Tokyo

[Juked07]

I'm in Tokyo until 8/30. Working Mon through Fri but have no plans for evenings and the following weekend.

What do I need to see?

 

[Newbian]

Godzilla is heading your way so enjoy.

 

[blipblop]

I might have a longer list of stuff when I am able to type. Go to the tuna auction at Tsujuki Fish Market. Every morning they only allow ~ 70 visitors. I would get there EARLY (Maybe around 3a, or so to start standing in line).

After that I would eat sushi at one of the places around there. Some of the freshest sushi in Japan. I am under the assumption that you are able to eat sushi.

 

[Juked07]

Yum, I do like sushi. I'm far from a food snob so I'm not sure I'll be able to tell the difference, but I'll make sure to hit it up and stuff my face.

 

[God Mode]

The ramen and tonkatsu shops. :hmm:

 

[brainhulk]

akihabara for all the cool gadgets. and then I heard they have cafes where the girls serving you dress up as maids and alll sorts of weird costumes....and post pics!

http://www.angelfire.com/id/croon/japan/akihabaramaids3.html

http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/drink/tokyos-best-maid-cafes-798315

 

[Toonces]

Where are you staying? I'm in Shinjuku, if you're close I can show you a few good places around here.

Otherwise, how much time do you have after work? A day trip to Kamakura, or if you have longer; Chiba Prefecture's beaches this time of year is really nice - I just got back from a weekend there myself.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Asakusa and Kamakura. Akhiabara used to be cool but isn't really that big of a deal anymore imho.

It's also worth going up in Tokyo Tower or Landmark Tower (Yokohama) just to see how far the concrete jungle extends... it's crazy.

 

[Toonces]

Asakusa and Kamakura. Akhiabara used to be cool but isn't really that big of a deal anymore imho.

It's also worth going up in Tokyo Tower or Landmark Tower (Yokohama) just to see how far the concrete jungle extends... it's crazy.

Add the Tokyo Metropolitan Gov't Towers to the list of buildings where you can get a great view of the city (and Mt. Fuji on clear days) - plus it's free!:awe:

 

[Fingolfin269]

Add the Tokyo Metropolitan Gov't Towers to the list of buildings where you can get a great view of the city (and Mt. Fuji on clear days) - plus it's free!:awe:

Never been up there. Will definitely need to check that out when I'm back over in a couple of months!

I'm also adding the Studio Ghibli Museum to my list if time allows.

 

[chipy]

ok maybe i've asked this before but..

for those of you that live there now, what do you do? student? job? what kind of job? how long will you be there for?

always interested in expats living overseas - thx. OP, have a great time!

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

akihabara for all the cool gadgets. And then i heard they have cafes where the girls serving you dress up as maids and alll sorts of weird costumes....and post pics!

http://www.angelfire.com/id/croon/japan/akihabaramaids3.html

http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/drink/tokyos-best-maid-cafes-798315

おいしくなれ♥

 

[Toonces]

Never been up there. Will definitely need to check that out when I'm back over in a couple of months!

I'm also adding the Studio Ghibli Museum to my list if time allows.

You'll need to make reservations (in Japanese on their website) about 2-3 months in advance It's popular.
Kichijoji is a nice place to visit afterwards too.

 

[Toonces]

ok maybe i've asked this before but..

for those of you that live there now, what do you do? student? job? what kind of job? how long will you be there for?

always interested in expats living overseas - thx. OP, have a great time!

I've been in Japan for three years. First two I spent working as an ALT for two different dispatch companies. These jobs aren't hard to find, even overseas, but all have low pay, your first year will be in a rural area, and generally the company with be either malicious or incompetent when it comes to management and salary.

My city decided to hire their teachers directly, so now I'm employed like a regular Japanese teacher at a good salary with benefits, holidays, and real responsibility in the school and school board.

I'm planning to stay until the end of this school year (March) then enroll in grad school and attempt to enter the crazy competitive foreign service in Canada. Or, I might just become a teacher back home - I really enjoy the job (did some substitute work for about 9 months before Japan) and the career path has always tempted me.


Sorry OP, didn't mean to derail the thread!

 

[Juked07]

Where are you staying? I'm in Shinjuku, if you're close I can show you a few good places around here.

Otherwise, how much time do you have after work? A day trip to Kamakura, or if you have longer; Chiba Prefecture's beaches this time of year is really nice - I just got back from a weekend there myself.

I get off around 6, so I have maybe ~6 hours to explore on weekdays. I was thinking of taking a train to another city or something for a day on the weekend though. Might just have to look into those beaches.. I'm in Shiodome, which google maps reports is 25 min from Shinjuku by public transit. Not sure how sincere your offer is.. PM me?

 

[Fingolfin269]

You'll need to make reservations (in Japanese on their website) about 2-3 months in advance It's popular.
Kichijoji is a nice place to visit afterwards too.

Well that blows. I usually don't know with absolute certainty when I'm heading over until a month (or less) before the flight. Oh well, maybe I can get lucky.

 

[Kirby]

Hostess bar in Kabukicho? :awe:

Besides the food and clubs, one of my favorite things was an onsen in Hakone.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Hostess bar in Kabukicho? :awe:

Besides the food and clubs, one of my favorite things was an onsen in Hakone.

Hakone Prince in Hakone-machi? That was a nice one. I love the Picaso open-air museum there as well. Not a far ride from Akatsuka (where the in-laws live)...maybe two hours.

 

[chipy]

Toonces, that's pretty cool! i thought about joining the US Foreign Service but i know they're really tough to get into too. i always enoyed school and learning, maybe i should be a teacher my mom's from Shinjuku.. we're talking about going back for a visit in about a year or two.

 

[Kaieye]

You'll need to make reservations (in Japanese on their website) about 2-3 months in advance It's popular.
Kichijoji is a nice place to visit afterwards too.

Can't you go to Watson's(Drug store) near Mitaka to pick up tickets for the same day? I heard that you can do that but I was last there about five years ago and bought my tickets in San Francisco.

 

[Toonces]

Can't you go to Watson's(Drug store) near Mitaka to pick up tickets for the same day? I heard that you can do that but I was last there about five years ago and bought my tickets in San Francisco.

I'm going from what a Japanese friend of mine told me when she was looking to get tickets this month (ended up getting tickets for Oct).
I'll see if that's still the case, thanks.