The Deal Mommy

Good morning! We’ve landed, attempted to go to bed on Tokyo time, and have all risen at 4:45 AM with the sun. Even the blackout shades couldn’t fool our jetlagged bodies. Since we’ve haven’t done any exploring outside Narita Airport, our hotel, and a field trip to the basement 7/11 this post will just share a few random thoughts from our first night. Hope they help you with your Tokyo planning.

• Everyone talks about the Narita Express train as the best way to get downtown, but I’d advocate for the airport limo, especially on your first trip. The limo bus takes you directly to your hotel and is the same price is the train-with the benefit of not having to drag your exhausted kids and luggage through downtown Tokyo in search of your hotel.  The airport limo is door to door- worth any possible traffic delays to me. Buying tickets is a snap: there’s a counter right next to the one where you buy Narita express tickets. Buses are frequent and have a bathroom-another benefit, especially with kids. Plus: if you fall asleep, you’ll still get to your hotel.

• Let your kids know that they can’t just dive into the pool.  We visited the pool last night here at the Hyatt Regency and discovered it’s a three stage process: first, you shower in the locker room.  Next, you shuffle through an ankle deep pool of antiseptic solution.  Then you plunge into a cleansing pool again before emerging on the pool deck.  Also, be sure to check with your hotel before promising your kids that you have a pool at all: many hotels charge for access, even for hotel guests.  Status may get the fee waived, but I suggest checking before you leave so your kids don’t get their hopes up. Also- at the Hyatt Regency (and many other hotels) kids under 5 aren’t permitted at all.  I could see the meltdown from here if you’ve promised your fresh off the plane preschooler a dip and had to return to the room disappointed.
• Toilets are THAT big of a deal if you’re a kid (and they’re pretty cool even if you’re a grownup).  After our Etoile experience the kids raced to the bathroom to try out the toilet. Deal Kid even got a practical joke in by turning the water pressure to full blast for his sister.
• High floors may get views of Mt. Fuji, but from the 6th floor you get a prime seat to the Calisthenics in the park at 6AM.   The best part- everyone in the park knows the routine and joins in so you have easily 50 folks-all dressed in white as if in uniform- stretching in unison.
• 7/Eleven makes for a great first field trip.  Lots of stuff the kids recognized, but with a twist.  The Deal Kids made a fun game of “spot the American products” then seeing how they differed.

Today we’ll venture further afield, but even overnight the Deal Kids dipped their toes into Tokyo waters.  How did your kids do the first day abroad?  What surprised them- and you? Please share in the comments.

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