Day trips from Yokohama?

[Lou33]

We are staying in Yokohama for a few days pre-cruise this December.  Does anybody have ideas for a good day trip?  We've already been to the main temples in Tokyo.  We were thinking of going to the Mt. Fuji area for a day, weather permitting, but we are a bit intimidated by the thought of taking the bullet train.  Is it easy to just hop on a train there and walk around?   Also do the main hotels have tours for sale?  We will be staying at the Royal Park hotel.  Any advice is appreciated.  

[FlaMariner]

We just did this....

 

We took a trans-pacific (HAL) cruise and arrived at Yokohama 10/15 then spent 5 nights at the Yokohama Sheraton.

 

Fantastic first time visit to Asia.

 

Our itinerary:

 

• Sunday arrived and took Yokohama Metro (blue line) 3 blocks from the ship to Yokohama station.  Hotel is accessible underground from the Yokohama train station.  Activated Japan rail pass and got seat reservations. Train to Tokyo and evening dinner cruise in Tokyo.  Back to Yokohama late night
• Monday....train to Tokyo
• Tuesday...bullet train to Kyoto....from Yokohama took regular JR train to Shin-Yokohoma station to catch bullet train.  Passed by Mt Fuji on bullet train....that was enough of Mt Fuji for us.  Tea with the gisha and good food and sights. 
• Wednesday....back to Tokyo via train ...... then afternoon in Yokohama China town and harbor.
• Thursday....bullet train to Kanazawa.  Took regular JR train to Tokyo (28 minutes) and then bullet train to Kanazawa...fun day of gardens, castles and sempora...sp?
• Friday.....final shopping in Yokohama (dept store above train station) and then Narita Express train to the airport.

 

Trains were easy, frequent, clean, fast and ON TIME!  We had a "green car" JR pass and that was a nice extra.  glad we did that.

 

Ask me anything.

 

 

[subaru94]

On 10/24/2023 at 4:51 AM, FlaMariner said:

We just did this....

 

We took a trans-pacific (HAL) cruise and arrived at Yokohama 10/15 then spent 5 nights at the Yokohama Sheraton.

 

Fantastic first time visit to Asia.

 

Our itinerary:

 

• Sunday arrived and took Yokohama Metro (blue line) 3 blocks from the ship to Yokohama station.  Hotel is accessible underground from the Yokohama train station.  Activated Japan rail pass and got seat reservations. Train to Tokyo and evening dinner cruise in Tokyo.  Back to Yokohama late night
• Monday....train to Tokyo
• Tuesday...bullet train to Kyoto....from Yokohama took regular JR train to Shin-Yokohoma station to catch bullet train.  Passed by Mt Fuji on bullet train....that was enough of Mt Fuji for us.  Tea with the gisha and good food and sights. 
• Wednesday....back to Tokyo via train ...... then afternoon in Yokohama China town and harbor.
• Thursday....bullet train to Kanazawa.  Took regular JR train to Tokyo (28 minutes) and then bullet train to Kanazawa...fun day of gardens, castles and sempora...sp?
• Friday.....final shopping in Yokohama (dept store above train station) and then Narita Express train to the airport.

 

Trains were easy, frequent, clean, fast and ON TIME!  We had a "green car" JR pass and that was a nice extra.  glad we did that.

 

Ask me anything.

 

 

Never thought about staying in Yokohama before cruise as planned Tokyo, did you find Yokohama less busy and the evening dinner cruise in Tokyo was that a tour or just buy a ticket please?

[FlaMariner]

53 minutes ago, subaru94 said:

did you find Yokohama less busy

 

Yokohama seemed as busy as Tokyo but more spread out...more room...if that makes sense.  Also, it's only a 28 minute train ride from Tokyo station w/what seemed like a train every 2 minutes.  LOL. 

 

53 minutes ago, subaru94 said:

the evening dinner cruise in Tokyo was that a tour or just buy a ticket please?

 

we did this one.....about half foreign tourists and half locals...or so it seemed.  Good way to enjoy Japanese food and see the skyline at night....Had fun.  

 

http://www.amitatsu.jp/english/

 

 

Edited October 24, 2023 by FlaMariner

[reps23]

We will be staying at The Hyatt Regency Yokohama before boarding Royal Princess on April 27 with a cruise from Yokohama to Anchorage.  Does anyone know of a tour guide that will pick us up in a car at hotel and take us on a one day tour of Tokyo and one day to Mt. Fuji.

 

we have contacted the hotel and they will not arrange any private tours.

 

thanks.

[ruimin]

On 10/25/2023 at 7:36 PM, reps23 said:

We will be staying at The Hyatt Regency Yokohama before boarding Royal Princess on April 27 with a cruise from Yokohama to Anchorage.  Does anyone know of a tour guide that will pick us up in a car at hotel and take us on a one day tour of Tokyo and one day to Mt. Fuji.

 

we have contacted the hotel and they will not arrange any private tours.

 

thanks.

We’re on the same cruise I believe (Royal Prince 4/27/2024), we’ll be in Yokohama on 4/23, I have looked in to local guides, didn’t decide anything, if you find something interesting please let us know, ( minrittatgmail) and I’ll do the same.Thanks !

[reps23]

Hi,

We will be in flying from Bangkok to Yokohama on April 23 so will be there April 24-27 and then board the same ship.  There are lots of walking tours but we want a driving tour.  There will be four of us so far.  I am checking out get your guide which does have a tour with a driver.  Thought maybe go to Mt. Fuji and then another day tour to Tokyo. Could be costly though.

 

[bazzaw]

On 10/24/2023 at 4:21 AM, FlaMariner said:

 

 

Ask me anything.

 

 

What - and how /where - did you eat?? Wife and I are adventurous in our eating but speak no Japanese 😞

[monkey@cruise]

9 hours ago, bazzaw said:

What - and how /where - did you eat?? Wife and I are adventurous in our eating but speak no Japanese 😞

Osaka is the food capital of Japan, tourist area restaurants ticket machines or iPad menu support four languages - Japanese, English, Chinese and Korea. Even supermarket checkout machines support different languages. Though I speak rusty Japanese but found I can survive with English. Prefer learnt some Japanese Survival Phrases, a manner travelling in Japan.

 

[FlaMariner]

Eating for us......

 

Japanese food, chopsticks and of course, the language was a major stress point for us but turned out to be easily navigated......

 

Most, if not all the restaurants we went to had menus with large pictures and/or plastic molds of the menu item at the counter or out front. Most menus had an English description. 

 

The wait staff was super nice, patient and fun in helping us with the language barrier, operating the vending machine at the ramen hole in the wall, helping us w/how to dip, eat the food.....We played the field.....And enjoyed it all

 

Dinner cruise in Tokyo...It was a set menu so a relief to not have to choose but it had a little bit of everything.  Great first night introduction for us. 

 

Lunch at Ramen noodle "hole in wall" near Shinjuku station/Tokyo had a computer that you ordered and paid but the cook helped us and the ramen was delicious.

 

Lunch at Kyoto was Japan sushi....shoes taken off and put in locker. Low sitting tables.  A menu with lots of pictures and we would simply just point and the waiter was patient. 

 

Lunch in Chinatown/Yokohoma....similiar to Chinese restaurants in USA but better and fresher. Again, point and English section included.

 

Lunch at Kanazawa.....Tempura restaurant...in a dept store (good food in Japan dept stores...head to the basement for self service or sometimes full service restaurant on top floor).....the best.  delicious.  they had a "chef's selection" but the waitress had to help us with mixing the sauces and the soup....The chef sent us an "extra" piece and was most gracious.

 

In between, we stopped for green tea and that was a standard everywhere.

 

We could not help it but we did frequent a McDonald's once.   They had teriyaki burgers and a green soda....Had to do it.  McDonald's employees in ties.  Totally professional and attentive and quick.  Not what we are used to. 

 

Breakfast and Dinner was at the hotel club level....light snacking....and that involved lots of miso soup and some good ole USA food too....

 

We did our best with chopsticks....At one restaurant, the waitress felt sorry for us and brought us forks.  LOL. 

 

The food was the highlight and we were clueless when we arrived......Hope that helps. 

 

Edited October 28, 2023 by FlaMariner