Japan Fan Post #043
これは外国人のためのポストであるように、私は日本でこれを書くことはありません。不便をおかけして申し訳ありません。
Today, I'll be doing something a bit different. This is great info for tourists and others who haven't ridden the Yamanote Line or use it solely to get to work and back. This Sunday, I'll be showing you how to get the most out of Tokyo on the Yamanote Line with a brief tour.
First, let's get to know the Yamanote Line, which the locals have lovingly dubbed "Yamanote-sen." It circles Tokyo, serving almost every major station in Tokyo, which is why it might service more passengers in a day than the London Underground does in a month. It is also a huge connector to the airports as well as JR's Shinkansen, which are used to travel around Japan. The easiest way to tour if you are staying in Tokyo for more than a few days would be an IC card, either PASMO or Suica. These are Tokyo's rechargeable smart passes. If you're stay in Tokyo isn't super long, the Tokunai Pass is a great idea. This is Tokyo's daily pass, which gets you anywhere inside Tokyo for a day. Ask the station staff about this purchase.
And here's the Yamanote-sen map in context with other Tokyo lines. It's a rough sketch, but it shows my Photoshop skills...
Note: You can get on and off anywhere! I'm not saying you have to follow this tour completely, it's just a reminder.
Stop #1: Tokyo (とうきょう)
We will stop here to see the famous Tokyo Station building, which will turn 100 in December! Tokyo Station is super big, so make sure to go shopping in one of the station's many boutiques. Tokyo Station is a hub for the Shinkansen as well, so you might be able to catch a glimpse of a Shinkansen through the gates! I've marked the location of Tokyo as well as our route below.
Stop #2: Akihabara (あきはばら)
We'll stop here to witness possibly the most interesting neighborhood in Tokyo. Think of your local comic shop, but spread out over many, many city blocks. You'll want to venture out the "Electric Town" exit, which is marked clearly in the station. After that, you're free to venture! Just make sure to remember the location of the station, because the buildings all kinda look the same. Some good places to visit are Laox, a department store, the Neon Room Restaurant for a good view and one of many video game arcades to try out some Japanese arcade games.
Stop #3: Ueno (うえの)
We'll stop here to go to the Ueno Tokyo Zoo and see some interesting Japanese fauna, and then make our way over to Ameyoko, a popular shopping area of Tokyo. If you want to get lost in some real Tokyo streets, Ameyoko is the place to do it. It has a distinct vibe like no other.
Stop #4: Shinjuku (しんじゅく)
We'll travel all the way across North Tokyo to Shinjuku to see Shinjuku Station as well as the many skyscrapers there. Shinjuku station is the busiest in the world with more than 200 exits spanning a half mile! You'll want to come here in the morning or evening to witness the crush of passengers taking the train to work or home. After navigating your way out of the station, look up! You're bound to see one of many characteristic skyscrapers that makes up Tokyo, like the Metropolitan Building or the Gakuen Cocoon Mode tower! See some of the flashing lights and crowded stores or play a game of pachinko or two while you're at it.
Stop #5: Harajuku (はらじゅく)
We'll stop here to view the famous, unfortunately named Takeshita-dori (Tah-keh-she-tah) to witness the hip young adults. Be wary of what they're wearing because you could see those trends on young adults in western countries next year! Then, we'll venture over to Omotesando Hills, which you can access via Tokyo Metro or foot. There, we'll see Kiddyland, a fun store filled with knicknacks from model Yamanote-sen trains to Star Wars chopsticks and DIY paper sculptures!
There's actually one more station, but I forgot to include it on the map!
Stop #6: Shibuya (しぶや)
Finally, we'll stop here to view the famous Shibuya Scramble. This is best viewed from the Starbucks on the 2nd floor of the Tsutaya building! And you can enjoy a warm matcha tea latte as well! This is best viewed around 5pm on weekdays, when most of the people are crossing! Also, we'll get to see the famous Hachiko Square, which contains the famous statue of Hachiko the dog! This is where many Japanese people meet up, so you'll see lots of people waiting for family and friends.
Thanks for reading, guys, and have a fun time in Japan!
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