7 Days in Tokyo: What would you do? Bill Murray Suntory Time?

MAXXply

MAXXply

Hall of Fame
I am visiting Japan for the first time, spending one week in Tokyo.

My wife is attending a conference and I am tagging along, just like Scarlett Johansson did in the movie Lost in Translation.

I would be grateful for experienced TT Tokyophiles' tips on the best way to spend a week in the city.

I have no checklist or firm itinerary. We are staying in Shinjuku district.

I would like to do a daytrip on the Bullet Train if possible. Also visit Uniqlo (preferably just one, the biggest one, wherever that is) and of course checkout the famous tourist districts.

Thanks for any helpful advice.
 
ollinger

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
I stayed in Shijuku, most memorable part of the trip was going to a department store at opening time in the morning. Many of them have an opening ceremony that is extraordinary. Tokyo is less about sights and landmarks (most of which had to be rebuilt as replicas after the WW2 bombings) than simply observing how so many people live is such crowded circumstances without killing each other. Go to cafes and watch how people ritually refill each other's glasses, go to gaming parlors, have coffee in a train station during rush hour and observe the incredible conformity of the society, go to Kabuki and Noh theatre performances, go to "skee-jee" and see the world's largest fish market.
 
SoBad

SoBad

G.O.A.T.
I don't know much about Tokyo, and certainly nothing about Shinjuku, but the Uniqlo is in the same building as biccamera, walking distance from the train station.

Where in Shinjuku are you staying?
 
West Coast Ace

West Coast Ace

G.O.A.T.
In no order (and probably some misspellings):

Roppongi
Ueno Park
Araki Park (where they play the ATP 500)
Imperial Palace (of course)
Tokyo Tower (their ripoff of the Eiffel Tower - but still great views)
5 roof pagoda in Asakusa
Cosplay meetup
Akihabara (Electric City - not as big as it used to be)
Shibuya (the dog status - great story if you're a dog lover)
The seafood market (if the public can still get in and you are an early riser).
Tokyo Dome (home of the Giants baseball team - and where Buster Douglas beat Tyson)
Hotel New Otani (if you're a Bond fan - in You Only Live Twice)


Doubles with Godzilla if you can get it set up. His footwork is weak but he's strong at the net.
 
MAXXply

MAXXply

Hall of Fame
Thanks for your suggestions, certainly enough to keep me occupied.

SoBad - I am staying at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku.

The Hotel Otani (and other mid-century design icons) are on my list, thanks for the suggestion WestCoastAce. I love the Japanese modernist design aesthetic that came around the Tokyo '64 Olympics.
 
Russeljones

Russeljones

Talk Tennis Guru
MAXXply said:
I am visiting Japan for the first time, spending one week in Tokyo.

My wife is attending a conference and I am tagging along, just like Scarlett Johansson did in the movie Lost in Translation.

I would be grateful for experienced TT Tokyophiles' tips on the best way to spend a week in the city.

I have no checklist or firm itinerary. We are staying in Shinjuku district.

I would like to do a daytrip on the Bullet Train if possible. Also visit Uniqlo (preferably just one, the biggest one, wherever that is) and of course checkout the famous tourist districts.

Thanks for any helpful advice.
Click to expand...

I would eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat! :D
 
sapient007

sapient007

Semi-Pro
* hit ramen street in the basement of tokyo station. just look for the longest line and queue up.

* check out the Ghibli museum

* check our tsukiji market early in the morning and get one of the best bowl of sashimi you'll find in town at a reasonable price. once again, find the longest line at 7am and queue up

* take the bullet train to fuji mtn. do a day hike there

* check out a cat/bunny cafe

it's pretty funny there, just remember that not all places will take your credit card so cash up before you hit the streets. the best exchange rate will be @ the atms of the post offices.
 
A

acura9927

Semi-Pro
If you're single find a wife, that country has the best rep for women. Its the opposite of Hong Kong, who has the worse rep for women.
 
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
MAXXply said:
I am visiting Japan for the first time, spending one week in Tokyo.

My wife is attending a conference and I am tagging along, just like Scarlett Johansson did in the movie Lost in Translation.

I would be grateful for experienced TT Tokyophiles' tips on the best way to spend a week in the city.

I have no checklist or firm itinerary. We are staying in Shinjuku district.

I would like to do a daytrip on the Bullet Train if possible. Also visit Uniqlo (preferably just one, the biggest one, wherever that is) and of course checkout the famous tourist districts.

Thanks for any helpful advice.
Click to expand...

Get a local young cute woman to show you around while your wife is at the conference
 
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
We took the Shinkansen just for 1 stop and back (I think it was Osaka). Great experience.

Walk in the streets after 8 pm and watch the oceans of people crossing the streets and filling up all the small food joints.

Tokyo is very safe and people are very disciplined and friendly. Conformity and non-confrontation and respect are highly valued.

Checkout the vending machines. They are something.
 
SoBad

SoBad

G.O.A.T.
MAXXply said:
Not at all, it's a huge convention hotel
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Oh okay, I think I am starting to remember now. Here's a photo from a 35th floor guestroom:
DSC00129.jpg
 
MAXXply

MAXXply

Hall of Fame
sureshs said:
Get a local young cute woman to show you around while your wife is at the conference
Click to expand...

sureshs said:
We took the Shinkansen just for 1 stop and back (I think it was Osaka). Great experience.

Walk in the streets after 8 pm and watch the oceans of people crossing the streets and filling up all the small food joints.

Tokyo is very safe and people are very disciplined and friendly. Conformity and non-confrontation and respect are highly valued.

Checkout the vending machines. They are something.
Click to expand...

You genius, yes my wife has a pretty full conference schedule. A local shopgirl or secretary would be tempting.
 
Mike Bulgakov

Mike Bulgakov

G.O.A.T.
SoBad said:
Oh okay, I think I am starting to remember now. Here's a photo from a 35th floor guestroom:
DSC00129.jpg
Click to expand...
Hey, I think I later bought those Tecnifibre racquets from a Tokyo cop. I later gave them to a different cop in exchange for not taking me in on public drunkenness charges.
 
Mike Bulgakov

Mike Bulgakov

G.O.A.T.
I was once, very sadly, alone and eating a slice of pizza from the Sbarro chain late at night in Roppongi, or somewhere nearby. A group of very drunk Japanese girls abducted me and took me to a dance club. It was a fun night, I think, but I don't remember much.
 
SoBad

SoBad

G.O.A.T.
Mike Bulgakov said:
Hey, I think I later bought those Tecnifibre racquets from a Tokyo cop. I later gave them to a different cop in exchange for not taking me in on public drunkenness charges.
Click to expand...

No, I still have those tfight320s -- in fact, I want to sell them soon (18x20, condition 3/10 at best, one unstrung).

As for Tokyo police, I don't know why a nice quiet person can't just be left alone to mind his business. Instead it's always tattoos and uniforms around for some reason.
 
SoBad

SoBad

G.O.A.T.
Mike Bulgakov said:
I was once, very sadly, alone and eating a slice of pizza from the Sbarro chain late at night in Roppongi, or somewhere nearby. A group of very drunk Japanese girls abducted me and took me to a dance club. It was a fun night, I think, but I don't remember much.
Click to expand...

Better than having ninja turtles drag you into azabu police station, if you ask me.
 
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