Planning a week stay in Tokyo

[D.D.D.]

I am personally ok with traveling far off of Tokyo as long it doesn't grape my bank account.

How's $300 one way?

[Breetai]

Meiji shrine is, in fact, fan-damn-tastic. Still, if you want some history with your geekery, Kyoto or Hiroshima are probably better bets than Tokyo. The Hiroshima area is actually quite exciting, what with Himeji castle and the island shrine/spa formerly known as Miyajima.

Hiroshima and Miyajima are my favorite places in Japan for that Japanesy feel. Besides, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is the best and people are the friendliest I've met in the country.
It's just a bit far from Tokyo if someone is only going for 7 days though... unless that's exactly what he's looking for.

I actually agree with Hiroshima/Miyajima. That, plus Kyoto, is VERY Japanese.

If you're only in Tokyo for a week, though, that probably isn't going to happen.

Stick to Tokyo/Yokohama, with a day trip to Nikko and another day trip to Kamakura (basically mini-Kyoto). Substitute Nikko with Hakone is you REALLY, REALLY want to see Mt. Fuji. 7 days is not a lot of time, unfortunately. If you had two weeks, I would suggest spending maybe 3 days in Kyoto and 2 in Hiromshima/Miyajima (with a 1/2 day trip to Himeji Castle).

As for Hard-Offs, be aware that they are all located in suburban/rural areas. There really are not any in central Tokyo. You'll have to go out of your way just to it one up, which will probably eat up at least 2-3 hours of precious time with no gurantee that you'll find something you want aside from a bunch of sports/pachinko Famicom, Super Famicom and Saturn games. I guess you will at least find a cheap Famicom, Super Famicom and Saturn console as well. Everything else is a toss up. Yes, stuff in Akihabara is more expensive, but it is guaranteed to work (not in Hard-Off), it is in the centre of Tokyo (no waited time) and basically EVERYTHING you'll want to find is there. I did find a 4200yen PC Engine Dracula X, and a 500yen SG-1000 and Mark III there once, so hey... Akihabara is not always so expensive!


I am really echoing a lot of what DDD has just said. He seems to know what he's talking about.

[D.D.D.]

I am personally ok with traveling far off of Tokyo as long it doesn't grape my bank account.

How's $300 one way?

Quoting myself as I had a brain-fart... You don't live here so you can get the Japan Rail pass for about $350 with the current rate yen~$. That will make things cheaper on bullet train travel so if you really wanted to head west from Tokyo, it is a bit cheaper than I was thinking before.

[hashiriya1]

Since you only mentioned Tokyo, I will only talk about Tokyo. AS mentioned by others, one week is not enough time if you want to see more than just Tokyo. For some, Tokyo is enough.

Spring time is an expensive time to go. With Golden Week and the blossoming of sakura, that is when Japanese people are traveling. Try to go during an off-peak time. March is a fairly cheap time. April and May can be costly. If money is no object, then try to plan a trip while the sakura are in bloom. Since they are such a big part of Japanese culture, the atmosphere in Japan changes during that time. Ueno park is most likely the most popular place in Tokyo for viewing the Sakura. It's a fun atmosphere because everyone is drunk and having fun. The street vendors (most of which are run by the Yakuza) in the park are good, too. Yakisoba and an ice-cold Super Dry for 500 yen. Yes, please! Drinking in public is not illegal in Japan, so don't worry.

Don't worry about getting lost. If you're within Tokyo you WILL eventually run into a subway or train station. Most stations in Tokyo have 'English' maps so you can find your way back pretty easily. Avoid taxis. They are VERY expensive. Also, keep in mind that the trains don't run 24 hours, so don't wander too far too late. They stop between 12:30 to 1:00AM and resume around 4:00AM. Whenever I was out with friends and we missed the last train, we just stayed at an izakaya (a pub with greasy food) until the first trains. So if you miss the last train, plenty of things will be open for you to pass the time.

When I lived in Tokyo and when I go back to visit, I often hung out and hang out with friends in Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro is where the local youths like to hang out. There is really nothing to see as far as tourist spots go, but there is plenty to do there. Lots of cool arcades, shops, food, and girls. Ikebukuro is also the turf of some of Japan's best Street Fighter players. If you want to see them in action or want to get your ass handed to you, play a round in the basement of Sega GiGo. If you're into cars, check out the Toyota Amlux while you're in Ikebukuro. I love Ikebukuro. I didn't like it at first, but my friends who grew up there really got me to appreciate it.

Odaiba is another great place, especially at night. It's an 'island' in Tokyo Bay that has a lot of fun stuff to do. It is a popular date spot, but don't be ashamed to go alone. Getting there on the Yurikamome train is half the fun. Don't take the Rinkai line because it runs underground and you don't see anything. The Yurikamome line is a fully automated driverless train that runs across the Rainbow Bridge and offers the best night views of Odaiba and Tokyo. Go at dusk or after dark. The daytime isn't nearly as nice. The Sega Joypolis is fun, especially if you go with a friend or girlfriend. Kinda pricey, but worth going once. If you're into cars, there is a cool free car museum in Odaiba (Pallette Town side) as well simply called "Toyota History Garage", but it is not limited to just Toyotas. Toyota has a HUGE showroom next to the big ferris wheel called "Mega Web".

If you want to visit a free observation deck in a Tokyo skyscraper, check out Touchou. It's the Tokyo "city hall". Unlike Sky Tree or Tokyo Tower (a tourist trap), it's free and you can see Tokyo and its surrounding areas from up high. On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji.

If you enjoy the Yakuza series, go check out Kabukicho at night. If you are a fan of the games, then you know it is what Kamurocho is based off of. Despite warnings you may hear, Kabukicho is fairly safe. 10 years ago, not so much, but they cleaned it up a lot since then.

Pachinko parlors are very loud and smokey, so be prepared for that. Give one machine a whirl if you're really intrigued by them. Some have cool themes like Street Fighter or Evangelion plus many many others. I'll tell you this, you'll have no idea if you're winning or losing until all the balls are gone. I say it's a good place to peek inside real Japanese culture. Inside you'll find all sorts of gambling degenerates who are very territorial and edgy. They're throwing their life savings in those machines while their infant children are at home unsupervised. Either that or you'll find old ladies pissing their dead husband's pension away. That's the type of people who go there. Nobody (meaning the regulars) has 'fun' at those places. As an outsider it is very interesting.

Stay away from Roppongi. That place is the toilet bowl of Tokyo. The only place worse in Japan is Osaka's infamous Nishinari-ku. I know tour books and websites tout it for its night scene and Roppongi Hills, but just steer clear of it unless you want to be harassed by Iranian drug dealers or Nigerian pimps selling the bodies of Filipino hookers and knock-off American clothing.

Lastly, as mentioned, get a JR Rail Pass. You will save a ton of money if you plan to do a lot of traveling outside Tokyo. And as already mentioned, you will need more than a week in Japan if you really want to do so. I can say that from having gone to most of Japan's most famous (and not-so-famous) temples, shrines, and castles: seen one, seen them all. Save your money unless you are REALLY into that sort of thing. But I will say, the Grand Ise Shrine (and its surrounding areas) in Mie Prefecture is by far the most beautiful in Japan.

Well, I am done pooping and I need to wipe. Otherwise I could go on and on. Just post any other questions! Sorry, I just kind of rambled...

[Breetai]

I'll have some fun and add my bit, although I do believe Hashiriya has MUCH more experience in Japan than me. I just have around 5 years. He, unless I'm mistaken, has been in and out of Japan for most of his life?

When I lived in Tokyo and when I go back to visit, I often hung out and hang out with friends in Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro is where the local youths like to hang out. There is really nothing to see as far as tourist spots go, but there is plenty to do there. Lots of cool arcades, shops, food, and girls. Ikebukuro is also the turf of some of Japan's best Street Fighter players. If you want to see them in action or want to get your ass handed to you, play a round in the basement of Sega GiGo. If you're into cars, check out the Toyota Amlux while you're in Ikebukuro. I love Ikebukuro. I didn't like it at first, but my friends who grew up there really got me to appreciate it.

Agreed on Ikebukuro. This was one of my main hangouts. Not Shibuya, not Shinjuku, not Ueno, not Akihabara; it was Ikebukuro (and Ebisu, but that's a whole different place).

It's not the prettiest area, but it's where a lot of people hand out and there is a lot to do there. It's a bit of a Tokyo hub for people who commute from the suburbs to hang out in. As such, the entertainment there is a bit more affordable and "blue collar" than in some other places (Shinjuku has it, but so much more of it that isn't too much IMO).

One cool place in Ikebukuro is the Sunshine City area (east exit of Ikebukuro Station). Great arcades, and the Sunshine 60 skyscraper has Namja Town. Namja Town is... a strange themed place run by Namco. There is an area featuring TONS of ice cream shops with ice cream from around the world, another area that's a VERY strange ghost cat theme area (very "Japanese strange") and, best of all, Gyoza Stadium. Gyoza stadium is kind of a 1950s alternative reality gyoza and beer food court. It is ABSOLUTELY worth checking out.
Here are a couple photos that do not come close to doing in justice:

[hashiriya1]

^^ You know, I have been to Sunshine City a million times (for Tokyu Hands) and I have never been to Namja town. I always see signs for it but never really pursued it. I think it's because of its name that I never went up there. "Namja" means "boy" in Korean and even though I am not Korean and it's not in Korea, I always saw that place being called "boy town"

[Breetai]

^^ You know, I have been to Sunshine City a million times (for Tokyu Hands) and I have never been to Namja town. I always see signs for it but never really pursued it. I think it's because of its name that I never went up there. "Namja" means "boy" in Korean and even though I am not Korean and it's not in Korea, I always saw that place being called "boy town"

Haha, you're right. You are totally missing out. Definitely you can take kids there to the ice cream floor and the ghost cat haunted house area (both are fun as adults, too!), but the gyoza stadium is definitely for adults. It really has that century ago (pre or post war, take your pick) feel going on. Beer and gyoza couldn't be more fun! It's actually one of my top favourite places in Tokyo, believe it or not. Definitely my favourite "theme" restaurant/food court.

I lived in the Seibu Ikebukuro lines for a while (a year and a half I guess), so Ikebukuro was where I often went. I later lived in Kawaguchi, and Ikebukuro is pretty close to there as well.

[marurun]

Dammit, I may have only spent 10 months studying in Tokyo but I really want to go back. I miss the place... I just wish it wasn't so damn far away ; )

[hashiriya1]

@Breetai

I guess I should finally check it out. Gyoza and beer is always a good mix, and I love it when a place has Showa-era decor.

Oh man, you conjured up some bad memories by mentioning Kawaguchi. The traffic at the Kawaguchi junction on the Touhoku Expressway was the worst.

I'll be back there soon enough (probably in the fall, and the first few months of 2013), but I hope I can make time to stop by Tokyo. I just go straight to either Miyagi-ken or Ishikawa-ken.

[Breetai]

@Breetai

I guess I should finally check it out. Gyoza and beer is always a good mix, and I love it when a place has Showa-era decor.

Oh man, you conjured up some bad memories by mentioning Kawaguchi. The traffic at the Kawaguchi junction on the Touhoku Expressway was the worst.

I'll be back there soon enough (probably in the fall, and the first few months of 2013), but I hope I can make time to stop by Tokyo. I just go straight to either Miyagi-ken or Ishikawa-ken.

I didn't drive much, so I was only on Kawaguchi jtc maybe a couple dozen times in a few years. Most of Tokyo metro area has terrible traffic, I think.