A week in Tokyo
Jun 23, 2008 by
libjpn
Started this thread up for crionna, who will be in Tokyo for a week. I'll list some recs, please feel free to add your own in the comments, or just write about some silliness you have heard about and want the skinny on.
First, I highly recommend the Palevsky/Kinoshita Guidebook to Japan which has everything one could imagine. The discussion of architecture is especially good. Its one shortcoming is in the map department, so do pick up a bilingual atlas of Tokyo if you are just going to be in Tokyo for the week (which is what it sounds like)
One of the favorite places to go, Tsukuji, the Tokyo fish market, has been restricting visitors because of both health concerns and overcrowding, so I am not sure what the situation is now. However, because of the jetlag, it is a great place to go cause you will be awake and you will see why Japan is the largest consumer of sea products in the world.
It used to be that all the kids doing 'cosplay' (costume play) went to Harajuku, but more and more have been going to Akihabara, which is where the recent stabbing occurred. That brings up another point, which is how much of an anomaly the incident was: one has to really try very very hard to find a place that is dangerous in Tokyo
The biggest factor in deciding what you want to do is budget, so some ideas on that would be helpful. Do get a Japan Rail pass, you can hop on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and make a day trip to any number of places.
Unfortunately, wireless access isn't so good in Japan. Here is a list of free spots, the pickings are slim. Alternatively, internet cafes have become ubiquitous. usually about 4 to 5 dollars an hour, 10 dollars for a 3 hour pack, open 24 hours a day.
I'll keep updating this unless something gets going in the comments
Comments
Jun 23, 2008, 07:00:52 cleek wrote:
if you're near the Ginza station, there's a place called the Ginza Lion that has cheap beer and food, in a western-style pub setting.
when we got to Tokyo, jet lagged and dazed, it was the first place we went - and we went back multiple times. we were staying in that area, though, so it was convenient. i don't think i'd recommend it as a destination all by itself. it's good, but not ride-across-town good.
Jun 23, 2008, 07:30:32 libjpn wrote:
apologies for the unordered recs, getting old, I guess.
Do get prepaid cards for the subway/train, it is a huge pain to have to figure out where you are going, buy a ticket and then go thru. Here's a [url=http://www.japan-guide.com/...]guide[/url]. The page has this about some discounts from Narita that I didn't know about
[i]The Suica & NEX package for 3500 Yen consist of 1) a one way trip from Narita Airport to Tokyo (or Yokohama) by Narita Express and 2) a Suica card worth 2000 Yen (500 Yen refundable deposit plus 1500 Yen worth of train fares), a great deal, considering that the regular one way fare of the Narita Express alone is around 3000 Yen or more!
The Suica & NEX package can be purchased at Narita Airport only by travelers who hold a non-Japanese passport. There is a limit of one purchase per person. [/i]
If you need a mobile phone, check out the shops in Narita for a rental, not so expensive.
Jun 23, 2008, 11:32:16 cleek wrote:
Harajuku was fun - tons of youth-oriented stores (as opposed to the Ginza, which feels like Park Ave at times). Tsukuji was fun, too. also, Ropongi at night was a blast (there is a tequila bar there called 'Agave' - 400 flavors, + Cuban cigars). the Imperial gardens were nice, too.
Jun 23, 2008, 23:47:57 crionna wrote:
Thanks LJ,
I'm staying in Shibuya. The fish market is top of my list.
<i>here is a tequila bar there called 'Agave' - 400 flavors, + Cuban cigars</i>
Now you're talking ;) Thanks Cleek
Jun 26, 2008, 04:56:54 OCSteve wrote:
Have to get there some day...
Jul 05, 2008, 09:52:57 crionna wrote:
I'm back and had a blast. That city is just an assault on the senses. They ought to require hearing protection in those pachinko palaces. It is soo disappointing to get on BART after riding Tokyo trains (especially the JR Yamanote line) all week.
Agave is still there and a good place. So too is the Tokyu food court in the Shinuya station near our hotel in The Cerulian Tower. We were on the 32nd floor. What a view.
And the fish market was a great place, I went a number of times. It felt like the most real place there, along with Maisen which made a mean breaded pork cutlet. No litter anywhere. None, despite all the vending machines.
Thanks for the reqs y'all.
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