Tokyo non rev
 

Somehow I pulled two weeks off in July! Thinking about taking my family (wife and three kids 11-14) to Tokyo for 4 or 5 days than head to Hawaii. Any gouge and recommendations and things to do there, tips on non rev & getting around Tokyo?
Thanks in advance

As a foreigner you can get a japan rail pass for reasonable prices, covers all trains (minus metro and a handful of super high speed rail). This allows you to enter anywhere really, NRT and HND are connected with airport specific rails that take you right to downtown Tokyo.

Recommend Kyoto and we also did a “small” town (3 million people) called Kanazawa, check out the ninja temple.

I’ve gone to japan a few times. My wife and I love it. Stay anywhere close to a metro stop and transportation is easy. Last time we stayed next to the main Tokyo station and it was reasonably priced for Tokyo (about $100/nt 3 stars). It’s right by metro lines and JR railways. You’re a 30 min metro ride to HND, and a 1hr bus ride to NRT (for $10! And the bus was really nice and comfortable).

We went to a Tokyo Giants baseball game this trip, if you like baseball I’d highly recommend it, it was an awesome experience. Also if you’ve got young ones, Tokyo Disneyland and Disney sea would be good. Again, all a short metro ride if you stay close to the main station.

Shinjuku and kabukicho for nightlife... ...check out the robot bar/restaurant. We loved it and there were families that brought their kids (it has a reputation for being swanky but the ladies were covered up)

The Tokyo skytree tower is amazing too. One of the best observatories in the world

I agree with all, if your military related, you can sometimes get last minute rooms at the New Sanno which is in the heart of Tokyo. My kids loved the Pokemon store as well at that age.
For a small excursion, take the train to Hakone for a night, there is a cable car overlooking a great lake and lots of hotsprings.

Lastly, the morning after you arrive don't let a good case of jet lag pin you down, head out to Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo (goes from about 4:30am till 9am) where all the sushi restaurant buyers get their daily catch of fresh ocean creatures that are kept alive till the very last second. Many of the creatures look like they are from a different planet. Your kids will be amazed and there are Tuna being auctioned off for thousands of dollars every morning.
Also second the Tokyo Giants game if able, unlike any baseball game in the US with organized chants and ladies serving beer from pony kegs attached to their backs. Lastly, if you can attend any sumo event, that is great as well.

Sayonara

2, best sushi I have ever had.

Thanks for all the gouge!

Me and the wife did a 10 day trip over there out of ATL a few months ago. It was Cherry blossom season so the loads were tight... but yea everything said above is solid.

We also did the Arakura Sengen Shrine out of Tokyo as an easy day trip at the last minute. Very simple to get around if you get the rail pass and you can buy it at the Narita airport. The cost is a little more if you buy it the day of but with non reving you never quite know if or when youll arrive.

Have fun!

Leaving Tokyo Haneda as I write this....

Tokyo is really a cash city, very few places accept credit cards, unless it’s a chain restaurant, or an upscale sit down restaurant. Cash was also required at the currency exchange at the airports and metro stations. There is a 72 hour unlimited ride on the metro ticket that can be purchased at multiple places around the city and both airports. 15 dollars for adults and 7.50 for kids. These do not work on the JR LINES, only the metro lines. You must show your passport to purchase. We purchased ours at TIC which stands for tourist information center. The Tokyo metro website lists the places you can purchase them. Use the Tokyo metro app to get around the city. There is a metro guide by the metro stations that lists some of the sights. Harajku is a popular place for kids and has lots of little stores and cafes including cafes where you can play with cats and pet owls.
The Tokyo Tower and Skytree are beautiful at night and Ueno is a nice park with a zoo in it. If you fly into Haneda the Keikyu line runs into the Asakusa line to take you into the city, all included in the 72 hour pass. If you stay near a metro station you can pretty much get anywhere. Hope you like fish!

Thanks for all of the replies!

All the above are great points on Tokyo. Especially it being a cash city.

Another point I will second is get one of the rail/transit cards for each person on arrival. We used the PASMO card and it worked on pretty much everything in Tokyo except high speed trains. Then we returned it at HND for a full refund of what was left on the cards.

Google map’s transit directions (and having the above cards) were a godsend and made using public transport to get around effortless. We also used uber a couple of times too without any issues.

If you’ve never been to a Japanese bbq place be sure to try that out too! The one we went to was called Gyu-Kaku. There are several around Tokyo. We have them in the US too but might as well try the original while in Japan.