Swamp Travel Guide: Tokyo

[Keg]

I was able to parlay my trip to Guam, into a trip to Japan since I was going to be "in the area" already.

I will be in Tokyo for one week with nothing to do (50/50 chance my wife joins me). Then I will go to Yokosuka to work for one week.

Anyone ever been to Tokyo? Any tips on places to go or avoid?

This will be my first time in a country where I do not speak the language. I also do not know how to eat using chopsticks. Should I be worried?

[A_B]

Chopsticks are pretty easy to get the hang of over the course of one meal, IMO.

I have never been to Japan.

[Sabo]

Also, don't stick your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice.

[DaveInSeattle]

Also, don't stick your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice.

And don't do the "rub chopsticks together" thing before eating. Its insulting...implying that you've been given a pair of cheap, splintery chopsticks.

[duff]

I wish I remembered more about Tokyo when I was there.

[Johnnie]

I wish I could be of help, but unless I get stationed at Yokota AB, I got nothing.

Also, use a spoon to eat your rice. That's how it's done, btw.

[degenerasian]

I'll never get Japanese and Korean cuisine. Who eats dry rice with chopsticks, that's stupid.

Either eat dry rice with a spoon/fork, or have rice in soup and drink it. That's the SE Asian way.

[Sabo]

I'll never get Japanese and Korean cuisine. Who eats dry rice with chopsticks, that's stupid.

Either eat dry rice with a spoon/fork, or have rice in soup and drink it. That's the SE Asian way.

I've always understood Asian rices are much starchier than the long grain varieties we mostly eat in the US, so it's more likely to clump in the bowl. That makes it easier to eat.

Yes, I got this from a Good Eats episode. Sue me.

[A_B]

Alton Brown is a god.

[degenerasian]

I'll never get Japanese and Korean cuisine. Who eats dry rice with chopsticks, that's stupid.

Either eat dry rice with a spoon/fork, or have rice in soup and drink it. That's the SE Asian way.

I've always understood Asian rices are much starchier than the long grain varieties we mostly eat in the US, so it's more likely to clump in the bowl. That makes it easier to eat.

Yes, I got this from a Good Eats episode. Sue me.

Yup but I still eat it with a spoon.

[duff]

All the Chinese I saw eating rice shoveled it into their mouths with chopsticks. At an amazing rate of speed also.

Japanese eating rice, don't remember. We spent most of the trip in China.

[The Sybian]

Watch Lost in Translation. It stars Bill Murray, so you know it is a lighthearted goofball comedy.

[That French Guy]

I spent a month travelling through Japan a few years back and I'll be happy to give a few tips, but I'm off to bed now. I'll post something tomorrow. But don't worry too much about not speaking japanese, we didn't either and it went fine !

Also, use a spoon to eat your rice. That's how it's done, btw.

That depends. They eat Japanese beef curry with a spoon because there's so much sauce, the grains don't stick together as much. Otherwise, rice is almost always served in a small bowl and eaten with chopsticks.

[That French Guy]

- Go watch a baseball game at the Tokyo dome. It's really great. People cheer and sing for the team during the whole game.
- Harajuku : to see cosplayers or people dressed like your worst nightmare of emo rockers
- Akihabara : place to buy electronics stuff or go to manga cafes (there's also Ikebukuro, where there is an Earthquake simulator). Or cats/rabbits/maid... cafes
- Tsukiji fish market
- Shinjuku Park. Most parks actually, if the cherry trees are still in bloom.
- Tokyo tower : red/white Eiffel tower
- National/Art museums in Ueno are really great, you could probably spend (half) a day there
- Lots of temples/ shrines (Asakusa is a great one)
- Ryogoku has sumo matches in september
- If your wife is there and you're into it, you could try a love hotel (it's not as seedy as it sounds, it's more a park/movies-themed-hourly-hotel room). I didn't try a capsule hotel because one of the girls was a bit claustrophobic but I wish I had.
- The artificial island has a bunch of museums or sightseeing points.
- I didn't go to disneyland or try to see a kabuki play, but you can check it out. There's also the Ghibli museum in the suburbs but I think it's often fully booked ahead.

That's what I remember. All that said, it's not much more than you could get from a guide book, I'm afraid.

Japan is quite safe (people book seats at McDonalds with their laptops or cells, while they're off to the counter). I don't remember any neighbourhoods that were to stay away from, so don't hesitate wandering aroud.

Don't bother following restaraunts recommandations. They're so many, you'll be better off on your own in the streets. Some have shelves with plastic meals near the entrance, so you could see if it looks good to you. Try the Okonomiyaki ! (or one of the hundred flavors of KitKat). We didn't go to clubs, but we did end up in a bar where we were the only foreigners and they had us drink from a jar filled with transparent tiny fishes/larvas who were still alive and you had to crush them under you teeth (or maybe you're supposed to swallow them up alive but I didn't dare). Which is always a nice anecdote to tell.

And don't worry about not speaking Japanese. Everything is written in letters in trains/subways, most placecs have an English menu. And while few people speak English (or well enough to have a conversation) they're usually quite nice. We were asking one guy for the city tower (have a drink at the top and enjoy the view), who didn't speak a word, we showed him the Japanese name and he started running, gesturing to follow him.

Enjoy your trip !

[Shirley]

I'll never get Japanese and Korean cuisine. Who eats dry rice with chopsticks, that's stupid.

Either eat dry rice with a spoon/fork, or have rice in soup and drink it. That's the SE Asian way.

I've always understood Asian rices are much starchier than the long grain varieties we mostly eat in the US, so it's more likely to clump in the bowl. That makes it easier to eat.

Yes, I got this from a Good Eats episode. Sue me.

Yup but I still eat it with a spoon.

http://www.quora.com/Why-do-Chinese-peo ... -is-easier" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keg]

- Go watch a baseball game at the Tokyo dome. It's really great. People cheer and sing for the team during the whole game.
- Harajuku : to see cosplayers or people dressed like your worst nightmare of emo rockers
- Akihabara : place to buy electronics stuff or go to manga cafes (there's also Ikebukuro, where there is an Earthquake simulator). Or cats/rabbits/maid... cafes
- Tsukiji fish market
- Shinjuku Park. Most parks actually, if the cherry trees are still in bloom.
- Tokyo tower : red/white Eiffel tower
- National/Art museums in Ueno are really great, you could probably spend (half) a day there
- Lots of temples/ shrines (Asakusa is a great one)
- Ryogoku has sumo matches in september
- If your wife is there and you're into it, you could try a love hotel (it's not as seedy as it sounds, it's more a park/movies-themed-hourly-hotel room). I didn't try a capsule hotel because one of the girls was a bit claustrophobic but I wish I had.
- The artificial island has a bunch of museums or sightseeing points.
- I didn't go to disneyland or try to see a kabuki play, but you can check it out. There's also the Ghibli museum in the suburbs but I think it's often fully booked ahead.

That's what I remember. All that said, it's not much more than you could get from a guide book, I'm afraid.

Japan is quite safe (people book seats at McDonalds with their laptops or cells, while they're off to the counter). I don't remember any neighbourhoods that were to stay away from, so don't hesitate wandering aroud.

Don't bother following restaraunts recommandations. They're so many, you'll be better off on your own in the streets. Some have shelves with plastic meals near the entrance, so you could see if it looks good to you. Try the Okonomiyaki ! (or one of the hundred flavors of KitKat). We didn't go to clubs, but we did end up in a bar where we were the only foreigners and they had us drink from a jar filled with transparent tiny fishes/larvas who were still alive and you had to crush them under you teeth (or maybe you're supposed to swallow them up alive but I didn't dare). Which is always a nice anecdote to tell.

And don't worry about not speaking Japanese. Everything is written in letters in trains/subways, most placecs have an English menu. And while few people speak English (or well enough to have a conversation) they're usually quite nice. We were asking one guy for the city tower (have a drink at the top and enjoy the view), who didn't speak a word, we showed him the Japanese name and he started running, gesturing to follow him.

Enjoy your trip !

This is amazing advice. Thank you, TFG. Sumo wrestling and baseball are at the top of my list (my wife wasnt able to make it out).

[Johnnie]

Looks like I'll be visiting Tokyo some time next year.

I have an assignment to Kadena AB on the island of Okinawa.

[BSF21]

Looks like I'll be visiting Tokyo some time next year.

I have an assignment to Kadena AB on the island of Okinawa.

Congrats big guy. I shall continue to live vicariously through your travels.

[govmentchedda]

Thanks for being the man who will fight for our honor.

[Giff]

Thanks for being the man who will fight for our honor.

Do I need to post in the Weird Swamp-related dreams thread about how Johnnie is a hero in mine?

[Johnnie]

Thanks for being the man who will fight for our honor.

Do I need to post in the Weird Swamp-related dreams thread about how Johnnie is a hero in mine?

Please tell me I'm just as awesome as Ralph Macchio.

Anyhoo, it just dawned on me that I'll have to drive a stick shift in a right hand drive vehicle to get around. Gulp.

[Keg]

Looks like I'll be visiting Tokyo some time next year.

I have an assignment to Kadena AB on the island of Okinawa.

Awesome. This was one of your top three choices, right?

Your jeep would stand out like a sore thumb out here...I have not seen any large vehicles other than passenger vans/shuttles.

I went to the Asakusa temple last weekend and am planning on hitting up the Tokyo Dome this weekend. Will also try to squeeze in the Tokyo Sky Tree. I havent had as much free time as I had hoped (I left some unfinished business on the ship I went underway in on Guam - I met the ship here in port to finish up). I really wanted to go to a sumo tournament, but they don't begin till next month. My buddy from work is going to Disney on Monday, but I am passing on that. I don't have the patience for amusement parks. I live near enough Disneyland to hear the firework show every night, but haven't been there in 17 years.

[Johnnie]

My top choices are "Anything not CONUS stateside." So by default it was a top three along with Hawaii or Yokota.

I cannot bring my Jeep. I'll have to basically give it to my cousin for the next three years. I'll power of attorney it over to him once I ship it out.

One cool thing about the new gig is that I'll get a top secret clearance. I'm going to some secret squirrel unit on the island. I'm psyched. I cannot wait to leave the current unit I'm in behind. I've had fun here, but it's time to go.

[degenerasian]

My top choices are "Anything not CONUS stateside." So by default it was a top three along with Hawaii or Yokota.

I cannot bring my Jeep. I'll have to basically give it to my cousin for the next three years. I'll power of attorney it over to him once I ship it out.

One cool thing about the new gig is that I'll get a top secret clearance. I'm going to some secret squirrel unit on the island. I'm psyched. I cannot wait to leave the current unit I'm in behind. I've had fun here, but it's time to go.

Don't go on Ashley Madison.

[Pruitt]

A sentence I never thought I'd be typing: I am currently trying to get onto the Sumo Association's ticket site.

Tickets went on sale 20 minutes ago for the tournament that's on when my wife and I are in Tokyo next month.

[Keg]

That is awesome...hope you get in.

[Pruitt]

Got them - looks like good seats too.

What a way to spend the afternoon of our 20th anniversary!

[Rush2112]

Got them - looks like good seats too.

What a way to spend the afternoon of our 20th anniversary!

Now she can't complain about those extra few pounds if you opt for dessert later.

[Pruitt]

Sayonara Swampers!

I'll check in with my Preakness picks - off to the land of the rising sun, cat cafes and sumo wrasslin'!

[rass]

Safe travels and all that shit.