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Sangetsu (Offline)
Busier Than Shinjuku Station
 
Posts: 1,346
Join Date: May 2008
Location: 東京都
10-01-2008, 10:55 AM

MMM is right, your first day is too busy. Cut your Disney visits short and visit Disney sea only. The Disneyland is identical to the other Disney parks around the world, if you've seen one, you've pretty much seen them all. Disney Sea is more scenic, more roomy, and a better atmosphere than Disneyland. Don't miss the "Big Band Beat" show.

Getting to either Disney park is easy, you take the Keiyo line train from Tokyo Station to Maihama station. Just follow the people wearing Disney shirts, shoes, popcorn carriers, pins, card holders, etc.

Seeing the Imperial Palace takes only an hour or two. It takes only a few minutes to take pics of the gate, moat, and bridges from the outside, and about an hour to view the gardens inside.

I wouldn't bother with Tokyo Tower, you can see panoramic views of the city from other places. If you haven't booked a hotel yet, the Tobu Levant (formerly the Tokyo Marriot Hothel) hotel in Tokyo has a restaurant on the top floor with an impressive view as well, and it is reasonably priced. It's only a few stops away from Tokyo station on the Sobu line.

The Sensoji is a must see, and Asakusa (which surrounds the temple) offers a maze of shops, sights, and sounds which will give you a good taste of the culture. You can take the Yamanote train line to Ueno station (Ueno is another "must see" it's home to the National Museum, zoo, and Western Art Museum), and connect to the Asakusa subway line there.

The romance car is a good way to get to Hakone, but I would prefer to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Odowara, and then take the Hakone line train or bus into the mountains. The earlier you can do the trip, the better. The usual routine is the bus/train ride to Miyanoshita, then the ropeway/cable car trip to the lake, a boat across the lake, and then the bus back to Odowara. This can be done in one day, allowing time for shopping and lunch.

To get to Odaiba, take the Yamanote train from Tokyo station to Shinbashi station. Then you switch to the Yurikamome line, which will take you over the Rainbow Bridge and drop you off in front of either Palette Town (home of the giant Ferris wheel), or by the Aqualand shopping center. Have lunch at Kua Aina, home of the world's best (I kid you not) hamburger.
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