Tachikawa, Japan + Add a trip

Tipping in restaurants, cafés, bars, taxis, etc. is not common or even accepted. They will look at you in a puzzled or bemused way and will simply return your money.

most train stations

purchase a suica card (or passmo) once you arrive at the airport. they can be bought from many train ticket machines or from convenience stores. they require a 500 yen deposit which can be refunded whenever you return the card. they are basically a debit card for taking the train/subway. instead of purchasing a separate ticket for each trip you deposit any amount of money (in 1000yen increments) on your card and swipe it as you go through the gate. plus you can use it at some vending machines and convenience stores!

All around

If you're in Tokyo for just a day, or conversely, you have some time to kill, there's a neat way to quickly see all of Tokyo in about an hour, for the cost of a single stop on a commuter train.

The Yamanote Line is a 35km loop around Tokyo, with stops at 29 stations literally all around the city. The ride takes about an hour, and if you catch it outside of rush hours (late morning/pre-lunch, and mid-afternoon) and get yourself either a standing spot at the front or back of the train, or some way of looking out the window, you'll get a quick tour, and an excellent impression of just how vast an urban metropolis Tokyo is.

Get yourself a ticket for the next station, then loop all the way around.

Shibuya-ku (ward)

No matter how huge a city, a good afternoon's walk really brings it down to human scale. This walk takes you through some of Tokyo's top street/urban consumer culture hotspots. Trend watching, let's call it.
Basically, you'll start at Omotesando (the high end) over to Harajuku (street, goth, cosplay), down to Shibuya (street urban), through to Daikanyama (hidden hip), over to Naka Meguro.
(See link: it is an annotated Google Map)

Shibuya, Shibuya-Ku

If you can, try and stay at the cerulean tower hotel in Shibuya. It is the tallest building around and the bar is on the top floor (40 stories), which gives supurb views across Tokyo.

The rooms are also very good and the staff could not be more friendly or attentive.

Post office, Citibank, Airport

Since the early 2000's Japan has been moving from a cash-only culture to a card culture and it is now easier to pay for large expenses with a card (hotel, shopping, …) but most of the daily expenses will be paid cash, and getting cash can still be hard.

Don't shun the ATMs and change booths at the airport.

Forget about the ubiquitous ATMs in convenience store. As of 2008, when they say "visa accepted", they mean "domestic visa".

Citibank however has 24-hours ATMs a little everywhere in Tokyo, and they do take foreign cards – http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/atm/index.html

Your best friend throughout Japan still is the Japan Post. Almost all their ubiquitous offices (look for the red T sign in the street) have gaijin-friendly ATMs (look for a green clover mark near the post entrance). Beware, however, of opening hours, as well as Saturdays and Sundays, when a lot of the offices - and their ATM - are off limits.

all over Tokyo

Great resource for finding out about all kinds of art and design related events going on in Tokyo. Listings, reviews, who's going or gone to see, times, fees, maps and directions, other events nearby, even hints about where to find food also nearby.

Very cool.

FutakoTamagawa Station, and follow the Tamagawa river

Visitors to Tokyo tend to stick to the main thoroughfares, but if your schedule allows a little breathing space head down to the Tamagawa riverside 'burbs on a Sunday morning and take in what a broad cross section of Tokyoites really get up to at the weekend.

Across Tokyo

The Yamanote is the main line that circles Tokyo and is easiest if visiting. Those in the know take the chuo, marounuchi, ginza/hanzomon or chiyoda to get around. These lines are less gaijin heavy.

Roppongi

Always fun to get a bird's eye view of a city, head over to Tokyo City View, perched atom the Mori Building at Roppongi Hills.

I have two recommendations about visiting City View: bring a good map and arrive a bit before sunset.

If "getting your bearings" and a sense of where everything is in Tokyo is what you are after, then a good map will allow you to stitch together your mental map by comparing the view with the helpful information panels and a real map in your hands.

Also, Tokyo is breathtaking to behold, both during the day and at night. Treat yourself to seeing both these views by arriving about an hour before sunset. Walk around the observatory once, then, if you've sprung for the combo ticket, head into the Mori Arts Museum which usually has some world class exhibit going on. By the time you get out, night will have descended and you'll be able to see why so many people think "BladeRunner!" of Tokyo.

word to the wise: I think technically you may not be allowed to go through the observatory a second time once you've headed over to the museum, but I have done this almost a dozen times without ever being stopped. Just nonchalantly head back in. A big goofy grin gets you by most any situation in Tokyo. ;)