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Thread: Japan Trip

  1. #1
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    Default Japan Trip

    Greetings fellow E-Budo members.

    I am going to be visiting Tokyo and Okinawa between April 18 and May 1. I am staying in the Shibuya district in Tokyo.

    If it is not too much trouble, I would love to hear any recommendations for sights to see, places to eat, smiths, bookstores or budo shops. Basically anything you care to share.

    Right now I am looking at visiting the Kodokan, try to arrange a visit to a heya, imperial palace gardens, shinsengumi memorial, Edo-Tokyo museum and national museum and sword museum. Any additions of a historical value would be greatly appreciated.

    For my trip to Naha, I am still working out what to see.

    If anybody is in Tokyo, perhaps a beer?

    Regards,

    Stephen
    Stephen Baker

    "Never cruel nor cowardly, never give up, never give in." Doctor Who

  2. #2
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    For bookstores there is Kinokuniya in Times Square, not far from Shinjuku Station. If you want Japanese books you will need to go Kanda / Jimbocho and wander round the area, which is full of bookstores. There are one or two bookshops here that stock English-language books, like Sanseido and Tuttle. If you would like a dose of Japanese militarism, you could go up to the Nippon Budokan and cross the road. The Yasukuni Shrine is right opposite, as you will see from the torii. For more nostalgia, there are the graves of the 47 Ronin in the Sengakuji Temple.
    Peter Goldsbury,
    Forum Administrator,
    Hiroshima, Japan

  3. #3
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    I would recommend a trip to Senso-ji It is easily accessible from the Asakusa station, is Tokyo's oldest temple, and I spent several hours wandering through all the shops outside the entrance on the Nakamise-dōri.
    Paul Smith
    "Always keep the sharp side and the pointy end between you and your opponent"

  4. #4
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    The area around Korakuen has several budo shops on the main street.

    If you feel like going a bit further, take the train from Seibu Shinjuku to Hon Kawagoe. It's less than an hour away, and Kawagoe has some lovely buildings
    from the late Edo and early Meiji eras. You can easily spend half a day there.
    Andrew Smallacombe

    Aikido Kenshinkai

    JKA Tokorozawa

    Now trotting over a bridge near you!

  5. #5
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    You can spend a lot of time looking through books and reading articles, but the modern travelogue via YouTube can be a pretty effective way of getting up-to-date tips and guidance. Of course, there are some useless videos by people who shouldn't be offering advice, bute there are some pretty good ones too. I like this offering, of 25 things to do in Tokyo;
    David Noble
    Shorinji Kempo (1983 - 1988)
    I'll think of a proper sig when I get a minute...

    For now, I'm just waiting for the smack of the Bo against a hard wooden floor....

  6. #6
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    Default Thank you much!

    Thank you for the recommendations!
    Stephen Baker

    "Never cruel nor cowardly, never give up, never give in." Doctor Who

  7. #7
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    If you're staying Shibuya you might as well go to Harajuku and check out the fashion weirdness on the way to Meiji Jinja. Good for a budo break/distraction and the girls were always pretty friendly, as I recall.
    Gene McGloin

    -Truth does not require your belief in order to function.

  8. #8
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    Try going to Tsukiji market, its the largest seafood market in the world.

    And welcome to the forum!
    I always play chess and go during weekend, unfortunately theres no tournament in Sweden.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by hacchimoon View Post
    Try going to Tsukiji market, its the largest seafood market in the world.
    Yeah, just watch out for those crazy little trucks the fish mongers whip around the place in!
    Gene McGloin

    -Truth does not require your belief in order to function.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gene McGloin View Post
    Yeah, just watch out for those crazy little trucks the fish mongers whip around the place in!
    I saw those too. We walked on the sides to avoid them.
    I always play chess and go during weekend, unfortunately theres no tournament in Sweden.

  11. #11
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    There is an excellent Wiki page about Tsukiji. It is worth pointng out that the fish market will be moving location in 2016.
    Planned relocation to Toyosu

    The Tsukiji fish market occupies valuable real estate close to the center of the city. Former Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara repeatedly called for moving the market to Toyosu, Koto.[13] The long-anticipated move to the new market will take place in November 2016, in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.[14] The new location has been criticized for being heavily polluted and in need of cleanup.[15] There are plans to retain a retail market, roughly a quarter of the current operation, in Tsukiji.[16] The remaining area of the market will be redeveloped.
    David Noble
    Shorinji Kempo (1983 - 1988)
    I'll think of a proper sig when I get a minute...

    For now, I'm just waiting for the smack of the Bo against a hard wooden floor....

  12. #12
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    Thank you all for the great advice. The trip was ... awesome! I even connected with a forum member for lunch and of course a beer. Now when can I go back?
    Stephen Baker

    "Never cruel nor cowardly, never give up, never give in." Doctor Who

  13. #13
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    Very cool Stephen!
    So, what did you end up doing? What did you consider outstanding and what wasn't really worth the effort?

    We need a trip report man!
    Paul Smith
    "Always keep the sharp side and the pointy end between you and your opponent"

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