Tokyo, Japan + Add a trip

Tsukiji fish market around 5am on Saturday morning - jetlag helps...

If the weather is clear an interesting way to get a great overview of greater Tokyo is from the SKY DECK on top of Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. This is an open air observatory on the roof top -54th floor- you can walk around the entire perimeter- with the helipad in the middle. The views are fantastic-but note that this tends to get very busy around sunset time- seems to be popular time for large tour groups etc. The cost is Y1500- but this also provides entry to the Mori Art Museum and Tokyo City View- which is indoor observatory with some bars etc. www.roppongihills.com/tcv/

If you liked the Hayao Miyazaki films (Spirited Away, Totoro, Laputa etc.) then it's worth a trip out of Tokyo to the Ghibli Museum at Mitaka. (http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/) It's charmingly set up for children, but there's lots to interest grown-ups too. Admission is by pre-booked ticket bought from Lawson Convenience Stores in Japan, or before you go from a local agent in USA, UK, France etc..

Weekends are naturally super busy. So my advice would be to spend weekends travelling or taking it easy and make the most of the weekends when the streets and stores are much quieter (although try to avoid the trains during rush hour, especially mornings)

Akihabara is best visited on a Sunday, as the main street is closed off to traffic. You'll find cosplayers and buskers amongst the crowd. Whilst Ginza is not as interesting, it too is closed off to traffic on Saturday.

Yoyogi Koen (Park), right by Harajuku station (exit, turn right, hug the wall, you're there) is fantastic, especially on weekends. On any Sunday, you can find dancing Rockabilly clubs from 10-4 or so. Lots of festivals going on, plenty of weird culture.

I second Jason Porath's...go to Yoyogi Park on a Sunday. Take a bento and wander the park, picnic next to whatever bands you like and hang, As it gets to be evening, wander out to Harajuku to see the cosplay girls, and spend some time wandering through Aoyama. My favourite place to eat around there is called the Crayon Cafe, which has good vegetarian options and is all organic. It's next to a market too.

You should also go to Shinjuku station during rush hour on a Friday to see what 7 million people really looks like. When you're eyes are just about popped, head up for some of the famous Tokyo lights. There's so much to do there, good food and good karaoke.

Shibuya/Ebisu has great music too, check out Enjoy! Cafe for great dub (try the Mango Beer, it sounds gross but it's awesome) and good DJs, la.mama for amazing (sometimes all-night) rock, and Bar Shifty for the true genba experience (it's across from the Denny's).

Go outside Tokyo and visit Hakone, or Kamakura, a few hours away but quite easy to get to by train or romancecar. Here you can find many nice onsen and beautiful temples and nature. Just be aware that many people from Tokyo tend to do exactly this on weekends, espesially the older ones..

Asakusa and Ryogoku are nice. Two major area connects by ships.

Onsen (hot springs) & Temples Chofu & Kamakura - Museum district - Meji Shrine & Gardens - Shibuya - Toku Hands, Don Quixote (shopping) - Views from the Metropolitan building in Shinjinku (free and highest point in city) - Harajuku (shopping) - Climb Fuji-san (go as far as the 5th level as it is more interesting) - Ride the shinkansen to Osaka, Kyoto or Fuji-san - Check timeout for local festivals there are some on every weekend.