134 replies to this topic

[MEDdMI]

We're going to Japan for a week! Well, not until October, but that's only 6 months away! THERE'S NO TIME! NEED TO PREPARE NOW!!!!

*several minutes of running around screaming later*

 

...So anyway, my parents and brother were initially going, and we have been wanting to go for years, and couldn't really afford it. We probably still can't, but got a good tax return this year. We'll be spending most of the time in Tokyo, and a few days in Osaka. Mostly sightseeing, and some visiting of relatives whom we haven't seen in ages. I haven't been there since that one summer session around 2003 for college. This will be TMM's first international flight. Around 13hrs straight. XD Other than family gatherings, TMM & I plan to spend our time on our own doing very nerdy things and some cultural stuff too. So, if there's anything you want us to look for over there, let us know. Naturally you'll have to pay for the item and shipping, but not up front- I don't want to go out of my way to get something really difficult, it's more of a "if I happen to see X, I'll get it". Let me know here or in PM. Nothing too big/fragile or H, please.

 

I haven't made an exact list yet, but here's some of the sites we'd like to see:

Spoiler

~Giant Gundam statue

~Various toy stores

~Various Shinto and Buddist shrines

~Kaminarimon (aka giant tourist trap full of souvenirs, from keychains to yukata-type robes that are too flimsy to wear on their own)

~At least one game arcade

~At least one museum (preferably of an anime/manga kind)

~Eorzea café, if we can get in (FFXIV themed café)

~Pokémon Center

~Hachiko statue

~An Owl Café (yes, owl)

~The Imperial Palace

~Staying at least one night in the Lotte Hotel (there's a used manga store on another floor in the same building, and koala shaped pancakes for breakfast)

~Lots of cheap food and shopping

~A festival, if there's one going on at the time

~Gachapon Kaikan (full of Capsule vending machines)

~Kotobukiya/Mandarake (book/nerd places)

~Ameyoko market

~Kawagoe

 

Osaka:

~Osaka Castle

~Kaiyukan Aquarium (and the shopping mall nearby)

 

Things we are iffy on:

~Love Hotel: I'm curious, but the thought of how many others must've been getting down in there squicks me out a bit. I'm sure they clean out the rooms well, but they rent out these places by the hour, so... yeah I dunno.

~Robot Restaurant: The concept seems fun, but I don't know if I could handle the lights

~Karaoke: I'd do it with a group but TMM would be miserable

~Temple stay: You can actually get rooms at a temple, but bathrooms may be shared. You can also participate in meditation training with them in some locations, including waterfall training! I'm actually intrigued, but October would be pretty cold.

~Disneyland/DisneySea: We're not that big on amusement parks, and the thought of spending most of the day running around and waiting in line isn't terribly appealing to us.

 

Things we will definitely NOT do:

~Maid café (if only so I don't end up punching the girls when they flirt with TMM)

~Butler café (if only so I don't end up scaring away the guys)

~Clubs and other late late activities

 

Thoughts? Suggestions on things to see and do/not do? Forgive me if I use this thread to ramble and sort out thoughts. I'm currently going through a Tokyo guide that's specifically for otaku, so I'm sure the list will grow...

 

EDIT: Adding/ removing things at will. Also, gonna keep a list of things I need to do/get before the trip, as a reminder to myself.

To Get:

Spoiler

~Really comfy supportive sneakers for both of us

~SIM card, and a smartphone that can support it so I can Google map/translate the hell out of everything if needed

~JR rail passes, but not until 1month before (or else they'll expire before the trip)

~Rechargeable rail card for the local Tokyo subways (buy at station)

~Electric plug adapter, and test its functionality (got a multi-plug that adjusts voltage a bit, but not all devices need it-gonna need a few basic plug adapters for the devices that are built for various voltages)

 

To Do:

Spoiler

~Iron out exactly how many days will be spent in Tokyo/Osaka

~Iron out hotel details

~Photocopy passports, Just In Case

~Set a rough budget for food/fun/etc (HAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAAA)

~A set of house slippers for TMM (finding his size there will be near impossible) Clean socks will be fine

 

To Bring:

Spoiler

~Medium carry-on bag x1 (got it)

   Contents-one extra shirt and light pants each, one extra pair of undies, toiletries (not terribly worried on this one), passport copy, device plugs/chargers

~Comfy backpacks x2 (got these)

   Contents-empty, to be stuffed in carry-on bag until we inevitably fill it with Things and Stuffs

~Medium messenger bags (one each-got these)

   Contents: My tablet which we will share, 3DS (x2), the Switch, glasses cases/wipes, sleeping pills/medication, sketchbook, pencil/pen, power bank, passport copy

~On person:

   Shirt/pants/undies/jacket, cellphones, wallets, passports

 

Gonna try to keep the luggage as light as possible and avoid my large suitcase, so we won't have to worry about checking in any bags (plus taking the trains b/t Tokyo and Osaka, there's limited space for large bags). The clothes we will hand wash as needed or use the coin laundry at the hotel. For stuff that needs to be shipped back, the post offices should have boxes and everything else we need.

 

Other than souvenirs, here's my wish list of things to bring back:

Spoiler

~Some Copics (these will have to be shipped back, check shipping regulations first)

~Missing volumes of manga I have (to be shipped back)

~From the Pokémon store, something Bewear or Goomy related

~Something FF related, preferably FF4 Rydia, FF5 Faris, FF6 Terra or Kefka related, or one of the mascots/summons

~If they have cheap ones, some more Figmas or other bendy figures specifically made for drawing

~Doujin of a series I like??? (I am very picky on these, so this is kinda iffy)

~A shirt/scarf/accessory of something I like (preferably geeky)

 

The difficult part is going to be impulse control with all the small cute things...

Edited by MEDdMI, 01 July 2019 - 09:51 PM.

[tec]

Dude you guys are so lucky I'm so jealous

 

You guys have a blast it sound like your trip is packed!

[NotVeryKnightly]

So like, what's the most obscure anime characters-related concert you could go to?

[Destron D-69]

I don't have any suggestions, other than to have a really great time. but not such a good time that you don't come back. America needs all the quality people it has to stay.

 

XD 

[fourteenwings]

 

but that's only 6 months away! THERE'S NO TIME! NEED TO PREPARE NOW!!!!

 

You sound like me.

 

I've found that whenever I travel, keeping a really detailed list of all the things I want to see/get* and updating it at the end of every day with new stuff whilst on the trip makes me feel way less FOMO when I get home.

 

*as an unabashed consumer capitalist it's mostly get though

 

So like, what's the most obscure anime characters-related concert you could go to?

 

This statement has definitely set a plan in motion where I buy out some rookie idol's CD and send MED all the event tickets so they definitely get in.

 

Serious Mode though I will look some up, but underground idols tend to be physical only anyways with no online presence.

[Sharkshadow]

* shoves a knife over* find hatsu no Miku and do what needeth to be doneth....thoueth. 

[NotVeryKnightly]

Miku is really a strange target to complain about overexposure or whatever.

Vocaloid song might be among the least vocalist-centric, considering how much of it feels like the composers' eccentricities getting through without a filter.

[Patch]

~Karaoke: I'd do it with a group but TMM would be miserable

What, he wouldn't want to go all "Aggretsuko" at a karaoke place?

[GodSentinelOmega]

That sounds like an awesome and very packed holiday plan. Hope you enjoy it!

The Gundam statue sounds like a sight to see. Shrines, temples, the Imperial Palace, wow. An Owl Cafe? How does that work.

I'd... kinda like to go to Maid cafe for, well, obvious reasons. Except i think i'd likely end up so self-conscious i'd either immediately, or spend 99% of the time staring at the table.

Can't deny the image of you and TMM at a Maid cafe conjures a great picture of TMM sat calmly, just one maid girl trying to take your order, while your face turns crimson and steams pours from your eats, boiling kettle style.

[Sharkshadow]

Miku is really a strange target to complain about overexposure or whatever.

Vocaloid song might be among the least vocalist-centric, considering how much of it feels like the composers' eccentricities getting through without a filter.

i just find her creepy is all. 

[MEDdMI]

So like, what's the most obscure anime characters-related concert you could go to?

Hmm. Not really obscure, just old. Slayers maybe? The anime series is way over by now so I doubt there's still be concerts going on. Unless it was just Megumi Hayashibara maybe. Not entirely sure if we'd be interested (depending on the merch they might have, lol).

On maids: I know it's their job to be extra cute and demure, and I know TMM wouldn't care, but that wouldn't stop me from wanting to throw their tiny bodies through the window.

[fourteenwings]

If we're actually committing high profile virtual murder then the target is obvious; Kizuna Ai.

 

There might not be concerts, but there's always lots of anime-related random events going around.

 

I mean just pick a super-unpopular series and you're sure to get in by default (that is if they don't cancel after a lack of interest). All you need to do is watch something recent, and if you don't like it just listen to the OP or ED a lot and in six months you'll definitely believe you liked it. Trust me, To be continued... did wonders for my opinion of Infini-T Force.

[Logicron]

If we're actually committing high profile virtual murder then the target is obvious; Kizuna Ai.

I think Kizuna Ai is slightly more tolerable because she at least has a developed personality instead of just being a singing program.

[NotVeryKnightly]

But that means she'll never be in anything as edgy as this:




(Different Vocaloid, but still)

[fourteenwings]

I think Vocaloids are cool because they're tools by which lots of different emotions, including painfully dark ones, and they can be basically everything.

 

Kizuna Ai is basically just a real idol but with the humanity scrubbed out and I really don't get it.

[Ironbite]

The fact that you're just iffy on a Love Hotel tickles me pink.

[tec]

 thehellisthisasc.JPG   43.15KB   0 downloads

[Logicron]

This looks like a good place if you want a lot of cheap but good food.

 

[MEDdMI]

https://favy-jp.com/topics/993
https://www.cnn.com/...cafe/index.html
Forgot to post these earlier for GSO, quick links on owl cafes

[GodSentinelOmega]

That is awesome!