Hello all, I am visiting Tokyo for the next two weeks. I would appreicate any ideas. I am with my wife and kids, but will also have time to go places with just my wife. Thanks, John
John, I was there last week and only hit up the big stuff so I have nothing really unique to offer but my favorite three experience were: Tsukiji Fish Market - watch the tuna auctions. Get there around 4:30am and register at the northwest corner of the building. After that’s done, walk around the rest of the market for a while watching the wholesalers gut/prepare their fish for sale. Get some fantastic sashimi one of the stalls before leaving. Do it your first day there when you’ll be so jet lagged anyway that getting up that early will seem normal. Shibuya crossing - this is a very famous and busy intersection. If you expect neon lights, tall buildings and a lot of people in Tokyo, this is where to see that. It’s best viewed from the (no joke) Starbucks on the second floor of a department store. Shinjuku Station and Shomben Yokocho (aka: Piss Alley) - Don’t let the name turn you off, this is a great place to eat. The area around the station is full of big buildings and neon lights so it’s best visited at night. Piss alley is a little tiny smoke filled alley full of restaurants where you can get yakitori and drink a lot of beer. There are also a lot of temples etc which are worth a visit but if you’re going anywhere other than Tokyo (particularly Kyoto) you’ll see plenty of them there. The Imperial Palace in Tokyo is a great place to visit and take a family photo worthy of a christmas card. Just as a general note, the weather will be very hot and humid so pack light clothes and expect to sweat. Also, expect late afternoon showers. Most of the time there was just a little drizzle and I was fine walking around without outerwear but sometimes the rain was a bit more intense and I was happy to have an umbrella and a very light rain jacket. Have a great time, MDD
Thanks so much for the info. We are staying in Ikebukuro and have enjoyed the trip so far.
never been there, but came across this today http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/07/15/tokyo.five.experiences/index.html?hpt=Sbin
I was there last year and I loved it. It was my second time in Japan and I will come back for sure. Maybe next year in spring. I can recommend Odaiba. A combination of shopping, entertainment and modern architecture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odaiba On Odaiba is also the Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, which is very interesting in my opinion. http://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/ If you like rollercoasters I can recommend the Thunder Dolphin at Tokyo Dome. http://www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/laqua/attraction.htm If you have time you can also make a day trip to Kamakura, Hakone or Nikko. Your kids, but maybe your wife and you also, might like the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. I liked it because I love the Ghibli movies. Unfortunately it is a little bit complicated to get tickets, but there is a good description on there website: http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/ Wish you a nice stay in Tokyo!
Thanks so much for the ideas. I saw the rollercoaster from the subway, but did not know that was Tokyo Dome. My kids saw that and wanted to go there. Now we know.
Watch Lost in Translation. Go to Park Hyatt with the wife and have a drink.
If you like baseball you should go to a game. The atmosphere is ten times more exciting than what you will find in North America. I watched tokyo versus nagoya and sat in the section for Nagoya supporters. Nagoya lost terribly, however right up until the end of the game the Nagoya fans were constantly singing and banging drums.
I second baseball game – excellent experience.
2 highlights from my 2 weeks in Japan last year. 1. The Onsen experience 2. Karaoke in Roppongi
CFASniper Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 2 highlights from my 2 weeks in Japan last year. > > 1. The Onsen experience > 2. Karaoke in Roppongi +2