These items are on the list - in the vague order I have planned.
If you want, read up on things you would be interested and post them here. While it may not be a group excursion I'll work in time for folk to see things they want.

I'm planning on everyone checking out of their hotels on Monday morning (leave your luggage at my place on Sunday night) and checking back in on Wednesday to save that cost.


1 Nov (Sat) - People arrive in groups. Link up with me. Get hooked up with a cell for Ian, Luke and Dave if he wants it. Groups who arrive early go to Akihabara because it's interesting on a Weekend

2 Nov (Sun) - Tokyo Sightseeing. Akihabara, Harajuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Shinagawa Aquarium, wherever... People can go where they want. Dinner will be at a large Izakaya.

3 Nov (Mon) - Red-eye shinkansen at 7am -> Kyoto and a train to Nara. Temple Hopping, drinks, dinner, party party party...

4 Nov (Tues) - Nara -> Hiroshima. Arrive lunchtime. Go to War memorial. Dinner is Okonomiyaki and check out Hiroshima in the evening. I'll look up a cool area, but I've never been so if anyone wants to research please go ahead.

5 Nov (Wed) - Full day in Hiroshima. I haven't researched this but there will be lots to see and do with the peace parks, maybe a cool shrine, shopping etc. Picnic lunch or something. Shinkansen back to Tokyo mid afternoon. Check into hotels and dinner somewhere in Tokyo. I imagine everyone will be pretty beat this evening. This might be a good night to find an onsen to relax in

6 Nov (Thu) - I was planning on leaving this free so people can plan their own adventure on this day. If it's fine it'd be cool to rent a BBQ spot somewhere and have a good time, but if other activities are more desirable that's also OK. BBQ is a good option if people want a "rest day" In the evening go to Shibuya to have a beer at my friend Michiko's bar.

7 Nov (Fri) - If people want to go traditional then a day trip to Kamakura. If people want to stay in Tokyo and do crazy things then Harajuku/Shibuya/Meiji Shrine. Rent mine and Ian's friend Yusuke's restaurant for an epic last evening. Karaoke and Roppongi.



I haven't planned any trips to look at robots, car factories, castles, Nintendo game paradises or anything to do with Music. I really need you guys (over the coming couple of months) to let me know what you'd like to see and do. The above is what I'd plan for myself and I can do this stuff anytime...

I'm all about anything having to do with fashion or modern art or modern architecture. 

But, that all sounds good. I want to check out a crazy sex shop at some point.

Also I'm glad I'm finally a moderator and can see the private moderator forum.

I'm in for anything ....

Thrash, Luke is coming up to NJ on 10/30, then we are leaving on the morning of 10/31. Arrive in Japan on 11/1. Fly back on 11/7, arrive back in the states on 11/7 (plane lands in Texas). You can come up to NJ too if you'd like to leave with us. We're going to stay up all night until our flight.

Ok, I'll look at the flights; I also have my friend Robin looking in on things; she works for some airline ...

Whatever Thrash. We all know you talk a lot of game but don't follow through.

Hope you have fun in Jacksonville while we are getting drunk and buying used panties.

On the upside, if you and Kyle go, you guys can be hotel roomies!

Do they have CL casual encouters in Japan?

Right - there are museums on modern art and some cool bits of architecture around the place (mixed in with some utter crap). If everyone had phones we cal all disperse to favored spot. I'll go to the museums - Akihabara and electronics don't interest me one whit.

I'll go to the museums - Akihabara and electronics don't interest me one whit.

That's not the charm of Akihabara for me... but I'm down with museums and galleries.

One of the days, I'd like to see your offices if possible.

Nintendo game paradise and castles sounds interesting!

I read offices as orifices.

We'll get you a dictionary because November then...

7 Nov (Fri) - If people want to go traditional then a day trip to Kamakura. If people want to stay in Tokyo and do crazy things then Harajuku/Shibuya/Meiji Shrine. Rent mine and Ian's friend Yusuke's restaurant for an epic last evening. Karaoke and Roppongi.

This might need to be scheduled earlier, as Dan & I fly out that evening...

And you have your days wrong, November 1st is a Sunday.

Actually, dont the trees turn red that week in Kyoto or something?

Nara = Next to Kyoto

I totally forgot about Miyajima, it's a shrine about an hour out from Hiroshima.... I really want to see this.

Also - suicide forest?

Would there be time or opportunity to see some Sumo action?


tricky: oops i accidently edited this post instead of quoting it... sorry.

Unfortunately no.

But, that all sounds good. I want to check out a crazy sex shop at some point.

Do they have CL casual encouters in Japan?

They will when we're done visiting the the crazy sex shop together.

But seriously, they do. Tokyo.craigslist.com. I went on there and actually replied to an ad the 2nd to last night I was there. No response.

Would there be time or opportunity to see some Sumo action?

:O:O

Would there be time or opportunity to see some Sumo action?

Maybe some hot hot Mosh/ eitje hotel room sumo action after a long night of drinking. 

eijte is quite a bit larger and no doubt physically stronger than me.

and I'm completely unco when drunk.

It'd be no contest.

Don't be a pussy.

be a pussy.

I've been reading Black Rain, and there are a few places called out in the book.  I'm not sure if they exist anymore, or if they're even real, but these might be worth checking out.

Mitaki Park
Yokogawa Shrine
Yokogawa Station
West Parade Ground
East Parade Ground

plus 150 awesome point for reading that. Seriously, well done

I kind of wanted to go to Kyoto, because my friend Kana goes there.    It could maybe be a side trip from Tokyo to Hiroshima?  ......Maybe I can get her to meet up with me in Tokyo.

I want to go to a hipster bar in Tokyo.  Don't mock me, it's my cultural right!

http://www.top10intokyo.com/category/bars

You're welcome to go to Kyoto on your own (or take others if they want to go with you) either at the same time that we go to Nara/Hiroshima, or you could visit there on the way back. Kyoto is very close to Nara and we'll go through it on the train trip down to Hiroshima.

Ian and I have already done Kyoto (and I've been there 4 times with various people) so it's not on the schedule for this trip but I totally recommend you or anyone else bopping off there for a night or two. I'd be happy to help schedule trains/hotels and will give you a crash course in how to get around (REALLY easy).


Hipster bar - why not. The schedule is loose, basically it's what Ian and I had planned and people can take part for what bit/bits they want and I'll help them schedule other stuff. I probably won't even go to Akihabara, Ian can head that excursion.... . Any bar that's "scene-ish" will set you back 700-1000 yen per drink with a probably entry charge on top of that. (Addition) I just looked at your list, they're all shite bars anyway