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[StoOgE]

So, I have a friend from high school who lives in Tokyo and has offered to let me crash at his place on vacation this year. He's a really nice guy and a good friend, but unless he has changed his lifestyle considerably in the 3 years since I've seen him his idea of seeing Tokyo is going to be video game shops and his apartment. Which I'm sure will entertain me for a few days, but I don't want to go all the way to Japan and do nothing.

So, I'm asking GAF: what should I do while there?

I'm planning on being up there for about 3 weeks. I want to spend about 1500-1800 on this trip. My flight is going to eat up roughly 900 dollars of this budget. With the exception of any overnight trips I go on, I have no hotel expenses and plan on eating at his place as much as possible. So I would like to get around for about 600-900 bucks if at all possible once there.

Is this at all realistic? I'm hoping to save up a bit more money, but that is what I *know* I can afford to spend based on a bonus check coming in.

I plan on spending some time in Tokyo but would like to do a couple of day trips out to see some other areas.. historical sites, countryside, etc. Maybe an overnight trip somewhere if GAF thinks it's worth it.

 

[Litflynt912]

I just got back from Tokyo two weeks ago...I went the 11-17th and stayed in Akihabara...
and it was pretty much all about shopping, video games, shopping, eating....lol

My flight was 975 and I just check wanting to go back and they stay within that range...

are you planning on traveling and sight seeing?
the Narita Express is the train that runs from the Airport through to Tokyo, etc...it was $30 and takes an hour to get to Tokyo Station....if you don't speak Japanese...don't worry....it's easy ( I spoke 10 phrases the entire time)

being there for 5 days....I completely covered Akihabara up and down (considering my hotel was up the block from the SEGA arcade...which is going to be reopened up the block...they built a new one)

I went to Shibuya and Harajuko twice...once just for Harajuko and once for the Shrine...

I only spent about $650 and that counted train and food and the fact I bought so much crap I needed to buy another duffel to bring it all back...

If you have a place to crash..take advantage of that...food is pretty cheap and GREAT!!!
from Go Go Curry to the freaking bento boxes in the Seven Elevens...it all tastes great...and I did so much walking I ate like a pig and lost 6 pounds!!!
Watch you train fare and food and you'll have enough...that place to stay is going to save you $$ big time.

stuff isn't expensive...but it isn't cheap...
trust me though...try and not keep any coins...you will burn through 100 yen coins QUICK...
some GAFFER's advice I scoffed but turned out to be true....

 

[Masked Man]

If I remember correctly, for about 800円 (roughly US$8) you can get a day-pass that lets you ride anywhere along the Yamanote-sen (big circular train route that connects most of the major areas in Tokyo) as you please. It worked out really well for me and one of my friends (Japanese) when we did a little "day tour" back in October.

Akiba is overrated. It's fine to go, if only to experience it, but it's basically a few blocks of electronics, manga, and--most of all--female objectification.

Also, don't let yourself be fooled: while coins don't mean much in the U.S., the common 100円 coins are actually worth about US$1, so keep that in mind while you're spending them. It's easy to think of coins as insignificant, only to realize later that you spend a rather large bit of money without touching a single bill.

 

[OJdaKiller]

Well I've been a couple of times and here's what I did.

I guess it depends when you're going. I didn't go during the time of the Cherry Blossom (I think that's it) festival, but I hear that's a big deal. If you go in September of course there's TGS. But in addition there are tours which take you around to a few of the major sites (Tokyo Tower, Imperial Palace, some temples). I think that specific one is through the Haro Bus Company. The last time I went I did the Hakone National Prk and Mt. Fugi tour. So yeah, temples are options (I'm not a major site-seer but I found them pretty interesting), walk around Akihabara/see Super Potato/Club Sega arcades, etc.

Ask your buddy in general how much you should budget for travel on the trains/subway. I'm not sure where you'll be staying in comparison to where you're going but I'd say figure 30 bucks a day for travel...In September of last year the exchange was 80 yen to a dollar.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Litflynt912]

If I remember correctly, for about 800円 (roughly US$8) you can get a day-pass that lets you ride anywhere along the Yamanote-sen (big circular train route that connects most of the major areas in Tokyo) as you please. It worked out really well for me and one of my friends (Japanese) when we did a little "day tour" back in October.

yea you can get those once your in country....when I was there a couple weeks back...you can buy a SUICA card which has a value of about $50 (specially for visitors...I think you buy this at the airport if I'm not mistaken)
and with that card you just ride the rails til it runs out but also use it for purchases in a lot of places...


and the yen rate is right now 90ish to the dollar and it is 160 yen each way on the Yamamote line (green line) so figure in about $10ish a day for travel

taking the shinkensen, bullet train, is about $90ish depending on the stop...

like I said....I have a budget of $1000 to spend and I WENT CRAZY in Aki and only spent 600ish...

if you need an ATM...make sure you call your bank and tell them your going to Japan...
you can use your American Card (Master/Visa) at ANY JR Post Office (THEY HAVE ATM's)
and the charge for me was like $7 each time...just FYI

 

[Vai]

I havn't been, but I am planning to, on my list is:

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium - Kuroshio Sea ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7deClndzQw )
Visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashima_Island
Walking up Mount Fuji (can only be done in July/August afaik)

 

[StoOgE]

Is there any kind of monthly transit pass in Tokyo?

I guess my friend will know that.

 

[Masked Man]

I'm not terribly familiar with Kanto yet, so I can't recommend too much from firsthand experience. You might want to hop over to Kamakura (鎌&#20489, though, to visit the enormous Daibutsu (big Buddha statue). And other rail passes would come in handy in terms of out-of-Tokyo travel, but I'm not sure how much you want to do and/or where you might go. Even in my short time living here thus far, there's just so much all over that is worth exploring! I'll give it some more thought and get back to you.

Oh! And if you head out of Shinjuku (新&#23487 towards Mitaka (三&#40441, you could visit the Ghibli Museum, which is kind of a wonderland--if you're a fan of Ghibli, that is. I haven't gone yet, but I went to Tama Reien (a big cemetery) to visit the grave of my beloved Mishima Yukio, so I've been out in that direction.

Also, do you have any knowledge of Japanese? (I put the kanji for some of those places just in case it might help you recognize them. It's safe to say, though, that Tokyo, of all places, is extremely English-friendly.)

 

[Litflynt912]

it's called SUICA ...

It's like a Metro Card in NY or something like that...rechargeable card you use for the train and small purchases....

as a visitor with a Visa...you have to get this before you leave the airport/arrive in country...
I would email your buddy and see if he can get you one....or at least the paperwork to get it started.

 

[StoOgE]

I speak exactly zero Japanese. I'll learn some, but my friend told me that most people can write if not speak English.

I'm probably more inclined to be interested in the the nightlife/historical/geographic stuff than modern

I obviously love games, so if there is any cool Nintendo/Sega stuff I can see I'll be up for it.

 

[red shoe paul]

Is there any kind of monthly transit pass in Tokyo?

Yes there is, and it's cheap.
Spend lots of time in the arcades.

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

I was going to make my own Japan-travel thread as well, so I'm gonna piggy back on this one. A friend and I are planning on spending 3 weeks in April, hopefully before Golden Week insanity.

Can anyone recommend some great places to go for an automotive enthusiast? There's a Super GT race scheduled for when we will be there, so I definitely want to check that out. I've heard Mazda's HQ/museum in Hiroshima is really impressive.

My only real concern is the cost of a JR pass. I was surprised at how much they cost per week. The pass does no good inside of Tokyo itself, correct? We're trying to balance out how much travel around the rest of the country we're planning. I originally wanted to go for 2 weeks, but my friend shot that down saying you definitely want to do 3+ weeks when going international to try and see as much as possible. Good thing I have 300 hours of vacation time built-up.

edit: I'd also love to catch an MMA/K1 fight!!!

 

[Masked Man]

I speak exactly zero Japanese. I'll learn some, but my friend told me that most people can write if not speak English.

I'm probably more inclined to be interested in the the nightlife/historical/geographic stuff than modern

I obviously love games, so if there is any cool Nintendo/Sega stuff I can see I'll be up for it.

Yeah, you're probably able to get by in Tokyo without knowing Japanese, but a few phrases will come in handy. Example: I ran into a Canadian couple at a Mister Donut the other day. The lady had to go to the bathroom, but: 1) didn't know where it was, 2) didn't know what to look for, and 3) didn't know how to ask. =/ (Granted, a bathroom is a bathroom and the conventional red-woman, blue-man signs are in use, but still.) For reference, both "otearai" (お手洗&#12356 and "toire" (トイ&#12524 are common ways of saying "bathroom."

And, like I said, my time in Tokyo was all of a day or two, so even I didn't explore everything that I would have liked to, but the public transportation system is a real boon. If you're into historical stuff, then I might check out Asakusa (浅&#33609--which isn't on the Yamanote-sen, as it were, but still.

My only real concern is the cost of a JR pass. I was surprised at how much they cost per week. The pass does no good inside of Tokyo itself, correct? We're trying to balance out how much travel around the rest of the country we're planning. I originally wanted to go for 2 weeks, but my friend shot that down saying you definitely want to do 3+ weeks when going international to try and see as much as possible. Good thing I have 300 hours of vacation time built-up.

Well, the Yamanote-sen (山手&#32218, for example, is a JR line, and it takes you around to almost all of the major spots in the Tokyo area. You've got a lot on your plate if you're hoping to explore the entire country, though. ;D

 

[Forkball]

Just read through Wikitravel's page about Tokyo, especially the part about the rail passes:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Tokyo

Tokyo is so massive and there are many things to do, so pick something that interests you. I behoove you to not spend all of your time in Akihabara. It's fun to visit (wow an arcade, just like that one I saw in that history textbook!), but there are so many other places to visit.

 

[Litflynt912]

I speak exactly zero Japanese. I'll learn some, but my friend told me that most people can write if not speak English.

I'm probably more inclined to be interested in the the nightlife/historical/geographic stuff than modern

I obviously love games, so if there is any cool Nintendo/Sega stuff I can see I'll be up for it.

I literally spoke a few phrases....if you eat out...most places (like curry/noodle shops)
have machines that you pay for a ticket, hand it and they make your plate....minimal to no talking involed except thank you....

I walked into a MOS burger and pointed on the placard and paid for it....

it was SIMPLE...Japan is VERY English friendly...
but learn some phrases for respect and courtesy

 

[StoOgE]

Tokyo is so massive and there are many things to do, so pick something that interests you. I behoove you to not spend all of your time in Akihabara. It's fun to visit (wow an arcade, just like that one I saw in that history textbook!), but there are so many other places to visit.

I'm not.

I like games, I like some Anime.. but I'm not going to fly halfway around the world just to see nothing but otaku stuff. I will certainly do some of it, but like I said, I really want to get out of the city and see some more of the country.

Most likely it will be my only trip to Japan (too many places I want to see before I die) so I want to make the most out of it. I'm thinking maybe an overnight trip to Hiroshima since I've been told it is really pretty.

I'd also like to see some of the Japanese gardens and go on some day hikes if there are any good ones to go on. Is there any backpacking/camping that can be done there? I did a lot of that in Europe.. it's a great way to see the country and save some bank.

And yes, I'm planning on learning 30-40 basic Japanese phrases. I try my hardest not to be the ugly American that acts like the world should bow down to me.. but realistically I'm going to be limited in what I can learn in a few months.

 

[Masked Man]

And yes, I'm planning on learning 30-40 basic Japanese phrases. I try my hardest not to be the ugly American that acts like the world should bow down to me.. but realistically I'm going to be limited in what I can learn in a few months.

Side note, but I happened across a disgusting couple at a Kyoto Starbucks who were literally shouting at the poor barista because they thought she didn't understand their order--which they of course placed in English. They quickly shut up upon realizing that their order came out just as they had hoped. It was only during my first week being in Japan, so I didn't yet have the courage to go over and say something, but I've resolved to let someone have it if I see them doing something like that again.

And you mentioned Hiroshima: definitely go if you have the chance. It's almost surreal, as the only "sign" of the bombing left is the dome, and everything else exists as if it had never met with disaster. It's a truly moving experience. Also, I haven't been to Miyajima yet, but it's in that area and it looks breathtaking from what I've seen.

 

[StoOgE]

That's part of the reason I want to go. I stayed in Dresden for a month in college and they have some similar remnants of the bombings and they were devastating to see. It's one of those things that might not be "fun" but one of those things I think I need to see.

The Shrine looks absolutely amazing.

What is the rule of thumb for visiting religious sites in Japan? I want to see some of the Shinto and Buddhists shrines, but also don't want to offend anyone by snapping photos.

 

[Masked Man]

Pictures are generally fine, especially around the New Year because almost everyone goes with their families to visit a Shinto shrine. Buddhist temples are a bit more restrictive in terms of photographs, but they are mainly concerned about the interior of buildings. Exterior shots are almost always permitted, I think. Unless they have a sign prohibiting it (撮影禁&#27490, then you're probably safe.

 

[Takuhi]

If you want to see a lot of places outside of Tokyo, the cheapest way is to get a JR rail pass and go on a long one or two week trip. The pass must be purchased in your country of origin before you leave.

How to get a rail pass

To save money, I planned my trips so all my long train trips would be overnight, and slept on the train. (The rail pass won't get you into sleeping cars; you have to be able to sleep on your seat.) Youth hostels are another option. I can't speak for Hiroshima, but the youth hostels in Hokkaido were amazing. Beautiful, authentic and good Japanese food, nice people, hot Japanese style baths, and super cheap (well, by Japanese standards - $40-$50 or so). In Tokyo, the youth hostels were basically prisons and they were awful, so I would do some research before staying at a hostel in a major city.

If you like nature at all, definitely go to Hokkaido. It's on the JR lines so you can get there for free with the pass. There's tons of great hiking and some decent wildlife. It's infinitely better than climbing Mt. Fuji or anything else near Tokyo. Sapporo is a great city. I also love visiting Kyushu (the southern island), but it's a different train line so the pass won't work.

In Tokyo, it's expensive, but I love Disney Sea. It's the sequel to Disney Land! Make sure you learn how to use the ride reservation system so you don't stand in line for hours like an idiot, as I did.

 

[Stinkles]

If you go to Nakamoto Ramen in either Shinjuku or Ikebukuro, order the medium, eat it and take a photo to prove it, I will send you a box of free Halo swag.

There is no trickery here. I just need the world to know how good it is.

 

[StoOgE]

If you want to see a lot of places outside of Tokyo, the cheapest way is to get a JR rail pass and go on a long one or two week trip. The pass must be purchased in your country of origin before you leave.

How to get a rail pass
.

Awesome!

I'll grab a 7 day pass and plan all of my sightseeing outside of Tokyo on that week. Make a loop of the country or something. Thanks!

How do you get a Temporary Visa? I was just going to use my passport.

If you go to Nakamoto Ramen in either Shinjuku or Ikebukuro, order the medium, eat it and take a photo to prove it, I will send you a box of free Halo swag.

There is no trickery here. I just need the world to know how good it is.

Will do

 

[Takuhi]

Awesome!

I'll grab a 7 day pass and plan all of my sightseeing outside of Tokyo on that week. Make a loop of the country or something. Thanks!

How do you get a Temporary Visa? I was just going to use my passport.

Assuming you're from a first-world country like the US or most European countries, the stamp on your passport will be your temporary visitor's visa. No need to apply in advance (for the visa). You'll just show your passport along with your pass when you pass through the ticket gate at a rail station.

Enjoy!

 

[StoOgE]

Thanks for the info guys.

I have some ideas of what I'm going to do once I am there. I think I need to up my savings for the next few months so I have a bit more to spend while there. That train pass is going to set me back 300 on it's own. But it is going to give me the ability to see the country the way I want.

I also found some cool info on a couple of day hiking trip around Mt Koya where you can stay in temples relatively cheap (considering it includes two meals) and you are invited to participate in a morning prayer which should be pretty nifty.

I'm atheist, but it should be a nice cultural experience.

 

[Mockingbird]

Cheapest, quickest, and most convenient way to get to Toyko/ Yokohama from Narita airport:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/

Get this for 3,500 yen and you get:

1. a rechargable special edition Suica card (normally 2,000 yen) with 1,500 yen on it, which you can use during your stay in Japan. When you leave you can return the Suica card for a 500 yen refund or keep it as a souvenir. I recommend keeping it because this is a special design that only foreiners can acquire and the design changes annually.

2. a reserved-ticket ride on the Narita express -- if you're lucky you get to ride on their newly debuted train (normally 2,940 or 4,180, depending on where you get off). It's comfortable and very fast because there are only 4 stops or so -- including Shinagawa, Tokyo, and Yokohama; plus, you can transfer from any of those stations onto any JR line and exit anywhere within those cities without incurring any extra fees.

Since a suica costs you 2000 yen no matter where you buy it, consider the narita-express ticket a cost of only 1,500 yen. To go from Yokohama to Narita on the regular train costs at least 1,700 yen -- at its cheapest. So this deal's great!

For food, if you want to save I recommend trying out the various bentos/sushi at the Super market. They're good -- though you might tire of them quickly; however, there are quite a few varieties and if you go an hour or so before the super market closes they'll often be marked down -- anywhere from up to a few yen to 50% off.

 

[Biff]

*Bookmarks thread*

Me and two close friends are in the early stages of planning a 1-2 week trip this summer. Tokyo most likely.

Is there anyway I'd be able to see some WWII historical/memorial sites? Any within reasonable distance from Tokyo? Are they even open to the public/tourists? Definitely want to see some pre-industrial revolution, traditional Japanese sites as well, but being able to visit WWII sites would be a big thing for me. Iwo Jima would have been perfect, but considering it's 1200 kms away from mainland, that's not exactly an option

Edit: If anybody could point me to some example itineraries, I would be really grateful. The Classic Tokyo, Modern Tokyo itinerary at wikitravel is an awesome start

 

[StoOgE]

Ground forces didn't get anywhere near the mainland of Japan.

the peace monument in Hiroshima is probably your best bet.

 

[Biff]

Ground forces didn't get anywhere near the mainland of Japan.

the peace monument in Hiroshima is probably your best bet.

Yes, monuments like that are exactly what I meant - I'll check that out.

 

[Furio53]

I'm moving to Tokyo on Sunday. I've never even been there, but I'm looking forward to it.

 

[distantmantra]

If you're heading down to Hiroshima, you need to take the (JR-owned) ferry over to Miyajima. My wife and I stayed there for a night on our honeymoon back in July 2006 and it was easily the highlight of our 12 days in the country. Nara is also worth seeing, as is Kyoto.

We're going back first week in April for 9 days, but just doing Tokyo and the surrounding area since much of our time on the last trip was spent in Kyoto/Nara/Hiroshima. Can't wait to visit the Kiuchi (Hitachino Nest) brewery!

 

[BudokaiMR2]

I would definitely say get the JR rail pass and make the most of it. The Shinkansen is a great way to travel if it isn't costing you an arm and a leg.

There are a lot of cool things to see in the Osaka/Kyoto area. I also believe anyone who comes to Japan should check out the Peace Museum in Hiroshima. Just make sure to be ready for a depressing day.

I have read about the Mt. Koya hiking trip also and it sounded really cool. I am sure you will have fun and it will be a good experience if you do that.

And yeah the poster who mentioned Miyajima above me is correct. It is a really beautiful island with one of the cooler temples in Japan. Plus the hike to the top is really beautiful.

If you like hiking and such Fushimi-inari in Kyoto is a really cool mountain with a bunch of small temples on it. It is most famous of the the hundreds of red gates that line the path up.

 

[MorisUkunRasik]

be sure to ride batman's boat

 

[industrian]

If you go to Nakamoto Ramen in either Shinjuku or Ikebukuro, order the medium, eat it and take a photo to prove it, I will send you a box of free Halo swag.

There is no trickery here. I just need the world to know how good it is.

I'm pretty sure you've mentioned something like this before.

 

[Rentahamster]

 

[BudokaiMR2]

However, if you really want the best ramen you are gonna need to go all the way down to Fukuoka in Kyushu and get some Tonkotsu Ramen from a street vendor.

Mhhhmmmmmmm....

 

[Rentahamster]

However, if you really want the best ramen you are gonna need to go all the way down to Fukuoka in Kyushu and get some Tonkotsu Ramen from a street vendor.

Mhhhmmmmmmm....

Indeed.

 

[Natetan]

Ground forces didn't get anywhere near the mainland of Japan.

the peace monument in Hiroshima is probably your best bet.

I havent read all of the replies but if you're going to be there for 3 weeks:

Getting a 1 week JR pass might be good. That way you can do some mid distance traveling while you're in tokyo. Hiroshima might require more than a day trip. Japan is an island country, but it's deceptively large. 5-6 hour train ride to Hiroshima 1 way if I remember correctly, and that's on the fastest train.

Anyway, if you want hiking in the tokyo area, go out to Okutama. It won't be very pretty this time of year though. Okutama is techinically in tokyo prefecture but it doesn't feel like it at all which is great. On the weekends, there is a special repid train that goes straight there in under 90 min I believe, but you can easily take the Chuo/ome line train combinations out there at other times. Just a few more steps is all.

Also, they are building a new high speed trainline out to Narita airport that will go into operation in July I believe. Conveneint if you are going to Ueno, but Narita express is probably still better if you are going down to yokohama direction.

If you want a nice religious building, Meiji shrine is a good choice. Nice grounds that are pretty year round. You might even see a wedding going on there in traditional style which is nice. Yasukuni is ok too, but a bit more politcally charged. Its right next to harajuku and omotesando too, which is convenient! Yoyogi park is next door. It's interesting to think that it was once an airfield during WWII, then HQ for the US occupation forces, then the olympic village in 1968, and then in the current state as a park. some of the fountains look like old occupation HQ building footprints i think :lol

http://www.japanprobe.com/2008/04/10/new-keisei-skyliner/

If you want a fun easy day trip you could go down to kamakura and sakuragicho/yokohama. Get out and go to the meiji period red brick warehouse area, then over to the awesome passenger ferry terminal for some cool architecture, and then a short walk over to china town for some good eats.

You could probably also go to Ise shrine if you have a JR pass. Its south of nagoya.

 

[navii]

go to kyoto on the bullet train

edit: you could probably just walk around tokyo for 3 weeks and not feel like you have got enough of this awesome awesome city.

also eat a hot dog at MOS Burger... for me, so yum.

 

[StoOgE]

go to kyoto on the bullet train

edit: you could probably just walk around tokyo for 3 weeks and not feel like you have got enough of this awesome awesome city.

also eat a hot dog at MOS Burger... for me, so yum.

Yeah, I assume I can entertain myself in Tokyo for 3 weeks... but it is very likely my only trip to Japan for a very long time, if not ever. My list of places to see is just too long so the odds of me spending another huge chunk of change going back is slim.

So, I really want to experience as much of Japan as I can. I plan on spending at least 2 of the weeks in Tokyo as a money saving device. But I'd like at least a week of seeing the rest of the countryside. I think the JR pass and planning my long rides for overnight trains is a great idea someone else had.

 

[Litflynt912]

Cheapest, quickest, and most convenient way to get to Toyko/ Yokohama from Narita airport:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/

Get this for 3,500 yen and you get:

1. a rechargable special edition Suica card (normally 2,000 yen) with 1,500 yen on it, which you can use during your stay in Japan. When you leave you can return the Suica card for a 500 yen refund or keep it as a souvenir. I recommend keeping it because this is a special design that only foreiners can acquire and the design changes annually.

2. a reserved-ticket ride on the Narita express -- if you're lucky you get to ride on their newly debuted train (normally 2,940 or 4,180, depending on where you get off). It's comfortable and very fast because there are only 4 stops or so -- including Shinagawa, Tokyo, and Yokohama; plus, you can transfer from any of those stations onto any JR line and exit anywhere within those cities without incurring any extra fees.

Since a suica costs you 2000 yen no matter where you buy it, consider the narita-express ticket a cost of only 1,500 yen. To go from Yokohama to Narita on the regular train costs at least 1,700 yen -- at its cheapest. So this deal's great!

For food, if you want to save I recommend trying out the various bentos/sushi at the Super market. They're good -- though you might tire of them quickly; however, there are quite a few varieties and if you go an hour or so before the super market closes they'll often be marked down -- anywhere from up to a few yen to 50% off.

this.

the new Narita trains were rolled out starting in Oct and as of Jan 10 they are all new.
The train is awesome...it's like a glorified AMTRACK.

I would 100% recommend the SUICA. Although you can buy train tickets at the electronic counters, which are in English...
it is SOOOOooOO much easier just tapping the SUICA card and going.

For food..
My first night there...I had a Family Mart in my hotel...I got a bento box (in Japan, after 7pm they discount the bento boxes and most premade meals up to 20%)
it was great...I recommend trying Ramen in every prefecture you happen to go to.

The Meji Shrine in Harajuku is something to see as people come there to pay respect and pray and it is a beautiful walk.

Since most places in Tokyo don't open until 10amish...going to places like that mean you will have it all to yourself as they are open from dusk to dawn

 

[flipping_heck]

Tokyo is all sorts of awesome, but if you going to be in Japan for 3 weeks why not travel to other parts of the country as well? Of course, the budget is probably going to be a lot more than what you are planning to use but it be well worth it.

Akiba is alrite, not brilliant though, if you into electronics and stuff, it is a haven but wouldnt spend all day there at all. My fave place in Tokyo is Shibuya, lots of expensive fashion goods there but you have to see the crossing, its amazing! I can easily watch that crossing for hours on end while drinking coffee from Starbucks, it is awesome!

Other places that i can recall,
Day time, visit central Tokyo (Tower and imperial palace are nice distractions), go to Ueno for nice parks.
Night time, Shinjuku and Shibuya can be aweosme if you go to the right places

Roppongi and Harajuku are very nice as well...

In 3 weeks, you would have visited (and got bored?) most of Tokyo, i say spend the little bit extra and go to Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Osaka or Kyoto

Me and two close friends are in the early stages of planning a 1-2 week trip this summer. Tokyo most likely.

Is there anyway I'd be able to see some WWII historical/memorial sites? Any within reasonable distance from Tokyo? Are they even open to the public/tourists? Definitely want to see some pre-industrial revolution, traditional Japanese sites as well, but being able to visit WWII sites would be a big thing for me. Iwo Jima would have been perfect, but considering it's 1200 kms away from mainland, that's not exactly an option

Edit: If anybody could point me to some example itineraries, I would be really grateful. The Classic Tokyo, Modern Tokyo itinerary at wikitravel is an awesome start

Go to Hiroshima for all that stuff, though no where near Tokyo but take a shinkansen to Hiroshima and stay for a couple of days and you won't regret it. Peace Memorial Park is one of the fave things i did in Japan, you can literally tire yourself out emotionally for the whole day in there. For me, it was hard for me to go into shopping mode when i was done with the museum.

From Hiroshima, you can also go to Miyajima Island and spend a whole day there climbing a mountain while also visiting the traditional japanese stuff, theres a lot of temples (and deer). Miyajima Island is awesome, and not that far from Hiroshima as well.

 

[FnordChan]

Yeah, I assume I can entertain myself in Tokyo for 3 weeks... but it is very likely my only trip to Japan for a very long time, if not ever. My list of places to see is just too long so the odds of me spending another huge chunk of change going back is slim.

You absolutely want to get a JR pass and get out of Tokyo for at least a week. Instead of timing overnight trains, you may just want to head down to Kyoto, find a cheap youth hostel to say at, and use it as a base of operations for a while. While there, I strongly second the recommendation to check out Fushimi Inari-taisha, as well as famous sites such as the Golden Pavilion, the Silver Pavilion, and the Imperial Palace. I strongly recommend you rent a bicycle to get around town.

Then you can duck over to Nara and check out Todai-ji (the largest wooden building in the world and home to a huge Buddha statue), get the Shinto side of things at Kasuga-taisha, and be acosted by hungry deer at Nara Park. You'll also want to head over to Himeji Castle and/or Osaka Castle. Osaka is an industrial city with charm, so be sure you spend some time there. If you're otaku shopping, Den Den Town in Osaka is like Akihabara but perhaps not quite as picked over.

Finally, when you're in Tokyo be sure to catch a show or some sports. Korakuen Hall is host to all manner of wrestling, boxing, and mixed martial arts events; I'm not really a wrestling fan and still had an incredible time watching a New Japan Pro Wrestling match. Likewise, I'm not really a baseball fan but I had a terrific time seeing the Yakult Swallows play. The main Tokyo team, the Yomiuri Giants, play across town in a huge stadium, but you'd really rather see the lovable underdogs play at Meiji Jingu Stadium, the second oldest professional ballpark in use. Tickets are cheap, too - say 1500 yen for an adult. Depending on what's playing you can catch some old yakuza or pinky violence flicks at the Meigaza in Asakusa. Finally, if you're feeling really brave, there's nothing quite like seeing the hyper-camp theatrics of the Takarazuka; the cheap seats are a bit pricey at 3500 yen, but, trust me, it's worth it for the sheer weirdness of the spectacle. If you go see 'em, be sure to say hello to the Godzilla statue en route.

Enjoy Japan!

FnordChan

 

[Xater]

Ha I am also going to Tokyo from the 1st of April to the 10th.

This should be the right time for the cherry blossom stuff right? What would be a good place to go?

I also read that the trains are basically not running at night. What's the best way to get home if you go out for a long time?

My hotel actually is near Akihabara and I want to get/see some geeky stuff besides the usual tourist places. So what's a great Arcade to see? Where can I get some Gundam models?

@Fnord: New Japan Pro Wrestling sounds cool to me. Is it easy to get Baseball tickets? Do I just have to show up for a game and there shuld be no problem getting one?

 

[Ratba]

I wouldn't spend 3 weeks in Tokyo. You'll probably be out of it after a week or two. Then again I live between Osaka and Kobe and there probably isn't half as much to do as in Tokyo. Expect to drop about 5-10 bucks a day traveling, when you actually know where you are going, depending on your location.

Try to avoid Taxis if you can. They are gonna eat up your wallet. If you go out dranking, you'll probably go to Roppongi with all the other guys on shore leave. Drinks will run ya 7-10bucks. I've been two a decent place on the strip, and kicked out of it once, called 911. Its hard to miss. It is just past the hard rock cafe. No cover, on normal nights, but 9bucks for a Corona.

You can eat well for under 20 bucks a day or you can slum it in the combinis and eat all the onigiri and fried chicken. (I do it most days after work...) You are probably better off finding a super market around you and then raiding it before closing time for all the 50% off crap.

 

[StoOgE]

I actually was looking for baseball game suggestions. I'm not the biggest baseball fan, but I travel for work and have made a habit of trying to go to ball games in the US when I travel.

I figured baseball is huge in Japan so I wanted to check a game out.

I'm also a cubs fan, so going to the underdogs with a historic stadium sounds about right for me

 

[Ratba]

Ha I am also going to Tokyo from the 1st of April to the 10th.

This should be the right time for the cherry blossom stuff right? What would be a good place to go?

I also read that the trains are basically not running at night. What's the best way to get home if you go out for a long time?

My hotel actually is near Akihabara and I want to get/see some geeky stuff besides the usual tourist places. So what's a great Arcade to see? Where can I get some Gundam models?

@Fnord: New Japan Pro Wrestling sounds cool to me. Is it easy to get Baseball tickets? Do I just have to show up for a game and there shuld be no problem getting one?

I think Yoyogi park is a pretty happening place for that in Tokyo. I know a few people that live there and they go there for that. All the good spots will be camped out early by companies and families.

 

[Ratba]

I actually was looking for baseball game suggestions. I'm not the biggest baseball fan, but I travel for work and have made a habit of trying to go to ball games in the US when I travel.

I figured baseball is huge in Japan so I wanted to check a game out.

I'm also a cubs fan, so going to the underdogs with a historic stadium sounds about right for me

http://www.giants.jp/G/schedule/201002.html

 

[Ratba]

Finally, if you're feeling really brave, there's nothing quite like seeing the hyper-camp theatrics of the Takarazuka; the cheap seats are a bit pricey at 3500 yen, but, trust me, it's worth it for the sheer weirdness of the spectacle. If you go see 'em, be sure to say hello to the Godzilla statue en route.

Enjoy Japan!

FnordChan

God I'm really padding my post count here... but I work in Takarazuka. I don't know any foreigner that likes the Revue. Hell I don't know many Japanese people that do outside of their cult like following. I almost shat my pants when I was riding my bike past the theater one night. I came around a corner to see 200 women, wearing the club jacket of their favorite star, sitting with their cameras; rubber necking at every cross dressing woman that stepped out.

*Edit after clicking the link: I thought you meant the original here in Takarazuka not Tokyo. Still not advised haha.*

 

[Furoba]

80.000 yen ($900) for 3 weeks is doable if you are planning to stay in Tokyo for the entire period. If you want to head out to other places (for like a week or so), I suggest to have at least 50-60.000 yen extra (40K for hotels, 10K-20K for transport).

 

[distantmantra]

I actually was looking for baseball game suggestions. I'm not the biggest baseball fan, but I travel for work and have made a habit of trying to go to ball games in the US when I travel.

I figured baseball is huge in Japan so I wanted to check a game out.

I'm also a cubs fan, so going to the underdogs with a historic stadium sounds about right for me

I'm going to be in Tokyo from April 4th through the 13th, and will be attending either a Giants or Swallows game (depends on whether my contacts over there can get Giants tickets), they're both in town playing the Dragons at that time.

And seriously, as myself and others have stated, Hiroshima and Miyajima are worth your time.