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Grand Fromage posted:There's plenty of breakfast options, Japan is just one of those countries that doesn't really have a distinct concept of breakfast foods. There's some stuff like tamago kake gohan but usually you just get noodles or something. There was some restaurant at Roppongi Hills that specialized in pancakes, but didn't open until 11:00 in the morning. I didn't really understand that. Not okonomiyaki but the stereotypical Western style pancakes that you'd eat at breakfast.
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Aug 24, 2017 20:37
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Phone posted:Yeah, you're going super overboard. You can stay in a completely serviceable business hotel with breakfast for like $100/night per person that has washing machines on site. I've been in a room at the Ritz, and while it had an absolutely stunning view and the amenities were ridiculously nice, I couldn't tell someone that it was a Must Have Experience. 100 is hard in Tokyo these days for biz hotels. Keep in mind that most people arent old ossans who are used to smoke everywhere and or are perfectly fine with Toyoko and or tiny rooms. But even Toyoko kinda charges more in Tokyo. Then again I usually get twins.
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Aug 24, 2017 22:29
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Richard M Nixon posted:I keep reading how stupid expensive Tokyo is and two weeks internationally for under $10k sounds cheap to me but I've never done Asia so I may be over planning. I'm not anticipating any shopping splurges just for the gently caress of it, but I know the gf will probably be grabbing clothing from time to time. She'll also want some kind of cool scrapbooking stuff and I found some store in Tokyo that lets you make your own ink so I know that's a win. My souvenirs will probably be kit kats, gross flavors of potato chips, etc. This lady keeps a good list of top end Tokyo restaurants: http://www.luxeat.com/reviews/by-location/tokyo/ She's got a writeup of the three top ranked sushi places in Tokyo here: http://www.luxeat.com/blog/october-sushi-affair-saito-sugita-mitani/ To those I'd add Yoshitake, I went not too long ago and it was great: http://www.luxeat.com/blog/sushi-yoshitake/ Bit of advice, get a concierge or a contact here and start booking ASAP. Yoshitake is a bit of an outlier here because they only open booking on the first of the preceding month. So to book in September you have to call August 1st, and they do fill up in a day. I'd offer but I'm kinda busy with real life atm, and it's a fair amount of hassle. Here's my foursquare: https://foursquare.com/user/53160958/list/restaurants It only really covers Shinjuku and Kanda and is short on Japanese food, but for what it's worth. *edit* Forgot, if you're coming for food probably worth checking out out the ramen adventures guy: http://www.ramenadventures.com/ Stringent fucked around with this message at 00:44 on Aug 25, 2017 |
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Aug 25, 2017 00:37
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The talk about michelin stars reminded me of the loving wacko English language reviews of places I went to in Japan. When in Kyoto especially I was going to (fantastic) places goons had recommended, and while I was looking for where they are on google maps the reviews would pop up and I'd check em out and man were some of the English language ones ridic. I remember one really good vegetarian place I went to in Kyoto had like a 7 paragraph screed on trip advisor about how ridiculous it was the reviewer's 8 person party had trouble sitting together in the like 40sqm Japanese restaurant and the waitstaff weren't in to scanning 8 different credit cards while splitting the bill in weirdly specific ways--like Jenny only ate 2 of the 5 fried pieces of fried tofu so charge her for 40% of that... On accommodation, is AirBNB still weirdly not quite legal? I didn't know about it's precarious position in Japan until I'd been to and stayed in AirBNBs a bunch of time there. In Tokyo specifically they seemed like way more bang for you buck.
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Aug 25, 2017 00:41
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Magna Kaser posted:On accommodation, is AirBNB still weirdly not quite legal? I didn't know about it's precarious position in Japan until I'd been to and stayed in AirBNBs a bunch of time there. In Tokyo specifically they seemed like way more bang for you buck. As far as I can tell "weirdly not quite legal" describes about half of the Japanese economy so vOv. And yeah, AirBNB definitely the way to go in Tokyo at least.
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Aug 25, 2017 00:46
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Richard M Nixon posted:I'm not a big cycling fan so the kaido course made the just just because it is apparently the one that Conde Nast loves to cover. I'll admit I've seen the cycling on the beach anime scenes that I want to recreate, but I know they beaches aren't really what I'm imagining in Japan. Sounds like Kyoto will have some cool chances to bike around too? Shimanami Kaido is one of the best bike trails in the world, but if you don't love cycling, then please avoid it in mid-summer. (´；ω；`) Kyoto is a flat grid city, perfect for biking, except all the drat people and buses... You can still daytrip to the beach from Tokyo.
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Aug 25, 2017 00:47
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So just random thoughts, Basically, people outside of Japan are obsessed with *the best X* every single time, like the best Wagyu or the best Sushi or the best Kaiseki or the best Teppanyaki or the best Shabu. First of all, the best shabu is probably in probably in Thailand or South America where the drug trade is wild. Second, Japan is already seriously one of the top foodiest countries in the world. So if you go into any decently fancy place, the food is going to be very very good. For example, in the bay area, when I go to a restaurant for a 20-60$ meal, 75% of the time I'm going to expect it to be OK, but not particularly spectacular. When I go to a restaurant in Japan, 75% of the time it's going to be very good. What this means is, a 40-80$ restaurant that focuses on Tempura is going to be, for lack of better words, incredible. You can get a very good Kaiseki at your ryokan. All Wagyu is good. You can get very solid sushi for 50-100$. Also, 95% of the best food I've ever had in Japan never really came from a michelin star place. I had some of the best Snapper in a Minshuku in Shiretoko. I've had some of the best homemade Jam from some old lady in Furano. Uni? Well nothing compares to the stuff sold out at the market in Hakodate. Rice? some of the most amazing rice I've had came from Fukushima. So basically, just explore and you're going to find good things. It's just a good way to travel. PS: Japan does have a concept of breakfast food, but that is: Rice, Miso, Natto, and Raw Egg. Also maybe boiled sausage. Alternatively, konbini.
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Aug 25, 2017 00:56
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Even if you want to try the BEST sushi it's probably a waste if you like salmon sushi
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Aug 25, 2017 03:21
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The Great Autismo! posted:don't go looking for places just tell Ned or stringent "I wanna get drunk" and follow them wherever they take you Fact. Ned's my boy!
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Aug 25, 2017 03:33
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I've stayed in dozens of Airbnb spots in Japan, highly recommended over business hotels. In some smaller cities the Airbnbs might be slightly more expensive but I've only ran into that a few times.
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Aug 25, 2017 04:38
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ntan1 posted:So just random thoughts, I don't disagree with this, I've generally found that most places once you get past $100 you're mostly paying for service and ambience. The exception to that is sushi. With starred sushi places your money's going into the ingredients to a much higher extent than most other kinds of dining. Those uni from Hakodate? They were flown down that morning. The rice from Fukushima? The chef knows an even better field two roads down and the farmer only sells to him. So yeah, for sushi at least I think going spendy is well worth the money.
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Aug 25, 2017 04:40
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Not really disagreeing with you either since sushi is also my favorite food, and I totally understand as well, having been to a good number of > $200 places. Strangely, sushi for me starts with the ambiance and the chef. Even outside of Japan, I like going for good sushi every other week. With a place that costs between $80-120, I can afford doing this, and building a relationship with the owner, and in return I get good conversation and a lot of random and uncommon appetizers that normally aren't served to others. With a place that is over $200, I can really only afford to go once or twice. I'm sure the regulars who can afford it all of the time love it though. PS: I actually dont recommend AirBNB in major cities. There is a bit of uncertainty even though things will usually go really well. But honestly, the main issue with them is that they're sometimes far away from stations. Instead, I recommend private rooms in swanky hostels. Usually they're like 40-50$ per person, and the amenities are actually pretty sweet. Tokyo has a lot of good hostels. ntan1 fucked around with this message at 05:52 on Aug 25, 2017 |
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Aug 25, 2017 05:47
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I forgot how hot Tokyo is Jesus gently caress
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Aug 26, 2017 01:17
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Bet you can't wait to get back to Singapore huh?
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Aug 26, 2017 01:30
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Stringent posted:Bet you can't wait to get back to Singapore huh? Singapore is straight up a fair bit less hot and humid than Tokyo summers.
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Aug 26, 2017 08:30
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How do I survive Japan with a peanut and soy allergy? Visiting my brother and my partner is allergic. I'm thinking having a note is a good idea for restaurants? How limited will we be with eating out and will the restaurants be accommodating?
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Aug 27, 2017 15:22
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Affi posted:How do I survive Japan with a peanut and soy allergy? Visiting my brother and my partner is allergic. I'm thinking having a note is a good idea for restaurants? Lol, restaurants. Your partner is gonna be eating rice.
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Aug 27, 2017 16:13
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Yeah with a soy allergy you might as well not bother with Japanese restaurants. If you're in a big city you have options, if you're going somewhere small uh. Microwaved conbini rice packages I guess.
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Aug 27, 2017 16:15
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You better get travel insurance. And this is the time where I won't judge people for eating macdonalds everyday
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Aug 27, 2017 16:44
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Actually Tokyo has a Lanzhou noodle shop in Kanda you
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Aug 27, 2017 16:47
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She can handle soy sauce for some reason just not y'know other soy products. Peanuts are the "help I'm dying + adrenaline injection" kind of allergies. Soy is more itchy. So peanuts. That's cool right? I'd hate to bring her along to Japan and have her die on me.
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Aug 27, 2017 16:52
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I think McDonalds uses soy products in Japan. I know a lot of food at the convenience stores do too. Good luck that's a tough one.
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Aug 27, 2017 16:55
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Affi posted:She can handle soy sauce for some reason just not y'know other soy products. Peanuts are the "help I'm dying + adrenaline injection" kind of allergies. Soy is more itchy. If soy sauce is doable then it should be okay, that's the only completely unavoidable soy product in Japanese food. I am not sure how into peanut oil Japan is, that's the most likely place to encounter peanuts. Peanuts themselves aren't used as an ingredient much, only time I remember seeing them in Japanese restaurants are as their own side dish. There are allergy cards in Japanese you can download and print.
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Aug 27, 2017 17:55
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Yeah I'd focus on the peanut allergy and just deal with soy itchiness and avoid obvious megasoy like edamame and whole tofu. Soy sauce is fermented, that might break down whatever protein is the problem. At my old job I replaced a vegan girl who had developed a soy intolerance. She was miserable.
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Aug 27, 2017 23:21
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peanut posted:Yeah I'd focus on the peanut allergy you would
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Aug 28, 2017 04:03
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Aug 28, 2017 05:42
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i know a guy who has lived in asia for years with a peanut, soy and sesame allergy and I am literally amazed he is alive.
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Aug 28, 2017 08:29
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So are tattoos and baths still a thing or can we find any good places where tattooed cool people can enjoy like a nice hot spring?
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Aug 28, 2017 10:52
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Affi posted:So are tattoos and baths still a thing or can we find any good places where tattooed cool people can enjoy like a nice hot spring? Somewhat dependent on where you go. Most will theoretically not allow you, but some places nobody cares unless someone makes a stink of it even if they're technically banned. I've been to onsen with my fairly tatted rugby team any number of times and it's never been an issue where we go. Downside is if you get called on it you're out the money. So if it's one that's cheaper go for it and don't make a stink it you get called on it. If you're looking to go to a nice place overnight for a few hundred bucks a head, best not to risk it.
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Aug 28, 2017 11:16
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Affi posted:So are tattoos and baths still a thing or can we find any good places where tattooed cool people can enjoy like a nice hot spring? http://www.takaragawa.com/english.html Mixed bathing and they don't care about tattoos.
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Aug 28, 2017 13:18
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Stringent posted:http://www.takaragawa.com/english.html Looks pretty good. How filled up are the baths usually in the middle of a week? And how crowded is the area generally?
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Aug 30, 2017 09:44
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So castles! We'll be in and around Tokyo, live in Fujisawa with my brother for a period and visit Kyoto! I want awesome castles with good guided tours in English if possible. Which ones are worth a visit? My partner has a thing for castles with stories basically and since I'm dragging her allergic rear end halfway across the world I should probably plan stuff she likes to do too. (Big plus if there is some horrible torture equipment / execution methods on display)
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Aug 30, 2017 10:40
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Virtually every castle in Japan is fake and empty, but northeast of Kyoto about an hour is Hikone Castle, which has an actual old keep. It's still empty but it is very cool. There is no guided tour. The Imperial Palace is also cool and wasn't bombed so it's on the older side. I believe they have tours? I just wandered around it on my own.
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Aug 30, 2017 10:51
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Japanese castles aren't that huge on the inside and don't have basements but it sounds like you'll be planning a day trip to Himeji. My first castle was Hiroshima and uhh it was s concrete reconstruction, can you guess why? Osaka and some others are, too. You can look at each one-by-one here https://www.100finecastles.com/castles-list/ Does anyone know a comprehensive English site like this? Everything I've found is Best 5 etc.
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Aug 30, 2017 10:53
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http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2296.html Japan Guide lists Matsuyama twice and 4/12 on that list is in Shikoku  In Kyoto Nijo-jo was cool but the Imperial Palace was bland. You can't go inside the pretty parts. I liked the tiny shrine across the street that was absolutely crammed with wild boar* figures. *We went in the Year of the Boar.
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Aug 30, 2017 10:58
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There are two Matsuyama Castles. I've been to them both. One is in Okayama.
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Aug 30, 2017 13:15
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"Bitchu Matsuyama" hehehe
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Aug 30, 2017 13:42
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Don't bother with Osaka castle the inside sucks.
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Aug 30, 2017 15:00
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Affi posted:Looks pretty good. How filled up are the baths usually in the middle of a week? And how crowded is the area generally? Not very. Mornings and nights when it's just guests at the ryokan are best. Access from Tokyo is a bit inconvenient, so except for three day weekends it is not crowded at all.
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Aug 30, 2017 15:25
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prompt posted:Don't bother with Osaka castle the inside sucks. The grounds outside are pretty cool to wander around and check out, though. At least I thought so. And it's free if that matters at all.
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Aug 30, 2017 16:15
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