One day in Tokyo...

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Discussion

sidicks

Original Poster:

25,218 posts

221 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
quotequote all
I'm away on business next month and I've managed to arrange my travel dates to give me an extra day and a half (Friday afternoon and Saturday) in Tokyo. On my previous visits I've literally only seen airports, hotels and meeting rooms, so this will be my first time being a tourist in the city.

Any suggestions for activities for that short period (and also a place to stay)?

I'm staying in the business district earlier in the week, but thought there might be better choices of hotels (and better locations) for the Friday and Saturday nights.

Cheers
beer
Sidicks

Matt Harper

6,617 posts

201 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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Which business district? - There are several.

sidicks

Original Poster:

25,218 posts

221 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
quotequote all
Matt Harper said:
Which business district? - There are several.
I'm in Marunouchi Wednesday & Thursday nights but can then stay wherever I like on Friday & Saturday.

Gaz413823

55 posts

123 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
quotequote all
The government metropolitan offices are worth a visit. Ignore the exciting name, they're a pair of skyscrapers with observation decks on the top floor. Open until late , free , and a bar. They're an easy walk from shinjinku.

NorthDave

2,366 posts

232 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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And the fish market (if it's open when you are off)

Best Sushi I had was at a place recommended by a local couple I met - http://www.kiyomura.co.jp/shops/detail/1

Absolutely superb. Don't tell everyone though, it's already really busy!

TwigtheWonderkid

43,346 posts

150 months

Friday 25th November 2016
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In that short space of time I would do the 2 extremes, Akihabara on Friday evening (neon, technology etc) and Asukusa (temple, tradition) on Saturday. Then nip over to the mental zebra crossing at Shibuya later on Saturday. Those 3 things give a good taste of Tokyo.

sidicks

Original Poster:

25,218 posts

221 months

Friday 25th November 2016
quotequote all
TwigtheWonderkid said:
In that short space of time I would do the 2 extremes, Akihabara on Friday evening (neon, technology etc) and Asukusa (temple, tradition) on Saturday. Then nip over to the mental zebra crossing at Shibuya later on Saturday. Those 3 things give a good taste of Tokyo.
Thanks.

Matt Harper

6,617 posts

201 months

Saturday 26th November 2016
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I would also suggest the Meiji Dori area - close to Shibuya and the Meiji Jingu shrine which is very impressive and all walkable. Very evident Kei street culture and some stellar restaurants.

TwigtheWonderkid

43,346 posts

150 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
quotequote all
sidicks said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
In that short space of time I would do the 2 extremes, Akihabara on Friday evening (neon, technology etc) and Asukusa (temple, tradition) on Saturday. Then nip over to the mental zebra crossing at Shibuya later on Saturday. Those 3 things give a good taste of Tokyo.
Thanks.
If you do the Shibuya crossing, go into Starbucks and grab a seat by the window on the first floor. The perfect view.

ooid

4,088 posts

100 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
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If you are interested in architecture, loads of great examples in central Tokyo already. I would suggest miu & miu and Tokyo prada stores for a visit. (Same architects who designed Tate Modern in London). Shibuya and Shinjuku also have some great examples, not in a touristic way but these districts are great to observe japanese urban culture specifically. (Always shocking to see how people just leave their bikes most of the time without any lock or securing, comparing to our battlefield London!)

Food-wise, almost everywhere is quite safe and clean in my opinion. Japanese are absolutely clean and care about their food.

Akihabara - Gadgets, gizmos and strange toys
Ginza - Mainly shopping and high street
Shinjuku - sort of business district but some interesting cafes and restaurants
Harajuku - Busy, quite central and young pop culture around
Roppongi - mainly night life
Tsukiji Fish Market - To find some uber-expensive and strange caviars hehe

If you can sample very short but condensed visits to the areas above, I think 24 hours super-compressed Tokyo trip is quite doable! thumbup



Enjoy

Edited by ooid on Sunday 27th November 13:43

sidicks

Original Poster:

25,218 posts

221 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm likely to be back in Tokyo on business at lest ice next year, so will hopefully be able to find another day to do those things i didn't manage to do this time around!
beer

fizz47

2,672 posts

210 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
quotequote all
sidicks said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm likely to be back in Tokyo on business at lest ice next year, so will hopefully be able to find another day to do those things i didn't manage to do this time around!
beer
Seeing as it's pistonheads and if you have limited time then you have to do this.......

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1...


Just spent 3 weeks there in October and this was one of the the most fun and amazing things we did....was even more fun doing it dressed up as Mario seeing as I used to play all the time in my youth....so many people would stop, take picture and wave at you...





Got to see a lot of Tokyo on the 3 hour tour ....You get to drive and lark around in road legal go karts at all the main sights...

sidicks

Original Poster:

25,218 posts

221 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
quotequote all
fizz47 said:
Seeing as it's pistonheads and if you have limited time then you have to do this.......

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1...


Just spent 3 weeks there in October and this was one of the the most fun and amazing things we did....was even more fun doing it dressed up as Mario seeing as I used to play all the time in my youth....so many people would stop, take picture and wave at you...


Got to see a lot of Tokyo on the 3 hour tour ....You get to drive and lark around in road legal go karts at all the main sights...
Looks amazing. Maybe I can convince some of my Japanese colleagues to join me!

shirt

22,554 posts

201 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
quotequote all
fizz47 said:
Seeing as it's pistonheads and if you have limited time then you have to do this.......

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1...


Just spent 3 weeks there in October and this was one of the the most fun and amazing things we did....was even more fun doing it dressed up as Mario seeing as I used to play all the time in my youth....so many people would stop, take picture and wave at you...





Got to see a lot of Tokyo on the 3 hour tour ....You get to drive and lark around in road legal go karts at all the main sights...
How is this legal? It looks like the best thing in the world ever! How much is the tour? I have to so this!

TwigtheWonderkid

43,346 posts

150 months

Sunday 27th November 2016
quotequote all
ooid said:
Harajuku - Busy, quite central and young pop culture around
The Audi dealership in Harajuku is in a tall narrow building, about 5 floors, with a spiral slide from the top floor down to the bottom!

Matt Harper

6,617 posts

201 months

Monday 28th November 2016
quotequote all
TwigtheWonderkid said:
The Audi dealership in Harajuku is in a tall narrow building, about 5 floors, with a spiral slide from the top floor down to the bottom!
Audi Forum Tokyo - Shibuya - amazing structure.


ooid

4,088 posts

100 months

Monday 28th November 2016
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Yup, agreed. Japanese love their cars and buildings more than us biggrin









Hiroshi Nakamura - Tokyo

fizz47

2,672 posts

210 months

Monday 28th November 2016
quotequote all
shirt said:
How is this legal? It looks like the best thing in the world ever! How much is the tour? I have to so this!
For two of us it worked out at about £60 each for the 3 hour tour... which for Tokyo is incredibly good value... This also included the renting of a Go Pro which captured some awesome footage...

At the beginning the rules they give you is no weaving in and out and no using your phones while driving but once on the road our guide was really cool and pretty much let us do what we want as long as we didn't take the piss...


You need an international driving license which costs £5 in the UK but everything is totally legal. You go to the main parts of the city and overtaking a police vehicle dressed as Mario is pretty surreal...

Honestly...cannot recommend doing this highly enough...




tankplanker

2,479 posts

279 months

Tuesday 29th November 2016
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We saw the Mario Karts when we were there earlier this year, looked a lot of fun.

If you do the Shibuya crossing I think the Sony building is nearby, it is well worth a visit. The top floor has a giant screen larger than most people's houses that you can play the latest PS4 games on.

The Tokyo National museum is worth a visit, that can take up two days or more. The training centre for Sumo is usually open, you can book a tour and see them training, which is good fun.

If you have time Disneyland isn't that far by train and very different from the French and American versions.

We weren't impressed by Akihabara and we are a family of Anime nerds. If you are an Anime fan get tickets do the tour for Studio Ghibli if you can, absoulely amazing place.

Lord_Howit_Hertz

1,899 posts

217 months

Thursday 1st December 2016
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As someone who has just found out I'm off to Tokyo next week for a few days this thread has been great!

Looks like I'm there Thurs through to Monday, besides places does anyone have any tips for a first visit to the place? (Besides which google tells you).

Thanks in advance!