Talking of which, I was in one of the department stores in Akihabara (sampling a massage chair) and was amazed to see someone picking up an electric shaver and calmly shaving himself in the store (there was a mirror provided for his convenience above the shaver display)...

Why stay at the Hyatt? Stay at Four Seasons Marunouchi. It is located next to Tokyo Station, and if you ask, a staff will walk you to the platform of Shinkansen! If you have never been on the Shinkasen, this service is great as train departs every 10 minutes or so and sometimes confusing - trains make different stops. A staff will show you which train to take and escort to the car that you have a seat reservation. ^ The hotel is more expensive -I think $40-50 more than PHT, but it is worth it! Also, the hotel has only 50-60 rooms and every staff is friendly and speaks excellent English.

I'm staying at the Park Hyatt using FFN (Faster Free Nights) awards!

Nonetheless, you should do as Swiftman says - Stay at the FS. He is right and everyone who stays at the PHT is wrong. It's that simple.

So there - Now you know.

[Note: In case anyone gets upset with my tone - I intended this post to be gently sarcastic. I do have a serious point though, which is that there is more than one way to approach Tokyo and it is impossible to prescribe a single "right" way to meet everyone's needs.]

I give a big second to the suggestion of seeing the Tokyu Hands store and Takashamaya. The Takishimiya is very nice and the Tokyu Hands is one of the few stores where I actually buy things. I think there is a food area in that Takashamaya, if so definately check it out. One of the more unusual things about the Japanese department stores are their areas where they sell prepared foods.

Also since it is December, try to get to the flagship Mitsukoshi store in Nihombashi. It is almost surreal. There is a large central atrium with a giant statue in it. When I was there in mid December last year there was an organ set up with people singing Christmas Carols, in English, in the artrium. The food area in the basement is incredible. I got to try a really nice tea and bought some of the tea leaves to bring back.

Also, December is the heart of fugu season. If you are interested in the famous Japanese toxic fish, Kozue one of the restaurants in the Park Hyatt serves a very enjoyable fugu course dinner. Ive always suspected they dont have as much toxin left in the fish there as some other places Ive had it but I have had it three times there and really enjoyed it each time. The view from the restaurant is spectacular.