Job Discussion Forums

[NorthofAmerica]

Alright, I have been in Japan for over a year and a half but have pretty much stuck to Kansai with some trips to Hiroshima and Nagoya sprinkled in for good measure. Finally, I am going to Tokyo!

I will be there for about 6 days starting Thursday and am already feeling overwhelmed.

I mostly want to sight see and try and fit in as many "famous" places as I can. I hate shopping but I do need new shoes and would like to see at least one insane shopping arcade. I am also gonna be pounding drinks and would like to hit some crazy novelty bar the Ice Bar or something. An indie rock/dance bar would be awesome too. And what's the deal with maid cafes? Worth it?


Any suggestions? Districts or places I have to see? Thanx

[Hoser]

You fail at making thread titles.

[gaijinalways]

Try Akihabara for the maid cafes (and electronics)

The ice bar is in Roppongi and probably overpriced. Roppongi can be fun, best to hit it on some weekday promotional nights when happy hours can be longer and it's actually less crowded.

Try shopping in Shinjuku or Shibuya, Ikebukuro (what size you are will make a big difference in your shopping options). Shibuya has a younger crowd (think mostly uni to young 20s) and has clubs and live houses catering to that range, with the damage to the wallet varying.

I would suggest going to see Asakusa and its market and temple area.

If you can get up early, check out the tuna auction in Tsukiji (the world's largest) running from 3-5:30 AM.

Near Yoyogi park next to Harajuku station, check out cosplay groups and watch bands on the border of the park on weekends (not so many bands at this time of year, but if the weather is nice there will be more). While near there head down to the other harajuku exit, the Takeshita street one and wander into the market by the same name (a street perpendicular to the station exit). Young street clothes and anything that is hip for junior high to university can be found here.

[Khyron]

www.japan-guide.com

[NorthofAmerica]

Thanks GA! I am a tall dude and my feet are 30cm so any super sized foreigner friendly shops will be what I am looking for.

Yeah, hoser. Real useful reply there too.

And Khyron, a guidebook. Great, I guess first-hand experience is too much to look for on a Japan forum.

[TokyoLiz]

Study this - http://www.bento.com/tokyofood.html

Japan Guide is good, but see http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/

You could spend your whole day in Shibuya/Omotesando/Harajuku. The view from the Shibuya scramble Starbucks, ramen shops under the train line by the police office, hole in the wall places in Nonbiri yokocho, walk down Omotesando to pretend you're a somebody (chihuahua in tutu required), backstreets of Aoyama for window shopping should fill your morning.

Head to Harajuku for looking at girls/boys/others and Meiji Jingu to feel holy. You can walk one hour through back streets to Shinjuku, see the view from the Metropolitan Building towers (free!), and go for a beer and yakitori in the little gintengai stalls near the Odakyu building.

Also, consider Yanesen - http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/695/feature.asp

I've walked from Sendagi to Ueno Park. It's mostly flat, lots of back streets to keep you away from noisy stinky traffic. In one day, you could easily start at Yanaka (Nippori Station), take in the cemetery, temples and quiet streets, eat cheap, good grub, and be in Ueno and Akihabara areas for maid cafe and consumerism.

Have fun!

[Apsara]

NorthofAmerica, the link Khyron gave you isn't a guidebook, it's a Japan travel site which includes a forum where you can ask questions- I answer questions there myself and definitely recommend it.

[gaijinalways]

I forgot about also going to Shimokitazawa (on the Odakyu line out of Shinjuku). Interesting place with lots of import shops selling things from around the world, especially some countries of Africa, S. America, and a few places in Asia.

As to big shoes, good luck. Bigger sizes are hard to come by, especially at decent prices (coming from a 30/31 cm size himself).

[NorthofAmerica]

yeah, I am just a jerk... I didn't appreciate the outside link with no commentary but it's actually pretty good.

Sorry to come off super abrasive. Thanks for all the feedback

[Glenski]

www.lonelyplanet.com is another travel web site put out by the publishers of the book with the same name.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=19&keywordid=85 will take you to the internal ThornTree discussion group on Japan.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=504236&tstart=0 will take you to their FAQ section. Japan is item #3.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/ is another web site totally dedicated to tourism in Japan. A must for travelers.

[AndyH]

I had lived in Japan for a year (Hokkaido) before I was able to make it to Tokyo. I got a relatively cheap hotel roon in the Ueno area, and it was a good base from which to explore and have fun.

Ueno/Asakusa are recommended if you want to see more of traditional Tokyo.
Shibuya/Shinjuku are better if you want more excitement and stuff geared towards young adults.

The two areas are roughly a half hour apart, on the JR Yamanote line, so you can still see one area if you're staying in the other.

I miss Tokyo a lot.

Ganbatte and have fun!!!!!!!!

[cornishmuppet]

The controversial Yasukuni-jinja (where they buried the war crims) is pretty interesting. The museum next door has good exhibits and has a fascinating Japanese-viewpoint of the war - see if you agree (I didn't!).

Ueno Zoo is one of the best I've been to, and I've been to a lot.

Avoid Tokyo Tower, it's overpriced and ugly as hell. If you want to see the city, go to the government building in Shinjuku where you can go to the top for free. On clear days you can see Fuji.

If it's pissing with rain go to Disneysea/land - it'll be empty and you can get on the rides without waiting!

Enjoy.

[gaijinalways]

[AndyH]

I was wondering the same thing.

I'd especially recommend Nikko and Kamakura (one of my very favorite places in Japan) if you have time for a day trip outside Tokyo.

One of my favorite walks in Tokyo was along Yasukune-dori, from Akihabara to Kudanshita, where Yasukune Shrine is located. You'll pass through Ochanomizu and Jimokcho, and the famous Buddokan. If you are lucky to be there when the cherry trees blossom, it's a nice sight.

[AndyH]

One more thing- Yanaka, the neighborhood just west of Ueno, is a nice, relaxing area where you can still experience the old Shitamachi atmosphere. You can take the Yamanote Line to Nippori Station, walk through the large and historic cemetary, and make your way to Ueno Park.