Tokyo

[doubleonothing]

With the sheer excitement at the prospect of Lee signing I've decidd to go to Tokyo (Well Me and Mrs OOO are in Hong Kong/Macau for a month so we've decided to go to Tokyo for 4 days as we got a good deal on it)

 

Anyway I was wondering if anyone had been there before and if they had any recommendations or advice on the place?

 

Cheers

 

OOO

[Saint in Paradise]

Not a lot of help but when we were there in 2002 we found it rather expensive BUT the

people were really good and very helpful.

 

Learn to say hello, depends on time of the day which one you use and thank you, they

always smile even the immigration people at the airport.

 

I could say a bit more but would probably be out of date.

[HK_Phoey]

I can give you a few pointers if you tell me a little more what you are into. Do you know whee you are staying yet?

[doubleonothing]

Think it's called the Tokyu Inn though not got it to hand at the mo. Looking to do the usual tourist things like the imperial palace gardens etc. Obviously we're not there for long so want to try and work out what's best to do in a short space of time - what is essential to do! I've just downloaded a guide book so will be working my way though that later on but any pointers/tips would be appreciated.

[dubai_phil]

I went to Tokyo for 36 hours for the WC with a mate.

 

I remember 3 things from my trip

 

Take a train from the airport into the city it's a LONG way by taxi & ******* expensive

 

Asahi

 

Hangover

 

Nope don't remember anything else of any value whatsoever

[Pugwash]

Culturally so different to anywhere else I've been in the world, but very nice people. Tokyo probably looks rather different now without the advertising lights since Fukishima closed down. Shame you couldn't get out of Tokyo and see the rest of Japan. The bullet train from Kobe to Hiroshima opens up the coastal plain scenery a bit. Don't remember much of Hiroshima itself, but did visit Ground Zero - eerie and quite moving.

 

Oh, and did the maid walk in on you having a shower? the idea of privacy is a bit unfamiliar and nakedness doesn't seem to be an issue to them.

[eurosaint]

Harajuku on a Sunday is an experience, it seems that everybody leaves their inhibitions at home and wanders around in fancy dress !

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=harajuku+area+japan&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=R1YJT7_fJMa18QPBxsHAAQ&ved=0CFsQsAQ&biw=1440&bih=785

I also used to like going to the Isetan department store in Shinjuku when they opened at 10am (precisely!), the manager with white gloves on, opened the doors and you were met with a long line of staff bowing to the floor in unison saying "Ohayou gozaimasu" (good morning). It sounds a bit naff but it was a real experience !

Tbf, I have not been there for years but I used to visit a few times a year on business and always enjoyed it, except for the time I stayed in a room the size of a space capsule (eerie that was!). Good luck !

[Kingsland Codger]

I lived there from 1978 through to 1994 and go there 3 or 4 times a year. More than happy to share any information and give you any tips. Sadly the yen continues to power ahead and it can be a very expensive place to visit but it is one heck of a fun place to see.

[FloridaMarlin]

Some time since I went there, but brilliant memories of the place.

 

If you want to do some off=beat things, get up early in the morning and go to the Tsukiji fish market, the largest in the world and where a tuna fetched a world record price of $400,000 or so this week. Yes, that's one fish, £300,000.

 

Tokyo Disneyland is a weird experience, as all the major characters in the parades and things such as Cinderella, Prince Charming, etc,are caucasian (normally American students on exchange visits), and the minor ones Asian. Apparently the Japanese could not cope with the concept of the main Disney characters being played by their own countrymen.

 

Akihabara is the place for all your latest, state-of-the-art electronic stuff, and even if you don't intend to buy, it's worth wandering around to see the mind-blowing stuff that debuts in Japan before it hits the UK or US. Be careful when buying, though. Check anything you purchase is compatible with UK voltage, settings, etc.

 

For a night out, go to Roppongi.

 

Outside of Tokyo, good day trips include Nikko, where the Tokagawa shoguns were based. The buildings and tombs are amazing.

 

You can also do Kyoto and back in a day on the Shinkansen, although it would benefit from a stopover if you can. Kyoto is the former capital of Japan and the temples and buildings are incredible in what is considered the cultural centre of Japan. Apparently it was the preferred target for the atomic bomb, but was saved by Harvard professors concerned at the possible cultural loss.

 

Which brings you inevitably to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hiroshima is too far to do in a day trip, but if you can stretch to a stopover you really have to do it. It is, at the same time, the most frightening but uplifting place I have ever been to. Frightening because this is a fate which could befall all of us, uplifting because it shows the spirit of man can survive such horrors.

 

When it comes to eating, you will find McDonalds and all your other chains if you're not adventurous. But if you are, venture into the sort of places the locals eat.

 

Looks out for the cafes/restaurants that have the plastic models of the dishes in the window, and simply point at what you fancy.

 

The soups with noodles are usually a very good bet, and it is an acceptable polite sign of your enjoyment if you loudly slurp the soup and noodles into your mouth.

[Chez]

I lived there from 1978 through to 1994 and go there 3 or 4 times a year. More than happy to share any information and give you any tips. Sadly the yen continues to power ahead and it can be a very expensive place to visit but it is one heck of a fun place to see.

 

I also fancy a trip to Japan this year. Unfortunately work means I can only go in June or July. June appears to be rainy season, what abut July, is it rediculously humid in Tokyo and southwards? Could you recommend a beach resort/town as I'd like a 3-4 days lapping up the sun then back to the sightseeing.

[Kingsland Codger]

I also fancy a trip to Japan this year. Unfortunately work means I can only go in June or July. June appears to be rainy season, what abut July, is it rediculously humid in Tokyo and southwards? Could you recommend a beach resort/town as I'd like a 3-4 days lapping up the sun then back to the sightseeing.

 

I shall send you a PM soon.

[Tokyo-Saint]

If you want to go clubbing go to Roppongi or Shibuya. Roppongi is full of forgeiners so is loved by people there for a short time but hated by people that have been there for a while. I would recommed Shibya for a night out, loads of bars and clubs hidden up the back alleys.

 

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Japan/Tokyo_to/Tokyo-969164/Nightlife-Tokyo-Night_Out_in_Shibuya-BR-1.html

 

Harajuku – good for watching people – fashion nutters and has the best park in Tokyo – yoyogi. This park has loads of rockabilly dancers by the enterence. Definetly worth a trip on Sunday. Also has the maji shine which is cool for a bit of culture.

 

Akihabara – electrical town also the home of manga and people (geeks called otaku) who love manga.

 

For a day trip go to Kamakura. This is an old town, with tradittional old buildings, temples etc etc better than going miles to kyoto if you want a bit of culture.

 

Drinking – DO NOT GO TO gas panic or the hub or Irish bars unless you want to hang out with a load of westerners and pay £5 a pint then come home and moan that japan is expensive.

 

Japanese drink in izakya (s). This is a kind of casual restraunt/bar. They are everywhere with the biggest brands being Wara Wara or Watami. Two phrases you have to learn is 1) Nomi hodi 2) tabi hodi. This means 1) all you can eat 2) all you can drink. (pro: no me ho die). The drinking one is the most common and most places do it (japanese places not tourist traps). It is usually about 3000 yen for 3 hours free drinking (about £15).

 

A must do is karaoke. It is completely different from anything you have experiecned in England and miles better. If you go at midnight most places do a £15 nomi hodi until 6am. Cheapest all nighter in the world. You are in a room, just you and your mates so you don’t look too stupid. Plus after a bit of drinking you get to meet the people in the other rooms, a good ****ed up laugh.

 

If you like sushi, it is amzing and dirt cheap in tokyo compared to here.

 

I would recommed going to shibuya station. When you come out to that big square you will see a building with OIOI written on it in huge letters. This is called maouri but you can call it oi oi if you like. This is a department store for girls, quite and experience in itself going here. Anyway, in this building on about the 9th floor is a sushi place. Sit at the counter have some crab soup and saki and enjoy. The fish are all kept in tanks behind the counter and the guy pulls it our fresh….it is still hot when you eat it.

Mental but the freshest sushi you can get and pretty cheap. Costs about £20 a head for food and drink.

 

If you have anything special you want to know give me a shout.

 

Night Out in Shibuya, Tokyo

http://www.virtualtourist.com

[Chez]

If you want to go clubbing go to Roppongi or Shibuya. Roppongi is full of forgeiners so is loved by people there for a short time but hated by people that have been there for a while. I would recommed Shibya for a night out, loads of bars and clubs hidden up the back alleys.

 

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Japan/Tokyo_to/Tokyo-969164/Nightlife-Tokyo-Night_Out_in_Shibuya-BR-1.html

 

Harajuku – good for watching people – fashion nutters and has the best park in Tokyo – yoyogi. This park has loads of rockabilly dancers by the enterence. Definetly worth a trip on Sunday. Also has the maji shine which is cool for a bit of culture.

 

Akihabara – electrical town also the home of manga and people (geeks called otaku) who love manga.

 

For a day trip go to Kamakura. This is an old town, with tradittional old buildings, temples etc etc better than going miles to kyoto if you want a bit of culture.

 

Drinking – DO NOT GO TO gas panic or the hub or Irish bars unless you want to hang out with a load of westerners and pay £5 a pint then come home and moan that japan is expensive.

 

Japanese drink in izakya (s). This is a kind of casual restraunt/bar. They are everywhere with the biggest brands being Wara Wara or Watami. Two phrases you have to learn is 1) Nomi hodi 2) tabi hodi. This means 1) all you can eat 2) all you can drink. (pro: no me ho die). The drinking one is the most common and most places do it (japanese places not tourist traps). It is usually about 3000 yen for 3 hours free drinking (about £15).

 

A must do is karaoke. It is completely different from anything you have experiecned in England and miles better. If you go at midnight most places do a £15 nomi hodi until 6am. Cheapest all nighter in the world. You are in a room, just you and your mates so you don’t look too stupid. Plus after a bit of drinking you get to meet the people in the other rooms, a good ****ed up laugh.

 

If you like sushi, it is amzing and dirt cheap in tokyo compared to here.

 

I would recommed going to shibuya station. When you come out to that big square you will see a building with OIOI written on it in huge letters. This is called maouri but you can call it oi oi if you like. This is a department store for girls, quite and experience in itself going here. Anyway, in this building on about the 9th floor is a sushi place. Sit at the counter have some crab soup and saki and enjoy. The fish are all kept in tanks behind the counter and the guy pulls it our fresh….it is still hot when you eat it.

Mental but the freshest sushi you can get and pretty cheap. Costs about £20 a head for food and drink.

 

If you have anything special you want to know give me a shout.

 

Night Out in Shibuya, Tokyo

http://www.virtualtourist.com

cheers. All of that is now on my to do list.

[Tokyo-Saint]

No problem Chez. I wouldn't go to Tokyo in June as it is really humid and rains alot. July and August are always VERY hot. As it is a city and I was working there in a suit, it is the hostest place I have ever experienced. If you are in shorts and T-shirts it might be bearable but the cars and air con units pumping out hot air really add to the heat.

 

Hanami is the best time to go by far. The atmosphere in the parks is great, people just sitting drinking under cherry blossom trees.

 

Alternatively, winter is great as you can jump on the shinkansen (bullet train) and be snowboarding in around an hour. I would recommend Karuzawa for this... http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6030.html

 

It is not so easy to go to the beach and then back to the city as the beaches around Tokyo are not that great at all. The combination of volcanic ash sand, over industrialisation and Tsunami breaks spoil most natural beauty. Ibaraki has a few good surfing beaches http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibaraki_Prefecture and there are a few scuba places south of Tokyo but nothing worth writing home about and really no better than Bournemouth.

 

I would really recommend staying longer though if you can. Visitors to Japan can take advantage of a special Shinkansen deal. I think it is something like unlimited travel for about £100 - £150 which is amazing value if you plan on travelling around the country for a bit.

[doubleonothing]

Thanks for all the pointers. We fly out from HK tomorrow. The mrs has been reading up and decided that amongst other thing that she wants to go and see sumo wrestling. Do you know If this is still a common sport in Tokyo is it rarer and harder to find these days?

 

Really looking forward to it. Only been to Japan once and that was on a ship so didn't really see much of it.

[Red and White Army]

You got really lucky, the Tokyo sumo is on now - only three chances a year. I used to live in Tokyo for five years and have not been yet!

 

http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/ticket/index.html

[doubleonothing]

Well we had a fantastic time in Tokyo. The place really is quite amazing. Only there for 3 days but we packed so much in. Even managed to get to the Sumo which really is quite an experience - Possibly the most Japanese thing we could have done! Tried all sorts of different foods, shown around a Samurai sword showroom (Tokyo Sword), Visited the Imperial Palace garderns, went to Senso Ji, had an Asahi in the Asahi building overlooking the city, went to Shibuya snag Kareoke and much more.

 

I was surprised by some things. I expected English to be more widely spoken (maybe as I've been out here in HK and Macau for the last month where it is) and that free Wi-Fi would be more readily available as it is in HK and Macau.

 

Really recommend going. Though it was bloody cold!! If you get the chance -GO!

[angelman]

Been a few years since I went to visit my then Japanese bosses, but I would second a visit to Tsukiji and would also advocate getting up early to do so. And as Floridaman says, Roppongi for the evening.

[jonjapan]

I also fancy a trip to Japan this year. Unfortunately work means I can only go in June or July. June appears to be rainy season, what abut July, is it rediculously humid in Tokyo and southwards? Could you recommend a beach resort/town as I'd like a 3-4 days lapping up the sun then back to the sightseeing.

PM me too if you're coming out. Love your long Saints posts... There are some islands near Tokyo with traditional guest houses that are pretty nice - great beaches and a breeze. Shikine-jima is the quieter one: http://www.secret-japan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=156 And Niijima is the busier, surfing island: http://www.japantoday.com/category/travel/view/niijima-idyllic-getaway-from-tokyo-without-technically-leaving-tokyo