What would you do?

[jay]

I'm faced next week with no specific plans in Japan, other than being in Nara on May 19-23 for the conference. If anyone reading this cared to offer advice, it would be appreciated. What would you do, if you were given an evening, then half-day in Tokyo? Followed by train travel (most direct bullet train, or an alternate routing) down to Nara, which is full of temples, history and tame deer?

Then at the end of the week in Nara, maybe an overnight somewhere in Kyoto before returning to Tokyo for another 24-hour stay there?

Comments

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

For the evening in Tokyo, you should go to Shintoku. It is Tokyo in all of its stereotypical glory - neon lights, crazy punk-ass kids who are really nice, great restaurants (although don't order unless there is a menu with prices), electronics shops, massage parlors, sex shops, love hotels...

Another place I enjoyed in Tokyo is Ueno Park and the surrounding area - it's a much older area of Japan. Other than that, I can't really give you too much advice as I don't know Tokyo all that well.

As for Nara, you have my email for advice. Fushimi Inari is a definitely highlight if you can make it up that way towards Kyoto. Other than that, Nara Park is big and easy enough to just enjoy.

As for those "tame" deer, they are evil. They aren't really tame, just used to people feeding them. If you don't feed them, they can get quite irate. What really pisses me off is parents who give them children the food to feed the deer and then laugh as their children flee if fear as the dear practically attack them for the food. How cute, eh. Be careful around them.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

For the evening in Tokyo, you should go to Shintoku

Hmm... is that the same place (diff. Romanized spelling) of Shinjuku? It sounds similar... on the east side of the peripheral railway line? In any case, that sounds perfect for the first night (saturday), enough activity to keep me awake until bedtime ;-). I may try Ueno on Sunday morning, there's some kind of biannual festival nearby. And I'll watch out for the deer :-).

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

Oops - you're right. Shinjuku it is. Shintoku is actually a town around my area.