JAPAN THREAD!

filthqueen666

Where to see shows? Where to drink and dance? Where to buy records? Where to eat? Where to sleep? Where to see historic sites? Where to see nature?
Drop your recommendations here!

sixbigboys

Some suggestions for off the beaten path destinations:

Tokyo:

Mount Takao: it’s a small mountain on the edge of Tokyo. It’s a good way to experience a little nature in the city, plus getting to the top, which offers good views of Mt Fuji, involves taking a chair lift and walking through a couple of temples/shines.
Enoshima: a hilly island SW of Tokyo that has cool caves and shrines and lighthouse that you can go up to get good views of the city/Mt Fuji. But the real treat is the ride out there. If you go through Ofuna, you can stop at a really incredible temple and then take a hanging monorail into Enoshima (this was one of the top experiences in my life).

Kyoto:

Philosophers Path: a low-key walk along a canal on the edge of Kyoto that’ll take you by a handful of shrines (you can also trek up into the mountains to see a pretty cool waterfall, but it’s steep as hell). Cherry trees line the canal, so depending on what time of year you go, you might be walking under a canopy of pink blossoms. But I’d recommend it even if the trees aren’t in bloom.

filthqueen666

sixbigboys thanks! These all look amazing. I’m definitely wanting to spend some time in both Tokyo and Kyoto.

Jonny YenAgain

Disk Union for records. Heaps of stores round Tokyo especially Shinjuku. I dig the 2nd hand store there, spent way too much money last trip
Get a map from the store with all the locations.
Nat Records http://natrecords.shop-pro.jp/
Nice shop in Shinjuku, cool punk selection.
BASE records in Koenji was another store I went to, highly recommended.

I haven't been back to Osaka for a while but you gotta hit up Time Bomb Records, massive collection, a total punk rock wet dream. It's close to a lot of other stores.

Sukebe_GG

I have lived in Japan since 1997, but mostly in Hiroshima, so am not an expert in the major metropolitan areas but am open to answering any general questions etc. And definitely hit me up if you make it to Hiroshima - best known for the atomic bomb (now Peace Park), Miyajima Shrine, oysters, okonomiyaki...

Glad to hear the Philosophers' Path is still not so well known. I haven't walked it for ages but remember it being really nice. In general, cherry blossom season is a great time to visit Japan especially if you like drinking from mid-day under beautifully blossoming cherry trees. It will bring out the philosopher in you, the poet and much more...
Time Bomb has moved recently, not far but it's out of Ame-mura. That area used to be filled with record shops (including a Tower which got away with selling Horizontal Action!) but they are mostly gone. There was a good but very small HC punk shop there pre-Covid...
For Osaka in general, check out Osaka.com and especially stuff by Matt Kaufman
https://www.osaka.com/thingstodo/undiscovered-osaka-things-to-do-in-osaka-in-february/

Oh and in Kyoto check out Pop Pizza run by ex-Radio Beats, MOTO etc. I'm going for the first time in a few weeks...
https://www.facebook.com/PopPizzaKyoto

filthqueen666

Sukebe_GG thanks for all this! My main reason for asking is I’m planning a trip there soon. It looks like it’s really easy to get around via train, so Hiroshima is definitely an option.

I had the privilege of trying okonomiyaki at one of the few places that serves it at a restaurant in Chicago, and it was incredible. Would love to try the Hiroshima-style

connie v

Sukebe_GG where do I remember you from? was it terminal boredom or somewhere else? discogs?

Kevin E

Sukebe_GG Oh and in Kyoto check out Pop Pizza run by ex-Radio Beats, MOTO etc. I'm going for the first time in a few weeks...
https://www.facebook.com/PopPizzaKyoto_
That's pretty cool I did not know he was doing that now.

Sukebe_GG

connie v TB and still friended on FB I think - Greg L. I even joined your "fan club" one year! 😘

connie v

Sukebe_GG oh yea were are friends on FB! youre a legend! love ya man, good to see ya. anyway can i sleep in you bathroom in japan or what?

Sukebe_GG

connie v
Of course! Everyone is welcome to sleep in our tub!

Kevin E
Forget to mention his name: Dan McNellie, and that he runs the excellent Secret Mission Records.
NOT the crazy dude in Radio Beats who got all into yoga!