Job Discussion Forums

[southofreality]

I've traveled during every other vacation period while in Japan, but in an effort to save money, I'm staying put in the Tokyo/Yokohama area during the summer break this year. I've been in East Japan for a few years, but have only explored the city I live in (Tokyo) limitedly. I know my way around, but I'd like to discover some hidden treasures (interesting or cool places) in the Tokyo/Yokohama area.

For those of you that are familiar with some or many of these places, please post your recommendations. I, for one, will greatly appreciate them.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers!

[markle]

I liked Kamakura

[Apsara]

I don't enjoy sightseeing in this kind of weather. Some of the museums might be nice, but just the idea of having to go through Shinjuku station etc to get to them in 35 degree heat puts me off. I would get out of Tokyo in summer if I could but summer is the season I earn the most so every year I sweat through it.

I can't really think of anywhere in Tokyo/ Yokohama that would be pleasant at this time of year.

[gaijinalways]

I can second that. Our schedules (wife and I) don't always coincide so the summer is a longer break for both of us. Between heat rash and just not ever wanting to leave the house most days, I'm not big on Japanese summers except as an excuse to escape Japan and its hot and humid summers. Well, that and work inside.

Tokyo

Visit Tsukiji fish market

Visit some of the national museums in Ueno

Visit some of the special art exhibitions in Shinjuku/Nihonbashi/Shibuya/Aoyoma areas (Asahi Building/Bunkyomura/other)

Explore Takesh ita market in Harajuku and Shimokitazawa station area for Japanese teen culture clothes and imported goods

Visit the imperial palace area which has nice gardens (unfortunately, they're not always open, check the times before going)

go to Sh itamachi (an area of old Tokyo, near tsukiji)

Visit the Edo museum in Ryogoku on the Sobu line (where the sumo stadium is, one station from Akihabara). Plan on a good part of a day as the museum's regular exhibits are huge, with great historical perspectives on how Tokyo has changed.

Visit Harajuku station area to see Japanese groups dress up and a group giving free hugs as well as see live bands on the fringes of Yoyogi park (on weekends and some holidays only generally)

Visit Akihabara for looking at electronic doo-dads and checking out the animae pubs/clubs

Visit 'What the Di ckens', Tokyo's largest live house in Ebisu. Be choosy, but some decent bands play there, music ranging from blues to techno with jazz and rock in between. Many of the performances are free, some of the better/better known bands have a cover charge.

Visit beer gardens atop some of the department stores in Tokyo. Often a nomihodai makes for a fun, cheap night out drinking

Go to the viewing patform on the 42nd floor in the Tokyo Metropolitan building in Shinjuku. Sometimes have views of Mt. Fuji and the Tokyo skyline

Yokohama

Visit Yamash ita park (nice at night for a date, right harbor side)

Visit the foreigner's cemetary

visit the Chinatown

Visit the dolls museum


If I think of anything else, I'll add it later or pm you.

Ps I'm not trying to imply there is little to do in Yokohama, I just don't go there very often, hence I'm not that familar with things to do there

[alexcase]

Stuff you can only really do and/ or appreciate in the summer:

Watch fireworks
Buy and wear tatami lined or straw sandals and maybe yukata (summer kimono) or jimbei (pajama-like shorts and thin wrap over shirt set)
Matsuri (street festivals)
Take your laptop and/ or a book down to one of those beach bar places in Enoshima, Kamakura or Miura kaigan and sit there all day in the sea breeze for a couple of thousand yen, taking a dip if you feel like it and your sun protection is strong enough
Outside cafes and restaurants- good ones in Tamachi (Shibaura), Shinagawa (Tennozu Isle), Doutor coffee in Funabashi etc. etc.
Make a collection of dead cicadas
Boat rides from Kasai Rinkai koen up the Sumida river etc.
Party boats from Takeshiba pier (Hamamatsucho)
"Stamina don", eel etc. to give yourself the strength to go on
Kakigori (shaved ice) with many colours and flavours- any with condensed milk particularly recommended
Bonding with strangers, especially old ladies, by saying "Atsui da ne" at bus stops etc.
Stand outside a department store pretending to meet a friend and enjoy the aircon from up to 5 meters away from the door
Beer gardens on department store roofs. Just don't expect a garden- nothing will be green- or even real beer if it's a nomihodai (drink all you like deal) as it will be probably be low tax happoshu fake beer made with peas
Iced black bean tea, mugi tea etc. etc.
Strange flavours of ice cream, e.g. green tea and red beans
Cheap and cheerful ice lollies, e.g. the bright blue Gari Gari-kun with its unidentifiable but delicious flavour

[southofreality]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I tried a few and had a good time.

Cheers!