|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
goesslry
Joined: 19 Jun 2007
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:15 am Post subject: Tokyo run (what are the must do's in tokyo) |
 |
|
| I will be going on a visa run to tokyo this week (fly out of seoul thursday, will come back tuesday). What are the "must do's" for me in Tokyo while I am there? I have looked at all the tourist things online, but am wondering if anyone else has any experiences/suggestions. Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
LuVada
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:21 am Post subject: Re: Tokyo run (what are the must do's in tokyo) |
|
|
| goesslry wrote: |
| I will be going on a visa run to tokyo this week (fly out of seoul thursday, will come back tuesday). What are the "must do's" for me in Tokyo while I am there? I have looked at all the tourist things online, but am wondering if anyone else has any experiences/suggestions. Thanks. |
TOROKO FUROBA, FASHON MASAJI (MAKE SURE YOU GET THE LIPU SERVICE) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
Take in a baseball game at Tokyo Dome, or an MMA show if any are scheduled for this weekend.
There's always catching a Kabuki show, if you're into stuff like that. The main theater will even allow you to watch a partial show if you're not sure you'll like it, and they rent earphones with translations. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pastis
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
Tokyo's probably the most epic city you'll ever see. If you've only got 3-4 days, you won't even make a dent in all it has to offer. Having said that, just make a general sort of itinerary, sticking to the most famous areas/places, and then just improvise from there (i.e. if you see something you like, go for it). There will be no shortage of things to draw your attention.
I often recommend people don't go too out of their way to see the temples and "old Japan" when in Tokyo on a short trip (mainly because there's more impressive places like Kyoto to go for that). But the obvious ones to check out would be Meiji shrine in Yoyogi park (in Shibuya, just get off at Harajuku station on the JR line), and the Senso-ji Asakusa. Both are very famous. The imperial palace (Kyoko) and surroundings in Chiyoda is nice too (but can only be seen from a distance, you can't enter). Also, if you're interested, Yasukuni Shrine (the one that enshrines the war-dead, and pisses off the Koreans and Chinese) is quite interesting.
-----------------------
Likely the best general areas to throw on your itinerary would be:
1) Chuo-ku - good to check out in the day. The Ginza (very nice place, lots of upscale shopping and restaurants and dept. stores, it's got a huge boulevard with wide sidewalks and is a very pleasant place to just walk around). Yurakucho (near the Seibu department store) has a cool street with many nice restaurants below an elevated parallel train track (famous for yakitori places). The Tsukiji fish market is nearby as well, popular for sushi.
2) Shinjuku - the busiest district of Tokyo, is good to just walk around. Most of the best department stores are there (Isetan, Takashimaya), and loads of other shopping outside the south exit. The west exit is the business district, with nice hotels such as the Park Hyatt, the east has Kabukicho (the biggest reds light district in Asia). Shinjuku gyoen is a really nice park nearby that I recommend if you find yourself nearby.
3) Minato-ku - Roppongi Hills is a very famous shopping center. The newly built Tokyo Midtown is pretty nice too. Lots of American and other foreigners hang out in this part of Tokyo, and most of the night life is here (night clubs, discos etc.) Hiro-o is a nice residential area (American people live there). Aoyama is a very fashionable shopping area too if you're interested (expensive as hell though). Oh, and Tokyo tower is there as well...
4) Shibuya - really busy, concrete jungle packed with young people, a place to usually avoid if you live in Tokyo, but worth a visit now and then. Actually it's a big area, so some parts are nice and not quite as busy. It'd be another interesting place to just spend the day walking about. Ex. if you wanna see the cosu-play kids in action, just head down to Harajuku. Omotesando (another famous high end street with lots of primo Euro brand name shops like Gucci etc.) starts from here as well.
Anyway, those are probably the main places. Odaiba and Akihabara a couple other famous ones just off the top of my head. A day trip to Yokohama is always a nice option if you feel like it. There's really so much else to see, unfortunately you won't have enough time... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
whatever
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Korea: More fun than jail.
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Roppongi sucks. Skip that. Otherwise, good advice. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| pastis wrote: |
| But the obvious ones to check out would be Meiji shrine in Yoyogi park (in Shibuya, just get off at Harajuku station on the JR line), and the Senso-ji Asakusa. |
And if you do go here, do it on a Sunday, so on the way back you can enjoy the circus in Harajuku on the way back... cosplay chicks out the yin-yang and amateur bands all over the place playing everything from rock to pop to whatever they like. A cool afternoon. And afterwards, the Harajuku shopping area is teeming with teen/young adult fashion shops. Many are tres cool. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:17 pm Post subject: Tokyo |
|
|
* Mori Tower at Roppongi Hills for the view
* Kamakura (outdoor Buddha)
* Nikko (old temples)
* Hakone (for Fuji views) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pastis
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| whatever wrote: |
| Roppongi sucks. Skip that. Otherwise, good advice. |
The thing is that the lion's share of big night clubs are there so it's gotta be on the list. I know what you mean (I'm not that in love with the main stretch myself, getting harassed by Nigerian touts etc.), but for a tourist looking for nightlife it's worth checking out - just stay clear of Gaspanic and its ilk, and it's alright.
And Roppongi Hills is an architectural marvel.
Basically for clubbing there's either Roppongi or Shibuya (incl. Daikenyama). Ageha (a super club on the other side of Odaiba) is cool too if there's an event on, but a bit out of the way.
| chris_J2 wrote: |
* Kamakura (outdoor Buddha)
* Nikko (old temples)
* Hakone (for Fuji views) |
Nice places, but each would take a full day to go see...
For a nice natural onsen in the middle of Tokyo, just go to LaQua at Tokyo Dome. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mikekim
Joined: 11 Aug 2006
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I hope you went to TGS. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
goesslry
Joined: 19 Jun 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
| awesome. thanks for the advice all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:43 am Post subject: I/2 Day Trips from Tokyo |
|
|
pastis wrote:
| Quote: |
| each would take a full day to go see |
Kamakura is only 55 minutes from Tokyo Station by JR Yokosuka Line: http://wikitravel.org/en/Kamakura. I've done the Kamakura to Tokyo trip myself, several times.
Nikko is 2 hours from Tokyo (90 miles)
From Virtual Tourist:
"Nikko can be reached by Tobu Railways or Japan Railways (JR). Take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen (from Tokyo or Ueno Station) to Utsunomiya Station, where you transfer to the JR Nikko Line. With a good connection at Utsunomiya, the one way trip takes about 100 minutes and costs around 5000 Yen (subject to change). We took the JR train because we were travelling on a JR Rail Pass. If you don't have the pass, taking the JR option is more expensive. It is only a good option for those that have the JR Rail Pass. If not, I will recommend taking the Tobu line (see next transport tip)"
"The easist way to get to Nikko from Tokyo is an express train of Tobu Railway, named SPACIA. Though the train is narrow gauge despite its name, the seats are comfortable. SPACIA is a generic name for limited express trains of Tobu. Actual trains are named Kegon or Kinu depending on its destination. Fare: From Asakusa to Nikko, 1320 yen (transportation fare) + 1300 yen (express fare). Express far is 1400 yen on weekends and 1000 yen at night. A compartment for 4 adults costs extra 3000 yen (3600 yen for weekends)." Set 2005
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Japan/Tochigi_ken/Nikko-972359/Transportation-Nikko-BR-1.html
Hakone is just over an hour from Shinjuku by express train. (60 miles) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pastis
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 6:06 am Post subject: Re: I/2 Day Trips from Tokyo |
|
|
| chris_J2 wrote: |
pastis wrote:
| Quote: |
| each would take a full day to go see |
Kamakura is only 55 minutes from Tokyo Station by JR Yokosuka Line: http://wikitravel.org/en/Kamakura. I've done the Kamakura to Tokyo trip myself, several times.
Nikko is 2 hours from Tokyo (90 miles)
From Virtual Tourist:
"Nikko can be reached by Tobu Railways or Japan Railways (JR). Take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen (from Tokyo or Ueno Station) to Utsunomiya Station, where you transfer to the JR Nikko Line. With a good connection at Utsunomiya, the one way trip takes about 100 minutes and costs around 5000 Yen (subject to change). We took the JR train because we were travelling on a JR Rail Pass. If you don't have the pass, taking the JR option is more expensive. It is only a good option for those that have the JR Rail Pass. If not, I will recommend taking the Tobu line (see next transport tip)"
"The easist way to get to Nikko from Tokyo is an express train of Tobu Railway, named SPACIA. Though the train is narrow gauge despite its name, the seats are comfortable. SPACIA is a generic name for limited express trains of Tobu. Actual trains are named Kegon or Kinu depending on its destination. Fare: From Asakusa to Nikko, 1320 yen (transportation fare) + 1300 yen (express fare). Express far is 1400 yen on weekends and 1000 yen at night. A compartment for 4 adults costs extra 3000 yen (3600 yen for weekends)." Set 2005
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Japan/Tochigi_ken/Nikko-972359/Transportation-Nikko-BR-1.html
Hakone is just over an hour from Shinjuku by express train. (60 miles) |
I've been to all of them. They are all day trips (meaning you have to allocate an entire day to go there, see everything, and return), don't calculate the time just on how long it takes station to station, it always takes longer than that.
Basically the only one you could do in half a day if you really wanted to would be Kamakura (it's not that far assuming you're close to Yokohama). Nikko takes all day for sure if you want to actually see anything and walk around Toshogu shrine (the main attraction). Hakone also takes quite a bit longer to get to as you have to take another local train (usually from Odawara). Hakone is quite spread out and if you want to properly check out Lake Ashi etc. there's no way to do it just 1 day. Plus half the point of going in the first place is to stay in a ryokan. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:25 am Post subject: Daytrips from Tokyo |
|
|
Kamakura Buddha is all of 100 metres from the train station. How many hours did it take you to walk 100 metres, pastis? It took me 5 minutes. OP won't have time to do the full 7 km circuit, if that's the reason you claim it's a full day trip. By my calculations, it's 120 minutes to & from Tokyo, not 1/2 day. A photo of the Buddha takes exactly 1/125th second. Queuing to get a ticket in took 2 minutes.
I haven't been to Nikko or Hakone, but I would never try to see everything at either in just 1 day. Instead, I'd research both of them first, & pick out interesting highlights. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pastis
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:06 am Post subject: Re: Daytrips from Tokyo |
|
|
| chris_J2 wrote: |
Kamakura Buddha is all of 100 metres from the train station. How many hours did it take you to walk 100 metres, pastis? It took me 5 minutes. OP won't have time to do the full 7 km circuit, if that's the reason you claim it's a full day trip. By my calculations, it's 120 minutes to & from Tokyo, not 1/2 day. A photo of the Buddha takes exactly 1/125th second. Queuing to get a ticket in took 2 minutes.
I haven't been to Nikko or Hakone, but I would never try to see everything at either in just 1 day. Instead, I'd research both of them first, & pick out interesting highlights. |
Right... so you actually consider getting up in the morning, walking to whatever metro station (perhaps taking anywhere up to an hour just to get to Tokyo station if you're on the other side of Tokyo), finding the right ticket gate (assuming the person doesn't get lost), waiting for the train, spending an hour just to get there, getting a photo of the daibutsu, then turning around and heading all the way back, a good use of one's time? Seems kinda silly to me.
I guess some people dig that sort of thing, I sure ain't one of them though... ~4-5 hours of total time spent (both ways, as I would estimate it anyway, unless you know exactly what you're doing, or are staying really close to Tokyo station) just isn't worth the 5 minutes for a crummy picture imo, I'd at least take my time and check out the rest of it while I was there... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject: Kamakura |
|
|
| I took a 'Lonely Planet Japan' guidebook with me, never got lost, & knew exactly where I was going. They have these things inside called 'maps' . Like I said, it took me 120 minutes return to & from Tokyo station, not 8 hours. And I also did an afternoon trip from Kamakura to Roppongi Hills for Mori Tower. I asked my Japanese friends which subway stn to transfer to, & was there in less than 1.5 hours. There are also guesthouses near Tokyo station. No need to stay 20 km away. And trains run very frequently. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
