Help with Tokyo!

Hi!

I%26#39;m travelling to Tokyo at the beginning of April for 7 days; can anyone tell me which is the best area to stay? what shouldn%26#39;t I miss? any traditionally/typically Japanese worth seeing? where are the good shoping areas? and good retaurants?

Thanks xx

Help with Tokyo!

IMO - Shinjuku is a good area for your visit. A good site to do some research - http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2164.html

Tokyo is full of wonderful restaurants. http://www.bento.com/tf-rest.html

Help with Tokyo!

Traditional Japan:

There is very little that is old in Tokyo. There are some very good traditional gardens. The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace are good, and contain the massive walls and foundations of the old shogun%26#39;s palace. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3018.html They%26#39;re not open everyday--check here: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/11/d11-14.html

The Edo-Tokyo Museum shows the remarkable history of the city. Some displays are so large and detailed that binoculars are provided: www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english/index.html

Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon) Temple is a postwar reproduction. Nakamise--the souvenier shopping street--and the area in front of the temple are crowded but the gardens and other buildings are surprisingly quiet. I like it because of the energy of the crowds. You can act like all the other tourists.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3001.html

There are some day trips that let you see bits of Old Japan. I like Kamakura, especially the old temples around Kitakamaura station. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2166.html

In suburban Kawasaki, there is an excellent collection of old houses in a beautiful wooded setting: city.kawasaki.jp/88/88minka/home/minka_e.htm

I think the ';best'; area to stay depends upon your interests. If you want nightlife and shopping, then you should choose Shinjuku. If you want a quieter, more ';traditional'; area (for Tokyo), then Ueno is quite nice. Staying in a ryokan is an interesting, uniquely Japanese experience. Both areas can be easily accessed from Narita. We stayed in both areas and I preferred Ueno. We never had a bad meal in Tokyo so it really depends upon your tastes and budget.

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