All is paid and booked, and I land in Narita Airport in the afternoon of July 24th. I am going as a tourist so there really not that much planning that needs to be done, and the one that is mostly involves what to buy and where to go and wether or not bring an empty suitcase for all the anime merchandise. Normally I travel with one bag, not including my laptop case. So since I am traveling to an otaku Mecca the question is: do i want to bring an extra empty suitcase with me, or do i want to use it as an excuse to buy a Gundam Suitcase (Char custom, fuck yeah!!)? Now, because I had to squeese in the trip only a month ahead Im managing to miss my local anime con, which means that a) I have to finish the guidebook for it ASAP, and b) my awesome Mother Eliza cosplay will have to collect dust for a year (not including the obligatory photoshoot, that one will happen regardless). *aside: Stellar Light has an AWEFULL tasting foam*
But, on a good note, I get to hit Wonder Fest Summer 2008 which gets me (hopefully) Dark Saber, Nendoroid Miku and Figma Suzaku (and whatever elce I decide to pick up ^^), that is assuming I get there on time, but then.. what’s camping at the doors there comparitively to camping here at -25C weather for my PS3! ^^ Other then these the only things I need to hunt down are limited edition DVDs of Mononoke and Koutetsu Sangokushi. That does not include obligatory presents for friends and family, of course. ^^ .. and the gashpones and the dojinshi and the… oii… i will be so broke ;_;
Shopping aside, I am kind of puzzled as to what to do when it comes to tourist activities. Other then obligatory hike up the Tokyo Tower, Mt. Fuji and every maid cafe in Akihabara i really don’t know what to do in Tokyo. There is of course the imperial palace, but i believe it’s closed to the public most of the year. I did make plans to swing to Kyoto for couple of days to hit local “tourist attratctions” in form of temples and yada-yada. And the famous flea market of course, but other then that I have no idea. So I guess I wuld be taking a trip to my local Chapters and going through all the touristy books about Tokyo/Kyoto while I sip my overpriced Starbucks Chai Latte <_< I would really like to awoid wondering aimelessly around Akihabara, since it is a financial trap for otakus ^^
2 Comments
Eastern garden of the Imperial Palace is open to the public.
Also, you can always go to temples of mass cultures such as Tonkatsu Tonki.
Go to Odaiba by Yurikamome.
There’s also a large number of museums, some of them are pretty lulzy.
Eastern Garden - Is that the one with all the bums sleeping and the giant bronze horse statue?
OMG I hate the Yurikamome - it’s like I’m dying in slow motion. When you’re going over rainbow bridge, you can actually feel gravity pulling you forward/downwards faster than the train is going. Did I mention, expensive?
Akihabara - bring a knife? lol no really, it’s not that bad at all. I was there all last weekend raiding all the arcades. There are some pretty intense players. BeatMania… that’s some insane ADD levels there. DDR still lives - albit barely. Bring anti-perspiration for yourself and Frebreeze for the other players…oi. Yes Otaku stink… they really should try showering, water is holy. UFO catchers are evil.
Skip MT.Fuji… I’ve never heard anyone having a good time except for one person, but he found a full bottle of JD on the ground so that doesn’t even count.
Biggest tourist trap I’ve seen so far is Tokyo Tower… it’s just that, a tower you pay to go up and pay more if you want more up.
Oh, you know it’s okay to cosplay at WonderFest… I see pictures of cosplayers at previous years cons…ramble ramble….