Commenting on this to keep up to date. Think we've decided to pick this as our holiday for next year. Going to fly into Tokyo and maybe do 4 days there, 4 days in Kyoto and maybe some nature stuff in between.
Is it like anywhere else in terms of living expenses? Get ripped off in any tourist area, but okay elsewhere. I always had an impression it was quite expensive from others.
We'll be looking for some decent parties when we are out there. Techno or Psytrance preferably. I also want to check out some of the audio cafes. We like to walk really so anywhere we can just wander and get lost is great.
It's expensive but there's so many restaurants that don't charge the earth, just look around. There's a rather excellent bookshop/cafe that sells old Life magazines and similar US publications, also showa-era stuff if you like that sort of thing. Not sure if the food there is expensive, mind. You'll find it in Shibuya
Flying Books
Too out of shape for the dance stuff but pick up a copy of Tokyo Time Out
Bars & Nightlife
at Narita Airport when you arrive, they're good for listings. If there's no copies left, you can pick one up at Shibuya Station or in one of the many Hub establishments. It's a chain pub. As is The Dubliners. Both chains have relatively cheap beers (esp local, as opposed to imported) and the latter has half price drinks once a week, which is worth checking out if you want to save a few quid.
If you want great views of the city, go to the Metropolitan Government building
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Decks it's free and you're getting as good a view as you would at the Skytree Tower or Tokyo Tower.
Karaoke is a good lark as well. The Japanese experience is very different to back home. You can rent the booth (room) for as long as you like and it can accomodate anything from 2 to 20, depending on the venue. You can adjust lighting, sound etc, ring a bell and order beer and snacks. Pachinko is quite an unusual pastime as well, you walk in and a wall of sound hits you. It's slot machine heaven or hell, depending on what you're into! Even if you're not, it's worth taking a peek.
Kyoto is all about the temples and gardens. Can't really remember much about the actual city. Kamakura is closer to Tokyo and next door to Yokohama, both worth checking out and you have your temples and nature in the former. And an excellent Chinatown in the latter.
My fave place is Nokogiiyama in Chiba, it's got a huge buddha and all that nature stuff but it's a bit isolated in the sticks.
Boso Peninsula Travel: Mount Nokogiriyama (Nihonji Temple)
What time of year are you thinking of going?
