Tokyo!

[Civilization Phrase III]

So...I'm going to Tokyo tomorrow and Sunday with my host family, because they're really nice and they're taking me. Tomorrow we're going to Akihabara. I'm not sure who told them, but apparently they knew that I 'really really' wanted to go there. I mean, it'll be interesting, but I'm far from an anime/manga otaku. Although I'm excited to see the electronics. And general weirdness that is Akihabara.

But on Sunday we basically have no plans, and they're like wondering if I have any places that I wanted to see or something...and I have no idea.

So are there any really interesting things to see in Tokyo? This is probably the last time I'll go. Then probably just stay in Osaka for the half a year I have left.

[And I totally haven't been to OP9 forever...! 戸田今！ And, if that's the wrong kanji...sue me.]

[mikem]

Asakusa is cool. Meji Shrine -> Harajuku -> Omote-sando -> Shibuya is cool. In fact, all things being equal, I would highly recommend that route. It's a nice Sunday stroll and the weather is supposed to be good.

The loligoths hang out on the Meji-dori bridge on Sunday afternoons. It's honestly something you shouldn't miss.

Also, Akihabara is very cool the first time. I still like going there and just enjoying the craziness.

[羽之助]

The Edo-Tokyo Museum?

The graveyard near Nippori (if you're into that).

Take your host mom to Roppongi at night and have a bet with her husband as to how long it takes for a foreigner to try and take her to a love hotel.

And I think you meant tadaima, not todaima.

[Oosutorariajin]

I loved the meijijingu! That was my favorite! asakusa was also good. I found roppongi alittle tedious but then again I was there in the middle of the day on a particularly humid day during tsuyu. Being packed in that tight with so many people just wasnt so fun.

[stsparky]

In Japan also! I recommend the Ghibli Museum but you may enjoy visiting the Mori Building in Roppongi for an impressive bird's eye view of the city.

[Civilization Phrase III]

I pretty much just went to Disney Sea on my spare day. It was fun =P

Tokyo is nice, but I actually prefer Osaka in the end <3

[羽之助]

You went to Tokyo and just did Disneyland? :worried:

[4letterwords]

He was with his host family.

Outside of getting wasted theres not much else to do in Tokyo unless you actually have a hobby.

[Chinpokomon]

Thread summary:
OP: Hey, what can I do in Tokyo?
P1: You could do A, B, or C.
P2: You could do D, E, or F.
P3: You could do G, H, or I.
OP: I did Z instead. kthanxbye. PS. Tokyo sux.

[4letterwords]

The end I guess penis monster.

[mikem]

I really wish I could understand the fascination with Osaka. The people are certainly different and I guess that difference alone is enough. However I've been a few times now. I go and do what people suggest and I end up unimpressed.

Random examples:

OPA -> Like trying cramming everything cool about Shibuya into one building.
Den-den Town -> Cram everything cool about Akiba into one street.
Shinsai-bashi -> A place to meet terrible foreigners and feel better about yourself. (Okay, I guess some things ARE better when they are smaller.)

It seems like people are more likely to try and start a conversation with you in Osaka, but I've never had trouble actually talking to people in either place. The most stuck-up person in Tokyo is much more friendly than most other huge cities I've lived in or visited.

[4letterwords]

Last time I was in Osaka I got nampa'd... walking with my boyfriend...

Normal Japanese people do NOT come from osaka.

[羽之助]

Last time I was in Osaka, the girl we (3 white guys) were walking with got propositioned by a tout to work in a sex shop.

[mikem]

My Chinese-American friend routinely gets propped to become a host whenever he is in Shibuya.

[koku]

I really wish I could understand the fascination with Osaka.

You can't really compare size 'cuz Tokyo dwarfs Osaka in that department. And I think it's the overall experience you get if you live there for a long period of time (unless you have some ability where out of the ordinary things happen to you very quickly).

I think it also has a lot to do with "fanboyism." Most people that say they like Osaka better probably had their first long-term experience there and vice versa with Tokyo supporters.

[Eddie Echoplex]

See, this is why I'm going to to hit these boards and flood every member (who has been/is in Japan) with questions before heading to Japan.

[Pierrot le Fou]

I really wish I could understand the fascination with Osaka. The people are certainly different and I guess that difference alone is enough. However I've been a few times now. I go and do what people suggest and I end up unimpressed.
It's the life down here in Kansai.

Tokyo folks have rods the size of Tokyo Tower jabbed up their asses. They don't even broadcast そこまで言って委員会!

HEATHENS!

The humour is also craptastic in Tokyo. You guys get Oriental Radio, Kansai gets Downtown.

Is it even a competition? No! It's a bloodbath!

The language is great, the culture is great, people are forward and friendly, or at least rude in an amusing and forward fashion, people have a sense of style or pride in where they're from, unlike the bustling metropolis of Tokyo where everyone immigrates to from the middle of nowhere.

So why is Osaka great? Because it's a huge crap city with character. Unlike Tokyo.

Plus it's surrounded by lots of other cool places (Kyoto, Nara, Kobe) who all have their own neat-o culture.

So fuck y'all there in Kanto. You don't know what you're missing.

(Back me up on this Japanat, and protect me if they try to beat me up)

[mikem]

The language is great [...]

Kansai-ben is a bit cute when you here it around Tokyo. However, after being in Osaka for two weeks it was driving me nuts. I was so glad to get back and leave めちゃ behind. So I think we're both just biased to what we consider "home".

So why is Osaka great? Because it's a huge crap city with character. Unlike Tokyo.

For that reason I will continue to visit until someone can fully enlighten me. I know it's there. It's like I can see it, but I can never quite reach it.

Plus it's surrounded by lots of other cool places (Kyoto, Nara, Kobe) who all have their own neat-o culture.

I'm developing a strong hatred for Kyoto. Hopefully it will pass because I love Kobe and Nara.

So fuck y'all there in Kanto. You don't know what you're missing.

:rofl: Reminds me of the Texas saying, "Fuck you I'm from Texas!"

I love visiting. I want to come visit again before spring break is over. However, I am always happy to come back to big bad mean Tokyo. I'm just weird like that. :boggled:

[Eddie Echoplex]

PLF, for some reason when I read your post I thought about John Cleese's voice.

[Pierrot le Fou]

Kansai-ben is a bit cute when you here it around Tokyo. However, after being in Osaka for two weeks it was driving me nuts. I was so glad to get back and leave めちゃ behind. So I think we're both just biased to what we consider "home".
Ah, you poor lost soul. The spirit of Kansai is in the language, the rhythm, the intonation, the joy and beauty of language alive with character, verve, and crudisms that would never cut the mustard in Tokyo.

It drives you nuts because you Kanto folk have a rod the size of Tokyo Tower jammed up your arses so far as to make your fillings digital antennas.

For that reason I will continue to visit until someone can fully enlighten me. I know it's there. It's like I can see it, but I can never quite reach it.
...
I'm developing a strong hatred for Kyoto. Hopefully it will pass because I love Kobe and Nara.
...
:rofl: Reminds me of the Texas saying, "Fuck you I'm from Texas!"
...
I love visiting. I want to come visit again before spring break is over. However, I am always happy to come back to big bad mean Tokyo. I'm just weird like that. :boggled:
Tokyo is the Japanese version of Los Angeles.

People come from all over to try to make something of themselves, only to find that most of them do the same ol' same ol' in a characterless city whose character is the fact that it has none. People compare it to New York, but it isn't the same, it doesn't have the same gritty charm.

You have to live it to love it, embrace it, and love it like your mistress. Tokyo may be where the passionless (yet stable) marriage resides, but Osaka is the city of one night stands and raunchy monkeylove.

Visiting it will never endear you to it, you have to live it to understand.

And stop thinking like a lilly-livered Kanto-ite.

[Eddie Echoplex]

So, Osaka is Japan's New York?.

So what is Japan's version of... Say... Detroit?.

[koku]

Mikem, returning to Tokyo after an Osaka trip will most likely always feel like "returning to home." I'd be really surprised if you were able to enjoy Osaka the way PLF seems to by going there on little trips with the notion of "Okay.....let's see why Osaka is supposedly 'better.'" It's irreversable! You are already a Tokyo person.

Then again, there's people like 4letters who has been to a bunch of other places and hates them all - but I bet she would hate Tokyo or Osaka too.

[Pierrot le Fou]

Osaka is more like Chicago methinks.

Detroit would have to be Kita-kyushu or something.

[koku]

You might not like the comparison, but Osaka could be down south. Tokyo being L.A? It just doesn't fit enough aestethically, so I'd still stick with New York. It's also cold, people generally just concern themselves with themselves, and everyone's too busy to enjoy each other.

Perhaps New York does fit. New York City does also get publicity as "The" American City, but we all know there are many other places that are better. ;)

[erbiumfiber]

Having come from the Washington DC metro area, I can say that Tokyo compares with DC (the white, up-tight, political, federal employee part of DC and northern VA and suburban MD).

I guess because I lived in McLean, a soul-less, money-grubbing, close-in VA suburb. To give you an idea of how soul-less, Dick Cheney lived there before becoming vice-president. We can only hope he's not coming back but then he's only renting out his place, from what I've heard.

And, speaking of Dick Cheney, I should have been out protesting when he came recently. I think he met the emperor. I can't imagine two more different people in the same room...

[Pierrot le Fou]

You might not like the comparison, but Osaka could be down south. Tokyo being L.A? It just doesn't fit enough aestethically, so I'd still stick with New York. It's also cold, people generally just concern themselves with themselves, and everyone's too busy to enjoy each other.

Perhaps New York does fit. New York City does also get publicity as "The" American City, but we all know there are many other places that are better. ;)
Christ, kokujin, shush. You know naught. Osaka being in the South? Jesus. Tokyo being NYC? Ha!

You realize that Tokyo has a governor who has stated the Koreans will be out ransacking the second there's a natural disaster, right?

You honestly think that's the sort of attitude held in NYC?

I could buy it in Virginia, but NYC? Ha!

The only thing about Tokyo that is reminiscent of NYC is the size, and even that's off because NYC is very unique with the burroughs 'centered' on Manhattan. Tokyo's just urban sprawl forever. Like LA. Only more urban.

[Chinpokomon]

I'd say Tokyo is like Indianapolis, and Osaka is more like Ft. Collins.

[Pierrot le Fou]

That's deep, man.

[stsparky]

Tokyo is a wannabe NYC but it fails - and Osaka suceeds at being a Chicago/Detroit type town. Fukuoka by this logic is San Francisco.

[jindojim]

NYC is dirty and gritty. It's nothing like Tokyo at all.
Maybe if NYC cleaned itself up, installed better neon lighting displays, installed a more complicated (and CLEANER) subway system, fuckin allowed smoking in bars, and made its sex industry more apparent...it could be a little bit more like Tokyo.

Nah, NYC is the wannabe Tokyo.

I've never been to Kansai though, so I can't knock it. I imagine that, being used to the Kanto area, it just wouldn't feel like home. Kinda like the time I went to Atlanta and was like..."So. This is the best city the South can offer." Was mildly impressed, then went happily back home.

[japanat]

I'd say Tokyo is like Indianapolis, and Osaka is more like Ft. Collins.
This cracked me up. I liked living in Ft. Collins! When did you live there? But Ft. Fun has a LOT more green!

[Chinpokomon]

This cracked me up. I liked living in Ft. Collins! When did you live there? But Ft. Fun has a LOT more green!
I've never lived in either place. I just picked some random cities and compared them to Osaka/Tokyo.

You know, since everyone else was comparing cities they've never lived in with other cities they've never lived in, I was just trying to fit in.

[koku]

I've never lived in either place. I just picked some random cities and compared them to Osaka/Tokyo.

You know, since everyone else was comparing cities they've never lived in with other cities they've never lived in, I was just trying to fit in.


Don't ruin the fun. :cop: I'll arrest your chinkpokemon ass.

Tokyo is like....


Tokyo. You can't refute that one.

[japanat]

Besides, some of us have lived in these cities, or at least spent a fair amount of time there. Me: Osaka, Tokyo only twice, born in Chicago, etc.

[Digital Masta]

NYC is dirty and gritty. It's nothing like Tokyo at all.
Maybe if NYC cleaned itself up, installed better neon lighting displays, installed a more complicated (and CLEANER) subway system, fuckin allowed smoking in bars, and made its sex industry more apparent...it could be a little bit more like Tokyo.


NYC, wannabe Tokyo? Nah...

A more complicated subway system? What subway?

NYC has the largest subway system in terms of mileage next to London I believe (although NY has more stations)...its actually pretty damn intricate and will put you anywhere in the damn city with the exception of Staten Island but nobody cares about that god forsaken borough anyway...no it isn't clean but its complicated.

If it wanted to be more like Tokyo it would shut down its public transportation which runs all day and night and combine it with hiking up the price of a taxi to an ungodly amount.

It cost my friends and I around $15 to go from one end of Manhattan to another at around 1AM with Friday night (or Saturday night I don't remember) traffic.

It cost me an average of 1200 yen to go from my favorite bar in Nagasaki to my host families house and it was about a 5-7 minute drive @ 2AM when I'd be returning home and there are no cars on road. Nagasaki has cheaper taxis than Tokyo.

[hanacker]

Tokyo is the Japanese version of Los Angeles.

Nah, Tokyo and NYC are both very aware that they're the epicenter of their respective countries. Los Angeles is #2 but is far too self-absorbed to really care about that. Although it is true that Los Angeles and Tokyo both share the honor of being the most-hated cities of anyone in their country that doesn't live there (why it isn't NYC doesn't make any sense to me, though).

[hanacker]

I think it also has a lot to do with "fanboyism." Most people that say they like Osaka better probably had their first long-term experience there and vice versa with Tokyo supporters.

I lived in Tokyo for 2 months before I lived an hour outside of Osaka for a year. Tokyo is just a crappy place to live.

[jindojim]

What subway?

Heard of the Tokyo Metro?

http://mishilo.image.pbase.com/u12/kalia/large/38245761.tokyometro.jpg

Plus the JR: http://www.u-bourgogne.fr/monge/g.dito/poisson2006/images/tokyo_trainmap.pdf

[stsparky]

Nah, Tokyo and NYC are both very aware that they're the epicenter of their respective countries. Los Angeles is #2 but is far too self-absorbed to really care about that. Although it is true that Los Angeles and Tokyo both share the honor of being the most-hated cities of anyone in their country that doesn't live there (why it isn't NYC doesn't make any sense to me, though).

Depends, I hate neither Tokyo or Los Angeles whereas I'm not a fan of NYC and the East Coast in general. It is the PACIFIC CENTURY and I suspect NYC will become more and more unimportant.

[Chinpokomon]

NY Metro:
http://www.nederlander.org/subway_map.html

How quaint. :clap:

[Digital Masta]

Heard of the Tokyo Metro?

http://mishilo.image.pbase.com/u12/kalia/large/38245761.tokyometro.jpg

Plus the JR: http://www.u-bourgogne.fr/monge/g.dito/poisson2006/images/tokyo_trainmap.pdf

Yeah but doesn't the JR also take you outside of the city of Tokyo as well. I thought you were refering specficially to the subway system that takes care of the city. Isn't the JR more like what Metro North, Amtrak, Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit is in NY.


Depends, I hate neither Tokyo or Los Angeles whereas I'm not a fan of NYC and the East Coast in general.

BAH!

Nah, Tokyo and NYC are both very aware that they're the epicenter of their respective countries. Los Angeles is #2 but is far too self-absorbed to really care about that. Although it is true that Los Angeles and Tokyo both share the honor of being the most-hated cities of anyone in their country that doesn't live there (why it isn't NYC doesn't make any sense to me, though).

Because its NYC, I can understand why people wouldn't like LA, now I haven't been there but according to people I know that live out there and people who have visited, what you see is what you get and apparently you either like it or you don't. Of course they have a skewed view of it because their work is in the entertainment industry.

Tokyo and NYC are not just epiccenters of their countries but of the world with the 3rd being London.

It is the PACIFIC CENTURY and I suspect NYC will become more and more unimportant.

Where would they go...LA? It would have to shift from NY to a city in California most likely but it probably won't be LA.

From a worldwide business standpoint NY is strategically a better place than the West Coast because of the time difference. I mean the East Cost is still in a shitty spot by comparison to say London which has a pretty good time zone as far as doing business is concerned as they can get manage to catch North America as its opening and the East as its winding down but the West Coast just puts you even further back.

[jindojim]

Yeah but doesn't the JR also take you outside of the city of Tokyo as well. I thought you were refering specficially to the subway system that takes care of the city. Isn't the JR more like what Metro North, Amtrak, Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit is in NY.


I WAS referring specifically to the subway system that takes care of the city. That alone is a lot more complex than NYC's subway system (as you can see by comparing the two maps). Having ridden them both rather frequently, I can also attest to this. NYC's subway system is definitely a piece of cake once you've navigated through Tokyo's subway system.

JR and a bunch of private companies also operate in Tokyo. Did you see the map in the link? Yeah, about 75-80% of that map represents lines that service the city of Tokyo alone.

[Scott]

Go see Hachiko at Shibuya Station.

[Chinpokomon]

Go see Hachiko at Shibuya Station.
*pssst, his trip to Tokyo is already over*:frypan:

[Scott]

D'oh, that's what I get for not paying attention.

[Nannou]

My Chinese-American friend routinely gets propped to become a host whenever he is in Shibuya.

that's cause he's hawt

[stsparky]

... Where would they go...LA? It would have to shift from NY to a city in California most likely but it probably won't be LA. ... From a worldwide business standpoint NY is strategically a better place than the West Coast because of the time difference. I mean the East Cost is still in a shitty spot by comparison to say London which has a pretty good time zone as far as doing business is concerned as they can get manage to catch North America as its opening and the East as its winding down but the West Coast just puts you even further back.

Los Angeles' Worldclass International Port is Long Beach and it's where the goods from China enter the USA. Seattle gets too much weather to be an alternative; Oakland and San Diego have much to offer though — I think the rail and roads out of Long Beach are why.

Jersey has good points but it is too cold for me. I almost did a art course in Dover; and my late great uncle Arthur was a rabbi in Englewood Cliffs.

[Digital Masta]

Los Angeles' Worldclass International Port is Long Beach and it's where the goods from China enter the USA. Seattle gets too much weather to be an alternative; Oakland and San Diego have much to offer though — I think the rail and roads out of Long Beach are why.

Jersey has good points but it is too cold for me. I almost did a art course in Dover; and my late great uncle Arthur was a rabbi in Englewood Cliffs.

My school isn't far from Dover...the train station next to my school is actually on the "Dover Line"

You must be one of the only people outside of Jersey who has something non-negative to say about it. Then again most of the people who do haven't been to New Jersey or they've been to *shudder* North Jersey.

[stsparky]

The Kubert School is in Dover. This automatically makes Jersey a good place. I have Newark story to tell one day. It's not on topic here and only really relates to the Airport there ... :D