On my trip to thailand this xmas, i think i am deciding to get a 48 hr stopover in tokyo. Could somone please help me out with attractions and restaurants. As well as transportation. As a student travelling alone until i reach thailand, i will be staying in a youth hostel to cut some $ down.
Is it reasonable to go to tokyo for just 2 days?

I did Tokyo on a budget when I was a little younger http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif It can be done, contrary to the general opinion, and two days there will provide for a good introduction to the city. You will not have the time to get an overall view of the city in such a short time though.

For tourist attractions, go to any of the online travel guides or to your local bookstore.

For restaurants, there are so many that only expensive ones are likely to be found in guides. Tokyo has an unbelievable diversity of cuisines and the highest density of restaurants of any major city. It might be easier to divide your choices into price ranges:
- Y300: noodle shop on train platform, you get what you pay for; 'onigiri' at any of the 24 hour grocery stores; a loaf of bread and juice at a supermarket (Japan makes some of the better bread in Asia I think)
- Y400-800: ramen, udon (the good ones are very tasty), 'gyudon' (beef on rice), bad pizza, fast food (I favor Mosburger's fries http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif )
- Y1,000-2,000: popular japanese restaurants of all kinds (usually without English menu nor English speaking staff), kaiten sushi (not-made-to-order sushi made from frozen fish), ethnic restaurants (Indian, Chinese, Thai, etc.) in popular areas. If you get hungry try to find a Chinese or Indian place for their all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch
- Y3,000 and above: nice foreign eateries and 'proper' Japanese restaurants, including 'real' sushi. Sky is the limit, reservations and nice clothes a plus. Might feel awkward alone.

Transportation:
- get a free english map of Tokyo at Narita upon arrival, or at any of the larger hotels
- take the regular JR train to Tokyo station or the Keisei Skyliner into Ueno station, depending on the location of your hotel.
- take the subway from place to place, then walk around. Avoid the subway between 7:30 and 9am, 5:30pm and 7pm, and after 11:30pm, if you don't like being with 400 people in a car designed for 150.
- JR trains also serve the city, above ground. The one you might use would be the Yamanote line that circles Tokyo. Expensive for short runs.
- buy a daily subway pass. Keep in mind that there are several subway companies in Tokyo and that your pass will not work for private lines (Eidan is the main one).
- taxis start at Y580/650 and add up rapidly, because of the distance and traffic. Of no use to find a private address

My own cynical view on some of the main areas of Tokyo:
- Shibuya: the place to be for the high school crowd; accordingly priced. A good primer on how the Japanese youth look today
- Omote-Sando/Azabu: the place to be for the elegant 20-40 Japanese crowd, expensive, many 'French' cafés
- Harajuku: the place to be for the junior high crowd, quite a sight. No black-haired Asians
- Shinjuku: large, popular shopping/eating/entertainment district. Not much character, popular with value-minded people of all ages. Be careful if in the sleazy Kabuki-cho area
- Otemachi/Marunouchi: government/ business area, Imperial palace nearby. Japanese corporate power in all its glory (i.e. formal buildings, howling cold winds)
- Ginza: the most fashionable shopping district. Popular with rich Japanese matrons and their daughters at day, expense account bureaucrats at night.
- Asakasa: now a touristy temple area. A must on the first-time tourist circuit. Most Japanese I know have never been there...
- Roppongi: the hangout for most of the expat crowd in Tokyo. Many bars. Bad reputation among the Japanese. Western foreigners from all walks of life, except the top end. If you need to chat to a local expat, any of the depressed ones at the Irish pubs will be pleased to... just do not believe all they say.
- Hiroo: the place to live for the well-to-do expat. Discreet. Not much to see. If invited, go take a look, rent runs upward of $10K/month
- Akihabara 'Electric Town': for computer enthusiasts THE place to find the newest hardware a month before it shows up elsewhere in the world, or to pick up esoteric gadgets. Prices on consumer electronics are not so great. English not spoken. Export models are obsolete designs. The best deals are in the back streets on models (laptops and digicams especially) that came out 6-12 months ago, and therefore obsolete by local standards.
- Kanda/Jimbocho: many fine used book stores for bibliophiles. Mostly honest booksellers. Some english books. If you need a travel guide go to Tower Records in Shibuya or Kinokuniya in Shinjuku instead.

Other tips:
- foreign exchange can be done at the airport (awful rates) or at larger Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi branches in town. Better to do it back home I think. There is a Citibank ATM in Roppongi just in case. Some Japanese ATM accept US cards. Some shops do not accept foreign credit cards. Cash is still prevalent in Japan.
- in winter you will often be handed little plastic pouches at station exits. Those contain tissues. Accept some, there is no TP in most public bathrooms in Japan...
- the people with white surgical masks are not paranoid, they have a cold and are being courteous by protecting others from their germs http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif
- do NOT blow your nose in public. Very bad form in Japan (it's preferable to sneeze...)
- DO slurp your noodles, otherwise people will notice your silence http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif
- do take your shoes off before entering a tatami-covered area. Many Japanese keep their shoe laces loose for that purpose
- when hungry, you can get a larger portion of ramen, rice, or gyudon by getting the Y100 'omori' option. The character for it looks like a man standing with his arms out
- dress cleanly (slacks, loafers as opposed to jeans and sneakers) and you will get a lot more respect (except perhaps from city teenagers)
- no tipping anywhere: taxis, restaurants, maids, bellboys, etc. Receiving unearned money is embarrassing to the Japanese. If you strongly feel like making a monetary contribution for extraordinary service, do so in an envelope.

[This message has been edited by monahos (edited 11-28-2001).]

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

...for explaining the masked people in the railway/subway stations!

We were there a few weeks ago for a quick weekend trip - (I've been there many times over the years).
The previous advice was very good....

The one thing I would not miss - is a trip to the morning Wholesale Fish Market (name escapes me not) - which is incredible - time to go is about 4:30am (I'm not kidding - don't get there much later as the auction will have started, and you may not get as close to the auction'd fish). If you go - head for the back of the building where the large tuna, swordfish, ect are on display and being inspected. I've found that by staying out of peoples way - you'll be well accepted - polite and aware - the handcarts and small trucks move VERY fast - so beware- it's a sight you will not forget. Your hotel can give you directions.... we took a taxi over - and took the subway back (about 6am).

Lonely Planet is a great guide for tuning your visit.

I don't know your hotel level - but most of the 4 and 5 star hotels are very similar in 'service'. If you can find a rate with breakfast included - you'll be much happier. While I normally like to stay at 'local' hotels - the Hilton/Hyatt are very good - and you may find better rates - also subway close.

If you want more specific info - e mail me...my pleasure - have fun.

One more thing... I suggest you do a google search to see if there are any special activities going on when your there.



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Askworldtraveler, EXP,4 million AA miles+++Hilton Gold (thanks to EXP)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by askworldtraveler:
The one thing I would not miss - is a trip to the morning Wholesale Fish Market (name escapes me not) </font>

That would be Tsukiji. The largest and best bluefin tuna can fetch up to $60K...

If you are a hard-core sashimi fan, go have breakfast at one of the hole-in-the-wall restaurants at the edge of the market: the best sashimi in Tokyo for half what it would cost elsewhere!