Tony's Tokyo: A Unique Insider's Guide to Tokyo Travel Information

Tokyo Disney Discounts

2015-07-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

Tokyo Disney Discounts

Want to enjoy Tokyo Disney but afraid it might be too expensive or crowded? Want a discount and to visit Tokyo Disney for cheap?

Go after 6:00 PM!

That's right, the best time to visit Tokyo Disney is on a weekday after 6pm because you can get a night passport for only 3,900 Yen (price may change)! You might be afraid that you won't be able to ride many of the rides because it is so late in the day, but that's the beauty of it, all the rides are empty. We were able to jump on almost any ride with a 10 minute wait. Most of the moms and children have already left for the day, so it's the perfect time to go.

Granted, many of the shows and performances might not be going on, but if you love rides, this time is perfect! You might have to rush around the park a little more than anticipated since it typically closes at 10pm (check the park calendar) but it's completely worth it. I think we rode Tower of Terror 3 times! Head out from Tokyo around 5pm to make sure you get there in time to really enjoy the park.

More information: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/ticket/night/index.html

How to get to Tokyo Disney Resort: http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/access/train_bus/index.html

Instagram:Tony's Tokyo and TravelsByTony

2015-06-29T20:36:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with everyone Tony's Tokyo and TravelsByTony's Instagram accounts which are now one. Check out tons of pictures from Tokyo and beyond. I had a lot of fun capturing these photos and I hope they continue to inspire your travels.

https://instagram.com/travelsbytony/

When is the best time to visit Tokyo, Japan?

2015-06-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

Anytime is a great time to visit Tokyo, but when is the best time or season to enjoy the world's largest city?

Tokyo Spring Cherry Blossoms

Spring:
Spring is probably the best time to visit Japan altogether. If you are able to, I would recommend visiting during the cherry blossom season which is around the end of March and first week of April. If you are not able to make cherry blossom season, March-mid June is a great time. Make sure to avoid Golden Week (late April to early May) as this is a high travel season for most Japanese people, which means everything will be extremely crowded and prices will be inflated. There might be the occasional Typhoon that will last for a day but this could occur in the Summer and Fall as well.

Japanese Kaki-Gori (Shaved ice with condensed milk)

Summer:
During the summer, the latest I would visit Tokyo is towards the end of June. Going into July, August and early September, Tokyo can be almost unbearable with extremely hot and humid weather. During this time, you are dripping in sweat and are being eaten alive by mosquitos. You can find relief indoors and on trains but the minute you step outside it's not too pleasant. The hot weather does give you an excuse to eat lots of Kakigori though (Japanese shaved ice with condensed milk featured above).

Shinjuku Gyoen Park in the Fall

Fall:
If you aren't able to visit Tokyo in the Spring, your next best bet is the Fall. Around the end of September temperatures start to drop and become more welcoming. This good weather continues into early November and will allow you to explore the city comfortably. A lot of the trees will be turning Autumn color, so make sure to check out a few of the parks like Shinjuku Gyoen or Yoyogi Park.

Christmas Market in Yokohama

Winter:
Winters in Tokyo can be quite cold and I would typically recommend avoiding the city during this time. Depending on the year, towards the end of winter it can snow in Tokyo or the sidewalks can become icy and in less populous areas very slippery. Luckily you can bundle up and tough it out if you would like through December, but into January and February it's not as inviting. (The upside is you have an excuse to eat ramen and udon for every meal!) New Years time is a heavy travel season for Japanese people and prices can be very expensive during this time.

In summary, visiting Tokyo anytime is incredible but if your itinerary is flexible I would recommend visiting around the end of March and beginning of April.

In addition here are some links to help you out:

Japanese Holidays: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/japan/
Tokyo Climate: http://www.wordtravels.com/Cities/Japan/Tokyo/Climate

Tokyo, Japan Two Day Travel Itinerary (Weekend Trip Ideas)

2015-01-19T13:55:00.000-08:00

Have two days to spare in Tokyo or just a weekend after a work trip? This is the perfect itinerary that will let you see most of the iconic sites without feeling too rushed.

Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo Fish Market)

8:00am: (Please note it is typically closed on Sundays)

Tsukiji can be accessed from Tsukiji Station or Tsukiji Shijo Station. Going at 8:00 am, you will miss the fish auctions but you can always adjust this schedule to go earlier. Make sure to grab breakfast at one of many sushi restaurants and enjoy some of the freshest sushi in the world.

Ginza

10:00am:

Walking from the Tsukiji Market, you can access the most luxurious neighborhood in Tokyo: Ginza. This is an excellent area to do some high-end shopping (or window shopping). Depending on your tastes, a quick walk through the main streets is sufficient. Head towards Ginza Station to find the Sony Showroom which has some fascinating products and displays. From Ginza Station take the Marunochi line to Shinjuku Station.

Shinjuku National Gyoen
11:00am:

Shinjuku National Gyoen is a short walk from Shinjuku Station and is a perfect escape from the city life. If you visit during Autumn when the leaves are turning or during sakura (cherry blossom) season you are in luck! Although, the gardens are absolutely stunning in any season. When you have reached a state of zen and you feel at peace, return to Shinjuku Station. (You will feel an extreme contrast between one of the most calm places in the city to one of the most busiest train stations in the world.)
Take the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station.

Harajuku (Takeshita Dori)
1:00pm:

After exiting Harajuku station, cross the street and immediately take a left. Walk down the hill until on your right you see Takeshita Dori. There are a few small restaurants in here if you are hungry, but the main attraction is the extreme Japanese fashion. Walk through the stores, enjoying the youthful fashion-sense of Tokyoites. There are plenty of fun shirts and clothes to buy for souvenirs.

Harajuku (Condomania)
2:00pm:

After you reach the end of the strip, take a right, and walk back to the main street. Directly across the street is Condomania, which is exactly what it sounds like, an all-out condom store. If you're into that, it's actually quite entertaining! If you haven't grabbed lunch yet, there are plenty of restaurants and cafes along this strip.

Walk back up the hill towards Harajuku Station and cross the bridge over the tracks. Directly to your right, you will see the entrance to the Meiji Shrine.

Meiji Shrine
2:30pm:

The Meiji Shrine and its entrance are absolutely stunning, and create a beautiful flow. It is free to enter the main grounds, but depending on the season there are extra gardens and special areas that can be entered for a small fee.

Make sure you purify yourself prior to entering the shrine, similar to what you did prior to entering Sensoji. On many days, you will see a traditional Japanese wedding procession. Remain quite, and stay out of their way but feel free to take pictures.

Facing the shrine, exit to the right, and you will wrap back around to the entrance.

Yoyogi Park

4:00pm:

After you exit the Meiji Shrine, if you are facing towards the main entrance, go left and hang to the right to find the entrance to Yoyogi Park. Depending on the weather and day of the week, the park will have a different atmosphere. On a beautiful Spring Saturday, it will be packed, while a Winter Wednesday will leave the park rather empty.

Once you've wrapped up your adventures in this area head back to the Yoyogi Station and jump on the Yamanote lane to Shibuya.

Shibuya

5:00pm:

Arrive in Shibuya and head to the Hachiko Exit. Check out my previous post for more information on Shibuya, but to sum it up: Shibuya is my favorite place on the earth!

When exiting the Shibuya Station, use the Hachiko exit to see the Hachiko Statue and the Shibuya scramble. Take a walk through Center-Gai which after you cross through the Scramble is the street to the left of Starbucks. There are plenty of amazing food places and you can find almost anything you are looking for.

Day 2:

Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon Temple) 浅草寺 & Asakusa 浅草

10:00am:
After grabbing breakfast at your hotel or a local restaurant make your way to Asakusa to experience the ancient Buddhist temple: Sensoji. The most convenient station is probably Asakusa Station, which is serviced by the Tobu Skytree Line, Toei Asakusa Line, and Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. It is a more isolated area from other areas in Tokyo so plan on 30-45 minute subway ride. Arriving in the station there are plenty of signs that will help lead you to the Sensoji entrance.

Start your journey into Sensoji through the Kaminari-mon (Thunder Gate) and enjoy a nice stroll through Nakamise-dori, peaking into any stores that peak your interest. I highly recommend doing some souvenir shopping here. It is a little more expensive than other areas because of its prime location, but if you are in Tokyo for such a short time, this is extremely convenient, and probably one of the best collection of souvenir shops. Most of the stores will wrap your items in beautiful wrapping paper that is done with the utmost care.

Proceed further until you reach Hozo-mon (Treasure Gate) and take time to enjoy the beautiful architecture. Note the Gods inside of the Treasure Gate and how unique and different their muscles are.

Inside the main complex, enjoy the incense and be sure to fan them towards any part of your body that might be ailing (if you have an exam coming up or an important business meeting, fan the incense towards your head.)

To your right you will find a large water basin with large wooden ladles. To purify yourself, hold the ladle in your right hand and fill it with water, pour some on your left hand, then switch the ladle to your left hand and pour on your right. Place the ladle back in your right hand and cup your left. Pour the water into your left hand and swish in into your mouth (you don't have to do this part if you don't feel comfortable, a lot of younger people skip this step.) Then there are rocks below the basin you can spit the water into. Then with your right handle tilt the ladle up until water falls out and runs over the handle. Now you're purified and can enter the temple.

Enjoy the temple and the gardens to the left.

Sumida River
12:00pm:

After enjoying the temple grounds, if you walk toward the entrance, face outside of the temple, take a left you will eventually meet the Sumida River. Take leisurely walk along the river and you can either walk to Tokyo Sky Tree or return to Asakusa Station to take the metro.

Tokyo Sky Tree
1:00pm:

If you return to Asakusa Station, take the Tobu Skytree Line to the Tokyo Sky Tree. (They are constantly adding new buses from Sensoji to the Sky Tree as well, so please be on the lookout for that.)

To be able to go to the top of the Tokyo Sky Tree (as of now):
1. You must book online in advance (but you need a Japanese credit card.)
2. Your hotel is a licensed Sky Tree ticket vendor.
3. You have a group of 25 or more.
4. Possibly show up extremely in the morning, I've tried and it never worked.

Number 2 is probably your best option, so make sure to speak with your hotel prior to going to the Sky Tree.

If you are not able to go to the top, don't worry, you can go to about the 40th floor. There are plenty of restaurants in the Sky Tree and food stands, so it might be a good place to grab lunch. Make sure to exit the Sky Tree complex and get a picture from the bottom.

Imperial Palace
3:00pm:

From the Oshiage Station take the Hanzomon line to Otemachi Station. Then it is a short 10 minute walk to the Imperial Palace area. Take a stroll around the grounds and enjoy the beauty of the gardens of the Imperial Palace. Note that the inner areas of the Imperial Palace are only open two days out of the year (New Year's Day and the Emperor's Birthday).

Tokyo Station
4:30pm:

After enjoying your stroll through the Imperial Palace outer grounds, make your way towards Tokyo Station. An extremely beautiful building, that is contrasting to traditional Japanese architecture.

Shinjuku Station and the Tokyo Metropolitan Building
5:15pm:

From Tokyo Station take the Chuo Line to Shinjuku Station. Shinjuku station is massive and in itself a tourist attraction. There are plenty of restaurants in and outside of the station for dinner. After dinner, from the station (West Exit) follow signs to Tokyo Metropolitan Building. Take the elevator to the top and enjoy the excellent free view of Tokyo.

If you're not too tired, there are plenty of bars and izakayas in Shinjuku, you can relax at and enjoy an ice cold Sapporo.

1 Day Tokyo Travel Itinerary for the Power Traveler

2014-12-16T21:05:00.000-08:00

Have a work trip to Tokyo and only one day to take in the beauty and culture of the city? Unfortunately this happens to a lot of us, but don't worry I have the perfect idea of a Tokyo day trip for the Power Traveler. (I don't think this itinerary is for everyone, if you like to take your time and really relax, wait for a future post that I promise will be coming soon!) This is a very ambitious schedule, and I only recommend it to those travelers with crazy stamina. (Luckily Japan has plenty of vending machines with ice and hot coffee to keep you going!) If you want to relax more maybe think about picking a few things out of this schedule that truly interest you and avoid the rush.

If you follow this itinerary you will have the chance to see: Tsukiji Fish Market, Ginza, Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Zojo-Ji, Tokyo Tower, Meiji Shrine, Takeshita-Dori, Yoyogi Park, Hachiko, Shibuya Scramble, and Shibuya's Center-Gai street!

Note: A lot of people are going to ask what about Tokyo Sky Tree? Well, personally I'm not the biggest fan of the Sky Tree because right now it is so darn hard to get into. If you have a foreign credit card you CANNOT purchase a ticket online, you can only make a reservation at the Sky Tree if you have a group of 25 or more, or if you have a hotel that is licensed to sell tickets you can get one. I showed up extremely early one morning to try and get in and was still turned away. (I guess I'm bitter for being turned away 3 times. I did go up to one of the shopping decks but still not as cool as the top-so if you find a way around the system like knowing someone with a Japanese credit card or you stay in an awesome hotel that sells tickets then when I put Tokyo Tower in the itinerary go to Tokyo Sky Tree instead...and comment and tell me how it is.)

3:00-3:30am: Wake up at the crack of dawn (If you're resistant to this, just remember it is the land of the rising sun) and get a taxi to the Tsukiji Fish Market (make sure you communicate with your hotel staff prior to see if they can assist with accommodation and give you more information about the fish market procedures.) It is recommended to stay close to the Fish Market if possible.*

4:00am: Arrive at the Tsukiji Fish Market and make sure you get a spot to enter the Fish Auctions because it is first come first serve. You need to be one of the first 120 people that day, or unfortunately you woke up early for no reason. For more information and to check date restrictions visit: http://www.shijou.metro.tokyo.jp/english/market/tsukiji.html.

6:00am: Sushi for breakfast?! Why not? There are plenty of sushi shops around the fish market, so sit back and enjoy (but only for a moment because this is a jam-packed day). Make sure you get your fill because it is going to be a long day!

7:00am: After eating sushi, take a little time to walk around and enjoy the fish market.

7:30am: Walk through Ginza. Unfortunately 7:30am is early, and many of the stores will be closed but take in the atmosphere of this very ritzy area. (Fun fact: the first McDonalds in Japan was actually in Ginza, but it's not there anymore. Another fun fact: I actually worked at the Abercrombie and Fitch in Ginza. An additional fun fact: Abercrombie & Fitch isn't that fun of a company to work for, but my coworkers in Japan were amazing people!)

8:15am: Get to Ginza Station and jump on the Ginza line to head to Asakusa Station.

8:45am-9am: Arrive at Asakusa Station and navigate your way to the Nakamise Shopping District which serves as a great entrance to the Sensoji Temple. (Many of the shops begin to open around 9am.)

9am-11:00 am: Explore Sensoji and Asakusa. A little history about Sensoji to enhance your tour: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sens%C5%8D-ji

11:00am-11:30am: Head to the Asakusa Station and take the Asakusa line to Daimon Station.

12:15pm: Arrive at Daimon Station and walk towards Tokyo Tower. You might be getting a little hungry now, so stop in a Convenient Store and grab a onigiri and some milk tea to enjoy in the park before entering Zojo-ji. After throwing your trash away or stuffing it in your pocket because Tokyo rarely has public trashcans, take a quick peak around Zojo-Ji a Buddhist temple at the base of Tokyo Tower.

1:15pm: Grab tickets and head up to the top of Tokyo Tower! (I do recommend going all the way up, if it's not too crowded and the wait is not too long but the lower observation deck is quite enjoyable.)

2:15pm: Take the elevator down to the base of Tokyo Tower, don't try and do the stairs (it was miserable) and head towards Daimon Station.

2:45pm: From Daimon Station take the Oedo Line (one of Tokyo's deepest subway lines so get prepared for a lot of stairs) to Yoyogi Station.

3:15pm: Tired yet?! I hope not, but if you are there tons of coffee vending machines at Yoyogi Station. But this is where your schedule gets to be quite tight because the Meiji Shrine closes anywhere from 4:00pm-6:30pm depending on the month. (Check the official website for more info: http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/map/4.html) If you are in a month where it closes early, I can only offer you two words of advice: Walk Fast! Power through the garden areas and head straight to the Shrine, you can enjoy the garden areas on your way out.

5:00pm-7:30pm: Depending on the season and your personality you have the option to check out Yoyogi Park and/or Takeshita Dori. Yoyogi Park is excellent during the Spring and Fall. You can see families, friends, lovers, and co-workers enjoying each others company in the park. Takeshita Dori is a very famous shopping street with some very interesting and intriguing Japanese fashion. Make sure you take a look at the Yoyogi Gymnasium, you can get a good view from the raised crosswalks.

7:30pm: Once you've wrapped up your adventures in this area head back to the Yoyogi Station and jump on the Yamanote lane to Shibuya.

8:00pm: Arrive in Shibuya and head to the Hachiko Exit. Check out my previous post for more information on Shibuya, but to sum it up: Shibuya is my favorite place on the earth!
When exiting the Shibuya Station, use the Hachiko exit to see the Hachiko Statue and the Shibuya scramble. Take a walk through Center-Gai which after you cross through the Scramble is the street to the left of Starbucks. There are plenty of amazing food places and you can find anything you are looking for. Take as much time in Shibuya and make sure to get a large ice cold Sapporo or a glass of Umeshu (plum wine) on the rocks, because you deserve it!

*Note: I have not done the Tsukiji auction before so please be sure to check with your hotel and the link for more information.

Shibuya

2014-12-01T20:56:00.003-08:00

Shibuya: The Greatest Place on Earth

I lived in Shibuya for awhile and it will always have a special place in my heart. If you are visiting Tokyo, the Shibuya crossing and a walk through Center-Gai is fantastic. You can reach Shibuya station with many major lines but the most notable is the JR Green Yamanote Line. I would recommend visiting Shibuya at night time,to take in all the lights and all of the young Tokyoites meeting up for Karaoke, Nomihodai (all you can drink), or a quick bite. It can be a little overwhelming and quite crowded but embrace that, because that's the beauty of Tokyo: 30 million people all working together in a clean and safe metropolis.

In most crowded places around the world, I would suggest looking out for pickpocketers but I have never felt unsafe in Shibuya or had anything stolen (I saw girls save their seats with their wallets and purses!)

On a personal note, if I was ever feeling down or homesick I would always come out to the Shibuya Scramble and just stare at the lights, the people, and take in the incredible environment.

Some things to check out in Shibuya:

Center Gai (the street way in the second picture to the right of the girl covering her eyes) which is a mostly pedestrian area filled with stores, restaurants, and bars.

Karaoke: There are plenty of Karaoke bars in Tokyo: most notable is the one in Center Gai, which was featured in Lost In Translation

Game Center: Check out a Japanese arcade for some of the most advanced arcade equipment

Pachinko Game Center: Sometimes featured in the same buildings of a game center, Pachinko is a "legal form of gambling" in Japan. Extremely loud and I still don't understand how it works and probably never will.

Purikura: Try out a Japanese photo booth, which features covers of popular American music while you take pictures with your friends and then edit them. A lot of the booths men are not allowed in without a woman and you have to have a Japanese phone to send some the pictures digitally.

The Lock Up: Prison, insane asylum, bad hospital themed restaurant.

Izakaya: There are plenty of Japanese style bars that have Nomihodai (all you can drink for about 1500Yen + you have to buy 2 food items)

Donkihote: You can buy anything here, I mean anything! Groceries, sex toys, a cellphone, porn, a bicycle, linens.

Love Hotel Hill: A little past Donkihote, Love Hotel Hill is a fascinating aspect of Japanese culture. (A blog post to come soon!)

Delicious American Breakfast in Tokyo

2014-12-01T20:13:00.001-08:00

Missing a hearty American breakfast in Tokyo?

Visit On the Corner in Shibuya! I think the breakfast is typically served at lunch time. The one thing it is missing, is American bacon. It does comes with eggs, spinach, mushrooms, canadian bacon, a tomato, and a giant piece of toast all in a hot dish! What's not to like?!

Arabian Rock: Tokyo's Aladdin Themed Restaurant Review

2013-10-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

Entrance

I never would have thought I would find an Aladdin themed restaurant in Tokyo, but I was very wrong. Themed restaurants are very popular in this city, great for dates, birthday parties, or taking a guest from out of town.

Arabian Rock is located in Shinjuku, amongst a cluster of other themed restaurants.

When you first enter Arabian Rock you must rub (push) the magic lamp to up the trap door where you meet the hostess who tells you there is a 500 yen table charge (if I remember correctly) and then does a whole charade with a magic lamp.

The food is presented beautifully, but the taste is a different story. Unfortunately the food wasn't very good and was not worth the price. (Our food actually came out luke warm.) But I have to say even in the states a lot of themed restaurants you don't go for the food you go for the experience, so keep that in mind on your visit to the Arabian Rock.

If you have a little extra time and money to spend in Tokyo and are really interested in themed restaurants, I would recommend it, but if you really want to enjoy the culinary excellence of Japan, this place is probably worth skipping.

Japan Culture

2012-02-04T21:03:00.000-08:00

When people say that Japan is on the other side of the world, they are not just referring to its location but its fascinating and beautiful culture. Although Japan is very globalized concerning its economic status and thirst for foreign brands it still maintains a very unique perspective.

One of the first things I noticed when I came to Japan were people's mannerisms. When I first started studying Japanese in the U.S. I thought I would just need to learn vocabulary and grammer...that is completely wrong. Japanese people use hand signals every day to convey various meanings. This can be very confusing for a foreigner. At a restaurant you will see customers crossing their two pointer fingers, signaling for the check. Maybe when you give your seat to an elderly person on the train they will raise one hand perpendicular to their chest saying "thank you,"and the American, "OK" hand signal on its side means, "money." As expected you will see Japanese people constantly bowing to their friends, co-workers, customers, bosses, or any other acquaintances. (After being here for five months I have picked up on these mannerisms and I think I will subconsciously use these when I return home.)

2011年の日本の地震分布図 Japan earthquakes 2011 Visualization map (2012-01-01)

2012-02-04T19:51:00.002-08:00

This will show you how devastating the March disaster was in Japan. The video will take your breath away!

Food and Drinks in Tokyo!

2012-02-02T22:38:00.000-08:00

Chirashi Donburi

Raw fish and bits of seaweed over rice. Topped with wasabi

500 yen ($6.50)

Hot Milk Tea

400 yen ($5)

Ten-don

Tempura Shrimp and vegetables over rice

500 yen ($6.50)

Mochi Soup

Very popular during the New Years season

(made by my friend's mom)

Black egg

Boiled from hot water from a hot spring!

500 Yen for 6 ($6.50)

Disneyland Tokyo

2012-02-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

I had an amazing time at Tokyo Disneyland. I went on a holiday so the lines for the rides were extremely long! As the day went on and many of the little kids went home the lines started to shorten up.

Most of the rides are identical to Disneyland in Los Angeles (except for the fact thateverything is in Japanese.) I plan to go to Disney Sea very soon which is a different theme park and apparently offers more rides that are Japan-exclusive.

My most memorable part of the day was waiting 5 hours for my Fast Pass wait time to run out and then thirty minutes in line so I could get on Space Mountain. When in line for space mountain, one of the workers pulled me and my friend off to the side and told us to come with her because my legs might be too long to fit on the ride! So they took me to a back room where they had the spare Space Mountain carts and asked me to try and sit it one....surprisingly I could barely fit! The only way I could fit was if I crossed my legs! They then had me practice getting in and out of the cart. It was quite entertaining to say the least, and the staff was very polite and nice about the situation.

Tokyo Tower

2012-02-02T22:15:00.000-08:00

This is my second post about Tokyo Tower, but since it is one of Tokyo's most iconic symbols I think it's fair enough to receive a second one. I went to Tokyo Tower right when the sun was starting to set and was able to get some pretty interesting photos!

Mt. Fuji and Mori Tower

Mt. Fuji

Tokyo Tower from the base

Sumo Wrestling

2012-02-02T22:11:00.000-08:00

Sumo wrestling is an iconic symbol of Japan. A very honorable sport, thats origins come from legends. I got the chance to see a Sumo match and really learned about a different aspect of Japanese culture.

When walking around the Sumo town of Ryogoku you can spot sumo wrestlers everywhere. (My favorite moment was watching four sumo wrestlers pile into a small taxi cab and watch the car slowly sink down.)

Sumo, is a very slow sport. You will have about 5 minutes of ceremonial mannor in-between 5-15 second matches. The sumo wrestlers throw salt to purify the ring, and stomp to make the bad spirits go away. After a few repeats of this, they finally begin wrestling!

The rules in sumo wrestling are very simple: You lose if any part besides the bottom of your foot touches the ground or if you step or fall outside of the circle. (A lot more simple compared to American football which has over 350 rules!)

No Sleeping! This is a McDonalds!

2011-11-01T05:57:00.000-07:00

Missing the last train is a real pain for everyone in Tokyo. Most trains' last departures are around 12:30, so if you don't catch that what do you do? You could call a taxi but that will cost you anywhere from $50-$100. You could walk, but that would take forever, and sometimes it's nearly impossible. So most people just camp it out, but where? Well, what business is everywhere, open late, safe, warm, and comfortable?

McDonalds! When you miss the last train, it's one of the best places to go hang out...but not so fast. The minute you rest your head on the table or close your eyes, get ready to be shoulder tapped by a McDonalds employee asking you kindly not to sleep.

I'm sure someday McDonalds will find a way to make money and still allow you to sleep, but until then keep your eyes open and enjoy your Big Mac.

Little Tokyo.mov

2011-11-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

A video I created from my first week in Tokyo

Yoyogi Park

2011-11-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world, especially for foreigners. So it's really nice to find something free to do. The best thing I have found is to meet with some friends and relax on the grass in Yoyogi Park. It's beautiful at sun down and is one of the few places in the city where you can get back to nature.

Halloween in Japan

2011-11-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

A lot of foreign holidays are picked up by Japan and Japanified. Halloween is a great example, it's an excuse for people to dress up and show their creativity. Most people will go to clubs or bars to celebrate with their friends.

Shibuya is already an interesting place, but on Halloween it was so crazy. On my left I saw Power Rangers running past Hachiko and on my right Japanese girl's dressed as witches crossing the scramble.

Don Quijote was packed with people buying last minute costumes.

I went to a brand new club, that opened up on Friday called Sound Vision Museum, where Verbal from M-flo performed.

The Land of the Rising Sun

2011-11-01T04:52:00.000-07:00

From the top of my building at 6 a.m.

Want to see the sun rise, check this website for times:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=248

Missing Mexican Meals?

2011-10-30T05:01:00.000-07:00

When I lived in San Diego, I would eat Mexican food once or twice a week. Living in Tokyo has really made it hard to fill my cravings, but luckily this year a new restaurant opened up in the Aoyama/Omotesando area.

Libre, has American style burritos and various other Mexican dishes. Inspired by mexican food in San Francisco this place hits the spot. So far it is the best Mexican food I have had in Tokyo.

http://www.libre-burrito.com/

Paper vs. Plastic

2011-10-30T04:54:00.001-07:00

In Tokyo every thing is so expensive, so it's nice to find ways to save money. One way I have found is that when shopping for drinks at the convenient store, always buy the drinks in the paper cartons, you get more drink and it will normally be 50 yen or so cheaper!

These cost around the same, but the one on the right holds double!

Aoyama Gakuin's Trip to Yamanashi

2011-10-30T03:19:00.000-07:00

On Friday, the International Exchange Center from my school organized a trip to the Yamanashi prefecture. Yamanashi is a rural mountain area, being there was really refreshing compared to being in the city all the time.

It was about a 2 hour bus ride from our campus to the first location, where we rode a ropeway up a mountain. At the top was a shrine and a view point for Mt. Fuji. We were alloted twenty minutes and then were told to return to the base of the mountain to eat lunch.

(Mt.Fuji)

(The leaves are starting to change)

Lunch was amazing, and very filling. It consisted of various local dishes and a special noodle dish which was similar to udon.

After lunch we returned on the bus, and drove to a community center type building, to make a kaleidoscope, which was actually very fun. It was also very interesting to see the inner workings of a kaleidoscope.

Then it was back to the buses, where we relocated to a grape vine area. We were allowed to cut grapes off the vine and eat them right away. It was really nice to finally have a decent amount of fruit, because I rarely eat it here because it is too expensive.

Here is a video of the highlights of the trip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQFG-WcLGfg

Tokyo Giants at Tokyo Dome

2011-10-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

I have always been told to attend a Japanese baseball game, and I am glad I did.

First of all, Tokyo Dome is such a unique and massive stadium, holding roughly 55,000 people at maximum occupancy. For architecture fans it is a must see. Many famous artists have held live events here including Michael Jackson, Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, and Mariah Carey.

Japanese baseball fans are so enthusiastic, it is more fun watching them then actually watching the game. In the cheering sections there is a trumpet and drum player leading chants for each batter up at the plate. The cheers will go on the entire time they are up at bat, finally ending when they are struck out or make it on to a base.

On a sadder note, I do feel very bad for the various beer girls, who are constantly walking around with a mini keg on their bag, sweating in their ridiculous uniforms. (On a happier note, I hear they get paid very well!)

Also outside the park is a small amusement park and shopping mall, which is worth checking out before or after an event.

Tokyo Rockabilly: Yoyogi Park

2011-10-23T04:06:00.000-07:00

Yoyogi Park around Harajuku station, is an interesting place in itself. It is a quiet escape from the hectic city, a place to enjoy a sunny day or a romantic walk at night. But to make this place more interesting, on Sunday you can see the Tokyo Rockabilly Club.

What is the Tokyo Rockabilly Club?

I am still asking myself that! What I do know is that if you make your way to the entrance of Yoyogi Park on a Sunday you can see men and women dressed in the 1950's sock hop fashion, dancing away to rock music. It is definitely an experience that every person who comes to visit Tokyo should see.

In my youtube video you can see them at 3:34

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=todPFtDYtJo

Hand Sanitizer

2011-10-23T03:51:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love most about this country is the abundant amount of hand sanitizer. Being a slight germaphobe it is hard to live in one of the most condensed city. There are always people constantly breathing and coughing on you, but too make things better, almost everywhere you go, you can find hand sanitizer!

Even if you can't find it, before a meal you are normally given a paper towelet to wash your hands.

In a city this crowded, with people constantly coming and going from all over the world, the only way to keep people healthy, is to try and prevent the outbreak of disease with constantly cleaning your hands.

Overall, this city is a paradox for germaphobes, on the one hand there are always people bumping into you, everyone touches the same handles on the subway, and there are so many ways to share germs. On the flip side, it is a germaphobes paradise equipped with everything you need to combat germs.

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