I have 5 days in Tokyo in December and was wondering if anyone had comments on excursions. I know it is a short amount of time, but we booked a day trip to Nikko. We have some interest in doing another day trip to Mount Fuji, but then I fear we will not have seen enough of Tokyo before we must leave.

What are some things that folks would recommend for our other 4 days in Tokyo? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

p.s. I am staying at the Mandarin Oriental in Nihonbashi Dec 9 (it officially opens Dec 2), so I will make sure to post a report on this new hotel.

You can leave out in the morning and go to some mountains near Fuji. Take a series of trams up them, then a cable car over a sulfur mine with ridiculous winds. Great views of Fuji. Then just reverse the trip and hop back on the train to tokyo. In December the weather is not great and I don't think you can get on Fuji itself. At least in any meaningful way without equipment.
A good day trip.

I assume you have seen the Weekends Away from Tokyo thread. If not, there are daytrips listed there too. Like chuckd mentioned you won't be able to actually visit Mt.Fuji in the winter, but the Hakone hot spring area is worth a visit. Once you've been to Nikko it might not be necessary to go to Kamukura to visit yet more temples and shrines though. For such a short time in Tokyo, you'd be better off taking your time to explore the city without having to rush too much. You can shop and eat 'til you drop. I can spend hours at Tokyu Hands and exploring the food sections in the basement of the department stores. I also prefer the Omote-Sando/Harajuku shopping areas to Ginza/Nihombashi area.

It might be helpful to know what sorts of things you like. Are you interested in history? Art? Shopping, partying, temples, outdoor activities, modern marvels, fine dining, youth culture and fashion, sports, souvenirs? I'm not trying to be facetious, but there is so much that narrowing down a bit can make recommendations a lot easier.

December will change some things, such as the fabulous gardens and outdoor areas. A few of my favorites for a quick trip to Tokyo might include:

Asakusa - Senso-ji temple, the Nakamise Arcade and the surrounding "old town" entertainment area.

The Edo-Tokyo Museum and surrounding "sumo town" of Ryogoku. If you see only one museum in Tokyo, this should be it.

The Imperial Palace - even in winter, the East Garden should be nice.

Ueno Park and the Tokyo National Museum comlex.

Ginza - a trip to a high-end Japanese department store is an amazing experience. White gloved attendants, bowing everywhere and super expensive top-name merchandise. Be sure to go to the basements for the food displays and samples. A walk around Ginza at dusk is always a treat for the lights and window displays, but near Christmas it will be amazing.

Harajuku and Aoyama on a weekend is fun for the wild teen fashions being paraded.

Akihabara - I don't actually buy anything in "electric town," but find the madhouse atmosphere of all the electronics to be fascinating.

For a quieter look at pretty, older fashioned Tokyo, spend a half-day or so wandering around Nippori or better yet cross the tracks from Nippori Station to Yanaka or Nezu. You will think you have gone back 50 years.

Kamakura is definitely do-able as a day trip.

There is plenty to keep one busy for 5 days in and around Tokyo. Several previous threads have addressed this and a scroll through the forum will turn those up. I'm sure that others will chime in over the next few days, too.

JR

Contrary to the comments from other posters, I think that early December can be a great time to go to Hakone to see Mt. Fuji. Of course, you need to wrap up warm, because Hakone is around 1000m above sea level. But the skies can be very clear at this time of year - and the top part of the mountain may have received its first covering of snow, which makes it more attractive.

Previous posters are correct to say that only serious climbers should attempt to ascend to the top of the mountain at this time of year (almost 4000m altitude). It is possible to go by car or bus as far as the "fifth station" (roughly half way up the mountain) if that interests you.... but IMHO there's no need to "go up" Fuji to enjoy it. The best views are from a distance on a clear day. (For example the view from Lake Ashi in Hakone).

So if you're considering a day trip to Fuji - Be sure to check the weather reports on the day. If the forecast is for clear skies, then you're in for a treat. If cloudy weather, then forget about it.

As for the remaining time in Tokyo. Three or four days would allow you to see lots of cool stuff. I think you can get a pretty good feel for the city even with three days.

For example, you could manage 3 days like this, but there are many, many other possibilities:

Day 1
- Get up early and visit Tsukiji Fish Market
- Hang out in the glitzy high-end shopping areas of the Ginza (which is quite close to your hotel)
- See one scene (or more if you wish) of a kabuki play (At the Kabuki-za in Higashi Ginza - ask your concierge to check performances/ tickets)

Day 2
- Walk around a quaint, old, residential area with wooden buildings etc. - Yanaka
- See a garden (see separate thread on flyertalk for Japan's best gardens)
- Do some people watching in a crazy "wow" city area such as Shibuya or Harajuku (Lots of kids in the latest fashions)
- Check out the nightlife scene in Shibuya or Shinjuku or Roppongi etc.

Day 3
- Check out the new "Yodobashi Camera" consumer electronics store in Akihabara electric town and also the nearby narrow alleyways of stores selling all sorts of components - from Hard Disk Drives to onnectors to Russian-made vacuum tubes and so on.
- Go to the Ryogoku area to see the Edo-Tokyo museum (and if you wish the Sumo museum).
- Asakusa area for the temple and bazaar experience

There are dozens of other ways to spend the time in Tokyo - there is no end of shopping / quirky museum / people watching / "wow" city experiences. But with just three days, you can form a pretty good impression of the city.

I'm sure Jib would know more specific names than I will, but there is a place called 'palette town' or something similar, with the tokyo big sight I think it's called and a toyota building/exhibition with tons of stuff to see. The fuji building is near there, as well as a neat museum. A statue of liberty, some kind of rocket-like statue, just alot of stuff to see. Lots of walking if you want it, and a pretty interesting day. I went from there to ginza and then walked for several hours bar hopping until everything closed.
I'll be there in December as well and may do a repeat.

Thanks for all the great ideas! I think we will try to stay in Tokyo for the four days rather than doing another day trip as there is so much to see and do as everyone has suggested. We are really looking forward to Toyko and thanks to everyone for the great suggestions!

I agree with all the suggestions above.

You could still visit Mount Takao. It's less than an hour from Shinjuku, has, I think, the steepest cable car (a train on a cable) in Japan to get you half the way up, and is a lovely way to get into the mountains. At the top, you've got a decent chance at a view of the elusive mount Fuji. December weather is normally very clear and your chances of seeing Fuji are better than almost any other time of the year. You can always pop up the Tokyo Metropolitan buildings in Nishi Shijuku to gage your chances before you head off (you can go and come back within 5-6 hours). Mind you, I went to Takao at Xmas time last year and just saw white. Unusually, it had started to snow once we were half way up. Still had a lovely day though and will be returning for another attempt this year.

Chuckd is referring to the Odaiba part of Tokyo which rests on reclaimed land in the harbour. Tokyo International Exhibition Hall (AKA Tokyo Big Sight) is near Ariake Station (the end of the Yurikamome line). Palette Town is in front of Aomi Station (just a couple of stops away) and is probably the best point from which to start exploring this area. It's the newest part of Tokyo and is used by youg Tokyoites kind of in the same way that Coney Island has traditionally been used by young New Yorkers. And I stress 'kind of'.

Not to change the subject, but laplap, do you know what the giant handsaw sticking into the ground is supposed to be?

I second everyone who's said check the weather- I went to Hakone without really checking weather reports, and spent two days wandering around in the fog. Literally. It made for some cool pictures (like a red tori just barely visible in the mist), but I definately did not get to see Fuji.

Also, definately check out the fish market. You have to get up really early, but it's worth it. (unless, of course, you have a really weak stomach.)

I'm interested in theater, so while I was in Tokyo, I was happy that I was able to catch a children's version of Japanese opera (the name of it is escaping me). They rented headphones through which you got an English translation of the show as well as the "talk" beforehand explaining the style of theater. I believe that was at the National Theater. Worth the time, especially if the weather isn't great out.

(chuckle!)
No idea! What did strike me when I saw it is that this kind of handsaw is a recent import to Japan. None of the carpenters I've met in Tokyo tend to use this style of saw. My partner brought a Japanese version back to the UK a couple of years ago when I mentioned that my Dad would be interested in seeing one. He loved it! Easy to work with, cleaner cut, instantly bacame a favourite in his tool kit. And he's not the only one who thought so. We've been obliged to bring back a few more for friends and family. It's actually the most popular of the souvenirs we've brought back to Europe.

Anyway, I digress. Odaiba can take hours to see. Here are a couple of links with more information (and pictures - including the giant 'western' hand saw) at least anyone tempted to go there can make a relatively informed decision as to which areas to stick to.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3008.html

http://metropolis.japantoday.com/tok...storiesinc.htm

P.S. "Japanese hand saw" in Google images will give anyone who's curious an idea about what I'm talking about. You can get them in Tokyu Hands or any hradware store. Excellent tool for anybody serious about their toolkit! (look for the one with the ball in the handle, as you saw, the ball moves creating a draft that blows the sawdust away - simple but ingenious!)

This would be Odaiba, also one of my favorite places in Tokyo. Check out the surreal Venusfort mall, complete with artificial sky, and be sure to finish off a hard day of sightseeing with a soak in the O-Edo Onsen hot spring complex!