Tokyo Parking Adventures
May 27, 2014, 5:50 pm
#16
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SUV
Programs: UA *G MM
Posts: 7,017
Just to clarify. If metered parking is available during certain hours, then it is strictly speaking illegal to park outside of those hours. However, you will not get ticketed except in spots where it's clearly posted as no parking during the non-metered hours.
No guarantees on this, but I have pretty extensive experience and it has been confirmed to me by numerous omawarisans.
Additional Caveat - This only applies to Tokyo. The Barney Fifes of Japan are unpredictable.
No guarantees on this, but I have pretty extensive experience and it has been confirmed to me by numerous omawarisans.
Additional Caveat - This only applies to Tokyo. The Barney Fifes of Japan are unpredictable.
Also for our readers we should point out that parking meters are not used very much in Tokyo. It's relatively easy to find a spot even in Shibuya (well that's probably the hardest) or on Omotesando. Also another annoyance with Tokyo meters is that they have a sensor so that you can't reload the meter. You have to pull out of the spot for a few seconds to reset it.
When the "green men" nail someone it is quite a comical procedure with cameras and measuring tape. They are not very aggressive like in the west. Once I was parked on Meiji dori while we were in a shop. I look outside and see two of them approach on bicycles and dismount. I step out and look at them and they bow and mumble gomens and head down the street.
Once on the same street I made the bad decision of going to the supermarket around 9 am on a Saturday (20 parking spots). Long line of Land Rovers and Cayennes. So along with many other people I park with the flashers on. I rush in like a madman and grab some things. I come out and I see them there with the cameras and measuring tape doing the car behind me. I nod at them, they nod back and off I go. That was my closest call. I parked sometimes illegally in Shibuya when doing quick shopping, but zero tickets in 3 years.
May 27, 2014, 5:57 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SUV
Programs: UA *G MM
Posts: 7,017
Always wondered why there were so many street parking places in Shibuya after 20:00 thinking it was free after that time. Is this only Shibuya or other areas as well
Have managed to put just 100 yen in the meters and it was good for 20 minutes, maybe depends on location (Azabu Juban and Shin Okubo K town)? Good to know about the free street parking in Daikanyama. Spent 1750 JPY for parking there just the other day. My Cube is often too tall for many garages, which is odd considering all the big SUVs and minivans driving around.
Have managed to put just 100 yen in the meters and it was good for 20 minutes, maybe depends on location (Azabu Juban and Shin Okubo K town)? Good to know about the free street parking in Daikanyama. Spent 1750 JPY for parking there just the other day. My Cube is often too tall for many garages, which is odd considering all the big SUVs and minivans driving around.Up near the Turkish embassy on Meiji dori where it is dead at night has the restriction when meters are not working.
I tried to put 100 yen the first time I ever parked at a meter and nothing happened, I think, but I was a rookie back then. I tried again on maybe two ocassions and maybe I was not patient enough. So the light comes on eventually? My perception was that the meter is not running until the light comes on. The timer starts as soon as the sensor sees your car; well, maybe there is a minute or two until it starts.
May 27, 2014, 6:44 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Really? In Shibuya or on Omotesando there is a blue sign with P40 or P60 with hours of 7-20, for example. And then on top there is a sign showing no parking 20-7. If you head over to Yoyogi Park then the plentiful parking spots around it just show parking 9-19 but no no parking sign. The spots around Yoyogi Park fill up on a Sunday.
Also for our readers we should point out that parking meters are not used very much in Tokyo. It's relatively easy to find a spot even in Shibuya (well that's probably the hardest) or on Omotesando. Also another annoyance with Tokyo meters is that they have a sensor so that you can't reload the meter. You have to pull out of the spot for a few seconds to reset it.
When the "green men" nail someone it is quite a comical procedure with cameras and measuring tape. They are not very aggressive like in the west. Once I was parked on Meiji dori while we were in a shop. I look outside and see two of them approach on bicycles and dismount. I step out and look at them and they bow and mumble gomens and head down the street.
Once on the same street I made the bad decision of going to the supermarket around 9 am on a Saturday (20 parking spots). Long line of Land Rovers and Cayennes. So along with many other people I park with the flashers on. I rush in like a madman and grab some things. I come out and I see them there with the cameras and measuring tape doing the car behind me. I nod at them, they nod back and off I go. That was my closest call. I parked sometimes illegally in Shibuya when doing quick shopping, but zero tickets in 3 years.
Also for our readers we should point out that parking meters are not used very much in Tokyo. It's relatively easy to find a spot even in Shibuya (well that's probably the hardest) or on Omotesando. Also another annoyance with Tokyo meters is that they have a sensor so that you can't reload the meter. You have to pull out of the spot for a few seconds to reset it.
When the "green men" nail someone it is quite a comical procedure with cameras and measuring tape. They are not very aggressive like in the west. Once I was parked on Meiji dori while we were in a shop. I look outside and see two of them approach on bicycles and dismount. I step out and look at them and they bow and mumble gomens and head down the street.
Once on the same street I made the bad decision of going to the supermarket around 9 am on a Saturday (20 parking spots). Long line of Land Rovers and Cayennes. So along with many other people I park with the flashers on. I rush in like a madman and grab some things. I come out and I see them there with the cameras and measuring tape doing the car behind me. I nod at them, they nod back and off I go. That was my closest call. I parked sometimes illegally in Shibuya when doing quick shopping, but zero tickets in 3 years.
There is a legal difference between parking and stopping. X on the sign means no stopping. Slash on the sign means no parking but stopping is allowed. Among other things stopping requires that you be in proximity of your car and be able to move it if needed. So if you are nearby and able to move the car, it's not illegal and you can't be ticketed.
Oct 22, 2014, 6:15 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
Posts: 10,656
Apartment Shopping !
This past weekend was spent viewing an odd assortment of rental spaces. All between 55-80 sq. metres. rents to be expected for the areas and size. What I really wanted to talk about was the the last unit of the day viewed. It was in Moto-Azabu directly to the east and behind the Korean Embassy. It was a brand new building, and was quite nicely kitted out. What was really an interesting feature was the pornographic video shoot taking place on the second floor. I guess that is what they mean by SOHO可能 
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!
Oct 22, 2014, 10:21 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,147
This past weekend was spent viewing an odd assortment of rental spaces. All between 55-80 sq. metres. rents to be expected for the areas and size. What I really wanted to talk about was the the last unit of the day viewed. It was in Moto-Azabu directly to the east and behind the Korean Embassy. It was a brand new building, and was quite nicely kitted out. What was really an interesting feature was the pornographic video shoot taking place on the second floor. I guess that is what they mean by SOHO可能 !
!
Oct 22, 2014, 12:05 pm
#22
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
This past weekend was spent viewing an odd assortment of rental spaces. All between 55-80 sq. metres. rents to be expected for the areas and size. What I really wanted to talk about was the the last unit of the day viewed. It was in Moto-Azabu directly to the east and behind the Korean Embassy. It was a brand new building, and was quite nicely kitted out. What was really an interesting feature was the pornographic video shoot taking place on the second floor. I guess that is what they mean by SOHO可能 !
!
