Tokyo: fast, cheap, and out of control!

[Serge d Nimes]

My wife and I are going to Tokyo for 5 days and would like to know the scoop. I hear that the place is expensive, but how much more expensive is it than any big city in the states? The less we spend on hotels, the more we can spend on booze and akamimi. So, where should we stay? We are young party animals and want to avoid tourist traps and places that are full of lame people.

[djrajio]

Serge you should know better to use the search button man! Plenty of threads on this...

[Serge d Nimes]

oops, I did search, but didn't get what I was looking for. I guess I will try harder.

[xcoldricex]

if you really want to be cheap about it you can sleep in the internet cafes. you get your own little cubicle (or you can get a love seat for two in some places) and a fully reclinable chair. you get free drinks, depending on the place you either get a free shower with your overnight package or you'll have to pay a couple hundred yen extra. you can put all your shit in the lockers that at every train station/subway station and get it in the morning. you can get a good 8 hours of sleep for ~$15.

[beast]

if you really want to be cheap about it you can sleep in the internet cafes. you get your own little cubicle (or you can get a love seat for two in some places) and a fully reclinable chair. you get free drinks, depending on the place you either get a free shower with your overnight package or you'll have to pay a couple hundred yen extra. you can put all your shit in the lockers that at every train station/subway station and get it in the morning. you can get a good 8 hours of sleep for ~$15.

Thats interesting. Who is this concept targeted to anyway?

For S$15 its pretty reasonable if you can tolerate sleeping in a reclinable chair.

Plus can you lock the door?

To save more money, Serge can even put all his stuff in the cubicle.

I assume the full 8 hours include internet access?

[Serge d Nimes]

I have read a bunch of posts and that internet cafe thing sounds amazing. I can not even imagine it. I definately have to fit that one in. It looks like we are going to try to stay at a hostel and a hotel that were mentioned in another thread. I am very excited to go to such a crazy place.

[isdenn]

staying in internet cafes is good when you're out late and the trains are no longer running...but it's not like a superior experience or anything...certainly worth it when youre stuck in shibuya or roppongi and dont want to shell out retarded yen for a taxi though.

re: tokyo being expensive in general, thats only if you buy anything

but really you just have to pay attention to where youre spending your money. dont eat sushi or foreign food every night and youll probably be straight. if youre planning on travelling anywhere outside of tokyo get an exchange order for a JR pass before you get to japan...even if you just go to kyoto and back, that pays for the 7-day one, and you can go on any other JR trains etc too (except the nozomi but who needs that)

[xcoldricex]

Thats interesting. Who is this concept targeted to anyway?

For S$15 its pretty reasonable if you can tolerate sleeping in a reclinable chair.

Plus can you lock the door?

To save more money, Serge can even put all his stuff in the cubicle.

I assume the full 8 hours include internet access?

nah you can't lock the door but you have a curtain or a door depending on the place. it's targeted to anyone that misses the last train home or people who don't want to go home (i've read articles about kids staying in the supercafe's for weeks without leaving). it's not only internet either, you can read magazines, anime, watch dvds, play playstation, etc. each place has different things. some places have health spa attachments so you can get massages and shit too. it's pretty crazy. some places charge for shampoo and soap though, so i'd bring my own just in case.

[englandmj7]

Serge -

If you want to be in a 'partying' environment and are looking to stay in a nice, cheap, clean hostel, look no further than Guess T House in Azabu-Juban (Roppongi):

http://tokyohostel.com/english.html

You will meet a ton of people to party with and who know the area well, and the guy who runs the place (Amir) is really nice and will help you make a plan to go out, etc. A short 10-minute walk yields several clubs/bars and plenty of places to get wasted. Although it is filled with foreigners, I thought Lexington Queen was awesome in that you get an "all you can drink" pass for $37, not to mention it is very close to the hostel:

http://www.lexingtonqueen.com/discount.html

For other clubs (I am not supremely knowledgeable on this subject as I spent most of my time in stripbars ) I know there have been several posts made (with alot of advice from djrajio). Have fun!

[xcoldricex]

if youre planning on travelling anywhere outside of tokyo get an exchange order for a JR pass before you get to japan...even if you just go to kyoto and back, that pays for the 7-day one, and you can go on any other JR trains etc too (except the nozomi but who needs that)

true dat. i've gone on nozomi's before with my jr pass. you just have to look confused and not speak any japanese. haha. but you don't really have to use them anyway unless you miss the last non-nozomi train back to tokyo on your last day of the pass .

[DaBestSpoona]

if you really want to be cheap about it you can sleep in the internet cafes. you get your own little cubicle (or you can get a love seat for two in some places) and a fully reclinable chair. you get free drinks, depending on the place you either get a free shower with your overnight package or you'll have to pay a couple hundred yen extra. you can put all your shit in the lockers that at every train station/subway station and get it in the morning. you can get a good 8 hours of sleep for ~$15.

You can leave your shit at coinlockers for a while, no problems just pay the overnite charges.

[mizanation]

if you really want to be cheap about it you can sleep in the internet cafes. you get your own little cubicle (or you can get a love seat for two in some places) and a fully reclinable chair. you get free drinks, depending on the place you either get a free shower with your overnight package or you'll have to pay a couple hundred yen extra. you can put all your shit in the lockers that at every train station/subway station and get it in the morning. you can get a good 8 hours of sleep for ~$15.

best unknown super-secret in tokyo. coldrice, you really know your stuff.

i like the internet cafe close to roppongi junction. you get a nice view overlooking the city......

[xcoldricex]

best unknown super-secret in tokyo. coldrice, you really know your stuff.

i like the internet cafe close to roppongi junction. you get a nice view overlooking the city......

haha, see people don't know that i'm very good at being a penny pincher.

also, if you want more accomodating places, i really would go check out a love hotel. the only problem is you can't check in until around 8-9pm for an overnight stay- but that's fine if you just lock your stuff up in lockers. you're going to get a nice room for much cheaper than any other real hotel (and yes they are clean, contrary to popular thought. i saw a lady cleaning one of the rooms once and she used A LOT of disinfectant) you'll get an interesting room, have a story to tell, and there's other perks such as free food, free drinks, nicer bathrooms with nicer soaps/shampoo/cond. etc. - free toothbrushes and all of that. some places also have free movies, free videogames, etc. etc. i've never stayed at one in tokyo though.

[mizanation]

coldrice, that was the second tip i wanted to give.

love hotels are a cheap way to spend the night. very clean and usually have an awesome bathroom--usually pretty spacious with a big tub. checking in and out is convenient. one time i stayed in a place where i paid for the night by putting my money in a cannister which was vacuumed through a tube.

nice thing about them is that you can stay in a different place every night, it's like sampling different love hotels.

*edit* oh and free condoms.

oh and at one love hotel in okinawa, they served us our breakfast through a small opening in the door. it was a nice touch.

[xcoldricex]

yeah unfortunately my girlfriend liked the love hotels so much we didn't squeeze in a night at a ryokan. gotta do that next time.

some places are even totally automated so you just swipe your card when you're leaving at the door- or you're locked in haha.

oh and free (but censored) porn channels are another perk haha.

[apu]

the idea of staying in a love hotel seems interesting

but when u r actually there lieing on the bed, wont it get a bit 'wierd' cos all these different blokes done exactly the same with the high skool girl they brought in???

nonetheless its a good idea to save money

[Carl]

but when u r actually there lieing on the bed, wont it get a bit 'wierd' cos all these different blokes done exactly the same with the high skool girl they brought in???

And that is different from any other hotel anywhere, how?

[eeb]

If you want a more "traditional" sleep, try:

Hotel Fukudaya http://www2.gol.com/users/ryokan-fukudaya/

It's cheap, and right in Shibuya. Go for a Japanese style room if you can.

or

Tokyo ryokan http://www.tokyoryokan.com/

Very cheap, new building, in Asakusa

or

Andon Ryokan http://www.andon.co.jp/

New building in an older neighborhood... pretty inexpensive

[beast]

haha, see people don't know that i'm very good at being a penny pincher.

also, if you want more accomodating places, i really would go check out a love hotel. the only problem is you can't check in until around 8-9pm for an overnight stay- but that's fine if you just lock your stuff up in lockers. you're going to get a nice room for much cheaper than any other real hotel (and yes they are clean, contrary to popular thought. i saw a lady cleaning one of the rooms once and she used A LOT of disinfectant) you'll get an interesting room, have a story to tell, and there's other perks such as free food, free drinks, nicer bathrooms with nicer soaps/shampoo/cond. etc. - free toothbrushes and all of that. some places also have free movies, free videogames, etc. etc. i've never stayed at one in tokyo though.

HI!

I think one would be better off checking into a love hotel.

At least you have a nice bed and airconditioning in the summer. Plus the Japanese are fastidious with cleanliness so there shouldnt be a problem there.

The only problem I foresee are the moaning and beds rocking all around you all night long.

But I bet love hotels are more expensive than the internet cafes though.

[Serge d Nimes]

So, I have booked our stay at Tokyo Hostel and I think we are going to stay in a love hotel for at least one night. The hostel at $30 a night sounds awesome. We will probably be partying in Ebisu at night and shopping in Shibuya. I definately am looking forward to getting lost there.

[englandmj7]

^^ Good choice. It went up to $30 per person for one night? Damn; I think it was around $18 when I was there six months ago.

[mizanation]

So, I have booked our stay at Tokyo Hostel and I think we are going to stay in a love hotel for at least one night. The hostel at $30 a night sounds awesome. We will probably be partying in Ebisu at night and shopping in Shibuya. I definately am looking forward to getting lost there.

serge, you and your wife are gonna have a blast. i can't wait to get there, too.

for shopping, also check out ura-hara (backstreets of harajuku--for the bleeding edge of harajuku fashion) and omote-sando (kinda like tokyo's version of new york's 5th avenue but on steroids). also, don't forget ueno for all the great shops (like hinoya) there (and great cheap sushi).

for partying, you might want to check out roppongi instead.

go to ebisu for food and drinking, then head to roppongi for parties that last till morning.

[englandmj7]

serge, you and your wife are gonna have a blast. i can't wait to get there, too.

for shopping, also check out ura-hara (backstreets of harajuku--for the bleeding edge of harajuku fashion) and omote-sando (kinda like tokyo's version of new york's 5th avenue but on steroids). also, don't forget ueno for all the great shops (like hinoya) there (and great cheap sushi).

for partying, you might want to check out roppongi instead.

go to ebisu for food and drinking, then head to roppongi for parties that last till morning.

Word. Especially since you are basically staying IN Roppongi.....you don't need to take the subway to Ebisu when you have tons of bars/clubs within a 10-minute walk from your hostel.

[poly800rock]

serge, you and your wife are gonna have a blast. i can't wait to get there, too.

for shopping, also check out ura-hara (backstreets of harajuku--for the bleeding edge of harajuku fashion) and omote-sando (kinda like tokyo's version of new york's 5th avenue but on steroids). also, don't forget ueno for all the great shops (like hinoya) there (and great cheap sushi).

for partying, you might want to check out roppongi instead.

go to ebisu for food and drinking, then head to roppongi for parties that last till morning.

if he's going to avoid the tourist traps, i would at all costs avoid roppongii. tons of cooler places in tokyo to have fun at night. i think for a tourist to find these non roppongii places is part of the fun of tokyo.

[mizanation]

ah, you have to find the hidden jewels *inside* roppongi. there are clubs with no tourists, believe it or not, in roppongi and next door in nishi-azabu.

telling someone who's never been to tokyo to avoid roppongi is bad advice, i think. it can be one of the best places to party for foreigners and locals....

[englandmj7]

Yeah, I definitely think avoiding Roppongi is silly, especially when you are staying in it. This is especially true when you are friggin' wasted at 2 am and want to go to sleep but the trains aren't running and a cab will cost you a good $60. You can WALK home. I went out in several areas in Tokyo when I was there and there was absolutely nothing wrong with Roppongi.........it was plenty of fun. Also, there is nothing wrong with partying with foreigners; alot of them are living/studying in the country and will have a ton of advice to offer, not to mention it is cool to meet random friends and do a couple of your day trips with them.

[poly800rock]

ah, you have to find the hidden jewels *inside* roppongi. there are clubs with no tourists, believe it or not, in roppongi and next door in nishi-azabu.

telling someone who's never been to tokyo to avoid roppongi is bad advice, i think. it can be one of the best places to party for foreigners and locals....

i think i was a bit harsh to say to avoid roppongii at all costs, and yes there are some things to be found. but i guess it all depends on what you're looking for in going to tokyo....

[mizanation]

i know what people mean though about roppongi, like club gaspanic should be avoided at all costs, even if it means taking a bullet in the chest.

but there are a ton of good clubs in the area. some of the best parties are in roppongi--they're the ones that don't have people advertising on the street.

also, there's a ton of great restaurants and bars. plus, it never sleeps. you can party till the sun comes up. my wife showed me a ton of "secret" bars and restaurants in roppongi. places that have no signs and when you go in, it's like you're in another world. i've seen several japanese and foreign celebrities partying there too, so it's not like it's not a cool place to hang out. you can have a great time, just walking around there.... and, like england mentioned, being in a place where a lot of people speak english and are cool with foreigners is not a bad at all.

[djrajio]

if he's going to avoid the tourist traps, i would at all costs avoid roppongii. tons of cooler places in tokyo to have fun at night. i think for a tourist to find these non roppongii places is part of the fun of tokyo.

As other people have mentioned, I don't think Roppongi should be avoided all together. Hell I work and play in Roppongi almost everyday here (not by choice), you just gotta know where to go. If you are a first time foreigner in Japan, Roppongi isn't all that bad. It's the regulars that come week in and week out that make the place sleazy. But for first timers, having other foreigners who speak English all around you can be very comforting. Plenty of good places around the area (Nishi-Azabu, Minami-Aoyama) just to relax or have fun.

New clubs I'd recommend for first time people:

Flower (Just opened 2 months ago, the new " it " place)

Fiera / Grace (Crazy popular with the East-European models) / The new MUSE of Roppongi. Lots of finance guys hit up this place now.

Velours (Still my favorite club)

911 Black (Has been under renovation, opening Holloween night)

Vanilla (The best all around have a good time, big super club / 1000 yen for foreigners + two drinks)

PLACES TO ABSOLUTELY AVOID:

Heartland (The anus of Roppongi, avoid this place at all costs)

Geronimo's

Muse (It's gotten pretty bad)

Gas Panic

Lexington Queen (Although all you can drink, they tend to water everything down, mostly top 40...Reputation of letting in highschools/underage people in for a long time)

TIP:

If there isnt' a good percentage of domestic Japanese guys at a bar/club, its most likely a sleazy place / tourist trap.

[Serge d Nimes]

Thanks for all of the advice. My wife and I are big party animals and can have a good time anywhere there is good music. From what I've read abput Roppongi it seems very touristy, compltete with shitty American chain restaurants. We will check out the places mentioned. We have been looking at http://www.higher-frequency.com/ and http://metropolis.co.jp/default.asp for ideas as well. One problem is that we have no idea about the scale of things over there. Like how far are Shibuya and Ebisu from Roppongi?

Also, does Zongamin (Susumu Mukai) have a residency anywhere?