Japan – Page 3 – The Wknd Travel

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 5055 – Tokyo Narita to Manila – From Long Check-In Lines to Chaotic Boarding Process | Full Low-Cost Flight Back to Manila [October 2023]

After spending a few days walking around the beautiful city of Tokyo, my friends and I took the train to the airport and hopped on our Cebu Pacific Air flight back to Manila. This flight, 5J 5055, which flew out of Tokyo Narita International Airport Terminal 2, will be the subject of today’s flight report.

Join me as I share with you the details of this full low-cost flight onboard Cebu Pacific Air’s flight 5J 5055 from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Manila, Philippines (MNL).

In case you missed it, I previously shared the details of our onward flight to Tokyo from Manila onboard Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5056. Click on this link to learn more about that ideal flight.

Cebu Pacific Air

Cebu Pacific Air is not a new airline in this website; it is actually my most-reviewed airline here. Cebu Pacific Air is the country’s largest low-cost carrier. The airline is owned by Cebu Air, Inc. which is part of one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, JG Summit Holdings.

The airline commenced its first flight in 1996 and has been flying for over 28 years. Together with its subsidiary, Cebgo (previously Tiger Air Philippines), the airline flies to over 60 destinations across the country, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. It operates close to 70 young and fuel-efficient jet and propeller aircraft. Cebu Pacific Air operates the narrow-body and wide-body aircraft while its subsidiary operates the propeller passenger and cargo aircraft.

The airline has a lifestyle and loyalty program called Go Rewards. It is also a founding member of Value Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of low-cost carriers. The airline has opened the opportunity for every Filipino to fly domestic and international at extremely low prices compared to its industry rivals. It is known for its ₱1-base fare promotions offered a few times a year.

In case you missed it, I post reviews and features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Philippine Airlines. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare

As shared in my previous 5J 5056 flight report, my friends and I paid ₱7,116.72 each for the Manila-Tokyo-Manila tickets with Cebu Pacific Air. We got the fare bundle that includes a standard seat, 7 kilograms of carry-on baggage allowance, and 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance.

I booked this ticket during Cebu Pacific Air’s ₱1 base fare anniversary sale back in March 2023. I honestly think these ₱1 base fare tickets are the cheapest and most valuable ticket purchases in this age of surging air ticket prices.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Travel Requirements

Philippine passport holders are only required to present their valid passports and the E-Travel QR code when entering the country’s borders. Non-Philippine passport holders may be required to present other requirements, such as a valid visa or onward departure ticket. These requirements vary from one nationality to the other. It is always best to check with the relevant authorities regarding the updated entry requirements.

Before The Flight

Cebu Pacific Air sent email reminders as early as 3 days before our intended flight schedule. 72 hours before the flight, the airline sent an email containing reminders about prepaid baggage, important travel documents, and online arrival cards.

48 hours before the flight, Cebu Pacific Air sent another email about the check-in process and reminders. The email also advised that online check-in is now open for our flight to Manila. 24 hours before the flight, the airline sent another email detailing the airport check-in process, times, and reminders.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Tokyo Narita to Manila Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5055 was operated by a 4.1-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The plane, delivered to the airline in October 2019, features a single economy class configuration with 236 pre-reclined seats.

Flight 5J 5055 left Tokyo Narita International Airport at 1:48 p.m. local time, cruised at an altitude of 34,000 feet, and touched down Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 5:14 p.m. local time. The flight only took 4 hours and 26 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Cebu Pacific Air flies out of Narita International Airport Terminal 2.

CHECK-IN

My friends and I arrived at the airport a few minutes after 10:00 a.m. We went straight to the R check-in counters and saw long and slow-moving check-in queues, both for online check-in and regular counters. We noticed the empty kiosk check-in counter and immediately looked for the kiosk check-in machines.

We found one near the escalators, a few check-in counters away from counter R. We checked in using the kiosks, scanned our passports, printed our boarding passes and bag tags. We walked back to counter R and lined up at the kiosk check-in section. We finished our check-in process in less than 5 minutes. Whew!

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we checked the shops on the second floor and bought some last-minute treats. We quickly went through immigration and security and dropped by the duty-free stores to get tax-free chocolates and treats. We had lunch at Yoshinoya, near our boarding gate, while waiting for the boarding process to start.

BOARDING

After lunch, we walked towards Gate 97 and saw that boarding had commenced earlier than 12:30 p.m. schedule. Also, the passengers were all over the place with no clear lines. I am pretty sure the ground staff made some pre-boarding announcements, but I do not think these instructions were followed.

We chose a random line and eventually made it to the plane. We settled into our seats and waited for a long time before the cabin doors were closed. The cabin crew had trouble fitting all carry-on bags in the overhead bins. They eventually sent luggage and bags to cargo hold, which they had to prepare additional documents for.

Cabin doors closed at 1:25 p.m., 10 minutes after the scheduled departure time. The plane was pushed back at 1:28 p.m. and headed over to the runway for take-off. It took off at 1:48 p.m.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Tokyo Narita to Manila Cebu Pacific Air flight was operated by one of the airline’s newest (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The aircraft features 236 pre-reclined Recaro seats in a 3-3 economy class configuration. According to SeatMaps, each regular economy seat has a seat width of 17 inches and a seat pitch of 28 inches.

Each seat features decent legroom with no recline. It also has a seat pocket, which contains the aircraft safety card, inflight magazine, onboard café menu, and air sickness bag. Each seat has an assigned individual air vent and reading light. Each row has two cabin crew call buttons and four regular USB charging ports. These charging ports can be used for free after take-off. The cabin also features the old overhead cabins, which can only fit limited luggage.

I got seat 11D on this flight back to Manila. I think the seat is alright for short haul flights like this. I just miss its recline feature.

INFLIGHT SNACK SERVICE

Cebu Pacific Air does not offer complimentary snacks or meals on all their flights. Instead, the airline offers pre-purchased meals and snacks at the time of booking or up to 48 hours before the flight. The airline also offers buy-on-board snack and drink service for those who get hungry during the flight.

The cabin crew served inflight snacks 25 minutes after take-off. They served the pre-booked first before offering the buy-on-board service.

My friend and I skipped the inflight snack service because we were still full from our Yoshinoya lunch. We also brought snacks from the convenience stores and ate them midway through the flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cebu Pacific Air does not feature personal entertainment screens on their planes. They only provide inflight magazines named Smile Magazine, which passengers can read through during the flight.

Also, the airline is known for conducting inflight games in exchange for airline-branded items. For this flight, the crew asked for 3 items; the passengers who raised their hands first and showed the requested items first won Cebu Pacific Air-branded pouches.

After the snack service, the crew conducted the CEB Fun Game. After that, they went around for the UNICEF Change for Good donation program.

I did not participate in either of the two and decided to take a short nap during the flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

The airline does not offer inflight Wi-Fi services on all its flights.

LAVATORY

I visited the front lavatory once during the flight; I found it clean and well-maintained. It has toilet papers and a small bottle of hand soap for those who need to use them.

CABIN CREW INTERACTIONS

I had minimal encounters with the assigned cabin crew on this flight. I can tell that they performed their work and duty to the best of their abilities. They assisted people in fixing the bags in the overhead cabins, and they served the snacks and meals with their best smiles.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

Disembarkation and immigration were quick and efficient. It did not take long before we finished both processes. The checked luggage took a while before it came out of Luggage Belt 5. My friends and I got our luggage 30 minutes after we disembarked from the plane.

Flight Experience

It was a full low-cost airline flight with Cebu Pacific Air on this 5J 5055 service from Tokyo, Japan, to Manila, Philippines. It was nothing fancy, but surely a bang for the buck.

The flight stood out in many ways. First, the best part of this journey is the affordable return ticket we booked during the airline’s anniversary sale. My friends and I only paid a little over ₱7,000 for a return ticket to Tokyo, including standard seats and checked baggage for both sectors. Incomparable! Second, the airline never failed to keep their passengers informed of everything before the flight. They sent out emails about travel requirements, check-in reminders, and even the check-in process. Props to Cebu Pacific Air for continuously doing this on all their flights.

Third, the aircraft has modern seats with complimentary UBS charging ports. It is quite rare to see a low-cost airline offering complimentary charging facilities on their flights. Please do not change this anytime soon, Cebu Pacific Air. Lastly, the kiosk check-in option at Narita International Airport was a lifesaver. My friends and I skipped the regular and online check-in lines and opted for the kiosk check-in and bag-drop process. We finished the whole check-in process in less than five minutes.

This flight was not all good; it also had its misses. First, there was no difference in the online check-in and regular check-in queues. Both lines moved slowly, leading to longer check-in times for most passengers. Second, the boarding process was chaotic in so many ways, from random boarding lines to a longer boarding process due to the full overhead cabin storage spaces.

Lastly, the pre-reclined seats, which may be the future of airline seats, are something I am not comfortable with on flights longer than three hours. Unfortunately, most of Cebu Pacific Air’s aircraft are equipped with these pre-reclined Recaro seats. Too bad.

I still had a wonderful time flying Cebu Pacific Air on this Tokyo-to-Manila sector. I will always consider the airline my favorite local carrier, and I cannot wait to fly with them again to many destinations in the future.

For those who want to know more about the flight and the aircraft used, I have prepared some geeky details for you below:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 17 October 2023
Flight Number: 5J 5055
Route: Tokyo Narita, Japan (NRT) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 4 hours and 26 minutes
Seat Number: 11D
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: RP-C4120
Engines: 2 x Pratt and Whitney Engines
Age: 4.1 years old
Delivered: October 2019

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope I gave you a comprehensive review of how it is flying with Cebu Pacific Air on their Tokyo to Manila route.

Have you flown with Cebu Pacific Air in the past? How was your flight experience? Are you looking to book a ticket with the airline soon? If yes, let me know if you have questions so I can respond to them. post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines and other airlines like Emirates, EVA Air, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, and Philippine Airlines. I hope you also look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 5056 – Manila to Tokyo Narita – Ideal International Low-Cost Flight Onboard a 3-Month-Old Modern Aircraft [October 2023]

Late last year, my friends and I flew to Tokyo, Japan, for a few days to rediscover the city. We have been to Tokyo in 2015, but we wanted to see more of the city. As usual, we flew with our favorite budget carrier, Cebu Pacific Air, to and from Tokyo. We booked our tickets during the airline’s ₱1 base fare sale back in March 2023.

Today’s flight report will feature our Manila to Tokyo Narita International Airport journey onboard Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5056. Read on below to learn why I think this flight was an ideal one.

Cebu Pacific Air

Cebu Pacific Air is not a new airline in this website; it is actually my most-reviewed airline here. Cebu Pacific Air is the country’s largest low-cost carrier. The airline is owned by Cebu Air Inc which is part of one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, JG Summit Holdings.

Airfare

My friend and I booked our return tickets during the airline’s anniversary ₱1 base fare sale back in March 2023. We paid ₱14,233.44 for 2 people, around ₱7,116.72 per person.

This ₱7,116.72 return ticket included complimentary standard seats, 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, and 20 kilograms of checked luggage on both sectors. Without the add-on bundle, the ticket will only cost around ₱5,500-₱6,000 return.

These ₱1 base fare tickets always provide the best possible value for plane fares. Imagine paying the lowest possible fare at the time of booking to a destination like Japan. Absolutely worth it!

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Travel Requirements

Regular Philippine passport holders require a tourist visa when entering Japan for leisure purposes. People planning to visit Japan for holiday need to secure a tourist visa through accredited travel agencies.

A few years ago, I wrote about apply for a Japan tourist visa. Click here to learn more about getting one for yourself.

Additionally, the Japanese government requires all incoming passengers to perform immigration and customs arrival procedures via the Visit Japan website. Upon arrival, all passengers are required to present the issued QR codes at immigration and customs for scanning. Incoming tourists can get their QR codes up to 2 weeks before the intended arrival date.

All departing passengers from Manila are required to fill out the online departure card and obtain a QR code from the eTravel website.

Before The Flight

48 hours before the flight, Cebu Pacific Air sent another email about the check-in process and reminders. The email also advised that online check-in is now open for our flight to Narita. 24 hours before the flight, the airline sent another email detailing the airport check-in process, times, and reminders.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila to Tokyo Narita Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5056 was operated by a 3-month-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The plane, delivered to the airline in July 2023, features a single economy class configuration with 236 pre-reclined seats.

Flight 5J 5056 took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 2:41 p.m. local time and touched down Tokyo Narita International Airport at 7:34 p.m. local time. The flight took 3 hours and 43 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

All Cebu Pacific Air international flights depart from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

CHECK-IN

We arrived at the airport four hours before our flight schedule. We paid the travel tax and went straight to check-in. We spent 10–15 minutes at the check-in counter because the ground staff took some time confirming my friend’s travel documents. We got our boarding passes and went straight to immigration and security.

If not for the additional document check, we could have finished the check-in process in less than 5 minutes. There was no line at the regular international check-in counters at that time.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After clearing immigration and security, we went straight to the PAGGS Lounge. My friend used her credit card to go in and tag me along. We stuffed ourselves with food and stayed at the lounge for 2.5 hours. We left the lounge at 1:30 p.m. and walked straight to our assigned boarding gate, Gate 103.

BOARDING

At 1:38 p.m., the staff announced priority boarding for our flight. They asked passengers flying infants, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and those who availed of priority boarding to board the plane first.

Passengers assigned to the rear cabin seats boarded the plane next. Passengers seated in the middle and front parts of the cabin came in last. At 2:18 p.m., the cabin crew closed the airplane doors. The entire boarding process took 40 minutes, longer than the usual 20–30 minutes.

The plane was pushed back at 2:26 p.m. and headed over to the runway for take-off.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Tokyo Narita Cebu Pacific Air flight was operated by one of the airline’s newest (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The aircraft features 236 pre-reclined seats in a 3-3 economy class configuration. According to SeatMaps, each regular economy seat has a seat width of 17 inches and a seat pitch of 28 inches.

Each seat features decent legroom with no recline. It also has a seat pocket, which contains the aircraft safety card, inflight magazine, onboard café menu, and air sickness bag. Each seat has an assigned individual air vent and reading light. Each row has two cabin crew call buttons, two regular USB ports, and two USB-C charging ports. These charging ports can be used for free after take-off. The cabin also features spacious overhead lockers, which can fit more carry-on luggage.

My friend and I swapped seats; I got seat 11B and an empty seat 11C beside me. The pre-reclined seats were comfortable enough for a short-haul international flight like this.

INFLIGHT SNACK SERVICE

The cabin crew went around twice during the flight. They served the pre-booked meals first before offering the buy-on-board service. The first snack service commenced 25 minutes after takeoff and the second one started an hour before landing.

My friend and I skipped the inflight snack service because we were still full from our PAGGS lounge visit.

SMILE MAGAZINES & CEB FUN GAMES

Cebu Pacific Air does not feature personal entertainment screens on their planes. They only provide inflight magazines named Smile Magazine, which passengers can read through during the flight.

I got the first question correct and won an airline-branded pouch. Thank you, Cebu Pacific Air!

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

The airline does not offer inflight Wi-Fi services on all its flights.

LAVATORY

I visited the front section lavatory and found it to be fragrant and spotlessly clean. I only found a clogged sink, and I immediately informed the crew about it. I was told they would clean it after me, which they gladly did.

Cabin Crew Interactions

I had minimal interactions with the crew during the flight. I was happy they immediately cleaned the clogged sink after I used the front lavatory. I also saw them serving the other passengers with their best smiles. I found the cabin crew on this flight to be pleasant and friendly to passengers.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

After landing, our plane taxied to Narita Airport Terminal 2 for disembarkation. The whole disembarkation process, from the plane door to immigration, customs check, baggage claim, and arrivals area, only took us less than 20 minutes. My friend and I managed to take the local train a few minutes past 8:30 p.m. Everything went by fast and efficiently.

Flight Experience

It was an ideal low-cost international flight with Cebu Pacific Air on this almost 4-hour journey from Manila, Philippines to Tokyo, Japan. The flight was impressive in so many ways. Allow me to share them below.

First, the ₱1 base fare ticket made it undeniably affordable. The return ticket only cost us ₱7,116.72, including a standard seat and 20 kilograms of checked luggage in both sectors. Second, the flight was operated by a newly delivered (at the time of the flight) aircraft that was just 3 months old. The plane was clean, modern, and looked very new.

Third, Cebu Pacific Air never failed to keep its passengers informed about the flight requirements and reminders. The airline sent daily email reminders three days before the actual flight. Fourth, the airline offered complimentary charging onboard with their USB power outlets. I hope they do not charge for this feature anytime soon.

Fifth, the aircraft featured larger and more spacious overhead cabins. This resulted in more space for carry-on luggage and a more efficient boarding process. Sixth, the airline continues to conduct their inflight fun games. It is the airline’s unique way of entertaining and rewarding participating passengers during the flight.

Lastly, my friend and I were impressed with the fast and efficient disembarkation process at Tokyo Narita International Airport Terminal 2. We disembarked from one of the farthest gates, but we managed to finish the whole immigration, luggage claim, and customs process in less than 20 minutes. Only in Japan!

No matter how ideal the flight was, it also had its not-so-good parts. First, the pre-departure area at Ninoy Aquino International Airport was not hot and not properly ventilated. It is beyond the airline’s responsibility, but somehow it affected the flight experience. Second, the pre-reclined seats may be the way to go in the future, but it is something I am not comfortable with for flights longer than 3 hours.

Nevertheless, I believe this was one of the best recent flights I had with Cebu Pacific Air. I have flown them over 30 times internationally and domestically in the last 2–3 years, and no other flight comes close. Thank you, Cebu Pacific Air. I will never get tired of flying you if you keep your ₱1 base fare and super pass promotions.

Allow me to share with you more details about the flight and aircraft used:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 7 October 2023
Flight Number: 5J 5056
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Tokyo Narita, Japan (NRT)
Duration: 3 hours and 43 minutes
Seat Number: 11B
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: RP-C4133
Engines: 2 x Pratt and Whitney Engines
Age: 3-months-old
Delivered: July 2023

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope I gave you a comprehensive review of how it is flying with Cebu Pacific Air on their Manila to Tokyo route.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day – IMANO TOKYO GINZA HOSTEL – Comfortable & Value Accommodation Near Tokyo’s Bustling Ginza District | My New Favorite Tokyo Hostel

Last October 2023, I, together with some friends, flew to Tokyo for a few days to re-visit the city we visited back in 2015. I spent 11 days and 10 nights around the city and stayed at only one accommodation, Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. Now that Oak Hostel Zen has closed permanently, I can tell you that this property is now my favorite hostel in Tokyo.

Join me in today’s hostel of the day feature and learn why Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel instantly became my new favorite hostel in the city.

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel opened its doors to the traveling community in 2017. This excellent property aims to provide comfortable accommodation, just like when one comes to visit a friend’s home. Imano offers both shared dormitory and private rooms across 8 floors above the exceptional second-floor communal lounge and co-working space and the ground-floor reception.

Location & Access

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel is located at 1-5-10 Shintomi, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō 104-0041. It is in the center of Tokyo, in a quiet neighborhood between the Tsukiji and Ginza areas. The hostel is 2 minutes by foot from Exit 2 and 6 minutes by foot from Exit 1 of Shintomicho Station on the Yurakucho Subway Line. It is 6 to 10 minutes by foot from Exit 4 of Tsukiji Station on the Hibiya Subway Line, from Exit A1 of Takaracho Station on the Toei Asakusa Line, and from Exit A3 of Hatchobori Station on the JR Keiyo Line.

The hostel is about 10 to 15 minutes by foot from famous places like Tsukiji Outer Market, Ginza Shopping Street, and Tokyo Station. It is also near several local restaurants and convenience stores.

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel is 1 train ride away from and to Narita International Airport via the Keisei Narita SkyAccess Line that continues to the Asakusa Line (and vice versa) from Takaracho Station. It is also 1 train ride away from and to Haneda International Airport via the Keikyū Airport Line that also continues to the Asakusa Line (and vice versa) from Takaracho Station. Given Tokyo’s extensive train system, there are also other ways to reach the property via other train lines.

The hostel’s location may not be near a local supermarket, but it is still a good base of choice when traveling around Tokyo. It is near various train lines, which makes it accessible almost everywhere in the city. Its ‘one train ride away to and from the airport’ also makes it a convenient place to stay when in Tokyo.

Room Options & Cost

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel offers shared dormitory rooms and private rooms, depending on what the guests need.

The hostel offers the following dormitory configurations: a 6-bed mixed dormitory room, a 6-bed female dormitory room, and a 4-bed mixed dormitory room. All these dormitory rooms feature bunk beds with individual reading lights, privacy curtains, power outlets, hangers, bag and shoe lockers, air conditioning, and safety boxes. These dormitory rooms also have access to shared showers (with shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap), toilets, and wash areas (with hair dryers and kettles) located on every floor. Dormitory bed rates start at ¥3,400 per bed per night.

Imano Ginza’s list of private room options is as follows: Japanese-style single or twin room, 4-bed family room, and 6-bed family room. The private single or twin tatami rooms feature futon beds, in-room shower and toilets with wash basins, televisions, bathroom and toilet amenities, face and bath towels, and air conditioning. The 4-bed and 6-bed family rooms feature the same amenities as the dormitory rooms above. These are dormitory rooms converted into private rooms when guests or families book them. Private room rates start at ¥10,000 per room per night.

My friend and I stayed at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel for 10 consecutive nights. We booked our stay with Agoda, spent the first 5 nights in the Japanese-style twin tatami room, and paid ₱9,298.86 each. Another friend joined us for the next 5 nights, and we all stayed in the 6-bed mixed dormitory room. We paid ₱6,589.06 for all 5 nights.

In total, I paid ₱15,887.92 for all 10 nights, roughly ₱1,588.79 per night in an expensive city like Tokyo and neighborhood like Ginza. Not bad!

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Guests staying at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel enjoy these facilities and amenities:

Free High-Speed Wi-Fi – Guests have access to a high-speed internet connection available throughout the building. Those working remotely can also take advantage of this “work from anywhere”-friendly Wi-Fi connection.

Drink Coupon Upon Check-In – The hostel staff gave us a drink discount coupon upon check-in. The coupon was valid throughout our stay.

Complimentary Slippers – The hostel provides complimentary slippers to all guests. The slippers are only limited to 1 pair per person per stay.

Café & Bar – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel has an in-house café and bar. The café opens at 8:00 a.m. daily, while the bar starts operating from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Clean Showers & Toilets – The property makes sure that its communal showers and toilets are clean and well-maintained.

Communal Wash Areas – Each floor has a communal wash area where guests can dry their hair, brush their teeth, or wash their faces.

Air Conditioning & Heating Systems – All private and dormitory rooms feature air conditioning and heating systems.

Communal Lounge & Dining Area – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel has a cozy, aesthetic, and spacious communal lounge and dining area. This communal area is also perfect for those who want to get some work done during their stay in Tokyo.

Shared Kitchen – The property has a small but functional shared kitchen near the communal lounge and dining areas.

Complimentary Water Refill – The hostel offers drinking water refill through the dispenser found in the small kitchen.

Outdoor Terrace & Smoking Area – The hostel prohibits smoking inside the hostel premises. They have the second-floor outdoor terrace as the designated smoking area.

Meeting Box Rental – Need to attend an important meeting during your stay? The hostel has a RemoteworkBOX near reception, which is available for rent for only ¥700 per hour.

Free Boardgame Rental – Guests can borrow the boardgames near the café & bar and play with them during their stay.

Free Umbrella Rental – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel offers free umbrella rental during rainy days. Guests can freely get one when leaving the hostel and return it after use.

Coin-Operated Laundry – The property has a coin-operated laundry on the second floor. Please reach out to reception if you want to use this facility.

Luggage Storage – The hostel offers free luggage storage to guests on their check-in and check-out days.

Locker Rentals – They also offer locker rentals for valuable items that cannot be left inside rooms and in the complimentary luggage storage. Feel free to reach out to reception if you want to rent one.

Hostel Shop – The hostel has a shop where guests can purchase amenities, snacks, and drinks or rent other amenities such as bath towels and pajamas. The shop is located beside the reception.

Seasonal Hostel Activities – Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel conducts seasonal activities where checked-in guests can join. These activities are posted on their social media platforms.

24-Hour Reception – People arriving early in the morning or late at night do not need to worry about checking-in. The hostel reception is open 24 hours a day.

Multi-Lingual & Friendly Staff – The hostel staff speak many languages; they are also nice, approachable, and friendly.

Lift Access – The hostel has one lift that goes to every floor. Guests who bring large luggage do not need to carry it via the stairs.

Secured Room Access – All private and dormitory rooms can only be accessed by inputting the number combinations found in the room keycards.

Secured Hostel Premises – The rooms can only be accessed by the guests. Also, the lift requires a keycard for it to go up. The main entrance door is locked every day after 11:00 p.m. The hostel is also equipped with a 24/7 security surveillance system.

Hostel Experience

I enjoyed my stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel to the point that it became my instant favorite.

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel wins in these aspects. First, the hostel’s private and dormitory room rates are competitive on the affordable side if we look at Tokyo, and particularly Ginza rates. The hostel has everything a traveler needs during his or her Tokyo visit. Second, Imano Ginza’s location is central but quiet. It is in a peaceful neighborhood away from the busy Ginza and Tsukiji commercial districts.

Third, the hostel’s second-floor communal lounge / work area is the best. They have high-speed internet, which allowed me to be productive at work for a few days. The tables have power and USB outlets, which can be used to charge laptops and phones. Fourth, the hostel provides free drinking water refills. It helped us save some money by not buying drinking water.

Lastly, Imano Ginza has a whole bunch of friendly staff. One staff member, Mai (if I remember it right), even went to us on the second floor to give us candies she bought during her weekend trip to Yamanashi Prefecture. Lovely!

The hostel also has its drawbacks. First, the shared kitchen is very small. Only one person can use it at a time. Second, for those traveling with large suitcases, the double or twin private tatami rooms have very limited space. The suitcases can only be opened on top of the beds.

Lastly, the dormitory rooms need better ventilation. The 6-bed mixed dormitory room on the fifth floor where my friends and I stayed for a few nights had this disturbing or unpleasant unventilated smell. This can easily be fixed by opening the windows and letting fresh air circulate for a few hours every day.

Nevertheless, I still had a nice and delightful 10-day stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. I am happy I got the chance to try both their private tatami and dormitory rooms during this lengthy stay. I will be back in the future, now that it is my new favorite hostel in Tokyo.

If you want to see how the hostel looks in real life, their website has this feature that shows a 360° panorama view of the property. Also, in case you have questions about Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel, please feel free to reach out to them on the following channels:

Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel
Address: 1-5-10 Shintomi, Chūō-ku, Tōkyō 104-0041
Phone Number: +813 5117 2131
Email Address: tokyo-ginza@imano.jp
Website: www.imano.jp/ginza/en
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/imanotokyoginza
Instagram: www.instagram.com/imano_tokyo_ginza

This wraps up my stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. What do you think of the hostel? Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You will find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome, Yesinn Youth Hostel in Hong Kong, Yeah Hostel in Barcelona, and Z Hostel here in the Philippines.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tokyo 2023: FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO – Successful Do-It-Yourself Day Tour to See Mount Fuji + Tips on How to Plan Your Own Trip [October 2023]

Last October 2023, I, together with some friends, flew to Tokyo for a few days to re-explore the city and to see what had changed since our previous visits. I went to Tokyo in 2015 with the same set of friends. I have also passed by the city multiple times after that 2015 trip, when I went to Fujikawaguchiko and Takayama in 2017, when I flew to Sapporo in 2018, and when I went to Nagano back in 2019. I have not been around Tokyo for a while, so I thought it was the perfect time to visit and stay longer in the city.

One of the most famous day trips outside of Tokyo is a visit to Fujikawaguchiko, or Hakone, to see the beautiful and famous Mount Fuji. On one of our days in Tokyo, my friends and I decided to go on a do-it-yourself trip to Fujikawaguchiko to see Mount Fuji (again) and to explore the town at our own pace. Allow me to share with you everything about this do-it-yourself day tour, from transportation to the route taken and to the places we visited.

Disclaimer: All the information below is true and correct as of October 14, 2023, our day trip day. Please note that schedules, fare costs, and other details can change at any time. Also, we missed Mount Fuji’s snow cap by 2 days. The first snow cap for the autumn 2023 season showed up two days later.

Fujikawaguchiko

Fujikawaguchiko is a Japanese resort town in Yamanashi Prefecture. This famous town surrounds one of Fuji’s five lakes, Lake Kawaguchiko. It is one of the best places to see the beautiful Mount Fuji. The town is one of the most popular day trip destinations from Tokyo, with thousands of visitors each day.

In case you missed it, I visited Fujikawaguchiko back in 2017. I stayed in town for 2 full days and 2 nights, and I got the chance to see Mount Fuji in its glory. Check out the previous trip here.

Tokyo ⇿ Fujikawaguchiko

Fujikawaguchiko is a little over 110 kilometers away from Tokyo Station. The fastest and most comfortable way to go to Fujikawaguchiko from Tokyo and back is by taking the highway buses that run between these two places. These buses leave from multiple areas in Tokyo, such as Tokyo Station, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Akihabara, and a lot more. All these buses terminate their service at Kawaguchiko Station.

My friends and I booked our bus tickets with Willer Express and chose the earliest departure (6:50 a.m.) from Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit. On the way back, we got the 5:30 p.m. schedule from Kawaguchiko Station back to Tokyo Station. The return bus ticket cost us ¥4,120 each. My bank charged me ₱1,618.10 for the ticket, including the foreign transaction service fee.

Day Tour Route

My friends and I arrived at Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit around 6:30 a.m. We went to a nearby convenience store and bought food for the bus trip. We went back to the bus boarding area and got on the bus a few minutes before the scheduled departure time. At exactly 6:50 a.m., we left Tokyo Station and took a 2.5-hour bus trip to Mount Fuji Station.

We got off at Mount Fuji Station, or Fujisan Station, the stop before Kawaguchiko Station. From here, we took the local bus (¥100 fare) to Shimoyoshida Station. We passed by the famous Honcho Street, but we did not get off the street.

From Shimoyoshida Station, we walked and hiked up to Arakurayama Sengen Park and got a glimpse of Mount Fuji with the famous Chureito Pagoda. We hiked up further and found a covered rest area where we spent a considerable amount of time resting and relaxing while looking at Mount Fuji and enjoying the cold weather.

We walked down the hill and back to Shimoyoshida Station. We took the 13-minute Fujikyuko Local Line train (¥310 fare) to Kawaguchiko Station. Then, we walked to the famous nearby Lawson convenience store and had lunch inside. We crossed the street and took photos of this convenience store from the other side of the road.

After having lunch and taking photos, we walked back to Kawaguchiko Station and took the red sightseeing bus to Oishi Park in Lake Kawaguchiko. The bus trip took close to an hour due to traffic and multiple stops, and it cost ¥570 per person. We skipped the maple corridor because it was too early for the autumn leaves.

We walked along the Flower Street in Oishi Park, took some photos, enjoyed the view of Mount Fuji with the red kochia (summer cypress) plants and other flowers, and got ourselves a cone of soft-serve ice cream perfect for the not-so-cold weather. At quarter before 4:00 p.m., we took the same red sightseeing bus back to Kawaguchiko Station. We paid another ¥570 bus fare per person. We spent the remaining time at Kawaguchiko Station and waited for our bus to arrive.

We boarded our bus a few minutes past 5:30 p.m. We left Kawaguchiko Station right after sunset and arrived at Tokyo Station before 8:00 p.m.

Do-It-Yourself Day Tour Tips

I have been to Fujikawaguchiko twice, and I want to share some tips on how you can make the most of your do-it-yourself trip.

First, identify the top places you want to visit. Fujikawaguchiko is a big resort town with many great places to visit. It is impossible to go to all these places in just a day. Like what we did above, we have identified Arakurayama Sengen Park, Chureito Pagoda, Lawson Kawaguchiko Station, Lake Kawaguchiko, and Oishi Park as the only places we want to see on this day tour. Either you stay for a few days in town or you go back for the others in the next visit.

Second, figure out the route you want to take. As much as possible, refrain from going back and forth between places. To save time and make the most of the day tour, plan the route you want to take on your day tour. Plan, but do not over plan.

Third, always check the weather forecast before planning what day you will visit Fujikawaguchiko. This will give you an idea of when the best day is to go to see Mount Fuji in its glory.

Fourth, make the most of the day tour by taking the first bus out of Tokyo. You will have more time to go around the town if you take the earliest bus out of Tokyo. Also, make sure to visit the bus boarding place at least a day before your trip to know where you will go on the day of your trip.

Fifth, book your bus tickets ahead of time, up to at least days before your desired day trip. While bus tickets can be bought on the day of your tour, there is no guarantee that you will get your preferred schedule or trip time. Bus tickets are available at the Willer Express website.

Sixth, be knowledgeable of the train and bus trip schedules and intervals. This will help you navigate your schedule on the day of the trip.

Seventh, do not forget to bring a bottle of water or tumbler with drinking water. The day tour has a lot of walking and hiking. You will surely need water to get through the day.

Eighth, relax and enjoy every single moment of the day trip. Do not let any small inconvenience ruin your beautiful day with Mount Fuji.

Ultimately, it is ideal to stay in Fujikawaguchiko for 2-3 days if your schedule and Japan itinerary allow you to do so. If not, I hope the tips above will help you plan your do-it-yourself Mount Fuji day trip.

This sums up our Mount Fuji day tour from Tokyo on October 14, 2023. I hope I gave you some information on how to do it yourself. I also hope you found the tips helpful in planning and executing your own do-it-yourself trip.

Do you have any questions about Fujikawaguchiko or anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comment section below. You may also send you questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s write-up about the DIY Fujikawaguchiko trip. Please stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023 travel blogs. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow, and share my social media pages, Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: BACKPACKERS HOTEL TOYO – Osaka’s Most Affordable & High-Quality Accommodation

In April 2023, I flew to Japan for the first time since the pandemic. I spent the first night in Fukuoka at Fukuoka Hana Hostel. The following day, I flew to Osaka with Peach Aviation and based there for the rest of the trip. I initially planned on taking the bus from Fukuoka, but I ended up flying because of an affordable flight.

I spent my first night in Osaka in the city’s most affordable, quality, and high-rated accommodation, Backpackers Hotel Toyo. I have seen this accommodation a lot of times when I planned my previous Osaka trips, but I only stayed here for the first time on this trip. Join me as I share with you why you should consider booking today’s hostel of the day feature, Backpackers Hotel Toyo, on your next trip to Osaka, Japan.

In case you missed it, I have been to Osaka several times in the past. Here’s the list of blogs related to Osaka: The Japan Series | 3 of 3: OSAKA (2015), Going Solo in Japan Series: KYOTO & OSAKA (2016), Japan Highlights 2019: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN – A Theme Park That Brings You Back to Being a ‘Kid’ Just for a Day (2019) and Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog (2023).

Backpackers Hotel Toyo

Backpackers Hotel Toyo is a hotel or hostel for budget-minded travelers. The property offers affordable, accessible, and comfortable accommodation options in the expensive city of Osaka and the country of Japan. The hostel is nestled in a multistory building in the quiet area of Nishinari Ward.

It has been operating for years, and it has maintained its good-quality accommodation. Backpackers Hotel Toyo is rated highly on booking websites such as Agoda (8.3/10), Booking.com (8.2/10), Hostelworld (8.7/10), and Traveloka (8.9/10). These ratings are as of early January 2024, based on over 7,400 reviews across all 4 sites.

Location & Access

Backpackers Hotel Toyo is located at 1 Chome-3-5 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, Japan 557-0002. It may be a bit of a walk from the bustling Namba and Shinsaibashi areas, but it is close to Shinsekai, another popular area in Osaka. It is 2 minutes by foot to Exit 2 of Dobutsuen Mae Station of the Midosuji Subway Line, 3 minutes by foot to the East Exit of Shin-Imamiya Station of the JR Loop Line, and 5-10 minutes by foot to Shinsekai. It is approximately 40 minutes from both Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka Itami Airport (ITM).

The property is in a relatively quiet neighborhood but is practically near everything. It is 5-6 minutes away by subway to Dōtonbori, Namba, and Shinsaibashi; 20 minutes away to Universal Studios Japan; 30 minutes away to Nara Station; and about 45 minutes to an hour away from Kyoto Station.

The hostel is also near convenience stores, restaurants, and izayakas. Its location is perfect; it is an easy 10 out of 10.

Room Options

Despite being a budget accommodation, Backpackers Hotel Toyo only offers private Japanese tatami mat rooms with shared toilets and showers. They have four room types: a Japanese-style single room without air conditioning, a Japanese-style single room with air conditioning, a Japanese-style twin room, and a Western-style twin room.

The non-air-conditioned rooms come with a fan during the summer season. The single rooms came with a small monitor, clothes hanger, and curtained windows. The twin rooms also come with a small refrigerator. All guests have access to communal shower rooms and toilets. Room prices per night vary per booking platform.

Here are the hostel’s rates (back in April 2023) if you book with them directly: Single room without air conditioning (¥1,700 per night), Single room with air conditioning (¥2,100 per night), and Twin room (¥5,000 per night).

I booked my stay with Agoda and only paid ₱823.91 for a night in a Japanese-style single room with air conditioning. I got assigned to Room 212, which was near the far end of the second floor. The room came with a tatami bed, comfortable sheets, and a pillow. It also had a small monitor, hangers, and a small dust bin.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Free Wi-Fi Access – Hotel Toyo provides wi-fi access to all its guests.

Communal Lounge Areas – The property has two communal lounge areas on the ground floor, one near the reception and one near the kitchen and dining area.

Outdoor Terrace – The hostel has an outdoor terrace on the rooftop floor. It is a designated smoking area and clothes drying area.

Desktop Computer Access – Guests can freely use the desktop computers for whatever use they need them for.

Shared Kitchen & Dining Area – The hostel has a shared kitchen and dining area complete with kitchenware and utensils.

Shared Shower Rooms & Toilets – There are shared toilets per floor. Shared shower rooms are on the first floor. The shower rooms have complimentary shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap.

Complimentary Water Refill – The property provides complimentary water refills to those who need to fill up their water bottles and tumblers.

Complimentary Morning Coffee & Tea – Hotel Toyo provides complimentary coffee and tea from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Complimentary Public Bath in Neighboring Hotel – Guests also have complimentary access to a public bath in a neighboring hotel. Please ask the receptionist if you want to check this out.

Vending Machines – There are two vending machines found near the reception booth. These vending machines have beers, coffee, soft drinks, and water.

Video Games, Consoles, & Boardgames – There are video games, consoles, and boardgames in the first-floor common area that guests can borrow and play with.

Ping-Pong Room – Guests can also play ping-pong in the ping-pong room on the 6^th floor.

Laundry & Ironing Facilities – The laundry and ironing facilities on the first floor can be used for an additional charge. Please approach the receptionist if you want to wash or iron your clothes.

Luggage Storage – The hostel can keep your luggage before check-in or up to 10:00 p.m. after check-out. After 10:00 p.m., the luggage storage fee costs ¥300 per night, unless you have an upcoming booking within the next 2 weeks.

Long Reception Hours – Hotel Toyo’s reception is open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Guests arriving beyond 11:00 p.m. need to contact the property before check-in for instructions on what to do.

Bicycle Rental – The property offers bicycle rentals for those who want to rent one during their stay.

Hostel Shop & Merchandise – Hotel Toyo has a small shop that sells trip essentials like razors and adapters. They also sell hostel merchandise such as shirts, tote bags, and even postcards.

Multilingual Staff – The hostel staff can speak in Japanese, English, and Chinese languages.

Secured Hostel Areas – The property is equipped with a 24/7 surveillance system. There are security cameras in the common areas and in the hostel communal areas.

Hostel Experience

I had a quick but valuable stay at Backpackers Hotel Toyo. I only stayed there for one night, but I already know why this property is highly rated by its guests.

Backpackers Hotel Toyo leads the game with its affordable and valuable price point. For less than ₱850 per night, the guest can enjoy a private room with a traditional tatami bed and air conditioning. This low nightly private room rate is rare in a first-world country like Japan.

The property does a good job of keeping their communal showers and toilets clean and well-maintained. They also provide bath amenities like liquid soap, shampoo, and conditioner. The hostel may not serve any food, but it boasts complimentary morning tea and coffee and free water refills for all its guests.

The hostel vibe is fun and social. Guests easily mingle with other co-guests. They can easily find mates to join and go around the city with. Lastly, I find it nice that the hostel showcases and sells their merchandise to their guests. The hostel takes pride in their accommodation and offers souvenirs for those who want to remember the fun experience they had on the property.

During my stay, I noticed some areas in which the hostel could further improve. First, the place is already starting to show its age. Everything still works fine, but you can see that the place has been there for a long time and might need some renovation in the medium term.

Second, the hostel might need to monitor the cleanliness of the communal areas more. The living, kitchen, and dining areas were not so clean during my stay. There were leftover plastics in the living room and other misplaced stuff in the kitchen and wash areas. There is a big chance that these were left by other guests, but I believe the hostel can implement stricter measures to prevent this from happening.

Lastly, the property does not have lifts. Travelers who bring large suitcases or big luggage need to carry them up to the upper floors if they are assigned on the upper rooms. I know this can be out of the property’s control, but I am putting it here for future guests to see if this will be a factor for them or not.

Overall, it was a lovely stay at Backpackers Hotel Toyo. I will surely be back at this property for its price, location, and vibe. I hope you can consider staying in this affordable, valuable, and high-rated Osaka accommodation.

For any questions or booking-related inquiries, feel free to reach out to Backpackers Hotel Toyo on these platforms:

Backpackers Hotel Toyo
Address: 1 Chome-3-5 Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka, Japan 557-0002
Phone Number: +81 6 6649 6348
Email Address: info@hotel-toyo.jp
Website: www.hotel-toyo.jp
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hoteltoyo
Instagram: www.instagram.com/backpackers_hoteltoyo

Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You will find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.