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[babar6789]

Yokohama is NOT a part of Tokyo.

I like Shibuya though when I do get the chance to go into town.

[gaijinalways]

azarashi sushi posted

[Apsara]

If azarashi sushi means building-wise, then it's pretty much true that no area of Tokyo is especially fascinating. What makes this city interesting is the people, what they're wearing, what they're doing, their costumed mini-dogs etc., and for that kind of thing it doesn't get much more interesting than Harajuku or Inokashira Park on a weekend.

Inokashira Park incidentally is quite a lovely place to hang out even on a weekday when there isn't so much people-watching to be done- very green, nice pond, lots of places to sit, a bit of grass even- I think it's quite an oasis.

[azarashi sushi]

Yeah, you're right Apsara and Gaijin ... I was thinking more about the buildings and surroundings rather than the people. And yes, Harajuku is a relatively interesting area by Japanese standards.

The OP used the term "hanging out" and for me that conjures up a specific image ... You hang out at the beach i.e. Go for a swim, then walk along the beach, then go for a coffe or something to eat in a cafe ... Or, you hang out in a big open square with street musicians and artists, people watching... that sort of thing. That's why I initially said that Tokyo is not a city for hanging out in. For me, it doesn't fit that image.

Don't get me wrong, I really like Tokyo!! There's many great things about it... Overall, I just don't find it a vibrant, quirky, colourful city. It's largely just crowded with people going to and from work or shopping. Whereas in other big cities, the people give it more colour and atmosphere... Here I just find the people make it feel crowded.

Omotesando is nice, but it is just a busy road, very commercial with a lot of high end shops and CROWDED with people ... SHOPPING! Compared to somewhere like Adachi ku, yes it's very quirky, but compared to any other central area, it's not that radically different. Yes, there are more trees and the fashions are better. But, even in Harajuku, don't you think, there's always that overriding sense of conformity and sameness with everything that just takes the edge off.

Gaijinalways... It's no secret where I go. I just meant, I'll choose to go somewhere because I like that particular restaurant/bar etc., not because I like the area that it's in.

For example, last week I ate twice in Shiodome. Once was to go a Singaporean restaurant I really like called Hainan Chi Fan ...

By the way... If you haven't been there, you should... The food is wonderful! And because a lot of the staff are Singaporean, there's a bit of different atmosphere.

But anyway, there are only three branches of that restaurant, and the nicest one (in my opinion) is in Shiodome. We also had a friend from home visiting recently. One of the restaurants that we like to take out-of-towners to is HIBIKI in Shiodome. It's a great restaurant, I really like it, but the main reason to take out-of-towners there is because of the view.

Otherwise, Shiodome is a VERY NOTHING area. If I go to Hainan Chi Fan, it's only to go there because of the food... I never spend any extra time in Shiodome. Same with Hibiki. It's to take out-of-towners, for the Japanese experience and the view... not because it's Shiodome. I go there, do whatever I have to, and leave.

I'm gay so if I go to a bar it's in Shinjuku ni chome. I go to bars that my friends go to to meet them ... I never "hang out" in ni chome. I don't walk around looking for places to eat or other things to do. That's what I mean. I just go there for those bars and then go somewhere else.

If I go to a club, I go to Warehouse or Ageha, simply because they have gay events, not because I like Azabu Juban or Shin Kiba.

So, that's what I meant.

AS

[gaijinalways]

Got you azarashi sushi, and I was joking about the secrets.

Some of the places I like in Takadanobaba are Ben's cafe, Diglight (which recently is often a lesbian bar),which has some decent live bands at times, though my buddy complained about the high beer prices, and a book store carrying English books called 'The Blue Parrot'.

Ah, specific images, actually 'hanging out' for me would include being at home. 'Hanging out' for me means I have no specific plans and am in no hurry to do anything specific. I could be doing it alone or with a crowd or with people I know, could be anywhere. I assumed the OP didn't want to hear about my experiences chilling at home, anyone can manage that.