Tokyo - Hints and Tips

[cmatt]

I'm currently planning a trip to Tokyo and the surrounding areas for summer 08. Now I know this is a tad.... early to be even contemplating as such. Of course, I will be visiting Disney as thats a bit of a no brainer (same can be said for the studio Ghibli museum).

But I was wondering about what YOU have personally done whilst in Tokyo, places to eat, where to stay etc.... This site is great for information on Orlando, so why not ask about another city?

Travel guides are ok - but I prefer a more broader opinion also! Ill end up in a 4/5 star hotel, as it is a holiday and even cmatt (a long haired metal head) needs some pampering :lol:. I want to be close to the sights and sounds of the city and sample a broad range of both traditional and more modern Japanese culture (and what better city to do it in?!)

I plan to go for 2 - 4 weeks - possibly going to another city, still undecided though :wave:

Cheers!

 

[cmatt]

take this silence as a no then

 

[tomm4004]

If you're going 2 to 4 weeks I would recommend visiting other places as well, especially Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nikko (that could actually be a day trip) and maybe the Japanese Alps. Izu Peninsula is nice as well. With bullet trains you can travel a long way in a short time. It really depends on what you like.

As for Tokyo, it's not a site specific city per se. The first time I went I hung out with my Japanese friend and oddly she'd never really seen any of the sites in Tokyo. Basically we just wandered around and checked out different areas of the city. She lived in Shinjuku, which is best experienced at night. You can go the top of tall buildings for views, although it will probably be too hazy to see anything. There's the Imperial Palace, and a few older parts of Tokyo - I think it's Asakusa. There's an old shrine there. Then there's window shopping for the latest gadgets, which is crowded but fun.

Sorry I can't be more specific, but I really just found Tokyo a cool place to walk around. It's quite fascinating if not aesthetically wonderful.

 

[CrisKennedy]

Hi. We went to Tokyo in September. We stayed at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku. While we were there, we went Senso-ji in Asakusa, took a Sumida River cruise from Asakusa to Odaiba, checked out the shopping malls in Odaiba, went to Meiji Jingu, and went to the Imperial Palace East Gardens. We also devoted a day to the Tokyo Game Show (video game industry trade show that takes place every September) and, of course, we spent a day at Disneyland. We had to cut most of our days short because we had our 2-year-old son with us. We really didn't get to see much since we were only there for 6 days.

We really enjoyed our trip to Tokyo. We plan to go back in about 5 years, stay at least 2 weeks, and hopefully see other parts of Japan as well.

 

[Rey]

For experiencing Tokyo</ST1 I would recommend:

1. Ride around the Yamanote Line in downtown Tokyo </ST1all day long and stop at popular stations. This train line doesn’t have a terminal. It just goes in circles.

2. Eat seriously fresh sushi at Tsukiji Fish Market the biggest fish market in the world.

3. Go to Asakusa for sightseeing<TOMM4004><CRISKENNEDY>.

4. Go to Ueno Zoo and see the Panda’s and walk around outside Ueno Park.

5. Watch a Sumo match. You could see the best ever sumo wrestler. His name is Asashoryu. You may have to leave Tokyo </ST1for a day and watch the sumo match.

6. Go to any Japanese hot spring for relaxation.

7. Go to Yokohama for sightseeing and visit Chinatown.

8. Go to Roppongi Hills. It’s a little pricey, but it’s new and a very trendy sightseeing place.

9. Visit Kamakura</ST1 and see the big Buddha statue.

10. Slurp somen or soba or hiyashichuka cold <ST1</ST1noodles. Remember to slurp loudly. It’s a sign of respect to the chef in the restaurant. Hiyashichuka is my favorite and it's famous in Sendai.

<O</O

Everything I have recommended are activities I’ve done with friends and family and places my friends have told me to go whenever I have free time.

 

[cmatt]

cheers rey! have you been to the studio ghibli museum yet? (more to the point - how on earth do you get there?!!!)

cracking ideas mate! liking number 6 myself

 

[Rey]

cmatt

I've been to Studio Ghibili once and it takes about an hour by express train from Tokyo to Studio Ghibili. I'll tell you exactly how to get there and how much it costs and where to buy the Studio Ghibli tickets later on today.

 

[Rey]

Trouble uploading text

 

[cmatt]

cmatt

I've been to Studio Ghibili once and it takes about an hour by express train from Tokyo to Studio Ghibili. I'll tell you exactly how to get there and how much it costs and where to buy the Studio Ghibli tickets later on today.

cheers for the information - i will be DEFINATLY going. I think the tickets have film cells in them (correct me if im wrong....) thanks for the pm too! i believe you can also get the bullit train and go see mt fuji....

making me look forward to graduating now

thanks

 

[Rey]

Information on Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
If you are visiting Ghibli Museum, Mitaka there are two important things you must do.

First, you have to purchase reserved tickets before you arrive in Japan, for example at JTB Japan Travel Bureau or MY BUS CENTER. I think there is one in London. Do NOT buy a ticket in Japan once you arrive here during summer. Most likely tickets to the museum are sold out for four or more weeks in advance during the summer break.

Second、when you do have a ticket to the museum, do NOT forget the DATE and TIME that’s printed on your ticket. You do have a cushion of thirty minutes later of the time printed on your ticket to enter the museum, but if you arrive after thirty minutes basically you will not be permitted into the museum.

 

[Rey]

Here’s a translated version/example of a ticket to GHIBLI MUSEUM:

year/month/date
14:00(military time)
1,000 yen
MITAKA NO MORI JIBURI MUSEUM
Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo City 181-0013
15 minute walk from JR CHUO LINE MITAKA STATION
info 0570-055777
Only go on appointed day
Please come in appointed time
You can go in 30 minutes after appointed time
No date change or refund

 

[Rey]

Here was my experience before we had arrived to GHIBLI MUSEUM<ST1, MITAKA. My friends and I were a little late because we spent a little too long at Shinjuku Station to shop for souvenirs. There were so many nice things to buy there that we forgot to calculate the time from Mitaka station to GHIBLI MUSEUM<ST1. Once we arrived at Mitaka station by train we had to rush to the museum. We had to pay for two taxi cabs at 820yen each. We arrived within 30 minutes after our time slot, but we were feeling hurried once we got into the museum. So just go to the museum early so you don’t get into any problems, especially if you go in big groups or summer crowds. You could buy tickets three months early if you want. Be careful at Shinjuku station. Don’t have a long lunch there and don’t do any shopping before you leave for the museum <ST1if you have an afternoon time like we did. Yes, you do get small film strips, exactly three frames of a 35mm slide film, of GHIBLI movies after you enter the museum. They are cool and each visitor gets varied strips from different GHIBLI movies. We got one strip each from Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke.
<O</O

Where to buy tickets web site:www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/museum
--Click on: Overseas Ticket Guide
How to get to the museum web site: http://anime-tourist.com/article.php?sid=607

 

[cmatt]

Here was my experience before we had arrived to GHIBLI MUSEUM<ST1, MITAKA. My friends and I were a little late because we spent a little too long at Shinjuku Station to shop for souvenirs. There were so many nice things to buy there that we forgot to calculate the time from Mitaka station to GHIBLI MUSEUM<ST1. Once we arrived at Mitaka station by train we had to rush to the museum. We had to pay for two taxi cabs at 820yen each. We arrived within 30 minutes after our time slot, but we were feeling hurried once we got into the museum. So just go to the museum early so you don’t get into any problems, especially if you go in big groups or summer crowds. You could buy tickets three months early if you want. Be careful at Shinjuku station. Don’t have a long lunch there and don’t do any shopping before you leave for the museum <ST1if you have an afternoon time like we did. Yes, you do get small film strips, exactly three frames of a 35mm slide film, of GHIBLI movies after you enter the museum. They are cool and each visitor gets varied strips from different GHIBLI movies. We got one strip each from Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke.
<O</O

Where to buy tickets web site:www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/museum
--Click on: Overseas Ticket Guide
How to get to the museum web site: http://anime-tourist.com/article.php?sid=607

morning slot for me, and ill dash through Shinjuku, and just get to the museum first