Tokyo for the weekend. Suggestions?

[Strangeluv]

Hello all,

I'm off to Tokyo for the weekend and I could really use some help regarding interesting places to see.
I've heard the fishmarked and the parks should be good fun when bringing a camera.
I did a few searches on the net, but getting it from people interesting in photography and that actually has been there is so much better 🙂

Thanks!

 

[gavinlg]

Fishmarkets are no longer open to tourists before 9am till a bit later in 2011 - just be warned.

Honestly, just go into the seedy parts of Shinjuku and Shibuya to see the coolest sides of tokyo IMO. Roppongi is interesting as well past about 10pm but it's less japanese and more western than the rest of tokyo. Do heaps of research on the net - there's lots of good advice. Go into any alley/store/street/garden/nook and cranny you see that looks interesting - something will always surprise you around the next corner!

If you have any specific questions just ask - I just came back from there 🙂

 

[dogbunny]

The fish market is fun, but get there early--early early. I like Shimokitazawa, it is kind of a trendy little neighborhood with lots of funky little shops and such. There is a cool little walk you can do; start at Shibuya Station and walk all the way up to Harajuku, both areas are cool for photos and it is a nice little walk. I lived there for a couple of years, I really dig the city. Have fun.

 

[jarski]

Akihabara, electric town for gizmos. Be there and halleluja 🙂

 

[david.elliott]

I don't have any helpful suggestions, but please report back with some photos! 🙂

Have a wonderful trip.

 

[Keyne]

I agree with all above. I really liked Shinjuku Gyoen park. It is pretty large has a Japanese garden, French garden, interesting trees, old buildings, etc. Great to see the different styles of landscaping, the families together enjoying the park, and there are great city views from there as well (e.g. the "egg" building can be seen from there).

Also, if you are interested in temples and such... Kamakura is about an hour train ride south of the city and has lots of cool temples, big Budha, etc. that you can hike to on the walking path. IMO the best way to see the temples is via the walking paths in the hills. Its not a difficult walk (I hiked it in loafers... LOL) and it provides a nice old world experience with cool sites along the way lined with bamboo forests, carved out caves, shrines, etc. Also, Kamakura has an interesting retro Grateful Dead bar called Univibe... Nice bar tender/owner and kind of bizarre to find it there... little slice of California in Japan. Its a nice change of pace from busy Tokyo.

Anyway have fun and definitely share your photos!

 

[LeicaFan]

In Ginza the streets are closed to motor vehicles on Sundays. A good place for street shooting and people watching. As an added bonus, you'll find shops selling exotic camera and lenses.

http://www.tokyoessentials.com/ginza.html

Ginza is wonderful. Here is a picture that I took on a Sunday afternoon:

 

[Tom A]

I have been to Tokyo about 15 times in the last decade and a half, One of my all time favorite cities for pictures. The "active" areas, Shinjiku, Ginze, Akihabara etc is a bit like getting stuck in a mad Pin-Ball machine. People,traffic, noise everywhere. Great street shooting environment, interesting architecture and some of the friendliest locals anywhere.
The fish-market is evidently closed for tourists - at least the early hours - which is to bad as thats when all the action is. I find that the best bet is just wander around for the first day. Try to figure out the subway - getting lost is fun, you end up in areas that you have no idea exsisted. The alley's and side streets are great photo-ops. Right of a major street you wander in to an area that looks like a set for a Kurosawa movie!
There are plenty of "mini-parks" around to rest in (and you need it -Tokyo is murder on legs and feet - travel light). Part of the Imperial Palace Garden is open to public and I find that an hour or two of sitting on bench. looking at people restores vitality!
Eat where the locals eat, usually cheap and good.
One should consider that the Greater Tokyo region has a population equal to Canada - all squeezed into a small area!
Go to Yokohama for a different view. More laid back, nice Riverwalk and on Sundays they dress up their dogs for a walk!
have a great time and enjoy.
Hit Flicker and tag "Tokyo" and you well see millions of shots - which will give you an idea what to expect.

 

[Keyne]

Its been a year this month since I was in Tokyo... I am soooo jealous. I agree with Tom. Definitely eat where the locals eat. Small Sushi places and noodle houses are insanely good and the people are really really nice. My mouth is watering just thinking about them. So many awesome places to go.

 

[Tim Gray]

I was in Tokyo last year and went to the fish market somewhere between 8 and 9 am. I had 'missed all the action' already, but it was still an interesting way to spend an hour or two. You might not get to see the tuna auction, but the rest is still pretty good.

I also enjoyed the Shinjuku area in general. Sorry I can't give you better advice.

 

[LeicaFan]

Its been a year this month since I was in Tokyo... I am soooo jealous. I agree with Tom. Definitely eat where the locals eat. Small Sushi places and noodle houses are insanely good and the people are really really nice. My mouth is watering just thinking about them. So many awesome places to go.

There is always good food within the big department stores in Ginza.

When I went, I was so confused. There were hundreds of people buying food, but I didn't see any tables and I didn't see people eating. Eventually, I found out that people go to the roof of the buildings to eat, haha. 😎

 

[Joerg]

Hi,

Great suggestions so far. I have little to add but.....
While in Harajuku don't miss the Meiji shrine and park.
I also loved Ebisu. Less touristy, has a big mall for present shopping and the photography museum with a terrific shop for Japanese photo books is right there.
I was fascinated by the different styles housing of the city within a block or so. Also finding addresses of photo shops was great fun. ;-)
A few of my pictures taken:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12065461@N05/sets/72157623820245917/

Enjoy!

Joerg

 

[Tim Gray]

When I went, I was so confused. There were hundreds of people buying food, but I didn't see any tables and I didn't see people eating. Eventually, I found out that people go to the roof of the buildings to eat, haha. 😎

I'll echo this. I was just in Kyoto and Nara last week, and the thing that got me confused was breakfast. 90% of the places I looked at weren't open before 10am, and I didn't know where to look for the right breakfast place.

 

[snausages]

My advice in Tokyo would be to not stress about the 'right' places to go. Wander and get lost. If something looks interesting, it probably is...

 

[Frankie]

I do Tokyo regularly.

Breakfast: MacDonald's, before 10:00 a.m. Egg Mac-Muffin + coffee gave me some dietary grounding.

Lunch: make that your main meal. Many restaurants have lower prices for the same dish or set for the larger lunch crowd.

Dinner: Japanese fast food, from Sushi to ramen... tend to be around train stations and back alleys.

Stores close at 8 p.m. Most department stores have a food floor in the basement with the freshest stuff, also Saki and wine.

Lens to bring: 25/35/50 mm; or a single 40mm. Long lenses didn't get much use here. Many back streets are 2 tatami (2 x 5' 9") wide, so are most houses or buildings, perfect for 35mm.

 

[Keyne]

+1 with Frankie.

Good local food by the train stations and lunch is the best meal value. There are good noodle places in Ebisu that taste great and are not expensive. If you go to Ebisu for the photo museum you might want to check what the exhibit is before you go to ensure you are interested in it.

 

[mrbrown]

You will love Tokyo. Photography heaven. Also camera heaven. Here are some photos and blog entries from my recent trip there for 12 days.

http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/tokyo-2010/

 

[gekopaca]

I never visited Tokyo. Never. Never.

YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOO LUCKIIIIIIIIIY!!!!!!!!!

 

[Frankie]

Tokyo had a bad rep before the Japanese economic bubble burst'ed.

These days, maximum plane ticket price from anywhere is ~$1000, a standard hotel room is ~$100+, a decent meal budget is ~$50...plus pocket money of course. I buy a train/subway fare card and go wherever I want.

A major phobia for non-Japanese speakers is just that...a phobia. If you look closely, all train station route maps have English sub-title in smaller text. When asking questions, speak in simple single words until you had a measure of that person's English skills... My early technique: English? Ginza? [while pointing to the train wall map]. Much bowing substitutes for saying thank you. If they couldn't help, they soon will ask some person who could. You could even buy a electronic gizmo that translate English word you type in into spoken Japanese.

I don't use iPhone, but I wonder if there is an App for that?

I have been in and out of Japan for over 20 years. I observed the rapid transition of Japanese manufacturing from copycats to leading innovators. I saw new applications of ancient ideas, I saw Japanese styles now called retro [think Fuji X100]...they reinventing themselves every other day.

And that in itself is fascinating. Much photo op in that alone.

 

[jonmanjiro]

There's no shortage of things to do in Tokyo. For starters: Check out electric town in Akihabara on Saturday afternoon, then head to Asakusa, then take a walk along Shibuya Center-gai on Saturday night, then branch off into the side streets, go drinking in Golden Street in Shinjuku later on Saturday night, stroll along Takesita Street in Harajuku on Sunday afternoon, and then check out Meiji Shrine after that.