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Post by tuum on Sept 23, 2014 15:57:03 GMT
I am off to Tokyo in a few weeks for a week or so. Anyone been there or lives there who can point me in the right direction for must sees, do's and don'ts. I will be with the wife so no dodgy bars...probably staying in Shinjuko unless anyone has a better option. Very flexible in everything really.
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Post by steve66 on Sept 23, 2014 21:50:26 GMT
No, sorry.
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Post by Gods on Sept 23, 2014 23:08:18 GMT
I've not been either but the old Japs are pretty pervy from what I have seen  I hope that helps  |
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Post by tuum on Sept 24, 2014 0:29:32 GMT
On the pervy point..i know what you mean.
There is (was?) a bar in Tokyo that has an area fitted out to look like a subway carriage complete with women inside dressed to reflect your average female Japanese commuter. It is there so that blokes can go and get their thrills by slyly touching/rubbing/groping the women like they would do on the normal train.
Not sure if this bar still exists as I read about it in an article about 10 years ago
The Japanese seem pretty innovative in responding to consumers needs. There are a lot of Japanese "poundsaver" type shops in Bangkok with all sorts of labour saving or quirky products on sale. I always enjoy browsing in these places when i am out and about.
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Post by bathstoke on Sept 24, 2014 6:28:24 GMT
Restaurants arnt always well advertised/fronted. So they may not have a sign/name & all may have is a curtain over the door & you have to push through & take a look. English is compulsory in schools, but some read better than speak it, so take a pad & pen.
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Post by DrGonzo on Sept 24, 2014 12:49:04 GMT
Amazing city. Pretty much everything is expensive.
Food is a bit of a crap shoot if you can't tell your kanji from your katakana. Many restaurants have plastic versions of the food in the window, however it is still often difficult to identify exactly what it is. There are plenty of Western food outlets in Roppongi if you are really, really desperate. Your stomach will turn to mush after a few days of not eating any 'solid' foods.
The Japanese like their high end restaurants - you can easily spend upwards of £100 on a plate of Sushi if you don't watch out.
The Japanese government tax beer on the malt content - meaning you get all sorts of cheap but horrible tasting beers brewed with things like peas. Of course you don't realise this until you open the can and take a swig and are sick. Watch out for cold alcoholic tea in a can which makes it look like beer, it's bad. There are some good beers though.
Obvious must see things:
Asakusa Kannon Temple
Tokyo Museum
Imperial Palace
Meiji Shrine
Other:
Tokyo Disney (busy but very bizzare)
Yoyogi Park on a sunny sunday (busy but very bizzare)
Akihabara (full of junk in reality, but worth going for the maid cafe's which are busy but very...you get it)
I wouldn't go to:
Roppongi (unless you have to)
Kabukicho (unless you like getting roofied and waking up in an alley minus your wallet/random body part)
Anything specific just ask....
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Post by tuum on Sept 24, 2014 13:43:18 GMT
I quite fancied Kabukicho..in fact was looking at hotels in that area. However, your post plus a little bit of research suggested I would be better off on the west side of Shinjuko Stn. I can't imagine Kabukicho being that bad but I have no real reason to stay there.
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Post by DrGonzo on Sept 24, 2014 15:19:40 GMT
I quite fancied Kabukicho..in fact was looking at hotels in that area. However, your post plus a little bit of research suggested I would be better off on the west side of Shinjuko Stn. I can't imagine Kabukicho being that bad but I have no real reason to stay there. Yes you are right, it's not like what bad areas of most cities are like, it just doesn't really have anything other than seedy bars aimed at ripping off unsuspecting business men. The Golden Gai is around there and possibly worth visiting if you can find it though... There are good hotels to the west of Shinjuku station and although there isn't really much going on around that area at night it's very easy to get around the city from there. Bar at the top of the Park Hyatt is a must if you are staying around there as well. |
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Post by jimigoodwinsbeard on Sept 24, 2014 16:18:42 GMT
I quite fancied Kabukicho..in fact was looking at hotels in that area. However, your post plus a little bit of research suggested I would be better off on the west side of Shinjuko Stn. I can't imagine Kabukicho being that bad but I have no real reason to stay there. Yes you are right, it's not like what bad areas of most cities are like, it just doesn't really have anything other than seedy bars aimed at ripping off unsuspecting business men. The Golden Gai is around there and possibly worth visiting if you can find it though... There are good hotels to the west of Shinjuku station and although there isn't really much going on around that area at night it's very easy to get around the city from there. Bar at the top of the Park Hyatt is a must if you are staying around there as well. the park hyatt bar....is that the one from 'lost in translation'? |
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Post by DrGonzo on Sept 24, 2014 18:13:02 GMT
Yes you are right, it's not like what bad areas of most cities are like, it just doesn't really have anything other than seedy bars aimed at ripping off unsuspecting business men. The Golden Gai is around there and possibly worth visiting if you can find it though... There are good hotels to the west of Shinjuku station and although there isn't really much going on around that area at night it's very easy to get around the city from there. Bar at the top of the Park Hyatt is a must if you are staying around there as well. the park hyatt bar....is that the one from 'lost in translation'? Yup! They serve Suntory whisky as well! |
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choc
Academy Starlet
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Post by choc on Sept 24, 2014 21:34:37 GMT
Are you planning any day trips out of Tokyo so you can ride the Shinkansen and watch the scenery at 200 mph? Didn't spend much time in Tokyo apart from the airport, taxi and train station so I can't really comment on what to see. Oh, if you take a cab beware of the automatic opening rears doors. Also if you have to catch a bus get some sort of travel pass or the correct change. Once I gave the driver a yen note and he got angry because he had to remove his white gloves to find change.
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Post by gilberto on Sept 25, 2014 2:41:00 GMT
Steer clear of Yoyogi Park / Meiji shrine. It's full of mosquitoes carrying Dengue Fever at the moment. The first outbreak here since the war. You dunner want that screwing your holiday.
If you want shrines, temples etc jump on a train to the old ancient capital Kamakura. About an hour outside Tokyo down through Yokohama.
The observatory at the top of the government building in Shinjuku is free and open til about 11pm.
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Post by tuum on Sept 25, 2014 2:56:42 GMT
Are you planning any day trips out of Tokyo so you can ride the Shinkansen and watch the scenery at 200 mph? Didn't spend much time in Tokyo apart from the airport, taxi and train station so I can't really comment on what to see. Oh, if you take a cab beware of the automatic opening rears doors. Also if you have to catch a bus get some sort of travel pass or the correct change. Once I gave the driver a yen note and he got angry because he had to remove his white gloves to find change. I spent 4 yrs in Taiwan on a High Speed Rail Project..they used the same Shinkansen trains so not too arsed about getting on one. I may get out to Mt.Fuji but it's not a priority at the moment. This visit is more of a look-see. I am sure we will be back again at some point. I have worked with a lot of Japanese guys and very rarely have I seen one of them lose their temper. I guess like most people they are better behaved when they are working abroad. It will be public transport all the way for me. I am using this trip to educate the girlfriend. She is Thai and fancies doing some solo travelling throughout China/Korea/Japan while I am away at work. She is useless at map reading so this is an opportunity to see if she can navigate her way through the notorious Tokyo rail/subway system on her own...believe me it won't be pretty & it will need the patience of a Saint to stop me from stepping in and taking control as we pass the same shop for the 4th time trying to find the correct exit from the station. |
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Post by tuum on Sept 25, 2014 3:03:30 GMT
Steer clear of Yoyogi Park / Meiji shrine. It's full of mosquitoes carrying Dengue Fever at the moment. The first outbreak here since the war. You dunner want that screwing your holiday. If you want shrines, temples etc jump on a train to the old ancient capital Kamakura. About an hour outside Tokyo down through Yokohama. The observatory at the top of the government building in Shinjuku is free and open til about 11pm. Kamakura looks a good shout for the wife**...she likes her Asian history. I have already penciled in the observatory..first thing to do on Monday morning to get our bearings. The bar at the Hyatt is also on the 'must do' for the girlfriend**...not so much for me as it means wearing posher clothes than my normal shorts & crocs. I am generally immune to mosquitoes so I may take my chance at Yoyogi.  **=same person. |
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Post by bathstoke on Sept 25, 2014 6:09:39 GMT
Steer clear of Yoyogi Park / Meiji shrine. It's full of mosquitoes carrying Dengue Fever at the moment. The first outbreak here since the war. You dunner want that screwing your holiday. If you want shrines, temples etc jump on a train to the old ancient capital Kamakura. About an hour outside Tokyo down through Yokohama. The observatory at the top of the government building in Shinjuku is free and open til about 11pm. Kamakura looks a good shout for the wife**...she likes her Asian history. I have already penciled in the observatory..first thing to do on Monday morning to get our bearings. The bar at the Hyatt is also on the 'must do' for the girlfriend**...not so much for me as it means wearing posher clothes than my normal shorts & crocs. I am generally immune to mosquitoes so I may take my chance at Yoyogi. **=same person. Your wife/girlfriend are one & the same. Doesn't that get confusing... Do you get your girlfriend to do stuff that your wife won't!?! ...Like map reading... |
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Post by dutchstokie on Sept 25, 2014 7:29:34 GMT
On the pervy point..i know what you mean. There is (was?) a bar in Tokyo that has an area fitted out to look like a subway carriage complete with women inside dressed to reflect your average female Japanese commuter. It is there so that blokes can go and get their thrills by slyly touching/rubbing/groping the women like they would do on the normal train. Not sure if this bar still exists as I read about it in an article about 10 years ago The Japanese seem pretty innovative in responding to consumers needs. There are a lot of Japanese "poundsaver" type shops in Bangkok with all sorts of labour saving or quirky products on sale. I always enjoy browsing in these places when i am out and about. Mmmmmmmmmmm  |
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Post by tuum on Sept 25, 2014 8:57:08 GMT
Restaurants arnt always well advertised/fronted. So they may not have a sign/name & all may have is a curtain over the door & you have to push through & take a look. English is compulsory in schools, but some read better than speak it, so take a pad & pen. If there is free wifi everywhere I will use google translate..it's ok for the basic stuff..."cat/dog" that kind of thing..oh,no that's Korea isn't it? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2014 9:40:34 GMT
On the pervy point..i know what you mean. There is (was?) a bar in Tokyo that has an area fitted out to look like a subway carriage complete with women inside dressed to reflect your average female Japanese commuter. It is there so that blokes can go and get their thrills by slyly touching/rubbing/groping the women like they would do on the normal train. Not sure if this bar still exists as I read about it in an article about 10 years ago The Japanese seem pretty innovative in responding to consumers needs. There are a lot of Japanese "poundsaver" type shops in Bangkok with all sorts of labour saving or quirky products on sale. I always enjoy browsing in these places when i am out and about. Pretty sure the 7.40am No 8 from Fegg hayes to Hanley was similar, but not Japanese girls though, just yr average shell suit wearin Sharron & Tracy types. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2014 9:44:40 GMT
I am off to Tokyo in a few weeks for a week or so. Anyone been there or lives there who can point me in the right direction for must sees, do's and don'ts. I will be with the wife so no dodgy bars...probably staying in Shinjuko unless anyone has a better option. Very flexible in everything really. Do you have Ian's e mail addy. he just got back from Tokyo, but spent a week on the bog with a wicked bug he picked up in Thailand. If you don't have it I will send to you in a PM... |
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Post by NassauDave on Sept 25, 2014 11:02:23 GMT
Tokyo is fantastic.
Shinjuku is indeed a good place to stay, anywhere within a few minutes walk of the station.
The station is one of the busiest in the world and is a constant mass of moving people.
Shinjuku is safe to walk, day or night.
Stay away from the touristy end of Shinjuku, Irish bars etc. Just very expensive.
Plenty of local eateries where the locals / business community eat after work around the main area of electronic stores. Mainly below street level.
Ropingi is indeed a fucking rip off, other than the Tokyo Tower.
The Metro and overland train system is really efficient and inexpensive. Taxis are really pricey.
Spend a couple of hours in Harijuku if you want to see some weird dress sense!
Get a decent tour book and give it a shot. This is my favorite city, and I have travelled a fair bit.
Enjoy!
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Post by britsabroad on Sept 26, 2014 10:46:13 GMT
Cant believe noone has yet mentioned Tsukiji fish market. Probably the best tourist attraction in Tokyo.
Roppongi (particularly to the North) is the most upmarket part?well worth a wander.
Shibuya and Harijuku are good to look around?as is Ginza for the crazy side of Japanese culture.
Wouldnt spend more than 3 or 4 days before getting on a train somewhere else though. Its a nice city but a bit soulless.
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Post by duckdownunder59 on Sept 27, 2014 4:46:29 GMT
When you go to Shinjuku station,you need to get on the Yamamoto line train (Green Line).this does a big loop through all the major city suburbs and it always arrives back to where you got on.The trains are brilliant and always on time.
And one of the best things about any Japanese trip,the toilets.
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choc
Academy Starlet
Posts: 149
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Post by choc on Sept 27, 2014 12:56:22 GMT
Are you planning any day trips out of Tokyo so you can ride the Shinkansen and watch the scenery at 200 mph? Didn't spend much time in Tokyo apart from the airport, taxi and train station so I can't really comment on what to see. Oh, if you take a cab beware of the automatic opening rears doors. Also if you have to catch a bus get some sort of travel pass or the correct change. Once I gave the driver a yen note and he got angry because he had to remove his white gloves to find change. I spent 4 yrs in Taiwan on a High Speed Rail Project..they used the same Shinkansen trains so not too arsed about getting on one. I may get out to Mt.Fuji but it's not a priority at the moment. This visit is more of a look-see. I am sure we will be back again at some point. I have worked with a lot of Japanese guys and very rarely have I seen one of them lose their temper. I guess like most people they are better behaved when they are working abroad. It will be public transport all the way for me. I am using this trip to educate the girlfriend. She is Thai and fancies doing some solo travelling throughout China/Korea/Japan while I am away at work. She is useless at map reading so this is an opportunity to see if she can navigate her way through the notorious Tokyo rail/subway system on her own...believe me it won't be pretty & it will need the patience of a Saint to stop me from stepping in and taking control as we pass the same shop for the 4th time trying to find the correct exit from the station. Good luck with the map reading. In Osaka and Kyoto I matched up stations to a hand map to work out where I was. There was no GPS or a smartphone to help you out back then. Enjoy the trip! |
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Post by NassauDave on Sept 27, 2014 16:22:37 GMT
Cant believe noone has yet mentioned Tsukiji fish market. Probably the best tourist attraction in Tokyo. Roppongi (particularly to the North) is the most upmarket part?well worth a wander. Shibuya and Harijuku are good to look around?as is Ginza for the crazy side of Japanese culture. Wouldnt spend more than 3 or 4 days before getting on a train somewhere else though. Its a nice city but a bit soulless. Good shout. The problem is that you need to be there no later than about 5am which is a struggle with an Asahi hangover. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2014 23:00:27 GMT
On the pervy point..i know what you mean. There is (was?) a bar in Tokyo that has an area fitted out to look like a subway carriage complete with women inside dressed to reflect your average female Japanese commuter. It is there so that blokes can go and get their thrills by slyly touching/rubbing/groping the women like they would do on the normal train. Not sure if this bar still exists as I read about it in an article about 10 years ago The Japanese seem pretty innovative in responding to consumers needs. There are a lot of Japanese "poundsaver" type shops in Bangkok with all sorts of labour saving or quirky products on sale. I always enjoy browsing in these places when i am out and about. Pretty sure the 7.40am No 8 from Fegg hayes to Hanley was similar, but not Japanese girls though, just yr average shell suit wearin Sharron & Tracy types. No absolutely fucking not. For a start the ladies from Fegg Hayes wore head scarves and wouldn't eat raw fish , let alone stink of eet. Most bathed in N.U. M carbolic soap, and perfumed in lavender from the Yugoslavian Island of Hvar.. The staple date of Fegg Hayes WAGS was pigs trotters and Lobby.... ....and I am unanimous. Mumf |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2014 3:27:01 GMT
Pretty sure the 7.40am No 8 from Fegg hayes to Hanley was similar, but not Japanese girls though, just yr average shell suit wearin Sharron & Tracy types. No absolutely fucking not. For a start the ladies from Fegg Hayes wore head scarves and wouldn't eat raw fish , let alone stink of eet. Most bathed in N.U. M carbolic soap, and perfumed in lavender from the Yugoslavian Island of Hvar.. The staple date of Fegg Hayes WAGS was pigs trotters and Lobby.... ....and I am unanimous. Mumf I bow to your superior knowledge of all things Fegg... For me it is just a dot on the map that one day I might visit...I am however also going to Tokyo in November, and will ask to see the Mayor to discuss a twinning with Tokyo & Fegg Hayes... |
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Post by tuum on Sept 29, 2014 10:31:15 GMT
When you go to Shinjuku station,you need to get on the Yamamoto line train (Green Line).this does a big loop through all the major city suburbs and it always arrives back to where you got on.The trains are brilliant and always on time. And one of the best things about any Japanese trip,the toilets. The shopping mall across the road from me in Bangkok has the Japanese toilets. Not a massive fan..too many buttons and I am never quite sure when they have finished with their buffing and shaping...more complicated than an automatic car wash. For some reason I always end up getting the back of my trousers wet as I finish too early and the final jet rinse is just starting up! On a separate note. I damaged my achilles tendon a couple of days ago playing 5-a-side. Felt a snap and buckled like a sack of shite..no one anywhere near me. Doc couldn't diagnose how bad it was until all the swelling and bruising has gone down. Will know tomorrow whether it is completely ruptured, partially ruptured or just heavily bruised (doesn't explain the snapping sound). He thinks it is not completely ruptured because there is some movement. Fingers crossed it will be ok and I can hobble around Tokyo on a pair of crutches or (even better) on a flat foot shuffle aka Ratso in Midnight Cowboy. |
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Post by tuum on Oct 1, 2014 16:39:45 GMT
Tokyo trip is cancelled.
In for surgery tomorrow on the achilles. MRI scan shows it was ruptured. Will have to wear a cast and crutches for a fair while after the Op.
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Post by tuum on May 2, 2015 3:55:01 GMT
Trip is now back on. I have recovered sufficiently from the surgery to make this trip. Just have to take it easy on the walking front. We leave tomorrow am.
I will miss the boxing but would hope to catch it on repeat as soon as I arrive. Anyone know of places around Shinjuku/Shibuya that will show it.
Also recommendations for the Stoke game next Saturday?
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Post by taytotheimpailer on May 2, 2015 20:25:00 GMT
I am off to Tokyo in a few weeks for a week or so. Anyone been there or lives there who can point me in the right direction for must sees, do's and don'ts. I will be with the wife so no dodgy bars...probably staying in Shinjuko unless anyone has a better option. Very flexible in everything really. Lovely and the birds are awesome Just saw the wife bit |
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