Wish I had watched this before I went - I was really nervous about how much my recent trip to japan would cost and actually saved up and waited longer than I needed to, it was so much more affordable than I thought it would be, which is good as I plan to go again :)
Japan's perceived as a really expensive place, when it's actually not as bad as most people think. At least you're part-way there for next time! (I think I'll always want to go back too!)
I'm Japanese. If you visit popular place like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza, Akihabara etc, It's better to stay at hotel in Gotanda, Tokyo&Ohtemachi, or Shibuya. You can reach the destination for about 10~20 minutes, without train-exchange. My recommendation is Tokyo&Ohtemachi, because it's a safe place(Gotanda&Shibuya is not, Japanese think),and very convenient(you can use 18 railways).
Hi...i m planning to visit Tokyo during Olympics 2020. I plan go watch badminton so could u recommend a good budget hotel or hostel (double room) near stations. I have stayed at Asakusa and Ueno before. Want to try a new area. Many thanks. Greetings from Malaysia.
Badminton games will be held in a suburb area, near the Tobitakyu station. Tokyo2020 official site tokyo2020.org/jp/games/venue/musashino-forest-sport-centre/ To Tobitakyu, it takes 26 minutes from Shinjuku(using Keio line),and as you know, trains of Japan are so crowded(summer in 2020 more). So, If I were you, I would choose to stay in Tobitakyu. Official site of 2 hotels in this area tokyowest-hotel.co.jp/ch-urban/ www.tokyowest-hotel.co.jp/musashino/ However, if you plan to go sightseeing after or before watching the game and don’t want to change hotels, you should stay in Shinjuku.
From a quick search, it looks like they don't allow smoking in rooms, but there are smoking areas. It might be because it's a capsule hotel. Many hotels in Japan do have rooms that allow smoking. An easy way to check is look on Ecpedia (or a similar hotel booking site) in the section where it tells you what rooms are available. It should tell you in the details about each room, whether smoking's allowed or not.
I always stay at the Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku!! It’s so central to everything. The staff is nice, rooms are clean and soundproof and the price isn’t too bad either. If you join the Sunroute Hotel club then you get faster check in, room discounts and a later check out time. It’s free to join too.
Thanks Cakes with Faces. I subscribed to your channel, it's awesome. I'm going to Tokyo next week and your channel has helped me out a lot, I appreciate your effort making all these great videos from and about Japan :-) Greetings from Norway.
Been watching some Japan videos in the last few days and come across your channel. My wife and I will be hopefully going to Tokyo in 2022 for 6 or 7 nights. Been looking at hotels for next May to get an idea on prices and am quite shocked at some of the prices but also the fact so many seem to have already sold out. Enjoyed Hong Kong earlier this year (before everything went crazy) but have always wanted to go to Tokyo so did the Etihad travel voucher scheme so will be flying via Abu Dhabi from Heathrow. Thanks for all the tips.
Awesome, that'll be an amazing trip! :-) Hope my videos help with your planning and finding lots of things you want to do! A lot of hotels aren't available for booking until 6 or even 3 months in advance, so if you're looking for next May it might not be showing you the whole selection. Have a look at dates later this year in the autumn and that should give you a better idea. Spring and autumn would be reasonably similar in terms of popularity, to give you an idea of prices.
How many times do you go/travel on a trip to Japan... if you go a lot... then how do you make a living besides getting money from UA-cam. I really want to travel and maybe live in Japan because the country has amazed me so much over the years (especially in Anime)! Thank you for all your HELPFUL videos. I enjoy them so much and can't stop watching them and getting to know more about Japan when you travel!
So glad you enjoy my videos, that means a lot! I got to Japan about once a year if I can, although I haven't been every year since I started going there in 2010. UA-cam is nowhere near enough money to live on, but now it pays for my Japan trips. I'm full time self-employed running my business Cakes with Faces. Everything's my own design that I sell on my online shop (Cakes with Faces is just me!): www.cakeswithfaces.co.uk
Great idea, that'd be a great experience! I've actually only stayed in regular hotels in Kyoto so I don't have any recommendations - just have a look at reviews and I'm sure you can't go too far wrong! :-)
I’m not sure if you’re still looking, but when we went to Kyoto, we stayed at a ryokan called Sawaya Honten. We booked a room with a private bath, and it was quite spacious and lovely. It’s also close to the bus line for the bamboo forest and monkey park.
Compared to the UK, the length of the beds is the same or very similar, but most Tokyo hotels I've stayed in have "semi-double" beds, which are slightly narrower than a normal double bed. At more spacious hotels, they're more likely to have a full width, regular double bed. It usually says on hotel sites like booking.com whether it's semi-double or regular double.
@@cakeswithfaces hahaha! in the suburbs they have exotic names like ' La Finca ' and the car ports have pull down drapes so you can hide your license plate. (^_^)
I’m planning to travel to JP in march 2024 for cherry blossom season. Right now is Jun 2023. when is the best time to book, plan tickets, hotels in tokyo and ryokan in Hakone? Should I book 6 months in advance? Is 3 months too late? My budget is around 100-150$/night. I know this is alot to ask for everything 😅 but i prefer to stay at central shibuya.
Cherry blossom season's the most popular time of year to go to Japan, so I'd book early. Keep an eye on flight prices as they're up and down at the moment, and book when you spot the best fares. Some hotels aren't available to book until 6 months or 3 months in advance. If you want to book earlier, book one with free cancellation and keep an eye on what's available in case a better option opens up. Don't leave anything too late as places will be booked up at that time of year. Enjoy planning your trip!
@@RODTV-if7yn Yes they're probably not available to book yet, so check back later this year. But don't leave it too late for cherry blossom season, as it'll definitely be busy.
You can book hotels online on hotel booking sites, just as you would anywhere else. With ryokan it varies; many can be booked online but not all of them. On my recent trip I booked the ryokan directly via their own website.
Cakes with Faces We're planning our first trip and your videos always come up with answers to all the right questions, no messing about! It's also good to have travel info from fellow UK travellers. Most videos are targeted at US travellers that probably have different needs and interests. For example, can you get a good cuppa tea in Japan??! :D I like green tea etc but not sure I can go two weeks without a Yorkshire tea or PG tips!
They have english breakfast tea but I think you'll be lucky to find Yorkshire tea! Take some tea bags with you!! (≧◡≦) You can get bottles of Royal Milk tea from vending machines - very sweet!
I really like the Hotel Gracery (the Godzilla hotel!), but really there are lots of great hotels, so don't limit yourself to my recommendations! This video's about various hotels I've stayed in and what they were like: ua-cam.com/video/Sude9IFjSRM/v-deo.html Really, I'd book anywhere that's a good price and a good location close to a station.
Hi! Love your videos, they’ve been so helpful in our planning so far. Have you ever stayed in Akihabara? If so, would you recommend it. My fiancée and I are spending our honeymoon in Japan and currently I have our first hotel reserved in Akihabara. But you have recommended Shinjuku and friends of mine stayed there last year so I’m wondering if I should reconsider?
I haven't stayed in Akihabara - it's definitely a place I love to visit but I haven't stayed there. Shinjuku's my fav because there's so much going on there, and it's really well connected. However with Akihabara you're on the Yamanote line which is always useful. There are also other JR train lines that aren't obvious on most metro maps that will be very useful to you and safe you time: the Chuo and Sobu lines are the fastest way to get across the city to Shinjuku and the west side (it can otherwise take quite a long time on the metro as Tokyo's so big!).
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks for the response! I actually ended up switching our reservation to the APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower and I'm pleased at how close it is to Shinjuku Station and central to many other things. We of course will be visiting Akihabara still!
@@explevel2 APA hotels are usually a good price in a good location. I think you'll be happy with it! You might hear that Kabukicho is the "bad area" of Tokyo but a lot of what you read is dramatised - it's only dangerous if you let touts drag you into their dodgy bars. Walking around the streets it's perfectly safe. Also leave yourself plenty of time to navigate Shinjuku Station - it's huge! :-)
If you don't drink beer there's lemon sours, chuhai (shochu highball), whiskey highballs & sake at most places. Look out for Strong Zero at the convenience store - but beware, they're really strong - and only about 100 yen...!
First of all, great Video! But i still have a question: Me and my girlfriend are going on our 2nd japan trip in october and are planning to book our hotels on the go so we can travel where we want to and basically stay for as long as we want. Do you think that will be a problem? And would Airbnb and hotel sites be the right method to find places to stay?
GamesGlobe I think you’d be fine, lots of people travel that way, and October isn’t peak season so places shouldn’t be fully booked. Yes, I’d use the same hotel search websites. With Airb&b, check the reviews to avoid any problems. October’s a great time to go, enjoy your trip!
There's lots of useful info on: www.japaneseguesthouses.com/ I just booked one for my next trip! The tourist info website for the onsen town had lots of useful information. You could even book ryokan through them. It also had links to the official websites for each one, so I made my booking directly with them. (So they wouldn't lose fees to booking.com, etc). You can also book some of them through hotel websites like Expedia. If you search for the name of the onsen town, they'll come up like regular hotels. Hope that helps!
Anyone know where you would stay if you are a broke student travelling on a budget? Of course there are capsule hotels, but i can't sleep in those every single night. Please, i would love to know!
Hostels are also a low-cost option. You can book them on hotel booking sites like Expedia, etc. You can also get low cost Airbnbs, but be careful and check the reviews to make sure they're reliable.
Been super enjoying your videos. Going only for 4 days with the family. My daughter is 16 years old. Do you think Hotel Gracey will work? Or is the area not great. We really will want to walk around, eat late, and will not be traveling on day trips. Trying to plan a lot of fun in Tokyo. Help Advice.
So glad you've been enjoying them! The Hotel Gracery is a fantastic choice - as with most hotels in Tokyo, just don't expect the rooms to be spacious (although to be fair, they're not bad there compared to some I've stayed in!). The location is perfect. It's such a quick walk to Shinjuku Station, and you're right in the middle of a really lively area with lots to see and plenty of shops, restaurants and games arcades. I wanted to book it again for my recent trip but it wasn't available at the time. You may hear that Kabukicho is the "bad area" of Tokyo. However, it's not something you need to be concerned about and I've stayed there many times! The only thing you need to watch out for is to not go into any dodgy bars there, where tourists can have their drinks spiked and/or end up with a huge bill, or their credit cards stolen. If any touts approach you on the street trying to get you into their bar, just ignore them and keep walking. That's the only thing you need to worry about - it's perfectly safe to walk around the streets and in fact a very lively area that doesn't feel unsafe at all (there are many areas of the UK where I feel much less safe!). Enjoy planning your trip! :-)
Hi there , am planning a trip with a family of 5 from the UK. Guided tours really push the price up but I wonder if you think we really need to spend money on that ?
I've always travelled independently - it costs a lot less than a tour and you can spend your time doing whatever you want! So I'd always recommend that - there's lots of help on booking everything in my videos and my guidebook, and I'm always happy to help here in the comments if I can, if there's anything you're stuck on!
@@cakeswithfaces thank you so much for the reply . I’ve subscribed to your channel and look forward to getting useful information . Thank you again . I think me and my wife have made up our minds not to bother with tours . Incidentally do you know anything about booking a sumo visit ?
@@scottishbanjo Great stuff! Sumo stables are private so you need to book a visit if you want to see inside - with a company like Viator, Voyagin, Klook or Magical Trip. The sumo area of Tokyo is Ryogoku - there are a couple of restaurants in that area that have sumo rings or demonstrations to watch too. Enjoy planning your trip and I hope my videos help! :-)
Please help me. I am going to Tokyo then to Okinawa we have big luggage can't take it from Tokyo to okinawa and bring it back it's not convenient as I might have to pay for check in plane. My question is where to store my luggage in Tokyo I am aware of rental lockers in station and airport but I can keep there up to 3 days maximum. I need somewhere to store it more than 3 days. Any suggestions ? I am okay with if a hotels keeps my luggage where I stay first night then come back stay two more nights as long as they keep my luggage during the 5 days I am in Okinawa
There are luggage storage services at the airport, and some in Tokyo itself - this might help: tokyocheapo.com/living/luggage-storage-in-tokyo/ Have a great trip! And let me know what your favs are in Okinawa - I'm interested to go one day but don't know much about it! :-)
They're priced per room, just the same as when you book any other hotel on Expedia, etc. There aren't any surprise fees, it's all very fair :-) The only thing I've occasionally come across is accommodation tax (if the cost of your room is over a certain amount per night), which is only 100 or 200 yen per night so it's not something to worry about too much. Most hotels I've stayed in have been under the threshold, it's only when I've splashed out on a fancy hotel! :-)
I have a question about the checking out part. I and my friend have booked our flight and hotel and it is recommended to be at the airport 2 hours before the flight and here is the dud we did. The hotel check out is at 12:00 and our flight is at 14:05. Do you have to check out exactly the time it is saying or do you have up to that time to check out on? We can't afford to miss the flight home after all.
The check-out time is the latest time you can check out, so it's fine to check out earlier than 12. :-) I always leave plenty of time for catching flights just in case!
Meh! :-) It's the Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku - excellent location right by Shinjuku Station. You can see a bit more of it in this vid: ua-cam.com/video/Ls1i_h-xm00/v-deo.html
Rosa hernandez Often hotels don’t go on sale until 6 months before your trip (sometimes even 3 months) so it probably isn’t open for reservations yet. Keep an eye out and check back in a month or two!
I am glad that I saw your video today before my trip. I am touching down @ Chitose Airport, Sapporo around 1pm on Boxing Day 26/12/19...aiming to spend about 5 days touring Hokkaido before heading down to Tokyo from Sapporo on 30/12/19 and spending NY Eve in Tokyo. Qs 1: What are the must see in Hokkaido in winter? - Hakodate, Lake Toya, Otaru, Sapporo, Furano? If so, could I base in Sapporo and do day trips or it's better to stay overnight in each place with 2 days in Sapporo? Qs 2: Would you recommend lodging in Shinagawa area or Obaida area in Tokyo? Qs 3: What special NYE and NY events in Tokyo that I should not miss?
You're going tomorrow? How exciting! :-) I really enjoyed Hakodate and Otaru (although I was there for the Snow Light Path Festival), but it's a nice town anyway and not far from Sapporo. Check Hyperdia for train times, I think some of those places might be a bit far for day trips - you don't want to end up spending all the time on the train! You wouldn't want to daytrip from Sapporo to Hakodate for sure! If I went back, I'd definitely go to Hell Valley in Noboribetsu, and Sounkyo Valley looks amazing (check what it's like in winter though!). How about Tomamu Ice Village - looks amazing! www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/en/icevillage/ Did you see my Hokkaido playlist? ua-cam.com/play/PL-YXkErUfa4kjeiMIWkNHDy1JDCRySt_Y.html In Tokyo, personally I'd recommend Shinagawa out of those two, because the location's more convenient. A lot of people in the comments have enjoyed staying in Odaiba, and there are nice views of Tokyo bay, but it's a long-ish way to get to the other side of Tokyo from there, and the train to Odaiba is a little pricier than the JR lines and metro (not that bad though!). Here's some things that happen on new years: trulytokyo.com/new-years-tokyo/ Watch out that some places (shops, restaurants, museums, etc) might be closed for a day or two. And look out for winter illuminations! Some of them are spectacular! Have a great time!! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces G'day, thanks you so much for your recommendations and information sharing. I am yet to go through all the links you have sent me and your other playlists on Japan. Unfortunately, there's so much to do (and eat) in Japan and so little time for a single trip! Watch out, there might be more questions from me. TQ!
I have been following your UA-cam channel for some time. Have you been to FujiQ Highlands? I don't think I've seen any of your video going there. The train ride there is peaceful and the park rides are scary and most important thing is that you can see the majestic Mt Fuji up close. Hope to see an episode on that. Thanks.
I went to travel agent to book holiday in japan yesterday 5 nights (Tokyo) for October. I finally decided to decline as the price was way to high with flight+ 3 star hotel in shinjuku+ pick up / drop off (2/3rds of price of flight ticket) from Narita airport. Please recommend other cheaper places to visit please, u did suggest Fukuoka. I just want to treat my self on my birthday to travel to japan. Looks like I spend my 32st b day next year in japan now! Sorry for long msg. Wrote a short version. 😊👍
Great idea for a birthday trip! My last trip was in October and it was a good time of year to go :-) I haven't found travel agents very helpful for Japan either. - Flights: If you look on (for example) ANA's website you can compare dates easily to find the cheapest days to go. On Skyscanner you can compare prices and find the cheapest airline to book with. You can select direct/non-direct flights. Non-direct is cheaper if you don't mind changing planes. Haneda Airport is closer to the city than Narita. - Hotels: Look on Expedia for Shinjuku hotels - you can filter by price etc. - Airport transfer: You can get the train from either airport so no need to worry about booking that at this point :-) Just been planning a video about booking flights!!
Cakes with Faces thank you so much for replying. Much appreciated. I will give booking again ago sometime in the future. At the end of the day shops in Tokyo are there to make money, it’s a business. I understand . I’m now very much interested in Fukuoka and other cheaper places. Cheaper holiday, more time spent in japan ; ) . Look forward to more of your videos!!!
It's the flights that are the expensive part. The hotel in Fukuoka was cheaper than Tokyo; I'm yet to discover if everything else is too! To be honest, I don't think shops and restaurants in Tokyo are that expensive really (although it does depend where you go, but food for example is certainly cheaper than the UK), so I'd focus more on which city or area has more things you want to see and do. You can save on the flights by looking at different dates and times of year.
They were supposed to be able to do translation!! You can use your phone camera and google translate if you have a pocket wifi - it's not 100% reliable but can help in some situations (or you at least get some funny results!)
The easiest way is a train called the Narita Express. Look up the "N’Ex Tokyo Round Trip Ticket", you can get it from the airport (4000 yen). It's a comfortable train, just for the airport, and it stops at Shinjuku. There are cheaper options, like the Keisei line, but that's a regular train so it doesn't have spaces for your suitcases. There are also coaches too. Check which exit you need at Shinjuku to get to your hotel - it's absolutely huge so it helps to know which exit to follow signs for.
It's actually not bad - most hotels, especially in Tokyo and other popular areas are used to dealing with foreign tourists - you won't be the first person who's arrived not being able to speak Japanese! I've been very impressed with their English. Even at hotels in less touristy areas where there isn't a strong English-speaker, they've made a very good effort and it's nothing to worry about! :-)
There are lots of twin rooms, but I'm not sure if there'd be many hotel rooms for 3 people. Apart from traditional Japanese style rooms with 3 futons (which are really comfy!). An apartment might be a good option. Just check reviews to make sure the place is reliable, especially if you're using AirBnB. There are apartment-style hotels. You can compare prices on Expedia and Booking.com
I've never seen any insects at all in hotels - they've always been extremely clean. Maybe if you were going to the depths of the countryside, but in the city you're fine! :-) Apparently there are cockroaches in Tokyo but I've never seen one.
Nice video, I'm staying at an Airbnb with my gf in Setagaya for May/June, with flights, for 3 weeks it has only cost around £1600 (£800pp). I imagine travel costs will be higher but it cost the same as a holiday to Florida if you plan everything right :)
Thanks! Yes, Japan's less expensive than it's perceived to be! Have an amazing time - you'll be able to do explore lots of places in 3 weeks, and that's a great time of year to go :-)
I haven't been but there's one called Taketoritei at Arima Onsen near Kobe that looks good. This website tells you whether they're able to cater for special diets: www.japaneseguesthouses.com/ And there's a list here: isitveganjapan.com/food-on-the-go/vegan-friendly-accommodation/ Hope that helps! :-)
Toyoko Inn business hotel chain isn't that bad, free fresh made in house breakfast every day, but the beds are so hard. My back was killing me after just a week.
I've always paid online before hand on my card, so I'm not sure. You'd need to check, but as a guess, Japan's still quite a cash-based society so I'd guess you would be able to - not sure though!
Hi, BOOS I am from sri lanka, how can I get hotel job in japan, I have hotel experience 9 years in Dubai, as a housekeeping supervisor. i can speak English ,Arabic Hindi and conversation Japanese (nihon go). Pleas advice if I can get hotel job, whet I need to do next step.
We tried booking hotels in Tokyo Japan,but they always require us to book 2 rooms because we're also a family of 4 so r only choice was airbnb. We chose an apartment in around Kita.
Mostly it's just the price you pay to Expedia or whichever site you book with. Very occasionally I've paid an accommodation tax when I get there. It's only about 100 yen per person per night (100 yen is about 70-80p) so it's nothing to worry about too much. If your hotel's under a certain amount (I think 10,000 yen per night) it doesn't apply, and I think it's only for hotels in Tokyo.
Really I'd stay at any hotel in your price range that's close to a station and has decent reviews, I wouldn't recommend a specific one (there are so many!). Some I've stayed at are: E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku (smallest rooms I've stayed in), Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (excellent location by Shinjuku Station), Hotel Gracery (a little pricier but it's the Godzilla Hotel! - there's a room tour on my channel). Hope that helps!
It doesn't take long to get into the city from either airport (Narita is a bit further but only about an hour) so you can head straight to your hotel in the city. I'd book anywhere that's within your price range and close to a station. My fav area to stay is Shinjuku because there's so much going on, right there on your doorstep, and it's very well connected.
Cakes with Faces including my air travel days I have a total of 7 days. Do you think I should just focus on either Tokyo or Osaka, rather than jumping around between them? I can always come back another year and do more. If so who chi would you recommend for a first time international traveler
@@dailyadventure4776 I'd say there's enough to do in Tokyo for 7 days (I've spent a 10 day trip just in Tokyo before!) :-) Really though, think about what you want to see and make your decision based on that. I've spent 3 days in Osaka (although I didn't do everything), and there are lots of day trips around the Kansai area. Kyoto's also very close, and there are several days' worth of things to do there. Personally I spent my first trip just in Tokyo, but I would encourage people to travel around Japan as there's lots more to see too! If you want to see a modern, big city, go for Tokyo. Osaka's still a big city but you also have access to traditional, historic Japan in Kyoto, and countryside day trips eg Mount Koya. Hope that helps! :-)
Hi, I'm going to Japan in October with my kids and hubby. Can you recommend a nice family hotel in Tokyo that will be at the heart of everything and also close or easy to get to Haneda airport from. I thank you in advance
Haneda Airport's only about 15 mins from the city, so it's easy to get to! :-) I feel like Shinjuku's in the heart of everything - it is very big, busy and crazy though! (But it's my favourite place to stay!). Shibuya would be good too. But really I'd stay anywhere that's close to a station - you can't go too far wrong! Most hotel rooms are very small, which might be difficult for a family - however there are some recommendations with larger rooms here: santorinidave.com/tokyo-family-hotels Or consider an apartment (just be careful with AirBnB and read the reviews). Hope that helps!
In Shinjuku I'd recommend: Sunroute Plaza (excellent location), Hotel Gracery Kabukicho, E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku (smallest rooms I've had - but you're not going to get large rooms anywhere). The prices fluctuate so really I'd book anywhere that's a good price on Expedia etc, that's near a station.
In Shinjuku I've stayed at the E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku (very small rooms but good price), Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (excellent location) & Hotel Gracery (pricier - it was a splash out for me!). I'd recommend picking one from Expedia that's a good price, and near a station - you can't go too wrong! :-)
I realy liked the hotels I saw you in your vlogs, but I can't find somthing this good :( (I am serching for over a weak now, nearly daly) and I find it so difficult to find a hotel with own room and bath for an ok price. They are rairy with a bed, only with those on the ground things, and everything cheap is a capsule hotel. I hope I find something cheper in Kyoto and Osaka.
Capsule hotels & hostels are the cheapest ones. I usually pay around £69-£90 a night (price varies with the time of year) & I just look on sites like Expedia. I stayed in a hotel with futon recently and actually really liked it - it was strange at first but they were actually really comfy! Good luck!
@@cakeswithfaces Yeah, I know they are the cheapest, but In realy hate shared bathrooms... And I do not have anything against the Futons, just not for a whole weak :D I will seach in trivago an Expedia now like you did, I totaly forgot about those two websites :D Thank you!
Hotel prices vary quite a bit so I choose one within my price range that's close to a station. The E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku is usually reasonable (rooms are the smallest I've stayed in, but they're not a whole lot bigger in other city hotels - unless you're rich!), Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku has a great location and the Granbel Shinjuku's great too. I've not stayed in that area but people on here in the comments recommended the Ueno area's cheaper if you're not finding any in that area in your price range. Everywhere I've stayed in Japan (without exception actually!) has been decent and spotlessly clean.
Mehmaid... HA! That is cute. Will you be doing videos in Osaka like you did in Tokyo? That happened with my APA hotel... I was looking mine up, and there are 2 right next to each other... So funny, but odd.
when i was there we stayed in asakusa. it was shared rooms with several beds kinda boxed to separate them. there was breakfast included(though it's early) and saw 2500 yen at a sign in front
@@carlosespinoza4375 Did you see my How Expensive is Tokyo video? I filmed everything I spent for 3 days so you can see how much you might need. Of course it's possible to spend less if you're on a budget or splash out if you want to! I was just doing what I do :-) ua-cam.com/video/0kkHrTQsi44/v-deo.html
Airbnb is the BEST way to stay in Tokyo. It is cheap and you get a real home. Ryokan is ok also. ...as a fun experience I guess. AVOID hotels... ...unless you stay in Tokyo DisneySEA wich is sooo cool.
You can book flights to/from any Japanese airport online - just type it into SkyScanner to find the best prices. For my recent flight to Fukuoka Airport, I found the price on SkyScanner, then booked it direct with Lufthansa. Tips for booking flights here ;-) --> ua-cam.com/video/cmymvyPrO1E/v-deo.html
ahem,... I think if you stay in outer ward neighborhoods like Kamata, Kameido, Toyocho it will be less expensive and still relatively convenient to central Tokyo areas,... um, then again, if you don't speak Japanese life is going to be kind of difficult.
@@cakeswithfaces hmmm, I'd recommend Monzen-nakacho (I want to move there from Chiba),... lots of mom-and-pop shops and a super important shrine for sumo, Tomioka Hachiman-gu.
I'm not sure if Europe is different, but I've used UK cards in Japan (in shops, restaurants, etc) with no problems. You just need to check that your card is commission-free abroad (it should say on your bank's website) so they don't charge you for foreign currency transactions. In any case, if you're booking the hotel online on Expedia, booking.com, etc, it will be in your own currency so you can use your card just like you normally would. Hope that helps!
Maybe they made it american style? US hotel rooms are usually pretty big (compared to most other countries I've been to) but in Japan most are MUCH smaller - sometimes there isn't even room to leave your suitcase open. You were lucky! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces yes I was kinda shocked when I saw your video but it was a good heads up since we are going back and my boyfriend's grandpa who was in the military won't be with us so we can't stay in that hotel anymore 😅Thanks for the informative vid 😊
scotianbank Yes! Not unbearable but at the start of October it was almost 30 degrees C. Cooling down throughout the month but still warm t-shirt weather (so much warmer than the UK!)
Cakes with Faces Wow, I never would've guessed it! I assume of course that it gets a lot cooler up north, and that it's only that warm on the south of Japan
Its the same where I live in the usa. Tennessee and Japan have pretty much the same climate except the average high temp and humidity in Tennessee is actually a little bit more hot and more humid
The plane flights and hotel prices are exactly why I'll never be able to go to Japan unless I win a lottery or something. Being lower middle-class sucks.
Hudson Ball I don’t earn very much from Cakes with Faces, but I just try not to spend much day to day, and save as much as I can. I don’t really buy anything apart from what I need (tbh there isn’t much I want in shops in the UK) , and there are ways to make it cheaper, like staying in Air B&B or hostels, and choosing your flights carefully. I hope you can make it there one day!!
I've stayed in hotels for up to 2 weeks at a time. My fav was the Hotel Miracosta at Disney Sea (a splash-out for 1 night!) :-) As for normal hotels: the Granbel in Kabukicho is great - Shinjuku's my fav place to stay. Really I'd pick any hotel that's a good price and close to a station.
Omg I’m having such a hard time finding a hotel 🏨 close to a station 🚉!!! It’s mine n my bfs first time going anywhere USA lol well I’ve been to Mexico lol buts it’s not the same ... Also is there a lot of veggie options lol We live in Los angles
@@jesschavez4389 Being veggie is difficult but not impossible. Most restaurants don't have a veggie option as standard, like they do in the USA. Did you see my list of restaurants with vegetarian options in Tokyo? Hope it helps! www.cakeswithfaces.co.uk/japan/vegetarian-restaurants-in-japan/
I never like Air BnB and I never recommend it. There really is no point when you can get a capsule hotel or a hostel for 15-40 USD a day. You can't get better then that. Plus a lot of the time Air BNB are ether overprices,shady, or breaking laws. In my state my landlord got a huge fines for using it to rent out apartments meant for the low income to use as AIr BNB hotels. The law is here you need to stay an entire month to rent a home legally. So no Air BNB is trash, don't use it.
I can see why having a whole apartment or house would be good for families or groups, but yes you do need to be careful with AirBnB. Personally what also puts me off (along with the possibility of cancellation or unreliable bookings) is the thought that the local community doesn't like unknown people coming and going, so you might not be so welcome with the neighbours etc.
@@cakeswithfaces Also I forget if it's mention in the video , but it's good to always have cash on you since most places only accept cash and the same goes for hotels and hostels. Some accept card but almost all accept cash. So it's good to check on that while booking.
Wish I had watched this before I went - I was really nervous about how much my recent trip to japan would cost and actually saved up and waited longer than I needed to, it was so much more affordable than I thought it would be, which is good as I plan to go again :)
Japan's perceived as a really expensive place, when it's actually not as bad as most people think. At least you're part-way there for next time! (I think I'll always want to go back too!)
I'm saving up now so I can go at the end of 2020, Can't wait.
How much did you spent on Japan without trip only food and places you went pls answer me as soon as possible cause I want to go
I'm Japanese. If you visit popular place like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza, Akihabara etc,
It's better to stay at hotel in Gotanda, Tokyo&Ohtemachi, or Shibuya.
You can reach the destination for about 10~20 minutes, without train-exchange.
My recommendation is Tokyo&Ohtemachi, because it's a safe place(Gotanda&Shibuya is not, Japanese think),and very convenient(you can use 18 railways).
Thanks for the recommendation! Just checked the metro map and it does have a lot of connections!
Hi...i m planning to visit Tokyo during Olympics 2020. I plan go watch badminton so could u recommend a good budget hotel or hostel (double room) near stations. I have stayed at Asakusa and Ueno before. Want to try a new area. Many thanks. Greetings from Malaysia.
Badminton games will be held in a suburb area, near the Tobitakyu station.
Tokyo2020 official site
tokyo2020.org/jp/games/venue/musashino-forest-sport-centre/
To Tobitakyu, it takes 26 minutes from Shinjuku(using Keio line),and as you know, trains of Japan are so crowded(summer in 2020 more).
So, If I were you, I would choose to stay in Tobitakyu.
Official site of 2 hotels in this area
tokyowest-hotel.co.jp/ch-urban/
www.tokyowest-hotel.co.jp/musashino/
However, if you plan to go sightseeing after or before watching the game and don’t want to change hotels, you should stay in Shinjuku.
my gramma smokes is there any smoking rooms in j-ship osaka namba? i might be able to take my family next year
From a quick search, it looks like they don't allow smoking in rooms, but there are smoking areas. It might be because it's a capsule hotel. Many hotels in Japan do have rooms that allow smoking. An easy way to check is look on Ecpedia (or a similar hotel booking site) in the section where it tells you what rooms are available. It should tell you in the details about each room, whether smoking's allowed or not.
I found a different one it doesn’t allow it’s called Sarasa Hotel Namba in Osaka
@@nillanellis Always best to check before you book! :-)
Lovely tips. Taking a short vacation in Tokyo & Kyoto next month. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Enjoy your Japlanning! More tips videos coming up :-)
I always stay at the Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku!!
It’s so central to everything.
The staff is nice, rooms are clean and soundproof and the price isn’t too bad either. If you join the Sunroute Hotel club then you get faster check in, room discounts and a later check out time. It’s free to join too.
Ooh I've stayed there too, yay!! It really is the prefect location, so close to the station, I really liked it too!
I am looking at this hotel now.
Thanks Cakes with Faces. I subscribed to your channel, it's awesome. I'm going to Tokyo next week and your channel has helped me out a lot, I appreciate your effort making all these great videos from and about Japan :-) Greetings from Norway.
Excellent, thanks so much, I'm glad to hear it! Have an amazing time!!
Been watching some Japan videos in the last few days and come across your channel.
My wife and I will be hopefully going to Tokyo in 2022 for 6 or 7 nights.
Been looking at hotels for next May to get an idea on prices and am quite shocked at some of the prices but also the fact so many seem to have already sold out.
Enjoyed Hong Kong earlier this year (before everything went crazy) but have always wanted to go to Tokyo so did the Etihad travel voucher scheme so will be flying via Abu Dhabi from Heathrow.
Thanks for all the tips.
Awesome, that'll be an amazing trip! :-) Hope my videos help with your planning and finding lots of things you want to do! A lot of hotels aren't available for booking until 6 or even 3 months in advance, so if you're looking for next May it might not be showing you the whole selection. Have a look at dates later this year in the autumn and that should give you a better idea. Spring and autumn would be reasonably similar in terms of popularity, to give you an idea of prices.
@@cakeswithfaces brilliant. That explains a lot. Thanks.
Yes, your videos are very informative.
Searched hotel prices for later this year and so much better.
Can't wait until 2022 lol
@@motr1912 Great stuff :-) Enjoy planning your trip! I can't wait to get back to Japan too when it's safe!
I’m planning to go to Japan and youtube bring me to your channel😊
You'll love it! Enjoy planning your trip :-)
How many times do you go/travel on a trip to Japan... if you go a lot... then how do you make a living besides getting money from UA-cam. I really want to travel and maybe live in Japan because the country has amazed me so much over the years (especially in Anime)! Thank you for all your HELPFUL videos. I enjoy them so much and can't stop watching them and getting to know more about Japan when you travel!
So glad you enjoy my videos, that means a lot! I got to Japan about once a year if I can, although I haven't been every year since I started going there in 2010. UA-cam is nowhere near enough money to live on, but now it pays for my Japan trips. I'm full time self-employed running my business Cakes with Faces. Everything's my own design that I sell on my online shop (Cakes with Faces is just me!): www.cakeswithfaces.co.uk
@@cakeswithfaces Wow... I thought you went like 2-3 times a year (it just looks like you would when you make your videos)🤣🤣🤣
@@ChloeW-gw3md I wish I could but I don't have the budget for that! 😅 I just film a lot when I go, then edit when I get back home.
@@cakeswithfaces ohhh😯.... thanks for answering all my questions... you were so helpful😉
Love it. Thanks again! I'm thinking of staying in a Ryokan for the experience. Any recommendations for one in Kyoto?
Great idea, that'd be a great experience! I've actually only stayed in regular hotels in Kyoto so I don't have any recommendations - just have a look at reviews and I'm sure you can't go too far wrong! :-)
Did you end up staying in one yet? I'm also looking for recommendations! :)
I’m not sure if you’re still looking, but when we went to Kyoto, we stayed at a ryokan called Sawaya Honten. We booked a room with a private bath, and it was quite spacious and lovely. It’s also close to the bus line for the bamboo forest and monkey park.
I'm first time travel anyway if I book hotel how much ber nightmare?
Do you mean how much per night?
My husband is two meters tall (Dutch). What size are the beds?
Compared to the UK, the length of the beds is the same or very similar, but most Tokyo hotels I've stayed in have "semi-double" beds, which are slightly narrower than a normal double bed. At more spacious hotels, they're more likely to have a full width, regular double bed. It usually says on hotel sites like booking.com whether it's semi-double or regular double.
Thanks for the video :) Love your hair
Thank yous! :-)
Love hotels....for rest....
>3
That's what they call it on the sign! ☆⌒(≧▽° )
You know Japan very well.
what else could it be? 😁
5:20
dammit you beat me to it! xD
@@cakeswithfaces hahaha! in the suburbs they have exotic names like ' La Finca ' and the car ports have pull down drapes so you can hide your license plate. (^_^)
I’m planning to travel to JP in march 2024 for cherry blossom season. Right now is Jun 2023. when is the best time to book, plan tickets, hotels in tokyo and ryokan in Hakone? Should I book 6 months in advance? Is 3 months too late? My budget is around 100-150$/night. I know this is alot to ask for everything 😅 but i prefer to stay at central shibuya.
Cherry blossom season's the most popular time of year to go to Japan, so I'd book early. Keep an eye on flight prices as they're up and down at the moment, and book when you spot the best fares. Some hotels aren't available to book until 6 months or 3 months in advance. If you want to book earlier, book one with free cancellation and keep an eye on what's available in case a better option opens up. Don't leave anything too late as places will be booked up at that time of year. Enjoy planning your trip!
@@cakeswithfaces Thank u so much! 🙌
no wonder all the hotels/apartments mostly sold out now when i was browsing.
@@RODTV-if7yn Yes they're probably not available to book yet, so check back later this year. But don't leave it too late for cherry blossom season, as it'll definitely be busy.
What's the best way of booking a hotel/ryokan in Japan? Online or via phone
You can book hotels online on hotel booking sites, just as you would anywhere else. With ryokan it varies; many can be booked online but not all of them. On my recent trip I booked the ryokan directly via their own website.
5:25 "A few hours for a rest" 🤭😉
🤫🤫🤫
Your videos are really helpful and give good advice
Thanks so much! I wanted to help other people with all the questions I had before I first went!
Cakes with Faces We're planning our first trip and your videos always come up with answers to all the right questions, no messing about! It's also good to have travel info from fellow UK travellers. Most videos are targeted at US travellers that probably have different needs and interests. For example, can you get a good cuppa tea in Japan??! :D I like green tea etc but not sure I can go two weeks without a Yorkshire tea or PG tips!
They have english breakfast tea but I think you'll be lucky to find Yorkshire tea! Take some tea bags with you!! (≧◡≦) You can get bottles of Royal Milk tea from vending machines - very sweet!
Which hotel do you recommend in Shinjuku
I really like the Hotel Gracery (the Godzilla hotel!), but really there are lots of great hotels, so don't limit yourself to my recommendations!
This video's about various hotels I've stayed in and what they were like: ua-cam.com/video/Sude9IFjSRM/v-deo.html
Really, I'd book anywhere that's a good price and a good location close to a station.
@@cakeswithfaces thank you
So for 5 people how much would it be?
Look out for my video today!! :-) It's up in 45 mins...
Thank you!! Really wish I can get enough money to get to Japan 😅❤️✌️
It'll be worth all the saving up!
Your videos are so helpful. Thanks
Thanks so much! Mission accomplished for me! :-)
Hi! Love your videos, they’ve been so helpful in our planning so far. Have you ever stayed in Akihabara? If so, would you recommend it. My fiancée and I are spending our honeymoon in Japan and currently I have our first hotel reserved in Akihabara. But you have recommended Shinjuku and friends of mine stayed there last year so I’m wondering if I should reconsider?
I haven't stayed in Akihabara - it's definitely a place I love to visit but I haven't stayed there. Shinjuku's my fav because there's so much going on there, and it's really well connected. However with Akihabara you're on the Yamanote line which is always useful. There are also other JR train lines that aren't obvious on most metro maps that will be very useful to you and safe you time: the Chuo and Sobu lines are the fastest way to get across the city to Shinjuku and the west side (it can otherwise take quite a long time on the metro as Tokyo's so big!).
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks for the response! I actually ended up switching our reservation to the APA Hotel Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower and I'm pleased at how close it is to Shinjuku Station and central to many other things. We of course will be visiting Akihabara still!
@@explevel2 APA hotels are usually a good price in a good location. I think you'll be happy with it! You might hear that Kabukicho is the "bad area" of Tokyo but a lot of what you read is dramatised - it's only dangerous if you let touts drag you into their dodgy bars. Walking around the streets it's perfectly safe. Also leave yourself plenty of time to navigate Shinjuku Station - it's huge! :-)
Hi, nice video. What's the drink you recommend that isn't beer? Thanks
If you don't drink beer there's lemon sours, chuhai (shochu highball), whiskey highballs & sake at most places. Look out for Strong Zero at the convenience store - but beware, they're really strong - and only about 100 yen...!
First of all, great Video!
But i still have a question:
Me and my girlfriend are going on our 2nd japan trip in october and are planning to book our hotels on the go so we can travel where we want to and basically stay for as long as we want.
Do you think that will be a problem?
And would Airbnb and hotel sites be the right method to find places to stay?
GamesGlobe I think you’d be fine, lots of people travel that way, and October isn’t peak season so places shouldn’t be fully booked. Yes, I’d use the same hotel search websites. With Airb&b, check the reviews to avoid any problems. October’s a great time to go, enjoy your trip!
Where can you find ryokans online?
There's lots of useful info on: www.japaneseguesthouses.com/
I just booked one for my next trip! The tourist info website for the onsen town had lots of useful information. You could even book ryokan through them. It also had links to the official websites for each one, so I made my booking directly with them. (So they wouldn't lose fees to booking.com, etc).
You can also book some of them through hotel websites like Expedia. If you search for the name of the onsen town, they'll come up like regular hotels.
Hope that helps!
@@cakeswithfaces omg thank you for the reply!! Your video is great, I’m going in the fall. I also love your hair 🥺 ty again!!
@@saragrant556 Aww thank you! Can't wait to film more travel videos - I'll be going in the early springtime!
Anyone know where you would stay if you are a broke student travelling on a budget? Of course there are capsule hotels, but i can't sleep in those every single night. Please, i would love to know!
Hostels are also a low-cost option. You can book them on hotel booking sites like Expedia, etc. You can also get low cost Airbnbs, but be careful and check the reviews to make sure they're reliable.
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks alot!
Been super enjoying your videos. Going only for 4 days with the family. My daughter is 16 years old. Do you think Hotel Gracey will work? Or is the area not great. We really will want to walk around, eat late, and will not be traveling on day trips. Trying to plan a lot of fun in Tokyo. Help Advice.
So glad you've been enjoying them! The Hotel Gracery is a fantastic choice - as with most hotels in Tokyo, just don't expect the rooms to be spacious (although to be fair, they're not bad there compared to some I've stayed in!). The location is perfect. It's such a quick walk to Shinjuku Station, and you're right in the middle of a really lively area with lots to see and plenty of shops, restaurants and games arcades. I wanted to book it again for my recent trip but it wasn't available at the time.
You may hear that Kabukicho is the "bad area" of Tokyo. However, it's not something you need to be concerned about and I've stayed there many times! The only thing you need to watch out for is to not go into any dodgy bars there, where tourists can have their drinks spiked and/or end up with a huge bill, or their credit cards stolen. If any touts approach you on the street trying to get you into their bar, just ignore them and keep walking. That's the only thing you need to worry about - it's perfectly safe to walk around the streets and in fact a very lively area that doesn't feel unsafe at all (there are many areas of the UK where I feel much less safe!).
Enjoy planning your trip! :-)
Great video thank you! 😊
Thanks so much! Did you see the rest of my Japlanning series too? :-)
il be sure to, getting closer now exciting! so much to do there :) going solo so itll be an adventure!
That's great, you'll be able to go see whatever you want to! :-)
Hi there , am planning a trip with a family of 5 from the UK. Guided tours really push the price up but I wonder if you think we really need to spend money on that ?
I've always travelled independently - it costs a lot less than a tour and you can spend your time doing whatever you want! So I'd always recommend that - there's lots of help on booking everything in my videos and my guidebook, and I'm always happy to help here in the comments if I can, if there's anything you're stuck on!
@@cakeswithfaces thank you so much for the reply . I’ve subscribed to your channel and look forward to getting useful information . Thank you again . I think me and my wife have made up our minds not to bother with tours .
Incidentally do you know anything about booking a sumo visit ?
@@scottishbanjo Great stuff! Sumo stables are private so you need to book a visit if you want to see inside - with a company like Viator, Voyagin, Klook or Magical Trip. The sumo area of Tokyo is Ryogoku - there are a couple of restaurants in that area that have sumo rings or demonstrations to watch too. Enjoy planning your trip and I hope my videos help! :-)
Please help me.
I am going to Tokyo then to Okinawa we have big luggage can't take it from Tokyo to okinawa and bring it back it's not convenient as I might have to pay for check in plane.
My question is where to store my luggage in Tokyo I am aware of rental lockers in station and airport but I can keep there up to 3 days maximum. I need somewhere to store it more than 3 days. Any suggestions ?
I am okay with if a hotels keeps my luggage where I stay first night then come back stay two more nights as long as they keep my luggage during the 5 days I am in Okinawa
There are luggage storage services at the airport, and some in Tokyo itself - this might help: tokyocheapo.com/living/luggage-storage-in-tokyo/ Have a great trip! And let me know what your favs are in Okinawa - I'm interested to go one day but don't know much about it! :-)
Great tips
Thanks
Superb video 🥂
Thank yous! :-)
I'm having a binge on your videos! I feel as though I recognise you, have you had a stall at a mcm comic con before?
Hope you're enjoying them! Haha, yes I've had a stall at MCM for the past 7 years, so there's a good chance you've seen me there!! (≧◡≦)
Cakes with Faces that'll be it then! Yep I'm enjoying :)
See you there in October if you're going!
Where the hotels priced per person or per room? Were there any surprise fees upon arriving?
They're priced per room, just the same as when you book any other hotel on Expedia, etc. There aren't any surprise fees, it's all very fair :-) The only thing I've occasionally come across is accommodation tax (if the cost of your room is over a certain amount per night), which is only 100 or 200 yen per night so it's not something to worry about too much. Most hotels I've stayed in have been under the threshold, it's only when I've splashed out on a fancy hotel! :-)
I have a question about the checking out part.
I and my friend have booked our flight and hotel and it is recommended to be at the airport 2 hours before the flight and here is the dud we did.
The hotel check out is at 12:00 and our flight is at 14:05.
Do you have to check out exactly the time it is saying or do you have up to that time to check out on?
We can't afford to miss the flight home after all.
The check-out time is the latest time you can check out, so it's fine to check out earlier than 12. :-) I always leave plenty of time for catching flights just in case!
Thank you! You are a lifesaver! Then I and my friend do not have to worry then! Thats good! :D
Hi Mehmaid! I just want to ask what is the name of your hotel that you are in this video...? Hoping for a reply 😊
Meh! :-) It's the Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku - excellent location right by Shinjuku Station. You can see a bit more of it in this vid: ua-cam.com/video/Ls1i_h-xm00/v-deo.html
Thank you for replying...I'm a fan of yours 🤗
@@maimaipancanz6594 Aww thanks so much! Enjoy your Japlanning! :-)
I'm going in October and already this hotel is sold out! 🙁
Rosa hernandez Often hotels don’t go on sale until 6 months before your trip (sometimes even 3 months) so it probably isn’t open for reservations yet. Keep an eye out and check back in a month or two!
I am glad that I saw your video today before my trip.
I am touching down @ Chitose Airport, Sapporo around 1pm on Boxing Day 26/12/19...aiming to spend about 5 days touring Hokkaido before heading down to Tokyo from Sapporo on 30/12/19 and spending NY Eve in Tokyo.
Qs 1: What are the must see in Hokkaido in winter? - Hakodate, Lake Toya, Otaru, Sapporo, Furano? If so, could I base in Sapporo and do day trips or it's better to stay overnight in each place with 2 days in Sapporo?
Qs 2: Would you recommend lodging in Shinagawa area or Obaida area in Tokyo?
Qs 3: What special NYE and NY events in Tokyo that I should not miss?
You're going tomorrow? How exciting! :-)
I really enjoyed Hakodate and Otaru (although I was there for the Snow Light Path Festival), but it's a nice town anyway and not far from Sapporo. Check Hyperdia for train times, I think some of those places might be a bit far for day trips - you don't want to end up spending all the time on the train! You wouldn't want to daytrip from Sapporo to Hakodate for sure! If I went back, I'd definitely go to Hell Valley in Noboribetsu, and Sounkyo Valley looks amazing (check what it's like in winter though!).
How about Tomamu Ice Village - looks amazing! www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/en/icevillage/
Did you see my Hokkaido playlist? ua-cam.com/play/PL-YXkErUfa4kjeiMIWkNHDy1JDCRySt_Y.html
In Tokyo, personally I'd recommend Shinagawa out of those two, because the location's more convenient. A lot of people in the comments have enjoyed staying in Odaiba, and there are nice views of Tokyo bay, but it's a long-ish way to get to the other side of Tokyo from there, and the train to Odaiba is a little pricier than the JR lines and metro (not that bad though!).
Here's some things that happen on new years: trulytokyo.com/new-years-tokyo/
Watch out that some places (shops, restaurants, museums, etc) might be closed for a day or two.
And look out for winter illuminations! Some of them are spectacular!
Have a great time!! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces G'day, thanks you so much for your recommendations and information sharing. I am yet to go through all the links you have sent me and your other playlists on Japan. Unfortunately, there's so much to do (and eat) in Japan and so little time for a single trip! Watch out, there might be more questions from me. TQ!
@@MingDaoBaoBao I know that feeling! That's why I always want to go back :-) Have a great time!!
I have been following your UA-cam channel for some time. Have you been to FujiQ Highlands? I don't think I've seen any of your video going there. The train ride there is peaceful and the park rides are scary and most important thing is that you can see the majestic Mt Fuji up close. Hope to see an episode on that. Thanks.
Thanks for following! No, I haven't been there - I saw it in the distance from the top of Mount Takao though (very tiny!)
I went to travel agent to book holiday in japan yesterday 5 nights (Tokyo) for October. I finally decided to decline as the price was way to high with flight+ 3 star hotel in shinjuku+ pick up / drop off (2/3rds of price of flight ticket) from Narita airport. Please recommend other cheaper places to visit please, u did suggest Fukuoka. I just want to treat my self on my birthday to travel to japan. Looks like I spend my 32st b day next year in japan now! Sorry for long msg. Wrote a short version. 😊👍
Great idea for a birthday trip! My last trip was in October and it was a good time of year to go :-) I haven't found travel agents very helpful for Japan either.
- Flights: If you look on (for example) ANA's website you can compare dates easily to find the cheapest days to go. On Skyscanner you can compare prices and find the cheapest airline to book with. You can select direct/non-direct flights. Non-direct is cheaper if you don't mind changing planes. Haneda Airport is closer to the city than Narita.
- Hotels: Look on Expedia for Shinjuku hotels - you can filter by price etc.
- Airport transfer: You can get the train from either airport so no need to worry about booking that at this point :-)
Just been planning a video about booking flights!!
Cakes with Faces thank you so much for replying. Much appreciated. I will give booking again ago sometime in the future. At the end of the day shops in Tokyo are there to make money, it’s a business. I understand . I’m now very much interested in Fukuoka and other cheaper places. Cheaper holiday, more time spent in japan ; ) . Look forward to more of your videos!!!
It's the flights that are the expensive part. The hotel in Fukuoka was cheaper than Tokyo; I'm yet to discover if everything else is too! To be honest, I don't think shops and restaurants in Tokyo are that expensive really (although it does depend where you go, but food for example is certainly cheaper than the UK), so I'd focus more on which city or area has more things you want to see and do. You can save on the flights by looking at different dates and times of year.
do google glasses help in translating signs , or what you see ?
They were supposed to be able to do translation!! You can use your phone camera and google translate if you have a pocket wifi - it's not 100% reliable but can help in some situations (or you at least get some funny results!)
We are flying to Narita. Is it easy to get to shinjuku from narita? Can we just take a train?
The easiest way is a train called the Narita Express. Look up the "N’Ex Tokyo Round Trip Ticket", you can get it from the airport (4000 yen). It's a comfortable train, just for the airport, and it stops at Shinjuku.
There are cheaper options, like the Keisei line, but that's a regular train so it doesn't have spaces for your suitcases. There are also coaches too.
Check which exit you need at Shinjuku to get to your hotel - it's absolutely huge so it helps to know which exit to follow signs for.
When checking into a standard hotel, how much of a struggle is the language barrier at the lobby desk? My Japanese is... minimal.
It's actually not bad - most hotels, especially in Tokyo and other popular areas are used to dealing with foreign tourists - you won't be the first person who's arrived not being able to speak Japanese! I've been very impressed with their English. Even at hotels in less touristy areas where there isn't a strong English-speaker, they've made a very good effort and it's nothing to worry about! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces That's very reassuring to hear! Thanks so much for your response.
I’m planning a trip to Japan in October with two friends. Is it better to get a room each or try to get 1 room that sleeps 3? (In terms of cost)
There are lots of twin rooms, but I'm not sure if there'd be many hotel rooms for 3 people. Apart from traditional Japanese style rooms with 3 futons (which are really comfy!). An apartment might be a good option. Just check reviews to make sure the place is reliable, especially if you're using AirBnB. There are apartment-style hotels. You can compare prices on Expedia and Booking.com
Cakes with Faces thank you!!
Hi! I am a bit confused by the twin and double bed concept. Which bed size is bigger in Japan? Thank you!
A twin bed is a room with two single beds, and a double bed is a wider bed for 2 people :-) Hope that helps!
@@cakeswithfaces Thanks lots!😁
Which site is the best to book on?
I usually compare the prices on the major hotel websites and book with whichever's cheapest.
Hi do i need to worry about bugs in hotels like if i leave my shoes in my room having spiders or anything crawling in my shoes or is it safe? Thanx
I've never seen any insects at all in hotels - they've always been extremely clean. Maybe if you were going to the depths of the countryside, but in the city you're fine! :-) Apparently there are cockroaches in Tokyo but I've never seen one.
Nice video, I'm staying at an Airbnb with my gf in Setagaya for May/June, with flights, for 3 weeks it has only cost around £1600 (£800pp). I imagine travel costs will be higher but it cost the same as a holiday to Florida if you plan everything right :)
Thanks! Yes, Japan's less expensive than it's perceived to be! Have an amazing time - you'll be able to do explore lots of places in 3 weeks, and that's a great time of year to go :-)
can you recommend any Vegan friendly ryokans/osens in Kyoto, okayama , kobe??
I haven't been but there's one called Taketoritei at Arima Onsen near Kobe that looks good.
This website tells you whether they're able to cater for special diets: www.japaneseguesthouses.com/
And there's a list here: isitveganjapan.com/food-on-the-go/vegan-friendly-accommodation/
Hope that helps! :-)
Great video.
Thanks so much! :-)
Toyoko Inn business hotel chain isn't that bad, free fresh made in house breakfast every day, but the beds are so hard. My back was killing me after just a week.
😂😂 Oh no!!
Can you pay cash at the hotel? Since some give you options to pay at hotel?
I've always paid online before hand on my card, so I'm not sure. You'd need to check, but as a guess, Japan's still quite a cash-based society so I'd guess you would be able to - not sure though!
Hi, BOOS I am from sri lanka, how can I get hotel job
in japan, I have hotel experience 9 years in Dubai, as a housekeeping supervisor.
i can speak English ,Arabic Hindi and conversation
Japanese (nihon go). Pleas advice if I can get hotel job, whet I need to do next
step.
I'd suggest looking for vacancies and applying for jobs? Good luck!
Did you get the Job? Can you provide us with an update?
i feel kind of intimidate there is so much to remember. i hope i can handle it.
It’ll be ok, you can do it!!💪
We tried booking hotels in Tokyo Japan,but they always require us to book 2 rooms because we're also a family of 4 so r only choice was airbnb. We chose an apartment in around Kita.
Yep. This is r 3rd time using Airbnb but r first time in Tokyo really excited! :)
Have an amazing trip!! :-D
How to book a hotel in japan if u’re a family with 3children and want to stay in 1 room together because my children are under 11years old?
Hi, did the hotels you've stayed in have additional charges other than the booking price ?
Mostly it's just the price you pay to Expedia or whichever site you book with. Very occasionally I've paid an accommodation tax when I get there. It's only about 100 yen per person per night (100 yen is about 70-80p) so it's nothing to worry about too much. If your hotel's under a certain amount (I think 10,000 yen per night) it doesn't apply, and I think it's only for hotels in Tokyo.
Wish there would be specific capsule or western style hotel you stayed at, or toured. Thanks
Really I'd stay at any hotel in your price range that's close to a station and has decent reviews, I wouldn't recommend a specific one (there are so many!). Some I've stayed at are: E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku (smallest rooms I've stayed in), Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (excellent location by Shinjuku Station), Hotel Gracery (a little pricier but it's the Godzilla Hotel! - there's a room tour on my channel). Hope that helps!
Is it true that hotel rates in Japan is based on the number of people, rather than the room rate?
Recommendations for hotels in Tokyo Japan after leaving the airport?
It doesn't take long to get into the city from either airport (Narita is a bit further but only about an hour) so you can head straight to your hotel in the city. I'd book anywhere that's within your price range and close to a station. My fav area to stay is Shinjuku because there's so much going on, right there on your doorstep, and it's very well connected.
Cakes with Faces including my air travel days I have a total of 7 days. Do you think I should just focus on either Tokyo or Osaka, rather than jumping around between them? I can always come back another year and do more. If so who chi would you recommend for a first time international traveler
@@dailyadventure4776 I'd say there's enough to do in Tokyo for 7 days (I've spent a 10 day trip just in Tokyo before!) :-) Really though, think about what you want to see and make your decision based on that. I've spent 3 days in Osaka (although I didn't do everything), and there are lots of day trips around the Kansai area. Kyoto's also very close, and there are several days' worth of things to do there. Personally I spent my first trip just in Tokyo, but I would encourage people to travel around Japan as there's lots more to see too! If you want to see a modern, big city, go for Tokyo. Osaka's still a big city but you also have access to traditional, historic Japan in Kyoto, and countryside day trips eg Mount Koya. Hope that helps! :-)
日本を紹介してくれてThank You！！
Hi, I'm going to Japan in October with my kids and hubby. Can you recommend a nice family hotel in Tokyo that will be at the heart of everything and also close or easy to get to Haneda airport from. I thank you in advance
Haneda Airport's only about 15 mins from the city, so it's easy to get to! :-) I feel like Shinjuku's in the heart of everything - it is very big, busy and crazy though! (But it's my favourite place to stay!). Shibuya would be good too. But really I'd stay anywhere that's close to a station - you can't go too far wrong! Most hotel rooms are very small, which might be difficult for a family - however there are some recommendations with larger rooms here: santorinidave.com/tokyo-family-hotels Or consider an apartment (just be careful with AirBnB and read the reviews). Hope that helps!
@@cakeswithfaces thank you so much. This is very helpful
@@kofoadeyina4587 Thanks! Always happy to help out :-)
Can you recommend a couple hotels?
In Shinjuku I'd recommend: Sunroute Plaza (excellent location), Hotel Gracery Kabukicho, E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku (smallest rooms I've had - but you're not going to get large rooms anywhere). The prices fluctuate so really I'd book anywhere that's a good price on Expedia etc, that's near a station.
can you maybe recommend a hotel in shibuya or shinjuku please
In Shinjuku I've stayed at the E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku (very small rooms but good price), Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku (excellent location) & Hotel Gracery (pricier - it was a splash out for me!). I'd recommend picking one from Expedia that's a good price, and near a station - you can't go too wrong! :-)
thank you your videos are so helpful as well.
I realy liked the hotels I saw you in your vlogs, but I can't find somthing this good :( (I am serching for over a weak now, nearly daly) and I find it so difficult to find a hotel with own room and bath for an ok price. They are rairy with a bed, only with those on the ground things, and everything cheap is a capsule hotel. I hope I find something cheper in Kyoto and Osaka.
Capsule hotels & hostels are the cheapest ones. I usually pay around £69-£90 a night (price varies with the time of year) & I just look on sites like Expedia. I stayed in a hotel with futon recently and actually really liked it - it was strange at first but they were actually really comfy! Good luck!
@@cakeswithfaces Yeah, I know they are the cheapest, but In realy hate shared bathrooms... And I do not have anything against the Futons, just not for a whole weak :D I will seach in trivago an Expedia now like you did, I totaly forgot about those two websites :D Thank you!
@@bekki_31 Yes they're the best place to look! Hope you find something! :-)
This was helpful thank you dear. I heard there’s a app that translate Japanese for you both with signs and by voice
I've used Google Translate for that... it can be a little hit and miss sometimes! :-) Luckily the most important signs are in English :-)
Which hotels have you stayed at? I'm going in October and having a hard time choosing a decent hotel for a decent price.
Hotel prices vary quite a bit so I choose one within my price range that's close to a station. The E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku is usually reasonable (rooms are the smallest I've stayed in, but they're not a whole lot bigger in other city hotels - unless you're rich!), Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku has a great location and the Granbel Shinjuku's great too. I've not stayed in that area but people on here in the comments recommended the Ueno area's cheaper if you're not finding any in that area in your price range. Everywhere I've stayed in Japan (without exception actually!) has been decent and spotlessly clean.
Mehmaid... HA! That is cute. Will you be doing videos in Osaka like you did in Tokyo? That happened with my APA hotel... I was looking mine up, and there are 2 right next to each other... So funny, but odd.
Thanks! :-) Yes, I'll be doing videos all about Osaka, Fukuoka (and Tokyo!). I guess some of the chains have gone a bit crazy opening lots of hotels!!
I can’t eat food I live off food supplement drinks, do they sell stuff like that 😰
I don't know, that isn't something I've been on the lookout for.
when i was there we stayed in asakusa. it was shared rooms with several beds kinda boxed to separate them. there was breakfast included(though it's early) and saw 2500 yen at a sign in front
Sounds like it might have been a hostel. That’s a great price!
How much money would you recommend for me to take to Tokyo I want to go for about 2 weeks.
Do you mean for flights & hotels, etc or just spending money?
Cakes with Faces spending money!
@@carlosespinoza4375 Did you see my How Expensive is Tokyo video? I filmed everything I spent for 3 days so you can see how much you might need. Of course it's possible to spend less if you're on a budget or splash out if you want to! I was just doing what I do :-) ua-cam.com/video/0kkHrTQsi44/v-deo.html
God, love hotel is so much fun....
They certainly look interesting...!
Your smile is so adorable that I'm losing my concentration 😘
Haha thank you!
Hi
Hello!
I miss your videos 🥰🥰
You miss them? There's new ones every Thursday :-)
Airbnb is the BEST way to stay in Tokyo. It is cheap and you get a real home. Ryokan is ok also. ...as a fun experience I guess. AVOID hotels... ...unless you stay in Tokyo DisneySEA wich is sooo cool.
TimmyME Loved the Hotel Miracosta - but it was super expensive. You pay for that park view!
Can you make a video how to book a flight from Narita airport or other airports in Japan😊
You can book flights to/from any Japanese airport online - just type it into SkyScanner to find the best prices. For my recent flight to Fukuoka Airport, I found the price on SkyScanner, then booked it direct with Lufthansa. Tips for booking flights here ;-) --> ua-cam.com/video/cmymvyPrO1E/v-deo.html
How about using pasmo?
Pasmo is pretty much the same as a Suica card - more about that here :-) --> ua-cam.com/video/rvqitrtmziY/v-deo.html
where to buy jr pass?
I got mine from japan-rail-pass.co.uk You have to buy it before you travel :-)
ahem,... I think if you stay in outer ward neighborhoods like Kamata, Kameido, Toyocho it will be less expensive and still relatively convenient to central Tokyo areas,... um, then again, if you don't speak Japanese life is going to be kind of difficult.
Always cheaper to stay away from central areas - it'd be interesting to see more "normal" areas rather than the inner city too.
@@cakeswithfaces hmmm, I'd recommend Monzen-nakacho (I want to move there from Chiba),... lots of mom-and-pop shops and a super important shrine for sumo, Tomioka Hachiman-gu.
Hidden Mickies? Hidden Ghost! 😱 My goodness! That Hotel is hunted (6:25) 👻 Wow!
A small, round ghost?! 😝😂
@@cakeswithfaces yes, thanks 4 ur vids, they R so helpful. U got charisma 💃
@@Jana-mq8yb Aww thanks so much!
@@cakeswithfaces To U 😃
is it true that if i book hotel in tokyo through booking i pay with cash when i go there??
No, I've always paid online by card, same as booking a hotel anywhere.
+Cakes with Faces
thanks a lot for quick reply
cause i read that hotels in tokyo dont accept european cards i m from athens greece!!
I'm not sure if Europe is different, but I've used UK cards in Japan (in shops, restaurants, etc) with no problems. You just need to check that your card is commission-free abroad (it should say on your bank's website) so they don't charge you for foreign currency transactions. In any case, if you're booking the hotel online on Expedia, booking.com, etc, it will be in your own currency so you can use your card just like you normally would. Hope that helps!
We stayed at New Sanno Hotel and the rooms were big. Perhaps it's because it's a US military hotel.
Maybe they made it american style? US hotel rooms are usually pretty big (compared to most other countries I've been to) but in Japan most are MUCH smaller - sometimes there isn't even room to leave your suitcase open. You were lucky! :-)
@@cakeswithfaces yes I was kinda shocked when I saw your video but it was a good heads up since we are going back and my boyfriend's grandpa who was in the military won't be with us so we can't stay in that hotel anymore 😅Thanks for the informative vid 😊
Prepare yourselves (unless your budget's a lot higher than mine!!) :-)
@@cakeswithfaces I sure will have to save for it 😅
@@camielledeliarte9251 It'll be worth it! :-)
How do i book a Shinkansen ticket online??
You can only book JR East shinkansen tickets online (for north of Tokyo towards Hokkaido) - otherwise you can book them when you get to Japan.
@@cakeswithfaces Ah i see thank you
@@zJKOz Enjoy your Japlanning! :-)
I am jusing tripadvaiser to book my fly and hotel
Tripadvisor's really useful for checking all the reviews! :-)
wait, did you just say that Japan is hot in October?? :O
scotianbank Yes! Not unbearable but at the start of October it was almost 30 degrees C. Cooling down throughout the month but still warm t-shirt weather (so much warmer than the UK!)
Cakes with Faces Wow, I never would've guessed it! I assume of course that it gets a lot cooler up north, and that it's only that warm on the south of Japan
scotianbank Their summer starts earlier & lasts longer than ours, not fair! :-) Yes that was in Kyoto, I think Hokkaido wouldn’t be as warm.
Its the same where I live in the usa. Tennessee and Japan have pretty much the same climate except the average high temp and humidity in Tennessee is actually a little bit more hot and more humid
i need hotel
2:43 10:56 "APA" should pronunced アパ like "Apa" as in "Apartment".
Ah I didn't know that! :-)
The plane flights and hotel prices are exactly why I'll never be able to go to Japan unless I win a lottery or something. Being lower middle-class sucks.
Hudson Ball I don’t earn very much from Cakes with Faces, but I just try not to spend much day to day, and save as much as I can. I don’t really buy anything apart from what I need (tbh there isn’t much I want in shops in the UK) , and there are ways to make it cheaper, like staying in Air B&B or hostels, and choosing your flights carefully. I hope you can make it there one day!!
Trust me you probably earn far more than I do in a year. I can barely afford internet and food for myself at my place.
Well who knows what might happen in the future :-) I hope you can make it one day!
Ok so what is your favorite hotel to stay in ? Also how long have you stayed in a hotel for ?
I've stayed in hotels for up to 2 weeks at a time. My fav was the Hotel Miracosta at Disney Sea (a splash-out for 1 night!) :-) As for normal hotels: the Granbel in Kabukicho is great - Shinjuku's my fav place to stay. Really I'd pick any hotel that's a good price and close to a station.
Omg I’m having such a hard time finding a hotel 🏨 close to a station 🚉!!! It’s mine n my bfs first time going anywhere USA lol well I’ve been to Mexico lol buts it’s not the same ...
Also is there a lot of veggie options lol
We live in Los angles
@@jesschavez4389 Being veggie is difficult but not impossible. Most restaurants don't have a veggie option as standard, like they do in the USA. Did you see my list of restaurants with vegetarian options in Tokyo? Hope it helps! www.cakeswithfaces.co.uk/japan/vegetarian-restaurants-in-japan/
Cakes with Faces yes I did thank you sorry I have so many questions lol
Do you live in Tokyo
@@jesschavez4389 No worries - there were so many things I wanted to know before I first went too! I live in the UK :-)
I never like Air BnB and I never recommend it. There really is no point when you can get a capsule hotel or a hostel for 15-40 USD a day. You can't get better then that. Plus a lot of the time Air BNB are ether overprices,shady, or breaking laws. In my state my landlord got a huge fines for using it to rent out apartments meant for the low income to use as AIr BNB hotels. The law is here you need to stay an entire month to rent a home legally. So no Air BNB is trash, don't use it.
I can see why having a whole apartment or house would be good for families or groups, but yes you do need to be careful with AirBnB. Personally what also puts me off (along with the possibility of cancellation or unreliable bookings) is the thought that the local community doesn't like unknown people coming and going, so you might not be so welcome with the neighbours etc.
@@cakeswithfaces Also I forget if it's mention in the video , but it's good to always have cash on you since most places only accept cash and the same goes for hotels and hostels. Some accept card but almost all accept cash. So it's good to check on that while booking.
@@originalkingdomhearts Yes, good point! (More about that in my Money in Japan video!) :-)
Great! How was your stay in Japan? I hope you had fun!
@@originalkingdomhearts I always love Japan, I've been travelling there for almost 10 years now! Always want to go back :-)
Have you heard or are you aware if same sex couples are welcome in love hotels?
I've heard many of them will not allow two men to stay there. Not sure about women.
At some of them you get the keys from a vending machine so they wouldn't know who's checking in (I guess you wouldn't be able to book in advance).
my friends accidentally stayed at one (three women) apparently the male attendant kept trying to check on them but that was it 😂