Hanging Out In Tokyo - RBjakeSpecial & Northernsoul. Even more Pics

[northernsoul]

Spent our first full day in Tokyo in the very gracious and capable hands of RBjakeSpecial. He took us around Shibuya, Harajuku, and Akihabara, endured our dismal singing at karaoke, and had us rather drunk by the end of it all. We had a blast, and can't thank RBjakeSpecial enough for being such a wonderful host! Here are a few pictures, check out my blog for more: http://sino-dreaming.blogspot.jp/

 

[cdamm]

awesome man! looks like you had a blast!

 

[Mugicha]

god I love that place, Aki is my home away from home....

wish I could go there more often.

 

[Poonman]

Oh my god, that place looks like its just overflowing with cool crap to buy.

 

[Lemony Vengeance]

Oh my god, that place looks like its just overflowing with cool crap to buy.

I would probably max out a CC buying stuff and shipping it home.

 

[loegan43]

Oh my god, that place looks like its just overflowing with cool crap to buy.

Lol. That's exactly what I was thinking. Would love to visit someday. Thanks for sharing the pics.

 

[Joneo]

There's something oddly heartening about seeing a building emblazoned with the Sega logo these days.

 

[N30_G30_speed]

There's something oddly heartening about seeing a building emblazoned with the Sega logo these days.

Yes. indeed.

Yo, Northernsoul you HAVE to post pictures of the Gundam PODS, the most epic arcade piece in Japan, I know you DIDN'T miss those, I know that for a fact without even knowing you

Taito game stations are all over "regular sized cities" in japan, believe me, the city were you are at might suck but that magic place will make it all worth it

 

[RBjakeSpecial]

We didn't see any of the Gundam pods at the Taito arcade. The Sega arcade might have them. I've played it a few times and thought it was OK.

We played some Darius Burst http://www.taito.com/arc/title/dbac/ The cabinet was buge and the bass vibrated our whole bodies. It was great - makes me want to to play Darius Burst and G Darius again.

We had a great time!

 

[Lemony Vengeance]

We didn't see any of the Gundam pods at the Taito arcade. The Sega arcade might have them. I've played it a few times and thought it was OK.

We played some Darius Burst http://www.taito.com/arc/title/dbac/ The cabinet was buge and the bass vibrated our whole bodies. It was great - makes me want to to play Darius Burst and G Darius again.

We had a great time!

One of the only two of these in the states is at my local arcade. It's a great game

 

[Neo Yahtzee]

Amazing! I hope you got some rare games out there, get any Neo carts?

 

[Teddy KGB]

Great photos. Looks like I could spend a week alone shopping at those shops. Thanks for sharing!

 

[complexz]

is that a sonic blast man sequel?! holy crap!

nice photos

 

[SNKorSWM]

Nice! The pics make a great "wish you were here" postcard. XD

 

[aria]

Looks like you had fun. I've had the pleasure of hanging out with Jake in Tokyo and Vegas. He's gone a little grayer--and has a pretty rad graying pattern going.

 

[Setherial]

Sounds like gamingheaven.

 

[Stompp]

Wow! Awesome pics, mate Wish I could go there myself one day.

 

[Fox1]

Im currently in Ueno screwing around/trying to find a shining force arcade machine lol

 

[LoneSage]

Glad you had fun. I'd like to visit Japan during China's Golden Week, maybe (I sure as hell know no Chinese would want to travel there).

Props to Jake for being a cool host.

 

[Kazuki Dash]

These trip threads are really great. Between those willing to share their experiences and those willing to act as host/ambassador, these have been awesome reads.

 

[northernsoul]

Some more pictures from Japan:

Mandarake in Shibuya

Recofan in Shibuya (record shop, but still carries Laserdiscs)

Ghibli Museum

Sakura Blossom (We were lucky because the Sakura is blossoming early)

Welcome to Japan

Shopping area on the grounds of the biggest/oldest temple in Tokyo - Its name escapes me right now.

The Temple itself:

Tokyo Tower

Skyline from a Skyscraper in Roppungi:

Found this building in the same skyscraper:

 

[trenog]

Shopping area on the grounds of the biggest/oldest temple in Tokyo - Its name escapes me right now.

The Temple itself:

That would be Asakusa Temple.

I'm actually going to Japan in about two in a half weeks on the 6th for 19 days myself so seeing these pictures is a nice reminder of where I'm gonna be soon

How was the Ghibli Museum by the way? I've seen a bunch of tour companies offering something to see that place but I have been shrugging it off because I kind of want to avoid anime on this trip and focus on culture and such but this museum might be something a bit more tempered for my liking.

Also, got any Tokyo attraction advice? I'm gonna have a few empty morning and afternoons in Tokyo itself near the end of the month so doing something a bit more set up could be better then just wandering

 

[Adderall]

Is Roppungi still about as close to "shady" as you can get in Tokyo?

 

[Mugicha]

Tre, you should check out the Ghibli museum. don't worry about the anime thing, it's not at all like going to Animate in Ikebukuro. First off, it's really not very big, the word museum is misleading, you've probably been in arcades over there that are bigger. you won't miss anything in one run through and feel like you have to come back another time cuz there was just too much to see, like I said, not that big. If you do go, don't make a day out of just going to see it either, plan several other places to go the same day.

to me the place was really surreal and I loved it, kinda like going down the rabbit-hole in Alice in Wonderland surreal. I had a good time, I want to go back there, cuz when I went, my japanese teacher from the states took me, and I'd like to take my wife there next time, as she is a big ghibli fan.

Edit: Northernsoul, thx for sharing all the pics, sounds like yer having a blast. Glad you get to see the cherry blossoms blooming too, I've never been over there in season for that. I usually went during the Rainy season (lower airfare)

 

[trenog]

Tre, you should check out the Ghibli museum. don't worry about the anime thing, it's not at all like going to Animate in Ikebukuro. First off, it's really not very big, the word museum is misleading, you've probably been in arcades over there that are bigger. you won't miss anything in one run through and feel like you have to come back another time cuz there was just too much to see, like I said, not that big. If you do go, don't make a day out of just going to see it either, plan several other places to go the same day.

to me the place was really surreal and I loved it, kinda like going down the rabbit-hole in Alice in Wonderland surreal. I had a good time, I want to go back there, cuz when I went, my japanese teacher from the states took me, and I'd like to take my wife there next time, as she is a big ghibli fan.

Edit: Northernsoul, thx for sharing all the pics, sounds like yer having a blast. Glad you get to see the cherry blossoms blooming too, I've never been over there in season for that. I usually went during the Rainy season (lower airfare)

Thanks Mugi. I'll see if I can't do something about getting myself to that museum.

@Northernsoul What day do you go to Asakusa Temple by the way? It looks really busy. I've heard that it only gets that busy on weekends so I'm planning a visit on a Sunday.