Going to Tokyo

[maunahaole]

Next week. Any must see/can't miss? We are staying in Roppongi area.

[Matthew Strongin]

Sumo, if you can. I had a ton of fun in Tokyo, but for some reason going to a Sumo match sticks in my memory more than most things. I had a really good, easy to use guide book for Tokyo too. I'll see if I can find the link later. Now I need to get ready to ride.

[Matthew Strongin]

Here's the book I referenced.

Knopf MapGuides

The book is small and won't hit all the cool off the beaten path stuff, but it has maps that are easy to use, can fit in your pocket, and will help you hit the major sites.

Have fun!

[Toddykins]

Food, food, food. Tell us what kind you like and we can make some recommendations.

[vertical_doug]

Hi,

Gran Sumo starts July 7th in Nagoya. If you are planning a trip to Kyoto, I'd split one of my tickets to stop in Nagoya on the way, watch Sumo, then take the Bullet train to Kyoto. Sumo ends at 6 pm so plenty of time to get to Kyoto. You can day trip it from Tokyo on the bullet train, but it gets a little pricey.

Rapha has a pop-up shop right around the corner from you in Roppongi.
https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=%E6...m&z=16&iwloc=A

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2776626&type=1

I'd go there, because
1. It's Rapha. It's Tokyo and it's TDF time.
2. They might be planning an event around the Mt Ventoux climb next week. It will be fun to sit in a bar drinking Japanese beer, eating some yummy food and watching Mt Ventoux stage. It will be like Haole in Blade Runner.


Tokyo Sky Tree
I assume you will probably end up in Asakusa at some point. (Temple District). I like the Sky Tree because it looks like an deepsea oil platform dropped in the center of Tokyo.

Hakone
You can take the express train from Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto. From there you can take a bus up to Gora which is the hot spring area with many traditional Japanese Onsen ( Inns with hot springs). I'd stay a night at an Onsen and hike the ridge on Hakone. You will get great views of Lake Ashino and Mt Fuji.

My 2 cts.

Douglas

[vertical_doug]

One more, you can make this an empty ramen bowl tour. I love ramen and there are 4000 noodle shops in Tokyo.

Toru which is a Chinese noodle shop in Azabujuban which is just down the hill from Roppongi Hills is one of my favorite. They make what I consider the best Gyoza in Tokyo. I get plate of gyoza, shishenmen (she shen men - Spicey Ramen) and some cold beer. You cannot go wrong.

[Gordon]

I second the trip to hakone ... A totally different experience than Tokyo. The hot springs are awesome ...as is the view of Fuji-san

[Toddykins]

Hmmm, I have been slightly disappointed with the Izakayas I have tried, so I will leave that to someone else.

However, yakitori is pretty close and one of the best meals I have had in Tokyo was at Birdland in Ginza. Very Tokyo - it's in a basement next to a subway stop. They breed their own chickens and its pretty sensational with a few beers.

If you have ever wanted to try seared (ie raw) chicken, this is the place. For the record, it was quite nice with a dab of wasabi.

[maunahaole]

Our trip is quickly filling up with great activities. Baseball and sumo are tops to see. And Tsukiji fish market. We saw a sumo match here in Honolulu a few years back and it was a lot of fun. It makes me want to have a bowl of rock salt handy for throwing to the ground in the appropriate situations.

The Rapha shop is about five blocks from our hotel.

[vertical_doug]

Cherubim opened a shop near Bell Commons which is right off of Aoyama. On the same street, near the Jingu 3 on the map is a bike shop called Nalsima Friends.
Aoyama store | CHERUBIM store
https://www.facebook.com/pages/CHERUBIM/255591067820846

�る��フレンド | 神宮店

[maunahaole]

We hit Toru for dinner tonight. Just excellent. Currently at Rapha watching the tour with a Heineken in front of me. They opened the store after hours for a viewing party.

[vertical_doug]

I love their Gyoza. I really recommend Buta Gumi. Ask the hotel. I am pretty sure they will know it.

D