LOST IN JAPAN | When I Fell (in Love) with Japan

Independent 6-Day, 4-Night Trip to Tokyo, Japan for Under 25,000 Baht with Vietnam Airlines

Hello, this trip started with me and 3 friends who had a plan to travel to Japan. So we sat down and thought about whether to go by ourselves or with a tour (afraid of trouble 5555). We had the opportunity to go to the Thai travel fair and browse some websites. The price for Tokyo 5 days 3 nights started at 23,900+ (excluding Disneyland/Sea entrance fees and travel expenses, plus guide tips, etc.). So we decided to go by ourselves. We kept waiting for cheap flight promotions. 55555 And then we finally found one from Vietnam Airlines, with round-trip tickets starting at 8,000 baht. However, we had to transfer in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City before flying to Tokyo. Our tickets were 9,465 baht, which was only enough for 3 seats. The other one was 11,765 baht. We agreed to pool the money and split it equally, which came out to 10,040 baht. Vietnam Airlines is a full-service airline that includes a 30 kg baggage allowance, seat selection, and meals. The flight we booked had a 3-hour layover in Ho Chi Minh City. Okay, not too long. 555

With our flight tickets secured, the next step was finding a hotel. We prioritized a location near a train station and settled on the Oak Hotel in the Ueno district. This hotel is conveniently located near the Inaricho Station on the Ginza subway line. We booked a three-night stay for 11,724.08 baht, which translates to 2,931 baht per person (not even 1,000 baht per night!).

For the last night, I booked a hotel near Narita Airport because my flight was early in the morning and I was afraid of not being able to make it on time. I booked through Booking for 10,400 yen for 2 rooms. Divided by 4 people, it comes out to 2,600 yen per person, which is about 832 baht per person.
Note: The yen exchange rate when I went was 0.32+ (not Super rich).

The journey commenced at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The Vietnam Airlines counter check-in is located in row L.

Upon check-in, you will receive two boarding passes: one for BKK-SGN and another for SGN-NRT. (It is recommended to check in online beforehand to secure your preferred seats. After booking, I called to select my meal preference, which is seafood.)

Let's get started.

Bangkok to Saigon

This flight will be operated by an Airbus A321, a smaller aircraft with a 3-3 seating configuration.

The flight to Ho Chi Minh City takes approximately 1.30 hours. Upon arrival at the terminal, passengers do not need to exit and check in again (no immigration clearance required). Simply follow the transfer signs to the gate and wait for your flight. This flight is operated by Japan Airlines.

While waiting for my connecting flight, I met a charming child who was also heading to Narita.

The aircraft for our flight to Narita has arrived. It is a Boeing 777-200.

5555, what a funny angle!

This economy class configuration is 3-3-3 with screens behind each seat.

As I approached the seat, a mysterious foot (with bright red nails, no less) appeared beside me. I playfully pushed it away with my blanket, and it promptly disappeared.

Shortly after takeoff, the flight attendants distributed snacks and provided immigration and customs declaration forms for Japan.

After falling asleep for a while, around 3:00 AM Thai time, 5:00 AM Japan time, the staff started serving breakfast as usual. (What the heck, I only slept for 2 hours! TT)

It's getting light outside.

I have arrived at Narita, Tokyo. The weather is not very good, it is raining.

This path is what brought us here safely. ^^

Welcome to Japan (Japanese: ようこそ日本へ, Yōkoso Nihon e)

The reason for choosing the 1-day pass is because our itinerary only includes travel within Tokyo on the first day. The main transportation modes we will be using are the Metro and Toei lines. On other days, we may use JR lines, so we will use a prepaid card for those journeys.

The Tokyo subway network is extensive, with multiple lines intersecting. It's crucial to pay close attention to signage when transferring between lines.

This is a ticket vending machine. There are two types: single-trip tickets and rechargeable cards. We chose the Passmo card and topped it up with 5,000 yen. We can use 4,500 yen and the remaining 500 yen is a deposit for the card.

The Keisei Railway has two lines: the Keisei Main Line and the Sky Access Line. Both lines terminate at Ueno Station, but the fares differ, with the Keisei Main Line costing 1,030 yen and the Sky Access Line costing 1,240 yen. The journey from Narita to Ueno takes approximately 70 minutes. We opted for the cheaper option, the Keisei Main Line, which is identified by its blue color.

Follow the signs.

Keisei Main Line, looking like this.

The advertisement also features an AV movie DVD.

The train has arrived at Ueno Station. I just saw the Keisei Skyliner, an express train from Narita, which takes 40 minutes.

Most train stations in Japan have vending machines for both drinks and ice cream.

Family Mart in the station.

Departed from Narita at 10 am and arrived at Ueno around 11 am. I actually arrived at the airport around 8 am, but I spent a long time trying to activate my SIM card.

Ueno Station is a major transportation hub with connections to numerous JR and subway lines. Our hotel is conveniently located within a 10-minute walk from the station. Alternatively, you can take the Ginza Line (orange) to Inaricho Station and walk a short distance to the hotel.

Of course, we bought a Tokyo subway 1-day pass, so why walk? 5555 Let's get our money's worth.

I just left Inaricho Station. It's freezing here! The temperature must be around 6-7 degrees Celsius.

After exiting the station, cross the street to the other side and continue straight ahead. I know I'm going the right way because I'm following Google Maps. Haha!

Continue straight until you reach the next intersection, then turn left. You will find the Oak Hotel, which is popular among Thai tourists.

We arrived at the hotel around noon and wanted to check in. The friendly staff, who spoke English, informed us that check-in was not available until 3 pm. We were able to leave our luggage with them.

I will leave it at the Oak Hotel for now and continue tomorrow. 5555 After leaving our bags at the hotel, our next destination is to have lunch at Ameyoko Market, which is near Ueno Station. We can walk there, but we won't walk again as usual. 5555 We will take the Metro back one stop from Inaricho Station to Ueno. ^^

Taxis here range from older models to newer ones, with most being Toyotas.

Here they are, a huge amount! They're making these noodles fresh right here.

After enjoying a delicious meal and browsing the goods at Ameyoko Market, Ueno Park is conveniently located nearby.

Cherry blossoms are starting to bloom.

From Ueno Park, we will continue to Asakusa Temple, also known as Sensoji Temple. Take the Ginza Line again and get off at the last stop, Asakusa.

We have arrived at Asakusa Temple, also known as Sensoji Temple. It is very crowded. When we visited, it was raining and very cold.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

The path leading inside is lined with shops on both sides.

Let's stop by for some ice cream to avoid the rain. 5555

The temple entrance also has another red lantern gate.

This is the underside of the red lamp.

Upon entering, we saw them fanning incense smoke towards themselves. We weren't sure why, but we ended up doing it too. Haha.

He scoops water to wash his hands and rinses his mouth. The water is very cold.

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From Asakusa Temple, you can see the Tokyo Skytree on the right. I originally planned to walk all the way to the Tokyo Skytree, but I couldn't because of the heavy rain and extreme cold.

It's just across the river.

Our initial plan after Tokyo Skytree was to visit the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower. However, due to heavy rain, we had to skip these two locations. We returned to our hotel to check in and rest.

After a short nap, I woke up feeling hungry again around 6 pm. For this meal, we decided to indulge in a crab leg buffet at the Tokyo Station Buffet located on the 12th floor of the Daimaru department store in Tokyo Station. To get there, exit through the Yaesu North Exit and you will find the entrance to the Daimaru department store. Take the elevator to the 12th floor and walk straight ahead. The restaurant will be on your right.

I was greeted by a crab leg.

First round, I don't dare to take too much. 555

We then proceeded to order only crab legs, and the staff came to collect the shells 4-5 times. I felt a bit embarrassed, haha.

The food is average and edible.

The dinner cost 2,808 yen per person. It was a buffet with a 2-hour time limit. This was the price for dinner after we had already eaten a full dinner. Next, we went to the Shibuya district to walk across the famous scramble crossing. We crossed all five intersections!

It is said that when visiting Shibuya, one must sit at Starbucks and watch people cross the street. However, we did not do so because it was too crowded.

Day 1 is done! Here's a selfie of me ^^ Stay tuned for Day 2 at Disney Sea!

Let's continue to the second day. Today, we will take you to explore Tokyo DisneySea. ^^ It's 4 degrees Celsius in the morning.

Take the JR Keiyo Line from Tokyo Station to Maihama Station.

The next station is Maihama. Passengers heading to Disneyland can walk directly to the park. Passengers heading to DisneySea should transfer to the Disney Resort Line, the Mickey Mouse train, and get off at Tokyo DisneySea Station.

Here comes our Mickey Mouse train. The fare is approximately 260 yen.

The interior is very beautiful.

The queue for the Tower of Terror's Fast Pass was incredibly long.

The game is available to play between 16:20 and 17:20. You can play again after a 2-hour cooldown. We chose to play Strom Rider, which was available between 15:20 and 16:20. There were a lot of people playing.

While we wait, we can play some quick games. You can find them in the Information section.

Notes:

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• I have preserved the original HTML structure.
• I have used simple and short language, as instructed.
• I have not answered any questions or evaluated any tasks.
• I have translated the text to the best of my ability, aiming for the quality of a local speaker.

I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Initially, I planned to use the Fast Pass for Journey to the Center of the Earth, the second attraction. However, the showtime was from 20:20 to 21:20, which was inconvenient for me. Considering the waiting time of only 70 minutes, I decided to queue instead.

Goofy mascot was available for photo opportunities.

Raging Spirits allows Fast Pass access, but we recommend using the Single Rider line instead. The Single Rider line moves quickly, allowing you to ride almost immediately upon arrival.

We haven't eaten anything since this morning, so we're grabbing a quick bite to eat. It's a sausage sandwich.

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This is a turkey.

Topped with ice cream (it's freezing, but I'm eating ice cream lol)

This is not playable, there are too many people.

We left the amusement park around 9 pm and decided to find a place to eat near our hotel. We searched for a yakiniku restaurant near Ueno and found this place, which is open 24 hours.

On the way back, we stopped to buy some Gulico ice cream. It's very easy to find, there are many vending machines.

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Day 2 in Tokyo has come to an end. Tomorrow, we will head to Kawaguchiko to see Mount Fuji, followed by Day 3. Today, we will be visiting Mount Fuji. First, we booked our bus tickets in advance through their website, which is available in Thai. [Spoiler] Click to reveal hidden text http://highway-buses.jp

The round trip fare is 1,750 yen per person. We booked it for 3,500 yen. You can pay at the counter in Shinjuku when you board the bus.

The journey began with a train ride on the JR Yamanote line from Ueno to Shinjuku. Shinjuku Station, with its reputation for handling millions of passengers daily, lived up to its name. The sheer size of the station and the fast-paced crowds were overwhelming. Briefly losing our way, we took refuge behind a pillar, as standing still risked being bumped or stepped on.

The train arrived at Shinjuku Station around 8:25 AM. I had booked a bus for 8:40 AM, but I couldn't find the way out of the station and thought I wouldn't make it in time. I finally arrived at the bus stop at 8:36 AM, paid for my ticket, and rushed onto the bus. It was a close call!

The journey from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko takes approximately 2 hours.

Before reaching Kawaguchiko, we will pass by FujiQ Highland amusement park. The roller coasters there are very exciting.

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This photo was taken at Mt. Fuji Station, imitating the overlapping space in the MV. 5555

We have arrived at Kawaguchiko Station. The temperature at 7 am was -4 degrees Celsius, and when we arrived around 10 am, it had risen to 2 degrees Celsius. It's very cold!

Hello Mount Fuji.

Bus stop.

There are two bus lines, green and red. You need to check the map to see which line passes through the station you want to go to. Our group will take the Red Line to Station 11 to ride the Ropeway and take a boat trip.

We have arrived at Station 11. The bus will stop on the lakeside. Please cross the road to take the ropeway to see Mount Fuji.

Two friendly creatures greeted me. ^^

Kachi Kachi Ropeway

Here is the translation:

Let's go up now.

The view of the lake from the ropeway is beautiful.

I saw Mount Fuji, but it was slightly obscured by clouds.

I will continue later. It's not over yet. When you go up, you will find a shop selling sweets that are like grilled dough with sweet dipping sauce.

The taste is bland but the texture is very soft.

Couple's bells

Little bunny

Having enjoyed the panoramic view of Mt. Fuji from the Ropeway, we now embark on a scenic boat ride around Lake Kawaguchiko.

After sailing for a while, Mt. Fuji emerged before our eyes. It was magnificent and majestic, towering over the landscape. While it may appear small in the picture, in reality, it is truly immense.

After finishing the boat trip, we continued to eat soft-serve ice cream. We took the red line and got off at station 22.

This angle is very beautiful.

The blueberry soft serve is delicious.

After taking some photos, we had to rush back to catch the 4:40 PM bus back to Shijuku. The return trip from Station 22 to Kawaguchiko Station took a considerable amount of time, longer than the trip there. If you're planning a day trip without an overnight stay and have booked a round-trip bus, be sure to allow ample time for the return journey.

We have finished exploring Lake Kawaguchiko. Now, let's head to the vibrant Shijuku district at night. After taking the highway bus from Kawaguchiko, we will arrive at Shinjuku. We should reach there around 7 pm. Let's take a stroll through the shopping areas of Shinjuku. However, after checking the prices, it seems that the branded items are not that affordable when converted to Thai baht.

While walking, I saw a cart selling something on the side of the road. I walked over to take a look and it was an uncle selling takoyaki. 8 pieces for 500 yen (It took a very long time to make, lol).

After strolling through Shinjuku, we felt hungry again and decided to find something to eat near our hotel in the Ueno district, close to the Ameyoko market. We walked around for a while, unsure of what to eat, until we came across a Korean restaurant with an enticing menu displayed outside. The menu featured grilled dishes, so we decided to give it a try.

The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor. If you don't speak Japanese, I wouldn't recommend it. There's no English menu and the staff doesn't speak English. We spent a long time pointing at pictures on the menu and ordered 3 dishes with 2 bottles of Asahi beer, which cost almost 7,000 yen. We were confused, so we called the staff over to show us the calculation. The staff pointed at the menu and used a calculator to show us. We ordered a set of grilled pork belly, which was listed as 980 yen for 2 people (980 yen per person). When we ordered, we said we wanted 1 set for 2 people and ordered other things. But when they showed us the bill, they charged us 980 yen per person for 4 people. The portion size wasn't that big, and we could count the pieces. They also charged us for all the side dishes, even though they brought them out themselves. I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend this restaurant.

The initial bill was this amount, but as I was leaving the store, they said they had made a mistake and asked me to pay an additional 700 yen.

Another day has passed. Now, let's take you to the Takeya Purple Building and then on to Harajuku. ^^ Let's start the last day in Tokyo. We checked out of the hotel around 10 am. Today, we plan to buy souvenirs and snacks at Takeya (Purple Building). We will try to visit the newly opened branch in the Ueno district first. When we arrived, it was still closed: it opens at 11 am. So we walked back to find something to eat near Ameyoko Market (just across the street).

I've been eyeing this restaurant for days but haven't had the chance to try it. Today is the last day, so I decided to give it a go.

I would like to order the lunch set and a few additional items separately.

After we were full, we headed to Takeya. I forgot to take a picture of the front, so I'm borrowing a picture from [source].

The branch is quite small, so we decided to go to the main branch instead. It's within walking distance from Naka-okachimachi Station on the Hibiya Line (grey line).

My friend asked me to buy DHC vitamins.

Yes, sir.

The interior of the store is not well-photographed due to the large number of items and bags. At Takeya, you can claim a tax refund on purchases of 5,400 yen or more for food, medicine, and cosmetics, and 10,000 yen or more for clothing and electrical appliances. You will receive an 8% tax refund, and an additional 10% discount if you use a JCB card.

After that, we went for a stroll in the Harajuku district.

At train stations, there are ramps for wheelchair users to access the platforms. Staff will be available to assist with boarding. ^^

I arrived at Harajuku Station and couldn't carry my belongings anymore, so I stored them in a locker for 500 yen.

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I originally planned to visit the Meiji Shrine, but when I arrived, it was already closed.

Takoyaki and fish cake shop. I saw a lot of people queuing, so I decided to give it a try.

Notes:

• The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.
• I have maintained the original HTML structure.
• I have used a simple and short tone of voice.
• I have not answered any questions or evaluated any tasks.
• I have translated the text to the best of my ability, as if I were a local speaker.

I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.

It's getting dark, so I need to hurry to check in for my last night at a hotel near Narita. Then, I'll meet my friend at JR Yurakucho Station for our final meal in Tokyo.

We stayed at Narita U city on our last night, which is close to Narita Airport as we had a 9:30 am flight. We booked two rooms for one night, totaling 10,400 yen, which comes out to 2,600 yen per person. The hotel is conveniently located near the JR and Keisei Narita train stations.

A complimentary shuttle service to Narita Airport was available, with the first departure at 7:00 AM and an estimated travel time of 30 minutes. However, we opted not to use it due to concerns about arriving on time.

On the day of our departure, we left the hotel around 6:30 AM. The morning air was frigid, and our breath formed visible clouds. We walked to the Keisei Line and boarded a train to Narita Airport Terminal 1. The fare was 260 yen, and the journey took approximately 15 minutes.

Please proceed to Gate 24.

This Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will take us back.

It's time to board the plane. Another forced perspective shot. Haha.

Initially, when I entered the seat, I couldn't find the curtain to cover the window. Haha. In fact, it's an automatic light-adjusting glass. There is a button to adjust the light level.

As the aircraft taxied away from the gate, the ground crew waved and bowed to the plane.

A while later, the flight attendants distributed headsets to the passengers.

There is a control next to it.

The window automatically dimmed after a while.

This flight will begin with snacks and water.

Let's try it out for a bit. 5555

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The plane has Wi-Fi, but it is not free.

Take a look at this.

After a short nap, I woke up to see the shore. We are approaching Ho Chi Minh City.

Arrived. Please disembark at the rear of the aircraft.

A shuttle bus will be provided to take you to the terminal. Follow the transfer signs and proceed to the connecting flight counter to print your boarding pass for the SNG-BKK flight.

During a three-hour layover, hunger pangs struck, prompting me to seek sustenance at the Gate's food court. Prices were quoted in USD, but payments were accepted in various currencies with conversion rates displayed. A bowl of noodles cost $7, and for two bowls, the vendor calculated the equivalent in Thai baht, approximately 350 baht. I paid with a 500 baht note and received $3 in change, roughly 100 baht. While I technically incurred a loss, I considered it a worthwhile splurge.

The flight back to Thailand has been delayed by approximately 1 hour and the gate has changed. Please proceed to the new gate and wait for further announcements.

The SGN-BKK flight will be operated by an A321 aircraft, as it was on the previous flight.

Another meal on the plane. The flight was short, only about 1.30 hours. The plane landed before I finished my meal.
I'm back in Thailand.
That's all for this review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. I just wanted to share my experience. If there are any mistakes, I apologize. I'm a newbie traveler. 555555

Note: I will provide a detailed breakdown of the budget and plan later.
Here is a summary of the expenses for this trip.

- Round-trip Vietnam Airlines tickets: 10,040 baht (3 tickets at 9,465 baht each and 1 ticket at 11,765 baht, averaged for 4 people)

• Disney tickets purchased in Thailand for 2,040 baht.

• Sim Card ordered from Ensogo, an average of 4 people, 230 baht per person.

• Hotel near Narita (2 rooms, 1 night, 10,400 yen, divided by 4 people) 2,600 yen

• Top up Passmo card with 5,000 yen.

• Tokyo Subway 1-day Ticket: 800 yen

• Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Coupon (Retro Bus + Ropeway + Boat) 2,300 yen

- Food expenses will be shared equally among all participants, with each person contributing 10,000 yen.

- Narita return fare: 1,000 yen

The total amount is 15,241 Thai Baht.

JPY 25,200 exchanged at a rate of 0.327 equals approximately 8,240.40 Thai Baht.

The total cost is approximately 23,500 baht (excluding souvenirs).

This trip was definitely worth it! I got to ride many different trains every day. 5555 It's a great option for Vietnam Airlines passengers flying to Japan.