London > Tokyo > Sunshine?

[Graham]

So like many others I'm going to be heading to Tokyo over the Christmas & New Year period. I'm looking at dumping my cold weather stuff in Toyko and doing a short(ish) flight to somewhere warm for a few days to a week whilst I'm over that way (I'm starting to look as pale as Pete Doherty, but without taking any cocaine).

Have any of you done this before and if so, where did you go? Any ideas or even better, specific resorts/hotels etc. would be great. It's just me, so I'm looking for somewhere to chill, but also open to more lively places if the crowd is right.

Also, where's the best place to leave my main luggage in Tokyo whilst I'm gone? Do they have big lockers at the airport or secure luggage facilities anywhere?

Love your work x

[Kasper]

Okinawa could be a nice place to go. however, for about the same price, you could go to se asia so you could hit thailand (there's a few thread on the board) or bali ( i highly recommend). i have done that before (go 2 weeks to japan and then hit bali ) so i would definitely recommend it. best way IMO (and if you haven't bought you plane ticket ) would be to buy a ticket to the warm destination and then choose an airline which permit you to stopover in Tokyo (shouldn't be hard at all). that way, you'd only have to pay an extra 100$ for the stopover (it's still free with some airline). the problem with getting 2 tickets is that flight price go totally ballistic during new year time in Japan (think 2 to 5 time normal price) and most plane are full, not to mention that airports seriously look like woodstock (think airport packed like a rock concert).

as for finding some locker, it's real easy. you can find some at at big train station, airport and even on the street so i wouldn't stress about this. hope that answer some of your questions

[dismalfuture]

You can stow your luggage at Narita, on the arrivals level of the terminals right as you come out(if you're coming out of Term. 2- (most int'l carriers) you just hang a right, go past the escalator for the subway and walk towards the newstands and it's there on your right I think.)

It's like 2000yen a day or something so its not cheap to do it really long term, but it's a safe option. Coin lockers are all around too, Shibuya station has a gang of them and if you're in Shinjuku, Takashimaya Times Square has a bunch of nice large ones that fit oversized luggage near the JR ticket office.

SE Asia doesn't sound bad, Okinawa too. All pretty good, but it's definitely high season for traveling in Asia.

[Graham]

Just wanted to say thanks for the advice, although I've decided to stay in Japan for the whole period as there's so much that I still want to do. I'll probably take a short break somewhere for a bit of sunshine in January.

When I get round to it I'll start a thread about what I got up to, as it may be worth a read for other first-time visitors to Tokyo. I can't believe I left it so long to come here, it's always been on 'the list', but I've always ended up going for an easier option.