Have you ever been to Tokyo?

IndridCold

And if so what did you think of the city in general? Cost, food, nightlife, culture, sightseeing etc. I was thinking about going to Tokyo in the Autumn.

Thanks for your help.

smash

IndridCold wrote: »

And if so what did you think of the city in general? Cost, food, nightlife, culture, sightseeing etc. I was thinking about going to Tokyo in the Autumn.

Thanks for your help.

I met Jackie Chan like 400 times when I went over!

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

smash wrote: »

I met Jackie Chan like 400 times when I went over!

Thats very interesting since jackie chan is from and living in China.

boombang

Great place, still very warm in autumn. Food was very good everywhere I went. Be prepared for small hotel rooms. It's also not as expensive as I'd been led to believe.

Lyaiera

*Two people sitting on a park bench at dusk.*

"Have you ever been to Toyko?"
"The dawn there brings peace."
"It will be done."

Barry Badrinath

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Thats very interesting since jackie chan is from and living in China.

Oooh Jackie Chan cant visit Tokyo when Smash visits Tokyo?

Calm down North Korea! Racist!

recylingbin

Magnifique, as the locals say.

smash

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Thats very interesting since jackie chan is from and living in China.

I met Mr.Miyagi a load of times too!

Eugene Norman

recylingbin wrote: »

Magnifique, as the locals say.

In Japanese

marketty

A great bunch of lads

recylingbin

Eugene Norman wrote: »

In Japanese

[Squints]magnifique[/squint]

eviltwin

Saving to go, my big baby is going to Japan for a year in next year and I want to visit her.

The flying mouse

Oh, I've been to Georgia and California and anywhere I could run
Took the hand of a preacher man
and we made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces
Because I had to be free
I've been to paradise but I've never been to me...tokyo

AtomicHorror

IndridCold wrote: »

And if so what did you think of the city in general? Cost, food, nightlife, culture, sightseeing etc. I was thinking about going to Tokyo in the Autumn.

Thanks for your help.

Was there last Spring and it was pleasant when the sun was out, though rained a lot. Not sure what Autumn is like, but I've been told by locals and ex-pats that it's best to avoid Summer as it's unpleasantly humid, so I think you've picked a good time of year. Maybe get an umbrella though.

Food- excellent pretty much everywhere I went (I was in Shibuya and Shinjuku). Nightlife- didn't see so much (work trip), but a co-worker went for longer and had a great time with karaoke. Lots of places to go anyway. Culture- it's everywhere. Good shops too- have a look in Takashimaya stores. Didn't get to do much sightseeing but there are some beautiful parks around the city.

Come to think of it, I really need to go again and do it better this time.

The Backwards Man

It's big in Japan alright

The_Valeyard

McGruber wrote: »

Oooh Jackie Chan cant visit Tokyo when Smash visits Tokyo?

Calm down North Korea! Racist!

Kim Jon Un can beat up Jackie Chan according to North Korean media.

smash

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Kim Jon Un can beat up Jackie Chan according to North Korean media.

Just by looking at him!!!

Hrududu

Autumn is a great time to go. I was there around Halloween and it was warm enough to be in a t shirt most days. And only rained once. Not sure if that was unusual but it seems to fall in a nice spot outside of the rainy season, after the sticky summer and before the winter.

Expensive but not more so than places like NY or San Francisco. Lots to see and do. The place is absolutely massive. You can be in a park, then hop on a subway for a couple of spots and be in the middle of a neon jungle the next.

clairewithani

I was in Tokyo once. Just for a few hours.
I have dyslexia.
Was meant to be in Kyoto.

jacksie66

This post has been deleted.

alchemist33

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Thats very interesting since jackie chan is from and living in China.

No, that's Jackie Patsy Chan you're thinking of. He meant Jackie Seamus Chan.

maxwell smart

I've been there for work, it's quite an interesting place. Very very busy in the downtown area. If you visit any of the locals in their own homes, their customs can seem quite strange, but they are very friendly people.

One thing to remember is what Ian Rush said about living in Italy when he moved to Juventus from Liverpool...

'It's was like living in a foreign country'

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Keep my head down
Look away from the flash
I got a planet full of people saying I got a smash
Me I don't mind
Cause it's all for the fans
And the next thing you know I'm big in Japan

S. T. A. R

Ruu

Hoping to do the Tokyo marathon next year!

Aongus Von Bismarck

Yes, I've been to Tokyo on a number of occasions, both in a professional and personal capacity. It's an astonishing city in one of the most interesting countries in the world. If I'm travelling there with work then I'll always try and take an extra day or two to just potter around.

Us foodies are in paradise in Tokyo. From a bowl of ramen at lunch to dining in a 3 star Michelin restaurant for dinner; one is always guaranteed to eat extraordinary food. I know of no other culture where the joy and sustenance of great food is so intrinsically linked with the land and sea that surrounds them. Suffice to say it isn't a chicken fillet roll out of Spar.

Birneybau

Yes, but what is?

Also, it's ' Suffice it to say'.

Birneybau

eviltwin wrote: »

Saving to go, my big baby is going to Japan for a year in next year and I want to visit her.

Sumo wrestler?

BOHtox

We'll always have Paris Tokyo

moc moc a moc

eviltwin wrote: »

Saving to go, my big baby is going to Japan for a year in next year and I want to visit her.

You're sending an infant to Japan on their own?? Japan is a safe country, but this is ridiculous.

ButtersSuki

Awesome city, but so big it's almost impossible to see everything. Harajuku is a must for the general bizarre-o ness factor alone. It's east meets west in the most surreal interpretation of it you can imagine.

Karaoke is funny but the japanese tend to only do Michael Jackson or Elvis sings. It's hilarious at first but wears thin pretty quickly.

Food is good if you like Japanese food. If you don't you're going to find it difficult to find good western food.

Try and get out and see the countryside and temples if you're into that kind of thing.

You can get anything you want in Tokyo.....

Been twice, would love to go back.

Third_Echelon

Yeah, I was there in 2007 and one of the nicest countries that I have visited.

Tokyo is a great city. Good food, nightlife... It's all there. At the time I was there, it was around the same price as Dublin for most things. Eating out was actually a bit cheaper, but not much.

We went to Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima on that trip. All 3 worth adding into your trip if you can. Shinkansen bullet train with a J-Rail pass is a must. Much cheaper than if you bought tickets each time.

Glico Man

Was there for New Years in 2015, for 2 and a bit weeks... incredible city. The food is excellent, street side vendors cook everything fresh to order in front of you, transport (subway especially) is reliable, cheap and easy to find your way around. Roppongi, Kabukicho or Shinjuku is where most would go for the nightlife, and its pretty lively. You'll find everything very convenient... except if you're hoping to catch a subway train when everyone has just finished work.

Sightseeing wise, if you're an anime or manga fan or gaming fan your first stop would be Akihabara or a tour around Studio Ghibli. The Imperial Palace in the heart of the city is well worth a stroll around, Yasukuni Shrine/Meiji Shrine/Asakusa Shrine, Tokyo Skytree (gives you a magnificent view all around the city), Tsukiji fish market in the south east of the city, Ueno Park, Tokyo Dome (sumo wrestling) etc...

There's lots to see and do int the city itself, but if you're up for a bit of light travel, Mt. Fuji is within bus or train distance and the Hakone area nearby is also worth checking out. Yokohama, if you're inclined, is a short trip from Tokyo station too. I would also highly suggest a trip to Kamakura if you have the time.

osarusan

Lived there for 4 years.

Amazing food, so amazing that even without making efforts to visit very good restaurants, you will still get fantastic food. Cheap accommodation (if that is what you are after - of course every range is available, and every kind, try a capsule hotel if that's your thing), superbly amazing public transport.

You mentioned autumn - if you are there in September, you could try and see the Sumo tournament. If it's later than that, you will get caught up in the koyo frenzy as people travel far and wide to see the leaves in their autumn colours.

Simply strolling around Harajuku, watching the crowds at Shibuya crossing, going to the park and museums at Ueno, going to Meiji Jingu, heading to the older sections such as Asakusa, visiting the Tokyo Metropolitan gov't building and going to the free observatory at a top floor (forget which floor, and especially worthwhile at night) will be fascinating I'd say. Tokyo Disneyland is outside Tokyo, if that is something you are interested in.

As somebody else mentioned, you can make a day trip to Kamakura which really is worth a visit. The trains will get you there punctually and cheaply. There is a wealth of temples and shrines there, as well as the Big Buddha. If you do visit the Big Buddha, make sure you have a look at the crazy weapons shop at the entrance.

If you are interested, a day trip to Yokohama will be interesting, and there is a fantastic aquarium and theme park called Hakkeijima which is brilliant. There's an autonomous monorail that gets you there. You could also visit Sankeien gardens, which are not well-known but one of my favourite places in that part of Japan.

Barry Badrinath

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Yes, I've been to Tokyo on a number of occasions, both in a professional and personal capacity. It's an astonishing city in one of the most interesting countries in the world. If I'm travelling there with work then I'll always try and take an extra day or two to just potter around.

Us foodies are in paradise in Tokyo. From a bowl of ramen at lunch to dining in a 3 star Michelin restaurant for dinner; one is always guaranteed to eat extraordinary food. I know of no other culture where the joy and sustenance of great food is so intrinsically linked with the land and sea that surrounds them. Suffice to say it isn't a chicken fillet roll out of Spar.

Shut up Aongus.

retalivity

Was there for 4 days 6 years ago.
Agree with everything everyone has said, but would also recommend going to akihabara if youre into gaming/manga. Even if youre not, its gloriously weird. All the cafes and the cosplay people on the street trying to get you in. Also pachinko. Pachinko evrywhere.

diomed

No. I can't boast I've been to that place.

Capt'n Midnight

BOHtox wrote: »

We'll always have Paris Tokyo

On 9-10 March 1945, 279 USAAF bombers dropped 1,700 tons of incendiary bombs on the city. This destroyed c. 16 square miles of the city and killed about 100,000 people — more than the straight-off deaths caused by the atomic-bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.

Tokyo is the meeting place for three different tectonic plates. It's been described as "The city waiting to die". Also, Japan contains ten percent of the world's active volcanoes. Fun!

The Great Kantō earthquake and a strong typhoon struck Tokyo Bay at about the same time as the earthquake. Estimated casualties totalled about 142,800 deaths.

And of course,
Godzilla.

dr.fuzzenstein

clairewithani wrote: »

I was in Tokyo once. Just for a few hours.
I have dyslexia.
Was meant to be in Kyoto.

Kyoto is the anagram lovers Tokyo.

Brendan Bendar

Autumn is fine, great place to visit.