Stuff to do in Tokyo - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Canadian Bacon** · 05-19-2009, 09:09 AM

Hey tpunks,

So i'm travelling to Tokyo in 2 weeks (staying for a week), then to HK after.

So... aside from what my guidebook tells me, what are some must-dos in Tokyo and surrounding areas (like a daytrip away) in terms of seeing, partying, eating or drinking?

CB

**Canadian Bacon** · 05-22-2009, 07:49 AM

anything fun to do in Tokyo? anyone? okay, I suppose I'll report back what I find then.

**MeTurk** · 05-22-2009, 08:01 AM

Awaken Godzilla and spend the day fleeing his wrath.

**joe7f** · 05-23-2009, 08:42 AM

Oh man sorry dude I wrote a fairly long message I guess I never posted it.

Not sure where you are staying but I liked my location in Asakusa (pronounced Ah-sock-sa) at the Sakura Youth Hostel. It is near the Sensoji Temple.

I didn't hit many bars and the like when I was there but let's face it, you can do that anywhere. That said Roppongi is where a lot of the foreigners (gaijin) hangout. It has kind of a seedy reputation which is puzzling to me because right outside the metro stop there is one of the nicest malls ever (high rise of course) and the Tokyo tower.

What I did instead was...

1.) Wander Shinjuku and Shibuya (Times Square on crack)
2.) I caught a Japanese baseball game between the two Tokyo teams at the Tokyo Dome
3.) If you stay at Sakura, the Asakusa area is worth exploring as well. It is kind of funny to see monks with digital cameras.
4.) Check out the crazy Japanese youngins in Harajuku.
5.) If you want to hit up the technology district check out Akihabara.

I heard Nikko is a great day trip. If you head to Mount Fuji there is a great hostel called Backpacker's K House Mt Fuji (Kawaguchiko) and the ride up through the Sengen temple is amazing.

--Joey

**Canadian Bacon** · 05-27-2009, 09:35 AM

Thanks Joe, I'm planning to check those places out and I CANNOT WAIT to see the fish market and eat sashimi for breakfast!!!

Good idea about baseball... that sounds like fun!

olabueno · 07-17-2009, 05:51 AM

Joe,

Did you book ahead of time, or was it pretty easy to find accommodation? I'll be in Tokyo for about a week as well (8/3-8/9). Is is similar to Europe during the summer in this respect (sometimes impossible to find walk-in space at hostels)?

Anyone else have advice for Japan? I'm traveling from Tokyo to Fukuoka, then on to Thailand.

-Thanks

Mike

**Canadian Bacon** · 07-17-2009, 07:56 AM

Hey sorry I didn't give an update.

So I went to Tokyo for 8 days, and there was tons to do.

I stayed at Yadoya Guesthouse in Nakano, sort of the 'mid-town' of Tokyo which is only 2 stops from Shinjuku on the train. It is an excellent accomodation, great location in a very Japanese suberb (you get to see the patterns of life there, as there are kids breakdancing at the community center and its located near an elementary school) and I fully recommend it!
Cheap accommodation in Tokyo - YADOYA Guesthouse

I saw a Tokyo Giants game at the Tokyo Dome, which is just awesome. The most diciplined baseball chanting I've ever seen... and the first time I saw a brass band at one!

Ginza is the financial district, lots and lots of dudes in suits
Shinjuku east is awesome bar/shopping district. Shinjuku west is pure blade runner.
Shibuya is shinjuku on crack and 10 years younger, and awesome
Akihabara is the anime district where you will find cool gagets as well as the weirdest (and sometimes most disturbing) shit possible

You should also check out the fish market for some reallly fresh tuna. But I would avoid wearing flipflops because beyond its touristic values - it's actually a FUNCTIONING fish market. There are guys there with sushi knives the size of samurai swords, no joke.

One more thing... you gotta hit up an internet cafe there! its an experience, you can rent these little booths for an entire night basically and they have free drinks, comics, massage chairs... etc

happy travels!
CB

**joe7f** · 07-19-2009, 01:22 AM

Mike, I would book ahead. I don't think Japan gets quite the Eurotraveler boom that Europe does but then again it has fewer hostels.

Glad you had a good time Jason! I know a lot of Japanese use those internet cafes as a capsule hotel. How much is a night do you remember?

--Joey