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SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor
#1

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

This datasheet is inspired by, and dedicated to, RVF heavyweights and all-around stand-up dudes slubu and Courage Reborn, the first two Members I ever met here in my adopted home.

0. PREFACE

There are some fine threads on Tokyo – see for example Laner’s 2011 thread and Flyjin’s 2014 thread – as well as Skotch’s excellent omnibus thread on game in Japan, but I thought it might be useful to expand on some advice I put together for slubu and CR during their recent trip to Tokyo that is tailored for a specific audience: namely, the RVFer who has never been to Japan, does not speak Japanese, and does not necessarily have the yellow fever (or at least doesn’t know it yet), but who wants to swoop in briefly to get a taste of this insane country and try to capture the J flag at the same time.

A few preliminaries:
  • I put “approximately 7-day” visitor in the title for good reason. If you have never been here and don’t know what to expect, a week is enough time to give it a fair shake. If you don’t like it, you’ll be ready to move on after a week; if you love it, well then you’ll just have to move here, because in that case ten years won’t suffice.
  • I’ve mentioned before elsewhere, but will stress once again: The English-language ability of the Japanese, and especially of young hot chicks, is surprisingly poor. I do not have references to cite, but in my own long experience I’d say that about a quarter of Japanese women speak English well enough that you can carry on at least a half-assed conversation with them. Further, contact with the Anglosphere tends to corrupt the minds and bodies of Japanese women, so the hell of it is that, in general, the better she speaks English the more likely she’s a westernized Azn bitch. And of course the premium young ass has the world at its feet, so it doesn’t bother to learn English. Japan is a poosy paradise, but a tough one; adjust your expectations accordingly.
  • For the above reason, and assuming that many of you will make it a priority to get the flag, you necessarily have to spend your time in Tokyo – and in fact in a very specific part of Tokyo, as explained below. In the second-tier cities and in the countryside, English communication only gets worse. Cities like Sapporo and Fukuoka are outstanding, but without Japanese you are probably just setting yourself up for a serious case of blue-balls on your first trip. Hence this datasheet is focused on Tokyo. In the future, depending on the level of interest, I may break out datasheets on my favorite second-tier cities.
  • For some reason the Japanese yen symbol won’t render for me; instead I will use the charmless waxed-crotch “Y” in place of the real thing. At this writing the yen trades at $1 = Y120, down 37% from its pre-Abenomics peak. Japan has not been this cheap to visit in nearly a decade.
1. LOGISTICS

Visas. Virtually all of the RVF readership are citizens of countries that have visa exemption arrangements with Japan. Check here for a list of exempt countries. If you are a citizen of one these exempt countries, you do not need to apply for a visa; you will receive a 90-day landing permission stamp in your passport at airport immigration.

Getting here. Tokyo is serviced by two international airports: Narita, 40 miles outside of central Tokyo in the middle of the rice paddies of Chiba Prefecture; and Haneda, located on reclaimed land jutting out into Tokyo Bay only 8 miles south of Tokyo Station. If you have a choice, fly into Haneda – but depending on your point of origin, carrier, arrival time, and budget, that might not be an option.

From Narita. You have two options, train or limousine bus. Six of one, half a dozen of another, as either will cost just over Y3000 and take about 90 minutes to get to Roppongi (your destination – see Lodging below). My recommendation: Unless you are exiting Narita airport on a weekday between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm, take the bus. It’s comfortable, convenient, and traffic outside of that time will not be bad. If however you are heading for downtown during those evening hours, opt for the train, since you could get stuck in two-hour+ rush-hour traffic.

- By bus. After you breezily pass through immigration and customs, look for the bright orange signs of the “Airport Limousine” counter. Here is the website. There are two stops in Roppongi: the Grand Hyatt and the Ritz Carlton. These will be a short walk to the AirBnB apartment you’ve booked, per the below. Cost: Y3100.

- By train. After immigration/customs, follow the signs for “Railways” to the level below the arrival hall. You are looking for the red NARITA EXPRESS counter. The automated ticket machines also sell tickets, but by this time you’re dazed by the sights and sounds and majestic order of Japan, so you may want to line up to buy your ticket (to Tokyo Station, Y3020) at the staffed counter. On arriving at the intensely crowded Tokyo Station, follow the signs for the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (indicated by a block M in a red circle). Take this line one stop to Ginza Station; there you switch to the Hibiya Line (block H in a grey circle), which you take 4 stops to Roppongi Station. Hoof it to your AirBnB.

From Haneda. From Haneda you will travel by rail into town (Y670, ~30 min.). After immigration/customs, follow the signs for the MONORAIL, which you take to its final stop, Hamamatsucho. There you follow the signs for Daimon Station on the Oedo Line (a block E in a crimson circle). Take the Oedo Line three stops to Roppongi Station. Short walk to your AirBnB.

Lodging. Its streets overflowing with aggressive Nigerian touts and annoying Chinese masseuses trying to pull you into their bar/club/strip show/massage parlor/etc., Roppongi is the cloaca of Tokyo but this is where you should set up camp for your stay. This area has by far the highest concentration of bars/clubs frequented by English-speaking Japanese women who are DTF a gaijin. Also, it is centrally located for all the sight-seeing and dining around town you’ll be doing. I recommend using AirBnB to find an apartment that suits your budget. Just use Google maps to check that the property is within a 10-minute walk or so of Roppongi Station (and note that this radius puts the Nishi-Azabu crossing within range for your search). For one thing, you will be using Roppongi Station as your launching point for your sightseeing/dining forays; for another, you want to be able to pull club sluts back to your place easily.

Getting around. The Tokyo rail and subway system appears hilariously complex to the first-time visitor. Here is a typical map. This superb English-language site lets you find the best way to travel between any two stations. You will probably be using the subway/JR trains, unless you have cash to blow on taxi fares: The meter starts at Y730 when you get in, and ticks up at Y90 per 1/6 of a mile. The trains and subways stop running around midnight, which is another reason to lodge close to the nightlife.

Comms. The subway stations, most cafés and convenience stores, and many AirBnB rentals have free WiFi networks – but if you want to be assured of network access no matter what, you will want to pick up a local SIM card for your unlocked smartphone when you get to Japan. This b-mobile card is a good one; you can order one online before you arrive and pick it up at the post office inside Narita or Haneda airport; otherwise you can buy one at a Yodobashi Camera store in Tokyo. Young Japanese are all using the LINE app these days; almost none are on WhatsApp. And it seems no one actually speaks on the phone anymore either, so if you opt for a data-only SIM card you should be fine.

2. CUISINE

The following is broken down by genre. There are a (countably) infinite number of memorable and mind-blowing places to eat in Tokyo, so this list is by necessity woefully incomplete. Please note this convention: If I have included the phone number (starting with 03), then you should make a reservation; no phone number means they don’t accept reservations or they are not necessary.

Sushi. Taking into account both quality and price, my current top recommendation for sushi in Tokyo is Daiwa (Chuo-ku, Tsukiji 5-2-1), inside the famous Tsukiji Fishmarket. For Y3500 you get the 7-nigiri, 1-roll set menu of extremely high quality. If it sounds too good to be true, well yes, there’s a catch: The shop takes no reservations and you’ll have to wait in line anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. It’s open for breakfast through lunch, from 5:30 am to 1:30 pm on days that the Fishmarket itself is open for business. Be sure to check the Market schedule here as it closes two or three days every month on a staggered schedule – in addition to Sundays and National Holidays, when it is also closed. Sadly, the historic Tsukiji Fishmarket is being relocated to Toyosu in November 2016, so you have little more than one year to visit.

For a more formal evening sushi outing, head over to Kyubey (Chuo-ku, Ginza 8-7-6; 03-3571-6523) in Ginza. Not cheap, but well worth it. On the other hand, I can’t really recommended the much-hyped Sukiyabashi Jiro of documentary and Obama-Abe summit fame. Yes it’s fantastic, but not quite Y30,000 per head (not counting drinks etc.) fantastic.

Oysters. If you are an oyster man like me, you will be in mother-of-pearl heaven at the Fish House Oyster Bar East (Shibuya-ku, Ebisu 1-23-16; 03-6408-5393), a seven-minute walk from the East Exit of Ebisu JR Station. Every night there are some dozen varieties of oysters from all over Japan, plus a few worthies from Canada/Australia/U.S. Add to this a good selection of Belgian white beers and white wines, all presided over by Hayashi-san, one of the most solicitous maître d’s in a city famous for its service, and you’ve got yourself a righteous zinc-rich night. With only four tables and four counter seats, this place is also one where you will want to make a reservation. If you do head here for dinner, afterward you may want to stroll ten minutes, or hop a quick Y730 cab ride, down Kitazato-dori to Quien quiera (Minato-ku, Shirokane 5-14-8; 03-3446-0609), quite possibly one of the most beautiful bars in all of Tokyo. It is a sullen two-story wooden building that has stood there since 1918. The very place to be ravished by what is – and is obdurate… Oh hell, even if you aren’t down in Shirokane for some other reason, you would do well to make a trip to this bar at some point during your Tokyo sojourn.

Tempura. Stand-out tempura shops abound, but my favorite is Abe (Chuo-ku, Ginza 4-3-7; 03-6228-6077) in Ginza. It’s small and popular, so you’ll need a reservation.

Yakiniku. Literally “grilled meat,” yakiniku is originally Korean but the Japanese have adopted it with élan. When slubu and CR were here, they reminded me of a terrific spot a short walk from Nishi-Azabu crossing which I had not been to in many years but can wholeheartedly recommend: Yoroniku (Minato-ku, Minami-Aoyama 6-6-22; 03-3498-4629). We had the Y9000 course menu. The charm point of Yoroniku is that, different from most joints where you have to concentrate on grilling the meat yourself, here a young lass will stand at your table and grill the meat to perfection, and then explain with surgical precision how to eat it. If you are a drinker, in honor of that lass try the Toyo Bijin (東洋美人, “Asian Beauty”) sake after a few nama beers. This place is hugely popular so reservations are a must. Another awesome Yakiniku place is Jumbo (Minato-ku, Shirokane 3-1-1; 03-5795-4129). Open 365 days a year and packed every night. Reservations are again required.

Yakitori. Meaning “grilled chicken,” the yakitori restaurant dismembers the bird and serves up every part of it, inside and out, grilled on skewers over a charcoal fire. Mr. Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls… Too many outstanding ones to list here – but for great chicken and so much more, as well as one of the most elite (yet cheap) Tokyo dining experiences, you’ve got to hit the rails under the Yamanote line near Yurakucho Station. Lined up in a row, the tiny shops are burrowed in right under the elevated tracks of the rail lines overhead; makeshift tables spill out into the quiet street in front of the store. When the weather is fine (esp. April to June, Sept. to early Nov.) you want to be outside to watch what there is. The very best of the lot is Matsuso (Chiyoda-ku, Yurakucho 2-1-20). They do have an English version of the expansive menu, but the best offerings are scrawled out by hand in Japanese on a chalkboard that changes daily. If possible bring a Japanese speaker with you here.

Burger. What, you ask, going for a burger in Tokyo? Isn’t that like going on a date in Japan with a British fattie?? Aha, not so fast! Try an American-style hamburger made with prime wagyu beef at Burger Mania (Minato-ku, Shirokane 6-5-7) and then come talk to me about a sammich. No reservations necessary. Bonus: They play hip-hop music all day long, from opening at 11:30 am until last order at 10:00 p.m. And note this joint is less than 100 meters east of Quien quiera (see above) on Kitazato-dori.

Ramen. Personally I find this stuff disgusting – ramen is to Japan what McDonalds is to the U.S. – but it has its fans, so I’ll include it here. With a hat tip to slubu for the find (and seconded by many Japanese friends), I’ll single out Kaotan (Minato-ku, Minami-Aoyama 2-34-30) near Nishi-Azabu crossing, open daily until 5 a.m., 6 a.m. on the weekend. This is the kind of place you go in the wee small hours after drinking in Roppongi but failing to pull a bird back to your place. Better still to head over to Daiwa in Tsukiji to queue up for its 5:30 a.m. opening, but hey, it takes all kinds.

Izakaya. Last and perhaps most important is the quintessentially Japanese drinking establishment. I have many favorites here in town, but I value my privacy and the integrity of these places, so I will reserve recommendations for Members in good standing, on request by PM.

For a passable, Disney theme-park izakaya experience, check out Gonpachi (Minato-ku, Nishi-Azabu 1-13-11; 03-5771-0170) right at Nishi-Azabu crossing. This was the site of a famous Bush-Koizumi summit dinner during the golden years of US-Japan relations (and Tarantino modeled the set for the ending fight scene of the atrocious Kill Bill Vol. 1 on it, for what it’s worth). You can sample just about every representative Japanese cuisine, sashimi, tempura, yakitori, tofu, udon/soba and the rest, and it’s reasonably priced.

3. SIGHTSEEING

Again, there is no end to the unforgettable sights and experiences that can wash over you in Tokyo. Here are a few ideas, merely skimming the surface, to get you started.

Shrines. The city is speckled with hundreds of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples; everyone has his own favorites. If I had to recommend one representative shrine it would be Meiji-Jingu, a short walk from Meiji-jingumae Station. This is the one that foreign dignitaries (heads of state, the Dalai Lama, etc.) most often visit. The shrine is big, wide, and beautiful; the broad graveled avenue through the forest from the main gate to the shrine makes for a soothing walk. My own personal favorite shrine is Nezu Jinja, a short walk from Nezu Station on the Chiyoda line. Especially during azalea season in April and the fall foliage of October/November, this is a spectacular little pocket of serenity in Tokyo.

Sensoji Temple and Asakusa. Likewise, my one Temple recommendation would be Sensoji (Taito-ku, Asakusa 2-3-1) up in Asakusa. In fact that entire area is really cool. In addition to the temple itself, its famous Kaminarimon gate and all the shops, the Kappabashi Kitchenware District (centered on Nishi-Asakusa 1-5-15) is close by. Here you can find stores specializing in every conceivable kitchen item – matchless Japanese kitchen knives to last you a lifetime, the Nambu tetsu-bin iron pots for making tea, the incredibly life-like plastic food displays that make great gag souvenirs, etc.

Right down the street from the Sensoji temple entrance is the Kamiya Bar (Taito-ku, Asakusa 1-1-1), one of the very first western-style beer halls in Japan. Sweet place. If you are sightseeing up in Asakusa and need a break, you can slip in for a few beers and some eats. Be sure to ask to be seated on the second floor.

Tea Ceremony. If you are interested in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, I recommend the ceremony at the Imperial Hotel. Reservations are required; check here for information and the number to call to reserve.

Bonus: The Imperial is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright bar. If ever there were a place for a whisky and a cigar, this is it.

New York Bar at the Shinjuku Park Hyatt. You may know this hotel and this bar from Sofia Coppola’s homage to Japan, Lost in Translation. The views of Tokyo from here are breathtaking – go at dusk; see the late light and then stay for the night lights. Sunday evening is the ideal time for this. There is a Y2200 cover charge after 8:00 pm daily (after 7:00 pm on Sundays), and drinks are not cheap, but it’s well worth it.

Shibuya. Want to see where Julien Blanc and all the day-game street spammers work their special magic? [Image: tard.gif] Head to the streets of Shibuya! A fun place to wander around and maybe chat up some local gyarus. At least see the infamous "scramble crossing" where thousands of people cross a 7-way intersection all at once.

The Robot Restaurant. (Shinjuku-ku, Kabukicho 1-7-1) I confess I had never heard of this wild place until slubu and CR came to town and we went together. Highly recommended for a dose of Japanese zaniness. See this link to learn more about the show and to make reservations (required). Note: Although it’s called a restaurant, better to eat beforehand. Only drinks and light snacks (popcorn, etc.) are served before the show and during its breaks.

4. NIGHTLIFE

A big caveat up front: What’s hot and happening in the Tokyo club and bar scene can change pretty quickly. The information here is current as of August/September 2015. I will try to provide updates in this thread as time goes on and the situation changes. The spots noted here are chosen specifically for gaijin visitors who don't speak Japanese and are hunting for Japanese chicks who might be more open to getting down with foreign dudes. The hard truth is that the club scene in Tokyo – especially for foreigners and most especially for non-speakers of Japanese – has gotten markedly worse over the past few years. You should interpret the following to be the “least difficult” of many very tough options. That said, solid players like slubu and CR did pick up their flags, and then some, during a one-week stay this summer, so it can be done – with skill and the right local area knowledge.

There are only two big bar/club nights of the week in Tokyo, Friday and Saturday – or three, if you count the very occasionally hopping Thursday night. From Thursday to Saturday, each night is busier than the previous one, hitting a peak on Saturday. Sunday through Wednesday are dead in Tokyo – but there is action to be found, as noted below.

First I’ll list up the usual Roppongi suspects and then give some advice for how to run the various nights.

Feria. (Minato-ku, Roppongi 7-13-7) Right now Feria is the king of clubs catering to the mixed Japanese/gaijin crowd. It is busiest on Saturday night, with Friday a close second. It doesn’t get hopping until around midnight on Friday, and even later (after 12:30) on Saturday. Cover for men on these two nights is Y3500, which includes tickets for two drinks. The place is often a zoo, with five floors from the basement mosh-pit up to the roof-top bar on the 4th floor. The third floor is to my taste the best, striking a balance between the pandemonium of the basement and the subdued groups of the roof. Ratios have been respectable here lately, tilted somewhat to the sausage-side of 50/50.

On the weeknights, they only open the smaller 3rd and 4th floors, and men’s cover is down to Y2000 with chicks free or Y1000, so they actually draw a decent crowd. This was the scene of slubu’s Tuesday-night bathroom bang and the bouncer trying to break the door in on him.

R2. (Minato-ku, Roppongi 7-14-23) Right across the street from Feria, this bar (vice club) sees its highest traffic on Friday night, and Saturday is a bit less busy. No cover; drinks are ~Y800 to Y1000. It tends to get rolling earlier than Feria, as many people hit here before migrating across the street. Ratios are hit-or-miss here; some nights are fine but lately it’s been too crowded with too many thirsty dudes. Also, the women here tend to be a bit older than the ones you’ll find at Feria. Very quiet on weeknights.

A971. (Minato-ku, Akasaka 9-7-2) Down the street from Feria and R2, located on the ground floor of the Tokyo Midtown complex, A971 is another bar, but unlike R2 it has an outdoor patio area in addition to the inside bar, and is louder and somewhat better lit than the dim R2. No cover; drinks are a bit cheaper, and the clientele a bit younger, than R2. It is equally busy on Friday and Saturday nights, getting going after 10:00 pm. Also very quiet on weeknights, but slubu and I found something to play with here on the Wednesday night he arrived. [Image: wink.gif]

Mist. (Minato-ku, Roppongi 3-10-5) This little basement club a 5-minute walk down Higashi-Gaien-dori from Roppongi crossing has been going off on odd nights, like Monday and Tuesday. Slubu, CR, and I hit it late on a Monday and it was fairly crowded, with decent ratios. Probably good on the weekends, but I haven’t been there to confirm. Cover is Y2000 which includes two drinks.

Geronimo. (Minato-ku, Roppongi 7-14-10) A tight hole-in-the-wall shot bar on the second floor of a building 15 meters from Roppongi Crossing, this place sometimes surprises on Friday and Saturday night with a mix of Japanese and European sluts. No cover and Y900 beers, it is worth popping your head in to see what it’s like as you look for some action.

Japan-centric and other clubs. There are of course a slew of clubs in Tokyo, but they tend to attract a very Japanese crowd that shows little interest in foreign dudes. For instance, if you really wanted to see a leading Shibuya club, go to Womb (Shibuya-ku, Maruyama-cho 2-16). But they play weird EDM music and you’ll have trouble finding a J-chick with the ability and desire to speak English. Similarly, V2 in the heart of Roppongi is a big, bustling club but not very gaijin-friendly. Unfortunately, the once epic club Muse in Nishi-Azabu was closed down by the cops a few years back and its new reincarnation cannot hold a candle to the original. Similarly, the awesome meat-market that was Heartland closed down and re-opened in June 2014 as the faggoty, pretentious bar Tusk.

- On a Thursday night, you might try hitting happy hour (maybe 7:30 pm) at Rigoletto (Minato-ku, Roppongi 6-10-1) on the 5th floor of Roppongi Hills Westside. This bar and restaurant has been popular with the after-work crowd and you might find some tasty “OL” (office lady) morsels to mack on in the bar area on a Thursday. (I’d stay away from this place on Friday/Saturday though.) On Thursday, clubs are often dead, but you might check out Mist later on, after walking by R2 and A971 to see what’s up.

- On Friday, after a good dinner out somewhere, pop into R2 and/or A971 around 10:00 pm for some warm-up and see if you can get anything to hook. If not, try Feria around midnight.

- This is the night to go full on Feria, so rest up and save your energy. Again, you might check out Geronimo or R2 or A971 beforehand to see what’s up and get in the groove, before lining up at Feria after midnight.

- As mentioned before, Sunday is the night to hit the Shinjuku Park Hyatt or some other suitably refined hotel bar.

- Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday: These nights are generally dead, but if you are hell-bent on finding some nightlife action, you can roll the dice and pay the reduced cover to see if Feria is popping. As I said, Mist has been busy, but past performance is no indication of future returns.

***
There’s much more to say but this bloated post has to end somewhere. I look forward to responses from members who have visited and have observations to make, from those who live here and have their own advice to share, and of course from members who are planning their first trip and have questions to ask. Happy swooping.
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#2

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

As expected, a gem of a datasheet by TJ. Nothing to add other than if you visit and meet up with TJ, be ready to drink.
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#3

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Great datasheet. I'll be there mid February for my second stay in Japan, Roppongi it is this time[Image: smile.gif] Thanks for the effort.
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#4

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

This is easily the most well-constructed datasheet in the history of RVF. Deserves a rep, even though it makes my expectations of my 1-year stint in Tokyo ever more shakey. Surprised that Wednesday nights are dead
.

The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary.
DATASHEETS: Singapore (2014) | Vietnam (2015) | Cebu (2015) | Honolulu (2016) | Couchsurfing (2016) | KS, Taiwan (2018)
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#5

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

This comes at a great time for me. I will be there soon I believe.


Edit - Haven't read it yet but looking forward to it.
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#6

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

I was in Feria short ago and had a make out, but the girl get kind of pulled away by her girls when she want to grab her handbag to go home with me.

We will stand tall in the sunshine
With the truth upon our side
And if we have to go alone
We'll go alone with pride


For us, these conflicts can be resolved by appeal to the deeply ingrained higher principle embodied in the law, that individuals have the right (within defined limits) to choose how to live. But this Western notion of individualism and tolerance is by no means a conception in all cultures. - Theodore Dalrymple
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#7

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Bravo amigo! That is one hell of a datasheet.

See you soon! Sounds like a few of us will be popping into big Edo shortly.
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#8

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

TJ or anyone else

I'll be rolling through for about a 8 hour stopover in a month from a business trip so can you recommend the spot for a wagyu steak? The skies the limit as far as cost.


Awesome data sheet
+1

A man is only as faithful as his options-Chris Rock
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#9

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Great datasheet!
I could have used that when I was traveling through Japan, staying only about 3-5 days in each city unfortunately didn´t result in a lot of success for me, although I still had a great time.
As for sightseeing I´d say Akihabara and Harajuku (if possible on a Sunday) are definitely worth a trip to see some of the more stereotypically weird sides of Tokyo.

+1
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#10

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

How is the WGF (White God Factor) in Japan? Seems pretty high based on a recent trip to Hawaii (lots of Japanese there).

Take care of those titties for me.
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#11

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Quote: (10-04-2015 02:35 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

This comes at a great time for me. I will be there soon I believe.


Edit - Haven't read it yet but looking forward to it.
I didn't either but looks legit!

I want to go there soo bad but It'll be for a T125S Stinger/wolf club event or some other nerd motor thing..

I'll probably pull..Krooked teeth zombie girls
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#12

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Quote: (10-04-2015 07:29 PM)Dusty Wrote:  

How is the WGF (White God Factor) in Japan? Seems pretty high based on a recent trip to Hawaii (lots of Japanese there).

I consider it mixed. I have very blue eyes and blond, even when bald.
Some girls have a crush for it, others don't. Its an advantage to open up girls, but for me with almost zero japanese a lot of opportunities are missed.
What matter a little more is the way how you act. I meet a british guy that was talking strong slang with a lot of curse words. When he went to the bars the girls told me they don't like it. So I made a location change with my wingman and well this one girl I will see at thursday.

So just be white alone can be like an open door but the rest of you hast to make the step right to enter it.

We will stand tall in the sunshine
With the truth upon our side
And if we have to go alone
We'll go alone with pride


For us, these conflicts can be resolved by appeal to the deeply ingrained higher principle embodied in the law, that individuals have the right (within defined limits) to choose how to live. But this Western notion of individualism and tolerance is by no means a conception in all cultures. - Theodore Dalrymple
Reply
#13

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Great data sheet, Joe. I was there last year to meet up with some old friends, after not having been there for about 5 years.

My two cents to add would be:

1. Tokyo Midtown (Akasaka): A huge mixed-use development area with lots of shops, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. It's good for day game, just hanging out and striking up conversations.

2. Tsukiji Fish Market: A girl brought me to this place last year, or I should say a sushi place right next to it. I just can't remember the name. There is some incredible sushi here if you like that sort of thing. Purely a cultural area, but still cool.

3. Onsen. These are hot springs and baths, where you can literally spend an afternoon or evening. Went with the same chick. Can't remember the name, of course, but just get a recommendation from someone else. The one I went to was sort of a family-style place with small eateries inside it and all these different bath works. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me it was great.
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#14

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Quote: (10-04-2015 07:29 PM)Dusty Wrote:  

How is the WGF (White God Factor) in Japan? Seems pretty high based on a recent trip to Hawaii (lots of Japanese there).

It's still there to an extent, but seems to decrease by the year. In 2005 it was an 8/10. Now I'd give it a 2 or 3 in the big cities.

Unfortunately, Tokyoites and Osakans are now acquainted with the often badly dressed, acne-ridden anime nerds that invaded Japan to teach English. They have also seen the consistent low quality these guys pull and associate white foreigners with dating either "plain" or outright ugly girls.

Just in case people are wondering, I have been told the above on many occasions by attractive Japanese girls in Tokyo. This isn't just negativity or me pulling ideas out of my ass. My male friends here have commented on it too. The context is often one of surprise - "Why is that handsome foreigner with such a plain looking girl?"

You can see the decrease in demand for white cock in concrete terms by how many less "foreigner hunters" are out in bars now. As TJ pointed out above, it's not even close to how it used to be.

Go somewhere more remote and you will still get an advantage, but then there will be less prospects too. It's kind of a Catch 22, but I believe that other places will be better for LTRs. I am eager to check out some 2nd or 3rd tier cities properly in the near future.

Overall though, being white is a small advantage. No doubt, being a white foreigner who speaks Japanese makes it easier to open people - Japanese-Japanese interaction is quite awkward so we get a foreigner pass. However, you have to bring your game from there. It's also harder to close than if you were Japanese. I'd say we are at a pronounced disadvantage to Japanese men for quality, but foreigners with game can bang more quantity-wise than locals. Swings and roundabouts.

PM me for accommodation options in Bangkok.
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#15

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Not sure whether this is a datasheet or a work of art. +1.
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#16

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Awsome datasheet. This is probably the last bit of motivation I needed to finally head over there. I already picked up a copy of pimsleur's japanese lessons, and I'm making progress every day.

I'm looking into booking a 14 day flight to tokyo in late december - january.
Only thing stopping me so far is the cost of living... After doing a bit of research I'm having a hard time accepting how hard it is to spend 14 days in tokyo on a $1000 budget.
Seriously though, I have my credit card in hand, and I'm ready to buy my ticket.
The cheapest apartment I found on airbnb in the Roppongi area that the op recommended, would cost me over $1000 for the 14 days I will be staying there. If I want to stay within my budget, I cannot afford more than $50/day for lodging.

I have 2 questions:
If I want to leave on december 29 - january 12, is it better to buy my ticket right away, or wait a bit?
Am I better off staying a bit further than the center where the rent is cheaper and I can afford my own small apartment, or am I better off sharing a room or an apartment for the sake of staying in Roppongi ?
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#17

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Killer data sheet.

- Clint Barton
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#18

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Hall of fame.
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#19

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Gentlemen: I appreciate all the positive responses here, as well as the PMs and text messages/e-mails. I will respond to each of you soon, but one great hero needs a response immediately. For him time is of the essence --

Quote: (10-04-2015 06:55 PM)Mentavious Wrote:  

I'll be rolling through for about a 8 hour stopover in a month from a business trip so can you recommend the spot for a wagyu steak? The skies the limit as far as cost.

Mentavious: Bro, using an eight-hour layover in Tokyo to shoot into the City for a Japanese steak is a stunningly inspired notion. In the words of one of my favorite posters: You've asked a serious question and you will get a serious answer.

You may have heard of what the Japanese call the "Big Three Wagyu" (大三和牛) beef brands, namely Kobe-gyu, Matsusaka-gyu, Yonezawa-gyu (where occasionally Ohmi-gyu is substituted for Yonezawa, making it a Kansai sweep of the Big Three). While The Uninitiated -- foreigners who know just enough to be dangerous and indeed many a Japanese -- argue about which of these three is the supreme variety of Japanese beef, we Chosen Few of the RVF must know the answer is none of these. The country's finest cattle, in a transcendent class all alone, are Saga-gyu and Miyazaki-gyu, from the two Prefectures of those names on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's home islands. Pointless to debate which of these two is better. My favorite is Saga, but I won't challenge anyone who prefers Miyazaki.

To get the absolute best Saga-gyu steak in Tokyo, you go to Kiraku (Chuo-ku, Ginza 5-4-6; 03-5568-7080), the Ginza outpost of the main Kiraku restaurant in Saga City itself. Here's the thing: This place generally books up a full month or more in advance -- think Peter Luger's on steroids and acid -- so you better move fast if you are coming in November. When you call to make a reservation, ask for a table vice counter seat. It's open from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (2 p.m. last order) for lunch, and then for dinner from 5:00 p.m. until last order at 9:30 p.m. You should be fine on time, unless your layover just happens to be from noon until 8:00 p.m. at Narita -- in which case you won't make it in time for lunch and you'd be hard pressed to make it back in time after dinner.

Whether you are there for lunch or dinner, you order the Saga-gyu filet, à la carte -- and you order it medium. In the States if you order a steak with the word "medium" anywhere in it, you're doing it wrong, but this is insanely marbled Japanese beef, so it will taste like shoving a stick of butter in your mouth if it's anything less than medium. Cost is not an issue, but this 120-gram (4.2-ounce) filet will be Y8800 ($73). A quarter pound may seem meagre by American standards, but again this is ridiculously rich in fat -- I've seen people who are not used to digesting this get sick on even less.

The sides are up to you. I like the tomato salad. Since you are eating prime wagyu in Tokyo, why not go full Japanese and order rice, miso soup, and pickled vegetables while you are at it? This meal should do you some serious justice. Damn, the season started October 1st so you could even drop Y12,000 ($100) for the ise-ebi lobster and make this a surf-and-turf you won't forget for twenty years...

You smoke cigars? You may want to start after that meal. When you are done, stroll five minutes down Namiki-dori to le Connaisseur (Chuo-ku, Ginza 8-6-24), which opens at 3:00 p.m., pick your favorite Cuban out of the walk-in humidor, and sink down into one of the deep leather chairs like the gentleman of leisure that you are. Fuck it, at this point maybe you should work your X-to-Y airfare magic and see about extending your stay in Heaven.

***
I will work up the above, and more, on Japanese beef into a proper datasheet and add it to this thread as one in a series of future Addenda to my original Swoop Japan sheet. Stay tuned and swoop on, motherfuckers.
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#20

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Speechless

I'll get on it right away!!!

A man is only as faithful as his options-Chris Rock
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#21

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

I decided to buy my ticket.
I'll be visiting Tokyo for the first time between December 29th, and January 11th. I still haven't decided where I'll be staying, but I'll figure that out later. I also expect to have a basic, but functional level of Japanese by then

If any of you guys will be there on those dates and wants to meet up, let me know.
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#22

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Awesome datasheet.

Been to Tokyo 4 times.

All I can add...

If you have medium term ambitions to go to Japan, keep an eye on the exchange rate as in the last 8 years it's (e.g.) been 124 and 250 Y to the UK pound. Choose your moment to pounce.

Japan is best in April and October. April rains more but the cherry blossom is awesome. October is a lovely month to visit.

To save money, eat inside the ticket barriers in stations - that's where salarymen eat (maybe the wifu's cooking is so bad!)

I stayed in the Shinagawa Prince Hotel 3 times, it's great if you want to travel around. Last time I went I stayed in the Washington in Shinjuku. There's more going on there but it's a longer walk to a station. Both have small rooms but they're clean and you get electric toilets in them (so that's one thing crossed off the bucket list).

I tried dating Japanese women but the cultural differences are vast. If you want many bangs, China is a better bet (and SE Asia of course).

If you're there on a Sunday, Yoyogi Park is worth a visit - sometimes you'll see guys dressed as Nazis (as you do) and other wacky stuff.

Before sunset one night, head to the skyscraper in Roppongi as you can go on the roof in good weather and the views from the walkway round the helipad are stunning.

As to beer, I think Kirin is the best. Also sake is many times cheaper in Japan than it is abroad. The Japanese love alcohol more than the inhabitants do in any other Asian country I've visited.
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#23

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Long time lurker, new member here.

Awesome datasheet, Tokyo Joe.

I've got a quick question for any of you who've got Tokyo experience - I'll be in Tokyo this December (10th until 25th), but it's a mixture of work and pleasure.

Meaning my company decided where I'm staying, which is in Shibuya (supposedly 1km from Shibuya Station - google says it's an 11 minute walk.) They also decided when I'm going, and I'm not sure what kind of weather I should be expecting or how December affects the chances of pulling (since it's nearing Christmas.) Learned the hard way when I went to Sweden that some months are pretty bad in certain countries (Midsummer festival in Sweden makes Stockholm a ghost town, for anyone who cares.)

Your guide mentions Roppongi being superior, but since I'm not actually responsible for the room... well, you take what you can get. How are the odds of pulling anything decent around there and are there any spots for a gaijin with very, very limited 日本語 in Shibuya?

My game is moderate, decent looking 29 year old I'd like to say. Japanese is limited to explaining just how shitty my Japanese is and asking very few questions, including えいごがわかりませんか? I can't read Kanji either, so like I said, my Japanese is crap.

Finally, if any Tokyoites want to show me a good place to grab some drinks, hit me up. Interested in meeting RVF members while I'm in the land of the rising sun.
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#24

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

+1 Great datasheet, entertaining writing, complete itinerary... Absolutely hall of fame worthy

[Image: clap.gif]
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#25

SWOOP JAPAN: Tokyo Joe’s Guide for the First-Time (~7-day) Visitor

Great datasheet man. Was thinking of going to Japan next yr sometime... lots of good info here.

+1 rep.
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