Traveling to Tokyo - Advice?

Hello All!
By the end of the year, I intend to be visiting Japan, so I was wondering if anybody has any good advice for me? Such as money, or traveling, or sightseeing or even food.

Thank you In advance.

I haven't been to Japan myself, but I read from someone who actually lives in Tokyo that the people there are very passive-aggressive so keep that in mind. Also it is very crowded. Extremely so.

You could watch and try to look for places to eat/drink at on Vices Munchies channel.

http://www.vice.com/video/drunk-chefs-made-us-ramen-burgers-in-tokyo

http://munchies.vice.com/videos/craft-beer-in-japan-al-kee-hol

Depending on where your going money may be a issue. Tokyo is expensive in hotel prices. Plan ahead for the prices since the long you book the cheaper you find. buy a trainpass for tokyo subways and a JR rail pass since they have a big network from most place in the prefecture out, plus the JR pass work for the national rail so you can go from one side of the big islands to the other. Plus weeb shit in akiba. They do accept visa and mastercards so buying the prepaid japanese cards or your cards... bank cards might not work... even though i use them there. Have cash for bars and small restaurants. All airports have exchanges and most bank can exchange dollars for yens.



Temples, parks, castles, Games, ANIME AND PORN... also whores a plenty.... _> i heard. Mountains around tokyo and up north are full of hot springs especially the anjuland of Hokkaido. Kobe/Osaka is the sake homeland and they have awesome foods without being full of numbnuts and weebs in edo. Southern islands are like Hawaii or some remote Polynesian islands.



Food might be a problem if you want real food and not high price restaurant food and McD's. Most small restaurants don't get non japanese people so you might not be able to get english speaking service. Although a lot of the young people are taught english so they might help you out.

Here is a nice guide made for foreigners from expats(people living there) http://expatsguide.jp/

Where in Japan do you want to go and what do you want to see? O 3O

Anime or culture?

Thanks so much for all the great advice, but I'll pass on the whores. >.< perhaps.



I'm looking to do a lot of anime and a bit of Culture.
And I'm aiming at Tokyo. =)

Travel and Hotel price won't be an issue, my issue is what amount of money should I be expected to have, realistically.

10 Day Visit, Hotel and Travel paid for, what money should I take with me? =)
And any Anime and Culture Recommendations?

Do as much research as possible prior to going.

Money wise could be planned pretty easy by just figuring out how much you think you spend a day. 100$ a day (around 1000 yen i think), 200$ a day, so on.

And if there is something specific you want to buy, like manga, then bring extra money for those things.

Anime culture is Akihabara~ MUST GO for otakus! ❤
Depending on which anime you like there are different locations you would want to go to too, like with One piece there is Odaiba *___*.
Ghibli museum!!~~ is a go go go for ghibli studio lovers!
culture wise in Tokyo is hard since most cultural stuff is in Kyoto.
I think Tokyo is mainly pop culture so that is a kind of culture too I guess.
Ikebukuro & Shinjuku is cool places imo! Would definitely recommend that.
For cool street fashion/cosplay culture Harajuku and Shibuya is cool places!

Else chech this site: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html
Has a lot of recommendations for people who are going for the first time.

About money. Japan is expensive. Depending on how much you want to shop and how well you want to eat you probably want to bring quite a lot else just use your card. I can't recommend eating home since it is as healthy and cheap to eat out if you just go to the right places.

Thanks for all the tips and advice guys!
Really much appreciated.

Just been there last month so I'll share some of my experience.

Well, Tokyo is expensive but very fun. It's very clean there. People mostly won't give a damn. I suggest stay at a hotel near the train station so that it will be easier to travel around.

The train is very confusing for the first time. Know what is your destination so that you can know which line you're going to take. Take note that there could be multiple lines to your destination. Also, know which exit are you going to because for every station, there are a lot of exit. Train stops at around midnight so take note of that.

A lot will go to your food and transportation so I suggest you buy a JR pass online (www.jrpass.com) because it will be much cheaper. Just browse what pass will do for you. For food, it costs about 500-600 yen for a single meal if you are not a heavy eater at a fast food.

Don't forget that there's tax-free shopping on some shops if you're staying less than 6 mos. as a tourist. Purchases of 10K yen and above for non-perishable goods like clothes and electronics will waive the 8% consumption tax (or in some countries called VAT). At some stores, they have a booth for refund of tax, in some they deduct it right away. You need your passport so that they will attach the Statement of Export Outside Japan there. Don't worry, they will remove it at the airport.

As for the latest in electronics and some sports gear you can go to Yodobashi Camera or Bic Camera located all over Tokyo. They have tax-free shopping also.

Got to Akihabara for anime and manga goods (and adult goods). One whole day is not enough there. Don't forget to exit at Electric Town Exit so that you won't get lost as there are a lot of exits there. Some stores have tax-free shopping so if you're buying figures it will help you save a little.

Go to Asakusa for Asakusa shrine or Sensoji. Don't worry, it's free admission. They also sell souvenirs there.

Go to Odaiba preferably early evening so you can see the Rainbow Bridge and the life-size Gundam at Diver City mall if that's your thing. Don't forget to bring a jacket there because it's chilly.

Ask questions and I'll see if I can answer them. Just helping a fellow Fakku member and some lurkers.

bring me back some tea, i hear its good over there.

This is perfect, thank you very much! I truly appreciate all of this, it's incredible.
I apologize for not being able to say much more than I do, but thank you :)



Done deal.

Stay away from gaijin hunters and learn some Japanese. Like every place you go, use common sense.

Thanks for the heads up on this one.

Tokyo ranks as one of the most expensive cities to live in, would love to talk more, but need more specifics. 10 days will me LOTS of money dropped, scale of at least a couple hundred USD a day depending, which isn't as bad. Luckily/sadly, due to the recession in Japan, the Yen has weakened significantly, therefore strengthening the USD and reducing YOUR prices. IF anime it is you seek, head to akihabara, and we can talk more there.