Back!

[oyceter]

Safely back in Taiwan now, and it is hotter and more humid than Seoul, sigh. I miss Seoul! It makes Taipei feel so small =(.

But the wireless is amazingly working, I am surrounded by my own books again, and now I will see if I can stream Queen Seon Deok, since I have been inspired to try watching again thanks to my Gyeongju trip.

Also! To keep me from missing Seoul, tell me what to do in Tokyo! My family is going there for a week in August, and it will be my first time in Japan since undergrad! I can't believe it's been so long...

I think I've done most of the touristy things on previous trips, though any museum recommendations would be good, since I am fairly sure I missed those. Small and/or weird and/or offbeat museums highly welcome (I am still sad I never made it to the Seoul Museum of Chicken Art!). I already plan on going to Harajuku to people watch and eat crepes and look at loligoth clothing I probably can't fit into or afford. I may pass on Shibuya, since the last time I was in Tokyo, I was there a lot. And am considering going to Tokyo Tower at night if it's open so I can brood and pretend I am Kamui. And maybe the fish market, since I've still never been.

Recommendations for shows are especially welcome, especially if it is something like Bleach the Musical (though some doubts as to whether I can convince my family...). Ditto festivals and seasonal events.

Recommendations for restaurants always welcome! I eat mostly everything, with the possible exception off things that still move (both my friend and I didn't order san nakji in Busan) or large bugs. I especially love sashimi, grilled cow tongue, izakaya fare, sushi, ramen, Japanized western food (egg on spaghetti!), tonkatsu, omurice, bakeries with things like yakisoba pan, onigiri, waffles (I am hoping Japan has as much waffles as Korea did), and... lots of other things that are slipping my mind right now because I am craving naengmyeon.

Comments

[rilina]

I feel you should visit a ferris wheel in Yokohama. And bring a flappy cloak/trenchcoat if you plan to brood!

[rachelmanija]

She can brood with her flappy coat on Rainbow Bridge!

Tokyo, I am so envious!

Go to Shibuya at night and go to an izakaya from one of the menus people are handing out! Enjoy a department store food basement (and please take photos of seasonal sweets for me!) There is a beer museum in Ebisu. Get on a train and get off at some random stop that looks interesting. Go to Harajuku and buy an adorable outfit!

[oyceter]

Definitely! I was going to say the department store basement is probably skippable, just because I've been to a ton of them in Japan and in Korea and Taiwan as well, but given my mom and sister's predilection for shopping, I am sure I will go to one anyhow.

Also I just realized there is a Takarazuka theater in Tokyo right next to the hotel we will be staying at!!!! So lining up for day-of tickets!!! Also also, I need to find where the cat cafe is! And maybe a butler cafe too!

[oyceter]

OMG AWESOME! I did not even think of that! Also it looks like tickets from Tokyo to Yokohama are very affordable and the ride is short enough for a day trip! Haha, if I am ever close to Shimane, I will totally be a dork and visit the sandglass museum too.

[lnhammer]

Is it too late to get Takarazuka tickets? Not that I know where any of the troops are touring right now.

---L.

[oyceter]

I had not even thought about that! And then I asked someone and it turns out there is a Tokyo Takarazuka theater right next to our hotel!!!! I will check about reservations, but I suspect I will just line up one morning to try day-of tickets.

[lnhammer]

REPORT PLS

[snarp]

You should definitely visit the secondhand shop "Chicago" while you're in Harajuku - it's fairly inexpensive and has a lot of weird stuff.

I strongly advise going to Ryougoku, the sumo district. It boasts:

1) Many restaurants that serve chanko nabe. That's the stuff that sumo wrestlers eat to bulk themselves up, which contains anywhere from four to fourteen kinds of meat. (Do not attempt to eat the chanko nabe alone. It is a task requiring at least two participants.)

2) A nice landscape garden, Kyu-Yasuda Teien - it's not as spectacular as Rikugien or Koishikawa Kourakuen (my favorites), but it's just a block from the station and free to enter.

3) The Edo-Tokyo Museum, also right by the station. A lot of reproductions of Edo-era homes and streets. (The kabuki exhibit struck me as awfully sanitized, though...)

4) The sumo stadium, but that actually didn't interest me as much as the rest of it?

[oyceter]

Ooooo thanks for the recs! (Esp. the secondhand clothing store, AWESOME.)

[bravecows]

If you wanna watch a Takarazuka show you can probably get one on the day or the day before, something like that. 'Cos I remember doing this when I was in Tokyo. And I'm pretty sure they have a troupe that's based in Tokyo all the time.

It was a bit boring, though! After the initial "oh it's all so shiny O_O" reaction wore off, I got a bit sleepy. But maybe it's more absorbing if you understand the language, or if it's a story you like/know. (I wasn't entirely sure what I was watching ...)

I don't have any recs for Tokyo, except: enjoy it! :D

[oyceter]

Whoo! Do you remember if the tickets sold out really fast? I am sad the performance scheduled for when I am there is nothing I am familiar with, but I suspect I will go anyway, even though I will have no idea what is going on. (My Japanese, so rusty!)

[bravecows]

Nope, I don't think so! I mean, I did literally just turn up at the ticket booth and get tickets for the next morning, that sort of thing. I shouldn't think it'll be a problem for you to get in.

[(Anonymous)]

I wish I were there. I just finished watching "Boon's" film, "the Host". What a kick! I'm glad I found him. ( it was by accident-somebody should do something about great films like this).
hope your having fun.
Take care.

Ancieone from LJ.

[fialka]

Could this be serendipity? I am in Tokyo from the 23rd to the 19th, then in Kyoto for five days. When are you there?

[oyceter]

Oooo! Is that to August 19? I am there from August 9-15, though I probably will only have time to meet up from August 9-10, since after that my parents show up.