Adjacently related Dorian has evolved into a fluctuating Category 2-3 Hurricane somewhat poised to start hitting around central FL…come Monday early am?
I have some real comfy shorts.
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I’m thinking of going to Tokyo at the end of February. Partly to see Perfume in the Tokyo Dome, but also just to see the city.
Please tell me if this a bad idea for some reason!
The only public holiday I could see was the Emperor’s Birthday on the 23rd of Feb.
It will be cold but that’s about it!
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i want to go back to tokyo 
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Anyone got any recommendations for hotels in Tokyo?
Or even just general areas to stay in.
Minty! Where’d you go in Osaka? Bookstores? Bars? Restaurants?! Thrift stores? Going for a week in May and would love some recs. Went to Tokyo two-ish years ago and mostly just walked around everywhere and popped into places that looked interesting. I don’t plan vacations really, but trying to do it this time around.
Also, sup @Rudie. Is that email list you mentioned still applicable in 2022?
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Hi @vegetables between parenting and covid haven’t been outside really in 3 years so have no idea how much the city changed.
I can always try to get a day off of parenting show a SButt around.
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Oh no! Hope you get out sometime soon for your sake. I’ll definitely let you know if we could use a hand closer to the date!! Thank you for the offer~
Are there any COVID procedures/precautions I should be aware of? Is my American vaccination card worth anything there or should I just mask up at all times to not be a jerk?
Seems trite but can’t say about your Vaccination card considering how often the rules change but yes if you wear a mask you are doing 90% more than 90% of the tourists I see.
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Oh Osaka is awesome. I had such a good time there!
I’m trying to remember everything…I hope many of these places are still open and available!
Things to do:
Silver Ball Planet: It’s a pinball museum in the “American village.” That part of town actually has a lot of cool shops, good clothes and records, but pinball was the most important for me. Now that I think about it, Osaka is just great for walking around a half-dozen shopping/food areas.
Tower of the Sun: This is actually really out of the way compared to most other Osaka things but it’s so cool.
Osaka Castle: This is the only Japanese castle I’ve been to, but it’s a really interesting museum and a beautiful park. It made for a nice green space to break up the concrete-covered wanderings.
Make a daytrip of going to Nara. I really liked all the docile deer and the giant, wooden temple.
Food:
Okonomiyaki: These are delicious savory pancakes
Takoyaki: I got these fried octopus balls like 3 or 4 times while I was there and I wish I had them more. I remember Tako Tako King and Takoyaki Wanaka
Sushi from the fish market. I think it was It is Endo Sushi. It was so far beyond any sushi I’ve had anywhere else.
Breakfast at a Jun-kissa: I think the ones I went to were Jun-kissa America and Sunshine. These are like American diner inspired breakfast spots that were opened decades ago. They have great coffee and pancakes.
Robatayaki: I didn’t know this term before, but these kinds of places are great. We went to Isaribi. It was pretty overwhelming at first because we weren’t used to the communal, fire-side arrangement, but it worked out!
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There’s a Tarou Okamoto museum way out in Far West Tokyo/North Yokohama that’s a good time.
Like a thing that I would add to my list is I’ve flipped my opinion on Yokohama’s China Town and that is over-the-top and touristy is great and also that it has 700 Chinese restaurants in it. SEVEN HUNDRED.
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i had a great time wandering around osaka not having any idea what was going on or trying to go to any place in particular, so do that i guess. there’s a really tall skyscraper that you can go to the top of, that’s my only recommended sightseeing tip. honestly wish i could have spent more time there it seemed like a heck of a town.
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So I’m going to be working out of my company’s Chuo office for two weeks at the start of April, this thread is excellent with lots of places to chill around the Tokyo metro area but Im wondering if anyone has specific things that can fit in well after a workday
Also if theres anything specific to watch out for with covid, I mostly assume its a little better than the US with regards to mask wearing and such, but this is the first major travel Ive done since the start of the pandemic so Im a bit nervous. Ive somehow managed to avoid getting sick this whole time, either because of particularly stubborn mask wearing or more likely how little I leave the house
Also if @Rudie or any other tokyo folks want to grab a bite to eat or something Ill have a plenty of free time throughout the two weeks
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Yeah everyone is pretty good about mask wearing…I guess. The touristy parts were pretty bad.
Let’s hangout if I can get a night off definitely!!!
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Just now went back to the first post in this thread and saw how many things closed. I just spent a week doing touristy things so will try to update it this week.
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BONUS YOKOHAMA POST
The Yokohama Gundam
This sucker owns. Just walking up to it is powerful. It’s on a dock surrounded by nothing.
Red Brick District
Sure it’s just a mall but the old factory building it is in is cool and cramped and there is enough textually interesting things to bring it above, just a mall.
Chukagai/Yokohama China Town
Yo dawg at a taiwanese stand I got a nikuman (meat bun), a shumai (chinese dumpling), shoranpo (soup dumpling) and some fried veggie on a stick. There are 700 Chinese restaurants in the area. Along with other /foreign/ culture shops. I spotted a closed at the time greek place? And it’s right next to Yokohama Stadium if you wanted to catch a baseball game.
Denimio
It’s an online jeans shop not around anything. But you can also just walk in and they’ll help you find some expensive jeans! All handmade in Japan but a dozen different companies.
Cup Ramen Museum
Make your own ramen!
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THERE UPDATED FOR 2023!
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I liked seeing the Taro Okamoto mural Myth of Tomorrow at Shibuya Station when i was in Tokyo ( https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/myth-of-tomorrow ).
Unfortunately there is a pillar which stops you seeing the whole thing from a distance, but i thought it was still worth taking a small detour to see.
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Hey, i’m going to Kansai in November
I’m going to Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto … with day trips to Himeji and Nara … is there anywhere else i should consider in the area? I wondered about going to Lake Biwa… or somewhere else to contrast with the cities.
Is five days enough for Kyoto?
Any thoughts / info welcome
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If you’re going to Izu Peninsula at the 2nd (or maybe 3rd) Sunday at Feb, you will see Mt. Omuro burn to dust.