Going to Japan: Request for info, tips, tricks, etc

3) near the Akihabara station

4) some in Shibuya, I can't think of any that stick out as great, but there are many near each other by the Tsutaya and nearby streets.

What is aleady on your agenda, and where else in Japan are you going?

Yeah, I think there's ten volts difference, but the fitting is the same, treat it as identical to the US electric standard. (The same goes for TV / video: Japan uses a very slightly different version of NTSC, but to all intents and purposes it's the same.)

2) Does Interac work at ATMs there, or should I take cash ahead of time? Do merchants accept Interac cards, or is it cash/credit only?

Japan is very behind when it comes to international ATMs. Most Japanese banks won't let you access non-Japanese accounts. The best bet is to use CitiBank ATMs, which are international. Tokyo has a dozen or so CitiBanks. One in Shinjuku, one in Shibuya, one in Aoyama, etc. The Aoyama one is on Omote Sando, near the subway station. That's what I ended up using most.

3) Where is the area in Tokyo with all of the electronic shops? Silicon Alley I think they call it? I've now been told two different locations.

It's called Electric Town. Akihabara. It's on the Yamanote Line, and the exit to take is marked (in English) Electric Town.

4) Any really great must-see record stores?

I really like Onsa in Shimokitazawa. You should look at HMV in Shibuya, just to see how it differs / doesn't differ from western shops. Tower too. Try to find Manual of Errors in Koenji, Bonjour Records in Daikanyama... In fact, one of the most incredible record stores if you like really esoteric stuff is a unit on the second floor of an office building in Shibuya next to a wedding chapel. I can't remember the name, though.

5) Any really great must-see tourist attractions (keeping in mind that time will be fairly limited because our agenda looks pretty tight).

Anything and everything. It's a theme park.

6) Any other tips for traveling in Japan?

Before you go, buy a Japan Rail pass (two weeks approx. $350) and travel about by shinkansen.

I don't know what interac is but the ATMs in the japanese post-offices work for most US banks AS LONG AS YOUR PASSWORD DOES NOT EXCEED 6 (SIX) DIGITS.

I got by on Traveller's Cheques, but that might just be me.

The Japan Rail Pass is a thing of beauty and a joy forever, unless you want to go places that aren't covered by JR (like, say, Ise. Rar). Can't take the Nozomi shinkansen (supersupersuperfast), but the Hikari superexpress is fast enough that you can, say, go from Kyoto to Hiroshima to Tokyo in one day and have a nice midday wandering about the Peace Park. Not that I've ever done this or anything.
You need to be there on a "temporary visitor" visa to get a JR pass, mind.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en01.shtml

Excellent, I wasn't looking forward to carrying around adapters and transformers etc. This is very good news.

It's called Electric Town. Akihabara. It's on the Yamanote Line, and the exit to take is marked (in English) Electric Town.

Ah, yes, that's it. That's a must-see for me, considering my line of work. I can report on that in my daily travelogue.

I don't know what interac is but the ATMs in the japanese post-offices work for most US banks AS LONG AS YOUR PASSWORD DOES NOT EXCEED 6 (SIX) DIGITS

Good tip. Interac seems to be a Canadian thing only, namewise, but I think it's connected in to other similar things around the world. If US banks are accessible from some machines, I will try those. I'm at 6-digits so hopefully that's not gonna bomb the connection.

3) Akihabara really isn't that great. Walk around there if you must but I wouldn't recommend buying anything there. If you want electronics your best bet is to go to any of the department stores or large electronic stores in any part of Tokyo. Also, the airport shopping stores will have a lot of great electronics. That might be the best thing for you. You may be able to avoid taxes that way.

4) As for record stores it depends what you're looking for. Any of the chains (Tower, Virgin, HMV) are great because they have a huge J-pop section right as you walk in. You can listen to the hit CDs of the week and decide if you want to buy any. Also, their Western stock can be more extensive in some areas than in America; for instance if you are interested in 80s anorak bands. The CDs will seem very expensive because of a CD tax, if you can, check out some used CD shops (there is a used section within the Tsutaya chain) these CDs are always in excellent condition.

6) I would recommend Kamakura; it's an easy day trip from Tokyo and you can see the Giant Buddha. If you have time you must go to an onsen (hot spring).

Get a 2 litre can of Asahi out of an on street vending machine - just tohear the clunk.

And another handy tip is that somehow most supermarkets cannot sell alcohol.

as per finding specific cool record shops etc, i'd throw caution to the wind and just wander and see what you can see - you're bound to find cool stuff in shibuya and shinjuku and you'll waste a lot of time trying to navigate to some specific hole-in-the-wall...embrace randomness in tokyo and you will be rewarded

eat champuru at okinawan-food restaurants as often as possible.

http://www.spacemedicine.net/img/goya.jpg

gohan with gobi, goya with tamago and spam(!), miso ramen.

drink (l-r):

ukon cha, shikwasa (grapefruit cocktail)

Damn good idea, as all of the Japanese I know currently was cribbed from food packages or Styx's "Mr. Roboto". I suppose I should at least learn "yes" "no" and "do you speak English?", eh? And proper pronounciation of "Asahi" is gonna be key.

ah saw hee
saw pore row

http://www.cocacola.co.jp/products/lineup/qoo/img/qoo009.gif

It's not so much for the drink itself as for that one-eared guy on the label. I love that guy!

CDs in Japan cost too much.

Pocari Sweat is a little sweet but a pretty good drink. I also like the cold and hot coffees like GEORGIA (from the Coca Cola company).
Also, gree tea from Kirin, Sapporo and others are great but expensive.

Chinatown in Yokohama does not compare to SF or NYC.

There are several ATMs at Narita that take American ATM cards. Otherwise, they are hard to find. Be wearned that just because some sport a mastercard or visa logo doesn't mean they take one from an American bank.

I would love to see the pictures, Sean.

Haven't tried Pocari Sweat yet, yeah mostly because I'm scared of the name, but have tried a few of the hot drinks like Fire and such.

Was successful today taking money out at the ATM but I'm really not sure which account it withdrew the money from, because it didn't ask. At least I got money! It was at the post office, not one of the CITI bank machines.

disk union in shinjuku (go left out of the station, around the flags building, make a right at the benneton store, go down a couple blocks and it's the 2-6 floors.

there is an amazing obscure experimental shop near here (i think a block north east), jim o'rourke had shopped there earlier in the week and had signed one of his earliest records.

and of course, the tower records in the flags building is one of the most comprehensive shops in tokyo.

in kyoto, jetset records treated me very well (all vinyl -j-rock, international dance, hip hop, experimental). found two very rare (500 copies pressed) boredoms 12"s here for less than $25 apiece.

http://ox.eicat.ca/~scarruthers/globalhermit/travelogue/japan/falling-down.jpg

Nikkomen (steamed suet dumpling things filled with a kind of sweet sausage filling) - genius breakfast food for westerners.
The curried doughnut I had at "Mr Donut" in Kyoto station - filled with curry sauce, covered in toasted coconut and rolled in curry powder.
Those heated toilet seats with the arm that comes out to wash you.
Taking your photo in a kimono in your hotel room because you're too tight to buy one/will never wear one again (though somewhat bizarrely I was given one as a present this year and have worn it since).
The Phillipe Starck-designed Asahi Building in Tokyo. I'd never smuggled a camera into a toilet before that day...
Hot cans of coffee - my favourite was Big Boss, which I would take in the 'strong' variety, thus causing me to lurch into a Swans tribute every time I bought one...
That bizarre fruit flavoured off-milk that I never knew what it was called.
Snacks made from pressed peas. Snacks called things like Blair's Death Rain. Snakcs like strawberry flavoured crisps. Hell, snacks period.
The 5th floor open topped bath house in Kyoto that's allegedly a Yakusa hang-out.
Toei movie studios/theme park.
Finding a record shop in a Shinjuku back street that had one of the biggest Throbbing Gristle selections I've ever seen. Being served in another, while buying deleted Swans releases, by a young chap being desperately polite and bowing despite him wearing a Fudge Tunnel shirt covered in bad language.

Bad things about Japan:

Benito flakes making your food look like it's alive.
Everything in Akihabara being expensive compared to, say, Hong Kong (is there a cheaper electronics chain in the world than Tower?).
Buying a digital camera over there that was an experimental Japan-only model, therefore having a Japanese manual and Japanese screen prompts, and that you've barely used any of the features of because you don't understand them.

I liked Sapporo very much, a lot better than the dead end town I was stuck in (Hakodate). If you're there for a week, travel around by train and visit, for instance, Noboribetsu, which has an onsen in the middle of an amazing volcanic "Hell Valley" of bubbling geysers, as well as an Ainu village and (rather sad) bear park. More here.

I don't think there are direct flights to Sapporo (from Europe). If I'm not mistaken there's a tunnel which links both islands but most people take a plane. I would suggest flying with ANA, I think it's one of the best companies (who fly to Japan).

I dunno about cars. I don't drive a car, so I don't know what's better. I only know that you have to drive left (as opposed to right here in Belgium). :-)

Sorry, not much help, I know.

Sorry about assuming you hadn't been to Japan before. :-)

More stupid questions to come as my departure date approaches.

Cool! Bet you're already planning your next trip.

Yes, we are planning our next trip, actually!

Her parents are lovely and I got on really well with them, especially her mother.

We have so many nice memories. I was making a list of them the other day and kind of recounting our time there.

Have any of you ever been to Hiroshima, Nagasaki or Hokkaido? We're thinking a couple of those areas next, especially Hokkaido.

The other thing we want to do is go when it's hotter, that way I can decide if I can put up with the heat.

No, would love to travel around more - especially Hokkaido. The heat can be pretty brutal, but you'll have a good time no matter what.

Visited Hokkaido almost 15 years ago. Enjoyed the Sapporo beer garden - huge place inna Deutsche style. Also remember snow and train stations with great ramen shops attached.

Side note: all the Sapporo I've bought in the States is actually brewed in Wisconsin.

Yeah, it's just not the same in the US.

I miss the food (quality) already!

In Hiroshima, one must have Hiroshima okonomiyaki, which I personally prefer to Osaka style which seems to be the default. It's good with oysters, which Hiroshima prefecture is also known for.

have been to Japan before (Tokyo, mostly) for work but I'm looking forward to 12 days in August, for Summer Sonic + honeymoon this time. :D

Current schedule:
Tokyo - 19-25 (Summer Sonic on 20,21)
Hakone - 25-26
Kyoto/Osaka - 26-30

I think I've sorted out Tokyo but tips for Kyoto/Osaka? mostly interested in food recommendations, but anything else art/culture/cool shit-related would be appreciated too.

also is it okay to stay in Tokyo during Summer Sonic or would it better to spend a couple of nights in Chiba since we prob will be spending most of the day at the festival anyway?

Where in Hakone exactly? We spent some days in Gora this and last year, definitely a strange but rewarding experience and variation from Osaka/Tokyo.

I'm going to Japan in November. :) Haven't planned much of anything yet, interested in figuring out day trips from Kyoto/Osaka, and I'll be traveling with a vegetarian which should be interesting.

You must now go to Bird 56 as it has become the official ILX Osaka hangout (2 ilxors have visited).

As a vegetarian in Japan I ended up buying lots of custard rolls from Lawson stores when I was out somewhere on my own, it's much easier when you're travelling with a native

Ha, I've talked to two different vegetarian couples who recently went to Japan and said "oh, we just decided not to be for this trip," which is unfortunately not how my wife rolls.

Everyone's very helpful, they just don't really grasp the concept. Might be better these days though what with the 21st century taking hold.

Go to a baseball game is my main advice for anyone in Japan during baseball season. Get to your seats in time for the pregame theatrics and stay for the postgame theatrics (if the home team wins). Rollercoaster of emotions. Bring cash.

Kyoto is just about the best city in Japan to be a vegetarian. The number of Buddhist temples means there’s lots of options. There’s a number of temples where you can stay and get a taste of the monastic life both literally and figuratively. Shojin Ryori is the name of temple cuisine. One of my more memorable Japanese meals, and there have been a few, was at a Tokyo restaurant specialising in this.

This tofu shop down near the big sights of Arashiyama is a great example of what you can find in vego food. I could eat their Yuba tofu every day and not get bored.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yE9Bbf64jUc9q1Gu5?g_st=ic

tbf there are better vegetarian options at lawsons, seven, familymarts than custards. a lot of the onigiri are vegetarian. also would be a good chance to introduce your wife to natto... which could be a new way she rolls... rice...

download google translate and the japanese language pack and try out the camera translation feature

Thanks! Yeah I got that and Papago loaded up. I will happily go to the jazz vinyl bar btw.

Paging dylannnn

if you haven't used it yet, check out the happycow app. works pretty well for finding veg/vegan spots. there are a decent amount of cute places with vegan set meals in cities. the more old school ones like this one usually rule:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/odWza2Kun5T95pVg9

food is basically great everywhere, so you'll be eating delicious things no matter what!

not sure how strict your wife is but fyi you're prob gonna get bonito/fish in most broths. if that's a problem, you may want to figure out how to ask if there's fish _OR_ meat in what you're ordering (most ppl don't classify fish as meat ime)

Having been that way a few times I have some suggestions. Catch the train out to Kurama from central Kyoto and walk the mountain trail to Kibune. Very easy walking and a wonderful experience. https://www.insidekyoto.com/kurama-to-kibune-hike
Also the venerable Philosopher’s Walk is pretty nice if you’re up for walking it rather than bring bussed to Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji. And Nijo Castle is amazing no matter how many tourists there are. You should be better off in November than we were in July.
We also took the train and a bus out to Ise where the main Shinto shrine to Amaterasu is located. Very beautiful and revered place, I found it very exciting.
And of course there’s Nara with its famous buildings like Todai-ji and deer running everywhere. It’s getting a bit crowded out these days. I wouldn’t bother with Osaka castle except maybe the grounds, it’s packed with tourists and is a modern recreation. The old battle paintings are really cool tho.

Himeji castle (located in my wife's home town!) is well worth a visit though, not stupidly far from Osaka either. There's not much else to do in Himeji tbh but I can recommend it.

https://www.himejicastle.jp/en

most ppl don't classify fish as meat ime

yeah in the course of watching japanese tv shows i've learned that "meat" often means beef specifically.

I enjoyed Himeji castle as well...
My favourite building in Kyoto is Sanjuusangendo...

Oh also head out west from Kyoto station to Arashiyama - there’s a somewhat overrun bamboo forest walk, but also the slightly bonkers monkey park on the hillside which is memorable. Saiho-ji (Kokedera) is there too, with its famous moss garden, but it’s a bit involved to gain admission (requires a postcard request in advance).

i was paged. about vegetarianism?

if you are set on traditional or conventional japanese food, it's possible to pull off vegetarianism, but it takes some research, probably a larger budget than you might expect (credible shojin ryori restaurants are not inexpensive), or knowingly allowing dietary rules being broken, and, i would expect, from eating out with friends, tolerating bad food at shops that cater to foreign tastes. if you want to eat "food that people in japan eat," it's easier. every department store sixth floor will have numerous restaurants with options for diet-conscious ladies-who-lunch-types. every hipster taco shop. the pizza shops. vegan bakeries. cold noodle shops. i would take a banh mi stuffed with pickled vegetables over "vegetarian ramen." and there is a kissaten or two always within a hundred meters or so, where you can get a potato salad sandwich and a cup of miso soup lunch set, pizza toast (you might need to ask them to leave off the wieners), pudding... i think it's easy.

please wear slacks when you visit, even if it's warm enough not to.

I have Japanese friends who wear dresses and skirts - is it a bad look for gaijin?

also I paged you because you know lots of stuff

Thirding Himeji Castle, which is also conveniently close to the train station

Fourthed, it’s breathtaking!

(although it’s an hour south by shinkansen so could be pricey as a day trip)

tbf there are better vegetarian options at lawsons, seven, familymarts than custards. a lot of the onigiri are vegetarian. also would be a good chance to introduce your wife to natto... which could be a new way she rolls... rice...

download google translate and the japanese language pack and try out the camera translation feature

― 龜, Thursday, September 12, 2024 2:56 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

this x1000. pickled plum onigiri at family mart was like...120 yen?? incredible.

i tried my best to find vegan stuff in the greater tokyo area (more in the kanagawa prefecture) and the bonito flakes were everywhere. also got some peanuts at 7-11 and discovered they had butter oil in them when i google translated the packaging. stuff i didnt even think about as possible ingredients came up more than i bargained for which, you know, no kidding m bison.

idk, im not saying its impossible, i just had to accept that my western-based ideal was not catered to or understood very broadly so i just tried to stay as close to vegan stuff as i could given the information that was available to me. i ate at the hotel breakfast spread and kept to the rice and vegetables and tofu and it was great, but i would hazard it didnt meet any strict 100% plant based criteria. we did visit a nice vegetarian shop in chigasaki though.

Please tell me what area to stay in Tokyo, the choices are overwhelming. Basically trying to decide if staying in Shibuya or Shinjuku is going to be too overwhelming in our jet-lagged state, mostly for my wife who doesn't like most big cities. But also we do like to eat late and be near a station.

Eating late and being near a station is possible everywhere in Tokyo. I've stayed in Asakusa, wonderful place to arrive at late at night with its narrow streets filled with lanterns and a big scary illuminated Nio at Senso-Ji staring down at you. The other time I stayed on the meeting of Jinbocho (book suburb) and Ochanomizu (guitar suburb) which tickled two interests of mine. Shibuya and Shinjuku are busy yeah, if I was keen on being in one of those suburbs and split the distance and stay in harajukj (fashion suburb), one stop away in opposite directions from both. You get to be right next to yoyogi Park then as well if you want to escape into some nature.

Other place that could be cool to stay in is Tsjuki (fish market town). You're next to the water (always a remedy to big city stress), and the next suburb over is Ginza (high end shopping district). I'm not big on Ginza but I sorta wish I had more breakfasts in Tsjuki.

No matter where you stay, Tokyo is insanely well connected and you can't really lose no matter where you stay. If it's your first time maybe close to the center would be wise so you can have a central location to suburbs north-east-south-west? I.e. any accommodation near the imperial palace. Also if your wife doesn't like big cities she is going to the wrong place and there's no way to sugar-coat that lol. Tokyo is the biggest of big cities, its kinda endless. A day trip to Mt. Fuji could be the go to get some breathing room though! Loved my time in Atami as well as a breather from Tokyo.

We went there for the first time in August, stayed in Chiyoda, which was very central and also not too busy. Honestly, I would have found Shibuya or Shinjuku just too full on for a first time visit. I second the suggestion of Asakusa, really nice area.

If you want something further away but still close to shin/shib and relatively quieter (key word:relatively), check out Shimokitazawa. Only spent a little bit of time there but it was very nice. Great coffee, great food, good livehouses. Might be perfect for you.

Thank you! I think we're only going to be in Tokyo for a few days on either side, although I wish I had weeks to explore (book & music suburbs!).

thirding asakusa!

Ueno is fun - laidback, large beautiful park, amazing museums, tons of shopping etc. My favourite base for Tokyo.

Yeah Uena is a good ventral base! 10 minutes to Asakusa/Akihabara/Jinbocho/Ochanomizu from Okachimachi station.

It's worth stressing there is no bad places to stay in Tokyo. Honestly just throw a dart at a map, or blindly select from the recommendations given and go for it. The city is so well connected you'll be fine wherever you land (this is especially true if your just dropping by for a few days)

Good central base too

Last time I was there is stayed in Yotsuya, which even by Tokyo standards is ridiculously well connected. The station there is on the chip line rapid and the Mainichi and bamboo subway lines which gets you everywhere in a couple of stops.

I stayed in the Tokyu stay hotel which is a very good. Haines hotel brand. It’s completely non smoking g and always has been which means no ground in smoke stench and every room has a washing mashing which is useful for re-uppping on clean pants.

It’s a fairly quiet neighborhood but there is a very good if old school sake shop and I have to recommend 太平山　(Taiheizan) which is an Akita cuisine restaurant associated with a sake brewery I have repped for a couple of times.

If you do end up in okachimachi/ueno, which is also a good area , be aware that this is a neighborhood where all the bars and cops turn a blind eye to the smoking ban.

Highly recommend sake pub Gashue up there which has a truly banging selection. I have a mate who runs private sake tastings in their back room if you want a guided experience.

Other areas I’ve liked to stay - mita sanchome and azabujuban. Great places to get a short apartment rental. The sento in Azabujuban is a favourite and I more often than not end up bathing with some aging yakuza types.

Chip line - chuo line

Somewhere on the Chuo line is a good call, but yeah, what HP said, there's no bad options...

If you're in Shimokitazawa there's tons of live music happening, in Asakusa you've got the Japan Percussion Centre, there's often good music at Polaris in Ochanomizu... it's a fun town...

how far in advance to book accommodation? asap? going in march

March can be busy because it’s cherry blossom/spring break season.

Most Japanese hotels are book now and pay when you turn up and free to cancel up to the day before or so, even through aggregators like booking.com. Although direct can be slightly cheaper and most likely won’t involve facing anything anymore😜. Book now and see if prices change if you are doing hotels.

Airbnb does what Airbnb does I suppose.

I’ve just been reminded of this property developer that owns a bunch of hotels. Reason I know them is they bought a sake brewery, Kikawa Jozo, and I went to a talk by the brewer and developer. They have a couple of hotels, one in Kawasaki, the other in Asakusa, which feature unlimited sake as part of the plan. They also have a ( quite spendy) Showa style house in Kagurazaka and a bunch of places in the countryside and a cool looking capsule/hostel style place in Okinawa that look very workation oriented



https://shimadahouse.co.jp/business/hotel
https://sake-barhotel.com
https://sake-kurahotel.com/
https://www.retro-na-hotel.com/

And if you want a fun vegan friendly, sake oriented day out. Take a trip beyond the end of the Chuo line on the Ome line to Sawai, home of the Ozawa sake brewery that brews Sawanoi.

You can do a tour if your book in advance (I can never get bored touring sake breweries, YMMV). However the highlight is their pretty little garden with snack stands and tasting room plus two really great tofu restaurants. IIRC the cheaper upstairs one was all vegan and no reservations taken or required, downstairs was a more elaborate course with meat and fish.

There’s also some lovely hiking along the river and it’s a popular bouldering spot.

Cool recs! Thanks Ed, saving those.