I'm interested in seeing Mt Fuji. I love my video games. Wouldn't mind seeing some martial arts (I believe that it's not the Sumo season around then). Probably have to buy my 3yr old son a robot. Open to new experiences and any suggestions that would lead to them.
I Won a Trip to Tokyo for 5 Days in Late October. Any Suggestions of What to See/Do Would Be Welcome
Nikovegna on 27/08/2018 - 22:21
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Line up for this ramen. My son who has lived in Tokyo for years says it is the best he has had. It is amazing. Get extra seaweed (sheets, not shredded).
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurant_Review-g1066460-d1…
Was there last May, even at midnight there was still a queue. Still worth it. :)
Fuji is out of the question in October. There are plenty of other great smaller mountains to climb. Go to Whirlpool. There is a thread hundreds of pages long about all the awesome things you can do in Japan.
Fuji 5th station is still well worth it even though you can’t climb it.
Alright, get ready for a big ol' list of places I love. I have gone a few times to Tokyo, mainly because I'm a big Disney geek and go back to Disneyland every year and Tokyo is the cheapest to get to. These are the things I love and some recommendations. I'm a very picky eater so I won't really suggest much in the food unless it's a gimmick worth going for regardless of food.
Robot Restaurant
Why is this on the list? Because it will almost always be one of the first things that pop up when you research things to do in Tokyo. My advice: Don't go. It's purely a tourist trap with over the top robots, expensive beer, 'omg crazy japanese fighting', English music (Lady Gaga when I went) and not a Japanese person in sight.
And look, I write this knowing it sounds kind of cool. Maybe you'd love it. That is, after all, the point of tourist traps. BUT - do you want a truly unique dining, 'wacky japan' experience that is much more… authentic (ie not made purely for tourists)?Kagaya - http://kagayayy.sakura.ne.jp/main.html
The dodgy website (click the tree to make a reservation, or the right mountain to leave a message and see if he contacts you back if you're having difficulty), the map to the venue being in crayon, the small venue… this is by far one of the craziest things you'll experience in Tokyo, or even Japan! Don't read reviews and don't watch videos. Don't worry anyone reading this - when you arrive there is an English menu! Hard to book as a foreigner on an all Japanese website, but heck, it's so worth it. Basic summary - dinner and a show.Fuji-Q Highland - https://www.fujiq.jp/en/attraction/
A theme park next to Mt Fuji, where Mt Fuji is visible if there isn't heavy fog (which is a risk in October). 4 world record breaking rollercoasters, a huge haunted house, a weird escape room type thing for solo players, and a whole kids area full of Thomas The Tank Engine, because why not? For if you're into thrill rides.@Home Maid Cafe - A few locations, I like the Akihabara venue
Some maid cafes are tourist traps, others are the opposite - super awkward or inaccessible if you're foreign. @Home is in the middle, they generally can't speak English very well but are super accommodating, English menus are available and you can tell they've perfected the art of miming things in a cute way to communicate. You get a little membership card which is a fun souvenir, plus I think a photo on your first visit! Definitely overpriced, but a fun time out. This is not an over the top Maid Cafe, so a good one to experience if you want the experience without it getting weird or awkward.Super Potato
Never been, but every gamer who goes to Japan says it's the best. And you're a gamer. So… Super Potato.VR Zone Shinjuku
If you're into immersive VR, it's real good. Mario Kart, Dragonball Z, etc. It's not just wearing a VR set either, you're in the kart, or having air blown at you etc.DisneySea
If you're into Disney, I guess. Much different to any DisneyLand.Arcades - Akihabara and Shinjuku
Just walk around these suburbs and you will find the huge Sega and… I've blanked, but the arcades all stand out. There's so many. First two floors are always basically just full of skill testers, then 3rd floor up will have different generes - fighting, arcade, etc. I got really into games like Pokemon, purely because for every 100Y ($1), you get a little trading card at the end showing what you caught. Damn I love collecting things.Meiji Jingu Shrine
It's a beautiful shrine, but it's also full of people and tourists. But for good reason, it's actually stunning. Write a wish down and hang it up so it comes true, explore the grounds, have a quiet stroll through the dead gardens (beautiful in spring, not so much in the cold). When you see one shrine, all the rest feel kind of similar, so might as well go with one of the best!Tokyu Hands - Shinjuku
If you're into stationary at all, this place is HUGE and sells a huge variety of things from pens, diaries, stickers… man, I make it sound lame but it's truly interesting to see some of the variety.Yodobashi Camera - Akihabara
Next to the station, it's 9 floors of… everything. This place is HUGE. A lot for technology lovers - also AMAZING place to find souvenirs - there's a whole floor of toys and games that are small and kind of weird. One of my favourite floors to explore! Other floors have thousands of things from cameras, toilet seats, dvds, anime figurines, mp3 players, phones, video games, and a lot more!Drink Vending Machines
Literally everywhere. Almost actually literally. Super cheap. Buy weird looking drinks. Drink them. Regret life choices.Ninja Akasaka - http://www.ninjaakasaka.com/
If you're going with someone, this place has really nice food, amazing atmosphere and a fun little show in the middle of your meal personal to you (Ninja magic!)Fish Market - also avoid
A lot of reviews will talk about how good this is - note that this has majorly changed in recent years for some reason I'm too tired to remember, and most if not all reviews from this year say it's not worth getting up for anymore. I think the auctions have stopped or something.And that's my list of experiences I enjoyed that can't be found outside of Japan (mostly). There's a lot more cultural stuff to do and see, but these are listed everywhere. These are the things I don't read about a lot (mostly). Enjoy your trip!
(Oh, in regards to Sumo - you're right that it's not on in Tokyo. I also know nothing about Martial Arts, sorry :( But I looked up Viator who I use to find tours and stuff sometimes, and they have some experiences if you're into doing it yourself - otherwise I hope someone else can point you in the right direction!)
https://au.viator.com/Tokyo-tours/Martial-Arts-Classes/d334-…Cool extensive list . I want to go to Japan Now :)
Wow thanks very much!!
A couple of additions to this.
Super Potato is great, but there's a dozen places in Akiba that aren't any different. Just wander around and you'll find them. If you want some genuine rare stuff and decent prices try Beep just off the main strip, they had some crazy rare stuff in there. I picked up a Casio MSX but wanted to take home the X68000 Pro they had on display running Cotton
VR Zone Shinjuku, stopped by there 3 times, the premium stuff (Dungeon Quest when I was there) was ALWAYS sold out, so prepare to the disappointed. Also be careful which streets you walk down in that area if you have kids, there's a lot of porn on display (Kabukicho)
Anatano Warehouse in Kawasaki is probably the best themed arcade I've ever been to, it's done up like 'the walled city of Kowloon' and is super impressive. As with all arcades in Japan, be prepared for a HEAVY smoking smell
If you're after genuinely cheap Japanese video game stuff hit up Book Off and Hard Off, SO cheap and so much good stuff.
Do the Akiba MariCar run, particularly at night, was awesome fun
Edit: 1 additional thing, be prepared to line up for pretty much anything, it's almost Japan's favourite past time
+1 for Fuji-Q. Your 3 year old will love it. If you enjoy thrill rides, you would too.
Also add ODAIBA to your consideration. Pay respect to the Gundam statue. Visit the mini Legoland in the area, Sega arcade centre, etc. Enjoy the Rainbow Bridge view at night. One of the most scenic place in Tokyo IMO.
Also YOKOHAMA, only ~1 hr train ride from Tokyo. Amusement Parks with rides specifically for kids, Cup Noodle museum, pretty kid friendly shopping centre opposite the museum too
Great list but; I absolutely hate when people tell first-timers not to go to Robot Restaurant given my own personal experience there.
I have been to Tokyo twice and will be going a third time and I would gladly go again. It's not cheap but it is an absolutely unique experience that you will not get anywhere else in the world.
OP may hate it like you did, but for me it is a must-do experience as long as you don't even think about ordering food or consider it a 'dining experience'.
I'm not sure as I've never been there. Having said that good on you winning the trip, brilliant!
IKR :) Lucky duck. Put me in the baggage!!
Thank you. It was a competition to see the wallabies play. Oh well at least something good has come from this woeful rugby season.
So you'll be skipping the match?
I love rugby and after many years of disappointment I have expanded my love for rugby beyond the national team. The all blacks are amazing to watch. Don’t get me wrong. A win for us would be fantastic.
If you like videa games, the Gran Turismo Route 246 Akasaka track is freely available to walk or ride around and is pretty quiet on weekends.
If you remember any Tokyo location in Lost in translation, test me.
If it isn't the season for sumo matches, you can watch training at a sumo stable, that is year round.
This has an explainer.
https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/free-sumo/Best with a Japanese speaker. I used this to meet up with an English speaking uni student to get in. https://www.tokyofreeguide.org
Woahhhhh congrats!!! Disneyland/Disneysea for sure! and then Odaiba if your son is into robot. There is a huge robot there. Studio Ghibli if you like Ghibli movies.
If you don't mind me asking, how'd you win?
25 words or less? Vlog? Lucky draw?
The only competition winners I've met in my life were from club draws.
I’ve been quite lucky. About 10 years ago I entered a comp to watch the rugby in Hong Kong by making a classic wallabies moment (video) which we won. Then about 3 years ago I won a trip to Exmouth to swim with whale sharks (lucky draw). And now this one which was a fill in a form at a promo tent at a rugby game. Just name, email and phone number. That was it. Couldn’t believe it when they called my name out. I usually aim for lucky draw competitions but I think now days they’re spammed. That’s why they ask for Facebook entry. Oh and a mate used to work in marketing and said in regards to number of words or less comps, they always count the words first. Good luck with future competitions!
I now believe that some people are born with luck on their side. I've entered quite a few comp. Never won. One time I almost won a $100 doorprize, only to realise I've lost my ticket so I couldn't claim the prize which then was passed to the next lucky draw. Another time my friend seated next to me won a Macbook Pro, I've missed the draw by a number. I'm just not born lucky :/
Keep at it mate. In the early days I used to enter competitions daily. Now days, only occasionally.
Wow. Nice run!
Though I never won I used to enter lucky draws occasionally but the mathematician in me gave up when they started giving bonus entries for Twitter, Facebook, Google+, referrals etc, giving each determined person 10x the number of entries.
People say you've got a better chance with the harder comps (25 words or less, videos etc) because the average person can't be bothered, but I lose motivation when I start cringing over my fake enthusiasm.
you have to go here http://www.shinjuku-robot.com/pc/
places to avoid - the little bars run by Nigerians offering $20 for 2 hours of free drinks
What is the risk there? Robbery etc?
Go and see the digital arts museum, or anything that TeamLab does. Link
I saw their work at an onsen 2 weeks ago and they filled a beautiful garden and pond with lights and projectors for night shows. very psychedelic.
The Samurai Museum in Shinjuku is pretty cool, there is a fee though, but it's a guided tour.
care to translate?
Try clicking the English button at the top right
ありがとうございました
Invite me along (providing its covered under the prize tickets), and I will show you what to do there ;)
I will be the best robot gift ever, like Homer did for Bart when he got into robot suit :)
Or you could gift your son a pet gorrilla