Tokyo / Japan Suggestions

[The Duke]

I may be heading there on a business trip in the fall, I've flown through several times but never stuck around. Wife may have interest in coming in at the tail end and spending some free time. Looking for suggestions on what to see/do in Tokyo, if other places (Kyoto, etc.) are worth the effort if time is somewhat limited, and how it stacks up w/ Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Singapore (that I'm pretty familiar with). Thanks!

 

[EvilPOKES]

Never been, but friends who have, have mentioned these:

Edo-Tokyo Museum
The Ginza Neighborhood - high-end shopping, eats, etc.
Imperial Palace
Asakusa (sp?) district...temples and stuff
Ueno Park/Zoo?Museums

 

[A$$hole Consulting]

Go to the fish market and eat at the sushi places across the street. Also experience Tokyo station or Shinjuku at rush hour.

Kyoto is cool. Nobody speaks English. I believe it's the home of most of the geishas and thousands of shrines/temples. I did some walking tours that I downloaded. Ate at a good mexican place owned by a japanese man who spent 15 years in Mexico City. The trip from Tokyo is 2.5 hours on the bullet train. You get a good view of Mt Fuji most of the way.

I'd advise taking a limo bus from Narita to your hotel if offered. I've stated at the Hilton Shinjuku and the Conrad. The Conrad is incredible.

 

[OSU_Engineer]

Nikko is a great place to visit just north of Tokyo, especially in the Fall and Spring. Lots of nature and history there (burial site of the Tokugawa Shoguns).

Here's a link to some photographs that I took on a couple of quick visits to Nikko: https://terrydark.smugmug.com/Travel/Japan/

 

[Breastman]

Ask this guy.


http://oklahomastate.forums.rivals.com/threads/tokyo-suggestions.11757/

 

[OSUDD]

Just got back a few weeks ago.

-Tsukiji Fish Market: If you want to see the famous Tuna auction, do not be there a minute past 3:30am. I woke up because I was jet lagged and figured what the hell.... Got there at 3:40am and it was sold out. Got in line for the famous Sushi Dai at 4am, opens at 5:30am and where I was in line was a 4 hour wait. A local told me to go next door to Daiwa Sushi as it is just as good and half the wait, it was amazing. Easily the best sushi I have had in my 33 years.
- I took a 6 hour bike tour with Tokyo Bike Tours. Awesome way to see Tokyo and experience areas you would otherwise never find.
- Akihabara: this place is just wild. It is the Mecca for anyone who likes robots, retro video games, Anime and girls dressed up like maids. You have to go see this place as it is culturally so different than anything I have seen in Singapore, HK, Bejing etc
- note on accommodations, if you need somewhere to stay consider AirBnB. You can get a nice private apartment that is spacious for Tokyo at a good price compared to hotels.

I'll write more later but I'll just say that Tokyo is nothing like the other Asian cities you mentioned, especially Singapore. Tokyo has the most unique culture I have experienced anywhere.

 

[The Duke]

Great feedback DD and others - I'll take any other suggestions that are out there, should be able to confirm my trip in the next week or two.