Question about Yokohama, Japan Hotels

Boston Phil , it was very easy and not expensive to take a taxi from Yokohama station to the cruise port. It would be just as easy from your hotel near the station.

The APA Hotel is near the convention center where I attended a conference about 10 year ago. I remember that it was one of the recommended conference hotels and I don't remember any complaints about it. I stayed somewhere cheaper. If you are planning to take the subway into Tokyo for sightseeing, either hotel should be fine. The JR East is a few minutes/subway stops closer to Tokyo but not a big difference. Yokohama station is huge and busy; Bashamici Station might be easier to find your way around. If you are taking the subway from the airport, then Yokahama station would be easier but there is also a reasonably priced limo/shuttle from either airport, I believe, to the APA hotel. I believe the Bayside Blue Bus you mention only takes you around Yokahama so if your sightseeing will be in Tokyo that won't help. I am excited for you about your trip!

Thank you, Carol

I plan to take.a taxi from Yokohama Station to my hotel. and maybe from my hotel to the cruise port.

I am getting excited.

Hello CD in DC

thank you for your input.

I have no plans to go into Tokyo. Not an easy decision but I will only be in Yokohama three nights total. I will actually only have one full day of sightseeing and I am choosing to stay in Yokohama. Because of age and mobility challenges, I hve to set limits for myself.

Carol

If you come back to this page. I just read in my research that most taxi drivers in Yokohama do not speak English. Did you have any trouble finding a taxi driver who understood you?

If you come back to this page. I just read in my research that most taxi drivers in Yokohama do not speak English. Did you have any trouble finding a taxi driver who understood you?

That is true for most taxi drivers in Japan.
You can simply show them your phone with the map of where you want to go, or a business card/printout of the destination address (e.g. your hotel), or ask your hotel to write down your destination (e.g. the cruise port) for you, so you can hand it to the driver.

Hello Balso

I use my iPad much more than my phone which is an Android.

I discovered that if I go to my hotel's website, the name of the hotel is both in English and Japanese. I think that is true of the address as well.

It will be easy to have the website of my hotel on my iPad and show to the taxicab driver.

BostonPhil, Take a screen shot of the hotel address off of the webpage in advance and save it on your IPAD. That way, you are not worrying about getting on wifi or pulling up a webpage on the go.
I did not have any difficulties communicating with my taxi driver, but I was also going to the ship vs. going to a hotel.

I spent a couple of days in Yokohama in 2019, staying in the Minatiomirai area. This might work as an energy-conserving option, maybe for evening.

There is a building in Minatomirai, the Landmark Tower, that is one of the tallest buildings in Japan (Abena Harukas, Azabudai Hills Mori JP, Tokyo Tower, and TokyoSkyTree are taller.) It's kind of part of the mall and you access the tower through the mall (it also has a hotel in it).

It has an incredible view from its observation deck but it's a more enclosed platform than the newer buildings, so if heights are a problem this tower is much less stressful. Has great views across the Tokyo Bay, with Tokyo in the distance, and all of Tokyo Bay.. From another side, toward the mountains.

Really nice, but unlike Tokyo SkyTree not very busy and pretty cheap. Currently $6.90 or ¥1000.

Hi Wanderbug

I believe that my hotel is in the Minatiomirai area. My hotel is very close to Bashamati Station. My spelling may not be completely correct.

I have been doing my research and discovered the Landmark Tower.

Yokohama seems like it will be more relaxing than Tokyo and less expensive but I will be going intop Tokyp for at least one full day.. Maybe even Tokyo Disneyworld or Disney Seas?

BP, if you guaranteed your hotel room with your CC that you've now cancelled, you will want to update that information on your reservation if you can. NO need to do that right now when you are frazzled. Give yourself a reminder in your phone calendar for a couple of weeks from now and tend to it then.

Thank you Pam

So much to remember.

I have added a night in Yokohama which is not the worst thing to happen since I am now flying out a day earlier.

So I will be in Yokohama four nights and not three. This will allow me to spend a day visiting Tokyo. I was even thinking of staying in Tokyo but from my research, Yokohama seems more relaxed than Tokyo and costs less as well.

I will be cancelling my entire booking in Yokohama and rebooking with probably my new Citi credit card.

For now, at this moment, I feel so peaceful.

I have learned some valuable lessons.

Please forget any thought of Tokyo Disneyland!! Big budget buster and it is crowded with a capital "C".

I am going to suggest that you look into going to Team Lab Planets. This is an unique experience with interactive modern art. It was one of my highlights of my visit to Tokyo. Don't be put off by some of the jumping around videos on the website. There is plenty there for us older folks who have left our trampoline days behind. The art is meant to appeal to all of your senses. The exhibit with live orchids is one of the more fragrant rooms I have ever been in. You do walk barefoot through part of the exhibit and also wade through about a foot of water in one place so wear pants that you can roll up easily. Lockers are available free of charge.

You do have to plan ahead and get your tickets in advance. Tickets are available 2 months out from the date that you want to visit. They do sell out!

https://www.teamlab.art/e/planets/

I've edited to add this quote from their website: "The artworks change depending on the presence of people, and the existence of the artworks is continuous with your body and with others.
Immerse yourself physically in the massive artwork spaces, perceive them with your body, and become one with the art."

It is a little to describe this experience and place, but I highly recommend it!

you shouldn't have to cancel your Yokohama booking because of changing the card number (not your choice was it?) You should be able to give them the new card info and they modify the reservation without cancelling. Unless you want to because you want to be somewhere else. You may also be able to have them change the dates without cancelling.

Hi Carol,

I appreciate your advice about Tokyo Disneyland. ...

And in my research I have come across Team Lab Planets. And I loved it. And I will seriously consider it.

But because of my limitations, I might have to consider a guided excursion from Yokohama to Tokyo.

Maybe I could get a hop on hop off bus in Tokyo?????

Hello Nigel

I am considering cancelling the reservation for other reasons.

I was able to access my new credit card on Citi and get all the information I need to make purchases.

I have booked another hotel in Yokohama at a better rate and even closer to port but I do not feel as nice as the first hotel which I still have,

Re the first hotel which I like a lot. It looks like I can get a better rate. I think that I am going to start fresh. Cancel the first booking and then rebook.

Then I will have two bookings in Yokahama eventually having to make a decision.

Tokyo has severe traffic issues, so I don't view a hop on, hop off bus as a very good alternative for you. The subways and trains are always quicker...... I do understand if you don't want to deal with learning the Tokyo Subway system.

Perhaps look for a day tour that goes from Yokohama to Tokyo and includes team lab Planet if you would feel more comfortable with that type of transportation.

Hi,
Don't worry too much about your spelling. There's almost always multiple different spellings going from a character/vocal alphabet to "fixed-letter" types.

I'm not a Disney person anyhow, but reading various forums I've seen lots of complaints about crowds and cost at the Tokyo locations. I second the recommendation to skip it.

It looks like they've reopened TeamLabs Borderless in a new location in a brand new building, so if you can't make Planets work try that one.

Carol,

I am thinking of a day excursion from Yokohama to Tokyo

I assume my hotels will make suggestions or maybe I should assume nothing more at this point.

I do not quite understnd what Team Labs are. Guess I need to do some research .

I do not quite understnd what Team Labs are. Guess I need to do some research

Teamlab is a collective that creates immersive art installations, somewhat comparable to Meow Wolf in the USA.
Picture things like:

• large rooms filled with projections, including dynamic elements that the public can affect in various ways.
• rooms filled with installations that you go through, and sometimes touch
• places where you can contribute to the artwork

I went to both teamLab Planets and teamLab Borderless in the past year and a half.
I preferred Borderless: the bigger scale is more impressive, and some of the stuff was really stunning. It was also my first, hence novelty effect.
But Planets is far more interactive, so it could be more "fun" for some.