I don't know Kyoto and Osaka so well, but some Tokyo and general tips
- Maid Cafe in Akihabara (maidreamin2 is good, been there, get a map from a street maid)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIbu-gC2Q-c
- Visit Odaiba. It's the island with tech museums etc. To be honest, the place itself wasn't that interesting for me, but the way there is. Take the Yurikamome train from Shimbashi Station. The track is built very high, between the skycrapers, and goes over the Rainbow bridge. It's the Blade Runner experience, really.
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=fi ... =&gs_rfai=
- As Brad mentioned, Yoyogi park / Sunday afternoon
https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... &start=120
- Shibuya, kinda like youth version of Shinjuku. Shibuya crossing, right next to the station, is worth experiencing. There's a Starbucks with a nice view too, but usually packed with a trillion customers.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=fi&q=sh ... 60&bih=556
- Nakano Broadway. Easy access from Shinjuku Station by Chuo Rapid Line. Nakano is outside tourist map, but the shopping centre (loads of movie and anime stuff especially) is right next to the station so you don't get lost.
http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=fi ... =&gs_rfai=
- Other nice centres include Asakusa (temples and tourist shopping), and Ueno (famous park, great restaurants)
- Tokyo Tower provides nice view over the city, but daytime you can get the same experience for free in Shinjuku in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office Building. It's open in the evening also, but they keep the lights on inside, making it less than ideal for taking night time photos. Tokyo Tower turns off the lights at night, so you can take good photos from inside.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=fi&safe ... 60&bih=556
- Onsen. This would really be best in the winter, but it's getting a bit cool already so should work. Be sure to study the etiquette, no 2 especially.
http://www.julieinjapan.com/2007/07/jap ... uette.html
- Don't eat in western style restaurant. Cost a fortune, and you can do that anytime home. Instead go for kaiten zushia, yakiniku, okonomiyaki etc. Traditional sushi restaurants are expensive but kaiten zushia are always relatively cheap. Also, screw the hotel breakfast. Konbini (convenience store) are open 24/7. Buy a couple of onigiri (rice cake) and banana from konbini instead.
- Go to soap land and enjoy wild sex with Japanese prostitutes.
- If you're using Tokyo-Haneda Airport (I think they're calling it Tokyo International Airport or something now) access by monorail from Hamamatsucho station. Again, great ride, beats bus hands down.
- For a first timer, Yamanote line is the easiest way to move in Tokyo. It's the green green line (the trains are green) and it's a circle (can't get lost) that goes through most of the big centres.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/S ... manote.jpg
It's more simple than the subway map...
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/S ... ay-map.jpg
- Keep in mind public transport does harakiri every night at midnight. Don't get trapped far away from your hotel, at the mercy of Taxi drivers. Or if you do, use capsule hotel (generally not good for travellers due to limited locker size)
) if you have some advice on where to visit, what to do and what things to bear in mind.
