So I am headed to Tokyo in a few weeks. I know many of you have been there. Any advice on must-see spots? Particularly knowing that we are electronics and video game nerds?
For the electronics nerd there is but one Mecca: Akihabara, Tokyo. That's where the Electric City blocks are, they have multi-storey warehouses, stores, kiosks and street stalls full of electronic stuff ranging from useless gizmos to lights to translators to massage chairs to hifi to hitech digital toilet seats. If your friend(s) is into anime/manga/gundam robots, they cater to that, too. I don't remember the exact spot, but close to the main Akihabara station there was a shop stuffed with robot models of all sizes and prices. There are anime/manga stores, too, like an Animate. These are multi-storey affairs and worth a visit.
Not far from Akihabara (you can either take a map and walk (not recommended if the temps are above 30C), or take the metro), there is a whole street where they sell nothing but music instruments. I went there thinking it was traditional stuff, but instead it was all guitars etc. as far as the eye could see. The Lonely Planet book on Tokyo has this one listed.
If you like skyscrapers, then Shinjuku is your friend. Word of warning: Shinjuku is the cranky grandmother of the Bermuda Triangle. The only place that's easy to find and get to, is Shinjuku Station. The rest looks simple and normal, but gets Weird once you actually try to go Somewhere(tm). Bring a compass and a good map. The skyscrapers up there are spectacular, and at the towers of Tokyo City Hall you can go up to the viewing platform for free. Link Most other, commercial, 'scrapers will charge money for that.
On a Sunday, a stroll through the park between Shibuya and Harajuku is nice. This is where the kids go to perform with their bands, you'll see them lined up along the main park roads with small cadres of friends/fans around, plus there will be random other stuff happening. Closer to Harajuku, you'll find the greasers with their old Amcars, their rockabilly hairdos, leather jackets, strutty-skirt ladies and happy music. They dance. Even in 40C heat they dance and look like they're having fun! IN LEATHERS! Seen it myself. :)
Shibuya and Harajuku are trend central. The bridge from the park into Harajuku proper is where the cosplayers and loligoths (lolita goth) hang out, also on Sundays, to show off their constumes.
Hrm. If you've watched too much Tokyo-centric anime, you might want to go see the Tokyo Tower. It's been vandalised more than even Golden Gate Bridge, and has attracted its fair share of dark forces, but it's still standing. If you haven't seen the Eiffel Tower in Paris, then Tokyo Tower is a good standin. It's basically a copy that's been painted red.
In the Old Rocks And Shit department, Tokyo isn't so hot. Most of the rocks there are new, but the National Museum in Ueno Park has some spectacularly ancient stuff. 10 000 year old pots (oldest ceramics known to man), 30K years old stone tools and tonnes of things from the eras between then and now.
Finally, my personal favourite for trundling and gawking: Asakusa. That's where the big temples are, it attracts huge loads of Japanese tourists (meaning that the souvenirs you pick up there are the good stuff) and is pretty spectacular. Especially the giant straw slippers hanging on each side of the innermost gate. There are pagodas and food stalls and temples and fortunes oh my. After sundown everything gets lit up and looks rather more impressive than in daylight. Around the temple area is a network of small streets full of shops and restaurants. This is an old working class area, so the atmosphere in Asakusa is more laidback and "rugged" than the rest of Tokyo. I really enjoyed myself there and went back several times. Will do so again in a couple of weeks from now. :) Note that when I say rugged, I mean by urban Japanese standards, so don't go expecting rural wild west laidbackness. But it IS the only place in Japan I've found coin purses made from frog skin, with legs and all!
For the electronics nerd there is but one Mecca: Akihabara, Tokyo. That's where the Electric City blocks are, they have multi-storey warehouses, stores, kiosks and street stalls full of electronic stuff ranging from useless gizmos to lights to translators to massage chairs to hifi to hitech digital toilet seats. If your friend(s) is into anime/manga/gundam robots, they cater to that, too. I don't remember the exact spot, but close to the main Akihabara station there was a shop stuffed with robot models of all sizes and prices. There are anime/manga stores, too, like an Animate. These are multi-storey affairs and worth a visit.
Not far from Akihabara (you can either take a map and walk (not recommended if the temps are above 30C), or take the metro), there is a whole street where they sell nothing but music instruments. I went there thinking it was traditional stuff, but instead it was all guitars etc. as far as the eye could see. The Lonely Planet book on Tokyo has this one listed.
If you like skyscrapers, then Shinjuku is your friend. Word of warning: Shinjuku is the cranky grandmother of the Bermuda Triangle. The only place that's easy to find and get to, is Shinjuku Station. The rest looks simple and normal, but gets Weird once you actually try to go Somewhere(tm). Bring a compass and a good map. The skyscrapers up there are spectacular, and at the towers of Tokyo City Hall you can go up to the viewing platform for free. Link Most other, commercial, 'scrapers will charge money for that.
On a Sunday, a stroll through the park between Shibuya and Harajuku is nice. This is where the kids go to perform with their bands, you'll see them lined up along the main park roads with small cadres of friends/fans around, plus there will be random other stuff happening. Closer to Harajuku, you'll find the greasers with their old Amcars, their rockabilly hairdos, leather jackets, strutty-skirt ladies and happy music. They dance. Even in 40C heat they dance and look like they're having fun! IN LEATHERS! Seen it myself. :)
Shibuya and Harajuku are trend central. The bridge from the park into Harajuku proper is where the cosplayers and loligoths (lolita goth) hang out, also on Sundays, to show off their constumes.
Hrm. If you've watched too much Tokyo-centric anime, you might want to go see the Tokyo Tower. It's been vandalised more than even Golden Gate Bridge, and has attracted its fair share of dark forces, but it's still standing. If you haven't seen the Eiffel Tower in Paris, then Tokyo Tower is a good standin. It's basically a copy that's been painted red.
In the Old Rocks And Shit department, Tokyo isn't so hot. Most of the rocks there are new, but the National Museum in Ueno Park has some spectacularly ancient stuff. 10 000 year old pots (oldest ceramics known to man), 30K years old stone tools and tonnes of things from the eras between then and now.
Finally, my personal favourite for trundling and gawking: Asakusa. That's where the big temples are, it attracts huge loads of Japanese tourists (meaning that the souvenirs you pick up there are the good stuff) and is pretty spectacular. Especially the giant straw slippers hanging on each side of the innermost gate. There are pagodas and food stalls and temples and fortunes oh my. After sundown everything gets lit up and looks rather more impressive than in daylight. Around the temple area is a network of small streets full of shops and restaurants. This is an old working class area, so the atmosphere in Asakusa is more laidback and "rugged" than the rest of Tokyo. I really enjoyed myself there and went back several times. Will do so again in a couple of weeks from now. :) Note that when I say rugged, I mean by urban Japanese standards, so don't go expecting rural wild west laidbackness. But it IS the only place in Japan I've found coin purses made from frog skin, with legs and all!
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