Japan - Tokyo ... or leave it ?

I want you to know the power of this post ... this thread is out of pure desperation to help me come up with a decision, what you reply may swing me one way or another. I've been tossing and turning now for a few weeks now about wether i should go to Tokyo or not. Time is precious, so when i plan a trip it has to be right, as i don't often get the chance to vacation. This thread is out of pure desperation to help me come up with a decision, what you reply may swing me one way or another.

I'll be in Bangkok for some work around the first few weeks of January, and have a five day schedule break in between. I'm urging my wife to make a trip up to Tokyo, but she is dead set against the idea. I'm talking a massive irrational against the idea, she just doesn't fancy the idea.

We've done Singapore, Hong Kong, and a few other asian cities in the past year. We just had a close friend who returned and said Tokyo was quite boring, and wasn't much to do or see there. Naturally, different strokes for different folks, and we enjoy it even if he didn't, but he is of very similar ink to us, and we usually enjoy the same things. Boring goes against the grain as how i always envisaged Tokyo to be, rather as some future like city (ideas subsconciously flowing through when Japan was a superpower back in the 80's at the cutting edge of all technology).

Also the fact is i'm going in January and here it's going to be rather cold. I don't mind cold at all, infact i love certain cities like New York, Paris in the winter. But i draw the line at being uncomortably cold.

And the fact that perhaps alot of the infrustructure is running at low speeds sinse the earthquake .. eg the lights at Shijinku and all that (hey those lights are a big deal for tourists, imagine Times square without them!).

We're both mid 20 year olds, like going to tourist attractions, seeing cultures, eating at nice restaurants, hate going for walks in the countryside and admiring pompous artwork or views ... what do you all think? Shall we venture out there?

I'm currently in Tokyo for a wknd getaway (from cold Canada), and am loving it. Your friends that say it is boring, are they fun ppl themselves?

If you enjoyed HK and BKK, you should enjoy Tokyo!

Although not always, but usually more money more pleasure :D

Tokyo is one of the largest (the largest?) cities in the world. With over 100,000 restaurants - and more Michelin stars than any other city in the world. It is definitely a "must-go-to" city for anyone who loves food. There is also plenty to do between meals ;).

As for the weather - I've lived in Florida for 40+ years - so I am not a cold weather person. But the highs in Tokyo in January seem to be about 50 degrees F and about 75% of the days are sunny. Doesn't sound so bad. Robyn

If you cannot find something fun to do in Tokyo, then you just aren't trying. Even after losing a good deal of post-Bubble luster, there is more than enough food/fun/culture/techie/erotic/otaku/whatever goodness to fill a vacation with.

Well, I'm just in transit on my way back to cold Canada after a short holiday in Tokyo :). I absolutely loved my trip, though it did have its challenges. Given your experience in Asia it might be less of a problem. The things that I loved the most were the pompous views :) :), but there was still lots for city folk to do. The food is great as mentioned, but you'd better have the budget for those Michelin starred places, or even (I thought) mid-range places.

Given your wife's reticence, and that you've been to other Asian cities, what about trying India? Totally different in my opinion and still one of my favourite (and also challenging) countries. It has everything that you said you wanted and then some. It might add a couple of hours to the trip, but not much more, and really is a different experience. There are lots of very different options within India with good connections out of BKK as well.

Dr PITUK

P.S. Unfortunately the cold is leaving :(. I was planning to ski in the next couple of days!

I think one difference between our trip in 2006 and a trip today is that the US$/JY exchange rate was a little less than 90 cents for 100 yen then - over $1.25 now. Reckon I could compute the Canadian$/JY cross in US$ terms - but I'm too lazy right now :). At the time of our trip - we thought that Japan - even Tokyo - was reasonably cheap.

Also - a note to the OP - the restaurant prices aren't so bad when you consider that tipping is simply not part of Japanese culture. And when I looked at some prices today - well the room we stayed at in Tokyo at the FS is now 15% cheaper than it was during our trip in 2006 - due to a combination of lower room rates and free nights. I think that Japanese tourism may be hurting due to radiation scares. (The aftermath of the earthquake wouldn't affect restaurant pricing as much - since there are about 30 million people who live in Tokyo and they like to go out to eat.)

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. I think Japan is a wonderful place to visit - one of the most enjoyable trips my husband and I have ever taken. It is also a very hard act to follow. I'm trying to plan our travel for 2012 now. And when I start to read about some places I'm considering - I get turned off by reports of shady practices when dealing with tourists - pollution - problems with sanitary conditions (my husband and I are *very* bad when it comes to taking food precautions in second world countries) - etc. Robyn

Tokyo is an uber-large city. If you like NYC, Paris, London, etc, then you'll love Tokyo.

As for eating, as others have mentioned, Tokyo has the Michelin-starred restos than any other city in the world. Choose any top resto in Europe and there's a good chance there's a branch in Tokyo. In fact, when I go, I really don't buy anything but go just for the food.

I'm trying to plan our travel for 2012 now. And when I start to read about some places I'm considering - I get turned off by reports of shady practices when dealing with tourists - pollution - problems with sanitary conditions
If those are your concerns and you're looking in Asia, robyng, I suggest you take a look at Taiwan or Malaysia. (Singapore too, I guess. But it's small).

....And the fact that perhaps alot of the infrustructure is running at low speeds sinse the earthquake .. eg the lights at Shijinku and all that (hey those lights are a big deal for tourists, imagine Times square without them!)....


All the lights are back on. All the infrastructure is running at full speed and full schedule. All of it.

All the lights are back on. All the infrastructure is running at full speed and full schedule. All of it.
Actually, there will probably be a target of 5-10% power savings for the winter months starting in December. But the effect shouldn't be nearly as drastic as it was in the summer.

I'm not sure what your wife is so worried about - Tokyo is awesome - as is Japan in general. It's my favorite country to visit by far. Your biggest issue is going to be the language barrier. But nonetheless you can definitely do it and have an amazing time - just do yourself a favor and research as much as you can before you go. A GPS capable phone is also a great idea cause you will get lost. You can rent a local handheld or a mifi - but whatever you do avoid roaming on googlemaps or you'll owe hundreds in data roaming fees.
Also, though the exchange is pretty brutal, hotels prices have gone down due to the tourism downturn. I've found some great deals on Japanese sites like Rakuten and Jalan (need some Japanese or a lot of patience for the latter) that are generally better than what is offered on other web sites.
And IMO Tokyo and Japan in general have some of the highest PQR restaurant values in the world. If you don't need to blow out on high end sushi or kaiseki you can have great food at a reasonable cost. Hit the expensive places for lunch when they have much cheaper specials and go to izakayas or yakitori-yas or other less fancy places in the evening. Also, draft beer is good and generally pretty cheap compared to other big cities like NYC and London.
Long answer but seriously, you'd be crazy to have the opportunity and not go.

JordanNite, even at half or a third capacity, Tokyo's infrastructure is still decades better than my hometown of New York.

Like Singapore, infrastructure money was spent (whether they had money to do it or not is another story :rolleyes:), and as a tourist from a place that couldn't care less about infrastructure spending, you'll be amazed at how well everything runs. Tokyo is open for business, go enjoy it!

And frankly, there is more daily radiation in Hong Kong then there is on the streets of Tokyo.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-01/hong-kong-radiation-exceeds-tokyo-even-after-japan-crisis.html

My partner and I spend every Jan-Mar in Tokyo to escape the "cold" US Midwest. In Jan 2012, we are starting out in Osaka, first, for two weeks, then we have rented a home in Tokyo through March. The summers are like the US Midwest (hot, humid) so when we go there then, we are used to that. We have really never found Tokyo "boring." Neither one of us are Japanese and only one of us (not me) speaks Japanese. We both really love Tokyo and this trip is actually a "house hunting" trip.:D

a "house hunting" trip.

Perhaps this should be cross-posted to the discussions about "what to buy in Japan".

I'm urging my wife to make a trip up to Tokyo, but she is dead set against the idea. I'm talking a massive irrational against the idea, she just doesn't fancy the idea.

I love Tokyo, but it sounds like your wife isn't even willing to give it a chance. If she goes there with the intention of hating it, she will hate it.

I was in Tokyo this week and I was concerned about potential health risks (radiation). I guess I won't know if there are any side effects for awhile, but it's business as usual in Tokyo. There's no evidence of the earthquake.

We shopped most of the time--Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Ginza. For guys clothes, make sure you go to places with the men's stores (ex. Hankyu Mens).

I love Tokyo, but it sounds like your wife isn't even willing to give it a chance. If she goes there with the intention of hating it, she will hate it.

I was in Tokyo this week and I was concerned about potential health risks (radiation). I guess I won't know if there are any side effects for awhile, but it's business as usual in Tokyo. There's no evidence of the earthquake.

We shopped most of the time--Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, and Ginza. For guys clothes, make sure you go to places with the men's stores (ex. Hankyu Mens).

I thought the radiation levels were safe and normal in Tokyo? That's the kind of worrying statement that puts fear into my boots.

I thought the radiation levels were safe and normal in Tokyo? That's the kind of worrying statement that puts fear into my boots.

The air levels are normal. I was more concerned about the possibility of tainted water/food. Once I step foot in Japan, I was fine and able to enjoy my trip. I ate and drank as normal. :)

As for things to do- aside from people watching/shopping, a lot of the sightseeing revolves around shrines/temples. IMHO, they all start to look the same after 2 or 3.

Here's the sightseeing I did in Tokyo:
1. Asakusa- Sensoji Temple & Nakamise Shopping area- arrived around 3:30 pm and went straight to the temple to take pictures before sunset. The pagoda and temple are lit up at night, so we walked around the shops, then went back to take more pictures with the lights.

2. Tsukiji Fish Market- got there around 11 am, which was too late to see the fish. I think you'll see more before 9 am. Had lunch at one of the small restaurants in the outer market.

3. Imperial Palace- Walked around the East Gardens and took pictures of the fall leaves. It probably won't look very nice in January once most of the leaves are gone. You can't go into the palace or even see much of the outside.

There are tours of limited portions of the Imperial Palace. These are free but need to be booked in advance (online, English website available). There are also two days a year, around New Year's, when the palace grounds are open to all.

And 9am at Tsukiji by all accounts is no better than 11am, it's more like 5am. Not that I would know, I've never been and never intend to go!

Does most of the sightseeing in Tokyo really revolve around shrines/temples? I've never noticed that, maybe others have.

There are tours of limited portions of the Imperial Palace. These are free but need to be booked in advance (online, English website available). There are also two days a year, around New Year's, when the palace grounds are open to all.
Technically, this occurs on New Year's Day and the day of the reigning Emperor's birthday (which currently happens to be December 23rd)

And it is only opening a certain section where people are allowed to gather and greet the Emperor from a considerable distance.

You can see what this looks like here:

http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/celebrating-the-japanese-emperors-birthday/

I'm in Tokyo now and normally never visit shrines/temples. I'm having too much fun doing other stuff.

As for radiation levels in TYO, that's far overblown by media. You've absorbed more radiation from the flight to Japan than being in TYO.

I guess I won't know if there are any side effects for awhile,
When do you think you will know?

I'm in Tokyo now and normally never visit shrines/temples. I'm having too much fun doing other stuff.

As for radiation levels in TYO, that's far overblown by media. You've absorbed more radiation from the flight to Japan than being in TYO.

Any recommendations? The food and shopping are great, just wondering if I'm missing something big.

@ jib71 As for any side effects of radiation, I hope there never will be any. I intend to go back to Japan next year.

Was just in Tokyo last week : Ginza, Roppangi Hills, Asakusa, Odaiba, Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shibuya, Shinjuku -- all awesome places. Check out some picture here

- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yatharthgupta/6412278899/in/photostream
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yatharthgupta/6412233451/in/photostream/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yatharthgupta/6412231953/in/photostream/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yatharthgupta/6408895309/in/photostream/ (fav)
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yatharthgupta/6407417913/in/photostream/
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/yatharthgupta/6399532939/in/photostream/

As for radiation levels in TYO, that's far overblown by media. You've absorbed more radiation from the flight to Japan than being in TYO.

That's certainly not true, if you're in Tokyo for any longer than an overnight layover...

Any recommendations? The food and shopping are great, just wondering if I'm missing something big.

It all depends on what you're looking to do.

That's certainly not true, if you're in Tokyo for any longer than an overnight layover...

Sorry, but according to who? I've absorbed more radiation from my 1st year Uni physics labs than what the natural background radiation in Tokyo is giving me.

Sorry, but according to who? I've absorbed more radiation from my 1st year Uni physics labs than what the natural background radiation in Tokyo is giving me.

You said "You've absorbed more radiation from the flight to Japan than being in TYO."

This site says that a TransPacific flight is about 50 microSieverts.
http://depletedcranium.com/putting-radiation-exposure-in-context/

My dosimeter regularly picks up 0.20 to 0.25 μSv/hr (not all of the radiation in Tokyo is "natural" anymore...) on the streets of Tokyo. Granted, the numbers are less indoors, so I admit that my calculation was a good bit off. It would probably take 4 to 6 weeks of normal life in Tokyo to equal the radiation exposure of a flight in from the States.

It would probably take 4 to 6 weeks of normal life in Tokyo to equal the radiation exposure of a flight in from the States.

Is 4 to 6 weeks any longer than an overnight layover? And does normal life mean living on the streets?

Is 4 to 6 weeks any longer than an overnight layover? And does normal life mean living on the streets?

I said I admit that my calculation was a good bit off.

The big concern for me in deciding whether or not to visit Tokyo is safety of the food and water. I'd like to know that the food and water hasn't been contaminated by pollutants from the reactor incident. The issue of ambient radiation in the environment around Tokyo seems to be settled as nonthreatening.

The big concern for me in deciding whether or not to visit Tokyo is safety of the food and water. I'd like to know that the food and water hasn't been contaminated by pollutants from the reactor incident. The issue of ambient radiation in the environment around Tokyo seems to be settled as nonthreatening.
The government does spot testing of cesium radiation in agricultural products against a standard that is much more lenient than anywhere else in the world (over triple the limits allowed in the Ukraine after the Chernobyl disaster) (http://enenews.com/over-50-of-seafood-samples-bought-at-stores-in-japan-contaminated-with-radiation-govt-allows-triple-amount-of-cesium-in-food-than-chernobyl) Beef exceeding those limits has been sold throughout much of Japan, partly because Fukushima cows have been shipped to other prefectures, and partly because radioactive feed from Fukushima has been shipped throughout the country and eaten by cows in other prefectures. And they aren't even testing for other forms of radiation such as strontium.

This level of radiation in food will have absolutely no short term impact on the consumer. It is debatable as to what sort of long term impact it could possibly have. But there is absolutely no doubt that the level of radiation in food in Japan is higher than other countries.

Unfortunately, I realize that this doesn't answer your question as to whether the food is safe. You will have to make that determination for yourself.

Beef exceeding those limits has been sold throughout much of Japan, partly because Fukushima cows have been shipped to other prefectures, and partly because radioactive feed from Fukushima has been shipped throughout the country and eaten by cows in other prefectures.

I think you're overstating the issue. Some beef did slip into commerce in excess of the limits, was detected, was pulled from the market, and wasn't all that radioactive to begin with. See, for instance, this FT article (http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/a5d64380-b906-11e0-bd87-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1f97o4Eul), particularly the following factoid:

The effect of eating a kilogramme of beef with the maximum limit allowed for caesium in Japan is the equivalent to one-50th of an annual dosage from naturally occurring radioactive materials, and one-13th of levels received on a one-way flight between Tokyo and New York.

I think you're overstating the issue. Some beef did slip into commerce in excess of the limits, was detected, was pulled from the market, and wasn't all that radioactive to begin with.
I reiterate:


They are not testing all agriculture, only a small sample
They are not testing seafood in any significant quantities
They are only testing for cesium and iodine, not other radioactive matierals
Ingesting radioactive materials is quite different from merely being exposed to radioactivity


I don't have enough information to say that the food is unsafe, and it's probably nothing to worry about for a tourist. But I don't think you have enough information to say that perpetually eating such food is safe either.

I reiterate:


They are not testing all agriculture, only a small sample
They are not testing seafood in any significant quantities
They are only testing for cesium and iodine, not other radioactive matierals
Ingesting radioactive materials is quite different from merely being exposed to radioactivity


I don't have enough information to say that the food is unsafe, and it's probably nothing to worry about for a tourist. But I don't think you have enough information to say that perpetually eating such food is safe either.

I read that after the incident at 3 Mile Island, children were fed milk from cows that had eaten grass contaminated with radioactive material. And ingesting that milk had significant long term health consequences for those children. As much as I want to visit Tokyo and other parts of Japan, I don't feel comfortable with the information that the Japanese government has put out so far.

I read that after the incident at 3 Mile Island, children were fed milk from cows that had eaten grass contaminated with radioactive material. And ingesting that milk had significant long term health consequences for those children. As much as I want to visit Tokyo and other parts of Japan, I don't feel comfortable with the information that the Japanese government has put out so far.

By the time all of the long term health affects would be known, the people responsible for making these decisions will be off in a cushy retirement with no culpability for them, though they'll probably get a bonus for getting things "back to normal" so quickly.

I read that after the incident at 3 Mile Island, children were fed milk from cows that had eaten grass contaminated with radioactive material. And ingesting that milk had significant long term health consequences for those children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyyZqCl8kXQ

OP- what's the final decision? Tokyo or pass? Sorry for hijacking your thread. :confused:

I have also visited a lot of Asian cities in the recent years (Hong Kong, Bejing, KL, Singapore, Bangkok) to name a few. I just came back from a week of Japan and we did Tokyo, Nikko and Kyoto.

I was not impressed by Tokyo and we felt after 2 days we had seen it.. we only did one day in Kyoto and where sad we did not spend more time there.

Japan is quite different then the rest of Asia and worth a visit. But I think you can actually go to Japan but just skip Tokyo and spend some time in other cities and the country side.

I was not really impressed with Bangkok but liked it far more then Tokyo.