I'm going to Tokyo, Japan in August. Anyone been there before? Half of the fun is doing all my travel homework before actually going.

I will be staying in Shinjuku. Near Shinjuku Ni-Chome (gay area).

Any advice would be appreciated.

Don't eat blowfish sashimi if the place looks dodgy or empty and stay the fuck away from sake, that shit creeps up on you and it ain't pretty.

[Edited 3/16/12 16:53pm]

Tokyo's one of my favourite cities - I have some really good friends living there so I've been there about 6 times over the years and I may be heading there later this year. August is usually hot, humid and sweaty so pack light. But pack well if you're not superskinny as buying clothes is a pain. I hope you have a great time there. Just bring a load of cash. And then some more cash - it's not cheap.

Presumably you're flying into Tokyo Narita - then you can take the Narita Express (NEX) train straight to Shinjuku station. That's what I did on my first trip there. It's huge - the world's busiest train station - and then you step outside onto the set of Bladerunner.

Tokyo's pretty easy to get around if you don't have any Japanese. Get a Suica travel pass and load some cash onto it - then just swipe it when you enter and exit the metro etc. One handy form of transport is the Yamanote line - an overground rail loop that connects many of the main areas.

I don't know much about the gay scene but I can probably find out if you need to know something in particular. The nightlife I have seen is pretty wild. Not just what goes on but the locations also - you'll find bars and nightclubs on floors of innocuous office buildings. So a local to show you around would be great. However, it's the safest city I've ever been in, so you can relax and enjoy yourself.

There are lots of quirks - like most ATM machines not accepting foreign cards (use Citibank or the ones in 7-11 shops!) but that's part of the fun. Enjoy!

Thank you soooooo much Lust, PopeLeo and Hershe!!!!!!

travel insurance is important

that's all i got

ThisOne said:

travel insurance is important

that's all i got

Thanks!

ThisOne said:

travel insurance is important

that's all i got

I don't really understand travel insurance that well. What is it for?

I've traveled fairly far and wide for an american and I only purchased it once (with the political stuff going on when I booked my trip to Thailand, I wanted to be sure to be able to reschedule or get out quickly if needed).

Is there another reason you'd need it?

don't drink at a 'hostess bar'. you will be charged 200$ or more for the bottle of whiskey you drink, due to the fact that it will be poured for you by overly attentive women. you will know the 'hostess bar' by its plethora of women who will be assigned to sit with you at your table, like it or not. you will be charged for their time.

XxAxX said:

don't drink at a 'hostess bar'. you will be charged 200$ or more for the bottle of whiskey you drink, due to the fact that it will be poured for you by overly attentive women. you will know the 'hostess bar' by its plethora of women who will be assigned to sit with you at your table, like it or not. you will be charged for their time.

Another great tip. Thanks!!

CarrieMpls said:

Is there another reason you'd need it?

You can claim for stolen valuables, lost luggage, serious delays etcetera but the insurers make it difficult to claim for those things.

The major reason for me is the medical insurance element of it - in case I might need an air ambulance or to spend time in a foreign hospital.

Both can potentially cost tens of thousands and annual coverage is relatively cheap here and starts at around $50.

But I don't know a lot about American health insurance - maybe you're already covered for foreign travel.

my uncle travels there several times a year, i'll ask him what tips he has.

A couple more tips:

• Don't hail a cab to the airport from Tokyo - it will cost you about $300. The NEX train is a tenth of that, quicker and the station is in the basement of the airport terminal.

• Japanese addresses make no logical sense whatsoever. So, ideally, get someone to show you on a map where you are going.

• And be careful if you use a smart phone for maps (amongst other things). Apps like google maps download data on the fly - fine if you have a good data plan back home but it could cost you hundreds of dollars when roaming in Japan. Turn data roaming off and find a map app that downloads everything before you travel.

• Keep a copy of your hotel booking handy for when you are in passport control. They're nice but thorough and will ask where you'll be staying.. And as a single male non-business traveller, my bags have been searched the last three times I arrived - I never get searched anywhere else.

• And you're in Asia - drugs are detrimental to your liberty.

I lived in Japan for a year so I know quite a lot about the general culture, etiquette and practicalities but I don't know a whole lot about Tokyo specifically since I only spent one week there. We checked out a few izakayas (nice Japanese-style bars that usually have pretty good food too), an odd but interesting cafe with waitresses dressed up in French maid outfits in Shibuya and a few restaurants in Ginza (expensive but very good). Oh, and we got addicted to UFO catchers, lol (google it).

Hope you'll have fun and let me know if there's anything specific I can advise you on!

toilet shoes come in all types and styles, some look like dr scholls sandals. do not wear them on the street. they will point and laugh at you

do NOT order anything listed as a 'seafood pizza'. unless you enjoy eating small, intact but scorched squids atop your pizza.

if you take the bus, pay when you get off, not when you get on.

XxAxX said:

toilet shoes come in all types and styles, some look like dr scholls sandals. do not wear them on the street. they will point and laugh at you

I've never been. But just wanted to say Have a great time.

CarrieMpls said:

ThisOne said:

travel insurance is important

that's all i got

I don't really understand travel insurance that well. What is it for?

I've traveled fairly far and wide for an american and I only purchased it once (with the political stuff going on when I booked my trip to Thailand, I wanted to be sure to be able to reschedule or get out quickly if needed).

Is there another reason you'd need it?

I got stuck in a city I didn't want to be in last year for 6 days, travel insurance paid for the hotel, food, and flight reschedule.

Deadcake said:

CarrieMpls said:

I don't really understand travel insurance that well. What is it for?

I've traveled fairly far and wide for an american and I only purchased it once (with the political stuff going on when I booked my trip to Thailand, I wanted to be sure to be able to reschedule or get out quickly if needed).

Is there another reason you'd need it?

I got stuck in a city I didn't want to be in last year for 6 days, travel insurance paid for the hotel, food, and flight reschedule.

I guess that's what I don't get. How do you get stuck somewhere for 6 days? Natural disaster?

I've never traveled soemwhere I couldn't just take the next flight out and if it's, say, an airline's fault, they're going to be paying for my stuff, not me.

CarrieMpls said:

Deadcake said:

I got stuck in a city I didn't want to be in last year for 6 days, travel insurance paid for the hotel, food, and flight reschedule.

I guess that's what I don't get. How do you get stuck somewhere for 6 days? Natural disaster?

I've never traveled soemwhere I couldn't just take the next flight out and if it's, say, an airline's fault, they're going to be paying for my stuff, not me.

As PopeLeo said there's lots of other stuff that's included in a travel insurance that could come in very handy. I fell onto some rocks and hurt my back on one of my trips and the insurance paid for the whole hospital stay, the x-rays etc. It's also a huge relief to have insurance when something gets stolen (which is always a great risk when you travel). I have a great travel insurance through my credit card but if I didn't have that I would get a separate one. It's totally worth it.

Oh, and as for the situation where it's the airline's fault that the flight is cancelled or delayed, you're usually lucky if you get a bare-bones hotel room and a $20 meal voucher. Travel insurance usually offers much better compensation than that.

[Edited 3/22/12 8:31am]

CarrieMpls said:

Deadcake said:

I got stuck in a city I didn't want to be in last year for 6 days, travel insurance paid for the hotel, food, and flight reschedule.

I guess that's what I don't get. How do you get stuck somewhere for 6 days? Natural disaster?

I've never traveled soemwhere I couldn't just take the next flight out and if it's, say, an airline's fault, they're going to be paying for my stuff, not me.

I've never purchased it either, but I've considered it for some of the big travel purchases I've made. I was in Europe in 2010 when the Icelandic volcano kept blowing up and screwing up air travel for lots of travelers. But all my flights went exactly as planned, so it was no big deal.

Keep 'em comin'.

Thanks so much everyone.

Retina, PopeLeo and XxAxX!!!

Hi Lisa!!!!!!

I'm going to print this whole thread. I don't leave 'til August so theres some time.

Thank God it's going to be hot there 'cause I've read everywhere not to take BIG luggage. If I wear shorts and tees I can fit a lot for 15 days.

CarrieMpls said:

if you visit a public bathhouse, don't put soap into the water, no bubble bath! wash off before you ever get in the water.

XxAxX said:

if you visit a public bathhouse, don't put soap into the water, no bubble bath! wash off before you ever get in the water.

Wait, did a straight woman just give a gay man advice on what to do in a bathhouse?

Well, I'll be.

if he's lucky, perhaps a kind stranger will just walk over and wash his back happened to me once

Remember the Japanese basics:

Speaking quietly is the norm. Don't talk on your phone on public transport. Give way. Be nice to the oldies.

And try and take at least a day trip out of Tokyo. It's not indicative of the country at all.

Efan said:

XxAxX said:

if you visit a public bathhouse, don't put soap into the water, no bubble bath! wash off before you ever get in the water.

Wait, did a straight woman just give a gay man advice on what to do in a bathhouse?

Well, I'll be.

Hey Efan!!

I'm sure you know she's talking about a regular Japanese bathhouse.

I'll be at TREFF. Heehee.