's 45 minutes on the train from Narita, in both cases the stations are underneath the arrivals hall.
Our flights from London to Tokyo cost around £800 each and that's direct. It's just under 12 hours there and just over 12 hours back and we're going from 2 different airports due to favourable flying hours (not having to get up in the early hours!).
We've booked our hotels, just the last 2 nights we need to book, not sure where yet - somewhere in Tokyo.
We've booked our hotels, just the last 2 nights we need to book, not sure where yet - somewhere in Tokyo.
parabolica said:
One week tomorrow and I'll be on my was there for 10 days 
went in 2007 and wanted to go back ever since; finally getting a chance. Spending all my time in Tokyo this time (travelled around the country last time). Gonna leave no stone unturned in that city 
Take plenty of photos for us went in 2007 and wanted to go back ever since; finally getting a chance. Spending all my time in Tokyo this time (travelled around the country last time). Gonna leave no stone unturned in that city 
parabolica said:
One week tomorrow and I'll be on my was there for 10 days went in 2007 and wanted to go back ever since; finally getting a chance. Spending all my time in Tokyo this time (travelled around the country last time). Gonna leave no stone unturned in that city
Good luck - it is a big place... I didn't get close in nearly 4 years of living there! went in 2007 and wanted to go back ever since; finally getting a chance. Spending all my time in Tokyo this time (travelled around the country last time). Gonna leave no stone unturned in that city hey guys.
looking to purchase our jr rail cards, looking at where we are staying, am i right in thinking we would be best off with just a 7 day pass each?
we're in tokyo for 5 nights, then kyoto for 5 nights and then tokyo for 3 nights.
obviously the train to tokyo>kyoto and back again and also, we're at least going to hiroshima for the day when we're in kyoto. i'd also like to do another day trip from kyoto - maybe kobe.
cheers.
edit: also, are we best off getting a PASMO card for traveling around tokyo? are these like oyster cards or do they work more like travel cards?
edit again: just seen PASMO is a top up card so like an oyster but you can use it in shops too!
looking to purchase our jr rail cards, looking at where we are staying, am i right in thinking we would be best off with just a 7 day pass each?
we're in tokyo for 5 nights, then kyoto for 5 nights and then tokyo for 3 nights.
obviously the train to tokyo>kyoto and back again and also, we're at least going to hiroshima for the day when we're in kyoto. i'd also like to do another day trip from kyoto - maybe kobe.
cheers.
edit: also, are we best off getting a PASMO card for traveling around tokyo? are these like oyster cards or do they work more like travel cards?
edit again: just seen PASMO is a top up card so like an oyster but you can use it in shops too!
Edited by mu0n on Sunday 3rd April 21:15
Edited by mu0n on Sunday 3rd April 21:20
Sam All said:
Ambitious , but can work with the 7 day pass.
5 nights Kyoto
Day trip to Nara( Jr. Rail pass works on the local train) and then overnight to Hiroshima and then direct to Tokyo return if timing works.
i just guessed we were in kyoto for <7 days and i don't think we will use the jr pass when we're in tokyo (just the PASMO). so i figured getting the 14 day pass would be a waste of money.5 nights Kyoto
Day trip to Nara( Jr. Rail pass works on the local train) and then overnight to Hiroshima and then direct to Tokyo return if timing works.
what do you think will be ambitious? we have accommodation booked at the same place in kyoto so wanted to do a couple of day trips to take advantage of the jr rail pass.
mu0n said:
hey guys.
looking to purchase our jr rail cards, looking at where we are staying, am i right in thinking we would be best off with just a 7 day pass each?
we're in tokyo for 5 nights, then kyoto for 5 nights and then tokyo for 3 nights.
obviously the train to tokyo>kyoto and back again and also, we're at least going to hiroshima for the day when we're in kyoto. i'd also like to do another day trip from kyoto - maybe kobe.
cheers.
edit: also, are we best off getting a PASMO card for traveling around tokyo? are these like oyster cards or do they work more like travel cards?
edit again: just seen PASMO is a top up card so like an oyster but you can use it in shops too!
Your understanding of PASMO is right, it works in buses too. Be careful though, some trains Romancecar for example, you have to buy a supplementary ticket for (seriously there's a train called Romancecar) looking to purchase our jr rail cards, looking at where we are staying, am i right in thinking we would be best off with just a 7 day pass each?
we're in tokyo for 5 nights, then kyoto for 5 nights and then tokyo for 3 nights.
obviously the train to tokyo>kyoto and back again and also, we're at least going to hiroshima for the day when we're in kyoto. i'd also like to do another day trip from kyoto - maybe kobe.
cheers.
edit: also, are we best off getting a PASMO card for traveling around tokyo? are these like oyster cards or do they work more like travel cards?
edit again: just seen PASMO is a top up card so like an oyster but you can use it in shops too!
Edited by mu0n on Sunday 3rd April 21:15
Edited by mu0n on Sunday 3rd April 21:20
The other card which works the same as PASMO is SUICA. You should be able to buy either from a machine in the station very easily.
Cyder said:
Your understanding of PASMO is right, it works in buses too. Be careful though, some trains Romancecar for example, you have to buy a supplementary ticket for (seriously there's a train called Romancecar)
The other card which works the same as PASMO is SUICA. You should be able to buy either from a machine in the station very easily.
Re buying the PasMo/Suica/ToMe card - yup - just walk up to the pink ticket machine in any station, push the English button then follow the prompts for buying a card. Every card comes pre-loaded with 500yen; I put on 10,000 to last me the 10 days and I was left with ~4000 yen at the end - and I used the Metro A LOT!The other card which works the same as PASMO is SUICA. You should be able to buy either from a machine in the station very easily.
FWIW my trip there was awesome; wish I was still there. Kinda hard to describe to people who have never been there, but just walking around the city soaking it all in is amazing, whether it's day or night.
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