In Japan Next Week!

[bigglesworth003]

Well i'm off to Japan Friday Week (19th)

I did have a thread about this before, but it's locked So jsut thought i'd start a new one to get some last minute things done

A HUGE! thanks to TDLFAN and the rest who have already given me some great information.

On the 19th We fly in to Osaka, and stay the night just near Osaka Station. The Next morning will be taking th train to Tokyo. Where we will be spending the next 8 Days. 3 of those will be at TDR one day were on a day tour to Hakone and Mt Fuji.
The Rest Just Touring Tokyo and taking it all in. One morning we are booked in for the daily tour of the Imperial Palace's Grounds.
Then on the 27th My Best friend flys home. And My Mum and me have another Day in Tokyo then are off to Kyoto.
Will be spending 2 days in Kyoto Taking in the culture and temples and whatever else takes our fancy. Then were off back to Osaka, stopping in Nara for hald a day to do a walking tour i found in a Lonley Planet book. Which Covers 10 World Heritage listed sites.
We Basically have 1 day in Osaka Might goto USJ and would like to get to Osaka Castle too. Then we fly back to Australia late in the eveing on the 1st of October

So for those who have visited before, What are some CAN'T MISS parts of Tokyo. I have a few in mind that i want to see. It's a City i have been dreaming of visiting for a while now as im quite the little tech nerd at heart

We are staying in Shinjuku just behind the park behind the Government Buildings. about 1klm from Shinjuku Station, which will be a good walking start to each day.

So any suggestions on great places to check out, food, culture TECH! will be definatly droping by the area with the giant Rollercoaster that goes through the ferris wheel too as looks like fun and Tokyo tower. But looking for some little known nuggets to check out. If you know of any.

Place's i know i will check out are-
Shinjuku,
Obaiba
Sensoji Temple
Roponggi
Harijuku
Akihabara
and more im sure. (at work and don't have my travel folder here)

Might also check out a Sumo Match as i have hear'd its the season.

Also Any shopping that is not to be missed, im looking to get some great sneakers looking at a pair from bape perhaps. But also for my friend any interesting fashion for girls will be great!

Finally anyone at TDR on the 24,25 and 26th of this month and see me Say hi! i will have on a Green truckers hat from TDR with Donald Duck on the front. If anyone wants to meet up let me know!

Wow! sorry i went on for way too long!!

Any help and Suggestions would be great, and thanks again for all the help so far Argh! only a week away!

[Mark Dewd]

Some of the fun/interesting/amazing things about Japan are the small things. For example:

- Look around on the streets and you'll find 24-hour vending machines that sell liquor. (Really.)

- Check out the many European-style bakeries with their beautiful pastries and cakes.

- Visit the basement of the major department stores and you'll find entire floors devoted to fresh foods imported from all over the world (with some free samples!).

- Notice how the Japanese park their cars in a busy parking lot - rear-end in first, thus making it easier and safer to pull out when leaving.

- At TDR, notice how the Japanese will leave their kiddie strollers outside a ride or attraction - with all of their personal belongings still in the stroller!

- Ride the bullet train, even for a short ride, and see how good public transportation can be.

Tokyo is a very exciting city. Enjoy and have fun!

[TDLFAN]

Bigg, I think you are pretty much all set. Trust me, you are planning to do so much, your time in Tokyo will fly. Once question though.. why fly to Osaka to just take the Shinkansen to Tokyo the next morning? Why not take a couple of days in Osaka to explore around and do Universal Studios Japan? Or visit Nara or Kyoto while in transit to Tokyo...

[Moving Sidewalk]

Originally Posted by bigglesworth003

We are staying in Shinjuku just behind the park behind the Government Buildings. about 1klm from Shinjuku Station, which will be a good walking start to each day.

So any suggestions on great places to check out, food, culture TECH! will be definatly droping by the area with the giant Rollercoaster that goes through the ferris wheel too as looks like fun and Tokyo tower. But looking for some little known nuggets to check out. If you know of any.

Place's i know i will check out are-
Shinjuku,
Obaiba
Sensoji Temple
Roponggi
Harijuku
Akihabara
and more im sure. (at work and don't have my travel folder here)

Might also check out a Sumo Match as i have hear'd its the season.

Don't forget Shibuya! They have a Disney Store too. It's just 1 station south of Harajuku on the Yamanote Line. And when in Harajuku, go shopping, have a crepe, and visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Weekends tend to have youths dressed up in Gothic-Lolita fashions by the train station.

I also like Ikebukuro. There you can head to Sunshine City, a large underground shopping mall, with a Toys-R-Us, Disney Store, and Tokyu Hands.

The Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building has a free observatory level. Ikebukuro has a observation floor too, but you have to pay to go to it. Or visiting the Tokyo Tower near sunset is really neat.

If you like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, or Princess Mononoke, check out the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (just outside of Tokyo, maybe 20 minutes away). However you do need to get tickets in advance-- check your local JTB Australia office asap if interested.

[bigglesworth003]

Originally Posted by Mark Dewd

- Look around on the streets and you'll find 24-hour vending machines that sell liquor. (Really.)

- Check out the many European-style bakeries with their beautiful pastries and cakes.

- Visit the basement of the major department stores and you'll find entire floors devoted to fresh foods imported from all over the world (with some free samples!).

- Notice how the Japanese park their cars in a busy parking lot - rear-end in first, thus making it easier and safer to pull out when leaving.

- At TDR, notice how the Japanese will leave their kiddie strollers outside a ride or attraction - with all of their personal belongings still in the stroller!

- Ride the bullet train, even for a short ride, and see how good public transportation can be.

Tokyo is a very exciting city. Enjoy and have fun!

Sounds great must say im really looking forward to seeing all the crazy vending machines. Its wired i have had alot of friends visiting Japan this year they all love it some this was there 3rd or 4th visit. Thats how i park at home Will be taking the Bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo the 1st day! can't wait!

Originally Posted by TDLFAN

Bigg, I think you are pretty much all set. Trust me, you are planning to do so much, your time in Tokyo will fly. Once question though.. why fly to Osaka to just take the Shinkansen to Tokyo the next morning? Why not take a couple of days in Osaka to explore around and do Universal Studios Japan? Or visit Nara or Kyoto while in transit to Tokyo...

Thanks TDLFAN! yeah i know i have allot of "Want to see" nothing really planned just gathering allot of places and see where the days take us from what we all want to do! Would have loved to fly into Tokyo, but Jetstar were only flying into Osaka when we booked and the sale got us insanely good deal ($800 AUD return) so couldn't pass it up. And have gotten JR passes for 14 days to get us around. And realy wanted to get to Tokyo so thought just go there first as knew would be back to Osaka at the end.

Would love to spend more time in Osaka, but unfortunatly only a 2 week trip this year. i have a strange feeling i'll be planning the next one shortly after Proberly will do USJ depends on the rest of the group I'm pushing it with them by getting 3 days at TDR (luckily they do love disney parks, i got them hooked on Cali and Florida, and my best friend is obsessed with Halloween so she will be in heaven!) Kyoto not sure if its too much time but my mum really wants to soak up the history so was a fair compromise to TDR, though I'm sure ill love it too win win!

Originally Posted by Moving Sidewalk

Don't forget Shibuya! They have a Disney Store too. It's just 1 station south of Harajuku on the Yamanote Line. And when in Harajuku, go shopping, have a crepe, and visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine. Weekends tend to have youths dressed up in Gothic-Lolita fashions by the train station.
I also like Ikebukuro. There you can head to Sunshine City, a large underground shopping mall, with a Toys-R-Us, Disney Store, and Tokyu Hands.
The Shinjuku Metropolitan Government Building has a free observatory level. Ikebukuro has a observation floor too, but you have to pay to go to it. Or visiting the Tokyo Tower near sunset is really neat.
If you like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, or Princess Mononoke, check out the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (just outside of Tokyo, maybe 20 minutes away). However you do need to get tickets in advance-- check your local JTB Australia office asap if interested.

Thanks for that! will be checking out the Observation at the government building i love taking photos so will love it for the pics! I'm not a big Anime Fan so won't be hitting up Ghibli. thanks for the tips on shopping, think my credit card company will love me when i get back! Will check out Shibuya thanks for the tip!!


Thanks everyone anymore let me know!!!

[Janell]

I havn't been to tokyo yet, so I don't have advice. We go in Oct. I hope you have a great trip.

[TDLFAN]

Bigg.. plan to be at the parks bright and early. With Halloween going on at TDL, the crowds there will be heavy.

[mikelurker]

Small world... I'll be going to Japan next week too

I think this hasn't been mentioned yet, but one of my favorite places in Tokyo is Ueno Park. It's a spot of nature (sculpted, of course... it is Japan) in the middle of urbania. As a bonus, it has tons of museums of all types. If you're stopping by Sensouji anyway, Ueno is relatively close at hand.

But then again, you're a self-described tech nerd, so three or four days in Akihabara might be about right...

[dsnylndmom]

Have an amazing trip!

[Hakuna Makarla]

I just wanted to say have a wonderful and safe trip!!! I can not wait to see the trip report an d all the wonderful sites I will live thru your camera lens! And heck, why have we never gotten great pics from australia man you live in a beautiful part of the world!! How about some ocean shots and beaches??
again, take care of you and mom and come back loaded with pictures ok.

[kustomboy]

Have a blast and don't miss Shibuya! The Disney store is a great there!

[Fukai]

Make sure to visit the five story toy store Kiddie-Land on Omate-Sando Avenue in Harajuku. Just a short walk from Mejii-Jingu.

[ReggieB]

Originally Posted by Fukai

Make sure to visit the five story toy store Kiddie-Land on Omate-Sando Avenue in Harajuku. Just a short walk from Mejii-Jingu.

You know, I went to a bunch of recommended toy stores in Tokyo (including Kiddie-land) I kind of struggled to find what I was looking for. My 7 year old had a blast, but I was really disappointed. Then I found the toy store opposite Ueno Station (the name escapes me) Collectors paradise!! Found what I had been searching for. Though the other places are still worth checking out. Plus it's near Ueno Park, and as mikelurker mentioned that's kind of interesting for a stroll. I like the homeless (?) guys with their cats at the entrance. Free roaming, but obedient cats, who knew?

The department store I visited was Mitsukoshi (the one in the Nihonbashi district) The metro line is conveniently called Mitsukoshimae (Ginza line) The food hall was amazing.

Got completely lost in Shibuya trying to find the Disney store. It's a pretty busy area you get dumped out of from the station. Don't cross the big main road would be my tip. Go the other way! If you hit an area that kind of looks like times square you are going in the right direction for the Disney store. My favorite bit about Shibuya was the McD's opposite the Disney store. It was the only place in the entire city I had trouble communicating in my limited Japanese and my pointy at menu technique. Luckily my son got what he wanted, I have no idea what the heck they thought I wanted, I ended up with three different burgers, I thought I only had ordered one,some were very bizarre! That's what happens when you let a 7 year old pick your lunch spot (actually he would have rather done Shabu Shabu, but I couldn't afford another trip!)

My son is train mad. We managed to dissuade him from a ride on a bullet train (we didn't need to go anywhere!) but we were able too get platform tickets. It actually was kind if interesting to see the trains coming and going. Service looked way better than the British Rail (as was) and Amtrak that I'm used to!

Have a great trip! It's a great place.

[Moving Sidewalk]

Here's the info for the Shibuya Disney Store (in Japanese):
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http://www.disneystore.co.jp/shop/im...hibuya_map.gif
To get there, basically get off at the JR Yamanote Line Shibuya Station. Head for the Hachiko Exit (where they have a statue of the famous dog Hachiko who would wait for his master). From the Hachiko Exit plaza, diagonally in front of you is the Q-Front with a Starbucks on the 1st & 2nd floors. Head down the street that borders the right of the Q-Front tower. Head straight, passing the Seibu A & B Dept. Store buildings, then make a left when you see the Marui Dept. Store Buiding. Head up the street, and it should be on your left.

[Fukai]

ReggieB, What did you find in the toy store opposite Ueno station that the others lacked?