Japan - Must DOs and BUYs in Japan/Tokyo

Hello,

I leave for Japan next week(first international trip but DEFINATELY not the last -- planning a trip to Paris in the coming months....) and was wondering what are the must do's, must see's and the must buy's. Also, the must eats? ANY suggestions at all would be greatful. Thank you everyone and hopefully this is in the right forum. Thank you! :)

Go to a hole in the wall conveyer-belt sushi restaraunt. 100 - 150 yen plates should be about right.

How long are you going to be in Tokyo for? My feeling is that the real heart of Japan lives in the smaller cities. If you have time, a ride on the bullet train to Kyoto would be an excellent use of your time. You can spend time visiting ancient temples and shrines.

Go to a hole in the wall conveyer-belt sushi restaraunt. 100 - 150 yen plates should be about right.

How long are you going to be in Tokyo for? My feeling is that the real heart of Japan lives in the smaller cities. If you have time, a ride on the bullet train to Kyoto would be an excellent use of your time. You can spend time visiting ancient temples and shrines.

I'll be in Japan for a little over 2 weeks so I should have time to explore around....i've heard about those hole in the wall converyer-belt sushi restaraunts but notthing more then heard -- I definately will check it out!

I spend a lot of time in Tokyo (actually I'm there right now) and here's what I would do (not a complete list):

- Sushi (already mentioned about the conveyor belt restaraunts)
- Asakusa (Temple and shopping area--lots of "junk", but also lots of people)
- Roppongi (night life)
- Ginza (shopping, but don't buy anything--way, way too expensive!)
- Kyoto (take the bullet train and then take taxis to the shrines..there are literally thousands of them) at least a weekend trip from Tokyo
- Tokyo station at rush hour--just stand back and watch all the millions of people pass through--quite a site!
- Kamakura (Huge statue of Buddah and hundreds of temples. A good day trip from Tokyo)
- Tokyo tower


Before you go, go to the book store and get a book entitled "Tokyo city pack", can't remember who publishes it, but it's full of good info--including a subway map!

Good luck and enjoy!

- Asakusa (Temple and shopping area--lots of "junk", but also lots of people)
- Roppongi (night life)
- Ginza (shopping, but don't buy anything--way, way too expensive!)
- Tokyo tower


Before you go, go to the book store and get a book entitled "Tokyo city pack", can't remember who publishes it, but it's full of good info--including a subway map!

Good luck and enjoy!

Asakusa -- what do you mean by a lot of junk? What are some things I should buy? I'm definately going to pick up some music, video games and related item...but i'd like to get some unique Japan identifying stuff.

Ginza Disttrict -- I've heard Japan is really expensive.

Tokyo Tower -- what exactly is this?

Now also, if i'm not mistaken the drinking age in Japan is 20, right? Do I need to bring ID and if so, will my passport suffice or should I bring my state's driver's license?

Also, what are good gifts to give to people in Japan?

My very favorite store in Japan is Tokyu Hands. My son and husband love it too. It's filled with so much cool stuff - the little Japanese woodworking tools, robotics kits (much cheaper there than in the US), cool cooking things such as edible 24 kt-gold stars to put on desserts and in drinks. The office supplies department is one of the best. I can easily spend hours there.

Asakusa -- what do you mean by a lot of junk? What are some things I should buy? I'm definately going to pick up some music, video games and related item...but i'd like to get some unique Japan identifying stuff.

Ginza Disttrict -- I've heard Japan is really expensive.

Tokyo Tower -- what exactly is this?

Now also, if i'm not mistaken the drinking age in Japan is 20, right? Do I need to bring ID and if so, will my passport suffice or should I bring my state's driver's license?

Also, what are good gifts to give to people in Japan?

Not sure what the drinking age is here. That hasn't been a problem for me for a long, long time :)

If you are looking for Electronics and games, check out Akihabara (also known as "electric town", they have blocks and blocks of nothing but electronic stores. Word of warning--be sure whatever you buy will work on the US equipment that you own!

Tokyo Tower is a tall tower in Tokyo that has an observation platform. You can get a good view of Tokyo from there.

As for Asakusa, it has all the typical kinds of Japanese stuff that you would be looking for. My advice though is to guy during the week. On the weekend, it gets very crowded and pretty crazy!

Where are you staying in Tokyo?

As for gifts, anything that is typical of where you are from and not very expensive (less than $10.00 US) is fine.

If you are looking for Electronics and games, check out Akihabara (also known as "electric town", they have blocks and blocks of nothing but electronic stores. Word of warning--be sure whatever you buy will work on the US equipment that you own!

Where are you staying in Tokyo?

As for gifts, anything that is typical of where you are from and not very expensive (less than $10.00 US) is fine.

Don't worry about the electronics -- i've pretty much got that down but thanks for the warning and the heads up. I'm staying with a family about 30 miles west of Tokyo -- I have been invited but have never met them before so more reason for me to be nervous...

Gift's -- not a problem -- I'll run up to Saratoga Race Track tomorrow and then shoot up to Lake George so i've got that covered! Get some T-shirts and take a bunch of pictures to show them.

Tokyu Hands....where exactly is this store? By what letiole says, it sounds like an incredible store that i'd love to visit!!!

Someday in the future i'd LOVE to visit rural Japan as i've heard it's full of incredible beauty and i've seen plenty of pictures but i'm sure those photo's do no justice....

Tokyu Hands....where exactly is this store? By what letiole says, it sounds like an incredible store that i'd love to visit!!!

There's one in Shinjuku in the same building as the Takashimaya department store.

I just found this which also has a link to a map with the location in Shinjuku. I just read his review and see there's another in Shibuya.

http://www.superfuture.com/city/reviews/review.cfm?ID=375

I definately will check out Tokyu Hands, it sounds like an incredible store!

I definately will check out Tokyu Hands, it sounds like an incredible store!I absolutely agree. But any Japanese hardware store is also an incredible experience (and much cheaper for wood working tools, however they won't speak much english or be able to explain exactly what that strange tool is for). I like to get Japanese paint brushes, they are very good and the importer in the US has a 1000% mark up (based on the prices I see at Narita City).

If you're buying any type of electronics, besides making sure they work in the US, also check out prices of similar items in the US before you go over so you know if you're getting a good 'deal', especially since the Yen still kicks the $$ butt.

mjm lives in Tokyo, so you might want to drop him a PM. There's a musuem on top of the Maori Tower you can go to, as well as top of the tower itself for some fab views. It's in the Ropaangi Hills area (sp?), which has the Grand Hyatt, the tower, shops, concert area, residential, etc.

And of course the Fish Market is a definite MUST!!! Just know it's a very very early am. And of course the tradition is to have fresh sushi/beer right after at one of the nearby places.

Have a good time. Cheers.
Sharon

...And of course the tradition is to have fresh sushi/beer right after at one of the nearby places.

Have a good time. Cheers.
Sharon

So maybe you can answer me what is the drinking age in Japan and will I need to bring ID such as a driver's license or my passport?

How's pizza out there? How about fast food, like McDonalds?

Tokyo Tower is a red(!) copy of the Effiel Tower

If you are going partying(!), then you could always spend time in Roppongi...

Paddy Foley's is (AFAIK) still there... you could ask people there for ideas ;-)

I spent three years in Tokyo in the mid '90s. Loved the place.

How's pizza out there? How about fast food, like McDonalds?

McDonalds is the pretty much the same here as it is in the US with a few different menu items. My personal opinion is to avoid it if at all possible, but of course I have that same opinion in the US! Last year a friend came over with her two children and they would only eat at McDonalds. That was the longest week of my life!

As for pizza, again pretty much the same here except for different toppings. My personal favorite: squid.

I'm not a big fan of McDonalds either -- I was just curious on if it had a different taste then here in the states. As for pizza, i've heard that it is extremely expensive over in Japan -- is that true?

Still haven't discovered what the drinking age is there.....looked at a few websites online but still came up empty handed -- well I know it's gotta be under 30 :D

How are prices when it comes to things such as soft drinks and say....ice tea and lemonade?

The legal drinking age is 20 in Japan.

The legal drinking age is 20 in Japan.

Thank you, I just found that out a little while ago; did a Yahoo search. All set then :) I hoping to enjoy this trip although I am very nervous....

I wouldn't exactly worry about that drinking age being strictly enforced -- my kids got served numerous times when we were there (a month or so ago), and my younger kid is 18. They'd probably serve a 6 year old in most places....

We did see a few beer machines with, for the first time, a place to insert an id! I was told this feature is supposedly implemented only when the liquor store the beer machine is in front of is closed. Tend to doubt.

And you've read about the JR pass, right, if you were thinking about travelling around Japan for one of those two weeks? If not, do so, you have to buy it before leaving.

Soft drinks are Y120 from most vending machines. You may encounter one or two vending machines in your sojourns around Japan.... the highlight of every trip to Japan is your first sip of an ice cold "Pocari Sweat." :)

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Soft drinks are Y120 from most vending machines. You may encounter one or two vending machines in your sojourns around Japan.... the highlight of every trip to Japan is your first sip of an ice cold "Pocari Sweat." :)

One or two vending machines?? In my experience, they are everywhere, at least in the Tokyo area! ATMs however are a different story. In my travels around Europe, I've never had problems finding ATMs, however for some reason in Japan they are hard to find and I have no idea why!

Regrading Pocari Sweat, I've been coming over here monthly for three years, and I have to admit that I've never tried it. The mental image is hard to get over! :D

One or two vending machines??

I took that comment as tongue-in-cheek but perhaps, your clarification was good so as not to confuse the OP. I like a drink called Calpis - a yogurt drink although you can readily find Pocari Sweat and this in the US at Asian supermarkets.

I'm surprised nobody here has recommended the OP try an onsen - the Japanese hot spring. Lots to be found in the general Tohoku area, as little as 1 hour away from downtown Tokyo Station.

Definitely go to the big early AM fish market (cannot remember the name, help!!). We woke our kids up at 5:00AM . They were not amused. However, when they arrived, it was (in their eyes and ours), better than Disneyland. The Tokyo fishmarket is an extraordinary experience and well-worth waking up early for. . IMHO, one of the greatest attractions in Tokyo. The sounds, colors, smells, activities, bright-eyed fish, bright and bleary-eyed fishermen make this an unforgettable experience and a memory which will be forever seared in your brain.
http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/youkoso/welcom_e.htm

For those who have trouble finding ATMs in Japan that take foreign cards, the ATMs in Japan's largest bank -- the post office bank -- ALL take foreign cards, and there's a post office in every town and village (the post offices sign is capital T with a parallel line over the T). While few of these ATMS, if any, are available 24/7, you are never that far away from one.

To use these ATMs, just make sure the first thing you do is push the button labeled "English" or you'll never get through the process.

Oh -- no local service charges on any ATMs in Japan.

Yes go to the Mori Roppongi Hills development.

Also, as to drinking with gaijins and locals, check out the famous GasPanic bar/cafe (actually I think there are 3 of them - bar 99 and gaspanic2 are the others). it is heaving on the weekends. please note its kinda raunchy but worth a looksee as its also amusing...

But there are alot of refined bars to go to as well...

Yes Asakusa, Tokyo tower, ginza, tokyo station at rush hours are all must sees.

As for casual food...the 7-11s have surprising good oden and other japanese fast foods...if you want to save a few bucks...

of course also hit the hole-in-the wall yokochos and sushi places...

Oh here's a decent guide for eating out in tokyo...http://www.bento.com/tf-rest.html

Yes, I've heard vending machines are everywhere in Japan -- you'll always be able to see one in site -- or so i'm told. Pacori Sweat...i've tried it at a local import store -- pretty good stuff -- it's been awhile since i've had calpis -- the last thing i've drunk is Ramune Soda...interesting stuff with a more interesting bottle...with the marble inside that you have to pop down, if anyone knows what i'm referring to?

It's good that they accept foreign cards in the ATM's but as far as I know, it is perfectly safe to carry cash around the country so I believe i'll do that, along with a daypack with me.

The AM Fish market...I remember seeing something about this on TV and how facisnating it is -- I definately want to check this out. As far as the 7-11's -- i've heard that they are quite something in Japan -- really clean and they even sell video games in the stores! That's amazing. I'll also have to check out the night life as I hear it is something to see. Sometime in the future...whether it be this trip or not I want to visit rural Japan....the real country Japan -- I've heard that it's beauty and culture is something, uncomparable to anything else.

If i'm not mistaken...the Rail Pass -- cant' you purchase one at NRT or is that something you have to buy before you travel to Japan? I'm sure I can get one there but just want to clarify this with everyone....

And if you have a problem with Pocari Sweat, did you ever use the powered milk creamer called Creap? (had the TV ads with the couple talking to a cow)

When I was last in Tokyo, a Domino's big pizza (about a medium in NY) cost 3600 yen... which was about USD 36 at the time

Has this got, er, cheaper?

Follow the hints from these postings & you will have a great time. The Lonely Planet Tokyo Guide is also helpful for identifying other points of interest.

If you can get out of the city, try to get to the lake district down by Mt. Fuji, although it may be crowded this time of year.

Other helpful sites I've used include:

Japan FAQs (http://www.thejapanfaq.com) - Tons of stuff + Links to JR & Subway maps
Japan Times Online (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/) Good for seeking out concerts/special events during your stay

Thanks for the links -- I heard there's a concert on the 8th of August out there called Summersonic -- any info on it?

Thanks for the links -- I heard there's a concert on the 8th of August out there called Summersonic -- any info on it?

www.summersonic.com/index.html

I can't get the page to load right now, but I had bookmarked it when friends from Hawaii heading to the show mentioned it to me.

Thanks for the links -- I heard there's a concert on the 8th of August out there called Summersonic -- any info on it?


Check out the band list on MTV.com

http://www.mtv.com/music/tours/results.jhtml?venueID=5428

Looks like a lot of fun but seems very expensive. I've heard that in japan, most public bathrooms have no toilet paper -- is that true?

If i'm not mistaken...the Rail Pass -- cant' you purchase one at NRT or is that something you have to buy before you travel to Japan? I'm sure I can get one there but just want to clarify this with everyone....

There are a number of different REGIONAL railpasses, and some of these can be purchased after arrival. However you MUST buy what is called an "exchange order" for the only whole country railpass offered, the JR pass, outside of Japan. You then trade the "exchange order" for the actual pass when you get to Japan, and one place you can do that is at Narita airport.

Looks like a lot of fun but seems very expensive. I've heard that in japan, most public bathrooms have no toilet paper -- is that true?

Heck, most public bathrooms in Japan don't even have toilets! At least not western toilets....but yeah, you carry pocket kleenex if this is likely to be a problem. No need to stock up on pocket kleenex before going to Japan, you'll get plenty for free.

There are a number of different REGIONAL railpasses, and some of these can be purchased after arrival. However you MUST buy what is called an "exchange order" for the only whole country railpass offered, the JR pass, outside of Japan. You then trade the "exchange order" for the actual pass when you get to Japan, and one place you can do that is at Narita airport.

How much does this "exchange order" cost and where can I purchase it? I'd definately want to pick one of these up -- or so it seems. Seems odd that you can't just buy the pass at the airport -- oh well, i'm sure there's SOME method to thier madness.

No need to stock up on pocket kleenex before going to Japan, you'll get plenty for free.

I will -- on the plane I imagine? Don't think they have people in Godzilla suits on the street handing them out :D

-Are there any things I should stock up on to bring back that's not availiable in the US -- besides the manditory green tea? I'm getting a bit scared on how much money i'm going to be spending out there.....

I'm not a big fan of McDonalds either -- I was just curious on if it had a different taste then here in the states. As for pizza, i've heard that it is extremely expensive over in Japan -- is that true?

Shakey's have a decent 'all you can eat' lunch special - it is around 1000 yen (or USD$9) I think for all the pizza you can eat.

I remember a discussion (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=276726) about Tokyo several months back that might be useful for you.

You mentioned you will be staying 30 miles outside of Tokyo - how often will you be travelling in here during the two weeks? During the summer (July 20 to September 10) JR have an economical rail pass call the seishun 18 kippu (http://www.shejapan.com/mjtye/18t/e18t02.html) which costs 11500 yen (or about USD$100) for five days of travel on the local trains. Quite a bargain, and the pass can be bought in Japan. It cannot be used on express nor shinkansen (bullet) trains. Personally, I think you will get tired of Tokyo after a few days, and should definitely head out into the countryside.

As for ID, it is a legal requirement in Japan for foreigners to carry their passports at all times. I doubt whether you will get checked for ID at a bar - Japan seems very lax in this department, especially compared to the USA.

(Recently, despite the fact that I am 34yo, and look slightly older, I got checked for ID in Boston - showed them three different forms of ID - but was not allowed into the bar as the oaf doing security said they only accepted passports :mad: which I did not have on me at the time.)

Thanks for the link and the advice KezzaKawasaki. I know what you mean about being bored with Tokyo -- i'm sure it's all about shopping and spending money and that can only last so long. I take it your from Tokyo -- if I told you the city I was staying in would you be able to tell me things to do in that area, places to visit, etc.? Thank you so much and i'll check out the thread you pointed me at while I await your reply. Domo Arigato :D

I'm probably the only person who didn't think Pocari Sweat was that great.

Also, the public toilets I used were heated! I really wanted to take the toilet that was in my room at the Grand Hyatt home w/ me. 16 controls - some were obvious & had visuals; others were in Japanese (whichmjm got the hotel to translate for me. Wish I'd kept the translation for the photo album).

I actually used an ATM at the airport that was in Japanese; I don't think it offered an English button. Made it interesting anyway in trying to get cash.

BTW - rather than do the limo bus to Tokyo from NRT, take the train. The price is similar (other than you'll need a cab when you get to the downtown station) & it's faster than the limo bus (which is like a greyhound; limo is an oxymoron in this case).

I'm allergic to seafood/fish, so Japan was tough for me foodwise. But I didn't do pizza or McDonald's.

Another question I had is how much spending money should I bring with me for a 16 day trip? I believe it's safe to carry cash with me....

Also, the public toilets I used were heated! I really wanted to take the toilet that was in my room at the Grand Hyatt home w/ me. 16 controls - some were obvious & had visuals; others were in Japanese (whichmjm got the hotel to translate for me.


You can buy them in the US. We have a couple installed in our house. Forgot what I paid, maybe something like $400 each. Google "washlet".

The quality of toilets in Japan varies from an extreme to the other extreme. Check out

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,59979,00.html

and

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~AD8Y-HYS/

if interested. The latter page is in Japanese but you can perhaps use http://babelfish.altavista.com/ or other translators - or just ignore the texts and click arbitrary links to see the pictures. :D

[edited to add] actually, there is English version

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~AD8Y-HYS/index_e.htm

but be warned: some of the pictures may not be so "pleasant" to you!

Thanks for the link and the advice KezzaKawasaki. I know what you mean about being bored with Tokyo -- i'm sure it's all about shopping and spending money and that can only last so long. I take it your from Tokyo -- if I told you the city I was staying in would you be able to tell me things to do in that area, places to visit, etc.? Thank you so much and i'll check out the thread you pointed me at while I await your reply. Domo Arigato :D

He said, tired, not bored. I think you'll find it hard to get bored of Tokyo. Tired, yes, it can be an exhausting city.

I will -- on the plane I imagine? Don't think they have people in Godzilla suits on the street handing them out :D


Actually, yes. Not necessarily in Godzilla suits, but every major station and intersection has people handing out small packages of Kleenex with advertising flyers. Mrs. Pickles collects them, and some day will open a museum dedicated to that. In Japan, of course.

I think they only use the Godzilla suit in winter when it is cold.

Actually, yes. Not necessarily in Godzilla suits, but every major station and intersection has people handing out small packages of Kleenex with advertising flyers. Mrs. Pickles collects them, and some day will open a museum dedicated to that. In Japan, of course.

I think they only use the Godzilla suit in winter when it is cold.

Wow, I never heard about this before....very interesting. I'll definately keep an eye out for this! Thanks Pickles!

Now -- totally opposite to what this thread is about...what should I AVOID when i'm in Japan/Tokyo?

Tokyo's really not all about spending money and shopping. There are great temples (as mentioned previously in the thread) and also gardens. Just soaking in the cultural differences should keep you from ever being tired or bored. And you won't have to look very hard for the folks passing out tissues, they're everywhere. Your hotel will have tissue also.

Now -- totally opposite to what this thread is about...what should I AVOID when i'm in Japan/Tokyo?

Riding trains at rush hour, especially the JR lines. Go watch the crowds in Shinjuku, but don't ride the train. Avoid drunken sararimen late at night around the last train time (12:30-1:00 AM). They are rather mild, but can be annoying and just plain reek.

On the same vein, be careful when walking on train platforms late at night. Don't want to get caught by the dreaded platform pizza (in Japanese: puratohoomu piiza, or hoomu piiza, in case you need to ask somebody where they are in order to avoid them.) They are like the PacMan, except they are for real!

Don't go up Tokyo tower (going against the advice of our fellow FTers). A 60's vintage tourist trap. If you are going to pay, go up the Mori Tower and visit the museum while you are there. Also, if the weather is clear (and it is open), go up on the heliport roof and take in the view. For free, try the Tokyo Metropolitan Government tower in Shinjuku (TMG, or Tocho), or the Park Hyatt in Shinjuku.

Avoid hostess bars. You'll be fleeced, and you won't even get your money's worth in the way you think you should.

Skip Hakone on the weekends. All of Tokyo decides to go there, and it is just annoyingly crowded.

How's pizza out there? How about fast food, like McDonalds?

Try Japanese fast food! There are tons of chains all specializing in supercheap Japanese goodies, like Yoshinoya and Matsuya for gyudon ("beef bowl"), Tenya for tempura, Mos Burger and Freshness Burger for very un-McDonaldsy hamburgers (grilled eel-on-riceburger, anyone?), etc. Most of these also have an English-language or at least picture menu somewhere under a counter, making ordering reasonably easy even if you don't speak a word of Japanese.

Tokyo's really not all about spending money and shopping. There are great temples (as mentioned previously in the thread) and also gardens. Just soaking in the cultural differences should keep you from ever being tired or bored. And you won't have to look very hard for the folks passing out tissues, they're everywhere. Your hotel will have tissue also.

I'm not staying at a hotel -- I'm staying with a family out there

Don't want to get caught by the dreaded platform pizza (in Japanese: puratohoomu piiza, or hoomu piiza, in case you need to ask somebody where they are in order to avoid them.) They are like the PacMan, except they are for real!

Could you please explain this...I don't quite get this, although I do know what PacMan is....I must thank you though for yours (and everyone elses) great advice that you have been giving me -- 3 more days....

Could you please explain this...I don't quite get this, although I do know what PacMan is....I must thank you though for yours (and everyone elses) great advice that you have been giving me -- 3 more days....

Try this (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=%22platform+pizza%22+japan). Don't say I didn't warn you!

Ugh MoS Burger.. I had that in Singapore and was not impressed...

The cost of living prespective for a tourist in Tokyo is really no higher than New York or San Francisco IMO. Lunch is like $6-10, decent dinners are $10-15 but it all depends where you go and what you eat.. a hole in the wall is cheaper than one in an entertainment district like Shibuya or Shinjuku, but that being said.. there's cheap food there.

Gyudon is pretty good... Yoshinoya's is my personal fav but if you can't read Japanese, it can get a little daunting as you gotta use the pics and enter the right price etc... McDonalds is worth trying once in Japan.. I find it considerably better than in the US and often grab double cheeseburgers if it's really late and heading back to my hotel the last few times I was there.

If you're young.. forget Roppongi during the night.. it's full of expats and fairly shady (but not dangerous, just sleazy) but Shibuya is where it's at... some of the most amazing clubs I've ever seen were on the hillside of Shibuya. Remember, if you do decide a night out, The trains in Metro Tokyo stop running at ~midnight so make that decision before you start drinking :)

Tokyo, IMO, is the most amazing city on the face of the earth. I was supposed to study there but my dumba$$ turned it down :( but i had enough (good) reason to.

Try this (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=%22platform+pizza%22+japan). Don't say I didn't warn you!

That was DISGUSTING!!!!!!

Thanks civicmon for the great advice, I will definately check out the McDonalds out there at least once. How old do you have to be to go to the clubs in Japan?

You might also want to review some of the posts found in FlyerTalk's Tokyo Forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=509) for additional sage advice. ^

Thanks xpacific for the link for that forum! It should be a lot of fun. Would it be good idea to carry a bookbag as a daypack with me? I think it would be great but I know here in the US, if you enter a store with a bookbag on they usually keep an eye on you because they think your going to steal something....

I loved Gyudon (beef bowl) at Yoshinoya - but it's been unavailable since February, because Yoshinoya used to import beef from the US, which is now prohibited due to mad cows! For the moment, you can order buta-don (pork bowl) instead, though I've never tried it.

If you are visiting Tokyu Hands, I recommend the one at Shibuya. It's the most chaotic of all. Beware or you'll get lost inside the buildings. :) A quick google search seems to give enough information in English.

If you are a geek :D and going to Akihabara, be sure to visit Tokyo
Radio Depato. Click any links in

http://www.toradi.com/top2.htm

to see how the shops in this "department store" look like. (Don't worry - these pictures are not disgusting like some previous ones.) I cannot find good directions in English but the place is located at block 13 in

http://www.akiba.or.jp/map/

and next to CLUB SEGA to the north in:

http://www.akiba.or.jp/map/map13.html

There is also an English map

http://www.akiba.or.jp/english/map/

though it's less detailed...

Carrying a backpack is sometimes a problem, not because you look like a thief, but because many places are just too crowded! It's OK, though, as long as you take care not to hit other people with your backpack.

Thanks JAPMAN for all the great advice and for the pictures that didn't make me sick :D I am DEFINATELY a geek and want to check out Akihabara -- could you please tell me about Club Sega? I also want to visit some kind of Nintendo and/or Square-Enix (formerly Squaresoft) emporium. I think that would be fun and educational. I wish I could try Gyudon as i've heard notthing but rave's about this edible item.

I definately want to check out Tokyu Hands!!! As for the book bag -- I don't imagine to keep anything in it except my wallet (will that be safe or should I carry it on my person?) and when I buy things to put in the bag so I don't have to carry it around -- if worse comes to worse I can carry the bag by hand I guess so I don't inadvertly hit someone.

Tokyo Radio Depato -- what is this?

Pizza? Okay, why would one go for pizza when they live in the US and traveling overseas? (Let's not even go there with the platform pizzas! ;) ) It's funny, several of us were talking about McD's at a FT lunch about a month ago and pretty much agreed the only time we found it "acceptable" to eat McD's overseas was alcohol-induced (usually the next morning :D ) There are so many great "local" foods to be had as mentioned above..take advantage of the opportunity to experience some of the local culture & enjoy them!

Another thing I don't recall seeing mentioned above, if you've never seen one, were the pachinko parlors. I found that was interesting to see on my first trip to Tokyo.

As already mentioned, you'll definitely be amused by the range of toilets you'll see. On my first trip, we saw everything from a hole in the floor to the very cool ones at the Imperial Hotel which not only had the seat-heaters but also made the sound of running water as a detractor.

You've been given some great suggestions by other posters. Tokyo is a fun city -- enjoy your trip!

Do a simple Google search to find the JR page on the rail passes.

Pizza can be interesting in Japan -- squid with corn toppings and such.

And I don't like Pocari Sweat either!

Enjoy Japan!

Club Sega is a chain store for playing (not buying) arcade games of Sega. You might perhaps need to read some Japanese instructions to avoid wasting too much money---it costs 100-200 yen for 1 play, which can be 30 minutes or 30 seconds depending on your skill---but it's also fun to just watch other players for a while. Some of them are too good! But be prepared for the smell of smoking and sweating. Somehow Japanese geeks sweat a lot.

I'm not sure if Nintendo and Square-Enix have their own showrooms, but you can play some of their games for free in Akihabara. Many shops offer free plays on the street. That is, if you don't mind waiting in line with those sweating nerds... :)

Tokyo Radio Depato is a building with tons of small shops specialized for various electronic parts. I don't mean to make you buy and assemble them - just seeing the shops for a moment would be an astonishing experience. (There is also another place where an entire building is selling computer cables, but it's less fun to see.)

As for the book bag -- I don't imagine to keep anything in it except my wallet (will that be safe or should I carry it on my person?) and when I buy things to put in the bag so I don't have to carry it around -- if worse comes to worse I can carry the bag by hand I guess so I don't inadvertly hit someone.
Oops, book bags are no problem. My eyes and brain somehow translated "book bag" to "backpack" in the previous post...

If you're young.. forget Roppongi during the night.. it's full of expats and fairly shady (but not dangerous, just sleazy) but Shibuya is where it's at... some of the most amazing clubs I've ever seen were on the hillside of Shibuya. Remember, if you do decide a night out, The trains in Metro Tokyo stop running at ~midnight so make that decision before you start drinking :)

Agreed. Shady with lots of pushy touts. Shibuya is far better; even during the daytime (the Omotesando shopping street is packed with young ppl).

Also agree with suggestions to do Roppongi Hills and go up to the top of Mori Tower for the Mori Art Museum and the panoramic view of Tokyo. Very fun. Tsukiji Fish Market is a must-see and make sure you have sushi there (cheap - like $1/piece - and deliciously fresh!). Another must-do is exploring a Japanese department store (like Matsuzakaya in Ginza or Takashimaya in Shinjuku). They're huge and they sell everything. There're lots of cheap places to eat in these department stores, and in and around the major train stations. In addition, don't miss shabu-shabu/sukiyaki (cook-it-yourself thin slices of meat), tempura (set lunches are great value and variety) and teppanyaki (benihana-style, although prices are high especially if you splurge on kobe beef).

Definitely avoid riding the subway/trains during rush hour. It is hard to imagine how uncomfortably packed they can get but just take our word for it! :)

I have also stayed with a local family in Tokyo once (some sort of exchange) and since I was young and pretty naive then, I was a little stunned to find that (a) the dwellings are TINY; (b) I slept on the floor!; (c) they did not have a car (which was not an issue since we were in Setagaya-ku not far from downtown). Not implying that all families in Tokyo are alike :) but the dad spoke English while the mother did not (back in 1992... must be a male-dominated society thing?). The kids spoke halting English.

Tokyo is a crazy jumble of a metropolis but once you get the hang of it, it's rewarding and you'll have an awesome time!

That was DISGUSTING!!!!!!

Thanks civicmon for the great advice, I will definately check out the McDonalds out there at least once. How old do you have to be to go to the clubs in Japan?

20 years old generally.

Do ride the subway ONCE during rush hour.. but the subways, at least the last time I was there, had'rush hour' from 6-10pm.. always packed. it's amazing.

Oops, book bags are no problem. My eyes and brain somehow translated "book bag" to "backpack" in the previous post...

Just to clarify -- what's the difference between a backpack and bookbag? I would imagine a backpack is what hiker's wear -- those huge bags while a bookbag is something you would wear in school, right?

As for spending money in Japan -- NOT including food, board, etc. -- just as extra cash, what would you say would be a good amount to have for 16 days in Japan/Tokyo area -- JUST for spending money? Thanks for all your help everyone. 2 more days till departure!

Tokyu hands in the Takeshimaya Times Square is great. They also sell some wonderful book bags/backpacks there at very competative prices. Including some super fashionable Japanese brands like Porter (the Japanese Prada).

A great, reasonable price sushi place is Edo Gin.

Have a drink in the bar at the Park Hyatt in Shinjuku. It is on about the 45th floor with a great view. The old Shinjuku Intercontinental which is owned by someone else now, had a bar on the top from which you could see Mount Fuji on a clear day. I assume it is still there I was fortunate enough to be there on a clear enough day and it was great.

I stayed at the Grand Hyatt in February, and while the room has the nicest bathroom I have ever seen I wasnt that impressed with the Rappongi complex. The hotel was great though.

The fish market has lots of inexpensive sushi restaurants and is a must see.

Akihabara is almost mind boggling with the stuff available.

As I read the posts I didnt see mention of the Imperial Palace but it should be mentioned.

People were right to say go to Kyoto. Wonderful place, if you are feeling adventurous stay at a Ryokan (traditional hotel) in Kyoto.

In terms of department stores, I think the one to visit (not necessarily to buy) are the ones in Ginza. They are amazing, make sure you check out the food stores in the department stores. They are really wonderful. Things like fugu sashimi and the ever popular $60 each individually wrapped honeydew melons.

In the basement of the Mitsukoshi department store in Ginza they sell these chocolates called "Sate" (silver box). They are great! They are the best chocolate I've ever had. One problem though is that they have to be kept refridgerated or they melt.

One other thing you might want to try is a Hot Springs or bath house. I'm not sure where there is one in Tokyo itself, but a lot of the outlying towns have them. I went with one of my clients, which turned out to be a bad idea since there are no clothes allowed in the baths (they are segregated by sex of course!). It was an interesting experience for me for several reason, one of which I ended up sitting next to a Japanese gentleman who, as it turned out, had live for several years two blocks from my parent's house in the US!!

Anyway, if you are adventurous, give it a try.


Have a great time! Sounds like I will pass you in the air as I will be headed back to the US on Thursday.

Just to clarify -- what's the difference between a backpack and bookbag? I would imagine a backpack is what hiker's wear -- those huge bags while a bookbag is something you would wear in school, right?
Yes, that's what I had in mind - backpacks are huge while bookbags are smaller (in my mind).

As for spending money in Japan -- NOT including food, board, etc. -- just as extra cash, what would you say would be a good amount to have for 16 days in Japan/Tokyo area -- JUST for spending money?
This is hard for me to tell because I've never "traveled" Tokyo - I just lived there for long. It also depends on what you are going to buy, of course... Perhaps it's safe to assume that everything is twice as expensive as in the US. :p

Oh, be sure to peruse http://www.engrish.com/ for some signs to look out for. :p A friend of mine who lives in JP first introduced me to this site...

You gotta hit up McDonalds. I have never had a tastier Big Mac

My very favorite store in Japan is Tokyu Hands. My son and husband love it too. It's filled with so much cool stuff - the little Japanese woodworking tools, robotics kits (much cheaper there than in the US), cool cooking things such as edible 24 kt-gold stars to put on desserts and in drinks. The office supplies department is one of the best. I can easily spend hours there.
Tokyu Hands is the best ^ ^ ^ ^
In the same neighborhood lots of record stores and the Tokyo Harley Davidson store. Very Expensive T's $55.
Find a great Korean BBQ.
Find a great noodle shop in Akasaka.
Good luck and have fun

Thanks once again everyone for this incredible advice -- Almost Thursday -- the big day. They have a Harley Davidson store in Tokyo!!!! Wow...I never would of thought. I'm getting more and more nervous about this trip. I definately have to check out Tokyu hands after all the rave's everyone has been giving this store! I will also check out on of the bar's in Tokyo -- see how they differ from US one's. Hmmm...BBQ food in Japan -- I definately have to check that out too but more importantly I need to find a great noodle shop!

Thanks once again everyone for this incredible advice -- Almost Thursday -- the big day. They have a Harley Davidson store in Tokyo!!!! Wow...I never would of thought. I'm getting more and more nervous about this trip. I definately have to check out Tokyu hands after all the rave's everyone has been giving this store! I will also check out on of the bar's in Tokyo -- see how they differ from US one's. Hmmm...BBQ food in Japan -- I definately have to check that out too but more importantly I need to find a great noodle shop!

Honmura An for noodles. There are two of them in Tokyo. One in Rappongi and the other somewhere else. They are upscale noodle restaurants. The same family owns one in Manhattan and it is a favorite of a lot of people in New York. It is my favorite restaurant in New York certainly. I havent been to the ones in Tokyo but Im sure they are fantastic.

Maybe I missed it, but did anyone tell you to watch "Lost in Translation"? You really should see it if you havent already. Most of it was filmed in the Park Hyatt in Shinjuku.

Tokyu Hands is the best ^ ^ ^ ^
In the same neighborhood lots of record stores and the Tokyo Harley Davidson store. Very Expensive T's $55.
Find a great Korean BBQ.
Find a great noodle shop in Akasaka.
Good luck and have fun

Expensive T's try Bathing Ape. Avant garde Japanese hip-hop/street wear. They have a store located in Aioyama (spelling) right by stores of Prada, Dolce Gabbana and MuiMui. My wife got a Tshirt there this spring that said "Iconic Warefare" on it. She asked me what it meant and I had to reply, how the hell should I know. In any case it is very fashionable among the young people and they get new stuff in almost weekly. Also very exclusive, a couple stores in Tokyo, one in Hong Kong I think, one in London (near good old Carnaby Street) and opening one in NY soon. If you want to buy something unique they have a whole range of clothes and you wont find it many other places. I went to London to get my wife a hat from them.

May I sort of warn you that we've been having an unusually hot summer this year in Tokyo?

A couple of weeks ago, it shot up to over 39 C, a record high. (I believe it's above 100 F?)

I wish I was in town when you are here. Im leaving for vacation on Saturday.

August 7-22 will be very busy in Japan. This is Obon (holiday) season. Hotels and trains are quite full. If you go to Kyoto don't be surprissed if you have to sit on the floor of the train for a few hours. The sites will be crowded. Kyoto is nice but for a first time visitor Kamakura should be fine. If you are west of Tokyo it should only be an hour ride.

Having been living in Roppongi for the past 9 years, I can advise you that the best place for your passport or other ID is in your home or hotel safe. You will never ever get carded. Junior high school kids can buy beer in stores if they say it is for their fathers : ). The official drinking age is 20 I think. You will see 15 year olds buying with no problem. They even have beer machines in the street.

Buy the way, the last train out of Roppongi is around 11:30 p.m.

They also have Wendys in Japan. You will be saying wheres the beef.

One good gift to buy in Asasaka are the daruma dolls. Oriental bazar in harajuku is the place to go for Japanese gifts. Everything from used Kimonos (about $70) to damura dolls and prints.

Saratoga...reminds me of the time I was there when they set a world record. You might want to mention that in American horse racing (keba in Japanese) the horses run counter clockwise while in Japan they run clockwise.

If you walk by a restaruant and see somthing you like, go inside and point to the food in the window. Should be fun.

Have fun.

Bathing Ape I wish I was in town when you are here. Im leaving for vacation on Saturday.

I wish you were too -- it would be nice to have someone show me around who knows English as good as you do :D

Having been living in Roppongi for the past 9 years, I can advise you that the best place for your passport or other ID is in your home or hotel safe..

I thought you had to carry your passport on you....?

One good gift to buy in Asasaka are the daruma dolls. Oriental bazar in harajuku is the place to go for Japanese gifts. Everything from used Kimonos (about $70) to damura dolls and prints.

Daruma dolls -- I DEFINATELY want to pick up one of these -- there's also a lucky cat figure...I forget it's name but I wanted to get one of those -- Kimono's are also a must buy -- one at least as a gift :D Prints also if I can safely transport them in my bag without them getting ruined.

May I sort of warn you that we've been having an unusually hot summer this year in Tokyo?

A couple of weeks ago, it shot up to over 39 C, a record high. (I believe it's above 100 F?)

Yes, it is over 100F and yes, i've heard about it but thank you for the warning equally. I read that a lot of people have been going to the hospital with heat stroke -- don't worry i'll still bring plenty of long pants with me ;)


Bathing Ape

I'll check out this store if I can but I'm wondering how expensive, IS expensive....

Honmura An

I have to check this out too, thanks for the headsup GadgetFreak

I think the plaid rainhat with Bathing Ape logo tag on it was about 45 pounds in London. So like $70 or thereabouts. The T shirts are about the same as I recall. Im emailing my wife for confirmation on the T shirts. Somewhere in the $50-$100 range, probably more towards the top end of that range.

Edited to add, heard back from my wife, she thought the t-shirts were in the $80-$100 range which is consistent with what I thought so it is probably pretty close. It does depend somewhat on the design.

The cat statues are way cool. They are for good luck. I brought one back one time. It is sitting up and waving, I forget what they are called too but they are classic and you can get them cheap even at Narita.

One thing speaking of prices, I think you have to be extremely savvy to get good prices on electronics stuff in Akihabara, and Im not savvy about that. It was great window shopping and a very interesting scene, but I didnt buy anything. Some of the prices, like on triband GSM phones were laughable. Some were like 3 times what you could get the phone for on ebay or twice that of a good US or English mail order place. There are deals there but they wont jump out at you. Im back there 3 or 4 times this fall for MRs and I am going to explore that some more.

... there's also a lucky cat figure...I forget it's name but I wanted to get one of those --

Maneki neko


Kimono's are also a must buy -- one at least as a gift :D


Kimonos are expensive! And you need special training (kitsuke) to put one on because they look like one long swath of cloth. Maybe you are thinking of the yukata - now is the end of the summer season and you might be able to pick up a summer one on sale.

Kimonos are expensive! And you need special training (kitsuke) to put one on because they look like one long swath of cloth. Maybe you are thinking of the yukata - now is the end of the summer season and you might be able to pick up a summer one on sale.

The yukata....how much do they go for?

Having been to Tokyo a couple of times, I recommend that, in all seriousness, if you want to just absorb the potential crowds that you may have heard about, stand in the middle of Shinjuku station during rush hour (rashawa). That and a nice bottle of "Bikkle" can't be beat! Or...go to Akihabara and never see your yen again, due to the miles and miles of gadgets, gizmos and haberdashery available. If I study there, then I will not have money to do anything else, b/c I aim to buy one of those sweet electronic toilet seats. Yeah, I need to get out more...

Sounds like a great place. I'll check it out for sure.

Having been to Tokyo a couple of times, I recommend that, in all seriousness, if you want to just absorb the potential crowds that you may have heard about, stand in the middle of Shinjuku station during rush hour (rashawa). That and a nice bottle of "Bikkle" can't be beat!

I thought I was the only person on Earth who liked "Bikkle"!! :p Personally, I do like "Miru Miru" the best!

The yukata....how much do they go for?

I can't remember what I've paid for my yukata, but maybe $45.

As for kimono, I've bought some beautiful wedding kimono and obi in Tokyo. These aren't robes I'd ever wear - they're hanging on the walls in my office and the obi is a runner across my desk. They're beautiful. I happened to get very lucky on buying them. A friend of mine who lives there happened to know during one of my visits that there was a sale on used wedding kimono (only used once and just gorgeous) on a floor of Takashimaya that's reserved for special sales and events. I can't remember what I paid exactly - $50-150 each for the kimono and about $70 for the obi. Perhaps someone who posts here and lives in Japan would give you some tips as to where to find one of these great pieces. Otherwise, I believe, these are mostly custom made and quite expensive. You'll see the custom shops around. You can find some kimono on eBay from sellers in Japan for some low prices. It's not quite the same as finding it yourself though while on a trip.

The yukata....how much do they go for?
Usually Y3000 and up, so very cheap compared to kimonos. Note that Japanese yukatas are rarely sized for the Western visitor; you may want to visit the Oriental Bazaar on Omotosando to pick up some gaijin-sized versions, although even these tend to be more "big" than "tall".

And today's yukata tip: the left side always goes over the right. If it doesn't, you're dressed for your own funeral :eek: And try to get somebody to show you how to do a proper yukata knot, if you're staying with family I imagine this won't be a problem.

And today's yukata tip: the left side always goes over the right. If it doesn't, you're dressed for your own funeral :eek: And try to get somebody to show you how to do a proper yukata knot, if you're staying with family I imagine this won't be a problem.

Ah, that explains why the very kind woman who was attending our room at Tawaraya was so saddened by my right over left application. Once that was fixed she showed me the proper way to tie the knot as well. She didnt speak English so I didnt know what the problem was but it was pretty clear there was one. :)

It's normal to have to show your passport at the door of a nightclub before you are let in. I got the impression that it wasn't to do with age, but perhaps to do with identifying you should you cause trouble. Maybe I'm wrong, but then, even though I stayed away from Roppongi, every time there was a scuffle - foreigners were involved. Oh the shame!!

And even though the cover charge at a club/disco might seem REALLY steep (6,000 yen up) be aware that you will get 4-5 drinks tokens in the price and they are normally generous measured cocktails (or just lager if you prefer). Taking that into account, the price is similar to a night out in London.

Best to avoid the cinemas though - they might be in English with Japanese subtitles, but the prices are outrageous (unless you are a lady - or can pass for on ;) - in which case Wednesday shows are 1,000 Yen).

Last summer McDonalds had tofu burgers with ginger dressing - they were great! I wouldn't normally eat there, but these were worth making an exception for.

Quirky Japan is an EXCELLENT website:
http://www3.tky.3web.ne.jp/~edjacob/
Follow the advice about visiting a sumo stable (although you'll need a japanese speaker to help you book an 'appointment' and make that jet lag work FOR you. You will have to sit quietly and still - but the experience is awesome. I advise you not to eat breakfast first as you WILL see a lot of blood from very close. I took a bottle of whisky along as a thank you present and had a lovely time communicating to the trainee sumo fighters with my phrasebook japanese after the training ended.

I also don't advise Tokyo tower. It's a ripoff!

And whatever you do DON'T EVEN THINK OF GETTING A TAXI AT THE AIRPORT!!! They are incredibly expensive. In fact, best not to get a taxi at all. They are mostly reduntant 'salariman's who were laid off when the economy's bubble burst, and the chances are they'll get lost even if you show them where you are going on a map. Most car accidents you'll witness are taxi drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Don't ever walk out in front of a moving one at a crossing assuming they've seen you. And did I mention they are expensive?

Gambatte kudasai!!!

Having been to Tokyo a couple of times, I recommend that, in all seriousness, if you want to just absorb the potential crowds that you may have heard about, stand in the middle of Shinjuku station during rush hour (rashawa).

Er, it's indeed fun but please make sure you are not blocking the traffic of other people! :)

Besides, take care not to be swept away to nowhere by the tsunami wave of commuting salary-men. This happens even to native Japanese from time to time. There is a story of an old woman lost inside the Shinjuku station and found starving after 2 days. I remeber having heard this news on the national channel (NHK) so it should be true. :rolleyes:

Oops, I'm afraid it's too late - the original poster has already departed... :p

Yes, I arrived in Japan now...the Jetlag is absolutely killing me....so I can't post much right now -- I am going to be brought siteseeing tomorrow or sunday in Tokyo so hopefully i'll see all the good stuff. Also, an odd problem -- when I went to exchange my money,they took everything except for one of my $100 bills and said they couldn't take it. They tried to run it through thier machine a few times but it kept spitting it out. Should I go somewhere else to exchange or just keep it on me for duty free shoppin gon the return trip or for emergency cash -- $100 is a lot of money -- that is why I ask. I can't believe how tired I am. Thanks again everyone for the great advice.

I am in Japan now -- I had Mos Burger and it was delicious -- got a kick out of thier motto "Hamburger is my life" LOL. I wanted to post to see if there were any FT'er's in Japan/Tokyo area that could show me around Tokyo/spend a day with me. I'd be willing to pay you/compensate you for your time -- i'm just very afraid to travel around this area alone and esspecially with no knowledge of the language....If so please reply or PM me...thank you so much!

P.S. Tokyu Hands is incredible!

Lot's of great suggestions so far. I would add:
Go to a baseball game-buy an unreserved ticket for the outfield.

Drink melon soda.

Go to Tokyo Disneyland.

Lot's of great suggestions so far. I would add:
Go to a baseball game-buy an unreserved ticket for the outfield.

Drink melon soda.

Go to Tokyo Disneyland.

I watched the highschool baseball championship on TV...I must say they aren't that good. Melon soda -- where can I get this, how can I tell it's what I get and is thier caffiene in it? Tokyo Disneyland...why should I go there? I'm sure it's not any different then the one in Florida, just more crowded. If I can figure out how to get there, i'd like to go to Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo....

I watched the highschool baseball championship on TV...I must say they aren't that good. Melon soda -- where can I get this, how can I tell it's what I get and is thier caffiene in it? Tokyo Disneyland...why should I go there? I'm sure it's not any different then the one in Florida, just more crowded. If I can figure out how to get there, i'd like to go to Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo....

The idea of going to a baseball game in Japan is to be at the game. The game itself can suck, but the action and behavior of the players and fans is rather interesting, and the subject of entire books.

As for Tokyo Disneyland, yes its the same, and it is different, all at once. Now, the Hard Rock Cafe is a place going out of your way to avoid. It is just the same rat/tourist-trap as all the other ones (except the one in Vegas), just more crowded and more expensive. And the burgers aren't even that good. But if you insist, go to Roppongi, stand at the Almond Cafe and walk down to your right (without crossing the big avenue with the overpass, Roppongi Dori), on that same side of the street. Walk a couple of blocks, the Hard Rock is in an alley to your right. If you walk by the Roi Roppongi building, you've walked too far.

Don't get suckered by the illegals touting massages on your way to the Hard Rock. They'll massage your wallet out of existence, and probably leave you with the gift that keeps on giving.

Alright, i'll avoid these "illegals". Any other people I should avoid on the way over -- non-english speaking prostitutes or mafia perhaps? I just had Pizza Hut out here and Apple Pie....very...small....and interesting -- very different.

Alright, i'll avoid these "illegals". Any other people I should avoid on the way over -- non-english speaking prostitutes or mafia perhaps? I just had Pizza Hut out here and Apple Pie....very...small....and interesting -- very different.

Avoid the english-speaking ones too (unless, of course, you are into that kind of thing). I wouldn't worry too much about the Japanese mafia. Unless you have gone to a hostess bar by mistake and are asked to pay an absurd bill for a beer, and you are refusing, they'll leave you alone. Unless you know how to look for them, you won't be able to even recognize them.

Alright, i'll avoid these "illegals". Any other people I should avoid on the way over -- non-english speaking prostitutes or mafia perhaps? I just had Pizza Hut out here and Apple Pie....very...small....and interesting -- very different.

I think he means by "illegals" various people propositioning you on the street. Also, I would avoid English speaking prostitutes as well probably. ;) Definately avoid English speaking members of organized crime organizations. That is if such a thing as a crime organization exists. ;)

(I returned from Japan a week ago...)

Go to a department store food basement for a meal.....those places are amazing!!!! We had a blast wandering around, sampling things and taking dinner back toour hotel.

You have probably discovered by now--in that heat & humidity--to do what I did--buy a washcloth to carry. For wiping off the sweat and using it in public restrooms for drying your hands. I found toliet paper as common as in U.S.--but paper towels or hand-blowers--those were rare!

Hope you have a great time:)

yes, smart@$$'s, i'll avoid english and non-english speaking ones -- sickos! ;) Is it fine to go shopping in stores and/or order food if you don't speak Japanese or will it just create frustration and confusion? I don't want to get put on the spot and try to get out of it with my knowledge of about 5 words in Japanese -- I just learned how to say "hot" in Japanese....so I think that actually brings the count up to 6, haha.

(I returned from Japan a week ago...)

Go to a department store food basement for a meal.....those places are amazing!!!! We had a blast wandering around, sampling things and taking dinner back toour hotel.

You have probably discovered by now--in that heat & humidity--to do what I did--buy a washcloth to carry. For wiping off the sweat and using it in public restrooms for drying your hands. I found toliet paper as common as in U.S.--but paper towels or hand-blowers--those were rare!

Hope you have a great time:)

Thanks for the kind wishes -- yes, I see everyone carrying washcloths with them. It is amazing! I checked out a food basement in Ebina -- 0101 Family I think the store was called. I was afraid to get food and ice cream because of my VERY limited knowledge of Japanese.

Don't be shy---they will often give you samples....and many people speak at least a bit of English. People dealing with food can usually say "beef" or "pork" or "fish" or "chicken." *grins*

Is that a BIG department store? If not, go to a big one--usually TWO entire basements of food--with LOTS of shoppers!

I bought a souvenier type washcloth at a kiosk---I like practiucal useable souveniers.

Don't be shy---they will often give you samples....and many people speak at least a bit of English. People dealing with food can usually say "beef" or "pork" or "fish" or "chicken." *grins*

Is that a BIG department store? If not, go to a big one--usually TWO entire basements of food--with LOTS of shoppers!

I bought a souvenier type washcloth at a kiosk---I like practiucal useable souveniers.

It had 6 floors to this -- whether this constitutes it being big or not, I do not know. The whole basement was full of food and restuarants -- I cannot believe there was an Outback Steakhouse near here too! I'll try to find a souvenier one -- i'm sure when I go to a temple of Wednesday there will be plenty of souvenier's to choose from, right? I would love to try Pachinko out, but as with other things, i'm nervous/scared to try it as i'm sure i'll get myself into a horrible situation -- Murphy's Law.

Thanks for the kind wishes -- yes, I see everyone carrying washcloths with them. It is amazing! I checked out a food basement in Ebina -- 0101 Family I think the store was called. I was afraid to get food and ice cream because of my VERY limited knowledge of Japanese.

Actually the "0101" is read (believe it or not) "Marui". Mrs. Pickles before she learnt Japanese (and before she was Mrs. Pickles), would call it the Oy-Oy.

So you are in Ebina? That's like the wasteland of the sararimans! Get yourself on the Odakyu Odawara express train to anywhere inside the Yamanote loop ipso facto! And don't look back!

Actually the "0101" is read (believe it or not) "Marui". Mrs. Pickles before she learnt Japanese (and before she was Mrs. Pickles), would call it the Oy-Oy.

So you are in Ebina? That's like the wasteland of the sararimans! Get yourself on the Odakyu Odawara express train to anywhere inside the Yamanote loop ipso facto! And don't look back!

I'm actually a little outside of that -- near Zama station.

I think department stores are great places to try Japanese food. Since most of it is sitting there you can just point to what you want. Check prices though if cost conscious but those are usually posted as well. I dont think I have ever eaten at an American fast food outlet in Japan so I dont know the prices but I cant imagine they are cheap. Around train stations and in some of the department stores you can find cheap to reasonable food. Not all the department store food is reasonable, but some of it is.

It had 6 floors to this -- whether this constitutes it being big or not, I do not know. The whole basement was full of food and restuarants -- I cannot believe there was an Outback Steakhouse near here too! I'll try to find a souvenier one -- i'm sure when I go to a temple of Wednesday there will be plenty of souvenier's to choose from, right? I would love to try Pachinko out, but as with other things, i'm nervous/scared to try it as i'm sure i'll get myself into a horrible situation -- Murphy's Law.


Never tried Pachinko. I know what you mean about being nervous though, the difference in cultures is fairly disorienting. I have gotten more used to it but I have been there maybe 7 or 8 times in the last couple years. Some things I probably will never figure out, like the holiday gift packs that the manager of a place gave to a friend and I that included among other things a pair of socks. I dont even remember the other stuff in the pack, I just remember thinking... socks??

One thing I miss is a regular shower -- i've been cheating and just using the shower part and avoiding the tub completely :D There was this nice store I also saw -- Book Off I believe it was called. One thing -- I am very very very nervous on taking the trains here.....I remember the people I was with showed me how to take it and it seems very confusing -- I do NOT want to get lost. One thing that scared me -- I bent the ticket in my hand and when I put it in the machine to get off a sound went off and the gates closed -- it scared the heck out of me!!!! Thankfully it took it the second time through....

I watched the highschool baseball championship on TV...I must say they aren't that good. Melon soda -- where can I get this, how can I tell it's what I get and is thier caffiene in it? Tokyo Disneyland...why should I go there? I'm sure it's not any different then the one in Florida, just more crowded. If I can figure out how to get there, i'd like to go to Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo....

As mentioned by others, you go to the baseball game for the experience in the stands, not only to watch a game.

Fanta Melon soda is bright green, and is available at many restaurants throughout Tokyo (it is also available in a can through vending machines), I have no idea if it contains caffeine, but it is Kosher. If you go to a baseball game they will have it there.

I guess the rides at Tokyo Disneyland may be the similar to the other parks, but the overall experience was quite different in my opinion. It probably is too hot/crowded to go now anyways.

I remember the people I was with showed me how to take it and it seems very confusing -- I do NOT want to get lost.

Why not? Its not like you are going to get off the planet when you are lost. If you are going to pick a place where getting lost is low cost (i.e. wherever you go, you'll end up somewhere safe, close to public transportation, and with people willing to guide you back to your destination), Tokyo is it.

Sometimes, when I'm there, I get lost on purpose, see where I end up. I usually finding out something interesting. However, I would only do that in central Tokyo. Nothing to do or see worth more than 15 seconds in Zama (unless you are looking for some chewing gum, soldier), so no reason to wander around a lame concrete wasteland.

I'd rather be lost in Tokyo ("Lost in Translation", now it hits home!) than end up like Shuman McCoy in the Bonfire of the Vanities, who took the wrong exit in NYC and his life unraveled.

Just for the record, I think the McDonald's in Japan are the best in the world. I don't know why. And I say this as someone who loves Japanese food, generally avoids American restaurants while on the road and has eaten at Mickey D's in Europe, North and South America, East Asia and the Middle East.

And yeah, everything in Japan -- especially pizza -- is ridiculously expensive. Kirin lemonade too. Please to enjoy the beer.

I'm not a big fan of McDonalds either -- I was just curious on if it had a different taste then here in the states. As for pizza, i've heard that it is extremely expensive over in Japan -- is that true?

Still haven't discovered what the drinking age is there.....looked at a few websites online but still came up empty handed -- well I know it's gotta be under 30 :D

How are prices when it comes to things such as soft drinks and say....ice tea and lemonade?

Fanta Melon soda is bright green, and is available at many restaurants throughout Tokyo (it is also available in a can through vending machines), I have no idea if it contains caffeine, but it is Kosher. If you go to a baseball game they will have it there.


I tried some today from a vending machine...interesting -- never had anything quite like it.

Pickles you ask why I don't want to get lost. I have to agree with you, getting lost sometimes unfolds an adventure unlike anything else and somethings grander then any planned trip could fatham to be like. Where I must disagree is I guess a personal preferance and opinion -- I am very afraid of getting lost in this country. Yes, there's transportation everywhere, yes this country is very safe but I look at myself and think of how I know about 5 words in Japanese and i'm sure 4 of them i'm mispronouncing and I don't know the address to the place i'm staying other then the house number and I remember reading somewhere that cab driver's often get lost/don't know exactly how to get to places and that is why they carry a map with them.

I am not going to disagree with you Pickles -- the Zama area is pretty lame -- I hold this fasination and wonder with it because it is a Japan (and my first trip out here) and it's so dinfferent then America but I so badly want to go into Central Tokyo and see what urban Japan is all about. (I dream to visit country/rural Japan sometime but that's for another trip).

As for trying out the McDonalds here in japan -- I am still trying to locate one that I can get to without getting lost....

Pickles you ask why I don't want to get lost. I have to agree with you, getting lost sometimes unfolds an adventure unlike anything else and somethings grander then any planned trip could fatham to be like. Where I must disagree is I guess a personal preferance and opinion -- I am very afraid of getting lost in this country. Yes, there's transportation everywhere, yes this country is very safe but I look at myself and think of how I know about 5 words in Japanese and i'm sure 4 of them i'm mispronouncing and I don't know the address to the place i'm staying other then the house number and I remember reading somewhere that cab driver's often get lost/don't know exactly how to get to places and that is why they carry a map with them.

My first trip to Tokyo will be this November so I don't have first hand experience of Tokyo & Japan like some of the other posters here. OTOH, I have travelled enough and to places that are and are not english speaking to second Pickles suggestion. I know it can be overwhelming and even feel isolating if you haven't travelled much, but it's worth it to take that deep breath and embrace it. You've done the hard part and gotten yourself half way around the world; don't lose this opportunity, go out and have an adventure.

Ask your host family to write out their address for you, along with the name of the subway/train line you need to take to get back to their house. I don't recommend taxis at all from things others have said and told me; public transportation should be fine to meet your needs. Also have your hosts write down their phone number for you. Keep that information on you so you have it, just in case. Take some id, enough cash and a backup credit card for your adventure and go enjoy your day (take a train/subway map with you, too). If you're still antsy, you could also ask about renting/borrowing a cell phone for a few days and take that with you.

Map out your route before you leave each day, start with the easier trips, fewer train switches,etc. From your earlier posts, I truly believe you can do this and enjoy the experience. You seem like you want to open yourself up to discovering new things, and this is a great opportunity for you. You'll find your way back -- it may be a little confusing, it may take you a little longer but you'll get back. You may even need to ask someone for help (or to order something in a restaurant) who doesn't speak english and end up communicating with lots of pointing and sign language (it can be fun) and what is the worst that can happen? wrong directions? a different meal being served? All part of your adventure. BTW, western hotel chains are great stopping points if you don't feel comfortable asking someone on the street for directions, etc.

Just leave extra time, don't be in a rush and don't get anxious (scary though it may be at first) -- your adventure starts the minute you get on the first train, not at your destination in downtown Tokyo. Good Luck :)

Do not be afraid grasshopper! You have nothing to be scared of. People will more than likely laugh at you. Or should I say giggle.
You need to get on the subway and go have FUN! The world is your oyster!
I wish I was in Tokyo right now to give you some tips.
Have you been to Kiddy Land yet? It is a multi level toy store that you should not miss.
Hey the first time I went to a Pachinko parlor I won a lot of money.
Have fun.

My first trip to Tokyo will be this November so I don't have first hand experience of Tokyo & Japan like some of the other posters here. OTOH, I have travelled enough and to places that are and are not english speaking to second Pickles suggestion. I know it can be overwhelming and even feel isolating if you haven't travelled much, but it's worth it to take that deep breath and embrace it. You've done the hard part and gotten yourself half way around the world; don't lose this opportunity, go out and have an adventure.

Ask your host family to write out their address for you, along with the name of the subway/train line you need to take to get back to their house. I don't recommend taxis at all from things others have said and told me; public transportation should be fine to meet your needs. Also have your hosts write down their phone number for you. Keep that information on you so you have it, just in case. Take some id, enough cash and a backup credit card for your adventure and go enjoy your day (take a train/subway map with you, too). If you're still antsy, you could also ask about renting/borrowing a cell phone for a few days and take that with you.

Map out your route before you leave each day, start with the easier trips, fewer train switches,etc. From your earlier posts, I truly believe you can do this and enjoy the experience. You seem like you want to open yourself up to discovering new things, and this is a great opportunity for you. You'll find your way back -- it may be a little confusing, it may take you a little longer but you'll get back. You may even need to ask someone for help (or to order something in a restaurant) who doesn't speak english and end up communicating with lots of pointing and sign language (it can be fun) and what is the worst that can happen? wrong directions? a different meal being served? All part of your adventure. BTW, western hotel chains are great stopping points if you don't feel comfortable asking someone on the street for directions, etc.

Just leave extra time, don't be in a rush and don't get anxious (scary though it may be at first) -- your adventure starts the minute you get on the first train, not at your destination in downtown Tokyo. Good Luck :)


Yes, having your destination and hotel address written in Japanese is a really important suggestion. I always ask the hotel concierge to do this. People in Japan are very good about helping people. When really confused I have gone to the little police substations. An address in Japanese and a little polite body language is all it takes. They have big maps in most of the little police substations and can help you out by pointing to where you are and where yo are going on the maps.

I am curious GoingAway...why should you avoid the taxi's? How much do they cost? I am thinking about this trip/day adventure but I shouldn't do it on the weekend, should I? A Tuesday would be best...or a friday?

Do not be afraid grasshopper! You have nothing to be scared of. People will more than likely laugh at you. Or should I say giggle.
You need to get on the subway and go have FUN! The world is your oyster!
I wish I was in Tokyo right now to give you some tips.
Have you been to Kiddy Land yet? It is a multi level toy store that you should not miss.
Hey the first time I went to a Pachinko parlor I won a lot of money.
Have fun.

No, I have not been to Kiddy Land -- where is it?

The idea of writing the address out and phone number in Japanese is great -- i'm sure that would be very handy but I still want to know why I should avoid Japanese Taxi's.

Yes, Your right, the adventure starts once I board the train -- I should be thankful I guess that I am in such a safe country for being in. (To adventure about that is). I just would like to know times to avoid the train and what days would be good for riding the trains and what days to avoid.

I am curious GoingAway...why should you avoid the taxi's? How much do they cost? I am thinking about this trip/day adventure but I shouldn't do it on the weekend, should I? A Tuesday would be best...or a friday?

The LonelyPlanet guide on Tokyo indicated that taxis are expensive and difficult to get, particularly after the last train has gone. There is plenty of public transportation around, so just use your feet and the trains, you'll be fine. The other reason not to go with taxis, is that it'll detract from your experience ... it's better to be in the crowds, than just driving past and watching them.

As far as what day you select for your adventure .... as you're on vacation, choose tomorrow or as soon as you're ready. It doesn't matter if it's a weekday or weekend (it might impact the activity you select for your trip, but not the fact you're taking a trip) -- just go!! :)

Well, that would be another reason not to use Lonely Planet as your guidebook. It is certainly true that Tokyo taxis are very expensive, and the meter even charges 30% more between 11pm and 5am, but a side effect of that is that taxis are almost always readily available.

And I doubt that you will have many quality experiences with locals on the trains or subways! The best way to meet Japanese (particularly those who speak some English) outside of formal work environments is in reasonably priced non-hostess bars and clubs that are patronized by foreigners. Everyone is there to relax and have fun and you really can meet people. Try it, you might like it!

I had an incredible travel book -- Eye Witness Series I believe but of course, in the rush of leaving NY, I forgot it in my bedroom -- go figure....

There are a lot of taxi stands and in most places they are easy to find. I use them a lot. If you give them the address of your hotel or wherever you are going in Japanese they are usually very happy to take you there. If you dont have this information in Japanese it can be a problem because they very seldom speak English in my experience. Although on my last trip there this spring I had a taxi driver who I believe said he had lived in NY, but in any case spoke pretty good English. I told him I was going to see the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park and then to Electric City and he showed me the train station at Ueno, told me what train to take back to Electric City and then back to my hotel and gave me a nice tour along the way. In my experience they will never give you an unnecessary tour or in any way not be honest with you with the fare, etc, but they are pretty expensive. I think for instance from Ginza or the Intercontinental Tokyo Bay to Roppongi is like $20-$30, maybe $30-$40 from Ginza to Shinjuku.

For those who have trouble finding ATMs in Japan that take foreign cards, the ATMs in Japan's largest bank -- the post office bank -- ALL take foreign cards, and there's a post office in every town and village (the post offices sign is capital T with a parallel line over the T). While few of these ATMS, if any, are available 24/7, you are never that far away from one.

To use these ATMs, just make sure the first thing you do is push the button labeled "English" or you'll never get through the process.

Oh -- no local service charges on any ATMs in Japan.

Sorry Richard in SF not all the ATM at the Postal Savings Branches take foreign ATM cards. Ask first or look for the Citibank or Plus system logo to be sure!

I am curious GoingAway...why should you avoid the taxi's? How much do they cost? i'm sure that would be very handy but I still want to know why I should avoid Japanese Taxi's.
.

There's an earlier posting from me detailing exactly why you really should avoid the taxis.

I know Gadgetfreak has had a couple of good experiences - but I've had some awful ones. A couple of the taxi drivers got completely lost even though I could point out my destination on a map. In one case I could show them where the hotel was and actually follow the route for myself and I could see that he was just circling around - costing me thousands of yen while he drove aimlessly. I don't believe he was ripping me off - he genuinely seemed confused and lost. I knew how to say stop - tomarimasu - and got out and got to the hotel on foot. Maybe the trick is to find a taxi with a GPS system screen (a computer with an interactive map).
I strongly suggest you go to a bookshop right now and purchase Kodansha's bilingual map of Tokyo. I found EVERYTHING I needed to with it. Even if you just stand there with the map looking puzzled somewhere, chances are that someone will want to practice their English with you by pointing you to a Station.
Now I that know a little bit more about the things that interest you from your postings, can I suggest you go visit Sanrio Puroland - a theme park based on Hello Kitty and her chums. Detailed information can be found on http://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/spl/spl.html It's a bit out of Tokyo, but I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it.

To Do:

The Tsukiji Fish Market. Go early (like has been said) and head right to the back of the market to see the tuna auction. Then walk your way out past all the stalls and see the wierd stuff for sale. Grab some sushi for a late breakfast at one of the nearby places....freshest you'll ever get.

Akihabara. Get off the subway at the Akihabara station and follow the signs to "Electric Town" An area full of the latest electronics and parts. A must see..like something out of Blade Runner.

Shinjuku Station.

A sushi conveyor belt bar.

Ueno Park is nice.

Sometimes there are flea markets around the shrines since the Japanese are supposed to pay off their debts at ceratin times....can find some great buys if you look.

Ginza. Just look around, particularly at night.

try to have shabu shabu if you can. Its boiled beef with vegetables.

Avoid hostess bars. Prices are high, and the hostesses just talk to you.

Don't be intimidated by the food. Try anything once, you don't have to have it again if you don't like it.

Get maps of where you want to go. Tokyo's address system is based on when buildings were built, not where they are. A cab driver may not know how to get to an address without a map.

I see the fish market is a highly recommended destination -- if i'm not mistaken, I saw it on TV once and they auctioned fish? Yesturday I went to Kamakura and saw the great Budda and great temples -- the person I am staying with brought me there. It was great to elevate my mood.

Another thing that disheartens me is the prices out here -- they are outragous! $25-30 for a cd!!!! That's outrageous. Thankfully stores like Book Off have used cd's but the selection isn't the greatest.

I am about to finish my current book, "Adventures with Charley" and would like to pick up another book -- are thier any english book stores here?

People in Japan are very good about helping people.

Really, do not fear being a bit lost. We found this statement very true. Almost every time I stood looking confused at a map, someone with decent English skills would stop and offer to help. What an amazingly hospitable culture. (Off topic, but I found the Scots to be equally helpful and friendly....*laughs* with almost as large a language barrier!)

I've only been back a two weeks and your posts are making me very nostalgic :)

We used subways mainly, but with four of us, the taxis were often equally cost-effective.

If you have a PDA (Palm pilot or whatever)--the free ware Metro program is great--has all the Tokyo subways mapped out--you punch in the destinations and it tells you exactly which trains to take. It is the best--I have used it in NYC, London, Washington DC and Tokyo.

http://www.pocketpccity.com/software/pocketpc/Metro-2001-7-20-ce-pocketpc.html

Really, do not fear being a bit lost. We found this statement very true. Almost every time I stood looking confused at a map, someone with decent English skills would stop and offer to help. What an amazingly hospitable culture. (Off topic, but I found the Scots to be equally helpful and friendly....*laughs* with almost as large a language barrier!)

I've only been back a two weeks and your posts are making me very nostalgic :)

We used subways mainly, but with four of us, the taxis were often equally cost-effective.

If you have a PDA (Palm pilot or whatever)--the free ware Metro program is great--has all the Tokyo subways mapped out--you punch in the destinations and it tells you exactly which trains to take. It is the best--I have used it in NYC, London, Washington DC and Tokyo.

http://www.pocketpccity.com/software/pocketpc/Metro-2001-7-20-ce-pocketpc.html

I always thought PDA's were a waste of money -- now i wish i had one.....

Sorry Richard in SF not all the ATM at the Postal Savings Branches take foreign ATM cards. Ask first or look for the Citibank or Plus system logo to be sure!

Live and learn. Every one I've tried worked, but I sure haven't tried all of them! I think you can just look to see if the ATM has the "English" button on the touchscreen.

I am about to finish my current book, "Adventures with Charley" and would like to pick up another book -- are thier any english book stores here?

It's rather hard to find, but "Good Day Books" at Ebisu station not only has both new and used English paperbacks, they'll often buy back your paperbacks for credit on purchases. Go out the east side of Ebisu station (from the Yamanote line take the escalato or stairs UP, not down) and when you get outside, take the first street that is perpendicular to the train tracks for a short distance to a large cross street. Turn right. The store is on the third floor of a small building not far down the street -- there is a small English language sign outside on the sidewalk, but it's easy to miss, you need to look carefully.

Edited to add: In all the times I've been in Tokyo, I've only been "taken for a ride" by a taxi driver once. I had the Kodansha Tokyo map guide referred to earlier with me, and even though I don't speak Japanese, I made my displeasure known to the driver by using the map book and some angry gestures. As a result, I ended up paying the correct fare, which was about Y300-400 less than shown on the meter.

On my first trip, I wandered into the giftshop/bookstore in the New Otani Hotel and picked up the invaluable "Tokyo By Subway Exit," or something close that title.

It lists major tourist sights, corporate offices, banks, restaurants, stores, everything...not only by subway stop, but also by which of the myriad exits to use.

I've never seen the book in the U.S., but have purchased updated versions in Tokyo. Always at the New Otani, since I knew I'd find it there...but it's probably at other fine hotels, too.

On my first trip, I wandered into the giftshop/bookstore in the New Otani Hotel and picked up the invaluable "Tokyo By Subway Exit," or something close that title.

Joanek, now I want this book! By any chance is it this (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/4770027788/qid=1092334066/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-8261637-0329701?v=glance&s=books)?

On my first trip, I wandered into the giftshop/bookstore in the New Otani Hotel and picked up the invaluable "Tokyo By Subway Exit," or something close that title.

It lists major tourist sights, corporate offices, banks, restaurants, stores, everything...not only by subway stop, but also by which of the myriad exits to use.

I've never seen the book in the U.S., but have purchased updated versions in Tokyo. Always at the New Otani, since I knew I'd find it there...but it's probably at other fine hotels, too.

I would imagine that this book is in English, correct? I noticed at Ebina there is an Outback steakhouse -- is this just like the American one? I'd do anything for some Towomba Pasta!!

I strongly suggest you go to a bookshop right now and purchase Kodansha's bilingual map of Tokyo. I found EVERYTHING I needed to with it. Even if you just stand there with the map looking puzzled somewhere, chances are that someone will want to practice their English with you by pointing you to a Station.

This advice is so key- I carried the _Tokyo City Atlas- A Bilingual Guide_ pretty much everywhere. It's essential, IMHO. Large-scale maps of the inner wards, medium scale of others, rail/subway maps, and metropolitan tokyo map (which really came in handy when I got on a Chuo Express by mistake and overshot Kichijoji and ended up in Tachikawa, ~8 stops too far).

http://www.kodansha-intl.com/books/html/en/4770028091.html

http://www.thejapanpage.com

Something I must ask -- would you say that japan is still somewhat "closed" to foreigners as i get that impression -- at least in the immidiate area outside of Tokyo. Maybe it's different in the city? Also, off the top of my head I cannot remember but is Hard Rock Cafe in Tokyo? Roppongi? I really want to spend the day and make my trip to Tokyo city full of excitement, fun and discovery. Is it bad on weekends...in crowds?

Something I must ask -- would you say that japan is still somewhat "closed" to foreigners as i get that impression -- at least in the immidiate area outside of Tokyo. Maybe it's different in the city? Also, off the top of my head I cannot remember but is Hard Rock Cafe in Tokyo? Roppongi? I really want to spend the day and make my trip to Tokyo city full of excitement, fun and discovery. Is it bad on weekends...in crowds?

Man, you mean you haven't been to Tokyo by yourself yet? Get off your arse and get to it already!

Anyday is fine to visit. Sunday is good because traffic is less, no rush hour, and they close the Ginza streets so you can walk around. Quite nice.

Yes, the Hard Rock Cafe is in Roppongi, and Asakusa is another temple area with a pretty picturesque shopping area around there. More "real" than Kamakura.

And yes, Japan is somewhat closed to foreigners, not as bad as before (a noticeable difference, actually), and the further away you get from Tokyo the more closed it gets. Zama is already far enough out there that you'll need the jaws of life to pry Japan open there. And that being Zama, once you open it, there will be nothing there!

Man, you mean you haven't been to Tokyo by yourself yet? Get off your arse and get to it already!

Anyday is fine to visit. Sunday is good because traffic is less, no rush hour, and they close the Ginza streets so you can walk around. Quite nice.

Yes, the Hard Rock Cafe is in Roppongi, and Asakusa is another temple area with a pretty picturesque shopping area around there. More "real" than Kamakura.

And yes, Japan is somewhat closed to foreigners, not as bad as before (a noticeable difference, actually), and the further away you get from Tokyo the more closed it gets. Zama is already far enough out there that you'll need the jaws of life to pry Japan open there. And that being Zama, once you open it, there will be nothing there!

Tomorrow Pickles, tomorrow, so calm your hormones! LOL, you get no arguements from me about Zama but I understand where you say it is far enough from Tokyo to be closed to foriegners -- I get stared at a lot when I exercise outside. Asakusa is in Tokyo? How is it more "real". It'll obviously be a Saturday, NOT a Sunday when I visit tokyo so hopefully that shouldn't effect anything -- we'll see, and hey, maybe this trip will cure my horrid depression!?!

Tomorrow Pickles, tomorrow, so calm your hormones! LOL, you get no arguements from me about Zama but I understand where you say it is far enough from Tokyo to be closed to foriegners -- I get stared at a lot when I exercise outside. Asakusa is in Tokyo? How is it more "real". It'll obviously be a Saturday, NOT a Sunday when I visit tokyo so hopefully that shouldn't effect anything -- we'll see, and hey, maybe this trip will cure my horrid depression!?!

Yea, Asakusa is in Tokyo. It is the last stop on the Ginza subway line, so you'll have no problems not getting lost. When you are on the train, and the train stops, everybody gets off, they turn the train lights off and the conductor comes onboard to shoo you off the train, then you've arrived. It couldn't be any simpler.

Here's the trip for you, as designed by my friend Rick Kennedy (in his "Little Adventures in Tokyo" book), long-time Tokyo resident:

Board the Ginza line, perhaps at its Shibuya terminus, and ride to the last stop, Asakusa. The Ginza line, the oldest subway in the city, touches all bases as it winds through the city, from oh-so-smart Omotesando with its French sidewalk cafes, to Big Business Toranomon, to Fifth-Avenue Ginza, to bustling cut-rate Kanda, to down-home Ueno. To travel thus from one end of this sprawling city to the other costs 190 yen.

When you emerge from the subway, you will be less than a minute from Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the entrance to Senso-ji, the temple of the Goddess of Mercy, founded 1,200 years ago and now easily Tokyo's most famous tourist attraction for foreigners and Japanese alike. All of Japan views the Asakusa area, of which Senso-ji is the centerpiece, as the embodiment of ****amachi (downtown) Japan. By contrast, the Ginza is just glitter.

At Kaminarimon, with its fierce wooden statues guarding a huge ragged red lantern, the tourist buses double park and groups arrange themselves for ritual photographs. Pitchmen jockey for the best position to sell balloons and bubble-blowing machines and ramune, old fashioned ginger ale in a bottle sealed with a glass marble. You stand here in the sentimental epicenter of Tokyo, indeed, of all Japan.

You will be drawn down the long promenade of dozen of shops called nakamise which leads up to the temple itself. These shops sell everything for everybody, from Frankenstein and Noh masks to exceedingly rococo wedding dresses, from umbrellas of oiled paper (2,000 yen) to intricate decorations for the wigs worn with full ceremonial kimono, scarves emblazoned with a map of the Tokyo subway system (300 yen), gift boxes of exotic handmade candies for presentation at a tea ceremony, racks of the white patent-leather shoes favored by gangsters and those who would like to be thought of as such, plastic samurai swords, regiments of battery-powered drum-beating bears, patent medicines to relieve every known infirmity, trays of eye glasses, glassy pictures of movies stars, antique armour, kamikaze headbands (300 yen) to be worn while studying for the big exam, and an overwhelming variety of souvenirs trinkets and just plain junk.

It is 42nd Street, Coney Island, Portobello Road, and Tivoli rolled into one and raised to the fifth power, a scene of unbridled capitalism, where pigeons and picture-takers, fortune tellers, wistful lovers, misplaced children, monks mumbling sutras over their wooden begging bowls, gaggles of ladies in mourning who have come in commemoration (and later to picnic), and street touts selling glass-cutting knives and tips on the winner of the third race at Fuchu all circulate serenely as if at one great neighborhood clambake.

"What is the purpose of all this?" asks an earnest young tourist of her guide, who bursts out in amazed laughter. "You ask me the purpose of life?"

Pick your way through the nakamise shops towards looming Senso-ji temple. Scattered around the sprawling grounds there are a dozen pocket pavilions celebrating, for example: Bensai-ten, the Goddess of the Creative Arts (who doubles as the Goddess of Money-making); Jizo, the Spirit of Ambition in Children; and Awashima-do, which commemorates the faithful service of needles and pins. Systematic theology it is not.

Go up the broad steps into the temple, right to the altar. Toss a coin into the wooden offertory box, clap your hands to catch the attention of a drowsy diety, and be quiet for a few seconds. You can walk right around the temple on its wide porch, and sit on the porch and write a letter, read the paper, feed the pigeons, doze . . . Senso-ji is open to the public. Kids in a contemplative mood ride their motorcycles right up to the steps. Here solemnity is scarce.

When you have had enough, go back to Kaminarimon, cross the street to the dock of the Sumida River Ferry and buy a 720 yen passage to Hamarikyu. You will be given two tickets, one of which will gain you entrance to Hamarikyu Imperial Garden at the mouth of the river, 30 minutes away.

There is a ferry every 45 minutes, and it is sure to be crowded - this is Tokyo, after all. But the trip down the Sumida is worth the wait and the jostle. Each bridge is a different structural approach to the problem of spanning an expanse of water, so the trip is an exhibition of these bridges as well as a maze of highways and trains and slow-moving barges and huge neon signs. Around the last bend you will see Tokyo Tower in the distance. You dock and are let out into Hamarikyu Garden. The park is the lovliest in Tokyo, a former Imperial duck shoot with a pond in the middle that rises and falls with the tide. The city peeps out above the edges of the park, but is far away.

From here, Shimbashi station is a 15-minute walk.

Thank you Pickles for the incredible post -- sincerely thank you. I hope I can fit all this into tomorrow if not, i've got yet another week here. I wish you knew how appricative I am of this that you have given me -- great post!

I will be sure to let you know tomorrow night (japan time) how my day went and what I saw -- if you'd be interested as I wouldn't want all this tention and confusion leading up today to be left on a cliff hanger.

Once again Pickles -- Thank you.

Pickles thanks a lot for that post. That is great. I have spent most of my visits to Tokyo, which are pretty frequent in the region between Ginza and Shinjuku. Only once have I ventured up to the area you describe, going to Ueno Park during the cherry blossoms this year and also to Electric city, which is in the same general area. I really liked that. I probably have 3 or more trips to Tokyo coming this fall. I will be sure to follow this suggestion on at least one of them.

Also, tokyotraveller, in most areas of Tokyo I have been to, and in particular Electric City and Ginza, Sunday is a great time to visit. Ginza Street and sections of the streets in electric city are blocked off to cars and function as pedestrian malls on Sunday.

Ramune, boy that brings back some memories, Pickles. The beauty of it now is that I have a couple bottles in my office, and can pick it up locally now.

No one has mentioned the wooden souvenier tokens you can pick up at shrines, etc. My uncle had a bunch attached to a bamboo pole hanging from his ceiling. I started collecting them, too and now have a sagging bamboo pole hanging from my ceiling.

TT, you need to get out at night and hit the food stalls - yakitori, squid-on-a-stick, those teriyaki rice ball things, etc. Just wandering the streets savoring the sights, sounds, and smells will be something you'll remember.

TT, you need to get out at night and hit the food stalls - yakitori, squid-on-a-stick, those teriyaki rice ball things, etc. Just wandering the streets savoring the sights, sounds, and smells will be something you'll remember.

Right, and for the love of God dont go to any more western fast food restaurants ;)

Right, and for the love of God dont go to any more western fast food restaurants ;)

Errr, guess I won't let you guys in about how I went to McDonalds today :( Well today, was an interesting day -- went to Akausa(spelling?) and a couple other places but this "travel depression" is really destroying my ability to enjoy this vacation. I hate this culture shock and I hate being alone. I hate feeling like this and it stinks not having a Mrs. around (not like there is one in the first place.....) I visited Akihabara too, and some other places I don't even know the name of but under normal circumstances i should of had an incredible time but I was so bothered I just couldn't enjoy this......

*sigh*

Errr, guess I won't let you guys in about how I went to McDonalds today :( Well today, was an interesting day -- went to Akausa(spelling?) and a couple other places but this "travel depression" is really destroying my ability to enjoy this vacation. I hate this culture shock and I hate being alone. I hate feeling like this and it stinks not having a Mrs. around (not like there is one in the first place.....) I visited Akihabara too, and some other places I don't even know the name of but under normal circumstances i should of had an incredible time but I was so bothered I just couldn't enjoy this......

*sigh*


Okay, I was kidding about the food already. I had a smiley even. But seriously, I know what you mean about the culture shock, it took me several visits to Japan to get a over that even somewhat. Maybe try what some of the people above have suggested. I dont get travel depression I have to say but it seems like you are trying to do a lot of things that you do in the states and finding they arent the same which is depressing. Im sure that would depress me as well. I never go into American restaurants in other countries with the exception of Starbucks. Even then, I wont go into a Starbucks in France since I can get good coffee at the local places. Basically I try as much as possible to not do things like in the states.

I approach a country like Japan in particular as an almost Alice in Wonderland type experience. And Japan is a lot safer for a tourist than Wonderland was for Alice. As others said I look for the most local, not tourist frequented places and try to absorb the sights sounds and smells of the new place. Of course there are exceptions, the Lourve is lousy with tourists but I still like to go. I really try for off times though as much as is possible. Stop resisting, be assimilated ;)

I was just wondering, how are the bars otu here. Are they anything like American bars? Are they expensive?

I was just wondering, how are the bars otu here. Are they anything like American bars? Are they expensive?

I'm not an expert, but:

From what I've seen, if you're looking for them, there are many "american-style" bars and "O'Irish" pubs, expecially in the nightlife/expat districts like roppongi, shibuya, shinjuku, etc. Drinks can be expensive- a pint of beer may be Y500-900, maybe? There are some cheaper, advertised happy hours. I think I recall reading that one of the notorius expat bars, Gas Panic, has a day (thursday?) where drinks are a few hundred yen, all day.

Some bars have a "cover charge" (that gets added to the bill- not at the door) that is often to cover the cost of the bar snacks (rice crackers, pickles, etc.) that are put in front of you whether you want them or not.

For live entertainment, I go see bands a lot, and even a small show in Japan can cost Y2000-2500 (w/ 1 drink), where the same type of show in NY would cost $5-$12 (w/ 0 drinks)

Don't have much experience with nightclubs, but I believe they also have covers that can be Y2000-2500 or so, too.

Someone else will have to give you advice about the hostess bars :)

Do you have a guidebook? I have Lonely Planet Tokyo and two Time Out guides, and both have pretty good overviews to the bar scene.

No I do not have a guidebook but I ssee everyone with the lonely planet guide. I did somethgn bad last night and I want to go home now.

Please keep in mind that I am very young. I went to bar Footprint, thento hardrock then to anothe rbar. I drank:

-6 shots of tequilla
-2 Margarittas
-1 Sex on the beach
-1 shot Tornado
-1 shot cran-a-kazie
-1 shot house special

I think that is al -- I felt like i was going to die. I threw up all over myself and had to get hosed off. I have never felt this bad....I can't believe how I felt -- I seriously flet I was going to die -- I was chokign and couldn't stop drinking. Please keep in mind, I don't drink....

I feel so horrible now so short post...i just want to go home.

Do you mind sharing how this trip came about? You have gone as a non Japanese speaking young man to a non English speaking family who lives in a somewhat isolated town in the outskirts of Tokyo. They do not appear to have young people of your age. How was this stay arranged? How did your host family expect to entertain you? How did you anticipate spending your time? I'm curious as to what the pre-trip expectation was as to how this would be a successful visit. If my summary is accurate, there would seem to have been red flags before you ever set foot on an airplane.

As for going home early - which appears to be a good idea, given your level of depression - have you called the airline and learned if space is available and what the cost would be?

Ouch. It hurts just to read it.

No I do not have a guidebook but I ssee everyone with the lonely planet guide. I did somethgn bad last night and I want to go home now.

Please keep in mind that I am very young. I went to bar Footprint, thento hardrock then to anothe rbar. I drank:

-6 shots of tequilla
-2 Margarittas
-1 Sex on the beach
-1 shot Tornado
-1 shot cran-a-kazie
-1 shot house special

I think that is al -- I felt like i was going to die. I threw up all over myself and had to get hosed off. I have never felt this bad....I can't believe how I felt -- I seriously flet I was going to die -- I was chokign and couldn't stop drinking. Please keep in mind, I don't drink....

I feel so horrible now so short post...i just want to go home.


Hey other FT'ers have puked not only on themselves but on others :D

It is not the end of the world.

Cross alchohol off as a problem solving technique

BTW- calls from the US to Toyko run some of us as little as 10 cents a minute - send your parents and GF an email and tell them to call you.

Hey other FT'ers have puked not only on themselves but on others :D



Do bosses count as others ;) I was much younger then however. A mere lad in his 20s.

Errr, guess I won't let you guys in about how I went to McDonalds today :(

Did you have the teriyaki burger?

Do you mind sharing how this trip came about? You have gone as a non Japanese speaking young man to a non English speaking family who lives in a somewhat isolated town in the outskirts of Tokyo. They do not appear to have young people of your age. How was this stay arranged? How did your host family expect to entertain you? How did you anticipate spending your time? I'm curious as to what the pre-trip expectation was as to how this would be a successful visit. If my summary is accurate, there would seem to have been red flags before you ever set foot on an airplane.

As for going home early - which appears to be a good idea, given your level of depression - have you called the airline and learned if space is available and what the cost would be?

Well, a few years ago I was suppose to go study abroad in Japan but due to the clost I had to cancel at the last minute. I kept in contact with the family for a few years and eventually they invited me out to visit. They didn't expect to entertain me -- they tried to teach me to take the trains and stole money from me because thier *(&%$@&*&) grrrrr. I had expectations of visiting a land i've always dreamed of seeing, of discovering new and facinating things but sadly it was not so.

So yes, I did leave Japan early and yes, I am sitting here in my room alone now and yes, I am full of regret of many things and of unfinished business that I couldn't complete. It is sad but I feel horrible in so many ways.....I just.....ugh, I don't know -- this trip was just full of confusion, deciet, lies, wrongful understanding, sadness, depression and so many other things. I don't know anymore about traveling which is sad -- the family I stayed with left a taste in my mouth so sour, so unpleasant that my love and facination of Japan and of the asain culture has dissapeared and replaced with an anger, fury and frustration that I hope doesn't grow.....

P.S. I forgot to add 2 shots of a B-52 on the list -- one flaming, one not.

they tried to teach me to take the trains and stole money from me.

They stole money from you? This is very un-Japanese. What kind of family was this?

They normally host students from abroad but I was invited for vacation. And you are 100% right that's not Japanese like which was all the more reason I was taken aback.

I agree, this is something very, very, very against Japanese culture. Can you clarify? Did they actually take the money from your bag or room when you were away or something else?
Sorry to hear that the trip didnøt work out well. I would suggest travelling to some of the "easier" countries such as UK, Netherlands, Germany, etc first before heading to Japan.


PS: Keyboards in Denmarkøs internet cafes are very inconvinient .

They stole money from you? This is very un-Japanese. What kind of family was this?

This is beginning to sound a bit like the Odyssey.

They normally host students from abroad but I was invited for vacation. And you are 100% right that's not Japanese like which was all the more reason I was taken aback.

Something sounds strange. Why don't you lay it all out here, see what's behind this? I've heard of host families and the visitors really get into a Pickle because of cultural misunderstanding, but never theft.

Please keep in mind that I am very young. I went to bar Footprint, thento hardrock then to anothe rbar. I drank:

-6 shots of tequilla
-2 Margarittas
-1 Sex on the beach
-1 shot Tornado
-1 shot cran-a-kazie
-1 shot house special

-- I felt like i was going to die. I threw up all over myself and had to get hosed off. I have never felt this bad....I can't believe how I felt -- I seriously flet I was going to die -- I was chokign and couldn't stop drinking. Please keep in mind, I don't drink....


Not bad for a first-time initiation on drinking like an FT veteran. No wonder why you got sick - I'm surprised you were still walking.

Something sounds strange. Why don't you lay it all out here, see what's behind this? I've heard of host families and the visitors really get into a Pickle because of cultural misunderstanding, but never theft.

Well here is the story in a nutshell. A few years ago I was suppose to study abroad and visit Japan for a year. Sadly, I had to cancel because it would of cost me about $10,000 minimum to make the trip. As time went by I kept in contact with the family as my facination for Japan and it's culture was still there. So as the years went on and I coudl start affording more things the head of the household invited me out for a couple weeks so I could fulfill my dream of visiting this different and interesting land and I said, why not.

She sends me an email about a week after her invitation and tells me that the economy in Japan is horrible so she would like to ask me to pay her 3000 Yen per day in exchange for food, bed and bath and I said why not. Well, some time later I arrived in Japan and was very very excited. I had a great plane ride and was full of excitement for this trip. Well, the days went by as I stayed in Japan and she wouldn't take me anywhere or show me anything or even tell me about the culture. I would tell her how homesick I was and how I felt but she wouldn't even listen to me. Finally she took me out once without asking me which was fine as I was happy to finally be doing something but then once again we returned to this doing notthing faze. My typical day consisted of 5-6AM wake up,breakfast, my laptop untill 11AM, lunch, walking+exercise, computer, dinner, exercising/jogging, computer, sleep. It was monotinous. Finally, on one of my evening walks I met an American and was filled with joy. I went to thier place, had a couple drinks and watched TV -- ENGLISH TV and it was great! Then I was invited for a night on the town the next day with a group of American friends. It was a great night.

After this night on the down, I returned to the family's house I was staying with and she suddenly got very upset. I told her that if she wasnt' going to show me the culture and japan or even give me time of day, why should she be upset that I went out? Then she started on an endless tirad of how horrible Americans are, and how horrible the American army is and how thier influence on other esspecially in other countries destroys the culture and the people of that country. I couldn't stand this and the lack of hospitality she had shown me so I called United and rebooked my flight for later that day and told her I was leaving. Then, she took 57000 Yen from me saying I owed her for the stay, and for parking, gas, tolls and all these other fee's that magically appeared. I told her I was upset and how that money is rightfully mine. I told her i'd pay her for the days I stayed which would only amount to about 20000 Yen -- I even did the math on paper. At this, she pannicked and ran out of the room and told me to pack.

This infuriated me even more so I had to figure out how I was getting to the airport -- she barraged me with endless japanese and to make a long story short I had to take a taxi which cost me 35000 Yen. Thankfully the cost for changing my ticket was only $52.75. So then I went on my way and got home and now my sleeping pattern is all messed up to add insult to injury. I have sent her an email demanding my money back or else I will report her to the agency that she does the hosting with and she sent me back an email telling me that she's had cancer for two years -- notthing else. I sent her an email back telling her that I am sorry to hear that but it has nothing to do with my money and I am still awaiting to her back from her.

I hope this post came out right -- I have a huge headache from all of this. I can't believe everything turned out like this and it leaves me mystified and confused. I just wish this didn't turn out like this -- the only thing I really miss right now is my money, the American's I met and of course, my money and that vacation feel of course. I don't know right now -- I guess i'm just in shock.

What a mess. Hope you work this out satisfactorily.

Consider travel again when you are feeling better. I'm sure you will want to go again, but maybe try a culturally closer country.

This sort of experience is why I've always been reluctant to try homestays or even B&Bs (too cautious, I know).

She sends me an email about a week after her invitation and tells me that the economy in Japan is horrible so she would like to ask me to pay her 3000 Yen per day in exchange for food, bed and bath and I said why not. Well, some time later I arrived in Japan and was very very excited. I had a great plane ride and was full of excitement for this trip. Well, the days went by as I stayed in Japan and she wouldn't take me anywhere or show me anything or even tell me about the culture. I would tell her how homesick I was and how I felt but she wouldn't even listen to me. Finally she took me out once without asking me which was fine as I was happy to finally be doing something but then once again we returned to this doing notthing faze. My typical day consisted of 5-6AM wake up,breakfast, my laptop untill 11AM, lunch, walking+exercise, computer, dinner, exercising/jogging, computer, sleep. It was monotinous. Finally, on one of my evening walks I met an American and was filled with joy. I went to thier place, had a couple drinks and watched TV -- ENGLISH TV and it was great! Then I was invited for a night on the town the next day with a group of American friends. It was a great night.

After this night on the down, I returned to the family's house I was staying with and she suddenly got very upset. I told her that if she wasnt' going to show me the culture and japan or even give me time of day, why should she be upset that I went out? Then she started on an endless tirad of how horrible Americans are, and how horrible the American army is and how thier influence on other esspecially in other countries destroys the culture and the people of that country.

It sounds to me like you were trapped in a classic Japanese cultural misunderstanding farce. From your host family's perspective, you broke the social contract. She wasn't being your homestay family, she was your landlady for the period. How would your landlady feel if you walked out without paying the rent? And yes, rent is what it was, so she feels entitled to full rent payment even though you chose not to use the facilities.

Were the people you met from the US Army base in Camp Zama? That would explain a lot about her outrage. From her perspective, she took you to Kamakura (even though she didn't have to, because she was just your landlady), showed you what Japan was famous for, and what do you do? You talk to a French girl! And then, you go out and get sloshed beyond repair (not "a night on the town") and puke all over yourself, miss the last train, and have your landlady worried sick that you drowned on a platform pizza, or worse, slipped on one and fell on the tracks and was cut in 3 by the Hibiya line. And then she would have to explain it all to the police and your parents, who (she thinks) will hold her responsible and cause her untold shame and loss of face.

And you consorted with the invader, nonetheless! From her perspective, WW II ended 60 years ago, likely before she was born, so why should she endure these insular, crude barbarians making a mess of her "lovely" town, and flying these low-flying supersonic contraptions at all times of day and night?

I'm not making a statement, I'm just putting on her shoes. My suggestion is that you let it ride, and chalk it up to experience, and forget about getting your money back. Next time, stay at a hotel in town. For only a moderate amount more you could have stayed in a modest hotel in town and not have dealt with the ugly side of Japan so close and personal.

Better yet, hop on a 747 to HKG, and learn about "The Big Buddha", Star Ferry, "Early Morning Discount", "Pretty Girl Discount", "Closing Time Discount", a fair exchange rate, luxury hotels, Dim Sum, "The Night Market", "The Jade Market", "The Bird Market", Victoria Peak, the high speed ferry to Macao, how to dodge Indian/Pakistani tailors on Nathan Blvd, The Pearl River, Rolls Royce, "The Pen" (and that isn't jail!), Victoria Harbour, Shark Fin soup, Peking Duck, Green Tea, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Jean-Claude Van Dammnit how did he get mentioned (was it for Kickboxer?), and best of all ENGLISH IS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE!! all of this in a space (not counting the big buddha and macau) of 5 miles!

I forgot to mention that amusement park/aquarium, Microsoft's worst nightmare, BOOTLEG SOFTWARE!!!, and the backside of HKG island, which has a few nice villages of its own. No transportation will cost u more that the $10.00 or so to take the high speed ferry, or the train from the airport.

Edit: well, I forget, I DID get taken for like $100.00 from a rickshaw driver one day...seems the girl I was with thought that he wanted US dollars instead of HKD, and before I could react, she had my money in his hand...amazing how quickly he "forgot English" once he had that royal payoff!

Thank you Pickles for your incredible insight and view. After reading your post over and over again I must say that your truth is definately saturated with a lot of truth and explanations -- of course the truth may never be known by me but if anyone's the closest, my educated guess would be that you have struck that nail. Boy, are you right when you say "the ugly side of Japan..." -- I never thought there was or every COULD be an ugly side and never would I of imagined that something of this caliber would ever happen. It was definately an experiance and I have definately learned from it -- i'm sure i'm blind from it now but I'm sure in time I will see this. As far as your question about Camp Zama -- out of respect I won't reveal where I met these people so let's just say your close enough. All your points are just so wonderful and insightful and once again Pickles, thank you for all you have told and done for me. You've honestly and sincerely, been a great help, as so have each and every one of you who have posted in this thread or have PM'ed me. It's really funny how things work themselves out in life but I think I need to look at the positive things of this trip and the experiance as a whole.

As I sit here, trying to adjust my sleeping pattern and thinking about the past few days -- even weeks I am still confused and depressed (not from just trip alone of course) but I am eager and excited for my next trip and I have already begun preliminary planning. Hong Kong is a trip that sounds interested and of course I have mentioned Paris but maybe sometime in the future I will visit Japan again, more experianced and more wiser and purhaps my experiance will be completely opposite of this recent one. But regardless I extend my thanks again and hope I can move on with this with my head help high, and my mind, that much more wiser then before this trip. Thanks.

.....From her perspective, she took you to Kamakura (even though she didn't have to, because she was just your landlady), showed you what Japan was famous for, and what do you do? You talk to a French girl!......

I just thought I should add, I never asked her to go to Kamakura -- let alone, I wasn't even told we were going untill 30 minutes before and she told me she has never been there and was eager to see it for the first time. Don't get me wrong, I was thankful she brought me -- it was certainly a very pleasant surprise. I met the French girl on the train to the Great Buddha/temples BUT it was not me who initiated the start of the conversations. There were a group of three girls who were obviously not Japanese and they were with an elderly japanese lady so the lady I was with began to talk, in japanese of course, to the lady and then told me who she was and about the three girls. She then talked to the girl from France and told her that I was from NY and from there a conversation was started. It was a brief conversation, followed of course with the trading of e-mail addresses, and the person I was with said it was good that I met her and that the girl seemed like a really nice person. She continued to talk to this old Japanese lady so I didn't think twice about talking to the French girl. The lady that took me to Kamakura even began to explain to me about the person she was talking to and that proceeded to another conversation -- one that I am still trying to decipher and figure out. I noticed that she would say, whenever I met someone (Paris Female and the American) that "she trusts them and thinks it's good I met them and should spend time with them because I could learn about them" and I remember her saying exactly "You can learn a lot from the American about Japanese culture better then you could from me" This obviously stumped me as her being japanese, it was weird to hear but i took it she meant that because there would be less of a language/communication problem in that regard. Let me remind you she told me to spend time with these people (but of course, she could of just been saying that to be polite). Of course I was going to go through with her suggestion because of her blatent disregard for me being homesick and depressed.

This all confuses me so much as SHE was the one who invited me out for vacation telling me that she would show me the country and teach me so much and it was after the acceptence of this offer that her monatary requests were revealed and accepted by me because I figured with all she would be doing for me, it'd be worth it....

I don't know but I guess all I can do is take your advice Pickles and just take this as the experiance that it was, learn from it and move on. Please, i'm not argueing with you as your explanation was incredible and great and very insightful but there are a lot of details and things I left out that might point to something else -- the more I think about it, the more questions emerge. Please, if there's any questions you have I will not hesitate to answer them as ideally I would like to have at minimum, mental closure to this "adventure".

Sounds to me like she had the hots for you, and she was sad you weren't reciprocating her brand of love. And I'm only half kidding. I know this very senior guy at NTT, we are talking big time. He has a middle-aged wife and a daughter, and the wife is a bit ferkakte. Everytime we go to their house the wife is always flirting with me in an annoying way. She's like 20 years older and not even marginally interesting. Lots of veird people overthere.

Sounds to me like she had the hots for you, and she was sad you weren't reciprocating her brand of love. And I'm only half kidding. I know this very senior guy at NTT, we are talking big time. He has a middle-aged wife and a daughter, and the wife is a bit ferkakte. Everytime we go to their house the wife is always flirting with me in an annoying way. She's like 20 years older and not even marginally interesting. Lots of veird people overthere.

Why do you say that? I realize your "half kidding" but out of curiousity where do you deduce that from? Never, did I ever get the feeling that she had the hots for me or even was interested in me -- but then again, I am kind of dense when it comes to these things :-/

I guess I can see where you are coming from though but it still leaves me with some questions. I'll just rule out this because I just can't see it as a possiblity. Once I can even get past the fact that that's very un-japanese like, I have to see on how she's "happily married" or so it would seem. Then again, the japanese don't really show affection in public so I would imagine gauging that would be difficult....

None-the-less, I think I would just have to disagree with you here, although i'm sure, as you hinted at, you were just kidding. Still, it's a bit upsetting not to have closure but i'm sure that's perfectly normal to feel -- especially considering the circumstances.

I havent had the problems arise that you had I feel fortunate to say but I found Asian countries to be a real culture shock initially. It took me a number of trips to feel comfortable in Japan. I havent been to HKG although it is definately on my list of places I would like to go. I have been to Bangkok, Phuket, Shanghai and the Philippines as well as frequently to Japan so Im not a complete novice to Asia by any means.

Given what happened, your interest in international travel and your location I would suggest the following. You can get really cheap (often under $300 some years) flights to London from New York. London gives you a "foreign" experience but it is much less jarring than Asia. Being close and cheap is a good thing too. I would suggest you visit London and after you get your international legs a bit built up either the countryside in England, Edinburgh or Paris as the next step up in being in a non-familiar environment. London is one of my favorite cities in the world, it will give you some foreign travel experience and give you some confidence in that regard. The English countryside (ie Devon) is beautful and another culture step from here as is Scotland (London is pretty cosmopolitan so it is closer to NY). Paris adds the language element but culturally is MUCH closer to the US than Japan. If you really wanted a lot of frequent flyer miles in addition to seeing new countries get yourself to Sydney. It is an absolutely fantastic city. Close enough that you feel comfortable but far enough that you know you arent at home. Anyways, just a suggestion. Another one is, poop happens. Youre back, youre safe and you have a new experience. Most international travel is great fun and a real enriching factor to our lives. Move on and enjoy the next one. And people here are always around to help.

Once I can even get past the fact that that's very un-japanese like, I have to see on how she's "happily married" or so it would seem. Then again, the japanese don't really show affection in public so I would imagine gauging that would be difficult....


Actually, no, it is not un-Japanese like at all. Many Japanese harbor strange secret desires that you'd never even guess from knowing them for a while.

I worked at a Japanese company for a couple of years. The office was an open plan type of arrangement, with tables laid out for desks, not even cubicles. Everybody could see everybody else, and see anything going on in public. Across from me sat Ms. Ooi, and to my right Mr. Mitsui. I would see Ms. Ooi and Mr. Mitsui every day, and we would all work together. There was no evidence that Ms. Ooi and Mr. Mitsui knew anything about each other besides the fact that they sat next to each other. One day, I get an invitation in the mail. Ms. Ooi and Mr. Mitsui are getting married. It turns out she was pregnant by Mr. Mitsui, and they decided to tie the knot.

Another one. My boss, Mr. Gomei, was, in his spare time, an oenophile, a Cordon Bleu cook, and a classical music nut. He had 50,000 dollars worth of stereo equipment and a wine cellar with hundreds of bottles in an apartment the size of a two car garage. And on top of that, his wife and son lived there too. You wouldn't give two cents for the guy if you ever saw him on the street.

As for the "happily married" bit, I'd say that chances are that she isn't. Many middle-aged married Japanese women are not. The fact that she's got this "hobby" of inviting young single western men to spend time at her house might not be coincidental.

I'm really sorry that you're adventure turned out to be so beastly - I hope you find some closure soon.

Alas, I have my own experience of a misunderstanding with a small Japanese company which draws too many parallels with your own case - being given certain promises and then being made to feel guilty when they aren't fulfilled so it gets twisted into being your own fault somehow.

I was supposed to go and live in Japan last year, so I decided to try and work for a smaller English school (as I'd heard so many horror stories about the large ones). I won't go into details - I still feel a bit sick and nauseous when I remember it all - but what I learnt is that an agreement sealed with a handshake means NOTHING (no matter what the Japanese say about honour). Whatever is agreed over a few drinks the night before - the next day the admin staff and lawyers are sifting through reams of paper to clarify the REAL contract. My own perception is that many Japanese have a certain view of themselves and how they want to be perceived - lets call it their fantasy persona. If this gets knocked or broken they unleash their anger onto whoever was the poor dumb sucker who didn't play the game properly and allow them to keep their fantasy intact.
Personally, I lost about $8,000 last year because the company didn't want to admit that the government wouldn't allow them to aquire visas for foreign employees, instead they kept telling me that it would only take a couple more weeks, a couple more weeks. Meanwhile, my Fiance's wonderful mother had died, I'd quit my job and was living in Spain rent free, but living on rice and tomatoes. The worst part was the way they shouted at me at the end of it and the awful, supremely personal insults they used. Especially when I'd lost so much.

It is behind me, kind of, and I still visit Japan and enjoy it very much(although my desire to work there has evaporated). The most positive thing to come out of it for me is my insight into some of the psychological bullying that goes on - there's a film called Rikyu by Hiroshi Teshigahara which shows how saying the wrong thing to the wrong person could bring the most outrageous repurcussions - that's something that seems to be entrenched in Japanese culture, and it goes hand in hand with the refinement of places such as Kyoto. Reading the Tale of Genji also gives an insight into the exquisite form of bitzchery that flourished in the Emperor's court. In a weird way I'm grateful. Japanese culture makes so much more sense to me now - and in a way is far more interesting.
And I'm so pleased you've made a connection with PICKLES - I think his advice to you has been completely sound. My respects to you both!

You spin a really good yarn! I've been traveling to Japan for several years now; all on business. I've never heard such stories in my life! If it is all true, I feel quite sorry for you. However, Japan and the Japanese people, in general, are some of the kindest, most giving people I have ever met. I truly hope that what has been written over the past month or so here is not quite true.

Why do you say that? I realize your "half kidding" but out of curiousity where do you deduce that from? Never, did I ever get the feeling that she had the hots for me or even was interested in me -- but then again, I am kind of dense when it comes to these things :-/

I guess I can see where you are coming from though but it still leaves me with some questions. I'll just rule out this because I just can't see it as a possiblity. Once I can even get past the fact that that's very un-japanese like, I have to see on how she's "happily married" or so it would seem. Then again, the japanese don't really show affection in public so I would imagine gauging that would be difficult....

None-the-less, I think I would just have to disagree with you here, although i'm sure, as you hinted at, you were just kidding. Still, it's a bit upsetting not to have closure but i'm sure that's perfectly normal to feel -- especially considering the circumstances.

tokyotraveler, I am really sorry to read all that happened to you during your short stay here. I am especially sorry that it all happened in the country I live in.

If you have an agent between you and the lady, why not report what has happened to you to it? From what you said here, it looks to me you just met the wrong host here.

I am a Japanese and did a homestay program in the U.S. a long time ago. For me, it was a culture shock, too, and I did not get along with the first host family I had for some reason. Fortunately, the school found me another family where I spent the remainder of my nearly one year stay quite happily.

That cultural difference is there for us to learn and enjoy but I think quite often it can be stressful, too.

I started reading this thread before you came here and while it may have not turned out to be what you would have wanted, I must say this is one of the most interesting threads I've ever read on FT. (It was certainly a lot more interesting than one of those 'how can I get an operational upgrade' threads. ;) )

I do hope that you visit here once again.

Oh, by the way, LapLap mentioned Kyoto .... it is a different story, I think. Kyoto people are known to be quite different .... They are known to say, 'Would you like to stay with us for a dinner?' in place of 'Good bye.' So don't take literally what they say. What they mean can be the opposite. That is a culture shock for other Japanese, too. :eek:

Thanks for all the great suggestions.

Given what ended up happening I cant decide whether or not I regret not suggesting that he check out a hostess shot bar :eek:

My own perception is that many Japanese have a certain view of themselves and how they want to be perceived - lets call it their fantasy persona. If this gets knocked or broken they unleash their anger onto whoever was the poor dumb sucker who didn't play the game properly and allow them to keep their fantasy intact.


They even have a word for it, it is called "tatemae", literally "what's standing in front of you". Basically, it is the face that Japanese show in public. They behave as they are expected to behave in the specific situation, regardless of their personal opinions about the matter. It is all a social construct. The other person dealing with them knows that and puts forth his own tatemae, although both parties well know that there is a true attitude ("honne") behind that. If you break the tatemae, you've broken the unspoken social contract, and you may pay for it in many ways. The tatemae many only be broken in specific situations of either legit intimacy (e.g. a marriage, or a family relationship) or contrived (when they get drunk beyond repair.)

As for dishonesty, the Japanese in general are scrupulously honest in their day to day dealings. Just today, a taxi cab made a wrong turn, taking me out of my way, and adding an extra 500 yen to the bill. The driver was very apologetic and deducted the amount from the final bill. If you can't read them (the tatemae) their behavior may appear to you as dishonest (e.g. "we'll get you the visa, don't worry" is Japanese for "you must know that we are a small company, and we have no way of getting you the visa, but we can't say that, and you knew that already, so what do you suggest we do?")

[QUOTE=GadgetFreak]Given what ended up happening I cant decide whether or not I regret not suggesting that he check out a hostess shot bar :eek:[/QUOTE

Please, don't say that -- it was a mere suggestions trying to help me out and it was very thoughtful -- what happened that night was my fault and no one elses -- just me not being responsible and I accept that.

Chiangi -- no, there was no middle man in this operation -- as i said I was suppose to go a couple years ago to study abroad but couldn't so I was invited out for a couple weeks. That is what upsets me -- is that I really can't report anyone for her actions...

thomaskitty To you, if you need proof I will gladly send you emails from her to me, pictures, personal accounts I wrote in my journal -- I have no reason to falsify and fabricate stories -- I posted here to share my accounts and to get advice. From the first day I posted on this site it was apparent that this is more then a message board but of a true community of people who actually care for one another.

LapLap Thank you for your little story and the support you've shown to me.

Pickles I know what you mean about the Japanese being extremely honest and respectful people which is why this whole trip mystify's me. I expected so much more and even so, maybe my expectations were a bit high but regardless, I didn't think i'd ever go through anything like this.

I was thinking of perhaps reporting her to the agency that she does host with regardless and tell them of my experiance, the money she took, how she let's her underaged son drinks, etc. The only reason I think that I have going for me is the last student she had hosted also had a problem and left early from her house too so I was thinking they might see a pattern purhaps and it might raise some flags up?

First let me say that this jetlag is absolutely killing me -- I can't believe it's this bad. My main concern right now is not getting my money back or even really closure itsself -- it's getting myself feeling the way I did before this trip or at least better then I feel now. It's as if this trip sucked all the happiness that I had inside of me and threw it away. My mind is still a mess and in a mass confusion from this. I thought that I might find consule in writing a trip report but I fear that the most that would do is let me linger and percifirate on every detail once again and let it bother me some more. The things this woman said to me and the things the people I met said to me still echo in my head over and over -- as if they can't escape from the confines of my head.

It would seem as though my "comprimise" with this lady in Japan to get my money back hasn't worked. I sent her an email asking her for my money back that is rightfully mine and if she wouldn't comply then I would have no choice but to report her to the agency that she hosts male students with. I waited and finally recieved an email from her saying something to the effect of "I do not wish to tell you of my cancer. I have had it since 2002 and some medicines make me sick. Only my husband knows of this and no one else" and that was all the email she sent me said. I talked to a few people and then sent her an email back saying I was sorry for hearing she had cancer but that it has nothing to do with my money. I told her I would give her 3 days to try to resolve this with me or else I would report her and so far it's almost 2 days gone by and no reply. I hope i'm going about this right, I really do. I just don't want to feel crappy like I do now.

Pickles -- I just thought of something to, along the lines of your remark that she "had the hots for me". I remember I was sitting, reading FT and she tells me that she likes to talk about sex with her children because it is good for them to know and that normally, japanese parents do not do that. She then proceeds to tell me that she talked about it with the last student she hosted and then immediatly changed the subject. I didn't think anything of it but maybe that's a small hint of her hidden agenda perhaps?

their behavior may appear to you as dishonest (e.g. "we'll get you the visa, don't worry" is Japanese for "you must know that we are a small company, and we have no way of getting you the visa, but we can't say that, and you knew that already, so what do you suggest we do?")

Oh Pickles, I'm not that green! The small company was being started by an already established one, a very large Real Estate Co. I liaised with the Director - in Japan, and his brother (and English wife), in Spain. I think the government were (rightly) deeply suspicious of the Director and his motives.
Whilst in Japan the Director offered me a token compensation sum for the time I was being made to wait (at their request). He promised it several times, both whilst drunk and whilst sober. The problem occured back in Spain when I requested this sum. The Director denied he had ever made this offer and, naturally, his brother believed him. This made me into a liar. By keeping in contact with a Spanish girl (someone far more astute than I was) in the same situation they also labeled me a trouble maker. The brother said I should take the matter to court, but he also sneered that as I didn't have any paperwork to validate my claim I wouldn't get very far.

I'm not saying that the Japanese aren't honorable, I'm just saying that not all of them are. The Director's brother was a REAL bully. I'm sure it would have been very different had I been male (maybe I wouldn't have been offered the job in the first place, who knows?). But I also understand better why my boyfriend made the decision to leave Japan and go to an English boarding school when he was ten. The psychological bullying he was exposed to there was far worse than anything he experienced here.

The strange thing about all of this is that I haven't been able to talk about any of this since it happened. So forgive me Tokyotraveler for commandeering your thread for a moment, but this is the first time I've been able to offload the events in a calm, rational manner. As I said, I still feel a bit sick when recollecting the events.

I hope it takes you less than a year to start feeling the same

The weird thing about 'tatemae' and 'honne' is that I'd l previously learnt all about them, at least in a business environment. It's only when I got confronted with them 'for real' that I got a proper sense of what it was all about. I can read all the books available, I guess, but they only seem to count towards experience in hindsight. Maybe I am that green after all!

Pickles -- I just thought of something to, along the lines of your remark that she "had the hots for me". I remember I was sitting, reading FT and she tells me that she likes to talk about sex with her children because it is good for them to know and that normally, japanese parents do not do that. She then proceeds to tell me that she talked about it with the last student she hosted and then immediatly changed the subject. I didn't think anything of it but maybe that's a small hint of her hidden agenda perhaps?

That's how it starts. A certain amount of sangfroid and calculation on your part is required to turn it to your advantage, but it seems you missed your chance to lure her into a trap (not what you think, but the fact that now you know something about her that no-one else knows about, and she'd rather keep secret. Could have come in handy when "negotiating" how much you owed her for the room and board).

Been there done that, but I grew up in Mexico. The arsenal of tricks I've developed has come in handy in situations like that. Same applies to you LapLap. Not all Japanese are honest, but in general the dishonest ones make terrible and transparent liars, and it is not hard to hold them hostage with the threat of exposure and certain death from shame. It can even be done gracefully, like Lady Murasaki.

Hi Tokyotraveler

I know you’re seeking closure on what happened, so I’d like to offer the following comments towards this aim.

You stayed with a disillusioned housewife with a rich fantasy life (a little deluded with regards to her altruism and generosity – those comments about meeting the French girl, for instance – and with regards to possible sexual opportunities - most likely) and these all came crashing down. Like it or not, she probably feels you need to pay the consequences for ‘not playing the game’ even though you couldn’t have understood the rules.
What I really think you should concentrate on is what a lucky lucky escape you had. Can you imagine how awful if you had gone there for a year, as was your original plan?

I’m truly glad your horrible experience only lasted two weeks, although you will be re-living then in ugly ‘flashbacks’ for some time to come. It really could have been so much worse. You extradited yourself from a preview of a nasty long long feature.

I’d like to offer another choice for a future trip, and that’s Amsterdam, or anywhere else in The Netherlands (Denmark is great too, as is Scandinavia). These are beautiful places with their own languages and culture. The people, just like in Japan, are (mostly) honest and decent. But they also have a depressingly high standard of English, so you will be able to chatter away with most people you’ll meet.

If you ever come to London (or go through it) PM me. I’d love to show you around.

in general the dishonest ones make terrible and transparent liars, and it is not hard to hold them hostage with the threat of exposure and certain death from shame. It can even be done gracefully, like Lady Murasaki.
One day I'll learn to stay calm whilst people panic and throw tantrums at me, but it seems a long way off as I'm a naturally anxious person. I think you're quite right though, there was something very childlike about what I witnessed. Just as the woman who trapped Tokyotraveller seems a bit pathetic and naive. May be one day I'll learn to have the elegance and clarity of somebody like Murasaki.
But I also think that a lot of Japanese themselves get sick of playing the game - the traditional escape was a religious life... or hara-kiri (poor old Tea Master Rikyu!). Nowadays, they skip the country. I've met some extraordinary Japanese women living in England and Spain.

And I still adore Japan, and the Japanese people. I've also found them to be scrupulously honest. When a barrel of apples is so wonderful and delicious, its always a horrible surprise to come across a slightly rotten one.

And I still adore Japan, and the Japanese people. I've also found them to be scrupulously honest. When a barrel of apples is so wonderful and delicious, its always a horrible surprise to come across a slightly rotten one.

You can say that again. Of course, I write this from my room at the GHT, high floor, even-sided (so I don't have to look at those poor sararimen toiling away in the Mori building, and viceversa). So I'm biased and spoiled.

You can say that again. Of course, I write this from my room at the GHT, high floor, even-sided (so I don't have to look at those poor sararimen toiling away in the Mori building, and viceversa). So I'm biased and spoiled.

Wave hello to my other half!
The poor boy is toiling away on the 53rd floor setting up one of the Art exhibtions there - if ever there was somewhere with 'sick building syndrome' it's that place.

TokyoTraveler,

I'm sorry that your trip turned out so badly for you. I wish we could have made our schedules mesh better so that we could have gotten together and I could have shown you around some.

Based on your comments about her bring up the topic of sex, I think that might have been part of the issue - its by no means unheard of for older housewives here to try to pick up younger men. It definitely happens more than one might think or expect.

LapLap - Thank you for your kind words and for the travel suggestions -- they actually do sound like very nice places. I'd love to visit London sometime too and will gladly take you up on your offer! Thank you for your kindness. I do realize that I am lucky and I do realize that it could of been worse, horribly worse if I stayed that year and fortunately I was able to escape. I must add though, you'd get quite a kick if you saw my passport right now -- before I left, let's just say she ran it in the washing machine and it's ummmm...quite the item. It gave immigration quite a chuckle in Japan but in Chicago -- let's say I had a little bit of a problem. I guess i'll have to get it replaced (more damn money/damages she's causing me :()

I also have to say all of the trip certainly wasn't negative -- flying upstairs business on the way out was incredible and metting an incredible person from Thailand in the seat next to me who I still stay in contact with was incredible. Sadly I was stuck with Economy Plus for the flight home -- certainly notthiing "plus" about it :rolleyes: I was asleep most of the flight anyway except to eat. I'm certain i'll emerge from this trip with memories and experiances that many will never have and maybe that will make me a better person but as you said, those horrible flashback are something I do fear.

TokyoTraveler,

I'm sorry that your trip turned out so badly for you. I wish we could have made our schedules mesh better so that we could have gotten together and I could have shown you around some.

Based on your comments about her bring up the topic of sex, I think that might have been part of the issue - its by no means unheard of for older housewives here to try to pick up younger men. It definitely happens more than one might think or expect.

It's alright, I understand but i still thank you explicitly for your generousity. I wish our schedules would of meshed better too. I just wish this would of turned out how I imagined.

She did mention something else and I wonder if it has any revolence -- I remember she was telling me that the typical person who hosts a student in Japan in a rich family and because she wasn't other people questioned her reasons and then typical of her, she changed the subject after quickly going silent.....

This has me curious. What in the world is wrong with the building that it would engender such a comment. I happen to know a wee bit about the place. Very curious to understand this comment actually.

And Pickles, wave to me too. :)

Mike

Wave hello to my other half!
The poor boy is toiling away on the 53rd floor setting up one of the Art exhibtions there - if ever there was somewhere with 'sick building syndrome' it's that place.

And Pickles, wave to me too. :)

Mike

I can't, I'm facing the good side! By the way, I could see Mt. Fuji this morning. Quite unusual for a summer morning.

I can't, I'm facing the good side! By the way, I could see Mt. Fuji this morning. Quite unusual for a summer morning.

I thought this was the norm in the summer due to too much fog/haze...

..at least that's what I was told...

..then again the lady told me she couldn't take me to climb or see Mt. Fuji because they don't let anyone climb it anymore because too many people leave thier trash on the ground so I don't really know.

For those interested....

I've typed up a trip report in the appropriate forum. I've tried to make it complete but there are so many things I don't want to mention and forgot to say but it shoudl be an idea of the trip.....

I thought this was the norm in the summer due to too much fog/haze...

..at least that's what I was told...

..then again the lady told me she couldn't take me to climb or see Mt. Fuji because they don't let anyone climb it anymore because too many people leave thier trash on the ground so I don't really know.

Nope, straight BS. You can still climb it. It takes a while, and its not a cakewalk, but thousands climb it each summer.

This has me curious. What in the world is wrong with the building that it would engender such a comment. I happen to know a wee bit about the place. Very curious to understand this comment actually.

Mike
Hi, I thought I'd quantify my comments, but I'm a bit uncomfortable using this thread as I'm not sure it's appropriate.
I've actually spent a good few weeks at the top of the Mori building. First time was just before they opened the Arts Museum properly for the first time (setting up a show by Studio Azzuro, sponsored by Hermes, based around the Mediterranean), the next was taking down the Kusamatrix show by Kusama Yayoi in May. This means I wasn't in the shiny Tataeme/outside part of the building, but the strangely stale and airless Honne part - using the service lift, going up and down the emergency stairs to use the staff toilets. Its a building in which far too many people never get to see natural light at any time during their working days.
Personally, I found the atmosphere to be oppressive and stagnant. Yet it's newly built!
Maybe I've just been spoiled, there are almost certainly worse buidlings around. Nevertheless, it is new (and frightfully expensive), so it doesn't have the same excuses.
And I also find it strange that so many people around it are there to stop you having accidents and yet you are almost forced to use the streetside escalators which, when it rains (often) become almost lethal - that's the metal part on the approach to the stairs, nearly impossible not to slip on. The building has already claimed a casualty since it opened, but I don't remember using those revolving doors, so I'd prefer not to add that to my reasoning.

LapLap I'd love to visit London sometime too and will gladly take you up on your offer!

Yeay!!! :D

I must add though, you'd get quite a kick if you saw my passport right now -- before I left, let's just say she ran it in the washing machine

No!! :eek:

laplap thank you again and YGPM

Pickles we're both parts bull -- even the part where you can actually see Mt. Fuji? Every day I was out there it was horribly hot and muggy and you couldn't see the mountain so I believe what she said, although what she said about not being able to climb it I truely didn't ebelieve....

were both parts bull -- even the part where you can actually see Mt. Fuji? Every day I was out there it was horribly hot and muggy and you couldn't see the mountain so I believe what she said, although what she said about not being able to climb it I truely didn't ebelieve....

The Seikei Gakuen school has been monitoring Fuji Yama's visibility everyday at a specific time since 1963 - i.e. can they see it or not?
Fuji san has a reputation as a 'shy' mountain, but it is becoming less so. 40 years ago you could ony see Fuji San for about 40 days a year, nowadays it is visible for about 100 days in a year (more likely in winter) thanks to a big pollution clean up (makes you retch to think how it must have been then).
So what Pickles saw the other morning wasn't exactly an everyday occurance - which just makes it more special. So your Obasan was more or less right there.
As for climbing it, there is nothing to stop you, they even have huts you can stay in should you get caught out by the unpredictable weather. But people are very strongly advised not to go up there in winter. It is known to be dangerous (especially in the colder months) and I think people die there every year (although it is a popular sucide spot - your family will get sued for an obscene amount of money if you throw yourself under a subway train), so, to be fair, your landlady 'may' have just been concerned about you trudging up to such a dangerous place.
It's a shame you couldn't have tackled Mount Takao - there your biggest danger would have been coming across a mischievous Long Nosed Goblin (Tengu). They even have cable chairs going up to the 'top'.

laplap thank you again and YGPM

Pickles we're both parts bull -- even the part where you can actually see Mt. Fuji? Every day I was out there it was horribly hot and muggy and you couldn't see the mountain so I believe what she said, although what she said about not being able to climb it I truely didn't ebelieve....

O yea, I saw it allright. That's what was interesting. I've never seen it in summer, only in winter, when on a clear day it just there like a giant zit coming out of the ground (Hiroshige, spear me now!).

But I also think that a lot of Japanese themselves get sick of playing the game - the traditional escape was a religious life... or hara-kiri (poor old Tea Master Rikyu!). Nowadays, they skip the country. I've met some extraordinary Japanese women living in England and Spain.


My Japanese professor and her husband were two of those. They got tired of the games and left. Of course, a lot of the Japanese sararimen who come to the states for their tour of duty regret having to go home. One we had befriended was in tears when he left, but he felt it was his duty to go.

If it has anything to do with anything, the lady I was staying with kept saying over and over and over how she missed the US. Maybe it was her break from "the game"?

Tokyotraveller, I would like to reiterate my profound sadness and disappointment upon hearing of your experiences in Japan; but I am relieved and happy that you appear to be making headway on the path of "recovery."

Being a yonsei (4th generation) Japanese-Canadian, I am frequently told by my friends and family in Japan that I am more a Meiji era person than a modern Japanese. It makes sense as my grandfather's parents, who immigrated to Canada from Japan at the turn of the century would have been in that era. I strongly value discipline, dignity, honour and integrity and try to conduct myself in a way which does not bring shame upon myself, my family, or my friends. Being influenced heavily by my grandparents and Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and through kendo, as a junior instructor and black belt, these "older" notions of Japan have been ingrained into me since childhood. However, I am not totally old Nippon , I am also very Canadian (eh?) and value measured individualism and relative personal freedom. Yet, my outlook, on the whole, is increasingly more eastern as I get older.

I can appreciate honne and tatemae but only in the traditional way it was meant and not the increasingly twisted and perverted mindf--k way it is used today. It is a shame that the Japan so many non-Japanese have in mind is, largely, no longer the Japan in existence today.

I think that perhaps, people like Pickles, may be "more" Japanese than the Japanese are today...... and I say that with utmost of respect.

However, I think that these sorts of trials and tribulations are what learning new cultures are about. Having lived in London for the past 2 years I have a much different opinion of London than I did before I came and have had my share of up's and down's but in the end it has provided an education that my university here, or anywhere else, could ever offer me.

Good luck with planning your next international trip!! :)

TokyoTraveller,

Sorry to hear your tales of woe...seems like you have been through quite abit. It also seems that Pickles and LapLap seem to have grasped the pulse of what might have happened...but who knows...perhaps you're the wiser now and if you do not let this experience inhibit future travels, you'll be the better for it.

If you ever decide to swing East to Asia, give me a shout and I'll show you around and introduce you to some good people. Pickles and I (haven't met pickles as yet but I am looking forward to meeting some FT'ers if there is ever a do in HKG - my schedule is still a little fuzzy for the Shanghai do) will buy you a few rounds of B52s ;).

Anyway, chin up and hope you get back on the horse soon.

TokyoTraveller,

Sorry to hear your tales of woe...seems like you have been through quite abit. It also seems that Pickles and LapLap seem to have grasped the pulse of what might have happened...but who knows...perhaps you're the wiser now and if you do not let this experience inhibit future travels, you'll be the better for it.

If you ever decide to swing East to Asia, give me a shout and I'll show you around and introduce you to some good people. Pickles and I (haven't met pickles as yet but I am looking forward to meeting some FT'ers if there is ever a do in HKG - my schedule is still a little fuzzy for the Shanghai do) will buy you a few rounds of B52s ;).

Anyway, chin up and hope you get back on the horse soon.

Thank you for your kind words -- you would be correct in saying that Pickles and LapLap had a great grasp on the situation and besides them, the whole community did an unbelievable job of giving me support. Yes, I am definately the wiser from this experiance and i'm back on the horse ready for more traveling. Thank you for your kind offer, YGPM, and don't worry -- i'll treat for the B52's ;)

...and the wife is a bit ferkakte.

You told us what so many other Japanese words mean, why not this one?

Nu?

You told us what so many other Japanese words mean, why not this one?

Nu?

I think the correct spelling is "verkakte". It is yiddish for not playing with a full deck. "Kak" means krep in Afrikaans and I think dutch. The Japanese word for crazy is kurooshii.

I think the correct spelling is "verkakte". It is yiddish for not playing with a full deck. "Kak" means krep in Afrikaans and I think dutch. The Japanese word for crazy is kurooshii.

I think you got it right the first time. I can remember when I was a kid thinking it had something to do with that 4 letter English word that I would get in big big trouble it I used :D , and then finding out that it meant that the person was slightly "off" @:-) It doesnt however just have to apply to a person, it can also be used in reference to an object. A very weird word. :eek:

So for example - some quotes from the web - ( you can see why I thought it might reference that 4 letter word :-: )

If it vasn't for dat Ferkakte ice cream truck, your zaida vould
still be alive to day.".

Absolutely nothing. I dunno about you folks, but round these parts, people seem
to be flipping out right and left. It's the ferkakte war, if you ask me.

Tokyotraveler:

Darn, I wish I had not gone on vacation. I could have showed you the other side of Japan.

By the length of this tread, it is clear that we were all hoping that you would have had a fantastic time.

Some comments and advice:

1. Forget about a refund. You are not going to get one and the sooner that you acept this the sooner you will feel better.

2. My philosophy (from Plato) is "learn as if you are to live forever, live as if you are to die tommorow." You had a good oportunity to learn use it.

3. Japan is not America. We tend to relate things back to our own base (home country).

4. There are good and bad people in every country.

5. In Japan, a hint is a demand for action (I like this one).

6. I agree with others, this is a tough country to start in. Europe is a good choice for young travelers to start.

7. Go with the flow.

8. As a Japanese friend once told me "leave your logic at Narita.

9. The next time you are in Tokyo I hope I can show you around. The Hard Rock and Pickles place(Ark Hills) are about five minutes from my door. :cool:

Briefly continuing a diversion/hijacking:

re ferkakte vs verkakte:

You can transliterate Yiddish pretty much any way you want, as you're going from the Hebrew character set to the Roman. Of course, Yiddish itself is in large part a transliteration of mostly Roman-character works to Hebrew-characters, so most will transliterate back to the original Roamn-based spelling.

In German, a word that begin with the letter 'v' sounds to anglophones as if it begins with an 'f' -- vier, vorspeis, and probably verkakte. (German and Dutch are extremely close, as you might guess if you think about the word 'Dutch' for a moment or two.) So, when transliterating the word from Yiddish to English, it's ok to use either the original native language spelling (verkakte) or the spelling that reflects the English pronunciation (ferkakte).

Like jan_az, I also thought it was some sort of derivative or common root of the F-word, both from its context and from the Boston accent through which I always heard the word, pronounced fah-KAK-tah in Coolidge Corner.

We now return you to the discussion of Japanese culture and lifestyle.

9. The next time you are in Tokyo I hope I can show you around. The Hard Rock and Pickles place(Ark Hills) are about five minutes from my door. :cool:

Ark Hills? I don't know nothing about Ark Hills. Pickles place is actually where Minami-Aoyama, Kita-Aoyama, and Jingu-mae converge, and no, I'm not the Crown Prince.

Tokyotraveler:

Darn, I wish I had not gone on vacation. I could have showed you the other side of Japan.

By the length of this tread, it is clear that we were all hoping that you would have had a fantastic time.

Some comments and advice:

1. Forget about a refund. You are not going to get one and the sooner that you acept this the sooner you will feel better.


I'll be honest and wish you were there but please don't say you wish you didn't go on vacation, you and everyone else knows that's not true :p You would be correct stating that everyone here was hoping that I would have a fantastic time, thier kindness, help and honesty helped me tremendously while I was oversea's. About the refund, i've pretty much givin up hope on that too and i'm trying to move on from this trip much wiser then the days before it.

9. The next time you are in Tokyo I hope I can show you around. The Hard Rock and Pickles place(Ark Hills) are about five minutes from my door.

I will definately take you up on this offer -- i'm not letting this experiance deter me from future adventures and esspecially my curiousity and facination that I have/had for Japan. If anything it's opened my eyes to how different this world really is while still being the same and how i'm hungry to learn more!

One thing I did wonder about....Yokohama -- how is this city generally viewed as? What I mean, is it considered a nice tourist spot, a dirty wannabe vacation place, etc. Also, none of the travel guides I have say nothing about thier "red light district" :p I was curious on whether this practice is legal or not in Japan -- the only reason I wonder is because, as anyone who's been there knows, these girls line up and have thier own "special rooms" so obviously it's "well organized"...if you even want to call it that.

Thanks again!

I think of Yokohama essentially a bedroom community for those who work/study in Tokyo. (It is, you know, Japan's second largest city now in terms of population.) Many people commute to Tokyo as far as from Kamakura (three hours one way in the morning and another three for the return). I can't think of any touristy place in Yokohama besides Chinatown...and it is certainly not a vacation destination.

As for red light districts, you didn't get to go to Kabukicho in Shinjuku? I've never read a tourist guide but I am a little surprised that your guides mention nothing about this. It is, well, a very 'interesting' place, even without entering one of those entertainment establishments. ;)

Oooooops!!! I was on vacation myself and wasn't watching this thread for weeks. I never imagined your trip could turn out so bad. I really, really, really feel sorry and would like to apologize for your experience in Japan. I must admit, being a Japanese and having lived in Tokyo for most of my life (even though I live in Philly right now), I myself wasn't aware such a nasty host(ess) can exist at all...

Just a few specific points: as for refund, yes, it is very rare in Japan in general, except for very obvious reasons (like a reservation canceled because of their problem). It is indeed a culture. As for English schools (which some people mentioned in this thread), many of them are in particular notorious for dishonest business, both to students and to teachers. So please never assume they are standard companies in any sense...

Sorry for digging up an old thread and making useless comments. I just couldn't help myself from saying something about such a shame.

I thought I was the only person on Earth who liked "Bikkle"!! :p Personally, I do like "Miru Miru" the best!

Bikkle...upon first sip, it is good. but after that, everything went downhill...

has anyone tried the "energy" drink Hugo Yunker? without a doubt, tied with a durian shake and a Taiwanese "mesquite" drink as the worst beverages I have ever consumed. worst part was, I could still taste the durian for five hours after the fact...

has anyone tried the "energy" drink Hugo Yunker? without a doubt, tied with a durian shake and a Taiwanese "mesquite" drink as the worst beverages I have ever consumed. worst part was, I could still taste the durian for five hours after the fact...

At least it wasn't a Taiwanese "peyote" drink. If that was the case, you'd still be somewhere over the Japan Alps, discussing religion with Takashi Castaneda.

At least it wasn't a Taiwanese "peyote" drink. If that was the case, you'd still be somewhere over the Japan Alps, discussing religion with Takashi Castaneda.

Takashi Castenada?????

ROFLMAO :)

This thread has just been moved from TravelBuzz to the Japan forum. It has been referenced in a recent post, so I wanted the Japan posters to be aware it is now "here".

SanDiego1K
Senior Moderator

I may be posting this a bit late, but the Gion Festival in Kyoto was an incredible experience. But be ready for huge crowds. It felt like we were the only Americans in throngs of hundreds of thousands.

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japanesefestivals/a/kyotogionfes.htm

Yikes--apologies folks...I posted this to the wrong thread by mistake...

Yikes--apologies folks...I posted this to the wrong thread by mistake...

That's OK. It fits in with the general theme of this thread.

Wow, I thought a thread with such a great title would have more recent posts.

I'm making a MR to Tokyo in August and will only be in town for about 36 hours. I thought it would be nice to limit my sightseeing so that I can enjoy what little I do see.

I'm leaning towards the Imperial Palace and Akihabara. I'll probably be staying at a SPG hotel although I haven't done my research yet. Any other sightseeing suggestions or substitutions I should be making?

Will most of the electronics I see in Akihabara work here in the US or is it hit or miss? I'm thinking of picking up a digital camera or watch.

Also, if anyone's interested I'd be happy to buy drinks ^ should anyone be willing to meet up - I'll be in town on August 16/17.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Wow, I thought a thread with such a great title would have more recent posts.

Did you read the whole thread? This has to be one of the all-time classics in FT.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.2.1 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/106)

Wow, I thought a thread with such a great title would have more recent posts.

Did you read the whole thread? This has to be one of the all-time classics in FT.

Please don't get me wrong. This is a great thread and I've read most of it. It just hasn't received many recent posts so I was wondering if anyone had any recent info they wanted to add.

A wealth of info here without doubt.^

Please don't get me wrong. This is a great thread and I've read most of it. It just hasn't received many recent posts so I was wondering if anyone had any recent info they wanted to add.

There's a good reason it's stayed dormant for such a long time.

From the Flyertalk Guidelines and rules:

http://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php#q77

Avoid Bumping Very Old Threads
Unless there is a compelling reason, avoid bumping threads that are more than two years old. Often the information is out-dated and it clogs the forums, making it difficult to find current threads.

There's a good reason it's stayed dormant for such a long time.

From the Flyertalk Guidelines and rules:

http://www.flyertalk.com/help/rules.php#q77

Avoid Bumping Very Old Threads
Unless there is a compelling reason, avoid bumping threads that are more than two years old. Often the information is out-dated and it clogs the forums, making it difficult to find current threads.

Purist :p!

A certain someone told me that non-sugar "jelly" is all the rage ! Seems Japan has discovered Splenda....

I suppose what is here is not tooo out-dated after all the years: I joined FT 2 yrs after the incident, and 3 more years before I've read this, but to all my respect, ^ to tokyotraveler, Pickles, LapLap, and not to mention the others!

If "ferkakte" was supposed to be a german word, it would only be "verkackt" and that means "....ed up".

And yes, the McDonald's in Tokyo is the best McDonald's I have ever been. Which is, so far, the 10th. Same counts for Burger King.

Back to the topic: I am in Tokyo now and looking for clues. I have been to Ginza, which is totally boring. Whoever has been in any capital of a western nation can easily skip Ginza. Gucci and H&M stuff.. way to expensive.
Also I've visited Tokyo Tower, the 150m main observatory costs 800Y, additional 600Y for the 250m special observatory. Boring, too, if you have been on some major tower/building e.g. Paris, London, New York, Berlin... but the price is fair and you get a very good sight over the city! Go in the evening so you have a daylight and a night view ;) The Emperor's residence was closed.
Hence, I've been to the bayside area and the raimbow bridge (not mentiones so far). very nice spot but take the subway, parking slots are very very very rare.
Todays schedule was shibuya. very nice, eypecially the girls :D good shops as well, but cheap is different. bought two tshirts for >70€ (~100$) -.... me I dont do this, but this time was a must...

I plan on going to kyoto by shinkanse later the week. but there is so much I want to here. baseball game, the fish market, the flea market, tokyu hands, etc..

anyone knows about sumo?? Id like to see a show. stick around

There's more than one McDonalds in Tokyo, you know....

By just sticking to the main drag in Ginza during the day (no pretty lights?), yep, I can imagine you did find it boring. Start wandering in the neighbouring side streets from dusk onwards and there are no end of beautiful women wearing outfits that cost the equivalent of a sports car. But this is something that anybody who has been to any capital of a western nation can easily skip :)

Tokyo Tower? What made you decide you needed to go there? (I'm genuinely curious)
I'd say don't go, not unless you're a fan of period schlock. Go to the Metropolitan Government Building in West Shinjuku instead. View is better, it's free (so a very good price), and yes, the experience of seeing Day turn to Night in Tokyo is magical.

Can you explain which part of Tokyo you mean by the Bayside area?
The Bay is big and there's a lot of land around it. Most interesting Bayside attraction is probably Tsukiji Market or the Hamarikyu Garden.
Or are you talking about the reclaimed land out in the Bay? (Often referred to as Odaiba)
Rainbow Bridge itself wouldn't be high on my list of recommendations. This photo shows the footpath for pedestrians http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HYz9c8WbJP8/SB00nXHYx0I/AAAAAAAACQg/ZClFgWCXg-s/s400/DSCN3775.JPG
It's also the view from the Yurikamome line which crosses it.
And, on the rare occasions the scenic upper part of the bridge is open to the Public, it looks like this: http://www.tokyo2016.or.jp/en/press/images/090302_01_02.jpg

Sumo? There's some initial advice in this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan/797143-attending-sumo-tournament-question.html
Otherwise, post your sumo related question there.

... anyone knows about sumo?? Id like to see a show. stick around
If by "see a show," you mean attend a match, the September Grand Sumo tournament (Aki Basho) starts on September 13 at the Kokugikan (main sumo arena) in Ryogoku, just across the river from Akihabara. There are no public matches going on right now as the wrestlers are in the 2-week preparation period getting ready for the championship. You might be able to arrange a visit to one of the heyas (sumo stables) to view a keiko practice session. The concierge of your hotel can probably help arrange that. Don't just show up un-introduced.

If you will still be in Tokyo in mid-September, tickets are still available for many of the 15 days of the tournament although all seats for the final day have already been sold out.

Back to the topic: I am in Tokyo now and looking for clues. I have been to Ginza, which is totally boring. Whoever has been in any capital of a western nation can easily skip Ginza. Gucci and H&M stuff.. way to expensive.
Also I've visited Tokyo Tower, the 150m main observatory costs 800Y, additional 600Y for the 250m special observatory. Boring, too, if you have been on some major tower/building e.g. Paris, London, New York, Berlin... but the price is fair and you get a very good sight over the city! Go in the evening so you have a daylight and a night view ;)

Here's a clue: Tokyo is only good for 1.5 days, tops. So, tomorrow you should be planning on heading out of town. Kyoto is nice.


I plan on going to kyoto by shinkanse later the week.

Ah yes, the Shinkanse. You can catch it in Tokyo Statio or in Shiagawa Statio. If you take the Ozomi, you will only stop in Shi-Yokohama and Agoya before arriving into Kyoto. One stop further down is Shi-Osaka.

http://www.tokyo2016.or.jp/en/press/images/090302_01_02.jpg

I noticed tokyo2016.or.jp was a Tokyo government's PR site to promote it as a candidate city to host the 2016 Olympics.

The site has "Explore Tokyo" section (http://www.tokyo2016.or.jp/lore/en/). It could be used as a city guide.

There's more than one McDonalds in Tokyo, you know....
oh sure, I went to one in koto-ku, can't say which exactly. anyways, I arrived late, thus I had no real ambition to start exploring the menu, yet. I'm just saying, McDonald's in Germany sucks big time and so it came, this one in Tokyo really surprised me.

I like towers. So I decided to visit the Tokyo Tower, of course. I didn't do it because I understood you wrong ;) -the government building is on my schedule, as well.

Can you explain which part of Tokyo you mean by the Bayside area? Sure, I meant Odaiba. They have a store there, where you can play with cats.. it's crazy. I mean they obviously don't have laws against this :td:


thanks abmj-jr, but I will be out of town by then! :rolleyes:

Sure, I meant Odaiba. They have a store there, where you can play with cats.. it's crazy. I mean they obviously don't have laws against this :td:

Why is that crazy? Why should there be a law against this? You should go check out the Nekobukuro, and get some miracle frutsu while you're there.

Why is that crazy? Why should there be a law against this? You should go check out the Nekobukuro, and get some miracle frutsu while you're there.

Cats? Is that a euphemism? Oh no, wait, that was Roppongi. Never mind.

フレド！！！！

Sure, I meant Odaiba. They have a store there, where you can play with cats.. it's crazy. I mean they obviously don't have laws against this :td:
:mad: And no laws against golf! :mad: :td::td::td:

I find your lack of conscience disturbing and your sarcasm needles. in that place the cats have no place to hide, they are completely shown off to hundreds of people everyday. I have a cat myself and I must say that, although it seems to be a nice idea in the first place, it is a bad one. cats have feelings, after all and everybody knows they make up there own mind. I have seen only one cat that really seemed to enjoy playing with kids. the others were just trying to get away constantly. ask why! :td:

in a sense they are even off worse than in a pet shelter.. you don't have to be an animal doctor at WWF to realize that. use your head.

I find your lack of conscience disturbing and your sarcasm needles. in that place the cats have no place to hide, they are completely shown off to hundreds of people everyday. I have a cat myself and I must say that, although it seems to be a nice idea in the first place, it is a bad one. cats have feelings, after all and everybody knows they make up there own mind. I have seen only one cat that really seemed to enjoy playing with kids. the others were just trying to get away constantly. ask why! :td:

in a sense they are even off worse than in a pet shelter.. you don't have to be an animal doctor at WWF to realize that. use your head.
Pickles' own cat is well known (and highly respected) on Flyertalk. But I'll let him speak for himself.

I personally don't understand why you would have visited a Cat cafe if you don't approve of this kind of business.
Your custom condones and perpetuates what in your view is the cats' suffering.

There is a well known cat petting facility within the Ikebukuro branch of Tokyu Hands called Nekobukuro which I understand Pickles has visited LINK (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/8256558-post30.html). I've not heard of allegations of cat cruelty there.

You never explained why you thought that these kind of petting cafes and facilities should be made illegal. Perhaps you could explain your reasons more fully.

I'm personally not too hot on the idea of petting cafes, but considering the size of many Tokyo dwellers' apartments and knowing that most cats are required to spend their entire lives enclosed within these miniscule living conditions, given the choice of which animal life to go for in a future reincarnation, a cat in a Tokyo petting cafe (and from what you've said, they actually can get away from the clients) doesn't seem such a terrible life. I'd rather this than 'life' in an antiseptic steel and concrete pig pen in a sunless shed waiting to be turned into bacon rashers.

I assume you've given up eating meat like I have?

I'd rather this than 'life' in an antiseptic steel and concrete pig pen in a sunless shed waiting to be turned into bacon rashers.


Come now. Nobody forced you to fly with Ryanair.

I assume you've given up eating meat like I have?

Fish is meat too, don'tcha know....
I'm thinking of starting a fish cafe, where lonely Tokyo-ites can come and pet pirhanas and the like.

Fish is meat too, don'tcha know....
:o
I know, I know (hangs head)
I'm thinking of starting a fish cafe, where lonely Tokyo-ites can come and pet pirhanas and the like.
But you've lived so near to just such a place - the carp petting facility next to Ichigaya station.

the carp petting facility next to Ichigaya station.

True. But it's all so one sided over there. The fish come to the people and there isn't much interaction. I'm thinking of a place where the people go to the fish....

I know that human being and fish can coexist peacefully (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3G2uuIwbk).

cats have feelings, after all and everybody knows they make up there own mind.

Tell you what, why don't we outlaw pet stores, then? After all, pets for sale (oooo! trafficking in animals!) are kept in these small cages and they don't look very happy. Better yet, why don't we outlaw pets alltogether? Pets have feelings, and they make up their own mind, so why should we impose on them? Why don't we eat them instead, like the Koreans and the Chinese?

Since you found Ginza boring, perhaps you should go there on a weekend, when the street is closed to traffic and there is an endless parade of dressed up dogs. Do you think dogs like to dress up? It isn't like they are tiny four-legged Gallianos, they have feelings! And hey, why have them on a leash, let them run free!

I'm thinking of starting a fish cafe, where lonely Tokyo-ites can come and pet pirhanas and the like.

So last weekend I went down to the seashore with some friends for a jibikiami fishing expedition. In a jibikiami, you basically take a big purse net out from the shore, round up some fish, and bring the net in by hand. Then you have a barbecue with the fish you've caught. We caught a hammerhead shark, but we weren't going to eat it, so we threw it back. All the kids there were fascinated by the fish, and kept petting them and touching them, like a sakanabukuro.

Anyway, once the fish were taken out of the net and rinsed in fresh water, they were put in a bucket with ice water. Two little kids, maybe 3-4 years old, were picking up the fish and petting them. One of them says to the other, "these fish aren't moving, why?". So I say (probably introducing them to the concept), that they have shuffled their mortal coil, that they are ex-fish, that they are, ahem, dead. Next question, the philosophical stumper: "Why?"

Pickles' own cat is well known (and highly respected) on Flyertalk. But I'll let him speak for himself.

Smidgen is busy these days, so he is unable to respond personally. He was just given an OBE by the Queen for his service during The War. You see, Smidgen is a large Maine Coon (bred and born in Poland, Maine, and hence he was given the OBE and not the more prestigious KBE, which would have entitled him to be called "Sir Smidgen", which frankly sounds like a D-list rapper) and so his ears face forward on top of his head (as opposed to slightly askew and sideways like most cats).

Because of the fine fur inside his forward-facing large ear cavities, his ears can be used as very sensitive amplifying devices. This was noticed by Hugh Sinclair, head of MI6, and Smidgen was enlisted for the war effort. He was sent to Bletchley Park on a secret and highly sensitive mission. I heard from Smidgen, but cannot confirm, that Churchill himself interviewed Smidgen in his underground war-room bunker right around the corner from 10 Downing. Smidgen sometimes does tend towards fantasism and self-aggrandizement, but I think it is only natural given the breadth of his achievements.

Anyway, every evening at Bletchley Park, when the air was clear, he would be hoisted up on a special pole with a harness, pointed forward towards the Channel, and used as a listening post. His tail would be clamped to the input port on the Enigma Machine, which would then be used to break German codes.

It was only recently revealed that Smidgen was used for this purpose, given the sensitive and highly classified nature of the endeavor. Only in the last couple of years more sensitive non-organic antennas have been developed, obviating the need for this kind of antenna. Hence, Smidgen's essential contribution to the war effort had remained classified until 2008. That is why it took so long for his OBE to come through, just in case you were wondering.

As a postscript, many elements of Smidgen's technical contributions still remain classified. For example, I hear from him that his tail, because of its length and furriness, could be used as a very low-cost and extremely accurate passive bandpass filter, so that the signals being picked up by his ears could be focused on the specific assumed frequencies of the German military. This was done, I believe, by trimming his tail fur in specific patterns (the shape of these patterns remain classified). By changing the patterns, it was possible to change the tuning frequency. However, because it would take a while for the fur to regrow, changing frequencies was only done very infrequently. Bletchley Park engineers tried to work around the issue by enlisting many Maine Coons, each tuned to a different frequency, but this effort was abandoned after it was found that there was a lot of crosstalk between the different listening posts, even if at a very long distance. This, by the way, was also used to verify the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen "action at a distance" hypothesis, which would have netted Smidgen the Nobel Prize. However, since it was unclear which of the Maine Coons was which, the committee was unable to attribute who should get the Nobel Prize, and it was deemed unseemly to give it to many Maine Coons at the same time, and the idea was unfortunately abandoned. Later generations of scientists used this issue with observability as a building block in extend the Schrodinger's cat thought experiment into the realm of the crazy talk.

Now that this wonderful story has been released, it's high time for this accomplishment to be honoured.

Rest assured that the Rycote style windshield basket covers for microphones (affectionally known as 'furry sausages' by the BBC) will henceforth be called 'Smidgens' in my household.

As far as I understand, microphone Smidgens are a British invention, I feel privileged to finally learn about the inspiration behind them.

My deepest respects.

pickles, honestly, why would somebody compare dressed dogs with shown-off cats?! besides: I didnt say I approve of dressing dogs lol I guess there should be a law, too

after all, it's a difference between trying to get a familiy for a pet and showing them off for money.

LapLap said you are well known and respected here. well, he can only speak for himself, as well. in my opinion all you did so far is giving sublime comments with the only intention to aggrevate. there is no useful information, not even an opinion in your post. it seems, you and others take critique in japanese "culture" very personal. I wonder why. Im done reading it so dont mind answering :rolleyes:

LapLap: I must admit, trapping cats in little tokyo apartments is no good, you are right. though this does not justify trapping them in petting cafes at all. I am not an expert on cat psychic to say what would be better. maybe the best solution is to avoid pets this kind and size in tokyo. I barely see dogs around, compared to NY or BERLIN for example. I guess most japanese citizens are reasonable after all. I didnt say anything about cat cruelty. it is just my opinion, that cat petting cafes arent any good. cats are used to advertize cats livin supplies and not to find a home for them. which is, indeed, what cat petting facilities do.

since my time here is limited, I'd rather go out and see something instead of hanging around. thanks to all for all useful information and the talk. I appreciate it.

after all, it's a difference between trying to get a familiy for a pet and showing them off for money.

Like in a zoo? You approve of zoos? The Berlin Zoo is very nice.

I'd rather this than 'life' in an antiseptic steel and concrete pig pen in a sunless shed waiting to be turned into bacon rashers.

Come now. Nobody forced you to fly with Ryanair.

:D ^

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Someone invoked Podolsky-Rosen. And on a thread about shopping in Tokyo, not about teaching intelligent design. I love it. ;).

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Someone invoked Podolsky-Rosen.

Yes. It's like the new Godwin's Law around here. Regardless of the topic it's only a matter of time before someone throws a quantum tantrum.

Yes. It's like the new Godwin's Law around here. Regardless of the topic it's only a matter of time before someone throws a quantum tantrum.

Or a form of reverse parallel Gresham's law: Good information drives out bad.

Smidgen is busy these days, so he is unable to respond personally. ... Later generations of scientists used this issue with observability as a building block in extend the Schrodinger's cat thought experiment into the realm of the crazy talk."A cat like that- ya don't eat him all at once!"

Tokyo has antique markets almost every Sunday. They are usually outdoors, but canceled if it rains. These are wonderful places to buy souvenirs and gifts. Folk art pieces, antiques of all kinds and price ranges, furniture too, and plenty of curios. Fabrics, old kimonos, you name it.

And you can bargain there!! The only place in Japan bargaining seems accepted and considered normal. Start with about 1/3rd off the original price and go from there, pointing out the item's defects or what have you. Be polite but firm.

Your hotel concierge will be able to direct you to the Sunday antique markets on during your stay. They are often quite large (like the Tokyo International Forum one on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month), and very interesting to see. One stop gift shopping, for sure. The Tokyo International Forum is also a very interesting architectural statement, and a five minute walk from the legendary, 120 year old Imperial Hotel.

You can forget the tacky and touristy 'Oriental Bazaar' in Omotesando too - a place once patronized for its mediocre collection of antiques and junk Japanese companies make for foreigners but which Japanese would rarely if ever buy for themselves.

Having said that, a Sunday afternoon stroll up and down Omotesando offers a first class display of Japan's consumerism and some of the most ingenious, as well as some of the dumbest, displays of creative fashion you will ever see anywhere - most of it on the pedestrians milling around. The small boutiques in the back streets are an interesting diversion as well.

The Tokyo International Forum is also a very interesting architectural statement, and a five minute walk from the legendary, 120 year old Imperial Hotel.
Well, since you're talking about architecture, I think it's important to point out that there's nothing of the 120 year old Imperial left there today. (Nor was there in the 1920s when it had already been torn down and rebuilt ... and it's been torn down and rebuilt once again since then).

Well, since you're talking about architecture, I think it's important to point out that there's nothing of the 120 year old Imperial left there today. (Nor was there in the 1920s when it had already been torn down and rebuilt ... and it's been torn down and rebuilt once again since then).

Not quite. The Old Imperial Bar in the Mezzanine level is the real deal, including the bartenders, some of which probably worked in the original building. Well worth a stop for that. Opens early, so nothing like a good old-fashioned bender in the middle of the day.

Not quite. The Old Imperial Bar in the Mezzanine level is the real deal, including the bartenders, some of which probably worked in the original building. Well worth a stop for that. Opens early, so nothing like a good old-fashioned bender in the middle of the day.

The Old Imperial Bar was FLW's design. No?

I'm talking about the original 1890s hotel, of which not a trace remains. (AFAIK)

The Old Imperial Bar was FLW's design. No?

I'm talking about the original 1890s hotel, of which not a trace remains. (AFAIK)

Right. And you are right, there is no trace of the 1890's hotel, but it wasn't memorable at all, just like the current incarnation. Full circle.

Right. And you are right, there is no trace of the 1890's hotel, but it wasn't memorable at all, just like the current incarnation. Full circle.

Well. We seem to be at loggerheads today. I think it was a much more memorable building than the carbuncle we have today. Perhaps not as earth-shattering as FLW's mayan-revival, but a very classy piece of Meiji "Western-style" grand architecture. Indeed, before I went looking for this photo I could clearly remember that it looked like a grand hotel in one of the posh old-school resorts of Northern France (Dinard, Deauville etc.) ... and it does ... kinda:

http://datefile.iza.ne.jp/images/user/20070416/61791.jpg

I have read that it made a big impression on people at the time - although not as big as the Rokumeikan, which was the first big Western building in the neighbourhood. IIRC.

I heard the first Imperial burned down in the 1910s or so during a visit by the Prince of Wales.

There is a Frank Lloyd Wright Suite in The Imperial - at the pocket money tab of US$4,000 or so a night (!) - and in addition to the Old Bar, there are Wright designs in the Peacock Ballroom and foyer, some in the main lobby and some in other ballrooms. In any event, the VIPs still seem to stay there rather than elsewhere in Tokyo ーPrince Charles and Camilla and the King and Queen of Spain last year, for starters, but you never see anyone!

I think the Hotel Okura will become a 'classic' if they can keep from renovating it for another 50 years. It is already like a time machine back to the late 50s.
It's getting a bit shabby, but in Tokyo, I would certainly recommend the older Japanese hotels (excuding probably the sorry New Otani with its 3,000 rooms) rather than the cookie cutter international chains. The difference is the charm factor in the way local hospitality is expressed in Japan.

http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/none/worlds-greatest-city-50-reasons-why-tokyo-no-1-903662

I'm planning to visit Tokyo with my wife for 6 days.
We got a couple of suggestions :
- Asakusa
- Universal Studio Osaka
- Disneyland
- Disneysea
- Gotemba
- Mt. Fuji
- Ueno
Is it possible to go through all those places in 6 days ? I've already bought JR Rail pass
What's the weather in December in Tokyo ? Is it ok to visit Disneysea... since it's already cold ... Since I come from Indonesia which mainly are dry & wet season only.
Any suggestions ?

Ohh and one more thing ... I'll be staying at JGH Tokyo ... Has anyone ever stayed there before ?

You can usually see all you need to see of Mount Fuji from the top of any tall building in Tokyo in December. No need to go there, and it's closed for climbing and hiking at that time of the year.

Osaka is three hours away by Shinkansen. If you MUST see Universal Studios, make it an overnight trip. Personally, I wouldn't go all the way to Japan just to see theme parks, but there seem to be an awful lot of people who do. :confused:

Buy a guidebook. There's enough in Tokyo to keep anyone busy for six days.