Japan Going to Japan...

Toyoko inns are pretty cheap and generally decent. It's a place to sleep and a cheap breakfast (usually). You won't be that excited about spending time in the room - just very basic.

http://www.toyoko-inn.com/


I've stayed at the places in Monzen Nakacho Eitaibashi (moderately interesting city neighborhood) and the Asakusa Kuramae (less of a neighborhood, but the Asakusa Sensoji (temple) is nearby, and is a popular tourist destination for Japanese and foreign tourists).

The Tokyo Metro Museum of Photography at Ebisu Place can be very nice. I've enjoyed it on two visits.

Shinjuku, Ginza, Shibuya, Ikebukuro are all busy shopping and train connection centers. Always lively, but might not be that different from Osaka (which I do not know well)

The main museum area is Ueno park. I've heard good things about the Edo Tokyo museum http://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/ but have not been.

If you know studio Miyazaki Hayao or Ghibli animation, there is a museum in Mitaka that some American friends loved. http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/ You need tickets (reservations) that you can get at Lawson's convenience stores.

Tokyo is a great base for day trips to Nikko, Kamakura, or Mt. Takao (closer).

There are flea markets to be found most weekends. I've found them interesting.
 
I can't say I'm any expert on Tokyo, far from it, but during my brief stay last year I stayed at the Ryokan Sawanoya in the Nezu area north of Ueno Park. Have no idea where that is? Neither did I. It was the right place and it was out of the way. I love obscure neighborhoods and this fit the bill. It's a train connection from the larger stations, but I love public transport so that was fun. I suspect the neighborhood is quiet by Tokyo standards. Lots of local shops, narrow streets and some very, very nice restaurants tucked away. It felt like it was a bit stuck in the 1970s compared to other areas that look newer and swankier. Most buildings just a few stories tall. I found people very friendly...in part perhaps because they are probably never overwhelmed with tourists. I loved it. The Ryokan itself is friendly, simple and clean. It's not fancy at all. Nothing stunning from the outside but the room was great, Japanese traditional style with a robe and futon waiting, a great bathing area on the first floor, and a friendly family that runs it. I strolled through some of the other neighborhoods around the larger stations but was glad that I found a neighborhood with a smaller town feel. If I returned to Tokyo I would definitely stay there again, and for longer, and use it as a base to explore the rest.

May or may not be your speed, but thought I'd pass it along. http://www.sawanoya.com/eigo.html

Their google site is a little better: https://sites.google.com/site/sawanoyar/
 
I was in Tokyo this summer.

We stayed in the Tokyo Prince hotel. Slightly older hotel, reasonable. Near Tokyo Tower.

Because of the problem with electricity, almost all hotels reduced the cooling, and the heat this summer was murderous.

A lot of things are changed because the nuclear plants are shut down.

My wife is Japanese. The best way to get a cheap hotel is to call the hotel (let your GF do it), tell them that you are going to stay for a week or more, and ask them for a discount or special rate. My wife claimed that would not work in Japan, I told her to try it, and she called them from NYC and got really cheap non-published offers from the hotels. (they even threw in free buffet breakfasts)

The train stations have a lot of cheap ramen shops and good food. I would not stay in the big tourist areas. I spent a lot of time in Akihabara, looking at geekish stuff and shopping. My wife took the kids to the Anpanman museum and other kid stuff. I don't do usual tourist stuff, I just like to walk around.

I have the business card of a very cheap used camera store, run by an Indian, in Akihabara, but I have to look for it. Ginza has a lot of good, but expensive, camera shops.

The most important thing you have to remember is that after you marry a Japanese girl, and especially after you have kids, they COMPLETELY change into another woman who is not the one you married. Some deeply embedded programming comes to the surface, and they change, just like in the movies, into something else. YOU may think your GF is different or special, and that she will stay the same, but you are wrong. You better be ready.
 
I Love Film said:
The most important thing you have to remember is that after you marry a Japanese girl, and especially after you have kids, they COMPLETELY change into another woman who is not the one you married. Some deeply embedded programming comes to the surface, and they change, just like in the movies, into something else. YOU may think your GF is different or special, and that she will stay the same, but you are wrong. You better be ready.
Click to expand...

Please explain further... for the worser or better? Can't this be said for most women though?
 
jsrockit said:
Please explain further... for the worser or better? Can't this be said for most women though?
Click to expand...

I'm afraid to explain. NOT like most women. Once you have kids, something happens to them. I know many fathers of happa kids with Japanese wives in NYC, and they almost all have the same experiences.

Not really suitable for public discussion on RFF.

PS: 2-3 days in Tokyo is not enough. I would try to stay a little longer. 2-3 days is not even enough to get your bearings.
 
jsrockit said:
Please explain further... for the worser or better? Can't this be said for most women though?
Click to expand...

John,

As you know I was married, but living in sin is a lot more fun.

Also there's this saying: "No one ever got rich by paying taxes." They don't call it the marriage penalty for nothing.

Also divorce is mucho expensive, but in my case worth it.

Cal
 
So, then the key is to have no children? 😉 We are getting older and we may not have any.

Tokyo for two days is all that is going to happen this time. It's better than nothing.
 
jsrockit said:
So, then the key is to have no children? 😉 We are getting older and we may not have any.

Tokyo for two days is all that is going to happen this time. It's better than nothing.
Click to expand...

If you have children getting married makes sense.

If children are not involved getting married makes no sense. Much better IMHO to live in sin, pay less taxes, and not have the great expense of a divorce if things are not good.

Anyways my current relationship is about 15 years and going strong. My marriage only lasted a decade and was hell.

Cal
 
This one has to be the most bizarre travel advice I've ever read.
Can't get it out of my mind!

I Love Film said:
The most important thing you have to remember is that after you marry a Japanese girl, and especially after you have kids, they COMPLETELY change into another woman who is not the one you married. Some deeply embedded programming comes to the surface, and they change, just like in the movies, into something else. YOU may think your GF is different or special, and that she will stay the same, but you are wrong. You better be ready.
Click to expand...
 
I agree. There is no purpose to marriage other than a social contract. If no children are involved or contemplated, insane to get married.
 
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