Ok guys & girls - will be finding myself in Tokyo in a couple of weeks - what amazing things should one have on their list to - do and also where would one find himself a refreshing libation at the end of a long day ????

Many Thanks .....

Roppongi (and then spend the rest of the time recovering from the hangover).

There's temples and stuff but once you've seen one in a brochure, you've seen them all. Wrong time of year to pretend you give a damn about some cherry blossom, so you might as well enjoy the sights and sounds of the fun bit of Tokyo.

Roppongi probably sums up everything that is sordid and negative about Japan. If you want to go to bars with hostesses who promise a lot and deliver little, you can do it cheaper elsewhere. If you want to see drunken (but dignified) Japanese businessmen and foreigners go to Roppongi.

If you walk round other parts of Tokyo, particualry the Ginza, you can be impressed by the juxtaposition of modern architecture against the traditional. It is totally safe, you won't be ripped off anywhere, the Japanese are hospitable and welcoming and it's a lovely experience to go and sit in an ordinary Japanese bar or restaurant and talk to people. The temples are worth seeing if you have time, or even getting a train and going further afield.

How long will you be there for?

Maybe being based here has given me a somewhat jaundiced view. Don't know about Ginza being a juxtaposition of anything, unless one wishes to compare 'traditional' Japanese Tiffany's and Apple stores :) To me it's just like the shopping centre of any other First World city, i.e. shops. You're absolutely correct about Roppongi, it is full of drunken people of every persuasion but nobody falls for the hostess bars (do they?). However, it can be fun and you certainly do see some 'sights' that you won't experience elsewhere......anywhere!

I probably had around 10 trips to Japan. Best were nights out in Roppongi (normal night clubs not Hostess bars) and had one night in a Capsule Hotel which was so different I had to try it..nb (apparently) they wont let you bring girls back to your capsule room:ugh:

Cheers Guys ..... Im there for a week, and will have pretty much every night free after finishing with the Airline at around six in the evening ..... At the moment I have blagged the Inter Continental on the bay - which looks quite nice, so Im led to believe that its a short shuttle train ride over to roppongi in the evening .....

Its not that Im not into the culture and everything - but I alwways think its like going walking on your own - unless youve got a dog people look at you like a wierdo - and sightseeing on your own for me is a little that way. A few libations and bowls of noodles and Ill be happy.

Cheers,

That hotel's not very central. However, a short but ugly walk to Hamamatsucho and you can get everywhere from there.

How about a trip to Akihabara, even if you aren't tempted to purchase 10,000 shades of electronica, all the neon and customers might be interesting ? Same with Shinjuku, near the station (apparently the busiest in the world) where the office staff head to the bars before training it home to the suburbs and beyond. Not 'touristy', but real life and the mass of commuters is a sight to behold. If you are geting up early how about the Tsukiji fish market for an hour before work, very interesting and again a not so normal experience.



SHJ

And try an onsen for that end-of-day unwind !

+1 for Tsukiji.