Going to Japan on the 20th

[Heather17]

Hello all , I am going to Japan on the 20th with my mother and brother and a family friend and their daughter. I am very excited as I've wanted to go to Japan for quite a long time and find Japanese culture very interesting. I have a few questions and it would be really appreciated if you could answer them or give me any suggestions/advice.

This is our rough iterinary so far: We begin our journey with a few days in Tokyo: the first few days we are going to Tokyo Disneyland and then Tokyo Sea (although I'm not sure this is the best option but the others have decided this).

Day Three: We then have a free day which we are probably going to do shopping/sight seeing.

Day Four:The following day we are going to Osaka and in Osaka we are going to the Aquarium and sight seeing.

Day Five: The next day when the family friend and daughter is at Universial Studios, we plan to go to Kyoto and visit shrines, gardens and if possible find a place to experience what it is like wearing a Kimono.

Day Six: We return back to Tokyo

Day Seven: Tokyo

Day Eight: We travel back home.

We have accomadation sorted and a rough plan but there are still a few things we need to work out.

There are a few things we would like to do that we haven't worked out how or when we are going to do them. We would like to go to a Sumo match and a karaoke booth that allows people under eighteen. I'd love to visit a Cat Cafe and if we had time to go to an Onsen or a tea ceremony. Where can we do these things/how much will they cost?

My brother loves Pokemon and some other anime shows, as well as games so we are defitnely going to The Pokemon Centre and Super Potato. Is there any other places we should go that he would like?

I am interested in visiting gardens, shrines, parks as well as shopping.
What are some of the best gardens, shrines and parks that we should visit in Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto? I've heard that Meji Shrine is very nice.

I'd love to buy a second hand kimono at a reasonable price. Is there anywhere in particular I should look for a second hand kimono? How much would one cost roughly?

I'm also interested in western Alternative Rock music and I love record exchanges so a record store would be somewhere I'd enjoy visiting. Is there any record stores in Tokyo we should visit specifically?

I like a few anime shows especially classic ones like Sailor Moon as I used to watch it when I was growing up and would love to buy something Sailor Moon like a figurine. What stores in Tokyo and Osaka would stock Sailor Moon things, any you could recommend?

I collect Maneki Neko's and love cats. I also like 'people watching', as I find it interesting. I would like to experience as much of Japanese culture as time allows. Kawaii stores and 100 yen stores are also places I'd like to go to. Also is there any certain stores or suburbs which sell souvenirs at a reasonable price? I also would like to visit a capsule hotel.

I also need to buy a few gifts for friends, mostly pokemon stuff but I have a friend that loves KHR- Katekyo Hitman Reborn and it would be great if I could find her some KHR items.

I'm also a Pescetarian (I only eat fish once a month as my parents say I have to) but I prefer eating Vegetarian food. I've read that it isn't always easy to find Vegetarian food in Japan, is this true? Are there any restaurants/cafes you recommend?

Sorry for all the information and questions. It would really be great if someone could get back to me.

Thank you,so much

[acjama]

Originally Posted by Heather17

I'd love to visit a Cat Cafe

In Tokyo, Calico Cat Cafe has several locations. Charge is ￥1000 for the first hour plus anything you order. You will be instructed (in Japanese) to desinfect your hands and taking off your shoes before entering, and stuff.

Originally Posted by Heather17

and if we had time to go to an Onsen

Writing (or copy-pasting) "温泉" in Google maps around the place where you would like to find one brings a lot of choices. For example, there is the Maihama Eurasia next to Tokyo Disneyland. I'd recommend Seoto no Yu in Tokyo, but I'm pretty sure it's nowhere you'd end up even by accident.

With your shopping list, I'd go to Akihabara in Tokyo. I can't say you'd find all you need from there, but in Akihabara you have the best chance of finding all on your list just by keeping your eyes open. First I'd go inside that corridor and up the stairs (and through the looking glass). Nothing suspicious in there, I promise.

Originally Posted by Heather17

I've read that it isn't always easy to find Vegetarian food in Japan, is this true? Are there any restaurants/cafes you recommend?

Check out "vegan food in Japan" (or derivative search words) in Google. They have restaurant listings, "vegetarian in Japan" blogs and stuff.

Sorry, I didn't mean to say "go google yourself!" or anything, that would have been rude. But there were just too many links to be posted individually.

[JohnBraden]

Originally Posted by Heather17

I'm also interested in western Alternative Rock music and I love record exchanges so a record store would be somewhere I'd enjoy visiting. Is there any record stores in Tokyo we should visit specifically?

Tower Records in Shibuya should be a place to go since it's close to somewhere I'm sure you'll visit: Shibuya crossing and the Hachiko statue outside JR Shibuya Eki.... Standing at the Hachiko exit of Shibuya station, you'll see the Starbucks across the crossing. Take the street to the right of that, which goes up away from you. I don't know if it's called Fire Street that far down (I know it is further up) and Tower Records is on the right-hand side of the street. It's about 3 blocks up from the crossing.

I like a few anime shows especially classic ones like Sailor Moon as I used to watch it when I was growing up and would love to buy something Sailor Moon like a figurine. What stores in Tokyo and Osaka would stock Sailor Moon things, any you could recommend?

Most Sailor Moon items I've seen won't be new. There are shops in Akihabara (Chuo Dori street) on the same side as Animate (which you should visit anyway) that sell second-hand items. Those range from promotional items (bottle top figures, gachapon figures (coin vending machine), etc.) to figures, models, etc. that people sell back for money. Some are in pristine condition, some are just parts, etc. You can find all sorts of old things there and some bargains.

It seems that Japan is a country that sells what is trendy at the moment. Animate stores seem to change their merchandise based on what is popular at the time and you'll be hard-pressed to find old anime merchandise there. That said, it still will be an eye-opening experience to see all the anime-related items they can merchandise.

[Neffiline]

Nakano Broadway is a good place to go for shopping of anime and other related goods.

Nakano Broadway is a mall at the end of the red line (I believe it's red? It was when I went in 2009) subway/metro.

It's different from the other malls I visited in Tokyo, but it wasn't a bad different. It was quieter, and had a LOT more collectors items and products. I found a shop that sells used books, magazines and even concert goods from popular artists in Japan, this is why I was going there. But I also saw a HUGE manga and comic book store. And with every corners I turned, there was a store selling anime figurines! There were even cosplay costume shops!

You can read more about it here: Tokyo Qool - Nakano Broadway

I had a hard time getting there, I got up 2 stops too early and ended up taking a cab there because I was completely lost.

You have to get off at the VERY LAST stop, because there are 3 stops on the subway/metro map that say Nakano. The last stop is right next to the mall, so you can't really miss it.

[Heather17]

Originally Posted by acjama

In Tokyo, Calico Cat Cafe has several locations. Charge is ￥1000 for the first hour plus anything you order. You will be instructed (in Japanese) to desinfect your hands and taking off your shoes before entering, and stuff.


Writing (or copy-pasting) "温泉" in Google maps around the place where you would like to find one brings a lot of choices. For example, there is the Maihama Eurasia next to Tokyo Disneyland. I'd recommend Seoto no Yu in Tokyo, but I'm pretty sure it's nowhere you'd end up even by accident.

With your shopping list, I'd go to Akihabara in Tokyo. I can't say you'd find all you need from there, but in Akihabara you have the best chance of finding all on your list just by keeping your eyes open. First I'd go inside that corridor and up the stairs (and through the looking glass). Nothing suspicious in there, I promise.


Check out "vegan food in Japan" (or derivative search words) in Google. They have restaurant listings, "vegetarian in Japan" blogs and stuff.

Sorry, I didn't mean to say "go google yourself!" or anything, that would have been rude. But there were just too many links to be posted individually.

Thank you for all your help I completely understand that I asked too many questions. I'll definitely check out the locations of the Calico Cat Cafe and Onsens. Akihabara will definitely have to be on the list.

Thanks once again

[Heather17]

Originally Posted by JohnBraden

Tower Records in Shibuya should be a place to go since it's close to somewhere I'm sure you'll visit: Shibuya crossing and the Hachiko statue outside JR Shibuya Eki.... Standing at the Hachiko exit of Shibuya station, you'll see the Starbucks across the crossing. Take the street to the right of that, which goes up away from you. I don't know if it's called Fire Street that far down (I know it is further up) and Tower Records is on the right-hand side of the street. It's about 3 blocks up from the crossing.



Most Sailor Moon items I've seen won't be new. There are shops in Akihabara (Chuo Dori street) on the same side as Animate (which you should visit anyway) that sell second-hand items. Those range from promotional items (bottle top figures, gachapon figures (coin vending machine), etc.) to figures, models, etc. that people sell back for money. Some are in pristine condition, some are just parts, etc. You can find all sorts of old things there and some bargains.

It seems that Japan is a country that sells what is trendy at the moment. Animate stores seem to change their merchandise based on what is popular at the time and you'll be hard-pressed to find old anime merchandise there. That said, it still will be an eye-opening experience to see all the anime-related items they can merchandise.

Thank you for replying Tower Records sounds like the place to visit I didn't know there were shops that sell second hand anime figures etc like that in Japan, that's very cool and it seems that I'll be able to find what I'm looking for there Thank you very much for telling me about those. We'll definitely check out Animate, just for the experience also.

[Heather17]

Originally Posted by Neffiline

Nakano Broadway is a good place to go for shopping of anime and other related goods.

Nakano Broadway is a mall at the end of the red line (I believe it's red? It was when I went in 2009) subway/metro.

It's different from the other malls I visited in Tokyo, but it wasn't a bad different. It was quieter, and had a LOT more collectors items and products. I found a shop that sells used books, magazines and even concert goods from popular artists in Japan, this is why I was going there. But I also saw a HUGE manga and comic book store. And with every corners I turned, there was a store selling anime figurines! There were even cosplay costume shops!

You can read more about it here: Tokyo Qool - Nakano Broadway

I had a hard time getting there, I got up 2 stops too early and ended up taking a cab there because I was completely lost.

You have to get off at the VERY LAST stop, because there are 3 stops on the subway/metro map that say Nakano. The last stop is right next to the mall, so you can't really miss it.

Thank you for your help Neffiline It seems that this mall, is a place that we really should visit.

Thank you once again

[Polar]

Your going to be out of luck for Sumo, as it runs from Sept 11 - 25. It's also something that is not cheap. You might luck out and catch some on TV.

Along with Tower Records, HMV is also all around Tokyo and features an english index which believe if you don't know the language helps you find things far more quickly

[Heather17]

Originally Posted by Polar

Your going to be out of luck for Sumo, as it runs from Sept 11 - 25. It's also something that is not cheap. You might luck out and catch some on TV.

Along with Tower Records, HMV is also all around Tokyo and features an english index which believe if you don't know the language helps you find things far more quickly

Thank you for replying Polar but it seems we might be able to make it to Sumo as we still have the 23rd, 24th and 25th. I read that it will cost $20 for each adult and $2 for my younger brother.

Thank you, I'll defitnely keep my eye out for HMV's

[Suesan]

I recomond a shop in Kyoto called Kyoto kimono plaza.
This shop sells defective kimono not secondhand one.
But this was luxury one, so you can get it relatively cheap.
It costs from about $500.