Tokyo, Japan

Jul 5, 2015

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Tips:

• Always print out or take a screen shot of each address in Japanese where you want to go (including your hotel). Many people do not speak or read English so it’s always easiest to show them the address.

• The airport is about a 1 hour train ride from Tokyo city and the Narita Express train runs every 15 minutes. It’s only one stop so you don’t have to worry about getting off at the wrong one. It also has assigned seating so make note of this seat before you board so you ensure you board the right car number. *Side note: if you travel as a group the seats rotate so you can face your friends.

• Subway is very inexpensive and easy. Keep in mind two things when taking the subway; 1. Note the exit number you take if you will repeat the ride. For instance, if you have a subway stop near your hotel then as soon as you enter the subway look up at the signs and note the exit number. This is because subways stops are very big and if you tak the wrong exit you could be an additional 25 minute walk from where you intended. 2. Subways do not run 24 hours. Keep this in mind when and if you plan late nights.

• Taxis can get pretty expensive so I would recommend limiting the use.

• Cash is King. There may be palces that take card but the systems are fickle and sometimes don’t read VISA. So always have cash as a back up.

 

Common Phrases:

• Hai (Hi): yes

• iie: no

• Arigatō (gozaimasu)  : thank you (very much)

• Bye bye: bye

• Konnichiwa : Good afternoon

• Ohayō (Ohio): Good morning

• Wakarimasen : i don’t understand

 

Unique:

While there may be loads of cool t-shirts in every shop in Japan, nothing is more satisfying than making original Hokusai t-shirts that only you will own and no one else. At a printmaking workshop, Kume.JP offers small workshops for practically no money (6000JPY or $50 USD for two people). Check out some of their work on their Facebook page. You can book a reservation here. I highly recommend it. It’s pretty quick, high quality, very few people do it, and they make great gifts. Take the purple Z metro line to Kinshicho.

 

Food & Drink:

• I feel like a need to mention that you should mentally prepare for fish morning, noon and night. Especially if you are with a group and if you are with locals. I normally do not eat meat but when I travel I eat everything. I LOVE fish. My boyfriend LOVES fish. But there is a difference between loving fish and eating fish for every meal every day. I don’t want to eat ANYTHING for 3 meals a day. So prepare yourself and have some non fish back ups planned in case you reach your limit like us. 

•  Shin Hinomoto AKA Andys. This place sits underneath a train line and its by no means fancy but the food was some of the best you can get in Tokyo. As a group of 8 we ordered many different dishes and not one thing was bad. Different types of cooked fish, vegetable tempura, I even tried fish liver and I normally hate pâté but it was nothing like pâté flavor. The owner is a New Zealander so its easy to order there. We even noticed our neighbors experiencing some crazy shenanigans. A poor guy passed out and his friends built a chopstick house on his head. Also note the size of the beer beside the woman. In Ginza near yellow Y metro line Ginza-itchome stop.

• Il Bacardo Alma 日本東京都中央区日本橋室町１丁目５ is a great Italian restaurant in case you need a break from Japanese food. We got the Margarita pizza and the pasta arrabiata. It was fresh, the arrabiata was actually spicy, and it was some of the best Italian food I have had. Apparently Japanese love Italian food so there are many around and very good quality.

• Guzman y Gomez グズマン イー ゴメス is inside a mall in Shibuya and is another great non Japanese option. As an American I love me some burritos. Just don’t get the Margarita. Im not sure there was any alcohol in it. This is a global chain so you may recognize it. There is also a french fry place in this mall just in case you want something else.

• Veggie Friendliness: I can’t say it’s impossible but you may need to sacrifice some while in Japan. You can easily eat italian, mexican etc. with no worries but most Japanese food is cooked in some sort of fish stock. I mostly ate vegetarian but of course some things were unknown. 

 

Budget:

View: Take the pink E line to Tochomae and head to City Hall or the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Here you can ride to the top (48 floors) for free. On a clear day you can even see Mt. Fuji. We didn’t even have to wait in line to get in the elevator (although is was a cloudy day).Old town: Take the orange G line to Asakusa and walk around the old city. There are beautiful buildings and temples and a cool outdoor market. If you see people shaking a box making lots of noise they are getting their fortune. It’s fun and I recommend it. Just make sure you have someone to translate your fortune when you get it.Harajuku: Take the brown F, purple Z, or orange G lines to Shibuya and walk the shopping district. Here you will find Harajuku street and plenty of interesting things to take photos of. There should always be Harajuku girls dressed up as well.

 

Shopping:

Ginza and Shibuya are the places to go for shopping. My favorite places to shop are in Ginza and are listed below.

• Uniqlo: 12 floors including a limited collection floor and an area to customize your purchase. You can add patches, ribbons to the inside of your button line in your shirt, change your buttons, etc.

• Muji 日本東京都千代田区有楽町１−２−１: 3 floors and an extensive clothing line. Its their flagship location

• Loft 日本東京都千代田区丸の内３丁目８ オンタイム有楽町: It’s connected to Muji and includes everything you can imagine. It has travel items, housewares, decorative things. I highly recommend this place for some unique gifts. Don’t forget chopstick holders if you buy chopsticks. These are inexpensive and make a really great touch to your gift giving or personal collection.

 

Travel Details FYI:

• Business trip 3 days, 3 days personal (Sat, Sun, Thurs)

• June