Traveling to Tokyo, Japan!

[Jinn]

Going to Japan to visit my friend who was stationed in Fussa, Japan. We're meeting up in Tokyo and thinking about staying in Shinjuku for a few nights then bounce around. I'll be flying out 9/1/10 and returning 9/11/10.

Anyone ever been out there before that has some fun ideas or good places to stay?

edit
Interests: anime/manga, videogames \:D/, castles, shrines.

[KuroTsuki]

returning 9/11/10.

Scary, haha.

Anyways, This site is pretty decent when it comes to that type of stuff. Lots of people that have been to/live in Japan too.

[Kajii]

Don't forget to bring some of these!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ie_d-G5hyj..._103bod_ap.jpg

[Schultz]

I was there back in 08, right when the the stock market took an Italian soccer player dive.

Stayed in Akasaka, had a blast! Seeing that we don't have Disneyland in AU, Tokyo Disney was a must for us, and we didn't regret it.

Also watch out for public holidays. Sister-in-law went to Tokyo Disney during golden week... 3-4hr+ lines... she was pissed. We missed out on going to the Ghibli Museum because we didn't know that it was National Sports day on the day we wanted to go, so all tickets were sold out.

Can't miss Akihabara though... Yodobashi was awesome to walk through... Almost left with like every FFXI mook there. Ended up getting Macross Ace Frontier + new PSP (at the time)... little did I know that the games ain't region locked >_<

You'll have fun what ever you do :D

[Correction]

There aren't any major Japanese holidays going on when he'll be in town. July = fucking hot and humid in most of Japan though, so prepare for that.

There have been a few 'going to Japan, halp' threads in GD, quick search turned up the last one on the topic:

http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90235

It might also help if you listed specific interests. If you're not much of an anime/manga nerd Akihabara might not be that interesting. What you're planning on buying and bringing back will probably dictate where you spend most of your time in Tokyo.

[Jinn]

Thanks for the feed back so far.

looking at the old thread now as well.

for sure a huge anime/manga nerd so it looks like ill be stopping by akihabara :D

[ZarakiKujata]

There aren't any major Japanese holidays going on when he'll be in town. July = fucking hot and humid in most of Japan though, so prepare for that.

There have been a few 'going to Japan, halp' threads in GD, quick search turned up the last one on the topic:

http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90235

It might also help if you listed specific interests. If you're not much of an anime/manga nerd Akihabara might not be that interesting. What you're planning on buying and bringing back will probably dictate where you spend most of your time in Tokyo.

How's September?

[Schultz]

Kind of sad that I didn't see much when it came to historical places while I was in Tokyo. Osaka and Kyoto on the other hand... didn't see enough, but saw a lot..

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...0081007-01.jpg

That pic, minus the taru, has been the background on my iPhone since I took it that day. I will never change the background :D

I briefly read the other thread.. saw accommodation:

http://www.agoda.com.au/asia/japan/t...d_akasaka.html

That's where I stayed, can't remember the prices, but it wasn't expensive. Nice, not extensively roomy, but enough to call home between the trips around the city. All you really need is a bed and a shower, this luckily had all that, and was pretty central to the station in Akasaka.

Other places I stayed, "The B" was good in Nagoya, and the Ramada in Osaka. All weren't "cheap" but they weren't mega expensive.

[Schultz]

I was there start of October and found it "nice" not hot, not cold. Guessing September is around the same.

[Maaglin]

All depends on how you define hot and what climate you are accustomed to.

I've never been able to adjust to heat nor humidity and Japan has a lot of both for my taste. I take a sweat kerchief every day for my daily train ride commute.

[MoogleAura]

Yeah, Nagasaki is awful for humidty right now with the rainy season.

Tokyo wasn't really my kinda place, but I did enjoy visiting there back in February. I stayed in the Asakusa area at a hostel called Asakusa Smile. It's right by the big tower they are building that will be the world's tallest building once completed.

I've never stayed in a hostel in the west but have heard complaints from people about them. After staying at Asakusa Smile in Tokyo in February and K's Hostel in Kyoto over Christmas they were both great experiences. Clean, cheap, quiet everything was great! ^^ If you don't speak Japanese, no problem. All the staff have good English skills too.

[Not not Mattaru]

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s...0081007-01.jpg

There is a joke about Osaka Castle. It is the number one tourist attraction in Japan - because there is nothing else to see in Osaka. As a former resident I beg to differ, but its still funny and kind of true.

If you like anime, go to Akihabara, but I wouldn't expect it to be like magic anime street as much as a very big electronics street with a lot of anime/manga stuff. Not really my scene so I can't give you too much advice on where to go. Was only in Akihabara for about an hour+. Someone mentioned Ghibli museum..I wanted to go to that ;(

Temples in Tokyo - not as many as Kyoto et. al. but check out Sensoji in Asakusa, if your military buddy has no problems with it you can go to Yasukuni Shrine (in Chiyoda-ku), and lastly Meiji shrine (basically behind Harajuku JR Yamanote station). See if any temples are having any small festivals or anything when you are there, looks like you will miss Mitama festival at Yasukuni, but you will probably see them setting up for it.

Hostels: Lots of different hostels. If you do not mind the hostel setting go for it, otherwise find a cheap, decent business hotel.

Other cultural stuff: I really liked the national art museum. Has a lot of cool stuff.

[MoogleAura]

Ghibli museum is a pain to visit. Apart from being on the outskirts of Tokyo, they only have 2~3 tours a day at specific times. If you want to go, check out the Ghibli site for instructions, there are various ways to do it. We bought our tickets at a Family Mart or Lawsons (I forget which) then took the train out there. Was amazing though! :D

[Schultz]

Yeah it was me that mentioned the museum. We were attempting to buy tickets from a Lawsons.

Hehe, I would have to agree about Osaka. I think we shopped more than looked at "stuff" Osakajo was the only thing we really visited. Nijojo in Kyoto blew us away though. <3 Nightingale floors.

[Not not Mattaru]

Anyone ever been to a ball game out there, I need to catch either a Hanshin or CARP game next year.

[fren.]

and deal with the vuvuzela's? fuck that.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/sho...readid=3230654

Has pretty detailed shit on all things Japan tourism.

[Not not Mattaru]

and deal with the vuvuzela's? fuck that.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/sho...readid=3230654

Has pretty detailed shit on all things Japan tourism.

Pretty awesome, browsed some of it and pretty spot on I'd say.

[Jinn]

and deal with the vuvuzela's? fuck that.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/sho...readid=3230654

Has pretty detailed shit on all things Japan tourism.

Whoa @_ @! overwhelmed with stuff to do now

[Arc07]

I went to Japan when I was like 15 or 16 when my mom managed a call center for an airline company. Went to a JGTC race and then flew home. Spent more time in the air than in Japan. :/

[Lucavi]

Take me with you.

That's the only suggestion I can offer you.