Just a simple post without pics from my recent trip with my parents this week.
TL;DR:
Took Thai Airways and used JR TOKYO Wide Pass to have day trips outside Tokyo.
Mainly just touch and go because it is a short trip.
Details of Wide Pass1) SUN: Flight KL to Tokyo» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
KUL -> BKK -> HND
Not a good start, our TG 418 flight from Bangkok was delayed for an hour.
We originally only had 1 hour and 5 minutes to transfer at BKK!
That means we only had 5 minutes to transit
We were ready for the worst. (Take the next plane which was 7 hours+ later)
When we arrived at BKK the transit took 30 minutes.
Would not recommend again if you have aging parents that cannot walk fast.
Basically the plane waited for us and departure was delayed 45 minutes.
The planes were the old Boeing 777/Boeing 747s.
Service was good but the old grainy screens, me no like so much.
2) MON: Tokyo» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
We took our TG 682 red eye flight and arrived Tokyo Haneda a bit late.
Then we got news that our bags didn't made the transfer.
TG staff can only assist us to send our bags to the hotel next day early morning.
We only got some 2k yen Uniqlo sweaters after we asked for any other compensations.
(Guess we will just claim delayed luggage from our insurance later).
With no luggage we go the JR EAST Travel Service Centre and bought our 3 day passes.
You need to tell the JR staff which 3 days you intended to use and cannot be changed
Later is straight to Tsukiji for brunch, walked around Ueno and shopped around Shinjuku/Shibuya.
3) TUE: Kawaguchiko/Kofu @ Yamanashi Prefecture» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Our bags arrived early morning, if we did not get it I won't consider going up Kawaguchiko lake area
Parents didn't know but secretly I just want to try to use the JR TOKYO Wide Pass and try the express trains
This pass quite good since cover a lot of the JR trains around Tokyo area (including certain Shinkansen lines).
Activated the pass and took the Azusa express train from Shinjuku to Otsuki.
From Otsuki, the private Fujikyuko Line up to Kawaguchiko is also covered by the pass.
(Some panoramic seats need to be reserved with surchage. 200 JPY is ok if you ask me).
We reserved some panoramic seats in the Fujisan Express train up to Kawaguchiko Station.
Took boat cruise, cable car and some walking about, nice Mt. Fuji views from the lake.
Later took the beautiful Fujisan Tozan Densha down back to Otsuki.
Took the local train from Otsuki to Kofu, the capital of Yamanashi Prefecture.
Why go Kofu/Yamanashi is because want to taste wine. So basically just wine and dine there.
Took the Super Azusa Express back to Shinjuku for another round of shopping before retiring back to the hotel.
Details of the Fujikyuko:
Fujikyuko 4) WED: Mito @ Ibaraki Prefecture» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Took the express train Hitachi to Mito! Why Mito? Plum flowers are blooming!
Mainly in the morning just enjoy the scenery in Kairakuen Garden.
Toured around the city and took Hitachi back to Tokyo before again shopping around the city.
Very relaxed day after all the rushing about from before.
4) THU: Karuizawa @ Nagano Prefecture» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Took the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Karuizawa!
If you want to take just the Shinkansen is more than 10k JPY.
This Wide Area Pass itself already cost 10k JPY so its quite worth it.
Karuizawa is a resort town and has a few things to do if you want to do a day trip.
There's shopping, hot springs, skiing, tracking. Quite a nice place.
Took the return Shinkansen back to Tokyo for final shopping spree.
5) FRI: Return Flight to KL» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
HND -> BKK -> KUL
TG 683 departed on time in the morning but arrived slightly late in BKK
Again another 30 minutes rush to our return flight TG 417 back to KUL
Luckily this time the planes are the new ones and our bags made it with us.
Why I took Thai? Because I got it cheap via Expedia.
Thai Airways return with 4 nights in 4 star hotel in Tokyo is just RM2.2k per pax so just try.
Considering that parents are aging, next time will just suck it up and pay more.