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First time in Tokyo, itinerary suggestions? 2015/3/17 10:57
Hello, I'll be visiting Tokyo for 7 days and spare another day for Ikebukuro this coming spring break(I'm a student). I'll list out my itinerary here, and if anyone has any interesting suggestions on locations I've missed, please let me know!
-Meiji Shrine
-Senso-Ji Temple
-Harajuku
-Yoyogi Park
-Shinjuku Gyoen Park
-Koshikawa Korakuen
-Cafes (Gundamn, @home, cat, manga)
-Mandarake in Akihabara
-Various locations/sight-seeing in Akihabara

I don't know anyone who has been to Tokyo before, and this is my first time, so I'm trying to fit as many places as I can into my itinerary. As well, you can probably tell I'm at least somewhat interested in otaku culture. So if anyone who reads this has any suggestions on landmarks/otaku interests, please let me know, thanks!
by Glutenusmax  

Re: First time in Tokyo, itinerary suggestions? 2015/3/17 11:31
If you gonna spend a full week in Tokyo, there is no real need to make a rigid itinerary, just plan as you go.

Though if you are into the anime/otaku culture, some places you should look out for:
- Akihabara (of course... but do look behind the main street of Akiba and look upwards, Akiba is rather big if you consider the stores hidden in those buildings)
- Nakano (another anime/otaku culture area)
- Ikebukuro Otome street (though last I checked the animate building on that street has moved to a new and bigger building, I mean the building is still there but there is bigger one nearby at Ikebukuro)
- Odaiba (the Gundam? )
- Doraemon/Ghibli Museum?
- Sunday at Harajuku for cosplay sight
- Sometimes there are market at Yoyogi park on Sunday too.

You will probably discover more stuff in Akiba if you explore slowly, beyond the main street, behind those alleys and inside the buildings (upwards!)
by vinces7 rate this post as useful

Re: First time in Tokyo, itinerary suggestions? 2015/3/17 11:36
Questions:
1. What is your definition of otaku? My wife is Japanese and she is not sure what you mean.
2. Why do yuou want to go to Yoyogi Park and Shinjuku Gyoen? There's not much of interest there. If you want to see a Japanese garden there are many much better places in Tokyo.
by Dick H rate this post as useful

Re: First time in Tokyo, itinerary suggestions? 2015/3/17 11:41
Be careful going up in Akiba though unless of course you want to run into mountains of porngraphic manga, games, magazines and videos!

If you are into manga, anime, games and figurines then definitely head to Nakano Broadway in Nakano. Mandarake has a massive store there will all kinds of goodies. It also features a bunch of great smaller stores. I generally find the prices to be better in Nakano as compared to Akiba.

Other suggestions. Since you are going to Senso-ji in Asakusa, I can recommend checking out the drum museum that is a 5-10 minute walk away. They have neat little shop on the lower floor with a an interesting museum up top.

I would also recommend visiting Ueno park as oppose to Yoyogi. Yoyogi is nice but its real draw is that it is close to Harajuku and the Meiji Shrine. Ueno has a lot of different things to see and do and I personally think it is a more beautiful park to stroll around in. It also houses some fantastic museums of art and history.
by Goober (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: First time in Tokyo, itinerary suggestions? 2015/3/17 15:23
I highly suggest taking a day trip out of Tokyo to someplace like Kamakura or Nikko. It really would become the highlight of your trip, in my opinion. Tokyo is fun, but it certainly isn't 7 days of fun.Getting out of the city will let you explore at a slower pace, and see another part of Japan.

Also, I agree with the other commenter. Yoyogi park would be a waste of time. It's really not that interesting.
by Taipan1975 rate this post as useful

Re: First time in Tokyo, itinerary suggestions? 2015/3/17 15:30
Also, I agree with the other commenter. Yoyogi park would be a waste of time. It's really not that interesting.

Unless you are interested in the buskers and counter-culture that congregate on the weekends.

Shinjuku Gyoen is also a great place for late cherry blossoms, which may be when the OP will be travelling.

Be careful going up in Akiba though unless of course you want to run into mountains of porngraphic manga, games, magazines and videos!

That's what you'll see if you pass though the 18 and over curtains that are supposed to separate the adult content from the regular stuff. Otherwise Akiba can be relatively tame.
by yllwsmrf rate this post as useful

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