Always impressed with how traveled people on CP are. Anyone spent time in Istanbul?

[jerryaldini]

Hang out with the Sufis and learn to dance

[GloucesterChief]

Originally Posted by DaFace

It's still a year away, so we haven't done much planning aside from buying a flight. We'll be there maybe 10ish days, so if you have recommendations, I'd love to hear them. In general, I'm thinking we'll spend a few days in Tokyo and then get out for a bit, but it's all flexible.

For Tokyo:

Senso-ji and the market outside it is my favorite part of Tokyo. The temple is beautiful and the market surrounding it is full of traditional Japanese street food and snack stalls. The Sumida river is very close if you need some down time.

Shopping in Tokyo depends on what you are looking for. Shibuya is the general shopping district with Tower Records being a highlight for me. Ginza is the high class shopping district. Akihabara is nerd central with anime, maid cafes, and video game stores surrounding being the majority of shopping. Harajuku is the fashion capital and changes constantly. Takeshita street is perhaps the most touristy part of Tokyo though.

The Tokyo National Museum is fairly big and gives a pretty good overview of Japanese history in its main building. One ticket gets you access to everything but the rotating special exhibition. The Tokyo-Edo museum focuses more on the city itself but is also large with a whole recreated Kabuki theater in it with performances I believe. Near it is the Hokusai museum if you like ukiyo-e, it contains a lot of original prints.

Nightlife is scattered throughout Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro with Kabukicho being the seedy part, it also has Godzilla st leading up to Toho Theater though. Golden Gai is historic district of small dive bars but I found it overpriced and touristy.

Outside of Tokyo some of my favorite places are Dontonbori and Shin Sai Bashi Suji in Osaka, Nijo-jo and The Philosopher's Path in Kyoto, and Himeji Castle in Himeji.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by GloucesterChief

For Tokyo:

Senso-ji and the market outside it is my favorite part of Tokyo. The temple is beautiful and the market surrounding it is full of traditional Japanese street food and snack stalls. The Sumida river is very close if you need some down time.

Shopping in Tokyo depends on what you are looking for. Shibuya is the general shopping district with Tower Records being a highlight for me. Ginza is the high class shopping district. Akihabara is nerd central with anime, maid cafes, and video game stores surrounding being the majority of shopping. Harajuku is the fashion capital and changes constantly. Takeshita street is perhaps the most touristy part of Tokyo though.

The Tokyo National Museum is fairly big and gives a pretty good overview of Japanese history in its main building. One ticket gets you access to everything but the rotating special exhibition. The Tokyo-Edo museum focuses more on the city itself but is also large with a whole recreated Kabuki theater in it with performances I believe. Near it is the Hokusai museum if you like ukiyo-e, it contains a lot of original prints.

Nightlife is scattered throughout Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro with Kabukicho being the seedy part, it also has Godzilla st leading up to Toho Theater though. Golden Gai is historic district of small dive bars but I found it overpriced and touristy.

Outside of Tokyo some of my favorite places are Dontonbori and Shin Sai Bashi Suji in Osaka, Nijo-jo and The Philosopher's Path in Kyoto, and Himeji Castle in Himeji.

Nice, thanks! I appreciate the suggestions!

[GloucesterChief]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Nice, thanks! I appreciate the suggestions!

Depending on what airport you are flying into, I highly suggest getting a hotel within walking distance of one of the major stations in Tokyo: Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, and Shinjuku. The N'EX and Shinkansen trains have space for luggage. You don't want to haul your luggage on the Ginza or even worse Yamanote line.

If your hotel isn't then I would use a baggage delivery service to deliver your luggage right to your hotel. Would also suggest this if you get in several hours before hotel check in.