First time in Tokyo (April 2013) - Help with itinerary

[Weltall43]

Hello everyone,

My friend and I (28 males) are traveling to Tokyo for the first time for 10 nights in April. I have tried to do some research myself without asking too many questions, but I don't want to miss out on anything. We are coming from the USA. Our plane tickets and hotels are already purchased, but we can rearrange some hotel stays if needed.

Quick questions before my itinerary:

1. We only plan to stay around Tokyo and visit Kamakura. What type of subway pass / package should we buy upon arrival at Narita Airport?

2. We have a US passport and driver's license. We have had a flu shot this year (not sure if this matters). Is there anything else we need for entry?

Outlined below is a list of places and food we want to visit or try, but please help me fill this out! I don't want to miss out on anything!

Arrive: Friday, April 12th
Depart: Monday, April 22nd

• Stop 1: Shibuya
o Timeframe: Friday, April 12th – Tuesday, April 16th

o Hotel: Shibuya Tokyu Inn

o Sightseeing:

 Hachiko Statue
 Hikarie Shopping building
 Center Gai
 Koen Dori Street Shopping
 Harajuku (Sunday)
 Spain Zaka
 Meiji Jingu shrine
 Uniqlo Shopping Centers
 Love Hotel Hill
 EST Shibuya Bowling - Bowling open until 4:30 AM
 Sakuragaoka-cho (Possible Cherry blossoms)
 Yoyogi Park (Possible cherry blossoms)
 Futsal Park / Adidas Park

o Food:

 Street food: Harajuku crêpe
 Christon Café
 Tokyu Foodshow
 Midori Sushi in Mark City

o Bars/Clubs:

 Nonbei Yokocho (Similar to Golden Gai)
 Womb
 Atom
 AIR
 Gas Panic
 Trump Room (moose head)
 Camelot (Wednesday is good)
 Asia

• Stop 2: Shinjuku

o Timeframe: Tuesday, April 16th – Friday, April 19th

o Hotel: E Hotel Higashi Shinjuku

o Sightseeing:

 Kabukicho
 Akibahara during this time frame
 Shin-Okubo Korea town
 Tokyo Metro Government Office (Free - South Tower is better) - 45th Floor Observatory
 Central Park
 Shinjuku Garden - (200 Yen) (Entry is closed at 4 PM)
 Japanese Sword Museum (600 Yen)

o Food:

 Robot Restaurant

o Bars/Clubs:

 Golden Gai
 Omoide Yokocho (Piss Alley)


• Stop 3: Roppongi

o Timeframe: Friday, April 19th – Monday, April 22nd

o Hotel: Apa Hotel Roppongi

o Sightseeing:

 Mori Tower Sky Deck (500 Yen)
 Nogi Shrine
 Mori Art Museum
 24 Hour Bizarre
 Hinokicho Park
 Pasela Resorts (Karaoke)
 Ota Fine Arts
 Myozenji Temple
 Mohri Garden

o Food:
 Shimauta Paradise
 Otsuna Sushi (inarizushi)
 Ichioku (Tofu Steak)
 Azabu Karinto (Deep-friend snacks)
 Gonpachi (Kill Bill inspiration)
 Gatten Sushi (open really late)
 Tsurutontan (open until 8 am – noodles)


o Bars/Clubs:
 Velours
 Le Paris de Baron (VIP)
 Feria
 Muse
 Vanity (ppl go late)
 New Lex Edo

• Other:

o Kamakura – Will probably spend Wednesday, April 17th here
o Tokyo Sky Tree – What is the best way to get here, or which of my 3 locations is it easiest to get to?
o Tsukiji fish market – What is the best way to get here, or from which of my 3 locations is it easiest to get to?

Thanks for any help Also, if anyone living in Tokyo wants to meet up during our trip, that would be welcomed!

 

[Glenski]

Hello everyone,

My friend and I (28 males)

Is this supposed to mean 28 guys, or 2 guys who are 28 years old?

are traveling to Tokyo for the first time for 10 nights in April. I have tried to do some research myself without asking too many questions, but I don't want to miss out on anything.

Trust me. With only 10 days, you will miss a lot. Just don't panic about it. Imagine a foreigner visiting Oregon and California in only 10 days. Same story.

2. We have a US passport and driver's license. We have had a flu shot this year (not sure if this matters). Is there anything else we need for entry?

You didn't need any shots of any kind. A passport and round-trip ticket will let you in the door. Money would be nice. Aside from that, you don't "need" anything. I presume you're planning on maps or brochures. U.S. drivers license is useless here. If you really, REALLY plan to drive in Japan, you will need to buy an international drivers permit back home. I strongly urge you NOT to get one. Public transportation here is more than sufficient for your needs.

Outlined below is a list of places and food we want to visit or try, but please help me fill this out! I don't want to miss out on anything!

You're going to be seriously disappointed if you think you can visit that many places per day.

For advice from seasoned travelers (not just those of us who live here), I suggest you go to the Lonely Planet Thorntree forum.

 

[epigene]

Adding to Glenski's advice:

Why are you staying in different hotels/inns in Tokyo? Shinjuku, Shibuya & Roppongi are approx. 15-30 min. away from each other on subway lines. Staying at a single place roughly close to all the places you want to go would be so much more time-efficient. [Edit: Okay, you already have booked the hotels...]

Get a Tokyo Metro map and work out your schedule based on the lines.
Tokyo Metro | Subway Map
Since you're not traveling far from Tokyo, you don't need a Japan Rail Pass. I don't think there are any attractively priced discount tickets for JR (Japan Railway) and Metro rides for the area, unless you plan to use them heavily in a span of 1 or 2 days. (There are 1-day and 2-day all-you-can-ride tickets only)

For convenience when passing through the rail/subway station gates, you can buy Suica or Pasmo cards. They are just debit IC cards for public transit systems--sorry, no discounts. It can be bought at all major railway/subway stations. Surrender the cards before you leave Tokyo and get back the 500 yen deposit plus any extra money left in the card.

 

[Weltall43]

The main reason we are staying in different hotels is because we will be going out late at night a lot and want to be walking distance (within 30 min walk) to our hotel. If I go out in, say Roppongi, but my hotel is in Shibuya, I will have to wait until the 6 AM train correct? If we want to head in at 3 or 4 AM, we want to be able to just walk it. Maybe I have this wrong?

Are there any "can't miss" restaurants I really should be bookmarking?

Ty for the info so far, and yes it is 2 males at 28 years old.

 

[epigene]

The main reason we are staying in different hotels is because we will be going out late at night a lot and want to be walking distance (within 30 min walk) to our hotel. If I go out in, say Roppongi, but my hotel is in Shibuya, I will have to wait until the 6 AM train correct? If we want to head in at 3 or 4 AM, we want to be able to just walk it. Maybe I have this wrong?

Are there any "can't miss" restaurants I really should be bookmarking?

Ty for the info so far, and yes it is 2 males at 28 years old.

No, you can WALK to Shibuya. It's a 30-min walk if you're young and don't mind walking. Shinjuku, Shibuya and Roppongi are within 1-hour leisurely walk distance of each other. And, walking at night is safe, so long as you're not alone and keep to the broad streets.

"Can't miss" depends on personal taste. Also, restaurants come and go. A lot of people find Japanese restaurants in general to be good, so go try small, obscure shops, as well as those recommended in guidebooks.

 

[Fuchan]

tips

Hello
For several years I have been to Tokyo and I visited all the places you want to do in ten days.
Of course, this is possible but you will only see each site quickly.
I advise you to target those you absolutely want to see and organize your trips to minimize travel time.
I suggest you look at a map I illustrated all the places I visited in Tokyo. Links to articles appear by clicking on the blue dots.
Articles are written in French, use Google translator.
Carte des lieux visits TOKYO - le soleil rouge
To go to Kamakura, you can go to Shinjuku or Shibuya in Yamanote and change trains at Shinagawa. It takes about 45 minutes and the price is 700 yen.
To go to Tokyo Sky Tree, Shibuya, take the subway Ginza line to ASAKUSA and change to metro line skytree Tobu line.
To go to Tsukiji fish market, spend the night in a nightclub in Ginza and go to the market at 4:00 to have a place among the first 140 visitors will be allowed to see the tuna market ... Do not drink too much!
Welcome to Tokyo!

 

[Mike Cash]

If I go out in, say Roppongi, but my hotel is in Shibuya, I will have to wait until the 6 AM train correct? If we want to head in at 3 or 4 AM, we want to be able to just walk it. Maybe I have this wrong?

Tokyo has just oodles and oodles of taxis....

Seems like a lot of bother and expense to go to just to hang out in bars and get drunk. You could stay home and do that.

 

[Weltall43]

I also have a great job opportunity to transfer to Tokyo on the table. I have wanted to visit Tokyo since I was young more than any city in the world, so I am hoping to do a lot more than just party at night, but I am going to do that as much as possible too!

I was trying to make this thread to get a list of "can't miss" restaurants, events, or sightseeing opportunities I may have left off.