Visiting Tokyo, need help!

[DTM72]

I have a business trip to the Philippines in late April and was able to arrange 4 days in Tokyo afterwards. I most humbly ask for some help from those who have been there.

Wife and I arrive at Hanada airport on Saturday May 9th, in the early afternoon.

1st question, where to stay. Wife and I just need a place to put luggage, sleep, and shower. Just want a clean place, no extras required. Seen some crazy prices, but understand this is Tokyo.

2nd question, best way to travel from airport to hotel?

3rd question, want some great sushi and seafood, have a few drinks, sing some karaoke. Where to go? Would love to hang with some fellow Nihonto enthusiasts or dealers there.

Last question , we fly out of Narita airport. Is Narita express train the best option?

 

Of course I plan to visit some sword shops. I’ve already arranged with Aoi, and with Ginsa Seiyudo.

 

Tips, pointers, guidance are all appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance!

[ROKUJURO]

With the program you have planned, 4 days is not much! Perhaps you can condense it a bit and do KARAOKE in the Japanese Sword Museum? That is where I would go in the first place.

Going by train is always a good decision in Japan, be that HANEDA (not Hanada) or NARITA. 

As preparation, a few politeness terms in Japanese will help you being accepted. And when you go to GINZA (not Ginsa), have a look at the 5th floor of the larger warehouses like MITSUKOSHI.

[Jussi Ekholm]

I am a budget traveller with very basic needs. So my standards are most likely way below average forum member.

 

There are lots and lots of very affordable and good hotels in Tokyo. I personally see APA Hotels as very good quality for the money. People do have different standards. There are huge amounts of APA chain hotels in Tokyo, you can just pick a city region where you want to stay. There are lots of even more affordable hotels than APA, that are good enough for me. 

 

I would recommend the Keikyu Line train from Haneda Airport, it is very easy to use and Tokyo train system is amazing. Depending on the location of your hotel it will be quite easy to navigate to a nearby station. Even though the train system map can be intimidating because of huge size and number of different lines, it is excellent system.

 

 

[atm]

I agree with @Jussi Ekholm's recommendation for taking the Keikyu Line train from Haneda Airport. You can take it to Shinagawa (a major station), at which you can transfer to the JR Yamanote Line. The JR Yamanote Line is a big loop, so staying anywhere near that line is very convenient for traveling around Tokyo by train.

 

Among others, Big Echo is a large karaoke chain with lots of private rooms to sing your lungs out. They have locations throughout the city, and they are used to tourists. You must order at least one drink as part of the room rental.

 

You won't have any trouble finding great sushi. I've found that even "budget" sushi places in Japan are better than and half the price of most sushi in the U.S.

 

Try to visit the Japanese Sword Museum, if you can. The current exhibition looks great.

[Toryu2020]

If you are a member of the NBTHK or NTHK they hold their kantei meetings on the 2nd Saturday of each month - if you can make the meeting you'll see good swords and meet other local collectors...

 

-t

[Brian]

As far as finding good sushi or any other food in Tokyo, leave your hotel, turn any direction, and walk a few 100m. It's that simple. If you stay way from the busy tourist areas, you'll find amazing and cheap sushi almost anywhere, no planning necessary. Haneda travel...as the above members suggested. Going back to Narita, the Express is for me is the fastest and most convenient.
Hotels...just choose your budget and area, and use Booking.com or even AirBnB. You'll find a ton of places within any budget. Area is more important, and if you are only there for a short time, personally I'd look at near Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa or Ueno. Try to avoid Golden Week. Tokyo is amazing, and anywhere you go, you'll find tons to do.

[Hiro]

Hello,Nice to meet you.

How about visiting the Tokyo National Museum?

Around May 9th, there appears to be a special exhibition on the Maeda clan of Kaga.

(This is the family of Maeda Toshiie, a warlord from the Sengoku period.）

 

According to the exhibition list, swords as well as armor are expected to be on display, including:

 

Oodenta Mitsuyo, Maeda Tōshirō [Yoshimitsu],  Ryōkai, Sōshū Masamune,
Tomita Gō [Yoshihiro], Yoshihira,  Norinaga, Sadayoshi, Sōshū Yukimitsu,
Kotegiri Masamune, Kitano Gō [Yoshihiro], Fukushima Kanemitsu, Hitotsuyanagi Yasuyoshi, and others

 

English list : here→  the Tokyo National Museum

ーーーーーー

If you are interested in the Edo period, I also recommend the Edo-Tokyo Museum.

It was renovated over four years and reopened this March.

the Edo-Tokyo Museum

reopen news(you tube）

 

Both museums are closed on Mondays.

ーーーーーー

There also appears to be a studio where you can take photos wearing armor.

(I have not used it myself, so I cannot provide detailed information. ↓There are also other shops besides these.）

Ex.   photo studio samurai-pictures

 

I hope you have a wonderful trip.

Hiro

Edited April 10 by Hiro

[Lewis B]

1 hour ago, Hiro said:

 

Oodenta Mitsuyo, Maeda Tōshirō [Yoshimitsu],  Ryōkai, Sōshū Masamune,
Tomita Gō [Yoshihiro], Yoshihira,  Norinaga, Sadayoshi, Sōshū Yukimitsu,
Kotegiri Masamune, Kitano Gō [Yoshihiro], Fukushima Kanemitsu, Hitotsuyanagi Yasuyoshi, and others

 

 

WOW. Thats an unmissable All-Star lineup. 

Edited April 10 by Lewis B

[Hiro]

It’s an amazing lineup, isn’t it?

The Maeda family was extremely wealthy,

so they owned a large collection of treasures and have preserved them over the centuries.

----

Please note the exhibition period, as the displayed items may change depending on the dates. Around May 9, your visit falls under either Period 4 (May 4–10) or Period 5 (May 12–17).

Hiro

Edited April 10 by Hiro