Tokyo, Japan

[Harbor Mist]

I will be going to Tokyo, Japan by next year and was wondering if there is any tips or advise that I should know before going there sweatdrop

[jaciopara]

the trains are super busy, and the system can be confusing. Dont hesitate to use the help options or ask someone for directions.
Japanese people love to practice their english on visitors, so if you're lost, try asking a younger person.

also try the street takoyaki
do it

[Harbor Mist]

jaciopara

the trains are super busy, and the system can be confusing. Dont hesitate to use the help options or ask someone for directions.
Japanese people love to practice their english on visitors, so if you're lost, try asking a younger person.

also try the street takoyaki
do it

I always wanted to try out the takoyaki <3
It looks so yummy!! I am glad that I'll be going to Tokyo because I happen to really like the culture and the festivals so I guess Im lucky.. whee

Thank you for the advice! 3nodding

[The Aged God]

You will most likely get lost. Do not freak out.
I recommend knowing, when you arrive at your hotel or such, where you are through images. Take a camera with you and go outside the hotel and photograph it and everything that surrounds it. Try to find as many markers as you can. And make sure you have the hotel address on you at allllllll times in case worse comes to worse. That way, you can give it to a taxi driver and they can bring you back. Or you could just ask a person.

Also, the general rules is that everything is about twice as expensive as things in America.

So a 5 dollar cup of coffee is essentiall 8 to 10 dollars over there. Be prepared to spend!

[Harbor Mist]

Oktopous

You will most likely get lost. Do not freak out.
I recommend knowing, when you arrive at your hotel or such, where you are through images. Take a camera with you and go outside the hotel and photograph it and everything that surrounds it. Try to find as many markers as you can. And make sure you have the hotel address on you at allllllll times in case worse comes to worse. That way, you can give it to a taxi driver and they can bring you back. Or you could just ask a person.

Also, the general rules is that everything is about twice as expensive as things in America.

So a 5 dollar cup of coffee is essentiall 8 to 10 dollars over there. Be prepared to spend!

Whoa! Then I will bring a camera with me then! Thank you for you advice! I'll keep that in mind! whee

[SwanggEater]

jaciopara

the trains are super busy, and the system can be confusing. Dont hesitate to use the help options or ask someone for directions.
Japanese people love to practice their english on visitors, so if you're lost, try asking a younger person.

also try the street takoyaki
do it

This.

And try the beefbowls at Sukiya or Yoshinoya or something like that.
And Sushi <333

[Harbor Mist]

SwanggEater

jaciopara

the trains are super busy, and the system can be confusing. Dont hesitate to use the help options or ask someone for directions.
Japanese people love to practice their english on visitors, so if you're lost, try asking a younger person.

also try the street takoyaki
do it

This.

And try the beefbowls at Sukiya or Yoshinoya or something like that.
And Sushi <333

Sushi is going to be my first to do list over there whee
Thanks for the advice!

[Lady Leopardess]

If you can plan to come during the Sakura/Hanami ! It's super pretty!

[i know nothing.]

Be aware that taxi drivers don't always know the route that will get to your destination. Some taxis will take advantage of customers who don't know the route to their destination by taking a roundabout trip to drive up the meter (this isn't a phenomenon that happens to tourists/obvious foreigners, but to Japanese as well).

If possible, avoid taxis that are 個人タクシー, they'll have that written on them。Those are the ones you are most likely to run into that don't have navigation systems on board, and the driver will be more likely to scam you. Keep to the major cab companies, and if possible, use cabs that have the foreign language service available. They'll be less likely to screw you over.



But to be honest, keeping a map of the subway and train lines will be more economical for you than cab hopping in Tokyo.



Food is expensive only to the extent that you make it expensive. Beef bowls, convenience store bento, ramen, and okonomiyaki all are cheap. Kappazushi and other large kaitenzushi chains generally have their sushi priced for 105yen (tax included) per plate. During the day, 500yen lunches at restaurants are easy to find by the major train stations, reasonable fare with fresh veg and good meat. It just requires looking around.



Street takoyaki is okay in Tokyo. Best stuff is in Osaka, to be honest. The only location that I can warn you to NOT eat takoyaki from in Tokyo is a little shop on a side street next to the building with a Shakey's off of Omotesando, about a three minute walk going towards Shibuya. That was the worst takoyaki I have ever had the experience of eating.

[SwanggEater]

Harbor Mist

SwanggEater

jaciopara

the trains are super busy, and the system can be confusing. Dont hesitate to use the help options or ask someone for directions.
Japanese people love to practice their english on visitors, so if you're lost, try asking a younger person.

also try the street takoyaki
do it

This.

And try the beefbowls at Sukiya or Yoshinoya or something like that.
And Sushi <333

Sushi is going to be my first to do list over there whee
Thanks for the advice!

If you're in a military family like I am you should visit the bases!

[Jin_of_the_thunder]

I personally have always wanted to visit tokyo but was wondering if anyone has been their and can answer a question for me. is tokyo very handicapped accessible? i mean is it easy for a someone in a wheelchair to get around easily?

[AmariaSama]

I'm surprised no one has brought up etiquette for Japan yet.

Here are some tips:


When entering a house, the guest must replace his shoes with slippers. It is rude for anyone to walk on tatami floors wearing anything other than socks or bare feet. There are even slippers that are exclusively worn in the washroom. The person leaves his house slippers outside the washroom door and wears the special footwear that is exclusively for bathroom use.

When greeting someone, it is customary to bow. These bows vary in effort, but if one is standing on a tatami floor, it is expected for him to get down on his knees while performing the bow. The longer and deeper the bow is, the more respect it conveys to the other person. By the same logic, a smaller nod of the head is used for more casual or informal meetings. Fortunately, many Japanese people cut foreign visitors slack and are okay with only receiving a head nod greeting from them. Shaking hands is an extremely uncommon gesture in Japan.

Four is an unlucky number as the pronunciation is similar to that of death (shi). Room and floor numbers usually skip four, and gifts are not to be given in groups of four. Chopsticks should not be stuck in food because they resemble incense stuck into altar rice at funerals. Giving food from one pair of chopsticks to another is also only done with bones at funerals.


Here are just a few things to remember, and I'm sure you'll learn many more. yum_puddi

[yahoo_san]

if you over 20, the night life in roppongi is pretty mean.. always gotta hit up gaspanic or feria if you got some extra money to spend.. 3500 yen cover last time i went sweatdrop

[Harbor Mist]

SwanggEater

Harbor Mist

SwanggEater

jaciopara

the trains are super busy, and the system can be confusing. Dont hesitate to use the help options or ask someone for directions.
Japanese people love to practice their english on visitors, so if you're lost, try asking a younger person.

also try the street takoyaki
do it

This.

And try the beefbowls at Sukiya or Yoshinoya or something like that.
And Sushi <333

Sushi is going to be my first to do list over there whee
Thanks for the advice!

If you're in a military family like I am you should visit the bases!

Oh yeah, I am actually going to the United States Navy and I am requesting to go to Tokyo, Japan after I'm done with bootcamp and A- School. So being prepared, I wanted to post this topic here so I know more info before I go to Japan

[Harbor Mist]

Lady Leopardess

If you can plan to come during the Sakura/Hanami ! It's super pretty!

Sakura/Hanami? Is it some kind of festival?