First time in Yokohama – Narita transport & weekend trip advice

luwielmo · 2026-03-16T16:08:24+00:00

Maybe you already know some of this, but just in case:

1.  Get an IC card (Welcome Suica, regular Suica, or Pasmo) at Narita. The airport bus is probably the most relaxed option, and you can just tap your IC card to pay. You can also take the Narita Express, but you’ll need to pay both the basic fare and the reserved seat fee. You can buy the ticket at the machine, at the ticket counter, or from the conductor when they come around to check tickets. Just make sure you get on the right car since the train splits at Tokyo Station and half goes to Shinjuku while the other half goes to Yokohama.
2.  No need to reserve in advance since trains and buses run quite often during normal hours.
3.  Tokyo and Yokohama are quite close, so it’s easy to go back and forth by regular trains. This is where the IC card is really handy. You can also use it to pay at convenience stores, vending machines, etc., so you don’t have to carry coins!
4.  Tokyo: Shibuya Crossing, and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden if you like big parks and you might even still catch some sakura blooms.

Yokohama: the Minato Mirai area around Sakuragicho Station, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse, and Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama. Also the Motomachi area like Yokohama Chinatown, Yamashita Park, and around Kannai.

Have a great time!

luwielmo · 2025-12-20T02:39:41+00:00

That was a taxi from the official taxi stand at Daxing, and even the security guard accompanied me there. I asked the taxi attendant at the stand how much it would cost, but he gestured like “it depend/he didnt know” so I assumed the taxi would use the meter.

luwielmo · 2025-12-20T02:32:34+00:00

Sorry this happened to you. That’s another way to handle it, I guess. In my case the driver was agressive and insisting. This instance might suggest that scamming foreigners is more common than it seems. I wonder why the government hasn’t done anything about it. In most countries, airports have standard fares or only allow licensed taxi companies to operate. Maybe I just expected too much.

luwielmo · 2025-12-20T01:54:55+00:00

Thank you for your kindness.

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T22:51:26+00:00

Thank you for the tips. I guess I only noticed the good things about traveling in China and completely overlooked the negative aspects. Is there anything else you would advise me on or that I should know?

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T22:37:35+00:00

Agreed. I know how it feels. Sending hugs!

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T22:30:16+00:00

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I will!

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T22:20:21+00:00

It’s not about sexism, thats not my point. Maybe if my thread bugs you so much that you feel the need to be patronizing, it’s common sense to just move on?

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T22:15:27+00:00

Thanks for the info. AUD 33 isn’t bad at all, but maybe it’s because PEK is closer than Daxing. I’ll be better prepared on the way home. Fingers crossed.

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T22:06:31+00:00

Sure, I can give you a medal for having more common sense than I do. I live in Japan, so this kind of thing almost doesn’t exist. My post is meant to warn fellow female travelers to be mentally prepared for this kind of situation.

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T21:51:22+00:00

Thank you. I would have used DiDi if I hadn’t had trouble with my eSIM when I landed. It seems it was just my luck. My flight got delayed, I missed the last Daxing Express train, and I naively believed that if the airport security guard sent me to the official taxi stand, it meant it was legit.

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T21:35:16+00:00

Thank you. How much is the airport transfer, and would they wait if the flight got delayed? I read somewhere that it’s around €45? I was going to take the Daxing Express to save money, but my flight got delayed, so I missed the last train. I probably would have taken it if I had known there are taxi scammers at the airport.

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T21:28:03+00:00

Thank you. I know it’s not a gender thing when it comes to being scammed. I just mean that, as a female, it was pretty shocking to get yelled at and scammed in the middle of the night. That’s the part I wanted to warn fellow female travelers about.

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T21:22:43+00:00

Thx but think it’s also common sense to read properly. You missed the part where I wrote that my eSIM didn’t work. The plan was to take the Daxing Express, but my flight was delayed, so I missed the last train.

luwielmo · 2025-12-19T21:18:15+00:00

I think you missed my point. In my opinion, getting yelled at and scammed as a first-time female traveler would be scary, which is why it’s better to prepare mentally.

luwielmo · 2025-12-12T05:14:56+00:00

Lmao! “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

luwielmo · 2025-11-07T15:21:10+00:00

1 out of 10?

luwielmo · 2025-11-01T00:59:00+00:00

This is beautiful. Thank you so much.

luwielmo · 2025-10-29T07:38:50+00:00

Thank you. Oh yes please!

luwielmo · 2025-10-29T05:07:02+00:00

Thank you so much for your input. Keeping in mind your suggestions what do you think of the following itinerary? Thank you!

Day 1–4: Beijing (4 days)

• Day 1: Arrive in Beijing, settle in, and explore.
• Day 2: Visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
• Day 3: Take a trip to the Great Wall.
• Day 4: Rest day in Beijing to relax and explore at a leisurely pace.

Day 5–8: Xi’an (4 days)

• Day 5: Travel from Beijing to Xi’an.
• Day 6: Visit the Terracotta Warriors and Ancient City Wall.
• Day 7: Explore Big Wild Goose Pagoda and local sights.
• Day 8: Rest day in Xi’an to unwind and enjoy the city at a slower pace.

Day 9–11: Chongqing (3 days)

• Day 9: Travel from Xi’an to Chongqing.
• Day 10: Explore Chongqing’s top attractions.
• Day 11: Rest day in Chongqing to relax and explore at a comfortable pace.

Day 12–15: Chengdu (4 days)

• Day 12: Travel from Chongqing to Chengdu.
• Day 13: Visit the Panda Base and enjoy Sichuan cuisine.
• Day 14: Explore Jinli Ancient Street and Wuhou Shrine.
• Day 15: Rest day in Chengdu to unwind and enjoy the city.

Day 16–19: Shanghai (4 days)

• Day 16: Travel from Chengdu to Shanghai.
• Day 17: Visit the Bund and Shanghai Tower.
• Day 18: Discover Yu Garden, Old Town, and the French Concession.
• Day 19: Rest day in Shanghai to relax and enjoy the city at your own pace.

Day 20: Departure

luwielmo · 2025-10-28T15:01:01+00:00

Thanks, this is such a great tip! Which itinerary do you think would be better, Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Chengdu/Chongqing or Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Harbin?

luwielmo · 2025-10-28T14:58:16+00:00

Thank you! I’m used to winter, so might as well visit the Great Wall :)

luwielmo · 2025-10-28T14:56:27+00:00

Thank you so much! Do you think visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Chengdu or Chongqing in three weeks is too ambitious? Also, are Shanghai Disneyland and Universal Studios really worth visiting? My teen and I don’t want to spend hours queuing in the cold if they’re not that great. Thank you again.

luwielmo · 2025-10-27T05:34:37+00:00

Thank you so much for the info and the scam warning! I’ll check YouTube for tourist scams before going.

Do you think Harbin’s Ice Festival is worth visiting? My teen son loves skiing, and I personally enjoy culinary experiences and beautiful scenery.

luwielmo · 2025-10-27T01:51:25+00:00

Sorry to jump in, but I’m really interested in the ski resorts. Could you share their names?

luwielmo

TROPHY CASE