I'm heading off to Japan this summer for a few weeks for the first time!

I'm looking for suggestions on hotels, dining and, of course, which toy stores I need to visit. I expect to be in Tokyo for at least a week so I'd like to target that area but will be doing some hopping around so feel free to recommend places off the beaten path as well.

I'm sure at some point someone has asked this same question but my search result didn't turn up much. If there's already a post for this I'd love to have a link for it.

Dave

Go pick up a copy of Tokyo Underground 2 by no other than Super7.

I would recommend Toyoko Inn. The hotels are a great price, very nice for a budget, include breakfasts, and you can book ahead online (very important I have found). They have locations throughout Honshu (in major centres) at least according to my travels. Ryokans are a very nice option for a bit extra, but you should be wary as some are more 'traditional' in their selection of clientele. There are also ample hostels (you can find more info through Yokoso). Really it all depends on where you are going and what your budget is. Really any business hotel is a safe bet for a cheap nights stay.

Thanks for the replies, guys

Joe: Book has been ordered. I should have it in a couple of days.

Ultra: Thanks for the advice. Budget-wise I'm less concerned about cost and more concerned about burying myself in the toy, game, anime, otaku thing. If I'm gonna do this I'm gonna do it right.

Reach out to a few board members that's in JP.
See if they have the time to hang and show you around.
I'm sure they'd be down if you bribe them w/ food & drinks.

We stayed here when we went two years ago
http://www.parkhoteltokyo.com/

I found the hotel to be really nice, got a very good deal on it through travelocity a couple of weeks before we left.
Some might say the location isn't perfect for toy shopping, but it was only two stops from Tokyo Station (as I recall) and it was on a JR line. It also had a convenience store, two or three restaurants in the mall under the hotel, a post office (for ATM withdrawals), and a convenience store/Mcdonalds for fast eating options if you're on the go.

Buy the underground book for sure. It was very helpful for a lot of aspects for the trip, not just toy related.

*as an aside, smoking was allowed in the lobby. it wasn't a huge deal to me, at night it did get slightly smoky from patrons enjoying the jazz trio that was playing there.

I guess it goes without sayin, but obviosuly hit every Mandarake store you can. I think the real problem will be which places you afford NOT to go

And then there's Kaiju Korner's map.

You could load it up on yer portable steampunk communicator thingy and get directions and shit. I think.. cannot be sure.

hah i got the same deal many years ago. i liked this place a lot.

I second Toyoko Inn.

Oops was going to post a link to the map I made but saw someone beat me to it.

One thing to note is the toy shop scene changes very frequently. Just looking at my map, I realized there has been a big change in just the last few weeks: Kaiju Blue closed its doors, so I removed it from the map. Shame that. It was a great place for sofubi exhibitions.

I always stayed here when I went:
http://www.princehotels.com/en/shinagawa/
-ton of places to eat, a imax movie theatre, aquarium, bowling alley, etc are all located at the hotel.
-post office (international ATM) in front of hotel.
-JR station across the street with Shinkansen stop.

Going to Nakano Broadway is an absolute must.
And if you do then right as you cross the street to enter the long covered walkway to Nakano Broadway, look to your right and stop at this place:

and buy and eat a box of these for me:

LOL good call we eat those all the time. I like the cream cheese one.

Also, try the "dango" shop. It's easy to find - in the little alleyway in front of the Broadway entrance. The dango shop is right across from Mister Donut.

Yeah, I always get those on my way back to the hotel, on my way in before shopping I would stop at that Katsudon restaurant on the left before entering the mall. Ughhhh this talk makes me want to go back.

That Katsudon place is so good and so cheap! I totally raid their mustard stash every time I go, it's just too good! Anyone else noticed how the waitresses are now all Chinese?

I stayed at the Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku on my second trip. Really great hotel, few minutes walk from Shinjuku station. Helpful English speaking staff. Walking distance to Kabukicho, Shinjuku Gyoen park, food, shopping, etc. Stayed at the Park Hotel in Shiodome the first visit, loved the hotel, the location wasnt that great IMO. One thing I would definitely recommend is getting a pre-paid Suica card for the trains. You can use it on the Metro and JR no need to stop and buy tickets every time. Makes things way easier, you can even buy snacks at the 7 eleven with it!

Also don't forget if you fly into Narita, you can get a great deal on the Suica card + Narita Express train into Tokyo.

Das info:

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/

Of course, if you're not in a rush, you can just take the Heisei line to Ueno/Nippori and save 2000yen. Just try to take the express or semi-express, not the regular.

great stuff! planning a trip for next year, thanks guys

If you stay at a pretty large hotel, they might have a Limousine Bus stop. Or a hotel nearby will. Taking the train from Narita is not a big deal, but as a tourist, whenever I went back to the airport, I caught the bus from a hotel nearby. I inevitably bought too much stuff, and this way I didn't have to worry about balancing it all on the train. It runs about 2,000 yen from Ikebukuro.

http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/bus_se ... rita/index

This is all fantastic stuff. Thanks skullbrainers!
Does anyone know if there's a calendar for toy shows/expos? I have the luxury of moving around the timeframe so if I can land it on a time when a 'big thing' is happening that would be great.

Limousine Bus...one of the best things ever!!

Yeah the Keisei line is good. The one to take is the limited express.

But coming from Narita airport, the suica/narita express deal (3500 yen) works out so that you're only paying 1500 yen for the Narita Express (you also get a Suica card with 2000 yen on it), which is super fast and comfortable. Based on that deal, the Keisei line is only a few hundred yen cheaper and not worth the savings.

A thousand yen, yeah, two thousand if you take the round-trip deal. Depends on how broke you are. The ride is definitely smoother on N'EX... but if it's your first time in Japan you get to "feel" Japan a bit more on your trip to the city with Heisei.

Plus the Keisei line passes Aoto. You can roll up to Shinto Gangu, luggage in tow, jet lagged, and get your toy shopping started IMMEDIATELY.