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I am planning a trip to Tokyo this July(17-31ish) and i was wondering if i could have some questions answered. I was hoping to catch a live show while i was there. However, where to go from now, i don't know. I'm kind of out of the loop anymore as to what indie bands are popular..so any suggestions of who to see? Also if anyone knows the names
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But museums! Yes, there are many. Possibly my favorite is the musueum of Tokyo history, 江戸東京博物館, the standard exhibit is about the history of Tokyo and its relation to Japan, which is great, but some of the rotating exhibits are excellent too. I saw one about consumerism in the Syowa era which was absolutely great nostalgia. That museum is in 領国(Ryougoku) next to the national sumo stadium, you can see lots of sumo things there and also eat ちゃんこなべ (tyanko nabe) the traditional sumo food, and see young no-name sumo wrestlers hanging around standing and reading in the bookstore.
There is also the Tokyo museum of contemporary art 東京都現代美術館, the modern art done in traditional styles is great, woodblock prints of train scenes and whatnot.
上野公園(Ueno park) has some museums too, plus a zoo. The science museum in Ueno usually has some good special exhibit (I saw a big one on earthquakes), but also it's there in the park which is good for people watching and street theater, plus, there is shopping near the park too, it's near アメ横(ameyoko) which has a lot of kitsch shops with silly t-shirts and things, also it's a short subway from there to 浅草(Asakusa) the huge temple. Also in Ueno park is the Sitamati museum 下町風俗資料館 a small building where you can see what life was like in the small living spaces of "native Tokyo" throughout history, it's good for kids too there are games, and you can buy food. All that is easily found walking around the park, which is also great for the huge lake of lotus flowers, Sinobazu no ike 不忍池.
And of course there is the Tokyo National Museum 東京国立博物館 with all manner of antiquities in it, right there in Ueno too.
If you're a train geek, the Transportation Museum of Tokyo is good, 交通博物館. Pretty much visited by kids, and train geeks. But! You can play 電車でGO! on an actual Yamanote Line train, that is there in the building mounted with video screens. Plus tons of models and it's only 300yen, and, a block walk from 秋葉原(Akihabara) which has tons of electronic stuff and media.
If you like the animation of Ghibli studio you can go to the west side of Tokyo, to Mitaka 三鷹, there is a museum Ghibli Museum ジブリの森美術館, which is VERY great, they have all about the various Ghibli films, plus things about the history of animation, and a 3D zootrope which is just great. That museum also borders a park, the Inokasira Koen 井の頭公園 which is a nice green place to wander, it also has a zoo, and on the other side is shopping, at 吉祥寺(Kitizyouji). Getting out there to the west is only one train from Shinjuku, the 中央線(Chuou line), the orange trains, and it doesn't take long.
One thing to keep in mind, most museums are closed on Mondays.
/yes, I am a geek tourist!
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As for Live shows, check out the latest Metropolis, of course. It used to be the Tokyo Classifieds.
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