Osaka, Tokyo, Sydney, and Melbourne

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That's my itinerary for April 13th-April 28th.

Travel advice? Suggestions? I don't have a lot of free time for sightseeing, but I would like to do at least one really cool thing per city (also I don't have much excess money, so free things would be best).

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, does anyone know if it's worth it to purchase a Japan rail pass?

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:30 (twenty-two years ago)

When you're in Osaka, check out Osaka Jo, which is a castle somewhere near the middle of the city near the river. It's also right near a fairly big common area across the street from the Hotel New Otani, and it looks like it's used as a public gathering area for vendors (souveniers, food, etc) and bands. While I was there there were several groups of drummers and a few rock bands with portable amps.

There's also a cozy little bar called Elephant near there, but damned if I can remember how to get to it!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Tokyo is also a pretty cool city to just walk around and explore, but budget some money for subway. There's an area you can walk through between Shibuya and Shinjuku that's pretty cool, called Harajuku. You can probably drop a lot of money on records and clothes in that area if you're so inclined, but it's also fun to just walk and observe what's going on, too.

If you're feeling really ambitious, you can make your way over to the Tsujiki fish market, around 5 or 530am I think, to see the fish being auctioned off for the day, which is apparently quite the sight; I didn't quite make it to that; I got off at Tsujiki-Jo station instead of Tsujiki, wandered around pointlessly trying to find a way into the market, then gave up because I was already frazzled and ready to go home.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

If you have enough time while you're in Osaka, it may be worth considering a day trip to Kyoto, by the way...it's pretty close to Osaka and it's filled with a ton of beautiful temples.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:47 (twenty-two years ago)

like two weeks?

If you're just going from like Tokyo to Osaka only once the rail pass probably isn't worth it.

lots of good ILX advice here:
Tokyo - what should i do there?
Going to Japan: Request for info, tips, tricks, etc

― A Nairn (moretap), Friday, 19 March 2004 19:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I think (I am not completely clear on some of the train routes yet) that I'm going to need to go from Narita-Tokyo, Tokyo-Osaka, Osaka-Chiba, Chiba-Tokyo, and Chiba-Narita.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Friday, 19 March 2004 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, any Sydney ilxers up for a drink maybe? On the 22nd.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Friday, 19 March 2004 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

narita-tokyo is like maybe 25-30 bucks depending on how express you want it. you can always hitchhike between tokyo/osaka. its easy and maybe you might meet a nice japanese husband

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 19 March 2004 20:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Hitchhiking kind of scares me.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Friday, 19 March 2004 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

when in melbourne, come have a drink with trayce & me (& andrew if he's around..)

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 19 March 2004 22:04 (twenty-two years ago)

i'll be in Melbourne then too!

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Friday, 19 March 2004 22:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll be in Melbourne from the 25th-28th.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Friday, 19 March 2004 22:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Well this is turning into quite the turnout isn't it?

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Friday, 19 March 2004 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Here's a good thing to get for your time in Tokyo:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0749532335/qid=1079755614/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-9418704-0132841?v=glance&s=books
Comes with a guidebook, some helpful tips and a full map of the core of the city to help you get around. And it's small enough to easily carry around with you.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Saturday, 20 March 2004 04:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Tokyo:

yeah... Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku are pretty cool. Looking at the mad interesection in Shibuya from the walkway at the Shibuya JR station is amazing. Akihabara is also cool. Don't miss out on the Ginza or Roppongi either.
Take the short train ride into Yokohama. Landmark Center in Yokohama is great palce to hang out.. so is their China town.
Tokyo nightlife is for hard core party people only!

― lucas (lucas), Sunday, 21 March 2004 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah FAP time for sure, y'all :)

― Trayce (trayce), Sunday, 21 March 2004 22:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Except in Sydney, it seems. Mully, apart from Marrickville RSL, what's the coolest thing to do in Syd?

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 21 March 2004 22:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't get the Lonely Planet Japan guidebook: it's rubbish. The Rough Guide is much better.

The JR rail pass might be worth it - I don't think it covers the Narita-Tokyo line (might do one of them, but not the other), and I'm not sure if Chiba's on a JR line. If you're taking two shinkansen trips within a week, definitely get one, as it'll cover your costs for them (can't take the supersuperexpress on it, but the hikari's pretty swift anyway).

If you do have the time while you're in Osaka, see if you can get not just to Kyoto but down towards Nara: there's a town called Uji, which has the Byodo-in temple off the ten-yen coins and lots of tea, and is gorgeous this time of year. Oh, so much envy.

― cis (cis), Sunday, 21 March 2004 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"Don't get the Lonely Planet Japan guidebook: it's rubbish. The Rough Guide is much better."

For Tokyo at least, get the TIME OUT guide, which has everything you could possibly need. For bars, I recommend the Organ Bar in Shibuya, for clubs, the Room in Shibuya, and for wacky-but-essential bargain shopping I recommend Don Quixote (in Kabukicho, Shinjuku but also many other places - see donki.co.jp).

"The JR rail pass might be worth it - I don't think it covers the Narita-Tokyo line (might do one of them, but not the other), and I'm not sure if Chiba's on a JR line."

The JR pass covers the Narita Express and also goes to Chiba (I know, I used to live there !) and a one-week pass covers the cost of the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka and back - so everything above that would essentially be free.

― darren (darren), Monday, 22 March 2004 11:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh Melissa, and by the way I'll be in Tokyo/Osaka from 9th to 17th, so if you want to hook up give us a mail.

― darren (darren), Monday, 22 March 2004 11:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Free things ... one of the best things you can do for (almost) free is to take the Yurikamome monorail line into Odaiba - Tokyo's man-made island - across the Rainbow Bridge and back, esp at night. I think it costs about 300 yen.

A dirt cheap way to do free sightseeing is to ride the JR Yamanote loop line that goes through Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku etc.

― darren (darren), Monday, 22 March 2004 11:32 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

Forgot to ask...are any of you Aussies gonna be at any of the Radiohead shows (the 23rd and the 24th in Sydney, and the 26th and 27th in Melbourne)? Because obviously that'll be the best place to catch me.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 01:45 (twenty-one years ago)

No, unfortunately, but FAPpage is required. Give us a date and time and we can suggest a venue.

― Andrew (enneff), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 01:58 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

Hey y'all, I'm in Sydney now...

― Melissa in Sydney, Thursday, 22 April 2004 00:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Hey Melissa,

I'll be at the Melbourne Shows with James, Michelle F's boyfriend. Have you got his contact details? Do ya wannit?

― Michael Stuchbery (Mikey Bidness), Thursday, 22 April 2004 00:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, please, email them!

― Melissa in Sydney, Thursday, 22 April 2004 00:40 (twenty-one years ago)

won't be at radiohead. have a time. warning: goldfoot is playing the afterparty.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Thursday, 22 April 2004 00:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Mel, I'll get 'em up and e-mail them to you.

― Michael Stuchbery (Mikey Bidness), Thursday, 22 April 2004 00:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Hi Melissa, I'm going to Canberra on the weekend but if there's any help you need get in touch with me or gaz/mullygrubber on the sheepfuxors thread - we're the only Sydneysiders.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Thursday, 22 April 2004 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Mullygrubber, the band afterparty?

Yikes.

― Melissa in Sydney, Thursday, 22 April 2004 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

here

although "after party" = just another night but the emi folks get in as vips???

― mullygrubber (gaz), Thursday, 22 April 2004 01:31 (twenty-one years ago)

...where is famous melissa w person?

― mullygrubber (gaz), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 01:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, attention Mel - FAP tomorrow in St Kilda! We'd love you to join us :) See this thread for details...

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 01:38 (twenty-one years ago)

How was Japan?!?

― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 01:56 (twenty-one years ago)

SECOND SHOW CANCELLED TERROR RUIN DEATH THE PANIC THE VOMIT THE PANIC THE VOMIT MEOW MEOW HISS

― Mikey Bidness, Tuesday, 27 April 2004 03:36 (twenty-one years ago)

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 03:37 (twenty-one years ago)

you heard the man

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 03:40 (twenty-one years ago)

The 2nd Melbourne Radiohead Show, that is. Though, on posting, I figured Mel would already know.

― Mike Stuchbery, Tuesday, 27 April 2004 03:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Didnt every man and his dog go to the show last night anyhow?

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 04:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Not me.

― Andrew (enneff), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 04:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Well nor me, I could care less abt stadium shows.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 27 April 2004 05:00 (twenty-one years ago)

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