fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2475 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2475 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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02. [repeat]

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[Supernatural, Watchmen]

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[a case of exploding mangoes (2008 novel)]

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[Brothers in Arms]

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[Agents of SHIELD ]

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[Transformers: IDW Generation One]

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[Sarah Michelle Gellar]

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[Young Guns 2]

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Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
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Finally got some dates hammered out, and just waiting on the okay from my boss.

Have three weeks and a decent pot of cash dedicated to the endeavour.

I'm looking for some input on really worthwhile places to visit for two lads lads lads, not just in Tokyo but across the country.

I'm so jealous! I've always wanted to go to Japan.

When I was in Thailand I visited lots of shrines and Buddhist temples. They were amazing to see. I don't know any famous Japanese temples, but that might be an idea to do?

Have fun!

Yes. Certainly intend to hit up some of the religious sites.

How far are you willing to travel out from Tokyo, and what kinds of things do you like doing?

Looking into the logistics, but it would really be a balance of time and cost. With three weeks I intend to spend at least three or four days travelling to somewhere more far flung.

My more niche interests would be that I'm a fucking weaboo, so akihabara etc are of interest, and also criminality, gangs, and police are a speciality, so I plan on visiting some of the more tasty parts off the beaten track.

Like the comment below said, I would recommend looking into a Japan Rail Pass. I also highly recommend going to Osaka. The atmosphere of the city is great, and there's some great doujinshi and figurine stores there too. You could also make a daytrip to Kyoto, since they're so close. Not sure when you're going, but Arashiyama in Kyoto is a beautiful place to go to in the fall, because of the leaves that turn red (think it happens sometime in November). I don't know much about gangs and the like in Japan, but that certainly sounds interesting! Where are you planning on visiting?
If it's something that interests you, I'd also really recommend going to an onsen. There's some good ones close to Tokyo, like Kusatsu

http://www.mandarake.co.jp/en/shop/osk.html Great doujinshi store in Osaka

For Tokyo, I also recommend going to the Metropolitan government building in Shinjuku (you can see an amazing view of Tokyo including the Tokyo Tower and new Skytree for free, and there's usually never lineups), and one of the food basements of the big department stores like Isetan or Takashimaya.
Anyways, I hope you have fun!

Should be going mid January.

The Japan rail pass is basically their equivalent of the oyster card system we have in London right?

And I've heard interesting things about the night life in Kabukicho and Roppongi.

Japan Rail Pass: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html Think it can be used on almost all JR lines in Japan. Traveling by train is pretty expensive there, especially by long distances, which is why I think it's a good offer for tourists. And you can use it for the Shinkansen! Although it's certainly your own judgment if it would be cost-effective.
I think Japan pass cards, like the Suica and Pasmo would be similar to the Oyster card system?
I've also heard that the night life in Kabukicho and Roppongi is fun, although I've never experienced it myself. Sounds like it will be so much fun!

If you're a geek -

Studio Ghibli Museum (in Kichijoji/Mitaka area of Tokyo)
Ikebukuro Sunshine area (I prefer it to Akihabara, but it's more for girls than guys with yaoi, cosplay, etc)
Themed cafes - depending on what you like, there's a Final Fantasy one, Gundam one, so on - maid/butler cafe if you're super nerdy (and/or creepy) or cat cafe if you like cats
Harajuku on a Sunday - but preferably if you're a girl or cosplay guy

Other things
If you want to get just outside of Tokyo city, try Enoshima island. Depending on the dates, making hiking at Mt. Mitake (famous for autumn leaves).

get a rail pass and just ride the shinkansen around, you can go everywhere cheap that way! Be sure to visit Osaka, it's a weird and funny place. Hokkaido is also lovely.

Cool! It's kinda strange because it seems I'm seeing a lot of people going to Japan. I would love to go sometime in the future.
The only things I can think of doing, though, are shopping at brand stores and buying fandom merch and trying out cool places to eat.

What kind of "lads lads lads" are we talking about here? The outdoorsy type? The type who could blow a day or more in Akihabara? Some mixture of both?

Meant in the heavy drinking, and interested in the nightlife side, but of those two more the latter than the former.

You aren't going to find a better nightlife in any other city than you will in Tokyo. Things close shockingly early in much of the rest of the country. Of the districts in Tokyo, Roppongi is best for foreigner-friendly establishments (as well as a surplus of Japanese women looking to meet foreigners), Shinjuku is best for "alternative" nightlife of any shade, and Shibuya's best for those who care about being cutting-edge and trendy (word of warning though, that goes for the patrons, too - a 25-year-old will feel positively ancient in Shibuya). Ginza is mostly an upscale shopping district for middle-aged women with too much money to burn, but the Sony flagship store is there and they put their experimental products on display; you'll want to check ahead, but the last time I was there they had robots come out and dance. The best view of the whole city is from the observation floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building - not only is it just as good as the one from Tokyo Tower, it's free. Definitely head to Odaiba if you're the slightest bit nerdy; the main Jump store is there, and Tokyo Big Sight is something else.

If you're buying the JR Pass and looking to get out the Kantou region, Osaka has its equivalent of Akiba in Den-Den Town/Namba. Kyoto's absolutely gorgeous, but aside from the famous temples there's not much else to see unless you're up for a hike. I'm the outdoorsy type myself, so I could give you more recommendations along that vein if you wanted them. Other than that, if you like castles, Himeiji-jo is easily the most impressive, and if you want an experience that you'll remember for a lifetime and you really, truly can't get anywhere on the planet other than Japan, go see the Peace Memorial Museums in Hiroshima or Nagasaki.

Great.

Thanks.

Might ask you for more specific advice when my mate and I actually start hammering out more concrete plans.

Anytime! I live in Kyoto now but I used to live in Chiba so I'm pretty familiar with the whole Kantou area, too. I've travelled from Hokkaido to Kyushu - if there's anything you want to know, just ask.

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