Tokyo Travel Guide 2014

I would like to share some experience as guide for backpackers to travel to Japan.

As mentioned in my previous post, I went to Tokyo last March, 2014 via Nagoya because it was cheap. Haneda Airport for Air Asia or Narita Airport for Malaysia Airline would be more convenient of course if your destination is Tokyo.

Checked in LCCT at 5.30am...but you can see the long Q!!!

My AA flight departed from KL at 9.00 am (15 min delayed)

and arrived 15 minutes early at Nagoya Airport at 4.00 pm.

Another long Q at Nagoya Airport Immigration...took me about 30 min to I could "legalize" myself to enter Japan.
 

It is normal for immigration staff to help foreigners, to ensure the embarkation card and custom declaration card are correctly filled up before they reach the immigration counter.

Thanks to the Japanese Government. Now Nagoya Airport (and Haneda Airport as well), has a Prayer Room. At first, I thought it was a room for people to do their ritual regardless of their religion... but to my surprise, it was built for Muslim!!!

  
According to one airport staff, the surau was only 2 weeks old at that time. He asked for my comment about the symbol (signage). For me the symbol did not help but the wording gave good info. He was very happy when I praised the Japanese Government for being so thoughtful of Muslim needs.  

I met few Malaysian students there. Could not remember name of the universities...hehe...

Maghrib prayer was at 5.50pm. We took a train from the airport to Nagoya Station...Yen850 for one way...

I took the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Nagoya Station to Tokyo Station. At Yen10060 (about RM330), the train offered an amazing 270kmh speed and reached Tokyo in less than 2 hours...

Interior of the Shinkansen...

However, if you enter Japan via Narita Airport, you may take NEXT (Narita Express) from the airport to Tokyo. This applies to the Malaysian Airlines flights. Click Narita Airport for more info.

This map will be very helpful when you travel from the airport to Tokyo.






AirAsia aircrafts carry its passengers to Haneda Airport instead, which is closer to Tokyo. Normal express train will do.

You may get some info about Haneda Airport from here.
This map gives you a better picture of the route.



 

Preparation for Tokyo...March 2014

Assalam and Good day...

My visit to Tokyo (via Nagoya Airport) was from 24th March to 28th March 2014. I had set my mind to snap as many pictures and videos as possible during the visit.

I managed to get Air Asia return ticket (Kuala Lumpur - Nagoya) at only RM870, inclusive of tax and meals. The amount shown on the Invoice was for 2 persons.



I stayed at Ikebukuro Royal Hotel... cheap and convenient... but don't mislead with the name...nothing Royal about this hotel... haha... only 2* for the room condition but 4* for others.

It stayed at the same hotel in September 2013, actually. I chose the hotel for these reasons...

1. Cheap...RM220 per night for twin bed.
2. Location... only 10 minutes walk from Ikebukuro Station.
3. Facilities... many convenient stores nearby (Family Mart, 7-E...)

This is the hotel...