I'm going to Japan

[1twojay]

I'll be visiting Tokyo next week for about 1 week.

Anyone here from Japan? I'd like to hear some suggestions about whats fun over there. I'll be staying in Shinjuku, and won't be visiting any historical sites, so my venues are city shopping and the club scene.

 

[Ev0]

Nissan has a really nice museum in the Ginza district, it definitley looks like it's worth checking out. Apple also has a really big store in Ginza, I remember seeing a video from it's opening day; the lineup went on for around 10 city blocks! I know I'd check the store out if I was going to Tokyo (unless they still have huge lineups ).

As for clubs, I'm not really a club person, so I couldn't help you out there. My only knowledge of Tokyo clubs comes from Azrael's experiences in Roppongi (sp?). It didn't sound like he had that great of a time, but then again, it could have been a crappy club.

*EDIT* Also, keep in mind Tokyo, and all of Japan for that matter, is very expensive. Be prepared to spend a lot of money if you plan to do some serious shopping. Sorry if you already knew that, but I'm giving you a heads up just in case.

 

[McLaren]

I want for a car meet with 2 cousins.
Its a BIG city. I didn't really check out the shops though.

 

[Young_Warrior]

In japan they have plenty top of the range Golds gyms. If your interested that is.

 

[a6m5]

I'm from Yokohama, but I left like when I was 12, so I don't know much about clubbing culture over there.

As far as shopping go, it's awesome. They have the coolest items of almost anything you might be looking for. They could get pretty expensive as EvO noted though. I do know that when American kids shop in Japan, popular stops are auto related stores, record shops, electronics/video game stores. From what I understand, Taiwan and Japan are similar countries in many aspects, so although you are visiting a foreign country, it might feel a bit familiar to you.

Too bad you aren't visiting the country side, but I hope you have fun over there. Don't get lost in the crowd! Tokyo can be pretty crowded and confusing at times.

 

[Ev0]

That reminds me, if you have any sort of interest in classic video games, definitley go see some used game stores. The Japanese take great care of their posessions, so finding old electronics that are still in good condition will be very easy (something which can be a difficult task in North America). And, the selection will be good too.

And calling Tokyo crowded is an understatement!

There are more people living in the Tokyo metropolitan area than in all of Canada.

 

[Jay]

Tokyo didnt seem all that crowded to me, it was crowded but still comfortable, except of train on the way back to my hotel

 

[a6m5]

That reminds me, if you have any sort of interest in classic video games, definitley go see some used game stores. The Japanese take great care of their posessions, so finding old electronics that are still in good condition will be very easy (something which can be a difficult task in North America). And, the selection will be good too.

And calling Tokyo crowded is an understatement!

There are more people living in the Tokyo metropolitan area than in all of Canada.

Probably. I was thinking 1twojay is probably used to a busy city, assuming 1twojay was from Taipei or someother Taiwanese cities. And while I'm sure Tokyo is more crowded than any city he's been to, it might not be that much crowded than Taipei(I have no idea though).

You are right on about the used game shops. Used anything is generally in much better shape in Japan, compared to around here in the States. I was going to say selections of the games should be unique, but maybe not. If you are coming from Taiwan, maybe it's same type of games you see in your home market. It will still be fun to browse thru though, and depending on where you go, you can find those shops every few blocks.

Couple more things I want to recommend in Japan. One would be food. Japan has the best food in the world, IMO(you don't think I'm biased, do you? ). Restaurants there are just the greatest, no matter from the cheap to expensive. Second is the apparels. This could be expensive in Japan, but they do have cool clothes.

Edit:

Tokyo didnt seem all that crowded to me, it was crowded but still comfortable, except of train on the way back to my hotel

Lots of people, but it's not too bad most of the time. Trains and traffic can be horrific, however. I was used to crowded train rides, but if you've never experienced it before, it might be a bit uncomfortable.

 

[Super_Adam]

Is Tokyo farther away from england then Bejing? (asking cause I been there)

 

[I6-4-eva]

Hit the strip clubs. "Private Eyes" I've heard is popular.. and remember take lots of pictures for us.

 

[Green Gloves]

I recommend these few places:

Roppongi for clubbing, possibly picking up girls (if that's what you're after ), also Tokyo tower during the day;
Shibuya for bar hopping, as well as girl watching (assuming you're a guy, otherwise guy watching);
Ueno park for a stroll, might as well pay a visit to Tokyo Uni right next door;
Harajuku for shocks and fun, lot of outrageous fashion displays on Sunday, it's somewhat okay to stare;
Asakusa for a temple visit and souvenirs, lovely park as well;
Yoyogi for Meiji shrine, go Thurs if possible, also visit the park.
Shinjuku for shopping, or Ueno (cheaper) near the park; Akihabara a must if you're into electronics;
Otemachi for the Imperial Palace garden, renting a bike would be nice.
Ginza for the Sony Center.
Ryogoku for Edo-Tokyo meseum, also a walk away from a bunch of sumo wrestlers training quarters, go early.
Minowa/Minami Senju if you want to see urban slums.

If you have enough time, also go west to see Yokohama's Chinatown, or east to Chiba's beaches.


that's it for now.

 

[VIPFREAK]

lucky bastard... have fun. :tup:

 

[1twojay]

I recommend these few places:

Roppongi for clubbing, possibly picking up girls (if that's what you're after ), also Tokyo tower during the day;
Shibuya for bar hopping, as well as girl watching (assuming you're a guy, otherwise guy watching);
Ueno park for a stroll, might as well pay a visit to Tokyo Uni right next door;
Harajuku for shocks and fun, lot of outrageous fashion displays on Sunday, it's somewhat okay to stare;
Asakusa for a temple visit and souvenirs, lovely park as well;
Yoyogi for Meiji shrine, go Thurs if possible, also visit the park.
Shinjuku for shopping, or Ueno (cheaper) near the park; Akihabara a must if you're into electronics;
Otemachi for the Imperial Palace garden, renting a bike would be nice.
Ginza for the Sony Center.
Ryogoku for Edo-Tokyo meseum, also a walk away from a bunch of sumo wrestlers training quarters, go early.
Minowa/Minami Senju if you want to see urban slums.

If you have enough time, also go west to see Yokohama's Chinatown, or east to Chiba's beaches.


that's it for now.

I've heard about Roppongi, but is it true that it's filled with Gaijin (white foreigner) looking to get laid, since they are supposedly a hot commodity there. No offense to you white folks, just wanna know what competition im up against!

How about the prices there? I know Taxi is stupidly expensive, Subway is the way to go. How much does a drink cost in the clubs?

Trying to guage an estimate to how much I should expect to spend, outside of hotel fees.

**EDIT**

In response to a6m5, yes I do live in Taipei. But i'm sure taipei is nothing compared to Tokyo when it comes to CROWDED

 

[Green Gloves]

I've heard about Roppongi, but is it true that it's filled with Gaijin (white foreigner) looking to get laid, since they are supposedly a hot commodity there. No offense to you white folks, just wanna know what competition im up against!

How about the prices there? I know Taxi is stupidly expensive, Subway is the way to go. How much does a drink cost in the clubs?

Yes Roppongi is a gaijin hang out. But gaijin really means 外人 so any foreigners are gaijin's, not just white folks. In Roppongi it's pretty much a level playing field. I sound like I've been there a lot but in fact I've been there only five or six times. First of all if I want to go to a place full of gaijin's, I wouldn't have gone as far as Japan. I'd have stayed home in NY. Second of all there are clubs where fights are known to break out now and then. Avoid Gaspanic!

A drink goes for roughly 500yen a beer (cheap) to 1500yen (slightly expensive) a more potent hard liquor or cocktail. The average falls in between 500yen and 1200 yen.

Or you can go for a nomihotai ("飲み放題"), which means all-you-can-drink. They are much cheaper, about 3500yen for guys, 2700 for girls, through out the night. But the catch is of course your drinks are barely alcoholic. They go easy on the drinks and the lines to the bar are always full of people.

Take the subway. But it only runs til 12 midnight. You'll have to wait until 5am to catch the first train back. You can always stay up all night go to different places. But if you're like me, I get tired around 2am or 3 and that's not too good.

edit: the kanji didn't come out right. I put " " around them.