tokyo any suggestions btdt

[essnce629]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but we're headed to Tokyo in late Sept. (my kids' public school has an unusual week-long Fall break) and I would LOVE any additional advice. I've been so overwhelmed trying to figure out restaurant reservations and activities. We don't have access to a concierge because we rented an AirBnB because DD2 has a food allergy to fish. We need a kitchen/fridge to prepare/re-heat her food when DH and I go get sushi. We are going to be in Tokyo only for about 9 days (not counting travel days). I figured jet lag will hit us hard (it did on our last trip to Asia) so we're not going outside of Tokyo.

Anyhow, I'm specifically curious if anyone:

- visited an onsen (there's a big one in Odaiba but my 13 year old DD1 is definitely not comfortable being naked in front of anyone so I may just take my 10 year old and DH and DD can do something else)
- did any city tours (I booked a food tour)
- visited the new fish market (I hear there are still restaurants left at the old fish market)
- visited DisneySea (it's supposedly an awesome water-focused Disney park and we love DL but not sure if it's worth spending precious day there)
- any other activities (e.g., renting kimonos and doing a photo shoot, going to the Ghibli Museum, going to see sumo wrestlers, participating in a tea ceremony)

Thanks in advance!

We spent 4 full days in Tokyo at the beginning of August (on our way to Vietnam). My first piece of advice is to join the "Japan Travel Planning" private Facebook group. I didn't find out about it until about 2 days before our trip and I'm still on it now and there's just so much good information. Plus you can just do a search for whatever you have questions about. I wish I knew about it sooner! Also, be prepared for the EXTREME humidity. We're from CA and used to extreme heat, but the humidity was killer. DS1 and DH suffered from chafing and heat rash. Our clothes were soaked through with sweat every day (DS1 actually looked like he peed his pants every day, that's how soaked they were)! I bought a Japanese shade umbrella there to replace my regular umbrella I was using since their shade umbrellas are super lightweight compared to regular rain umbrellas. We all bought the portable hand carried usb powered fans to carry with us all day. And bring or buy handkerchiefs/sweat rags to wipe the constant stream of sweat from your face (I brought a small microfiber exercise hand towel). Be prepared to walk A TON! We averaged 20k-38k steps a day! I brought a pair of Crocs sandals and Crocs slip-ons and my feet were ok. DH's feet were killing him in his running shoes (he ended up buying new shoes in Vietnam)! Also pack light. For luggage, don't bring anything larger than a medium suitcase since the train stations have tons of stairs and no elevators so you'll be lugging your luggage up and down stairs.

My boys are 16 and 10. DS1 is a HUGE anime and manga fan and has been taking Japanese for the past year. He just celebrated his birthday last week and we knew we'd have to do stuff anime related in Tokyo and we wanted to buy a ton of anime stuff in Akihabara for his birthday. So our itinerary has some anime themed activities. DS2 is very much into Pokemon, thus the visit to one of the 3 Pokemon Centers in Tokyo. We didn't visit an Onsen because DS2 wasn't comfortable with it and we didn't have enough time. DS1 and I really wanted to go though. If you go, you will be separated by gender, so your DH will be all on his own and I would have been all on my own. We didn't do a food tour, but we totally plan to do a food tour or cooking class on all our big trips now (we did both a food tour and cooking class in Vietnam and loved both)! DH and DS2 visited the new fish market on the first morning when they were awake super early from jet lag! They did eat breakfast there and had a good time. We didn't do anything Disney because my kids aren't Disney fans and DS1 hates all rides! Also, regarding the jet lag, it wasn't going there that was a big problem it was coming home (CA). After the first day in Japan we were all fine with the time change (we took melatonin nightly) but it took about 5 days to get back to normal on the return (DH was falling asleep at 5:30pm as soon as he got home from work and even 4 days later was falling asleep at 2pm on the weekend with DS1).

I actually think 9 days in Tokyo is too long. I would for sure throw in 1-2 day trips or a second location to Kyoto by bullet train. We only had 4 full days in Tokyo and if we had any more we would have left the city. Here's our itinerary:

Day 1
Arrive in Tokyo (early evening)

Day 2
Zojo-Ji Temple

Tokyo Tower
* Next to Zojo-Ji temple
* Modeled after Paris’ Eiffel Tower
* Take pics outside, don't go up. Not that tall so isn't a good view of the city. They have the most delicious mango shaved ice with fresh mango pieces at the crepe stand under the Tokyo Tower.

TeamLab: Borderless at Mori Digital Arts Museum
* Book tickets in advance
* Allow 2-3 hours to go through
* Hours: 10am-9pm
* Arrive before opening, on a weekday, for the least crowds
* Expect to wait in line up to 90 minutes to get inside
https://borderless.teamlab.art/

Day 3-- Asakusa and Akihabara
Asakusa:

Senso-ji Temple
* Get there early, by noon it's packed with tour groups
* Go on a weekday

Tokyo Skytree
* Go all the way to the top first for the best view

Pokemon Center Skytree Town

Akihabara (stores don't open till 11am)
* Manga and anime tour
* 2.5 hours
* $40/person
* Book in advance, likely to sell out
https://www.getyourguide.com/tokyo-l...-guide-t62869/

Walk the main blvd, Chuor Dori
Head to Yodobashi, the center of all things electronic
Don't take pics of maids or locals in cosplay without asking first

Day 4-- Harajuku and Shibuya
Meiji Shrine
* Up the hill by Harajuku station

Harajuku:
Take****a Dori: one of Tokyo’s most famous streets

Explore shops lining street
Crepe shops
Animal cafes (we visited the Zoo Land): https://www.his-j.com/japan-tourist/tyo/AnimalCafe

Shibuya:
Shibuya crossing

Shinjuku Mylord mall (I was on the search for an authentic Anello backpack)

Zauo Shinjuku for dinner (Shinjuku)
You fish for your food and then they cook it
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...ure_Kanto.html

Day 5
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...ure_Kanto.html

Samurai Museum
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...ure_Kanto.html

Robot Restaurant
(Super popular tourist attraction but I would NOT recommend it. We saw it and it was not worth the time or money. I would describe it as a psychedelic parade in a small room! DS1 and I agreed that you have to be either drunk or high to really enjoy it! Show is actually only 1 hour since there's TWO 15 minute intermissions)!
* $76/person
* 90 minutes long (MUST arrive 30 minutes before show time)
* Don't order food, it's not good (concession stand food)
* Eat dinner before or after
Discount tickets:
https://www.getyourguide.com/tokyo-l...&cmp=robotcafe

Food recommendations we didn't get a chance to try:
Uogashi Nihon Ichi Atre (Akihabara)
* Sushi bar, eat standing, cheap prices
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...ure_Kanto.html

Ninja Akasaka (Chiyoda)
* Book in advance
https://ninjaakasaka.com/