October 13, 2003
To the Land of the Rising Sun (Part 2)

I'll be heading off to Tokyo, Japan in two weeks for a week. Staying at the Cerulean Tower Hotel...

I've never been there before and I am very eager to hear any suggestions on what I should see, what I should do. I wish to go to some out of the way rural town to see what it's like in the Japanese equivalent of "Hickville".

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 Posted by rosyna at October 13, 2003 10:54 PM

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I am a Japanese doing business in the US but staying in Japan at the moment. I can suggest a few things:

* Akihabara Electronics Town
The whole town is all electronics stuff. Especially go to Laox Mac Building and Sofmap Mac Collection. They have 5 story buildings entirely dedicated to the Macintosh. (http://www.laox.ne.jp/laox/store/160/shop.html)

* Tonkatsu steak restauranat
"Tonkatsu" is the name for Japanese deep fried pork steak (pork cutlet). Every American friends who came here tried and they all loved it. You can get it in the US Japanese restaurants but in Japan there are restaurants specialized in Tonkatsu and their stuff is FAR better.

* Kabuki show
Traditional Japanese play. (http://www.shochiku.co.jp/play/kabukiza/theater/index.html)

* Rural town
If you want to see some rural areas, go to Hachiohji (Take Chuoh line from Shinjuku), rent a car there and go west from there. There are some way out of the way rural area you can see some non-tourist type stuff. Or you could just take Chuoh Honsen from Shinjuku and go to Matsumoto or Kofu. You might want to stay a night there if you go that far, though.

If you are willing to take a Japanese Bullet Train (Shinkansen) to go further there are some other neat things you should see, but I don't know your budget or a plan, so.... Email me if you are interested in more info.

Posted by: H.S. on October 13, 2003 11:22 PM

Oh, and I remember you were saying you want to have some downright sick fun over here in Japan. If you can just tell me what kind of "sick fun" you are looking for I can give you some specifics on what to do.

Posted by: H.S. on October 14, 2003 12:48 AM

1. In Tokyo definately see the Japanese Beatles cover band that plays at a club called Liverpool. It's uncanny, weird and fun.

2. Have a Japanese friend invite you to a "snack" club.

3. Try to connect with Japanese Mac magazines. I'm sure given your guru status that they would take you around and have you speak somewhere.

4. Just explore... I liked going to areas that my Japanese hosts warned me about as being dangerous. Dangerous in Japan is safe anywhere else.

----
For really rural Japan, take a train down to Osaka and then get a ferry to the island Awajishima. The main city on Awaji is Sumoto which is a pleasant enough place, but you'll want to rent a car or hitch out into the countryside to all the little villages around there. This island also is known for it's hot baths... you could spend a week touring them all.

Posted by: timbo on October 14, 2003 8:49 AM

....then rent a car....
..then take the...and rent a car...
.....rent a car!...

just one more reason i should be going to Japan as well. They are comfortable with our relationship over there(i really have no idea).

Posted by: Saint on October 14, 2003 1:40 PM

i just found something about the salon at this hotel which may disappoint rosyna:
"*Please be kindly informed that under 12 year-old child cannot be used salon. We appreciate your kind understanding."
Gonna have to get used to the 13 above...just not the same

Posted by: Saint on October 14, 2003 1:59 PM

Definitely check out Roppongi (one of Tokyo's party districts) for some really sick clubs. I spent the summer over in Japan and had the best time of my life.

Posted by: Alex Lawrence-Richards on October 14, 2003 8:13 PM

I live in Kyoto. Beautiful city, the historical and spiritual heart of the country. I'm sure you'll enjoy Tokyo though.

If you can afford it, ask a friend to take you to the best Yakiniku restaurant they know of. Japanese beef is the best in the world, if you can get the best stuff you'll never forget it.

Posted by: Nutrimentia on October 20, 2003 2:29 AM

in the steven seagal movie into the sun he sits in a tokyo restaurant where the walls are aquariums with naked women swiming around inside. Does this restaurant exist and where is it?

Posted by: tom on April 8, 2007 8:01 AM
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