Been a long time since I was active here, and what better way to change that than with a few small giveaways?

Sword of the Stars: The Pit
Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos
Garry's Mod
TimeShift (RU/CIS)

On a separate note, I'll be leaving for Tokyo, Japan in a couple of days. While I do have a rough itinerary planned, It's a fairly foreign country to me, so I'm all ears for some recommendations for things to do/try while i'm there! If there are any SGifters who live in the country or have been to Tokyo anytime recently, I would love to hear what you think! (Feel free to add me!)

8 years ago*

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RAMEN.

8 years ago
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Things to do in Japan?

Try to find a place that serves a good deep dish pizza. :X

8 years ago
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This place is pretty good! :-D
http://en.devilcraft.jp/

8 years ago
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Ah yeah, that doesn't look bad at all. I could actually survive there. :3
A buddy of mine who moved to Japan several years back (now married with a child there), has to drive an hour to get a pizza. He lives in a smaller town, though. It's a running joke between us when I send him photos of pizzas I order.

8 years ago
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It's a minefield! Can be very difficult to get a good one and delivery pizzas are expensive. Also got to deal with things like mayo and potato pizzas, and dessert pizzas with chocolate sauce on them. I'm sure the pizzas you get are much better, I'm glad I don't get tortured by photos of them!

8 years ago
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  • Everything supercollider said!
  • Like Wolfhausen said, try the unusual and awesome food!
  • As Zareh said, you should go to an onsen (spas fed by geothermally heated springs). Access to the pools is separated by gender because you bathe nude. If you have any tattoos, you will need to cover them with a bandage/plaster.
  • Day trip to Mt Fuji - it is truly an awesome sight. There are onsen in the town that the bus stops at, which is as close as you'll be able to get - you won't be able to go up the mountain at this time of year. The road will be closed due to ice and snow. It is not advisable, anyway - many people die attempting to climb it outside of summer.
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku has two towers with free observation decks on the 45th floors - http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011_tocho.html. It's worth going twice: once during the day and once at night.
  • Check out the Harajuku girls/cosplay-zoku at Harajuku (Jingu Bashi - the pedestrian bridge from Harajuku Station and the Meiji Shrine) on a Sunday.
  • The Meiji Shrine
  • Imperial gardens (next to the Meiji Shrine) and the Treasure Museum within it.
  • Tokyo Sea Life Park - easily the most impressive public aquarium I have seen - https://www.tokyo-zoo.net/english/kasai/main.html. They have schools of bluefin tuna, including one that was 2 m long, and hammerhead sharks in a big toroidal tank, and they have an amazing shoreline exhibit which you initially see from below the surface, but a ramp leads you above the surface and you can walk around it. It has waves breaking on a sandy beach and I believe they also simulate the tide.
  • Manga, electronic gadget and retro gaming heaven in Akihabara. You may even find the store that has the Throne of Games (a throne constructed from games cartridges).
  • Get the automated guideway transit service across to Odaiba and check out Palette Town. There's a shopping centre called VenusFort that has somewhat bizarrely been made up to look like a medieval European village, complete with fake sky. Next door is a Toyota showroom and museum, inexplicably called Mega Web (Toyota City Showcase), which is like no showroom you've ever been to - http://www.megaweb.gr.jp/about/english.html. There are no salesmen hassling you and you are encouraged to climb into the display cars, which were all models that I didn't see in Australia until several years later. There are driving simulators (the type mounted on hydraulic actuators to simulate accelerations) where you can experience the difference that their electronic stability system makes in difficult conditions, by driving the same track with it enabled and disabled. If you have an international driver's licence, you can test drive brand new Toyota vehicles on the 1.3 km test track. There were some cool race cars in the "History Garage" (museum section).
  • The most useful Japanese saying for me was "Suimasen", which is kind of like sorry/please or excuse me. You not only use it for excuse me or sorry in a crowd or whatever, but in shops and restaurants, it is customary to call it out when you are ready for service, like ringing a bell at an unattended counter or putting your hand up in a restaurant, except it is not considered rude. Also, "doumo" is a less formal way of saying thank you (being a shortening of doumo arigato gozaimasu, which means thanks very much), and appropriate for things like receiving your change from a store cashier.
8 years ago
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Thanks for the excellent recommendations!

The small snippets like not being able to climb Mount Fuji, the cosplay in Harajuku, the bit about the language as well as the elaboration about the aquarium and the sights in Odaiba are really helpful! There seem to be many public aquariums and shopping places around Tokyo, but this sort of information really helps for me to pick one out over the other.

8 years ago
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No problem. There's plenty to do. Lonely Planet Guides are always worth a look.

There are shopping centres at the major railway stations. The railway lines are privately owned and the stations occupy prime real estate, so the railway companies figured why not build five stories of shops and restaurants on top of them.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with Odaiba (at least the parts that I went to) if you're not into cars. However, I did remember (it was several years ago now) one other notable thing there that would be of interest to a specific demographic: There was a Hello Kitty store in the VenusFort shopping centre with such an overwhelming display of pink that it would make Barbie sick. You'll either love it or hate it - it's an assault on the senses too powerful to ignore. I managed to snap a photo of my girlfriend at the time with someone in a Hello Kitty costume before they noticed us and tried to charge us for the privilege.

Some other interesting tidbits:

  • Garbage is sorted into combustible and non-combustible, with different bins for each. Interestingly, even though it is very clean, there are no bins on the street, except recycling bins for drinks containers right next to drink vending machines. So if you decide to take an apple with you and eat it while you are out and about, you will have to carry the core with you until you get home or go somewhere that has accessible bins, like a fast food restaurant.
  • Smoking is restricted to designated areas.
  • People will offer you help if you look lost. There are a couple of reasons for this. The culture is one of responsibility to the community. I remember noticing this being really obvious on their posters informing you that you can't smoke on the train. Keep an eye out and have a think about how well the campaign would work in your part of the world. It certainly wouldn't work here in Western Australia. The other reason that people will be eager to help is that a lot of them, especially businessmen, just want to practice their English. :-)
8 years ago
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Lonely Planet Guides are always worth a look.
Do they update these regularly?

I wouldn't bother with Odaiba (at least the parts that I went to) if you're not into cars
That's a little disappointing, but I may as well since the miraikan is there as well.

Certainly heard a lot about their orderly society and cleanliness. Thanks again for the tips!

8 years ago
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Oh, there was nothing wrong with Odaiba. It's just that I spent most of my time at the Toyota place, which would not be a lot of fun for someone that doesn't like cars, in the same way that the Hello Kitty shop could be a personal hell if it's not your heaven.
Yeah, Lonely Planet seems to update their guides regularly. I don't know if they have a policy of updating at least every 5 years or something, but even old ones will still be of interest. Although prices might be out of date (they review food, accommodation, and entertainment), they are packed with great cultural information (although the language tips I gave you come from a mate that was living there). As well as the Country Guides, they publish "City Encounter" guides. I have the Tokyo Encounter 2nd edition published Sep 2009 (200+ pages, plus a map for USD $12.99 - can't remember when I got it, but I think it was pretty new at the time), and it says that the first edition was published in Sep 2007, so that's an update after only two years. Everything in my version was current, except the Tsukiji seafood market (where bluefin tuna is traded) had been closed to tourists. I believe they have some online stuff available but I haven't used it.

8 years ago
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Ooh, ooh, if you try some food that is delicious (which you will!), you can exclaim "Oishii!". I think it literally means delicious, but it can be used like "Yum!" (i.e. just an exclamation, not needing to be said to anyone in particular or put into the context of a phrase) the way kawaii means cute but can be used on it's own as an exclamation, similar to exclaiming "So cute!".

8 years ago
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I know a little bit of the language from anime, definitely! xD

8 years ago
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Excellent!
:-D

8 years ago
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One thing I remember noticing was that even their warning signs (e.g. "crush hazard" on machinery) were kawaii. Keep an eye out.

Something else that I noticed, which would only appeal to a very small segment of the population that includes me but I'll throw it out there anyway, was that their fire hydrants were stainless steel.

8 years ago
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Also, prepare to never look at toilets the same way again! Many of them have more processing power and peripherals than some people's PCs. (okay, so that's probably a slight exaggeration, but seriously, prepare to be amazed).

8 years ago
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When I went, I did Tokyo (mainly Akihabara, the town hall), then Osaka/Kyoto for temples (kinkakuji/ginkakuji/etc.) then Hiroshima/Miyajima (the Torii in the ocean, the bombing museum).

and don't forget Tokyo DisneySea. <3

8 years ago
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That's also what I did except for disney :)
Started my trip in Tokyo for a couple of days then took the Shinkansen to Kyoto from where we went to Nara, Hiroshima/Mijajima, Osaka, Himeji...

8 years ago
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I regret not being able to visit the other prefectures to see the cultural buildings, but I'm sure I'll get there someday

8 years ago
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Go to a pachinko parlor. You might see a Metal Gear Solid pachinko machine.

FucKonami

8 years ago
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Don't get mad, visit the cities with antique buildings and streets, feel the "old days" and history

8 years ago
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Ohhh lucky you :)! These are some locations worth visiting imho:

  • Yokoamicho Park (maybe? I'm not sure what it's like in winter)
  • the Miraikan
  • the Meiji Shrine
  • Akihabara Electric Town
  • Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo
  • the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum and/or Edo-Tokyo Museum and/or the Shitamachi Museum
  • the Kabuki-za and/or the National Noh Theatre

Oh, if you have company, you may have fun visiting a karaoke place! And since we're in a gaming forum - I heard good things about the new Square Enix Cafe that's opened in Akihabara.

8 years ago*
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Thanks for the recommendations! The museums and architecture in Japan are really something else.

8 years ago
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Meido Cafe~~~

8 years ago
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Bump

8 years ago
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Yoyogi Park looks like a great place to hang out. I hope you enjoy your trip!

8 years ago
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Thank you 😀

8 years ago
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Bump. Have fun in Tokyo, CallsignX. Thanks for the GAs.

8 years ago
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I never have been there...sorry... Thanks for GAs

8 years ago
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Definitely hara-kiri

8 years ago
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Go into those hotels were you pay for a girl to sleep with you (not having sex, just sleeping).

8 years ago
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Car meets all the way. Such a beautiful car culture in Japan, makes me cry sometimes (Life is Strange's not the only thing that makes me cry lmao). Depends if you like cars of course :)

8 years ago
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Thanks for the GA's, would love to travel to Japan myself one day, enjoy your trip!

8 years ago
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Bump, a friend just returned from Japan. Tokyo Tower is a must!

8 years ago
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Bump.

8 years ago
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You can... keep playing on Steam...

8 years ago
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I've been in Tokyo last month. Be sure to visit Akihabara district. It's got lots of electronics and video game stores. Even if you don't intend to buy anything, it's really cool. Retro Game Camp is an amazing store dedicated mostly to retro console gaming.

Also, a pro tip. In certain places you can buy special 24h, 48h and 72h passes that work on both Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway. They are sold only to foreigners (you need to show your passport). It's really good, because it's much cheaper than regular day passes AND it works for consecutive hours, not for dates. 72h one is 1500Y. You can buy it in tourist offices and some of the big electronics stores. More info:
http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/TOPICS/2016/160204.htm

8 years ago
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:D lol when I was writing my reply, this was not here lol :D
they work with tourist visa only :)

8 years ago
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Thanks, anyhow! :D

8 years ago
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Much appreciated! The friend I'm travelling with said they were probably not necessary, but they might have outdated information. Will definitely take a closer look at this one!

8 years ago
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oh bump and I just remembered, but if you are travelling with friend who have been there you will know it:
tourist visa let you buy 1/2/3 day tickets for all metro lines (3 day 1500y which is super nice if you travel a lot)
you can get them at airport or in bic camera stores.
otherwise it is useful to get pasmo/suica card (500yen but you can get it back) and do not worry about buying correct ticket for correct line :P

8 years ago
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;-)

8 years ago
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Bump. Enjoy your trip. Wish I could go to Japan. Hear it's fastinating.

8 years ago
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Bump!

8 years ago
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