Going to Tokyo...What to see & do?

[kdogg]

On my 5 week Asian tour, I'm stopping in Toyko for 3 and a half days.

Any advice on:

- sites to see
- things to do
- places / regions I should try and stay (hotel in a good location)
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[jam26]

If you're looking for night life, check out the Roppongi district. Just beware of hot chicks who turn out not to be chicks at all. That's about all that needs to be said about that.

[NuclearFart]

The fish market. It's done on such a huge magnitude, it's like nothing you've ever seen. The only problem is you'll have to get up stupidly early to see it!

Spend a night in one of those capsule hotels too, that's quite an experience.

If you're cheap, check out the tall goverment building. You can go to the top of a 50 storey building for free and take in the 360 degree view of the city. Don't waste your time and money on that Tokyo tower thing.

Roppongi is quite the night scene I agree, but it's very pricey.
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[Flaming Choy]

Akihabara is an interest district to check out.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Flaming Choy

Akihabara is an interest district to check out.

That's the electronics district, right? I was back there in February and I forgot what it was called.

If you like video games, go to this district. Go to a store called Super Potato, you won't be dissapointed. I spent an enitre afternoon there almost.

I'd check out Roppongi. Definitely up there. If you are there on a Sunday morning, check out the Kosplay girls at Harajuku (described in more detail in a Lonely Planet book). It'll be right up there with some of the most bizarre things you've every seen... their costumes are out of this world.

Also, check out Odaiba... the man-made island. Lots to see and do there, especially Honda World and the Japanese Museum of Science and Innovation... you can imagine how many cool things would be there, especially being in Japan.

The Imperial Palace is really cool to check out too. Very beautiful in that whole area.

Shibuya is great for shopping. Don't bring a credit card though... if you're into fashion, you'll be out of money in no time.

Shinjuku has a great nightlife; ironically, the pushiest people there are the foreigners trying to get you into their clubs. Watch out for that.

Ueno Park has some great temples to check out.

Tsukiji (sp?) Fish Market, as has been mentioned, is DEFINITELY worth checking out... although you have to be there early. Those auctions are absolutely hilarious, and the whole place is a mini-economy based right from the resources of the sea. I went there, and had a sushi meal at 6:30 in the morning... best sushi I've ever eaten. Holy crap.

The temples in Asakusa are pretty cool too.

There's lots of other stuff; just do some research on the Net or on a Lonely Planet or something.

[HelloHockeyFans]

See: Hookers
Do: Blow

... or you could switch the two around as well I suppose...

[Ozy_Flame]

Take the Shinkasen to Nikko if you can, it's the Japanese version of Banff, with some UNESCO Temple sites. Just phenomenal.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by Muta

Also, check out Odaiba... the man-made island. Lots to see and do there, especially Honda World and the Japanese Museum of Science and Innovation... you can imagine how many cool things would be there, especially being in Japan.

I HIGHLY recommend you spend an evening (or even an overnight stay) at the Oedo Onsen Monogatari, located on Odaiba. It's a big bath-house that is decorated like old Tokyo.

http://www.fulbrightmemorialfund.jp/...OdeoOnsen.html

[kdogg]

Thanks for the tips guys. I will definately look into them.

It sounds like there is no major sight seeing attractions down there, or is there??
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Live sex

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Well there's there's the Kaminarimon Dori in Asakusa, which is in the older part of Tokyo. That's the largest temple gate in Tokyo.

Mistukoshi in Ginza district is a major high-end department store, which in itself isn't cool. But it's historically significant since Mitsukoshi is the oldest department store franchise in the world, dating back 400 years to when they first just sold kimonos at a static price in a static location. I think the store actually may even been on the grounds of the original store.

The Kabuki Theatre, which I think is around Shinjuku District is very cool. It's really cool architectually. You can also pay something like 700 yen to catch an act out of a Kabuki play, which will run for about an hour.

The Edo Tokyo Museum (can't remember exactly where that is) is a really cool museum that shows the history of Tokyo. When you head up the escalators, you can hire yourself a free English tour guide. They're great because they're so informative, and they provide the service free simply because they want to practice their English. Just outside the Edo-Tokyo Museum is the Sumo arena, which if you're lucky is holding a match. Though I think it's too late in the year for that.

In my opinion, Tokyo is fun not so much because of its historical significance so much as it is about getting a glimpse into modern-day Japanese culture. If your looking for sites of more historical significance, you're better off hitting Kyoto.

[arsenal]

buy a car from a vending machine, then return it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Edo-Tokyo Museum is in Ueno Park. Phenomenal museum, and only 5 BUCKS!!! I don't know how they afford to make it so cheap. Well worth the money.

[housejunk]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Edo-Tokyo Museum is in Ueno Park. Phenomenal museum, and only 5 BUCKS!!! I don't know how they afford to make it so cheap. Well worth the money.

Electronics district is called "Akihibara". Not the greatest deals, but they've got some amazing things down there. Plus you can buy 400 different kinds of motherboard cooling fans if you're inno that. It really is a tech nerd's wet dream down there (not mine though....)

Hacchiko crossing. The "busiest" street crossing in the world. A giant four way stop (something like 6 lanes each) and they all stop at the same time so everyone can cross the square diagonally, straight up, etc. It's crazy to see. There's a starbucks (of course) right above the square. If you can grab a window seat you've got the best free view in the city of all the chaos.

Also, what everyone else said (especially Tksukji fish market). But check out Harajuku district. It's pretty crazy, and its where the actual Japanese teenagers hang out. You can find some amazingly cool clothes there that don't require you to dress up like strawberry shortcake or a vampire. I found Roponggi district (so called red-light district) to be fairly lame. Unless you're looking to jerk off to DVD porn and then take a shower after (all for just 1000 yen!)

That being said, Hong Kong is 10 times the city that Tokyo is (at least for me.)

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by NuclearFart

The fish market. It's done on such a huge magnitude, it's like nothing you've ever seen. The only problem is you'll have to get up stupidly early to see it!

Bah, just stay up all night drinking, and then go to the market before you grab breakfast and then crash. Problem solved

[FurnaceFace]

Stuff I did
http://www.stadevene.com/japan.html

[troutman]

Sing karaoke with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannsen.

[Tron_fdc]

Buy spit from a street side vending machine. Mmmmm hork.

[Flaming Choy]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Stuff I did
http://www.stadevene.com/japan.html

WOW!! Those pictures are fantastic!

[FurnaceFace]

thanks

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

If you hit Akihabara, make sure to check out the Yodobashi store there. Largest electronics store in Tokyo. Also, if you're looking for good eats, stop by the conveyor belt sushi (aka. kaitenzushi) bar immediately right of the JR Akihabara Electric Town station exit onto the street.

And if you go to Tsukiji, which you really really should, make sure you're there by 5:00 am. Any later and you may miss them bringing up the fish from the harbour.

It's too bad you only have 3.5 days there, 'cause if you had at least one more day on top of that, you could have hit Ikebukkuro. It's like a lower-end shopping district. But you can buy really nice clothes for really cheap there, as well as a massive collection of quality Engrish clothes. Also, if you're an anime fan, they have a really cool anime paraphrenelia store there called Animate, which is just outside the Sunshine 60 Mall there I think.

I could spent so much time in Tokyo... :P