going to tokyo, jp for a week, need ideas.

hello all, hope alls well

so i got an all inclusive trip to tokyo for the end of sept (9/22 to be exact) that includes air fare, hotel, food and tours. pretty cool. in my downtime i really wanted to explore the city and do local attractions as im not too into the tourist thing (the trip was free, so why not). 

im looking for farmers markets, flea markets, dive/local bars or clubs etc
i have an idea of the public transit system just need names of places.
im TRYING to bring my bicycle so i can bike everywhere to really get a feel for it but if not i can take a train.

it doesnt necessarily need to be in tokyo, but traveling distance.

thanks for any input!

Roppongi 六本木 for clubbing is always an interesting night.

I would hit up a few Up Garage's and maybe Parts Off and other second hand/discount parts stores.  If you want fanboy stuff/accesories then hit up Super Autobacs.  There's also Yellow Hat and Cockpit, but those are more like a Pep-Boys.

Make use of the trains..so easy to get around..and cheap.

not doing many "fan boy" things muchless tourist things outside of the tours.
i hadnt thought much about seeing the car scene unless i run into it. but upgarage would be cool.

[QUOTE=elpresidente;335404]Roppongi 六本木 for clubbing is always an interesting night.
 
I would hit up a few Up Garage's and maybe Parts Off and other second hand/discount parts stores. If you want fanboy stuff/accesories then hit up Super Autobacs. There's also Yellow Hat and Cockpit, but those are more like a Pep-Boys.
 
Make use of the trains..so easy to get around..and cheap.[/QUOTE]
  
 
LMAO... Roppongi damn what a night... Yes go there :dance:

I usually hang out in Shibuya there are quite a few gaijin friendly clubs and bars in the area with not as much of a influx of foreigners. I honestly have never been to roppongi but had an amazing time in Shibuya myself.

Ueno has a Candy Alley type of spot that sells lots of sweets.

Yamanote line is the is the train you'll want to get familiar with. It travels in a complete circle so you can't really miss your destination and most major destinations are on the yamanote line.

I went earlier this year for a week. It was awesome. Stayed at the Keio Plaza Hotel with my membership card I got before going. Got free breakfast, access to the club lounge for free beer, wine, snacks, got amazing service. Highly recommend the hotel. 

We saw a lot of Tokyo. Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, Yoyogi, everywhere. Went to the fish market and got interviewed for a Japanese News channel! Saw the Imperial Palace and a bunch of parks all over Tokyo. 

The train system is easy once you get used to it. I don't recommend going to the ticket machines because they are confusing. Just go to the ticket booth and say the name of the place you want to go and they will hook you up with a ticket or just get a day pass like we did.

I took a shinkansen bullet train west to Kyoto and saw some temples, the bamboo forest, palace, etc. Then I took another shinkansen north all the way to the top and hung out with a friend up there. Saw the shore and all that. It was beautiful. I recommend getting outside of Tokyo and see Japan if you can.

Daiba is always interesting. go check the shopping mall with the toys r us in it. there is a really level done up like 1940's japan

Try to go to the lesser-known-by-tourist places. They offer the best experience of modern Tokyo. Instead of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi (actually, stay away from Roppongi's clubs and bars unless you like drunk European guys and Nigerian drug dealers), go see the back streets of Aoyama, Omotesando, Daikanyama, Naka-Meguro, Sakuragicho (Yokohama), among other places. I guess it all depends on what you like.

I lived in Tokyo (Gotanda area)  for several years, so if you need details just hit me up. My favorite hangout when I lived there tho was West Ikebukuro. It's kinda ghetto, but I loved hanging out there with friends til the first morning trains.

If you could shift the flight a couple of days earlier, the Kbreak vip event is on the 19th in Osaka (I will be heading there). The other suggestions are pretty good too...

everyone has pretty much listed the spots in tokyo. all you gotta do it eat, drink, and karaoke!!! oh and ride the train during rush hour, it's gonna be a serious experience.

Have to agree with Higeki on Roppongi. Overly commercialized and too many tourists. That is one district you can do without. Explore the train system and do your research before you go. The train system is very easy to figure out. The most "complicated" trip I took was from Shinjuku I think to Shinonome (Super Autobacs), and it was still a breeze. Most people do not speak English, but they will literally go out of their way to still help you.

never being there, means everything is is cool. even for me

[QUOTE=ohashi;341889]oh and ride the train during rush hour, it's gonna be a serious experience.[/QUOTE]
 
 
QFT!! No joke, I live in Tokyo and ride that everyday to work and back. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience the trains in Tokyo.
 
Nuts to butts during the rush hours, and that isn't a joke... nuts to butts!! :sad:
 
NOTE: You don't even have to hold onto a strap or bar, it's that tight... :shrug:
 
Another note: They literally have train employees that their sole job is to push people onto the trains during rush hours!!
Don't believe it, Youtube it!! 
Heres a link that's one of many: [URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0A9-oUoMug[/URL]
 
Here is another thing you just have to see to believe let alone experience it yourself...
 
Shibuya crossing!! [URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfQYRezp6ak&feature=related[/URL]
 
Another [URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGKnGthGK4M&feature=related[/URL]
 
Screw the classic touristy crap, go experience the real Tokyo Japan, the everyday life. If that doesn't wake you up, I don't know what will.
 
Bottom line, explore, explore, get lost, and explore some more. Seriously, it's an experience of a lifetime, I live it everyday. :biggthumpup: :giggity:
 
Another QFT!!
[QUOTE=synth19;341895]Have to agree with Higeki on Roppongi. Overly commercialized and too many tourists. That is one district you can do without. Explore the train system and do your research before you go. The train system is very easy to figure out. 
Most people do not speak English, but they will literally go out of their way to still help you.[/QUOTE]
 
I can not stress that enough too...Roppongi is "sleazy" to say the least (go there once for an hour, then press on, you won't be missing anything you can't get back home), more foreigners and tourists then porbably in your own home town. LOL
 
You like electronics and gadgets, Akihabara is an experience you should take up, at night, it's like Tokyo Las Vegas style. :dance:
 
Trains are easy to get around on. Stop at the JR train ticket stations and ask the employees for an English version of the train maps, and they'll have it.

If you don't speak Nihonjin or are not going to be with a local to the area...then I wouldn't suggest some of the out of the way areas, although I agree if you have the means and the hook ups, then do so.  We used to hit some of the coolest pubs that way...never see another gaijin all night too.

I grabbed you some literature and an English JR Train map. I PM'd you...

Just walking the streets and exploring is the best way to experience it. I saw a lot of the popular things but also walked around a lot of the more unknown places. I even went to a tattoo shop that had no English speaking people and used google translator to talk to the guy at the counter haha. Had to go in an apartment complex, up a tiny elevator, then find the place and try to communicate with the guy. It was a great experience!

take your bike. seriously
easiest way i got around tokyo. took me less time to bike from say harajuku to random 6 stops further, than it did to take the train.