So many questions about visiting Tokyo/Yokohama region
February 2, 2025 11:43 AM Subscribe
Where to even start? I have so many questions about what to do, what to eat, where to hang out and shopping, so much shopping. All revealed inside.
I will be staying with a mixed gender group of friends and we all have tattoos.
We will be staying in Yokohama and Tokyo (I realise how close they are). Here are things we want to do. We are also open to other things based on what you see here.
1) Visit any makerspaces, hackerspaces, or similar creative spaces or open workshops. This is probably the hardest of my asks, but worth asking.
2) Buy workclothes where women wanting to buy mens clothing isn't an issue, and ideally from a brand that offers somewhat larger sizes as we are at the smallest 5'6" and robustly built. We don't need the most expensive as it will be more streetwear than factory floor. But genuine and with interesting aesthetics. Vintage is also an option if vintage doesn't mean overpriced for hipsters.
3) Similar to 2, very in fact, other beautifully made japanese tools and functional design objects. I love Penco stationary, Toyo toolboxes, Engineer hand-tools and of course Muji. Is there an amazing tool I should get? Cookware included, would love to get a sharkskin grater, a nice knife, some lovely chopsticks and spoons, etc. Shop a girl up please. I am looking for buy-for-life style things at good value.
3a) As you can hear we are great big nerds who will be hitting Shinjuku big time. We are looking for cameras/parts and electronics/parts. On a similar visit to Korea I was completely overwhelmed, and ended up in a whole area that only sold LEDs. What's the best way to get a good balance?
4) Onsen, Ryokan, Airbnb, cubicle hotels. I badly want to stay in a cubicle hotel for one night anyhow, if you have a preferred place or any tips, please say! I would like to experience ryokan style traditional stay one night if possible not too far away if you can think of somewhere suitable. We are probably otherwise looking at an AirBnB in Tokyo, so shout out if you have any tips or enjoy looking that sort of thing up. Last but not least.... we are badly looking for an onsen that would allow us in with tattoos. I gather that they will all be gender segregated and there is no point trying to find a time for a mixed group, is that correct? Or is there a clothed, mixed, onsen? I am getting decent results googling tattoo friendly onsen, but of course prefer a personal rec. Is there anything I need to know about onsen-ing?
6) Where should we eat when we have so much to choose from? What should we be sure to not miss? We eat everything and enjoy everything from finer dining to street food. We would of course love any little pokey fantastic off the beaten track places that do like amazing lil yakatori skewers or what have you.
7) Last but not least, getting around, what makes most sense in terms of ease and cost? We will often be a big enough group travelling together. Are e-scooters a thing? None of us speak or read Japanese, we will make sure to have roaming data tho. What's the best way to and from Narita?
Open to any do's and don't in general, and other things you think I simply must see. Thanks for reading this far!
I will be staying with a mixed gender group of friends and we all have tattoos.
We will be staying in Yokohama and Tokyo (I realise how close they are). Here are things we want to do. We are also open to other things based on what you see here.
1) Visit any makerspaces, hackerspaces, or similar creative spaces or open workshops. This is probably the hardest of my asks, but worth asking.
2) Buy workclothes where women wanting to buy mens clothing isn't an issue, and ideally from a brand that offers somewhat larger sizes as we are at the smallest 5'6" and robustly built. We don't need the most expensive as it will be more streetwear than factory floor. But genuine and with interesting aesthetics. Vintage is also an option if vintage doesn't mean overpriced for hipsters.
3) Similar to 2, very in fact, other beautifully made japanese tools and functional design objects. I love Penco stationary, Toyo toolboxes, Engineer hand-tools and of course Muji. Is there an amazing tool I should get? Cookware included, would love to get a sharkskin grater, a nice knife, some lovely chopsticks and spoons, etc. Shop a girl up please. I am looking for buy-for-life style things at good value.
3a) As you can hear we are great big nerds who will be hitting Shinjuku big time. We are looking for cameras/parts and electronics/parts. On a similar visit to Korea I was completely overwhelmed, and ended up in a whole area that only sold LEDs. What's the best way to get a good balance?
4) Onsen, Ryokan, Airbnb, cubicle hotels. I badly want to stay in a cubicle hotel for one night anyhow, if you have a preferred place or any tips, please say! I would like to experience ryokan style traditional stay one night if possible not too far away if you can think of somewhere suitable. We are probably otherwise looking at an AirBnB in Tokyo, so shout out if you have any tips or enjoy looking that sort of thing up. Last but not least.... we are badly looking for an onsen that would allow us in with tattoos. I gather that they will all be gender segregated and there is no point trying to find a time for a mixed group, is that correct? Or is there a clothed, mixed, onsen? I am getting decent results googling tattoo friendly onsen, but of course prefer a personal rec. Is there anything I need to know about onsen-ing?
6) Where should we eat when we have so much to choose from? What should we be sure to not miss? We eat everything and enjoy everything from finer dining to street food. We would of course love any little pokey fantastic off the beaten track places that do like amazing lil yakatori skewers or what have you.
7) Last but not least, getting around, what makes most sense in terms of ease and cost? We will often be a big enough group travelling together. Are e-scooters a thing? None of us speak or read Japanese, we will make sure to have roaming data tho. What's the best way to and from Narita?
Open to any do's and don't in general, and other things you think I simply must see. Thanks for reading this far!
Workman.is a Japanese chain for utility clothes. You'll probably need to use a translator app to shop there..
posted by brookeb at 12:51 PM on February 2
posted by brookeb at 12:51 PM on February 2
Broadly speaking, there are two types of capsule hotels: those for tourists (e.g. Nine Hours) and those for locals. The latter - again, broadly - are primarily for businessmen/ salarymen who've gone out drinking with their work colleagues and missed the last train home (the Tokyo metro stops around midnight), which is why you'll predominantly find ones online for men. A variation of capsule hotels are places like First Cabin and My Cube, which are also mostly for tourists, and this time you get, well, the equivalent of a first class cabin, in terms of space.
TBH, while the idea of capsule hotels is cute, the reality is that you're sharing a space with a lot of other people (including bathrooms) so it's kinda noisy, particularly in the morning when folks get up at unfathomably early hours - I'm assuming for early flights - and unfortunately the roll-down blind at the end of your capsule doesn't provide much sound insulation. That said: of course you have to do it, at least once!
posted by my log does not judge at 12:56 PM on February 2
TBH, while the idea of capsule hotels is cute, the reality is that you're sharing a space with a lot of other people (including bathrooms) so it's kinda noisy, particularly in the morning when folks get up at unfathomably early hours - I'm assuming for early flights - and unfortunately the roll-down blind at the end of your capsule doesn't provide much sound insulation. That said: of course you have to do it, at least once!
posted by my log does not judge at 12:56 PM on February 2
You can take the train to and from Narita.
In general public transit ought to get you where you want to go if you stay in the city centers. If you go further out, you might find yourself wanting a taxi or a ride share just because taking the train takes forever if you have to change lines a bunch. If you don't speak Japanese and you want to take a taxi, just pull up your destination on your phone and show it to your driver.
Japanese transit peoplewatching is one of the pleasures of traveling there, please don't cheat yourself of the experience!
posted by potrzebie at 2:26 PM on February 2
In general public transit ought to get you where you want to go if you stay in the city centers. If you go further out, you might find yourself wanting a taxi or a ride share just because taking the train takes forever if you have to change lines a bunch. If you don't speak Japanese and you want to take a taxi, just pull up your destination on your phone and show it to your driver.
Japanese transit peoplewatching is one of the pleasures of traveling there, please don't cheat yourself of the experience!
posted by potrzebie at 2:26 PM on February 2
As you can hear we are great big nerds who will be hitting Shinjuku big time. We are looking for cameras/parts and electronics/parts.
Do you mean Akihabara rather than Shinjuku? Shinjuku does have a Yodobashi Camera, but the flagship is in Akihabara. And YC is more like a Best Buy on steroids than a quirky local shop. Shinjuku is more of a restaurant/bar/nightlife area, and has a sort-of-red-light district with a lot of hostess/host bars and obnoxious touts. The shopping is generally more mall/department store than parts/electronics.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:16 PM on February 2
Do you mean Akihabara rather than Shinjuku? Shinjuku does have a Yodobashi Camera, but the flagship is in Akihabara. And YC is more like a Best Buy on steroids than a quirky local shop. Shinjuku is more of a restaurant/bar/nightlife area, and has a sort-of-red-light district with a lot of hostess/host bars and obnoxious touts. The shopping is generally more mall/department store than parts/electronics.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:16 PM on February 2
Or is there a clothed, mixed, onsen?
There is no such thing as a clothed onsen.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:17 PM on February 2
There is no such thing as a clothed onsen.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:17 PM on February 2
We will often be a big enough group travelling together. Are e-scooters a thing? None of us speak or read Japanese, we will make sure to have roaming data tho. What's the best way to and from Narita?
A big group can be challenging. Spaces are small. You may want to strategize how to break up into subgroups. If you want to eat/drink together, you should seek out izakaya, which are often designed to accommodate larger groups and which are pretty easy to find.
You get around on Tokyo Metro and JR. You use a Suica card to pay. If you have an iPhone, you can activate the Suica card in your wallet, and you can load it via whatever pay method you have set up for the phone. Hold it over the Suica spot on the gate and it will open and let you into the station.
You take the Narita Express train from the airport to Tokyo. For this, you need to buy a special Narita Express ticket at the airport station. The Suica card gets you into the station, but you need the NE ticket to ride the train. The conductor will check for your ticket while the train is underway.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:29 PM on February 2
A big group can be challenging. Spaces are small. You may want to strategize how to break up into subgroups. If you want to eat/drink together, you should seek out izakaya, which are often designed to accommodate larger groups and which are pretty easy to find.
You get around on Tokyo Metro and JR. You use a Suica card to pay. If you have an iPhone, you can activate the Suica card in your wallet, and you can load it via whatever pay method you have set up for the phone. Hold it over the Suica spot on the gate and it will open and let you into the station.
You take the Narita Express train from the airport to Tokyo. For this, you need to buy a special Narita Express ticket at the airport station. The Suica card gets you into the station, but you need the NE ticket to ride the train. The conductor will check for your ticket while the train is underway.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:29 PM on February 2
Ryokan
Not sure how your schedule will accommodate, but you could do a trip to Nikko with one night at a Ryokan there.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:32 PM on February 2
Not sure how your schedule will accommodate, but you could do a trip to Nikko with one night at a Ryokan there.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:32 PM on February 2
Kapabashi Kitchen Street is a place to buy kitchenware in Tokyo. I bought knives at and some nice Mikasa dishware elsewhere. There’s a lot of fun stuff there and the Asakusa neighborhood in general has old parts and temples.
posted by vunder at 4:46 PM on February 2
posted by vunder at 4:46 PM on February 2
As mr_roboto said, I think you mean Akihabara? Though it's a shadow of its former self.
If you're in Yokohama anyway, go to the Ramen Museum, it's very educational. Yes, there's ramen everywhere in Japan, but if you want to try the different styles this is a good place to check it out.
If you're into temples, Kamakura is worth the visit.
Learn the difference between local/rapid/express/limited trains, it can make a significant difference on a longer trip.
posted by Runes at 7:59 PM on February 2
If you're in Yokohama anyway, go to the Ramen Museum, it's very educational. Yes, there's ramen everywhere in Japan, but if you want to try the different styles this is a good place to check it out.
If you're into temples, Kamakura is worth the visit.
Learn the difference between local/rapid/express/limited trains, it can make a significant difference on a longer trip.
posted by Runes at 7:59 PM on February 2
Ugh I just realized that my earlier comment was missing the knife place I went to: Kamata.
posted by vunder at 10:05 PM on February 2
posted by vunder at 10:05 PM on February 2
It's been a while since I went to Japan via Narita, but there used to be a Narita express+Suica combo deal you could buy at an office near the entrance of the train station, it used to be 3500 yens for the ticket to tokyo + a 1000yen charged suica (as opposed to 3500 yens for the Narita express ticket alone), on top this those are limited edition suica with some custom illustration on it.
posted by SageLeVoid at 1:55 AM on February 3
posted by SageLeVoid at 1:55 AM on February 3
When I was in Tokyo 1.5 years ago, the metro announcements were in Japanese and English in areas likely to be visited by tourists. A lot of street signs in these areas were also Japanese and English. At the time I was told that that was a fairly new development implemented ahead of the olympics.
Suica cards can be used to pay for many things besides public transport, e.g. the ubiquitous vending machines and 7-Elevens. I added mine to my phone wallet to use the vending machines in our office and ended up using it all the time for all kinds of things.
Translation apps have come a long way and are great.
posted by koahiatamadl at 4:52 AM on February 3
Suica cards can be used to pay for many things besides public transport, e.g. the ubiquitous vending machines and 7-Elevens. I added mine to my phone wallet to use the vending machines in our office and ended up using it all the time for all kinds of things.
Translation apps have come a long way and are great.
posted by koahiatamadl at 4:52 AM on February 3
Shinjuku is ground zero for the biggest group of new and used camera stores, with a wide range of focuses available. Some specialize in almost new used cameras, other specific manufacturers or broad camera types. Needless to say, it is worth checking out. The largest cluster of camera stores is around the huge Yodobashi Camera just west of the station. Some of the stores will have junk and/or questionable camera parts for sale, if that is your thing.
If you're looking for good quality used equipment, I highly recommend Map Camera. It is my goto for excellent affordable camera gear. Like getting a like new, second hand Mamiya 6 body for $300, or a beautiful 75mm Olympus M 4/3rd lens for $220.
posted by rambling wanderlust at 9:02 AM on February 3
If you're looking for good quality used equipment, I highly recommend Map Camera. It is my goto for excellent affordable camera gear. Like getting a like new, second hand Mamiya 6 body for $300, or a beautiful 75mm Olympus M 4/3rd lens for $220.
posted by rambling wanderlust at 9:02 AM on February 3
The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka (in western Tokyo) is a must if you love Miyazaki's films. Be sure to make time to watch one of the short films in the Saturn Theatre which are only available to exclusively watch there (I have never forgotten my viewing of Koro's Big Day Out almost 20 years ago). It's not particularly expensive, but advance reservations for the Ghibli Museum are absolutely required.
posted by fairmettle at 9:36 AM on February 3
posted by fairmettle at 9:36 AM on February 3
Or is there a clothed, mixed, onsen?
There is no such thing as a clothed onsen.
I have been to a mixed onsen, where a certain type of towel was permitted by anyone interested, even in the water, for modesty. (Or maybe it was a rotemburo, which is an open-air onsen. But, still.) This was in a city some distance from the Tokyo area so a specific rec. will probably not be useful, but know that you can approximate "clothed".
posted by concinnity at 9:50 AM on February 3
There is no such thing as a clothed onsen.
I have been to a mixed onsen, where a certain type of towel was permitted by anyone interested, even in the water, for modesty. (Or maybe it was a rotemburo, which is an open-air onsen. But, still.) This was in a city some distance from the Tokyo area so a specific rec. will probably not be useful, but know that you can approximate "clothed".
posted by concinnity at 9:50 AM on February 3
Oh, yeah, if you are a group of more than 4 (arguably, even if you are a group of more than 2) you need to have a game plan for how you split between tables at restaurants. A lot of places truly only have 2-tops with MAYBE a single cramped 4-top in the back. If you want to go anywhere "in demand" without an advance reservation, be prepared to wait for ages for the opportunity to sit together.
Travelling as a family of 5, we spent a lot of meals with one parent at a table with a single child, and the other at a table elsewhere in the restaurant with a child across from them and the 4-year-old sitting in their lap.
posted by potrzebie at 3:46 PM on February 3
Travelling as a family of 5, we spent a lot of meals with one parent at a table with a single child, and the other at a table elsewhere in the restaurant with a child across from them and the 4-year-old sitting in their lap.
posted by potrzebie at 3:46 PM on February 3
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I can't speak to tattoo tolerance, but you could look for guidance in social media groups related to the US naval base in Yokosuka (lots of servicemembers have tattoos and there should be groups on Facebook).
posted by aincandenza at 12:38 PM on February 2