First time in Tokyo
 

I will be staying in Tokyo for the first time in December. Two nights at the Park Hyatt. I will be taking a bullet train from Osaka (2 nights there, also for the first time). A few questions:

1. Which train to take from Osaka?

2. Any overview of the area around the Park Hyatt. Any absolute must things to do/see/eat for a first timer on a short stay?

3. Any favorite places to shop in the section of Tokyo with all the electronics stores?

I don't have any particular favorites, but you must stop at the new Yodobashi-Akiba electronics store in Akihabara. It is 9 floors of closely-packed electronic goods and cameras, will definitely remind you why Japan is still #1 in this stuff.

Most amazing, a lot of the stuff is on display for you to pick up and handle. I spent quite a while playing around with the latest SLR cameras. I want a Nikon F5 with the digital back!

1. Bullet trains are known as the "SHINKANSEN" if you have the Japan Railpass you can only use the Hikari/Kodama Shinkansen, if you are just purchasing the tickets instead you have the option of using the more frequent NOZOMI Shinkansen.

The shinkansen's depart from SHIN-OSAKA station not Osaka Station, to get from Osaka Station to Shin-Osaka station you can take local/rapid trains or the municipal subway line to the Shinkansen station.

The Park Hyatt is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, no shinkansens stop at Shinjuku, what I would do and depending on how much luggage I have is to ride the Shinkansen to Tokyo station (every other shinkansen's stop at Shinagawa as well), from Tokyo Station take the Chuo line to Shinjuku Station (15minute ride) at Shinjuku Station I think the park hyatt has a bus service (might want to direct that question to the Hyatt forum).

I guess it all depends what you're looking for. The only time I go to Akihabara to shop is when I want some kind of specialized electronics parts or new/used computer parts. For these I hit the streets behind the stores on the main drag (opposite Akihabara station).

For other "mainstream" electronics/computer stuff, I find that it's a lot easier in terms of time saved, crowds, and convenience to just go to BIC Camera/Computer Kan in Ikebukuro, or a nearby Yamada Denki.

As mentioned below. The bullet trains leave from Tokyo station. Trains to Osaka are quite regular and run through the day.

You can search the Hyatt forum to get some info on PHT, such as:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...rk+Hyatt+Tokyo
Basically PHT is about 10-15 minutes away from Shinkuju station by foot (West Exit).

Akihabara is the place for electronics. You can get there from Shinjuku either by the Yamanote line or if memory serves the Sobu line. The Sobu line should be quicker. Just FYI, Yodobashi camera has several good size stores near the West Exit of Shinjuku station. If you are looking to browse electronics and don't have time to go to Akihabara, this could be a good option.

As you will be in Shinjuku anyway, I'd recommend Yodobashi Camera (EDIT: as does the thread above) - link with address here: Frommer's desription
I suggest you ignore the advice about bargaining - it isn't the done thing, and I suspect that people who have done this and gotten away with it probably got their price lowered because the assistant relented in order to extract themselves from an embarrassing situation. Rather than 'bargaining' the official sweetener are the points you get on a card. These add up with every purchase and get you further discounts. Perhaps someone else can correct me here. Personally I wince every time I see a guide book advocate haggling in Japan.

Best place to get presents for people back home is Tokyu Hands, it's on the Eastern side of the Takashimaya Store - the place that looks like the empire state building at Times Square - 7 floors of shopping heaven - no matter what your budget. ADDED: as you're there in December, check out the diaries and day-to-day organisers up in the stationery section (7th floor?) - the selection is staggering and make original and welcomed gifts.
Please check out this previous thread for more information: Park Hyatt Tokyo (oops! same one as mentioned in thread above! - you beat me to it too!)
I'm especially fond of the ICC gallery within Tokyo Opera City. Alas NTT are pulling their funding next Spring and the Gallery will close. I personally believe that, culturally, Tokyo will be much much poorer as a result.

If you end up with jet lag and are feeling adventurous, then why not try a quintessentially Japanese(Tokyan?) experience at "Green Plaza" a 24hour public bath (sento) complex. The entrance looks sleezy, but it is an awful lot nicer inside - you go up about 10 floors.
1-29-2 Kabukicho, Shinjuku (Tel: 03-3207-5411)
Open 24hr (VIP Sauna 1pm-9am, 1pm-12am Sun);
admission men JY1900 for entry after 6am,
JY2300 from 4pm,
JY2800 after 10pm;
women JY2700 (6am-10pm),
JY3300 (after 10pm)

There's a description here but you'll need to scroll right to the bottom to see it.

I have a regularly updated description I have written for our company intraweb on getting maximum advantage of the PHT and a bit about the area immediately around it. It's not on any public website but as I think it is rather too long to post here, I will email the relevant part to anyone who cares, unless there is a groundswell to post something about 1000 words long.

I would definitely like to see that posted... but!

Any chance you could post it in the thread myself and Traveling Consultant refered to? ( called Park Hyatt Tokyo - 2 links above )

Electronics in Tokyo
 

If you are only going to be browsing, Yodobashi in Shinjuku is fine. However if you are planning on actually purchasing something, I'd recommend going to Akihabara instead as the prices are much better.

Everything is more expensive in Tokyo. You do get newer items, though. So if you need the latest models, you could get it there. But if you need anything that was introduced six months or earlier, buy it from the US and save a lot.

It's hard to find an electronic "bargain" in Tokyo.

I agree with this. I generally can find better prices on stuff at home. Newer stuff: Yes, Cheaper stuff: No. Also, when you buys something that has a user interface (a camera, for instance), make sure that you can flip the UI into English mode.

Not just newer, but the variety of choice is staggering. What ends up in the US is what's already been mainstreamed for the US market, and a lot doesn't even make it due to standards or technological incompatibility (e.g. cellphones). The decision to roll something out to the US is done at the planning and design stage, and is a deliberate choice by the manufacturers (not really, "oh, let's see if it works here, and if it does, we'll sell it abroad"). Thus, if you see something in Japan that you like and can use (very important that you find out if you can use it due to standards and compatibility), then buy it in Japan. You will not necessarily find it elsewhere.

The major electronics stores all have "foreign goods" desks, where they sell stuff that they sell abroad, these are geared towards foreigners wanting to purchase in Japan. The chances of finding a bargain there relative to pricing in the US are pretty slim. However, you may find a bigger selection or unusual items, in which case you ought to buy it there. But unless you know what is or is not available at your corner Circuit City or Best Buy, you may buy something and find out later that you could have gotten it for 10-20% less back home.

For example, my mother, in 1993, bought a Sharp video camera (still cassette based) in Japan with LCD viewfinder now completely mainstream. It was biggish and bulky by today's standards, but tiny by the standards then. She had paid something like 2,000 USD for it, if I recall, not necessarily a bad price. The LCD viewfinder was, for about 10 years after she bought it, the topic of conversation whenever she used it in the West.

On the other hand, this product cycle has accelerated somewhat, and I don't think an innovation such as LCD screens for video cameras would take 10 years to reach the West anymore. My sense is that there is now a clear standards-based demarcation as convergence moves in, and thus the Japanese will continue developing their wizard gadgets for their wireless and broadcasting standards and selectively incorporate features in US-standard goods, but that incorporation will occur rapidly.

In summary, if your intended purchase is not hampered by standards incompatibility, and you know it is not available in the US, then buy it in Japan. Your buying decision here is not price based. If you are lucky, it will never show up in the US, and you'll have a real find.

Depends on what you're buying. For electronics, possibly, if you know your stuff and are willing to seek it out (kinda hard if you don't speak Japanese). For cameras (including the digital kind), forget it, Shinjuku's Camera Town is heaven on earth.

If you are staying at the Park Hyatt, I assume you are on expense account and can skip the local trains/buses. Take a cab to/from Shin-Osaka & Tokyo stations.... much less hasle especially since you are probably with luggage and in Tokyo. The cab might run you $30-40... but this will be same as the cost of your breakfast at the Park Hyatt ;)

You will love the Shinkansen -- simply the greatest way to travel, period.

Have a blast.

I can verify this. Took a cab to Century Hyatt (two blocks, plus or minus, from Park Hyatt) from Tokyo station in August. Ran just about $40. With myself and two kids, and lots of luggage, saved a lot of hassle.