Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

I'm going to Japan for a little while and I have 4 days of free time in Tokyo by myself. Does anyone who has been there have any suggestions on what to see/do? thx

relevant information about myself:
I'm a 22 year old guy, university student with some disposable income.
I dont know any Japanese but I hear they all speak English over there anyways

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

Never been, but I'm very interested in visiting as well. When are you leaving? Trip report would be much appreciated =)

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

leaving tomorrow actually, so far the plans might include going to visit the yakusuni shrine(to see what the fuss is about), eat some local sushi/raw beef, run game on the unsuspecting local girls, watch a pride fight live and check out these image clubs my friend was telling me about (apparently its like a big whore house but its like role play so you cant just go in and [censored] the girl you have to act in a film for like 4 hours).

The goal is to try to pack 3 full days of adventure. I'll try to do up a trip report, any recommendations would make that more colorful.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

Buy a Frommers/Lonely Planet guide to Tokyo.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

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I dont know any Japanese but I hear they all speak English over there anyways

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Well, they TRY to speak English. I don't know if you've ever heard a Japanese person attempt English. It's not pretty. At least bring along a little phrasebook of some sorts.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

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leaving tomorrow actually, so far the plans might include going to visit the yakusuni shrine(to see what the fuss is about), eat some local sushi/raw beef, run game on the unsuspecting local girls, watch a pride fight live and check out these image clubs my friend was telling me about (apparently its like a big whore house but its like role play so you cant just go in and [censored] the girl you have to act in a film for like 4 hours).

The goal is to try to pack 3 full days of adventure. I'll try to do up a trip report, any recommendations would make that more colorful.

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This sounds like it would make a sick trip report.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

[ QUOTE ]
leaving tomorrow actually, so far the plans might include going to visit the yakusuni shrine(to see what the fuss is about), eat some local sushi/raw beef, run game on the unsuspecting local girls, watch a pride fight live and check out these image clubs my friend was telling me about (apparently its like a big whore house but its like role play so you cant just go in and [censored] the girl you have to act in a film for like 4 hours).

The goal is to try to pack 3 full days of adventure. I'll try to do up a trip report, any recommendations would make that more colorful.

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long asakusa/ short yasukuni
shibuya by day, shinjuku by night
raw chicken > raw horse > raw beef
tsukiji in the morning for sushi.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

Yasakuni Shrine in probably not too exciting for you. Cool areas to check out are Akihabara (for the electronics), Shibuya (for the fashionable girls) and Shinjuku (for the stores and clubs).

I wouldn't assume most people speak English. If you have trouble, look out for high school- or college- aged people as they are likely to have had some English classes in school.

As for any adult entertainment, that might be a problem. Almost all of those places do not allow foreigners inside as they are worried about AIDS. It is totally legal to discriminate against foreigners over there.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

i just went and bought frommer's tokyo guide in my last minute binge shopping. looks like there's a ton of stuff to see. there's a heavy emphasis on japanese traditional shows temple style. I want to go to traditional japanese neighbourhoods and check out the scene, if there's time i'll go leave town for a day and find some local hut by the ocean to sleep in with some local ppl in some small town.

that foreigner discrimation for adult entertainment might be a problem but its optional, i'll certainly look around.\


i'm a huge food fan, kokiri is there a preference in where to go or are just all restaurants equally good?

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

Tsukiji: You'll probably be up real early your first day, so by all means go to Tsukiji fish market. Lots of fun. Wear old shoes, you'll be trekking throught water and fish innards. There are good sushi and noodle shops right there for breakfast. Everyone I've sent there loved the visit.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

Try the sushi.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

Has anyone suggested screwing as many Japanesse chicks as possible?

This should be at the top of the list.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

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Has anyone suggested screwing as many Japanesse chicks as possible?

This should be at the top of the list.

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i think its assumed i'll try to meet the nice local girls, from what i've read so far though the social structure is very traditional, and surely no mainstream travel guide is gonna tell me how to work around that with local girls. it just says japanese girls are really shy especially physically and are not very open to strangers. i'll give it a go and tell you what happens.

suggestions?

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone suggested screwing as many Japanesse chicks as possible?

This should be at the top of the list.

[/ QUOTE ]

i think its assumed i'll try to meet the nice local girls, from what i've read so far though the social structure is very traditional, and surely no mainstream travel guide is gonna tell me how to work around that with local girls. it just says japanese girls are really shy especially physically and are not very open to strangers. i'll give it a go and tell you what happens.

suggestions?

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Bring used Levi jeans with you. They will eat them (and you) up.

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone suggested screwing as many Japanesse chicks as possible?

This should be at the top of the list.

[/ QUOTE ]

i think its assumed i'll try to meet the nice local girls, from what i've read so far though the social structure is very traditional, and surely no mainstream travel guide is gonna tell me how to work around that with local girls. it just says japanese girls are really shy especially physically and are not very open to strangers. i'll give it a go and tell you what happens.

suggestions?

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I was just in Tokyo for 5 days and didn't really like it all too much. The people are very polite but not really personable. No one really speaks English, and we didn't want to hang out in the Roppongi area where all the ex-pats go. I enjoyed every other part of Asia that I have been to except Tokyo. An added penalty is that cabs and basically everything else is expensive.

The clubs in Shibuya were ok, but drinks are just too expensive and the nightlife was pretty dead since we were there only for weekdays and the World Cup was going on. It is fun just going up to girls and speaking English to them and seeing if they react favorably. Even if a girl doesn't want to talk to you she will be very polite about it. The girls are very shy, even at clubs(moreso at local clubs) and especially to foreigners.

Andy's suggestion about the fish market is excellent. You have to get up pretty early, though. The temples in the city are cool, one has a interesting outdoor market nearby. You will also be bombarded in Shinjuku by African men trying to get you to go into 'hostess bars'. This can get very pricey. Do not be swayed if you do not have the money.

DN

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone suggested screwing as many Japanesse chicks as possible?

This should be at the top of the list.

[/ QUOTE ]

i think its assumed i'll try to meet the nice local girls, from what i've read so far though the social structure is very traditional, and surely no mainstream travel guide is gonna tell me how to work around that with local girls. it just says japanese girls are really shy especially physically and are not very open to strangers. i'll give it a go and tell you what happens.

suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

Bring used Levi jeans with you. They will eat them (and you) up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unless there's been a sea change in culture (I was there in 2000 and 2001), this isn't accurate. I think you're thinking of eastern Europe. Tokyo is more metropolitan than New York, and unless used Levi's are the current haute fashion, they aren't much good.

420: the below assumes this is your first time in Japan. I've written it for someone without any experience there. If you have prior experience there, that should govern.

Prepare to have a lot of yen on you all the time, as your credit cards may or may not work - ATMs are available, but not nearly as common as in the U.S., and of course, they may not display English, especially as you leave central Tokyo. I recommend carrying a minimum of Y50000 ($550-$600, I don't know the current exchange rate) onto the plane you will land in Japan in. You do NOT want to run out of money.

Are you flying into Narita, or coming from somewhere else in Japan? Narita is a very nice airport, but DO NOT take a taxicab into Tokyo. It will be very long and expensive. Consider the buses (maybe Y4000 if I remember correctly), or maybe they have a train now.

Also, English is fairly common in Tokyo itself, and perhaps Osaka (haven't been there), but as you depart central Tokyo, you will see and hear less and less.

Bear in mind that the Japanese as a culture are the most xenophobic people on Earth. Watch "Lost in Translation" on the plane. Coppola's experience, as conveyed in the film, is pretty accurate, but remember she was VIP while she was there, and you are (probably) not.

Is your friend currently in Tokyo? Does he speak fluent Japanese? If so, he is your new best friend.

That said, I loved it. It's expensive. Enjoy!

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

Watch out for this guy:

http://www.rotten.com/library/cultur.../godzilla2.jpg

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

There will be vending machines everywhere, vending all kinds of stuff. Try them.

If you like sushi, you probably shouldn't try the sushi in Japan, because then you'll be sad every time you have to eat sushi outside of Japan. The quality is that different.

Go to a neighborhood noodleshop, and sluuuurp away. Great experience.

Go to a pachinko parlor and try your luck. They make great souvenirs, too.

The 100 Yen (dollar stores, basically) stores rule.

When you enter your first store, you are going to get yelled at. Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong. They are yelling "Irrashaimase!" which means "welcome".

enjoy!

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

bump

Re: Goin to Tokyo, any recommendations?
 

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Watch out for this guy:

http://www.rotten.com/library/cultur.../godzilla2.jpg

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nice