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Resources we used to plan for our trip to Japan in 2005. Our trip included a few days in Nikko (日光) area, and the rest of our vacation in Tokyo.

Contents 1 Transportation 2 Hotels 3 Information 4 Ticketing Service 5 Maps

Transportation

• JR East runs train service in Tokyo, you can download maps from them in English or Japanese.
• Train exchange search from Excite Japan.
• American Airlines used to fly directly from San Jose to Narita. Oh well.

Hotels

• Natsukashiya Fuwari (懐かし家風和里), a very nice ryokan with both indoor and outdoor baths. Food is excellent and exquisite, with each evening a sampling of different Japanese style cuisine.
• LeMeridien Pacific Tokyo, right across the street from Shinagawa station, very convenient.

Information

• Nikko Tourist Association, contains some background information regarding the shrines, etc.
• Ghibli Museum, exhibits work from Ghibli Studios, you will need to get tickets through travel agency.
• Ryogoku Kokugikan, where you can watch sumo wrestling matches while you are in Tokyo, 3 months a year.
• Ueno National Science Museum, contain many hands-on exhibits, has a jelly fish collection and monthly special exhibits.
• Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, Japanese and foreign art museum.
• Tokyo National Museum, another art museum.
• Bandai Museum, Japanese animation-related.

Ticketing Service

• JTB USA
• JTB Japan, you can find hotels here and ask JTB USA to book for you. This site also shows nearby attractions and hotel amenities.

Maps

Maps from nearest train station to various point of interest in Tokyo area, from Google Maps:

Akihabara (秋葉原) Raimon in Asakusa (雷門、浅草) Meiji Shrine in Harajuku (明治神宮、原宿) Kawasaki (川崎) Bandai Museum in Matsudo (松戸) Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (三鷹) Shibuya (渋谷) Shinagawa (品川) Shinjuku (新宿) Imperial Palace in Tokyo (東京) Ueno (上野) Yokohama (横浜) Kabuki Theatre in Ginza (from Yuurakuchou station) (銀座、有楽町) Fish Market in Ginza (築地、有楽町)

We used these to find places we wanted to go, by following the streets marked by red lines, as well as using shops (McDonald's and 7-Eleven, etc.) as guides.