I have my girlfriend aka future fiance flying to NRT while I am up in Yoko and since I am a Sasebo sailor I was asking what are the MUST DO LIST while in the Tokyo area. I have googled and it has been a flood of info and I seem that I cannot narrow it down. I will be up there the last two weeks of June and need some help putting together a self guided tour if that sounds right. . I'm really excited as it will be my first time in Tokyo and her first time in Japan so all the helpful sights and sounds would be greatly appreciated.

Tokyo tower, Disney land, roponggi get an advance reservation to new Dannie or hardy barracks if you got nowhere to stay yet.

First off, do you have reservations at New Sanno and/or Hardy Barracks?  Can she get in? This is a top priority. 

You will get a flood of the usual suggestions, but I'll offer one I don't see mentioned very often... Visit Ghibli Museum on the outskirts of Tokyo (take the Yamanote loop line to Shinjuku then a short train ride to Mitaka station. You can walk from there or ride the city shuttle.  If you enjoy Totoro, Ponyo, Floating Castle, Spirited Away or the other Ghibli animated films, you will love this museum.

They don't allow photos inside the museum, but here's a great shot up on the roof which you reach from a spiral staircase by the Cat Bus room.  

http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/welcome/

Final point... You MUST buy tickets in advance; they do NOT sell them at the museum (a lesson learned the hard way).  The concierge at New Sanno can help you, or you can buy tickets at any Tokyo Lawson Station. Just ask the cashier. Even one day in advance is fine, so you can be somewhat spontaneous.

Tokyo Sky Tree will be opened by then.

What is your interest? Food? Sports (Do or See)? Japanese culture? History? Fashion? Architecture? Weird things? Music? Answer may vary very much depend on that.

Harajuku Takeshita Dori street, followed by visit to the Meiji Shrine, then walk down Omotesando Street to the Nezu Museum. It is a lovely small gem of a museum with a large Japanese landscaped garden that you can stroll through.

Take a side trip to Kyoto, truly one of the wonders of the world! It is easily accessible by bullet train. You need at LEAST 3 nights there to really do it right. There are other discussions on JB about touring Kyoto. You can stay affordably at a business hotel, which my wife & I have often done.

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2  Akihabara District for electronic and otaku goods. User rating: 84/100 (2090 votes) Visited by: 3669 users

3  Koishikawa Korakuen Landscape garden next to Tokyo Dome. User rating: 83/100 (156 votes) Visited by: 325 users

4  Hama Rikyu Landscape garden next to Shiodome. User rating: 82/100 (221 votes) Visited by: 410 users

5  Imperial Palace Main residence of the Imperial Family. User rating: 82/100 (1052 votes) Visited by: 1960 users

6  Imperial East Gardens Park on the former grounds of Edo Castle. User rating: 82/100 (889 votes) Visited by: 1630 users

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Western Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya)

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3  Harajuku Center of teenage fashion and cosplay culture. User rating: 86/100 (1965 votes) Visited by: 3511 users

4  Meiji Shrine Dedicated to the deity of Emperor Meiji. User rating: 86/100 (1286 votes) Visited by: 2328 users

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Northern Tokyo (Ueno, Asakusa, Ikebukuro)

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Southern Tokyo (Shinagawa, Minato)

1  Institute for Nature Quiet nature reserve in the middle of Tokyo. User rating: 84/100 (50 votes) Visited by: 108 users

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Events

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7  Ceatec Japan Japan's largest IT and electronics trade show. User rating: insufficient data Visited by: 1 user

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Ok, I give up. How did you do that? It's like you're building a web page within a web page.

Are you sure you want me to answer that?

It may be duh to you, but it's rocket science to me.

Yes, I agree with ThaiGuy.
yokota, that is great post!

Regarding places recommended, I took my family in law to Yokohama China town, Kamakura, Asakusa, Akihabara, Tokyo Disney Land and so on..
I think they liked all the places.
But if they have a chance to come to Japan next time, I would like to take them to Kyoto and Osaka by bullet train.

If sumo's in season, go to a night of sumo. Just don't sit in the front row or you'll get a side of beef in your lap.

haha side of beef. My gf is coming on the 16th of June and that weekend I will be taking leave so we can travel. I have my license so I think I am going rent a car and use that to pick her up from NRT and go to all the places. She likes automotive stuff and I will be taking her to the Nissan Factory one of the days. But she wants to see the big intersection "idk what its called" and just see all the cool stuff that Tokyo has to offer. No fish markets or meusems as she said but she wants to see the gardens and the palaces.

Since I have to pick her up from NRT and get to the hotel which I have yet to pick one (any recommendations) would it be better to rent or to use the transportation systems?

My recommendation is to go carless. It will be more of a hindrance than an asset. You can take a train or bus to Narita to meet her, and easily find your way to New Sanno without a car. If you're driving, you'll get lost & frustrated on the way to the hotel. From Sanno, it is far, far easier to get to all the places listed above by train. Cheaper too. Parking at Sanno is free, but everywhere is is extremely expensive. The sanno lot is small and not reserved for their customers, so if you can't get a spot there, you're pay I dunno $30+ per night to park, if you're lucky.

And btw, no hotel yet?? You totally gotta get on that before your options are gone. If the U.S. hotels are not available, check out agoda.com for affordable Tokyo hotels. Good luck!  (I was laughing as I typed the phrase "affordable Tokyo hotels."  yuk yuk)

The big crossing she is most likely refering to is the Shibuya cross wth 109 and one of the busiest Starbucks in the world. Lots of fun themed resturants in that area too. Famous Hachiko dog statue.

in the kangawa area this site is good to fins fun places
http://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/en...index.html

Mr rocket scientist (lol) used the site to post all the awesome sites in Tokyo
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

The Nissan Factory is in Oppama. My daughter went there with the Girl Scouts not to long ago.
There are other factory tours for free if you are interested in them. Kirin Beer Factory, Mornigana Chocolate Factory, and more.

Depending on the dates you can tour the Bank of Japan and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Reservations required for them. English tours on Tuesdays.

Thai Guy is right about the hotels, you better get on that one fast. New Sanno or Hardy Barracks will be your cheapest. If they are booked ask to be put on a waiting list. People cancel all the time. or book with the dinner special to get a room.

I think here are buses (there definitely used to be) from Narita directly to the New Sanno. If the timing is not convenient there are also buses to public hotels in Roppongi - I would take one of those (to the Roppongi Prince maybe?) and then taxi to the New Sanno. Or there is always the Narita Express. I think the Shinagawa stop would be closest to the Sanno but taking the N-EX would require transfering to the Yamanote line and then the subway (Hibiya line if memory serves correctly) to get to Hiroo.

The bus would be the easiest option for someone that will likely be tired and jet lagged.

I would definitely put Kamakura on the places to see list. Nikko is a haul from Tokyo but is my favorite place in Japan. The weather is mid-June ought not be too hot but could be smack dab in the middle of the rainy season (which shouldn't get in the way of sightseeing too much).

BTW, if you do take side trips overnight elsewhere, Sanno can store your excess bags so you don't have to lug everything all over Japan.

Posted By ThaiGuy on 05-10-2012 2:16 PM
It may be duh to you, but it's rocket science to me.

Copy & Paste

There's no secret involved just Copy & Paste - the links, pictures etc. are all embedded already.




 

I think Tricia2 is right. Shibuya crossing is very famous as once noted by an American major media (New York Times or something) that "The world busiest intersection." The intersection is just out of JR Shibuya station, but make sure to exit from "Hachiko exit" to go north west side of the station. Shibuya station itself is a huge complex building. If you exit from other exit, you may experience some difficulties to find the intersection. Also their is a similar size (similar busyness) intersection at the other (north east) side of the station. There is a huge roofed pedestrian bridge between JR Shibuya station and Keio Inokashira-line Shibuya station which looks like a part of station building. You can observe the famous intersection from there. There are some foreigners watching the intersection from the bridge all of the time.

As for intersection, I like Edobashi Shuto Express Way's intersection seen from walkway nearby. The intersection is very complex, and build over a river, can be seen from (old - not express way) Edobashi bridge. The area is called Nihonbashi and is a one of the busiest shopping district in Tokyo, so you can enjoy both a view of strange architecture of road and casual shopping.

As your girl friend like automotive things, I recommend to go to Honda head quarters building at Aoyama. It's not a huge place but there is a car / motorcycle show room called "Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama" for Honda lovers. In most day, some event is held there. For example, MotoGP special exhibit is held today (May 5 - May 17) Schedule for June, July aren't announced yet. Also Honda's humanoid robot Asimo's demo are held daily.

Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama (Japanese only)
http://www.honda.co.jp/welcome-plaza/

Toyota has 2 major show room in Tokyo. One is Amlux at Ikebukuro.
http://www.amlux.jp/about/english.html

The other is MEGA WEB at Odaiba.
http://www.megaweb.gr.jp/About/en.html

Honda has a museum calle "Honda Collection Hall" which is very nice, but it far from Tokyo (in Twin Ring Motegi circuit)
http://world.honda.com/collection-hall/

Toyota also has a museum, also far from Tokyo (at Aichi where Toyota head quarter exists)
http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/

If you want to have a night with a luxury dinner, I recommend to try Tokyo Shiba Tofuya-Ukai restaurant. Very expensive but it worth that price. The garden of the restaurant is also great.
http://www.ukai.co.jp/english/shiba/

Awesome thanks for all the ideas. I did break down and by a book with all the places on it to see and view.

Right now the biggest issue is this

1) All Navy hotels are "booked" and I have been put on the waiting list for Gateway, Navy Lodge, and New Sannon(sp ?)

2) Still haven't figured out getting to NRT from Yoko and then from NRT to Tokyo which I still don't have a hotel in given that the new sannon is booked.

Argh so much to do so little time

Posted By talljoker on 05-17-2012 11:39 AM
Awesome thanks for all the ideas. I did break down and by a book with all the places on it to see and view.

Right now the biggest issue is this

1) All Navy hotels are "booked" and I have been put on the waiting list for Gateway, Navy Lodge, and New Sannon(sp ?)

2) Still haven't figured out getting to NRT from Yoko and then from NRT to Tokyo which I still don't have a hotel in given that the new sannon is booked.

Argh so much to do so little time

A few suggestions:

Try getting reservations at Hardy Barracks http://www.mwrjapan.army.mil/crd/or/hardy.aspx



It's fairly close to the New Sanno, it's a clean/safe place to say at a great price.

Getting around may seem difficult but really it's really pretty easy, just take the trains.



http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/

or

http://www.hyperdia.com/

More train information links if you need it:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/downloads/index.html

How to buy tickets:

http://www.odakyu.jp/english/route/guide/purchase.html

The military also runs buses back and forth from NRT to most of the bases (with ID cards).

Taxis, and private drivers are also available but they cost more.

Yoko to NRT for free on the bus from PSD. There's lots of info on JB.com about it. If that doesn't suit you, take the train. It's quick & easy.

Look under the Travel section for our discussion about budget travel. In there, we list several chains of business hotels which are pretty nice & reasonably priced (by Japanese standards). It's far cheaper than American-style business hotels. Or, drop by ITT for their suggestions on hotels.

btw, you could also stay at Atsugi or Zama.

Ok well the schedule change, so I will not be coming up for school but I am going to take leave and kick it in Tokyo without a care with the girl. I know have to fly from FUK to NRT on the Skymark airlines. Meet her in the Term and then its off to the hotel. We will spend I think 2 days there and then possibility off to Kyoto, but I'm thinking about doing three full days. When we get married and she comes out we can do the other slower tour.

An alternative to taking the train to Fukuoka and flying to Narita is simply riding the Shin all the way to Shinagawa then catch an airport train from there. It might be quicker, more convenient, even cheaper than flying in although I know Skymark has good prices. Your local ITT can help you plan the train ride.

Your touring plan sounds good, depending how much leave you get. My wife & I have a certain travel philosophy, esp in these overseas areas... When we visit a place (other than locally around our home), we act as though we will never come back again. This motivates us to "do it right", allow time to see everything, because the reality is you don't know if you'll ever make it back or not. During our 3 years in Japan, this has allowed us to travel extensively on the 4 main islands plus Oki and not had to go back to see something we missed (other than we want to return to Sapporo in a different season cuz it's famous for flowers in the summer; we were there for the Ice Festival in the winter.)

In the long range, I feel like it's saved us money by not having to go back just cuz we didn't see everything we should have. It's one way to look at it that might impact how you plan your trip.

subscribed for future inputs! thank you so much!

There is also a BOQ/BEQ at Negishi that I used to use for transient quarters every now and then. Not sure what their current policies are but it was easy to get a room there back in the day.