Tokyo - Pros and Cons

[suze2000]

I do like Japanese food, but seem to like their breakfast a lot less.

We must have been lucky with our first hotel, they had an amazing breakfast buffet! The second was mostly western food and we were not in any way excited by it. And after a week of eating Japanese food, the one slice of white bread toast left me bloated and with absolutely no energy for three hours. Awful.

 

[Renato1]

We must have been lucky with our first hotel, they had an amazing breakfast buffet! The second was mostly western food and we were not in any way excited by it. And after a week of eating Japanese food, the one slice of white bread toast left me bloated and with absolutely no energy for three hours. Awful.

Which may mean that you went to Tokyo without buying their fabulous sandwiches?

And which also reminds me of the only real criticism of our hotel, which really annoyed my wife.

Instead of having a toaster, they had a grill oven - which took about five minutes to toast one side of the bread, and five minutes for the other side. One had to be early to get that toast.

Funnily enough, my wife was held up one day when a Chinese woman put her bowl of noodles inside the grill oven to warm it up.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[vetrade]

Certainly, the lack of anywhere to sit in the streets made our life a bit miserable (very miserable on a couple of days). As we were going around, and pain became uppermost in my mind, I just kept thinking that the place reminded me strongly of Bologna in Italy - the only other place we've visited without seat benches in the streets.

I can relate to your seating comments. We like walking open spaces, like parks, in cities we visit and were surprised that one very large park (can't remember the name) close to the centre of Tokyo had nowhere to sit and just relax.

 

[Renato1]

I can relate to your seating comments. We like walking open spaces, like parks, in cities we visit and were surprised that one very large park (can't remember the name) close to the centre of Tokyo had nowhere to sit and just relax.

Yes, leaving aside people with back or leg issues, even when people are okay it is pleasant to just sit, recuperate and enjoy.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[cosi]

The lack of rubbish bins is what confounded me! Until I realised that only westerners eat on the go/in public in Japan - oops!

Japanese still eat in the streets but the Japanese take responsibility for there own rubbish. Yes it can be annoying but that's Japan.

In coffee shops, your return the tray with your used dishes to the washing up area.

Obviously, Renato did not discover on of Japanese best shops - The 100Yen shop.

 

[love_the_life]

To each his own I suppose. I love Tokyo and Japan, never hahad trouble finding food to eat, don't find the prices overly expensive, though agree that good coffee can be a bit of a trial to find. The most expensive coffee we had was in the hotel (TSH) - the equivalent of about $45 for 2 of us but we did get 2 cups each and a nice little cake thing as part of the deal. We found meals to be around $50 AU for 2 with a wine/beer - okonomiyaki etc or even pizza in this price range. For ordinary eating that's not expensive IMO. I suppose as well I don't go to places for the shopping, though when I was there with a friend last year we did a lot of store 'crawling' as she loves shopping.
As to the 'sights' not comparable with those in other countries , that is where I do disagree.
Japan is a lot more than Tokyo and IMO you have missed some of the most amazing places if you didn't travel out of the capital. I can't remember whether you were or not.
It is well publicised before you leave that small places prefer cash; as do many other small shops in the world. Many other places in the world as well do not show the prices inclusive of tax - just s something to be aware of. Neither of these are not what I would consider big deals or a real CON. Same with beds - a bit of research and you will find out about the size of the room (usually small) and type of bedding. Again I wouldn't call that a CON, just something to be aware of when booking.

I agree with the your PROs - the rail system is amazing (though I wouldn't bother with road in from the airports).

I expect you are not planning a return visit. People are all different and it seems that Japan is not for you - I for example am not interested in going back to Bali but I know others love it.

 

[Renato1]

To each his own I suppose. I love Tokyo and Japan, never hahad trouble finding food to eat, don't find the prices overly expensive, though agree that good coffee can be a bit of a trial to find. The most expensive coffee we had was in the hotel (TSH) - the equivalent of about $45 for 2 of us but we did get 2 cups each and a nice little cake thing as part of the deal. We found meals to be around $50 AU for 2 with a wine/beer - okonomiyaki etc or even pizza in this price range. For ordinary eating that's not expensive IMO. I suppose as well I don't go to places for the shopping, though when I was there with a friend last year we did a lot of store 'crawling' as she loves shopping.
As to the 'sights' not comparable with those in other countries , that is where I do disagree.
Japan is a lot more than Tokyo and IMO you have missed some of the most amazing places if you didn't travel out of the capital. I can't remember whether you were or not.
It is well publicised before you leave that small places prefer cash; as do many other small shops in the world. Many other places in the world as well do not show the prices inclusive of tax - just s something to be aware of. Neither of these are not what I would consider big deals or a real CON. Same with beds - a bit of research and you will find out about the size of the room (usually small) and type of bedding. Again I wouldn't call that a CON, just something to be aware of when booking.

I agree with the your PROs - the rail system is amazing (though I wouldn't bother with road in from the airports).

I expect you are not planning a return visit. People are all different and it seems that Japan is not for you - I for example am not interested in going back to Bali but I know others love it.

Thanks for that, but at $45 for four cups of coffee, that's only $11.25 a cup. I paid more than you did per cup - and we didn't get the nice little cake things.

I said the historical sites in Tokyo were a B-list compared to those in other capitals. And you say that to say the most amazing sites are outside Tokyo. Aren't we actually in concurrence?

It took me several hours before I figured out that there was something wrong with the double beds in the rooms I was looking at in the Booking.com ads. I've never had to research the size of double beds in hotel rooms before, as the standard are usually listed as regular, queen and king, and doubt anyone else would have researched it. I think anyone mistakenly booking such a room thinking it was a regular double bed room would find it a very serious CON when they arrived in Tokyo.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Obviously, Renato did not discover on of Japanese best shops - The 100Yen shop.

I missed the 100 Yen shop, but we did go down the relatively well known Takeshita Street (near Meiji Shrine) which had heaps and heaps and heaps of shops with cheap stuff.
My wife looked along the entire street and said it was all really cheap s##t made for young girls, and not worth the prices.
Regards,
Renato

 

[drron]

Yes we are all different.We have been to Japan over 50 times.just love the place and the food but especially the people though it is slowly changing.
As to B list historical sites I guess we just have different opinions as to what is B list.The Meiji shrine most definitely isn't B list to the Japanese.But it is also about research.Had a very interesting tour of MacArthur's Headquarters after the war.very close to Ueno but not generally advertised.

Now that I have discovered it isn't too hard to drive in Japan we will probably be having longer stays.And yes enjoying lots more Japanese food.

 

[Deleted member]

I concur with a few of the negatives. However travel is so often about getting out of your comfort zone.
In any other city in the world, I would worry about carrying wads of cash, not in Tokyo, not only is it (generally) safe to do so , but imperative if you want to transact anywhere other than major store chains or hotels. Also one gets a better rate of exchange in Australia before you leave. I learned that lesson early on in life.
We found food to be real easy, there are / were small local (almost hole in the wall) places everywhere and the food was amazing.
Coffee: when I travel to places other than Italy , I usually stop drinking coffee.
I think American coffee is the worst, and there are plenty of other competitors for the top spot. But, as I said, travel is so often about being taken out of your comfort zone.

 

[Spongbob]

Yeah, in Japan you need to get a taste for tea (green generally).

 

[Renato1]

Yes we are all different.We have been to Japan over 50 times.just love the place and the food but especially the people though it is slowly changing.
As to B list historical sites I guess we just have different opinions as to what is B list.The Meiji shrine most definitely isn't B list to the Japanese.But it is also about research.Had a very interesting tour of MacArthur's Headquarters after the war.very close to Ueno but not generally advertised.

Now that I have discovered it isn't too hard to drive in Japan we will probably be having longer stays.And yes enjoying lots more Japanese food.

Actually, visiting the Meiji Shrine was my best day in Tokyo - seats on the street before crossing the road to enter it, seats at the refreshment place further up the garden road, seats actually at the shrine, and fun when we took the wrong turn out of there and saw different sorts of Tokyo streets. No back pain at all.

Have you checked out MacArthur's War room at Melbourne's Victoria Barracks? It's interesting being at the nerve centre of the Pacific war.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Yeah, in Japan you need to get a taste for tea (green generally).

I concur with a few of the negatives. However travel is so often about getting out of your comfort zone.
In any other city in the world, I would worry about carrying wads of cash, not in Tokyo, not only is it (generally) safe to do so , but imperative if you want to transact anywhere other than major store chains or hotels. Also one gets a better rate of exchange in Australia before you leave. I learned that lesson early on in life.
We found food to be real easy, there are / were small local (almost hole in the wall) places everywhere and the food was amazing.
Coffee: when I travel to places other than Italy , I usually stop drinking coffee.
I think American coffee is the worst, and there are plenty of other competitors for the top spot. But, as I said, travel is so often about being taken out of your comfort zone.

Maybe that's our problem, we won't eat at small hole in the wall type places.

Relative to many of the coffees we had there, Starbucks would have been a blessing.

I'm a coffee addict - a real one - if I don't have at least a cup every day I get an eight hour headache the next day that no pills will fix. So I have to drink coffee, no matter how bad, wherever I go. Tea doesn't have enough caffeine in it to stop my headaches occuring.
Regards,
Renato

 

[get me outta here]

Talking of hole in the wall places, how about the 3 Michelin Star sushi place in the bottom of a railway station that only seats 10. I wonder how the place is faring now that the owner has probably passed on. Good movie I saw years ago called ‘Jairo Dreams of Sushi’. Jiro Dreams of Sushi - Wikipedia.

 

[love_the_life]

Thanks for that, but at $45 for four cups of coffee, that's only $11.25 a cup. I paid more than you did per cup - and we didn't get the nice little cake things.

I said the historical sites in Tokyo were a B-list compared to those in other capitals. And you say that to say the most amazing sites are outside Tokyo. Aren't we actually in concurrence?

It took me several hours before I figured out that there was something wrong with the double beds in the rooms I was looking at in the Booking.com ads. I've never had to research the size of double beds in hotel rooms before, as the standard are usually listed as regular, queen and king, and doubt anyone else would have researched it. I think anyone mistakenly booking such a room thinking it was a regular double bed room would find it a very serious CON when they arrived in Tokyo.
Cheers,
Renato

Although it was 4 cups of coffee - it came in a jug so it didn't matter whether it was one each or two - still the same price. This was filter coffee, It was very good but we did find it hard to get a good cappuccino or. latte - just not the kind of coffee they have there much. And you are correct IMO in that the better coffee was at the international type chains.
By saying that many of the best sites are in other places in Japan I did not mean that Tokyo does not have its share of those up with the rest of the world. Like all countries there are wonderful sights all over not just in the capital. The Meji shrine and its gardens are wonderful (which you did think as well) and the museums for example the Tokyo National Museum at Ueno and the Edo museum are both excellent IMO.
Anyway, you've been there now and discovered it's not a place you (probably) long to go back to. Everyone is different and some what you thought were CONs I wouldn't consider an issue, but maybe you found those things a problem.
Enjoy your travels wherever you head to next.

 

[cosi]

Renato, is okay you did not enjoy Japan - each to his own.

Yes, Japan is different, with fixed policies (e.g mobile free zones), different standards (bedding) and total inflexibility in policies and procedures.

For any first time visitor, I ALWAYS recommend the traveller to go on a group tour, to learn how Japan do things and to avoid expensive coffee places.

Tourism is booming in Japan, and the local economy is finally picking up, so 2 less tourist will not be noticed.

 

[zenyattamondatta]

I must say that this Tokyo sounds quite different from the city I've spent so much time in, but much is obviously in the eye of the beholder. Someone who chooses their accommodation on the basis of proximity to Denny's is bound to view things somewhat idiosyncratically.

 

[Renato1]

Enjoy your travels wherever you head to next.

Thanks - we actually went back to Bali after Tokyo.
What a relief it was getting into a huge room, and later having the restaurant at breakfast make me well cooked eggs instead of the runny stuff they kept making in the Tokyo hotel, and at dinner having two singers taking our requests while we dined on our inexpensive big meal.

Only problem is that Bali is just like Tokyo -no Pepsi Max to be found anywhere.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Happy Dude]

Maybe that's our problem, we won't eat at small hole in the wall type places.

Relative to many of the coffees we had there, Starbucks would have been a blessing.

I'm a coffee addict - a real one - if I don't have at least a cup every day I get an eight hour headache the next day that no pills will fix. So I have to drink coffee, no matter how bad, wherever I go. Tea doesn't have enough caffeine in it to stop my headaches occuring.
Regards,
Renato

What did you think of the vending machine coffee? The cafe au lait would do in a pinch.

As for the rest of the food, and excluding my 80yo "meat and 3-veg" father, I can't imagine anyone not liking shabu-shabu or any of the plethora of nabe types or yaki niku. It is not always easy to find these places for a newbie though, or even understand them. Can't go too wrong at an isakaya though, especially a Tengu.

I lived in Tokyo for a year in the 90's and I would agree that it is a difficult place to get a handle on. It was easy to bump along the surface but I didn't really love it or indeed scratch the surface until I made some friends who showed me places that only those who read Japanese would even know about.

 

[Renato1]

Renato, is okay you did not enjoy Japan - each to his own.

Yes, Japan is different, with fixed policies (e.g mobile free zones), different standards (bedding) and total inflexibility in policies and procedures.

For any first time visitor, I ALWAYS recommend the traveller to go on a group tour, to learn how Japan do things and to avoid expensive coffee places.

Tourism is booming in Japan, and the local economy is finally picking up, so 2 less tourist will not be noticed.

To me it's not that I didn't enjoy it - I'm glad I went - but was expecting more and a more pleasant time, something akin to the experience in every other capital we've visited. For us, it didn't deliver.

Group tours aren't for us, unless a Hop-on/Hop-off bus qualifies.

I think there is something wrong with a place, if one really requires instruction on avoiding expensive coffee places.

From the responses here, I still haven't gotten a sense of whether Tokyo is indeed a tourist rip-off joint relative to the rest of Japan, as claimed by several other tourists I met there.
Regards,
Renato