Going to Japan

[electron]

Osaka for 3 days then bullet train to Tokyo for another 3 days. (30May-07June) Can those who have been advise on recommended places to eat/shoot/stay? Also, where is the best place to get lenses and accessories?
Hopefully it's not too hot this time of year :sweat: and the Cherry Blossoms are still out.

 

[electron]

Found this thread in hardwarezone and its a treasure trove of useful information! Quite a few guys in there with good cams and some discussion on photography too. Quite in depth with almost 400 pages but I'd rather too much information than too little hehe

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=1284932

 

[satch]

Hotels:
I stayed at Intercontinental ANA Tokyo near Roppongi Hills district, very good location & nice rooms with LCD TV. Another one I checked was Tokyo Dome, also very nice rooms with a good view of the amusement park, free broadband as well.

Eats:
For cheap eats, look for noodle shops around train stations (below 500Yen typically). If you want to splurge, go for New York Grill @ Park Hyatt Hotel at Shinjuku... jaw-dropping once-in-a-lifetime view of Tokyo (no kidding!), try the Kobe or Hokkaido steak, it's the best I've tasted! After dinner, drop by Shiodome City Tower (top few floors) for a drink while enjoying the Tokyo Bay nightview.

Sights:
Get a lonely planet!

 

[electron]

Hotels:
I stayed at Intercontinental ANA Tokyo near Roppongi Hills district, very good location & nice rooms with LCD TV. Another one I checked was Tokyo Dome, also very nice rooms with a good view of the amusement park, free broadband as well.

Eats:
For cheap eats, look for noodle shops around train stations (below 500Yen typically). If you want to splurge, go for New York Grill @ Park Hyatt Hotel at Shinjuku... jaw-dropping once-in-a-lifetime view of Tokyo (no kidding!), try the Kobe or Hokkaido steak, it's the best I've tasted! After dinner, drop by Shiodome City Tower (top few floors) for a drink while enjoying the Tokyo Bay nightview.

Sights:
Get a lonely planet!

THanks for the detailed reply! Esp about Kobe steak & Food. Is it better to get camera accessories and lenses in Japan? Cheaper than HK?

 

[terence19]

No.

Hong Kong still cheaper.

 

[electron]

No.

Hong Kong still cheaper.

Ok, won't waste time looking around then, more time for sightseeing and food! Wish there was a cheaper way to travel between Osaka & Tokyo tho. Shinkansen costs a bomb and the slower trains and buses aren't that much cheaper either. But hey, this is Japan!

 

[electron]

Just came back and had a blast. First trip to Japan and it was as I had always imagined! Worth every cent IMHO. Best of all, I'm happy to say that no amount of reading manuals and forum threads can prepare you for your first outing with a DSLR. It was the most fun i've had with my clothes on, ever! Thanks to all who replied with great advice. (i did try the station noodles and went to Kobe itself for Kobe beef and yes, it does melt in your mouth!)