On my way back home from SF to Oz I stopped in Tokyo for 2 nights. The place is everything I expected and more but the pregnancy stopped me from trying the great sushi I was craving for...
When I arrived I dropped 2 of the bags I did not need at a storage room right in front of the JAL check-in counters for around $3.00 - $5.00 per bag per day. Then there were 2 options to get to the city, by bus or by train. The bus service is called Airport Limousine and they stop in every major hotel for around $30.00 and it takes between 1 1/2 and 2 hours.
The train is about the same price but a bit more "rooting" around. If you have a heavy bag I would not recommend since I did not see a lot of escalators going down as much as I saw going up... of course you can always take a cab for about $300 bucks!
I stayed at a very economical place in a suburb called Ebisu for about $95.00. It was cabin like space but for a quick sleep and shower it was fine. They had a Tv and free broadband and cross the street from the train station. Major hotels charge at least $300 bucks for a small room with a bit more luxury... I took the bus to the closest major hotel and a cab from there for $7.00.
My Saturday started taking the JR to Shabuya where I got my first glimpse of the big flashing buildings. There is so much to do is hard to focus so I got a cup of coffee at the starbucks and sucked it all in sitting from the top floor looking at the see of humans. Next door there was a hidden building 109 and every floor had really trendy clothes I could not buy but fun to watch.
Next I went to check out a temple Senso-ji. As soon as you get out of the station you have a few blocks of great shops. I stayed away from the main street at first and instead took the back alleys where I found more interesting shops with less touristy souvenirs. The temple was nice and beautifully built. Right in front of it they sell these bean jam fritters that were amazing for 1 buck. After all the walking I found a massage place and got myself a foot bath and massage that recharged my poor feet for about $40.00 but really worth it.
From there I decided to head out to the famous Akihabara area know as Electric town where all the geeks go shopping. In a few hours I only got to check out about 3 buildings out of dozens since each building has floors and floors of eletronics, actions figures, toys etc... it was amazing.
By this time I was pretty dead and full of shopping bags and wish I could keep going... I was not very lucky with the food.. most places did not have an english menu and because of my state I could not be as adventurous as I wanted to be. I was hoping to have dinner at a place called New York Grill (I know... it would have been safe) but I was not going to drop 200 bucks on a 5 course meal on my own so I head back to the hotel.
Next to the hotel there were quite a few interesting restaurants in an alley. I went up the Irish pub where they had a nice live band playing. I tried ordering from pictures across the streets but it turned out the picture was not chicken :) and pork instead, no luck with food... went to bed.
Next day was rainy and cold but I went out to the area where I was looking for the crazy chicks dressed up but it was a bit early for that.. nonetheless I found some great shops and a place called Kiddyland took me hostage for a couple of hours where I bought some fun little monsters for baby Walsh. I really wanted to check out Shinjuku but all I had time for was a quick lunch in Roppongi before heading back to the hotel to catch the last bus to the airport at 4:30.
It wasn't enought time but it was something, I really hope to go back one day...
