I am going to Japan, what are the things I must do?

Question

Any suggestions welcome, we want to do some weird stuff

Answer 1

Visit Hirsoshima, Nagasaki.

Answer 2

I spent two days in Tokyo a couple of years ago and the most brilliant thing we did was have a traditional Japanese meal. The hotel we stayed in had a wonderful restaurant with a small section for westerners, but a main section for Japanese. We sat at tables and watched whilst businessmen sat cross legged on the floor. We were served by two women in full Kimono's. We chose a traditional 8 course meal. We had absolutely no idea of what we were eating but that was the fun of it!!! I would say that this was the highlight of our whole trip!!!

Answer 3

Depends on where you are going really- I can recommend things to do in the Tokyo area.

Food- Try a Yakiniku place if you are a BBQ meat fan. It is almost all beef on the menu, but some pork and chicken are common as well. Also check out a beef bowl place like Yoshinoya or Sukiya, good "fast food". Definitely go to a Ramen noodle shop, it's nothing like the states. Jolly Pasta was a favorite of mine, huge pasta selection as well as penne dishes and anti-pasta dishes that are delicious. Sushi bars are plentiful and also worth checking out.

Entertainment- Pachinko Parlours- A very Japanese experiance! This vertical pinball game is fun to play, if you get enough balls in the "start" hole, a video game plays and if you win this entertaining game, you get more balls! This is a good thing because when you are done, you trade all your balls for small prizes and tokens. Take the tokens around the corner to a little window and redeem them for money. Even if you are not a gambler, it is fun to try. Expect to drop anywhere from $50 up on this game, but the payout can be good.
Most movie places have English movies with Japanese subtitles so don't be afraid to catch something in theater. Concessions are fairly expensive but they are in the states too.
Bars- There is always somewhere to go and drink in Japan, Roppongi being a more popular area for the younger crowd. Shinjuku is also peppered with clubs and bars as well as Shibuya. Some places offer 300 yen drink specials on certain nights, Thursday being a popular night for that from what I remember. Normally a drink costs around 700-1000 yen or $6-$10 a beer. When I was single and in the military in Japan, we would usually start the night out at home drinking beer we bought on base or at the local 7-11. It was cheaper to have a few drinks at home and then go out, plus taxis and trains are plentiful so we never drink and drive in Japan.

Weird stuff- I dunno, everything seemed strange to me for the first few months so if you are just visiting for a few days or weeks, you will most likely have many weird experiances. Good luck and have fun! Wish I was going with ya!

Answer 4

Apart from a few that people have already mentioned - visit Hakone and eat a black and gold sulphur egg - each one adds 7 years to your life.

Do karaoke for sure - Shibuya is expensive but its great to leave drunk around 4am and join in the banter and fun with stranded Japanese salary men and cute cherry boys :-)

Wow almost forgot one of the best days out you can have - Sunday go to Yoyogi Bridge (Harajuku or Meijijingumae Stations) and hang out with the Lolita/Punk/Cosplay kids they are so great to talk to and no one minds you taking pictures. Then you can wander Omotesando (Dior/Louis Vuitton)- by Panda Z and Hello Kitty bits in KiddyLand - have a Latte from Starbucks as you walk up Takashita Street (funky clothes) and finally taking in Meji Shrine and the peace of Yoyogi Park - the perfect Sunday.

*****One More One More - forget Disney its dull as - go to Puroland its based at Tama Centre very easy to get to from Central Tokyo no more than about 30 minutes it is the home of Hello Kitty - serious she lives there and has a wonderful theme park. No white knuckle rides and everything is in Japanese so brush up on your Nihongo. It is super kitch, a genuine good laugh, and not at all expensive - and they do not ram down your throat a shop every two yards (hello Disney - hello Universal) - in fact there is only two in the whole complex unless you count the diner - then its three.
http://www.puroland.co.jp/spl/english/
A link in English for you - arrrr you get to see Kuromi and Melody in Yukata's - kawaii.

Answer 5

You could go to a "theme" restaurant:
(all in japanese, sorry)

Vampire Cafe (ginza):
http://www.diamond-dining.com/vampire/index.html

The Lockup (jail themed in Shibuya):
http://r.gnavi.co.jp/g528910/

Alcatraz E.R. (medical prison theme in Shibuya, they have surgery "show"):
http://alcatraz.hy-system.com/

Ninja Akasaka (ninja theme of course, but I think pretty expensive):
http://www.ninja.tv/
There is a Ninja museum with demonstrations in Iga Ueno (if you like that kind of stuff):
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4351.html

Zauo (a restaurant that you catch fish in the restaurant and it becomes your dinner) Here is the only website I could find:
http://www.zauo.com/

But here is some info I found about one in Saitama

Zauo
If sitting by the riverbank waiting for a bass to bite isn't your idea of a good time—but you'd still like to catch your own—head for Zauo. The gray warehouse-like exterior off the Omiya bypass may not look much like a restaurant, but feast your eyes on Zauo's full-size fishing boat and indoor lake and you'll see that this unique dining spot is no small fry. Diners are invited to cast off the side of the ship or try their luck from the 400 seats spread over two levels. Fishing sets can be had for Â¥200, and if you're lucky you may end up netting the largest fish in the tank—a 3kg kanpachi (yellow-tail tuna), a bargain at only Â¥2,500. For those who have trouble catching any of the aji (mackerel), hirame (flounder) and tai (snapper), there's always the regular menu of regional cuisine from Fukuoka. With 10 locations in Kyushu already, Zauo's parent company Harbor House seems to have hit on a winning fishy formula, but the Omiya branch is the only Zauo outside of the Fukuoka area.

2-673-1 Mihashi, Saitama-shi. Tel: [phone]. Open 5pm-12am Mon-Fri, 4pm-midnight Sat, Sun & hols. Nearest stn: Omiya.


Since you didn't say what part of Japan you'll be in, its hard to give advice......but I hope these give you some ideas of unusual things to do in Japan!

Answer 6

Wash off before getting in the bath. As for attractions: take Chuo Line, go east past Hachioji, exit at Takao-san-guchi. Hike up Takao Mountain (2 hrs), come back down in the funicular.

Answer 7

climb mount Fuji
eat sushi at a real sushi bar
visit a Buddhist temple

Answer 8

You should make Hot Girlfriend there !
and don't forget to go to Tokyo Disney land

Answer 9

You should try Hot Spring - it's much better than message, relaxing and refreshing too!

Answer 10

travel around japan relying only on other peoples hospitality and generosity!