M@Blog

Friends often ask me for suggestions on what they should do and see when visiting Tokyo, so after catching myself forwarding the same email numerous times, I thought I would put these suggestions up for public consumption. Here’s my (draft) take on some ideas to help with itinerary planning if you, too, ever decide to swing through this crazy island nation.

—- draft, draft, draft —-

Before the Sun Rises

Tsukiji fish market: Come see what keeps the Japanese ticking with the highest average longevity. Put that jet-lag to efficient use and head for Tsukiji Fish Market by 5am (weekdays only, excluding Tuesday(?)). The auction starts around 6am, but you’ll want the extra hour to peruse the day’s catches and watch the middle-man process develop. Notice how as you get further from the center of the market, the saran-wrapped products get smaller in portion but bigger in price. Grab some sushi - or ramen, if rawness isn’t your thing - for breakfast on the way out. Head home for a quick nap - it’s all over by 7am but nothing opens until 10am anyways.

Day Trips

- Edo-Tokyo Museum (near Ryogoku station): Brush up on Japanese culture and the people before anything else. Great place to start off a stay in the Tokyo area. Lather up on Japanese history, get an objective view of the culture, and see artifacts from key periods that lead up to where Tokyo is now. Go in the morning, especially if the weather isn’t great as you’ll be inside the whole time.

- Akihabara (aka “Electric Town”): Flashing lights and gadgetry to sooth the freak in you. An obvious must for the first-timer - if an electronic gadget exists, it first hits the streets here (although that may be changing thanks to China…). If you don’t mind crowds and creepy men, go visit on a Thursday or Friday evening just after the sun sets (ie after work hours). On clear nights the back allys will fill with street vendors hawking devices that will flash you back 15-20 years. The big appliance stores (Laox, Yamagiwa) are worth popping your head into for complete lineups of the latest digital cameras, audio players, etc., but don’t bother haggling for discounts unless you’re buying more than one item. Hit the corridors and mysterious entryways for the real gems - mercury switches, an endless variety of LEDs, customized PowerBook hoods, the works. Don’t worry about being mugged (though watch for pick-pockets) - Tokyo is safe enough for school children to walk home at midnight.

- Kamakura: Excurse from Tokyo for a day of temples, shrines, and fresh air. Clean out your lungs with a day trip just outside Tokyo. Most of the time will be spent outdoors, so go when the weather is nice.

- Omotesando/Harajuku/Shibuya: Japanese consumerism at its finest. Visit in that order. Unless you’re hoping to compete with the ko-gyaru you’ll see here, be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. Check out the Prada building, which made headlines in the architecture world, then head towards the Meiji-dori intersection. You’ll see the Louis Vuitton store (which made more on its opening day than some of its other stores make annually), Gucci, Christian Dior, Burberry’s, and Kiddy Land to name a few. If you spot the McDonald’s across from Gucci, head down the sidestreet for a store that specializes in chopsticks (two floors of ‘em). Don’t forget to stroll through Takeshita-dori across from the new KDDI Design Center. Shibuya is a fun 15 minute walk south of Harajuku.

- Roppongi Hills and vicinity, including the Mori Museum: The city of the future’s own mini-city of the future. Worth a visit, if nothing else but for the Tsutaya bookstore at the bottom of Keyakizaka-dori. Plenty of tasty (and pricey) restaurants for the gastronomer in you. The Mori Art Museum often has interesting exhibits.

Other Ideas to Consider

- Do a full circuit on the Yamanote line. Approximately 90 minutes.
- Visit Odaiba (aka “dump island”, it’s all landfill), and the Odaiba onsen, which is actually quite amusing for its ambiance.
- Watch a Noh show at the Ginza theater.

Events

- Pecha Kucha night

For the Nocturnal Hours

- Air
- Yellow
- Womb
- Ageha
- Secobar
- Vanilla
For more on clubs in Japan, check out CyberJapan.