When on an overnight stopover in Tokyo
by bobinalong
We had an enforced stopover on our way back from Oz. We were exhausted and really just wanted to crash, and being that the airport hotel we were put up in by JAL was miles from the city centre, that was even more tempting...
But - if you can possibly fit it in - GET OUT OF THE NASTY HOTEL and go see something - even if its a local shopping centre (as we did)!!!
Japan, to us, seemed a really crazy place - a real culture shock - and that taste was enough to tell me I'd like to go back and see more... Best memory was the all over multi function auto body massage chair we spent more time testing than the shop assistant clearly felt was necessary!!!
Smoker ? no problem !
by tompt
In tokyo we found the solution to the smoking problem. There are special smoker corners.
This one is in the Akihabara district, on the Chuo- dori.
As we don´t smoke, we didn´t go in. But still i think it is a good solution, smoking where no one has a problem with it.
SENSOJI TEMPLE
A good example...
by SirRichard
SENSOJI TEMPLE
A good example of shrine not far from the centre, in Asakusa. At the Outer Tori (Gateway) is a long market (selling the usual tourist stuff and a few more interesting articles) along the path leading to the inner tori. Besides the main temple, there are many smaller ones, as well as gardens and other things.
Get There: Take the Toei Asakusa or the Ginza subway line to Asakusa station.
Japanese Noodles
by machomikemd
there are basically three kinds of japanese noodles, the most popular being the ramen (thin, wheat-based noodles with soda water, originated in china in the 10th century), the soba ( the medium, buckwheat-based noodles) and the udon (thick, wheat-based noodles). the ramen noodles being the most popular hence there are many ramen houses in tokyo and japan serving ramen noodles (even udon and soba noodles) whether hot or cold (don't order sushi or sashimi at ramen food stalls since they don't have that in the menu ok, that's why you need to go to sushi restaurants or full service japanese restaurants for it ok!) and most also serve udon and soba noodles. the noodles and the stock soup and ingredients (like deep fried pork, tempura shrimp, seaweeds, kamaboko and others) vary in taste and presentation throughout japan as every town and region in japan has it's own style of udon or soba or ramen with their own flavors from sweet to very spicy. you should try the different japanese noodles while in japan! ramen noodle soup starts from 500 yen an order for a basic ingredients and up to 800 yen if with shrimp or other sea food ingredients. soba and udon noodles are more expensive and start from 600 yen for an order which goes up to 1,000 yen for sea food ingredients. try all of the three if you can while in tokyo.
Omikuji
by kdoc13
Omikuji are fortunes written on slips of paper,sold at temples and shrines all over Japan. You shake a container full of bamboo sticks and then remove one through the hole in the container. It has a number on it, and you take a corresponding slip of paper with fortune written on it from the drawers. At other temples and shrines you simply put your hand in a box full of omikuji and draw one. Omikuji is said to have been imported from China in ancient times, and used as a message medium of the gods on such important occasions as business transactions and marriage. However, nowadays there are omikuji vending machines. talk about taking the fun out of it.
Atago Jinja (Shrine) in the middle of Tokyo
Getting ready to enjoy a day of blossom-viewing
A software, anime, manga store
Tokyo Harbor from Rainbow Bridge
