saturday 7 mar 09

1. SHINJUKU www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011.html
we walked from hotel to reach our first destination. it's quite far, but we enjoyed the sightseeing: amazing buildings, the people, the shops. we arrived too early, so we had to wait around 10mins at the door. there were other people too, mainly school children - i think they were on a school trip.




9:30 Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings: South & North observatory
The 243 meter tall twin towers and surrounding buildings contain the offices and the assembly hall of the metropolitan government of Tokyo, as well as observatories on the 45th floor of each tower. The view from the southern tower is considered slightly more interesting. Open daily 9:30 to 23:00 (south observatory until 17:30), except December 29-31, January 2-3 and occasional inspection days. Furthermore, the north observatory is closed on the 2nd and 4th Monday and the south observatory on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, except if a public holiday falls on the closure day, in which case the observatory is closed the following day. Admission is free. www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/


10:30 tokyo opera city. NTT intercommunication centre - level 4
sadly when we arrived they're having a renovation so it's closed, but we enjoyed the cool tokyo opera city building.
"every visitor can encounter the activities of cutting-edge artists, meet them, and feel the stream of science and the arts in the new era." (www.ntticc.or.jp/index_e.html)


2. ODAIBA www.japan-guide.com/e/e3008.html
train: shinjuku to ginza (using marunouchi line), from ginza to shimbashi (using ginza line), at shimbashi buy ticket to odaiba using yurikamome line. buy day pass 800 yen because you will use it more than once. http://yurikamome.co.jp/english/index.php



The Yurikamome is an un-manned, elevated train with rubber tires, which connects Shimbashi Station on the JR Yamanote Line with all of Odaiba's attractions and Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho Subway Line. A ride from Shimbashi to Daiba takes 15 minutes and costs 310 yen. If you ride the Yurikamome more than twice, a one day pass for 800 yen is likely to come cheaper than single tickets. The Yurikamome uses the Rainbow Bridge to get to Odaiba and offers spectacular views of the harbor and the Tokyo waterfront area. Sit or stand at the very front of the train for the most impressive views. One-day Open Pass allows you to ride the YURIKAMOME line as many times as you wish for one day. It is available at ticket vending machines and the station offices of Shimbashi and Toyosu stations. One-day Open Pass issued by the ticket vending machine is valid only for the day of purchase, whereas the pass sold at the station office is valid for one day of your choice within the period of validity indicated on the ticket.

the order of yurikamome stops:
first stop from shimbashi station is at DAIBA.

11:30 Decks tokyo beach shopping mall
Decks is a shopping mall featuring various stores, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, the food theme park "Daiba Little Hong Kong" and "Tokyo Joypolis", three floors packed with the newest arcade games and more. Open daily 11:00 to 21:00 (some stores and restaurants remain open until 22:00 or 23:00). Admission is free, except to Tokyo Joypolis (500 yen). http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/japan/tokyo/sightseeing-in-tokyo/decks-tokyo-beach.html

12:30 Futuristic Fuji tv building
This is the headquarters of Fuji Television, one of Japan's private, nationwide TV stations. You can see some exhibitions on popular programs, buy Fuji TV goods at the souvenir shop and access the futuristic looking building's observatory deck. Open 10:00 to 20:00. Most attractions are closed on Mondays (closed the following Tuesday instead, if Monday falls on a public holiday). Admission is free except for the observatory deck (500 yen). http://www.fujitv.co.jp/en/



1:00 Sony Explora Science in Odaiba Mediage Building
A science museum designed by Sony, which includes a planetarium. http://www.mediage.jp/e/

...now get on the yurikamome line and stop at TELECOM CENTER

1:30 National museum of emerging science & innovation 500 yen - AMAZING!!!
This well done, highly interactive and bilingual science museum includes exhibits about environmental issues, robots (starring Asimo among others), information technology, biology and space exploration. Open daily 10:00 to 17:00. Closed Tuesdays and from Dec 28 to Jan 1 (Open Tuesdays during the summer holidays or if Tuesday is a public holiday). Admission: 500 yen. http://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/

...now get on the yurikamome line and stop at AOMI

2:30 Pallete town
This shopping and entertainment complex consists of Venus Fort, Sun Walk, Mega Web, a Ferris Wheel and Zepp Tokyo, a large concert venue. See more details on each attraction below. Open daily. Most shops and attractions are open from 11:00 to 21:00 and restaurants until 23:00. Part of Palette Town, this 115 meter tall ferris wheel is one of the world's largest and offers nice views of the bay area. Operating daily from 10:00 to 22:00 (until 24:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and days preceding holidays during the spring and summer season. Admission: 900 Yen. http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/infomation/2area/11rinkai.html

3:00 Toyota mega web
Part of Palette Town, Mega Web is a Toyota showroom, where you can view and touch Toyota's newest models and car accessories, test drive a real car ("Ride One") or ride an automatic, electric vehicle ("E-com Ride"). Historic cars are exhibited in the "History Garage". Toyota City Showcase and History Garage open 11:00 to 21:00. Universal Design Showcase open until 19:00. "Ride One", "E-com Ride" and "Kid's Hybrid Ride One" until 20:00 ("Kid's Hybrid Ride One open until 18:00 on weekdays"). There are occasional closing days. Admission is free, except for "Ride One" (300 Yen per ride) and "E-com Ride" (200 Yen per ride). A Japanese or recognized international driving permit is required for "Ride One" drivers. http://www.megaweb.gr.jp/English/

4:00 Venus Fort - mall for women with changing sky
Part of Palette Town, Venus Fort is a shopping mall in the style of a 18th century South European town. It features more than one hundred boutiques, shops, cafes and restaurants, targeting a mainly female audience. Shops are open daily 11:00 to 21:00. Restaurants until 23:00.http://www.venusfort.co.jp/multi/index_e.html

...now get on the yurikamome line and stop at KOKUSAI TENJIJO SEIMON

4:30 tokyo big sight
Also known as Tokyo International Exhibition Center, Tokyo Big Sight is Japan's largest exhibition and convention center and one of the bay islands' boldest architectural creations. A wide array of events are held at the Big Sight throughout the year. Hours and admission fees depend on the specific events. http://www.bigsight.jp/english/





5:30 panasonic center
no taking pictures inside, we experienced the biggest LCD tv screen in the world, massive!
The Panasonic Center is a showroom for the latest products and technologies by the Matsushita Group, of which Panasonic is part of. On display are the newest cameras, TV screens, computers, Nintendo games, home appliances and more. Open 10:00 to 18:00 (entry to Risupia until 17:00). Closed on Mondays, except if Monday is a public holiday. Admission is free except Risupia (500 yen). Entry to Risupia is by numbered ticket which are limited during times of high visitation. http://panasonic.net/center/tokyo/index.html

...now get on the yurikamome line and go back to stop at TELECOM CENTER

6:00 oedo onsen monogatari: hot spring theme park
www.sunnypages.jp/travel_guide/modern_tokyo/super_sentos/Oedo+Onsen+Monogatari/2030
Opened in March 2003, this is a hot spring theme park, which reproduces the atmosphere of the Edo Period (1603-1868). You can enjoy various types of baths, which are fed by actual hot spring water from a depth of 1400 meters. Open daily from 11am to 9am (no entry between 2am and 5am, last entry 7am). Admission is 2827 yen (1987 yen if you enter after 6pm). An overnight stay supplement of 1,575 yen applies if you stay after 2am. If you enter between 5am and 7am, the admission is 1,567 Yen. Once a month Oedo onsen closes early at 11pm for maintenance (admission until 9pm).

...now get on the yurikamome line and go back to stop at SHIMBASHI. from shimbashi – to shibuya (ginza line) – to shinjuku-our hotel (fukutoshin line)