{"id":88,"date":"2014-07-27T15:00:24","date_gmt":"2014-07-27T07:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gautamkhattak.wordpress.com\/?page_id=88"},"modified":"2015-08-07T12:03:45","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T04:03:45","slug":"asia-japan-tokyo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gautamkhattak.com\/wordpress\/asia-general-synopsis\/asia-japan-tokyo\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan – Tokyo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tokyo<\/strong>, Japan<\/strong> by Gautam Khattak<\/p>\n

Last updated:<\/strong> July 30, 2009<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/strong> These are notes I\u2019ve written or gathered from various sources. I have not experienced all things in this document nor is it intended to be a definitive guide.<\/p>\n

General Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n

Currency:<\/strong> Japanese Yen (JPY)<\/p>\n

Conversion Tool:<\/strong> http:\/\/www.google.com\/search?hl=en&q=100+jpy+to+usd&meta=&aq=0s&oq=100JPY<\/a><\/p>\n

(Update for current rates)<\/p>\n

1 USD = 95.012 JPY<\/p>\n

100 USD = 9501.12 JPY<\/p>\n

100 JPY = 1.0525 USD<\/p>\n

1 JPY = .010525 USD<\/p>\n

Manners:<\/strong> http:\/\/www.geocities.com\/japanfaq\/FAQ-Manners.html<\/p>\n

Tipping is not expected and often not even accepted.\u00a0 This is true in hotels, taxi\u2019s and restaurants.<\/p>\n

It is a good idea to bring tissues or toilet paper when going out.\u00a0 The public bathrooms are available and generally clean but you have to pay for toilet paper in little vending machines outside them (hopefully)<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t point your chopsticks at someone and don\u2019t skewer the food with it either.<\/p>\n

Transportation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tokyo Subway Map – http:\/\/www.bento.com\/platform3.html<\/a><\/p>\n

The subway system is great in Japan.\u00a0 Basically you look at a giant board on the wall and see where you want to go, and next to it is the amount it will cost to get there.\u00a0 The Machines have an English option and you put in the amount of fare as the board suggests.<\/p>\n

One thing that is cool about Japan is that you don\u2019t have to open any doors, they\u2019re all automatic.\u00a0 This is true even for the taxi cabs, which there are plenty of and is a great means of transportation.<\/p>\n

Shopping<\/strong><\/p>\n

Akihabara \u2013 Sci-Fi Supermarket<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/worldguide\/destinations\/asia\/japan\/tokyo?poi=18623<\/p>\n

Denki-gai<\/strong> (Electrical Town): it’s Japanese techno-sales gone haywire. In the maddest Asian market you’ll ever see, sellers hawk computer chips and motherboards over mangoes. Not only that, the sales pitch is all pre-recorded.<\/p>\n

Omotesand\u014d Street<\/strong> & Takeshita Street<\/strong><\/p>\n

Upscale shopping street.\u00a0 Very busy but lots and lots of brand name stores on Omotesando.\u00a0 Takeshita has more local shops.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Omotesand%C5%8D,_Tokyo<\/p>\n

http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Takeshita_Street<\/p>\n

Near Harajuku Station<\/strong><\/p>\n

Common Sites<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tokyo<\/strong> Attractions <\/strong>\u2013<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/worldguide\/destinations\/asia\/japan\/tokyo?poi=18344<\/a><\/p>\n

Asakusa Kannon Temple<\/strong> – http:\/\/www.japan-guide.com\/e\/e3001.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Worth Seeing, On the way to the Temple are great souvenir stands too\u2026on the way back you can find some of the Beer Vending Machines\u2026yea its pretty awesome!<\/p>\n

Imperial Palace<\/strong> – http:\/\/www.japan-guide.com\/e\/e3017.html<\/a><\/p>\n

When we went you couldn\u2019t get into the Palace, don\u2019t know if that\u2019s always the case but the grounds are pretty beautiful to walk around and see the large bonsai trees<\/p>\n

Sony<\/strong> Building<\/strong> – http:\/\/www.sonybuilding.jp<\/a><\/p>\n

Gizmo City<\/p>\n

Sukiyabashi Crossing<\/p>\n

Tel: 3573 2371 (info)<\/p>\n

Hours: 11:00am-7:00pm<\/p>\n

Right on Sukiyabashi Crossing is the Sony building, which attracts gadget hounds in search of gizmos that have yet to be released. Although there’s often a wait, kids love the free video and virtual reality games on the 6th floor. If nothing else, you can put your feet up and relax for a while in one of the building’s two Hi-Vision theatres.<\/p>\n

Tsukiji Fish Market<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.tsukiji-market.or.jp\/tukiji_e.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Fun to go see.\u00a0 Less crowded early morning (like 5 a.m.)<\/p>\n

Harajuku Station <\/strong>http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harajuku<\/a><\/p>\n

Worth getting off at this station on the underground and having a look around.\u00a0 It has the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world!\u00a0 Also a good indoor food market here.\u00a0 Definitely go here on Sunday on your way to Yoyogi Park.<\/p>\n

Yoyogi<\/strong> Park<\/strong> \u2013 Right next to Harjuku<\/strong> station is Yoyogi Park.\u00a0 On a Sunday this park is full of locals just hanging out and some of them are dressed up and dancing, it\u2019s a pretty amazing place to relax and people watch.\u00a0 Bring a blanket and relax for a few hours, it\u2019s a great place to come for a picnic.<\/p>\n

Meiji-jing\u016b<\/strong> Temple is located in this park.<\/p>\n

Meiji-jing\u016b Shintastic<\/em><\/strong> – <\/em>http:\/\/www.meijijingu.or.jp<\/a><\/p>\n

Kamizono-ch\u014d<\/p>\n

Tel: 03 3379 5511 (info)<\/p>\n

Located in Yoyogi park \u2013 get off at Harajuku Station<\/strong><\/p>\n

Completed in 1920, this is Tokyo’s most splendid Shint\u014d shrine. Built in memory of Emperor Meiji and Empress Sh\u014dken, under whose rule Japan ended its long isolation from the outside world, the shrine was destroyed in the bombing at the end of WWII. This shrine may be a reconstruction, but it is altogether authentic and made with Japanese cypress.<\/p>\n

Hours: From dawn until dusk. On a Sunday you might even catch a wedding here.<\/p>\n

Roppongi hills<\/strong> – business district – quite trendy area.\u00a0 Excellent viewing floor with great views of the city. http:\/\/www.roppongihills.com\/en\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Shinjuku Square<\/strong> – Tokyo’s skyscraper district & Time Square of Tokyo<\/p>\n

http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shinjuku,_Tokyo<\/p>\n

There are some good boat trips down the river<\/p>\n

And it might be worth trying to see a bullet train, they go pretty fast.<\/p>\n

If you have the time a day or overnight to Mt. Fuji is probably worth doing.\u00a0 I wish I could have done it but didn\u2019t have enough time.<\/p>\n

Art & Museum’s<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ueno Park<\/strong> \u2013 http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ueno_Park<\/a><\/p>\n

Next to Ueno station and is a nice place to walk around and has some temples Museum\u2019s near there.<\/p>\n

Tokyo<\/strong> National Museum<\/strong> – http:\/\/www.tnm.go.jp\/en\/servlet\/Con?pageId=X00&processId=00<\/a><\/p>\n