Places in Tokyo for the Moral Traveller?

[dorpus]

I grew up in rural Japan 20 years ago when it was a very
different culture, where people were earnest and not pretentious.
Tokyo today feels like a foreign country because people here are so
obsessed with fashion, drinking, and sex. I'm not into that at all --

I am not a religious person, but I've spent the past ten years among
software professionals in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, plus I am
going to graduate school, where the majority of students are from
places like rural China and have probably never been to a bar in
their life. It's sort of like religious training, so this party
culture feels pretty offensive to me. Are there things to see here for
people who aren't into the shallowness? I am stuck in Tokyo until January 12th, because unfortunately my family lives here.

 

[Elizabeth]

Where exactly in Tokyo are you stuck? Sometimes I feel that way in the quiet, out of the way but slightly inconvenient neighborhood where I stay with friends as well.

 

[Maciamo]

Yes. If you like cultural stuff, you can visit temples and shrines. The most famous, busy and touristical are Senso-ji in Asakusa, Meiji-Jingu in Yoyogi Park and Yasukuni-Jinja near Kudanshita station. However, there are plenty of smaller ones that very few people know about. Do you know the shitamachi area of Fukagawa (Koto-ku) ? Have a look at my picture guide

Then there are lots of Museums in Ueno Koen, the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku, and well, if you are interested in modern architecture and skyscrapers (also on my pics site), you should definitely see the newly built areas of Shiodome, Roppongi Towers and maybe also Kachidoki, Nishi-Shinjuku (not new though) and around Tokyo Station (including the International Forum at Yurakucho).

Tsukiji Fish Market is also interesting, but noisy and very busy, and you'll have to go there between 5am and 8am to see something.

Maciamo

 

[dorpus]

Originally posted by Elizabeth
Where exactly in Tokyo are you stuck? Sometimes I feel that way in the quiet, out of the way but slightly inconvenient neighborhood where I stay with friends as well.

I'm close to Tokyo station. Yes, I am near the center of action, but people here define "action" in terms of fashion, alcohol, sex. Are there other kinds of pursuits I could get involved in?

 

[Ewok85]

If you were here longer id suggest taking up a hobby like a martial art or something. I went to kyoto on the 30th and the atmosphere there is great. I dont seem to notice the whole party thing in tokyo.

One thing that gets me tho, the mad christians in tokyo, i went to naritasan temple in narita and there was about 10 of them with placards and loudspeakers doing their bit in the crowd of people going to and from the temple. To me thats just annoying and uncalled for, going to the temples at new year is less of a religious thing and more of a cultural thing.

 

[dorpus]

Originally posted by Ewok85
If you were here longer id suggest taking up a hobby like a martial art or something. I went to kyoto on the 30th and the atmosphere there is great. I dont seem to notice the whole party thing in tokyo.

That's OK, I'm comfortable with my hobbies. I see the white guys who get into martial arts, and they're so unattractive -- asides from the big ego, the bullying attitude, the insistence their sport is "safe" (despite their plaster casts) and "nonviolent" (despite their bragging about beating someone up at a party).

One thing that gets me tho, the mad christians in tokyo, i went to naritasan temple in narita and there was about 10 of them with placards and loudspeakers doing their bit in the crowd of people going to and from the temple. To me thats just annoying and uncalled for, going to the temples at new year is less of a religious thing and more of a cultural thing.

The way I see it, temples here are full of gaudy red statues of fat guys holding golden weapons, or of dirty stone buddhas being offered food. One kind of rabble feeding on another.

 

[mdchachi]

True martial artists are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Those with an ego or attitude obviously don't get it and are probably not very experienced. Most likely most of the martial artists you have ever met, you didn't know it because they didn't tell you. Don't let any "bad apples" give you a bad opinion of the whole scene.

As for what to do in Tokyo...
well what did you do in California? It sounds like you probably weren't going out much there either. Why not take walks through the various Tokyo neighborhoods or shotengae. There's no partying going on in your typical neighborhood, just people living their daily lives.

 

[dorpus]

Originally posted by mdchachi
True martial artists are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Those with an ego or attitude obviously don't get it and are probably not very experienced. Most likely most of the martial artists you have ever met, you didn't know it because they didn't tell you. Don't let any "bad apples" give you a bad opinion of the whole scene.

I speak of people with multiple dans, who run dojos. Most dojos I've seen are basically scams in which they have students buy overpriced uniforms, give the religious talk about "universal life forces" and how their martial art is better than anyone else's. They're similar to investment bankers -- their job is about tricking people out of their money, but they pat each other on the back and think of themselves as "nice people".

As for what to do in Tokyo...
well what did you do in California? It sounds like you probably weren't going out much there either.

I've been to juggling clubs. I'm also into checkers and math. Problem is, clubs like that don't meet at this time of year.

Why not take walks through the various Tokyo neighborhoods or shotengae. There's no partying going on in your typical neighborhood, just people living their daily lives.

I already do that every day.

 

[dadako]

dorpus; I love the way you have contridicited yourself throughout this thread it makes me laugh! Primadonna syndrome?

(yes my spelling is crap)

How about going out to the mountains or something?

Hakkone is a nice place to visit (get on the odakyu line, hakkone is the last stop!)

or how about Eno Shima? Again use the odakyu line.

There's plenty to do, but if you like talking and eating - go get a drink

 

[dorpus]

Originally posted by dadako
dorpus; I love the way you have contridicited

It's spelled contradicted.

yourself throughout this thread it makes me laugh! Primadonna syndrome?

The only contradiction here is your poor reading comprehension skills.

 

[jeisan]

well dorpus it seems to me that you just badmouth whatever advice is given to you, and you probably will continue to have a miserable time in tokyo. but thats your fault, youre the one who thinks if it as your own personal hell hole. maybe if you gave the city half a chance and didnt think of it as some sleazy sexpit, you might actually enjoy yourself. theres tons of people who would love to be "stuck" in tokyo til the 12th.

do yourself, and the rest of the people around you, a favor, go have a drink then wander down to akihabara or whatever its called (electric town) and check out all the widgets and gadgets. im sure someone whos been messing about in silicon valley ought to appreciate at least something there.

 

[Timsan]

Originally posted by dorpus
That's OK, I'm comfortable with my hobbies. I see the white guys who get into martial arts, and they're so unattractive -- asides from the big ego, the bullying attitude, the insistence their sport is "safe" (despite their plaster casts) and "nonviolent" (despite their bragging about beating someone up at a party).



The way I see it, temples here are full of gaudy red statues of fat guys holding golden weapons, or of dirty stone buddhas being offered food. One kind of rabble feeding on another.

Wow! You must be an anxiety freak, extremely unsocial and negative. why dont you just go sit in a dark room somewhere and cry? what are you doing in japan if your so anti-japanese? your an idiot.

 

[Iron Chef]

Please refrain from name-calling in the future. Thnx.

 

[Maciamo]

Thread closed.
Dorpus 1 warning for unfriendly behaviour and lack of consideration for other users's help.