Your advice for a 1 day visit to Tokyo?
Jan 30, 2011 | 8:18 am
#31
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 3
I had no problem with any of my Canadian electronics (Macbook laptop, ipad, cell phone etc...)
Jan 31, 2011 | 9:03 am
#32
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 20
Better yet, after you get in the city/your hotel... go to Tsukiji and eat your way through the outside markets until 9A or so, or whenever you're "allowed" to go inside. Then wander around the wholesale markets within the actual market and enjoy the madness. Find a stand inside selling otoro sashimi (if it wasn't otoro, it was damn close!) to go, I saw several. Picked up a box with at about 16 generously sliced and still slightly frozen pieces for 500 yen "to go".
Tuna in hand, leave the market and hang a left, walk around the curve towards Shiodome/Hamarikyu Gardens, head inside the gardens and wander around that. I think its beautiful even in the winter, and very peaceful. Such a stark contrast to not only Tsukiji, but really all of Tokyo as well. By the time you get there, head inside the park (300 yen I think?), and find a suitable view/bench to relax on. By now, your outrageously cheap otoro will have defrosted to the perfect temperature making for a nice early lunch
Personally... I like Hamarikyu gardens better then the Imperial Gardens. Less crowds.
Afterwards, you can walk to Ginza (10 mins), take the metro from Shiodome/Shinbashi/Tsukijishijo to wherever, or theres a even ferry which leaves from the park that you can take to the Asakusa area which is also worth visiting.
Oh, the mTrip Tokyo app is worth buying. Don't really have to carry around anything else aside from a 1 page Metro map to cross-reference. It has pretty good offline street maps and walking or transit directions very similar to the Google Maps app, without burning up data. Though it did give me some odd routings, it was still very helpful. Has a semi-decent guide to local attractions as well.
You'll be fine without any Japanese, many speak enough English to help you get by. Signs are in English as well. Hell... all I really know is thank you, excuse me, where is the bathroom, and give me a beer. Oh, and don't point at things with your finger... not sure why that is so incredibly rude.
Have fun.
Tuna in hand, leave the market and hang a left, walk around the curve towards Shiodome/Hamarikyu Gardens, head inside the gardens and wander around that. I think its beautiful even in the winter, and very peaceful. Such a stark contrast to not only Tsukiji, but really all of Tokyo as well. By the time you get there, head inside the park (300 yen I think?), and find a suitable view/bench to relax on. By now, your outrageously cheap otoro will have defrosted to the perfect temperature making for a nice early lunch
Personally... I like Hamarikyu gardens better then the Imperial Gardens. Less crowds.
Afterwards, you can walk to Ginza (10 mins), take the metro from Shiodome/Shinbashi/Tsukijishijo to wherever, or theres a even ferry which leaves from the park that you can take to the Asakusa area which is also worth visiting.
Oh, the mTrip Tokyo app is worth buying. Don't really have to carry around anything else aside from a 1 page Metro map to cross-reference. It has pretty good offline street maps and walking or transit directions very similar to the Google Maps app, without burning up data. Though it did give me some odd routings, it was still very helpful. Has a semi-decent guide to local attractions as well.
You'll be fine without any Japanese, many speak enough English to help you get by. Signs are in English as well. Hell... all I really know is thank you, excuse me, where is the bathroom, and give me a beer. Oh, and don't point at things with your finger... not sure why that is so incredibly rude.
Have fun.