Tokyo?

[Markytop]

Am thinking of going to Tokyo in September for around 5 days. Always wanted to go since being a kid, so finally get the opportunity.

Any recommendations upon where to stay, specifically which area, but also hotel recommendations and of course what musts are there to do?

As it's a trip as a treat to myself for reaching 40, the budget, while not unlimited, is pretty open.

Is 5 days enough? Is it too many? Is it worth a quick dash somewhere else in Japan, or can everything be seen within reasonable trek from a Tokyo base?

The current plan is to stopover for a few days each way in Dubai on the journey.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

[Markytop]

Thanks everyone for the pointers so far - much appreciated.

A couple of points/comments to answer:

Stopover in Dubai - yes, I am meeting some friends there, plus I want to explore Dubai a little more and the plane ticket appears cheaper to have a stopover in it than going direct. (Brussels to Dubai to Tokyo is €600 with stopovers both way, whereas Brussels to Tokyo direct is approx. €750)

Talk of raw chicken and horse is a little scary to me - I'm a bit picky when it comes to food - how easy is it to find recognisable food? I'm not a huge Sushi fan that probably doesn't help the situation

The metro seems to be the best way to get around - is it easy to use for a westerner who doesn't understand Japanese? And in general is the language gap an issue?

Hakone sounds like a good shout, especially to tick the Bullet Train box.

Also Harajuku sounds like fun too, along with the French Maid cafes. I do like that alternative culture, and the cosplay and goth cultures look interesting to experience.

[Markytop]

Martin_M said:

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and seeing some pics if you take the plunge!

Well I have taken the plunge, flight booked and in September I will be there for 6 days. Am book-ending it either side with Dubai, but really can't wait now - 2 months and counting!

I'm staying in Royal Park Hotel Shiodome, maybe not my first choice, but many hotels seemed fully booked for the period I am there, and this seems a good compromise location wise being approx. 5min walk from Ginza (although happy to be proved wrong!)

[Markytop]

Apologies if this seems like a thick question, but why the need for a wi-fi hotspot rental?

Is there such a lack of wi-fi, my hotel will have it, so only if I am out and about I guess I might need something, but is there an obvious reason that I am missing why a normal phone-data signal doesnt work?

I appreciate the cost of data on a european phone package might be expensive, but by the time you have hired a hotspot, the break-even point would seem quite high?

[Markytop]

So prompted by the other thread that has appeared about Japan, a few comments about my trip to Tokyo in mid-September to finalise this thread.

First thing to say is I absolutely loved it - such a great buzz to the city, and the mix of new, vibrant modernity with the old cultural and serene parks work really well together, much better than I thought the two would co-exist together.

Travel around was easy, I took a taxi from the airport to my hotel upon arrival which was probably expensive, but given it was midnight upon arrival and was from Haneda it was probably 50 euro well spent for a first time visitor. However the following morning I bought a Pasmo card from one of the machines and never looked back. The metro is easy to use, and English is everywhere. The only problem I found was knowing which exit to leave the stations from, which meant I sometimes ended up going completely the wrong direction. But then that is no different to anywhere else.

Robot Restaurant - great experience and can confirm the food is not good - certainly eatable, but not a patch on what can had elsewhere in surrounding area. The area it is in, while amazing place did seem to be a few unsavoury guys around hassling you to buy a girl for the night. Maybe just because I was on my own at the time, but in fairness when you said no, they left you alone.

People in general are amazing, very friendly and helpful, and appreciative if you try to speak a word or two of Japanese. Do like to keep themselves to themselves though initially, but once in conversation very friendly and seem to have a genuine interest in your visit.

Food - All kinds of everything is perhaps the best way to describe. I wasn't a big fan of sushi, but after sampling it in a proper environment I have certainly changed my mind. Some amazing combinations of textures and flavours.

Didn't take the advice on the thread about getting a mi-fi device - didn't really find it a problem as most places had free wifi, including the metro in the main stations. Did have to turn on data-roaming once to load a map on my phone as did get completely lost (see coming out of metro station by wrong exit above) and from my bill on the return home, this did cost more than the hire of a mi-fi device.

Many tourist places were busy, in fact the whole city is busy, but in the most part there is little queuing and everything is very ordered and controlled, so things just work as they should.

Many shops have tax free counters, but not on all floors or locations, so you might have to hunt them out, and one thing to be aware of is that to get the refund in the shop the purchase has to be over 10,000 yen.

I can't wait to go back - already planning another trip for the Cherry Blossom season in the spring

A few of my pics below: