I have 24 hours in Tokyo as a stopover.?

Question

Landing in Narita Airport. Can anyone suggest where to stay, how to get around and what to see in this amount of time? Thank you!

Answer 1

This is what I call my "generic" tour of Tokyo for 3-5 day visitors. It is geard towards one or two people.
If you arrive from the USA, you will be jet lagged in the morning. My first suggestion is to go to Tsukiji fish market and see the fish being sold. The hours for general public are about 0500-0900 and this might fit well with your jet lag. You can see some huge pieces of tuna being cut and sawed for sale and distrubution. There are also tons of fresh and live fish. The activities are very interesting. I suggest this with the though that you like fish, sushi and have a sense of adventure. After the fish market you can walk to the adjacent area and have sushi.
Next for a bit of traditional Japan, you can take visit Meiji Shrine. The location is the JR Harajuku station or the Tokyo Metro Meiji Jingu Mae station. Both stations are in the same area, just different lines. This is a good glimpse of beatifull traditional Japan. Of course many know that the best of traditional Japan is Kyoto, this is a good taste if you only have time for Tokyo.

If you are not tired, you can take the JR Yamanote line to Shibuya and drown your senses with ultra modern young Japan. If you are into the "Lost in Translation Tour" the Hachiko crosswalk one of your destinations. I suggest walking through the crosswalk and then going upstairs to Starbucks to watch the tidal waves of people cross the street. Next take a walk down Senta Gai (Center street) and observe what the youth of Japan is doing this hour.

To continue on the theme of ultra modern Japan, take the train to Akihabara and drown your senses with the electronics and manga/anime. Historically Akihabara was the center for everything electronic, now it is electronics, computers and manga/anime. On Sundays from 12-6, the streets are closed to cars and open for pedestrians.

If your taste are more refined and scrutinizing, I can suggest a stop and stroll through Ginza. Ginza is an upper crust area of shopping and life. On Sundays from 12-6, the streets are closed to cars and open for pedestrians.

While out in this side of Tokyo you can also include stops at Asakusa and Ueno Park. Ueno is one of the oldest areas of Tokyo. It is considered an older and rustic living historical area. There is not much to see of the old days, but the park, zoo and adjacent Ameya-Yokocho are nice places to visit. Asakusa is another must see of Tokyo.

One cannot visit Tokyo and not stop by Shinjuku. Since I live near Shinjuku, I have found it to be less exciting, but there is a world of bars, restauraunts, pubs, dart bars, watering holes, izakayas, and all night establishments all over the Kabuki-cho area. On Sundays from 12-6, the streets are closed to cars and open for pedestrians. Another nice time to walk and take in the sights and sounds.

If you like drinking and all nighters, I can direct you to Roppongi. First you should take a tour of Roppongi Hills and experience what ultra modern Civic Tokyo life has to offer. Roppogi Hills is a planned community from the ground up. It contains a Virgin-Toho Cinema, Mori Art Museum, Asahi TV, and an upper priced mall called West Walk. For most visitors, buying Ralph Lauren, DKNY and Gucci does not rank high, but seeing the prices is an amusing activity. If the weather is warm, take a walk down to Cold Stone Creamery and see how people are wating up to one hour to have ice cream from Cold Stone. Sure ice cream is everywhere, but there are very few Cold Stone Creameries in Tokyo. I am guilty of waiting 30 minutes for my Cold Stone ice cream.

OK, so by this time you are about to head home. Ahead of you is a flight and the only thing you can do on an airplane is sit. So why not make that time pass by sleeping through the entire flight. You can do that by staying up all night bar hopping in Roppongi. The crowds and action differ from night to night, so I suggest to bar hop. There will be people at all corners everywhere offering their bar to you. Take a look, if it looks like there is action, jump in. If it sucks, well you know what to do, bail and hop to another bar.
So you say, why would I want to hang around gaijin? Well, you can also do the same in Shinjuku's Kabuki-cho, or Shibuya.

Take a taxi back to your hotel, pack your stuff, and sleep all the way back home.

Answer 2

I stay at the Hotel Okura. It's about $250 per night but it's a true 5-star. Or try a "Capsule hotel." That's the other end of the spectrum and is unique to Japan. Still very clean and safe. Only a few accept women. What to see depends on when you will be in Tokyo (day of the week and time of day). Here are some things:

Tsukichi fish market - I know, a fish store. But it's huge and very cool. It's open real early.
Ginza - Famous shopping district.
Roppongi and Shibuya - Clubs, music, hot spots for high school and college age.
Sengakuji shrine - Where the 47 ronin (llok up the story on the web) are remembered.
Shinjuku - All the latest electronics goodies. Stuff the U.S. won't see for a couple of years.
Sumo - Depending on when you're there. There is a tournament in every odd month (January, March, May, etc.). Most are in Tokyo and they last 15 days. It's kind of expensive but great to see. There is a lot of history and ceremony associated with it.

Go to http://www.japantimes.co.jp/ It's an online English language "newspaper" for folks in Japan. Look around a bit. There are lists of movies, festivals, exhibits and lots of other stuff to do while there.

You need to be aware that all taxis and trains stop running at midnight. After that, you walk or wait for them to start again. I think they start again at 5:00 or 5:30, but I'm not sure.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Tokyo is not only the political and economical centre of Japan but it has also emerged as a centre of the world economy and culture so is a city worth visit; with hotelbye you will see more. There are a number of attractions in Tokyo that should not be missed. There are large-scale downtown areas, including Ginza where famous shops from around the world stand side by side, the sleepless Shinjuku that has become the "new city centre of Tokyo," Asakusa which is reminiscent of the traditional Edo (the former name of Tokyo) and Shibuya that starts the trends for the young people. Tokyo is an interesting city, a city that you will never forget once you visit it.

Answer 4

My advice would be to stay in a Narita city hotel and just take your time visiting Narita temple and it's museum. Narita city hotels are a bargin now that most people don't have to stay in Narita to make their connections, and Narita temple is really worth a vist. If you go into Tokyo you really won't have much time to just enjoy your visit, you will just get into town and have to just turn around. If you have a hotel room within walking distance of either Narita city station you can walk to the temple and then hop back on the train to make your flight in plenty of time.

Answer 5

I spent only 24 hours in Tulse Hill once.

Answer 6

DON'T RENT A CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Public transport is the way to go, if you rent a car, you will spend half the time in traffic.