Originally Posted by
asya999
We're going to be in Tokyo Dec 27th-Jan 1st and I have three questions:
1. I'm trying to decide between Cerulyan Tower in Shibuya and Hilton Shinjuku. There are a few reasons in favor of each, they are both close to train stations for getting around and I've heard nice things about both. Being Hilton Diamond I might get an upgrade at Hilton. Cerulyan rates through Expedia are absurdly low. Any obvious reason I'm missing to prefer one to the other?
Personally I'd choose the Cerulean Tower as it's more convenient to the Yamanote line in Shibuya than the Hilton is to the same line in Shinjuku. Rooms might be a little small (aren't the smallest rooms about 20m2 at the Cerulean?), but they should be of a high quality AND you have the chance of some fantastic views
A twin room:
http://sheepcote.jp/rum/hotel/cer-p03.htm (press 次のページへ on the bottom right to see the rest)
Have you checked the Grand Takanawa Prince through
www.utell.com for your dates. They occasionally have deluxe rooms for around ¥13,000 which offer fantastic value for money.
Also - check the Strings/ANA Tokyo IC offers that are currently on through Priority Club - it's an unbeatable offer for some prime hotels in excellent locations (Xmas is Valentines day for many Japanese - hotel availablity can be tricky at this time of the year, not sure if the offer is available for your dates).
Originally Posted by
asya999
2. I know, maybe ten words in Japanese (that aren't fish/sushi names) and Mr. 999 knows maybe five or ten times that. Are we doomed to dining at sushi boat places where we can grab our own or will we be able to get by in some/many/most restaurants?
Go anywhere you like. Even if you had fluent Japanese you might not be able to read the menu. If you're polite and keen to try things, I'm sure You'll have no problems finding things to eat. I don't eat 'land' meat and don't read and my Japanese is incredibly basic but I rarely feel intimidated at restaurants.
Originally Posted by
asya999
3. I'm interested in various cultural immersion activities, in particular lessons in cooking traditional Japanese dinner, or just a sushi making class. Are there any of those available during last week of December or do things tend to close down because of the "holidays"?
Usually business as usual until the 30th.
I contacted a cooking school once about a class I'd read about, unfortunately they never replied.
How about these:
Go Lessons
Minato-ku fureai kan
Classes Tuesday night, Wednesday afternoon, and Saturday morning.
Contact 03 5475 1305
(cost is minimal)
----------------
Ikebana
www.ohararyu.or.jp/english/index_e.html
or
www.sogetsu.or.jp/english/n_class/index3.html
----------------
Tea Ceremony
Chado Bunka Shinkoukai
14:00 on Tue., Wed. and Thur.
Chado Kaikan, 3-39-17, Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
03-3361-2446 (reservation required)
2,000 yen (1 hr.)
or
International Chado Culture Foundation
1st and 3nd Mon., Wed., Fri. and Sat.: 14:00-17:00.
Additionally, on Mon. and Wed.: 18:00-21:00
1-4, Kora-cho, Ichigaya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
03-5225-0787, Fax:03-5225-0782 (reservation required)
5,000 yen (90 min.)
My suggestion for
real culture immersion is a visit to a couple of neighbourhood Onsen/Sentos - lots of suggestions in the Tokyo Onsen thread. For atmosphere the Koshinoyu in Azabu Juban is worthwhile and the lady who oversees it (literally) is about the most regal woman I've ever met and has exquisitely accented English (very good but not fluent though)