What not to see in Tokyo
Dear Taro,
I will be spending a week in Tokyo at the end of the month. What should I see?
Thanks
Weird things you must see:
- Parasite Museum
- The Fuji Latex building (from the airport bus)
Typical Tokyo tourist things you don’t want to see:
- Total trashpit of Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo
- Overpriced Ginza night clubs
- Capsule hotel (Manga/Net cafes are a better value)
- Tokyo Tower and it’s mascot
- The great Golden Turd Building
Hint: Get the Japan Rail Pass (must be purchased outside of Japan) will pay for itself if you want to go to somewhere more than 2 hours away from Tokyo. Otherwise, the local Tokyo Zone Pass is the bargain you want.
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September 8th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I agree with the assessment of the venues [See | Don't see]. But I respectfully offer you don’t need the JR East pass. For one – you’ll never get to Shimo-Kitazawa (because JR doesn’t run there). For two – the Tokyo Metro 2-day open ticket (obtainable only at Narita Airport ~ but you can’t use it to get to Tokyo from Narita [you wouldn't want to anyway ~ you should ride the Keisei 'Limited Express' train to Ueno]) is a solid bargain which will get you to most of Tokyo’s main 23 wards.
Should you want to go further, either Keikyu trains (from Asakusa, Shimbashi, Sengakuji, or Shinagawa); or the Tokyu MinatoMirai line (from Shibuya) will get you to Yokohama for less fare than the JR.
Please use the superb Hyperdia [by Hitachi] service to assist in using all of Tokyo’s private train lines, in addition to the JR, Tokyo Metro, and Toei lines.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Dudes, in Tokyo you definately want to try Taxis… They have no fracking clue aboot where they are going. But last time I passed in front of the Imperial Palace garden it was at a minimum speed of 110kph… Them Totoya Crown are blazin’ fast…
September 9th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
“Going nowhere fast.(tm)”
That’s Japan’s national motto.
(Tokyo taxi drivers are not expected to know how to get to their passengers destinations–Passengers are required to guide the drivers, which is great fun foreign tourists. The sad thing is that all Tokyo taxis have GPS—but at an average age of 64, the taxi drivers don’t know how to use it.)
September 11th, 2009 at 10:27 am
The golden turd building…LOL
I remember laughing so much at it when I was very young.
If you mention it to anyone from Tokyo, they will certainly now about it.
September 12th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Hey Taro! I’m going to Tokyo Autosalon! What to do in Chiba near Makuhari Messe in January? Is there anything other than the convention center that would be interesting? Thanks!
September 12th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
You can see me at my dayjob at Tokyo Disneyland/Disney Sea, which is halfway between downtown Tokyo and Makuhari Messe exhibition center where Tokyo Autosalon is held.
Japan has the only “Disney Sea”, which is geared to adults since Japanese doesn’t have enough children to support Disneyland in the long term (Japan’s negative population growth is shrinking Japan from 127 million to a mere 86 million in 2050).
http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/index_e.html
Seriously, Chiba near Makuhari Messe is the middle of nowhere warehouse district and 30-40 train ride to downtown Tokyo where all the action is. The place has a few fake beaches and parks but in January is not exactly swimming weather. If are visiting the Tokyo Autosalon at Makuhari Messe for you job, then staying nearby makes sense. If you are visiting the Tokyo Autosalon as a tourist it would be wiser to stay in affordable business hotel in central Tokyo (east side).
September 14th, 2009 at 10:36 am
That’s diverting information. Would all of you like to share more of “What not to see in Tokyo”?
September 14th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Always check out the toxic waste dumps of Japan’s beaches.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I normally don’t com ment much, but I have to say that I love your blog. Always good stuffy.