Should I go on this trip?
September 18, 2013 2:56 PM Subscribe
Should I go to Tokyo next week? If I should... where in/around Tokyo?
Sometime ago I saw some really good flight deals online, and thought it would be fun to take advantage of that and go on some short trips. So now I technically have a roundtrip flight to Tokyo scheduled for next week (total airfare cost incl taxes etc was around $60), returning around the end of September.
I've been stalling on booking accommodation, sort of because I'm not really sure if I should still go.
I feel like I've been chewing the cud on this decision (whether I should go) for a pretty long time... and I still can't decide. So.. this feels like maybe the most frivolous question I've posted to AskMe but... argh, should I go?
reasons to go:
- The airfare was unbelievably cheap. I feel like I shouldn't waste the opportunity.
- Tsukiji Fish Market will be closed in three years (?) to make way for the upcoming Olympics. So maybe I should visit it before that?
- I still haven't visited Ghibli Museum...
- It could be fun!! I think I'd enjoy myself there if I didn't have some upcoming deadlines that I've been worrying about...
- I feel like I should explore and travel more, in general.
reasons not to go:
- Radiation / Fukushima stuff. I really wanted to visit Tsukiji Fish Market. Except now I'm not sure if it's safe to eat seafood there?
- I already visited Tokyo last year.
- I don't know Japanese. I can't speak it, and the most I can understand are some kanji words (since I know Mandarin). I can sort of pronounce the kana, but basically: everything I can read aloud (the phonetic kana), I can't understand. And the stuff I can sort of understand (kanji), I can't read aloud. I know technically visitors can get by without knowing Japanese, but it's added stress...
- My work is pretty flexible. But I still have a bunch of early October deadlines, both for personal projects and work. I'm worried I might not be able to make those deadlines (or not do my 'best') if I go on holiday. Or that I won't really enjoy myself anyway, because I'll be worrying about the deadlines while in Japan. I think I've been worrying about this stuff so much that it's clouding my ability to make a firm decision on whether to go.
- I recently made another trip to another country. It was fun, but I was kinda tired when I returned.
- At this point, I'm thinking it would be nice to go on a trip if the trip were more relaxing (like a seaside-ish place or somewhere less urban). Except Tokyo seems to entail more shopping/eating/sightseeing/doing a lot of things rather than chilling.
Or.. are there any places near Tokyo, that I could go to instead? Like places that have a slower pace, where I could read and write and relax more (instead of feeling like I should be on the go).
- Accommodation prices are increasing the more I stall.
I guess if I don't go, then I sort of won't have wasted much in terms of actual $, but it does feel like a wasted opportunity. At the same time, I don't want to jeopardize my work, but maybe I could get my act together wrt work (I've been procrastinating, too) if I stopped worrying, and made a decision either way?
If I go, where should I go that might be less hectic and more relaxing (and where I can still get by without knowing Japanese)? I don't mind traveling a bit beyond Tokyo's city area.
Sorry if this is sort of scattered and muddled. Thanks for reading this far. If you have any suggestions or advice I'd be super grateful.
Sometime ago I saw some really good flight deals online, and thought it would be fun to take advantage of that and go on some short trips. So now I technically have a roundtrip flight to Tokyo scheduled for next week (total airfare cost incl taxes etc was around $60), returning around the end of September.
I've been stalling on booking accommodation, sort of because I'm not really sure if I should still go.
I feel like I've been chewing the cud on this decision (whether I should go) for a pretty long time... and I still can't decide. So.. this feels like maybe the most frivolous question I've posted to AskMe but... argh, should I go?
reasons to go:
- The airfare was unbelievably cheap. I feel like I shouldn't waste the opportunity.
- Tsukiji Fish Market will be closed in three years (?) to make way for the upcoming Olympics. So maybe I should visit it before that?
- I still haven't visited Ghibli Museum...
- It could be fun!! I think I'd enjoy myself there if I didn't have some upcoming deadlines that I've been worrying about...
- I feel like I should explore and travel more, in general.
reasons not to go:
- Radiation / Fukushima stuff. I really wanted to visit Tsukiji Fish Market. Except now I'm not sure if it's safe to eat seafood there?
- I already visited Tokyo last year.
- I don't know Japanese. I can't speak it, and the most I can understand are some kanji words (since I know Mandarin). I can sort of pronounce the kana, but basically: everything I can read aloud (the phonetic kana), I can't understand. And the stuff I can sort of understand (kanji), I can't read aloud. I know technically visitors can get by without knowing Japanese, but it's added stress...
- My work is pretty flexible. But I still have a bunch of early October deadlines, both for personal projects and work. I'm worried I might not be able to make those deadlines (or not do my 'best') if I go on holiday. Or that I won't really enjoy myself anyway, because I'll be worrying about the deadlines while in Japan. I think I've been worrying about this stuff so much that it's clouding my ability to make a firm decision on whether to go.
- I recently made another trip to another country. It was fun, but I was kinda tired when I returned.
- At this point, I'm thinking it would be nice to go on a trip if the trip were more relaxing (like a seaside-ish place or somewhere less urban). Except Tokyo seems to entail more shopping/eating/sightseeing/doing a lot of things rather than chilling.
Or.. are there any places near Tokyo, that I could go to instead? Like places that have a slower pace, where I could read and write and relax more (instead of feeling like I should be on the go).
- Accommodation prices are increasing the more I stall.
I guess if I don't go, then I sort of won't have wasted much in terms of actual $, but it does feel like a wasted opportunity. At the same time, I don't want to jeopardize my work, but maybe I could get my act together wrt work (I've been procrastinating, too) if I stopped worrying, and made a decision either way?
If I go, where should I go that might be less hectic and more relaxing (and where I can still get by without knowing Japanese)? I don't mind traveling a bit beyond Tokyo's city area.
Sorry if this is sort of scattered and muddled. Thanks for reading this far. If you have any suggestions or advice I'd be super grateful.
Yes. There really is no explanation. Should I go to (any travel destination)? Answer is definitively yes. No place (with war zone related exception) is to be avoided. So again, yes. Go. Stop looking here and BOOK!
posted by chasles at 3:09 PM on September 18, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by chasles at 3:09 PM on September 18, 2013 [5 favorites]
Radiation / Fukushima stuff.
Personally I wouldn't / don't worry about this. WHO report "In early 2013, The World Health Organization (WHO) released a comprehensive health risk assessment report which concluded that, for the general population inside and outside of Japan, the predicted health risks are small and that no observable increases in cancer rates above background rates are expected". A week in Tokyo is not going to be an issue, eating fish or not.
Ghibli Museum...
Ghibli Museum is awesome! But I'm not sure how far in advance you need to get tickets. You can get them in Japan from various places, or by email / travel agency (check their website).
I don't know Japanese.
In general I wouldn't worry, although you've been there before so you know the stress level this would have on you better. As you know, signs and such (locations, subway, etc) tend to be in English and if you have a smartphone you can get Wifi for like $4/month (I forget the name of the network right now) so you can just sign up for one month then cancel, and use Maps or whatever. However, many attractions/museums/etc have limited English signage, so thats something to look at case-by-case before going.
Some people are just stressed by having everyone around them speaking in a language they cant understand, but again you probably have a good idea about that if you were there before. It would be more about that than anything else.
posted by wildcrdj at 3:12 PM on September 18, 2013
Personally I wouldn't / don't worry about this. WHO report "In early 2013, The World Health Organization (WHO) released a comprehensive health risk assessment report which concluded that, for the general population inside and outside of Japan, the predicted health risks are small and that no observable increases in cancer rates above background rates are expected". A week in Tokyo is not going to be an issue, eating fish or not.
Ghibli Museum...
Ghibli Museum is awesome! But I'm not sure how far in advance you need to get tickets. You can get them in Japan from various places, or by email / travel agency (check their website).
I don't know Japanese.
In general I wouldn't worry, although you've been there before so you know the stress level this would have on you better. As you know, signs and such (locations, subway, etc) tend to be in English and if you have a smartphone you can get Wifi for like $4/month (I forget the name of the network right now) so you can just sign up for one month then cancel, and use Maps or whatever. However, many attractions/museums/etc have limited English signage, so thats something to look at case-by-case before going.
Some people are just stressed by having everyone around them speaking in a language they cant understand, but again you probably have a good idea about that if you were there before. It would be more about that than anything else.
posted by wildcrdj at 3:12 PM on September 18, 2013
YES. You don't need to know Japanese, especially if you are staying in Tokyo or other big cities. You'll be able to get by just fine with English.
Personally (and maybe I'm a little too flippant in this way) I would not only go to Tsukiji, but I would eat ALL THE FISH. Raw and cooked. If radiation is a problem it's only going to get worse from here on out so enjoy it while you can now. Plus, if the market is going to close in 3 years, you really should take the opportunity to see it now. In fact, now that I know it's closing I'm going to make sure I get to Tokyo on my next big trip.
In terms of accommodations, I don't know if this is still the case but one time I randomly went to Kyoto without any sort of plans (I was living in Kanazawa at the time). A classmate told me that in most major cities in Japan there is a tourism desk in the train station where you can just walk up and say "hi! I need a hotel for tonight" and they will have a list of hotels with last-minute vacant rooms at a deeply discounted rates. The only thing is that you may have to do this every single day as sometimes the hotel just has undersold on one particular night but not the following ones. I stayed at some gorgeous 5 star hotel for, I kid you not, $30 a night over a weekend doing this.
posted by joan_holloway at 3:19 PM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Personally (and maybe I'm a little too flippant in this way) I would not only go to Tsukiji, but I would eat ALL THE FISH. Raw and cooked. If radiation is a problem it's only going to get worse from here on out so enjoy it while you can now. Plus, if the market is going to close in 3 years, you really should take the opportunity to see it now. In fact, now that I know it's closing I'm going to make sure I get to Tokyo on my next big trip.
In terms of accommodations, I don't know if this is still the case but one time I randomly went to Kyoto without any sort of plans (I was living in Kanazawa at the time). A classmate told me that in most major cities in Japan there is a tourism desk in the train station where you can just walk up and say "hi! I need a hotel for tonight" and they will have a list of hotels with last-minute vacant rooms at a deeply discounted rates. The only thing is that you may have to do this every single day as sometimes the hotel just has undersold on one particular night but not the following ones. I stayed at some gorgeous 5 star hotel for, I kid you not, $30 a night over a weekend doing this.
posted by joan_holloway at 3:19 PM on September 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was last in Tokyo a few months ago. I am a speaker and reader of Japanese, so that may color my advice a bit. I will assume that you are taking the trip. I usually see friends when I'm in Tokyo so I tend not to do much tourist/sightseeing.
Do visit Tsukiji. It is a great experience and you can have wonderful sushi there. I love it. They get a lot of tourists, so most of the vendors have menus that are in English with pictures so you can simply point. Get there very, very early. Check this calendar to make sure you don't go on a day when it is closed. (the red dates are closed) Also, Tsukiji won't be closing per se - Tokyo will continue to have a fish market. Rather, it is being moved offshore to a reclaimed island. Oh, and the seafood is perfectly safe.
If you were going a bit early, I would have suggested climbing Mt. Fuji, but the climbing season has already ended for this year.
You could easily spend a week in Tokyo and see only a small sliver. There are many museums (I favor the parasite museum). Check out the Imperial Palace. And as suggested, visit Kamakura. You also may want to check out the shrines of Nikko. It's about a three hour train ride from Tokyo, so you may wish to stay overnight.
posted by Tanizaki at 3:31 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Do visit Tsukiji. It is a great experience and you can have wonderful sushi there. I love it. They get a lot of tourists, so most of the vendors have menus that are in English with pictures so you can simply point. Get there very, very early. Check this calendar to make sure you don't go on a day when it is closed. (the red dates are closed) Also, Tsukiji won't be closing per se - Tokyo will continue to have a fish market. Rather, it is being moved offshore to a reclaimed island. Oh, and the seafood is perfectly safe.
If you were going a bit early, I would have suggested climbing Mt. Fuji, but the climbing season has already ended for this year.
You could easily spend a week in Tokyo and see only a small sliver. There are many museums (I favor the parasite museum). Check out the Imperial Palace. And as suggested, visit Kamakura. You also may want to check out the shrines of Nikko. It's about a three hour train ride from Tokyo, so you may wish to stay overnight.
posted by Tanizaki at 3:31 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Great suggestions here already, so I guess I will add my two cents' worth:
Shinjuku's Takashima Times Square is pretty awesome. There's a six-floor Kinokuniya bookstore there, plus the Takashimaya department store with an incredible "food court" (it's so much more than that) in the basement. Next to it is Tokyu Hands, which is an interesting "zakka-ten" of interesting stuff that is perfect for souvenirs.
The weather is cooling off, so Ueno Park is a great place to stroll and peoplewatch, and it's also the location for the National Museum, the National Art Gallery, and the Museum of Science and Technology. The National Museum has a lot of cool stuff.
Asakusa, or the "Shitamachi" old town is near Ueno (and Ginza) gives you a look at what Tokyo looked like after the war. It's bordered by Kappabashi, which is the home of "plastic food."
Another rail trip to consider is taking the Joetsu Shinkansen up to Niigata, on the Japan Sea coast. There will be very good fresh fish there, and you can probably find a hotel near the ocean. That's a little off the beaten track.
In regards to radiation, there isn't much to fear. Generally speaking, Japan has a strict monitoring system, and there is no fish being caught in the sea near the reactor.
You have far more to fear from constant exposure to fine particulates found in air pollution where you live now.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:50 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Shinjuku's Takashima Times Square is pretty awesome. There's a six-floor Kinokuniya bookstore there, plus the Takashimaya department store with an incredible "food court" (it's so much more than that) in the basement. Next to it is Tokyu Hands, which is an interesting "zakka-ten" of interesting stuff that is perfect for souvenirs.
The weather is cooling off, so Ueno Park is a great place to stroll and peoplewatch, and it's also the location for the National Museum, the National Art Gallery, and the Museum of Science and Technology. The National Museum has a lot of cool stuff.
Asakusa, or the "Shitamachi" old town is near Ueno (and Ginza) gives you a look at what Tokyo looked like after the war. It's bordered by Kappabashi, which is the home of "plastic food."
Another rail trip to consider is taking the Joetsu Shinkansen up to Niigata, on the Japan Sea coast. There will be very good fresh fish there, and you can probably find a hotel near the ocean. That's a little off the beaten track.
In regards to radiation, there isn't much to fear. Generally speaking, Japan has a strict monitoring system, and there is no fish being caught in the sea near the reactor.
You have far more to fear from constant exposure to fine particulates found in air pollution where you live now.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:50 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
I agree with the Kamakura suggestions -- Enoshima is in that area too and now is a great season to see it (not too crowded, not too cold). Another option would be to head north. Karuizawa is a resort town in Nagano that is a very nice place to relax. Hotaka Yojoen is also great if you are into that sort of food/lifestyle (not cheap, though). In general Nagano will be a bit chilly but should be just about right for strolling in the woods and so on.
(And, of course you should go! Unless this work is so important that you can imagine yourself literally looking back at this moment at the age of 80 and thinking "I wish I'd gone to work those days instead of visiting Japan, I really messed up there.")
posted by No-sword at 4:26 PM on September 18, 2013
(And, of course you should go! Unless this work is so important that you can imagine yourself literally looking back at this moment at the age of 80 and thinking "I wish I'd gone to work those days instead of visiting Japan, I really messed up there.")
posted by No-sword at 4:26 PM on September 18, 2013
This is a FANTASTIC time of the year to come to Tokyo. The weather is cooling down, but it is still very warm. Radiation is currently not an issue in Tokyo. Memail me if you need more info.
posted by xmts at 4:48 PM on September 18, 2013
posted by xmts at 4:48 PM on September 18, 2013
what about going to kyoto? i hear it's beautiful and it sounds like it'd be a lot more relaxing than tokyo. i have only had a layover in the tokyo airport and it killed me not to go out and see the country as i've always wanted to visit japan.
posted by wildflower at 5:47 PM on September 18, 2013
posted by wildflower at 5:47 PM on September 18, 2013
I'd sure as heck go.
Use airbnb.com if you want (unless you're trying to talk yourself out of it).
I hope you go and have fun.
posted by wintersweet at 9:26 PM on September 18, 2013
Use airbnb.com if you want (unless you're trying to talk yourself out of it).
I hope you go and have fun.
posted by wintersweet at 9:26 PM on September 18, 2013
Are you still looking for answers? Because I rarely see a question which is so easily answered by YES.
Visit some of the surrounding areas. Kamakura (mentioned above) is a good rec. There is also Hakone, Nikko, Kawagoe, Yokohama... you could easily make a week knowing the cities around Tokyo and having the slower pace. I don't think you need to go as far as Kyoto/Kansai to get a new view and a slower pace. The cities I mentioned are all well-visited, too, so you should often be able to find extra support in English, and will have cheaper accommodation than being in Tokyo center.
Relax and go to Japan, I'm jealous!
posted by whatzit at 11:11 PM on September 18, 2013
Visit some of the surrounding areas. Kamakura (mentioned above) is a good rec. There is also Hakone, Nikko, Kawagoe, Yokohama... you could easily make a week knowing the cities around Tokyo and having the slower pace. I don't think you need to go as far as Kyoto/Kansai to get a new view and a slower pace. The cities I mentioned are all well-visited, too, so you should often be able to find extra support in English, and will have cheaper accommodation than being in Tokyo center.
Relax and go to Japan, I'm jealous!
posted by whatzit at 11:11 PM on September 18, 2013
I went to the fish market today and it was awesome -- go!
posted by charlemangy at 1:09 AM on September 19, 2013
posted by charlemangy at 1:09 AM on September 19, 2013
Go. Or, more accurately, if you can afford it, and you have the time, I can't see any of the reasons you give that would legitimately counsel you otherwise. If you're worried about scheduling and making sure you see everything, don't make huge plans.
A week in Tokyo is plenty. What I'd do is break it down into zones you'd like to see, with a couple vague ideas of places in there that you'd like to check out. Shinjuku and Nakano could easily take up a day (with the Ghibli excursion in the morning). Shibuya/Harajuku/Omotesando makes a great wander, as does Asakusa/Ueno/Akihabara. Tsukiji to Ginza to yakitori on the street in Yurakucho would be a great day.
Get yourself some comfortable walking/hiking shoes, and just wander around. Hell, take a day and go to Disney Sea or Disneyland, they've just put up their Halloween decorations, and it's pretty fun.
Of course, to me the main point of Tokyo is getting out of it. I'd check out Kamakura, Nikko, or even Okutama (great hiking) for a nice day trip.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:19 AM on September 19, 2013
A week in Tokyo is plenty. What I'd do is break it down into zones you'd like to see, with a couple vague ideas of places in there that you'd like to check out. Shinjuku and Nakano could easily take up a day (with the Ghibli excursion in the morning). Shibuya/Harajuku/Omotesando makes a great wander, as does Asakusa/Ueno/Akihabara. Tsukiji to Ginza to yakitori on the street in Yurakucho would be a great day.
Get yourself some comfortable walking/hiking shoes, and just wander around. Hell, take a day and go to Disney Sea or Disneyland, they've just put up their Halloween decorations, and it's pretty fun.
Of course, to me the main point of Tokyo is getting out of it. I'd check out Kamakura, Nikko, or even Okutama (great hiking) for a nice day trip.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:19 AM on September 19, 2013
In a few months, no one is going to care (or remember) about exactly how that one work project of yours came out but you'll have wonderful memories of Japan.
posted by mikepop at 7:03 AM on September 19, 2013
posted by mikepop at 7:03 AM on September 19, 2013
If only I were in your shoes . . .
By all means, go. Get to Tsukiji (even if it's later at 9am like we did - there is still a lot to see) and YOU MUST EAT THERE. Seriously. It doesn't matter which restaurant stall - there will be English, or at a minimum pretty pictures to point at. I usually avoid telling anyone to do anything, but you have to do this. Unless of course you fear ruining your sushi eating taste buds forever. Because nothing will ever seem as fresh.
I enjoy Tokyo and esp. walking around Ueno/Nezu. But if you feel the need to get away, you might consider Hakone (I want to go back - we only stayed overnight and it wasn't nearly long enough) and Nikko. Both are fairly close to Tokyo and will get you out into nature and to a slower pace of life, but they also have sights to see and things to do (hot springs, anyone?). Stay at a ryokan and kick back and relax.
And please don't let radiation concerns keep you from going to Japan. You'll get more radiation from your flight than you will while in Japan.
posted by sazanka at 10:10 AM on September 19, 2013
By all means, go. Get to Tsukiji (even if it's later at 9am like we did - there is still a lot to see) and YOU MUST EAT THERE. Seriously. It doesn't matter which restaurant stall - there will be English, or at a minimum pretty pictures to point at. I usually avoid telling anyone to do anything, but you have to do this. Unless of course you fear ruining your sushi eating taste buds forever. Because nothing will ever seem as fresh.
I enjoy Tokyo and esp. walking around Ueno/Nezu. But if you feel the need to get away, you might consider Hakone (I want to go back - we only stayed overnight and it wasn't nearly long enough) and Nikko. Both are fairly close to Tokyo and will get you out into nature and to a slower pace of life, but they also have sights to see and things to do (hot springs, anyone?). Stay at a ryokan and kick back and relax.
And please don't let radiation concerns keep you from going to Japan. You'll get more radiation from your flight than you will while in Japan.
posted by sazanka at 10:10 AM on September 19, 2013
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If you do go to Kamakura, be sure to visit the Sea Castle in between all the temple and Buddha visits. The lady there speaks Japanese, German, and English and she's completely awesome. You may even be there in time for Oktoberfest.
posted by notyou at 3:04 PM on September 18, 2013 [2 favorites]