TOKYO
ok so im gonna be spending a few days in tokyo on my way to italy. Can some sz brethrin recommend some cheap(i mean CHEAP) accomodation, places to go eat.. (ill be visiting lift etage) but any other stores/ areas to check out- where i might find bargains. Ill be there for 1 day on the 5th of september and from the 3rd till the 8th of december if any tky sz residents wanna meet up.
looking forward to hearing from you guys
i'm a fan of staying at the Granbell hotel in Shibuya. It's really close to the trainstation and near the Cerulean Tower. Really central if you're going to Lift Etage. It's also affordable, clean, "boutiquey," but relatively small (normal for japan though).
http://www.granbellhotel.jp/index_e.html
Eating can be done cheaply too at the spots where you get your ticket out of a vending machine and hand it to the waiter, 7-11 isn't bad, etc.
I might be out there at that time but Tyler (Croatoan) just moved there so he should be able to help you out too.
http://asiacenter.or.jp/eng/
This place should still be ridiculously cheap and it's within walking distance of the shops in Harajuku/Aoyama. They used to have the prices on their website but don't seem to any more.
Last time I stayed there it was 7000 yen for a "semi-double" room big enough for two smallish people (an unbelieveable price for Tokyo).
Since they refurbed in about 2002 it's actually really comfortable too (used to be a bit of a hostel).
The owners are lovely too: all my family members stayed there several times when I used to live in Japan and they were always charming and courteous.
I wouldnt consider the Granbell Shibuya being CHEAP accomodation: I personally stayed there twice while in Tokyo. You'd better check out these WEEKLY MANSIONS in Ikebukuro and Asakusa which offer affordable accomodation.
For bargains you could check out KIND, SPACE (several outlets in Shibuya and Harajuku).
Food isn't generally expensive in Japan, just avoid districts like Roppongi. Would recommend the TONKATSU restaurants in the tower near Shibuya station
If you want tonkatsu there us only one choice worth considering in Tokyo: Maisen. There are a couple of branches but the one in a converted bath house in Jingumae is beautiful. The best tonkatsu is in Kansai unfortunately (beef cutlets in particular).
i was in tokyo the past 3 weeks and had a good 5 days which my accomodations weren't comp'd so i might be able to help you out. I stayed here: http://www2.gol.com/users/ryokan-fukudaya/
Its cheap (around 60-90US a night depending on the room size/style), friendly, english speaking and an easy 10min walk to Shibuya station.
I also hit up most of the flagships/stores except Lift, so i kind of have stock and bigger size availability fresh in my mind, if you're wondering anything.
#nevernotalmostshopping
I reviewed some stores here, though its over a year old but all should still be there: tokyo & kyoto shops
my Tokyo map on Google with most relevant shops listed. only stations/neighbourhoods are in english but then again street names don't exist in Japan. (I personally navigate by simply following my path on the map and with the help of landmarks)
as for accomodation, I'm a big fan of Tokyu Stay, its a chain of apartment hotels. their Aoyama and Shibuya locations are unbeatable, both are barely a few minutes away from the respective stations. small but comfortable, clean, convenient, and I think the cheapest rooms are like 8k yen.
I personally like Aoyama as its a pretty quiet and cozy neighborhood, less buzz than in most of the others, but good shopping (L'eclaireur, loveless, CDG+Dover Street...). the walk to Harajuku is reasonable and theres Omotesando Hills on the way, which houses the Ann Demeulemeester store and Edition (m.a+, berrini, schneider) and Addition Adelaide is behind the complex.
"AVANT GUARDE HIGHEST FASHION. NOW NOW this is it people, these are the brands no one fucking knows and people are like WTF. they do everything by hand in their freaking secret basement and shit."
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there is nothing cheap in Tokyo
One wonders where it will end, when everything has become gay.
Super cheap kaitenzushi place near Ueno-eki:
Very generous portions too! (126 yen per plate ALL plates when I was there)
UENO is rad in each and every way: the market ther is amazing where they have shitloads of product for offering. Great takoyaki and okonomiyaki (not as good as in Osaka, but will do) and food stalls which offer cheap, but delicious food
Originally Posted by raddy
Super cheap kaitenzushi place near Ueno-eki:
Very generous portions too! (126 yen per plate ALL plates when I was there)
For more cheap accommodation, I recommend Oak Hotel. http://www.oakhotel.co.jp/english/
It is kind of a hostel/business hotel thing. The private rooms are clean, quiet, and have free internet. 6000yen a night if you book online. As long as you can deal with the thirty minute train trip to shopping areas, I think it is a great option. It is about a ten minute walk from Ueno station and another fifteen minute walk to touristy things in Asakusa. I have stayed there four times in the past couple years (the longest stay being two weeks) and find it quite comfortable.
Also, since you are only going to be here for a couple days, it can be convenient to travel to/from the airport since the Keisei Skyliner goes to/leaves from Ueno.
yo pnidz you can get cheap ramen/curry don in Japan :P
edit: Raddy beat me to it :/
hey T! what are you doing in Japan? Just out of curiousity?
WTB: This
This and that. Various loosely-decided/organized projects; both personal and work-related. I just finished up a summer intensive language study study and next month begins buying time.
for sushi, you should check out the tsukiji fish market in the morning at 5am-ish, then head over to one of the sushi bars in the market for some of the freshest sushi you'll find. there's a couple to choose from, i went to daiwa, loved it.
there's a famous ramen place in harajuku that's worth checking out.
I don't think you need to get there that early.. :)
famous ramen place in Harajuku? Hehe that narrows it down to 20,000 :P
WTB: This
Midwest
Make absolute sure you go to the store "Midwest" and "Heathen by Midwest" (search on google) it is just as good as Lift in my opinion. Also "Kind" is a chain of designer only consignment stores, lots or Rick Owens, Ann Dem, and old Hedi stuff. Have fun!
"What Remains is Future..."
on the floor above midwest there is a nice cafe (midwest cafe, actually). small and homely place, with a balcony you can sit out on. they used to have decent lunch specials. worth checking out.
"AVANT GUARDE HIGHEST FASHION. NOW NOW this is it people, these are the brands no one fucking knows and people are like WTF. they do everything by hand in their freaking secret basement and shit."
STYLEZEITGEIST MAGAZINE | BLOG
Hey guys, so I'm planning to be in Tokyo at the end of the year and am wondering if anyone knows which dates do typically CdG and YY store close for the new year? Do they only close on Jan 1, or for multiple days?
Ahhhhhhh just found out I might be going to Tokyo right after Paris. I'm super excited, and hope the plans don't fall through at the last second. Never been to Asia before so I'm really looking forward to it!
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