I'm going to Tokyo for a three night stop-over in September and don't know
anyone in the city, nor a word of Japanese. I'm after a buddy at my
destination who would can show me around town. I'm young and want to hit
trendy bars and clubs. Do you have any ideas, as I want to make the best of
my short stay? Stefan Boden, by email
Sunday Times travel expert, Richard Green, responds: While not exactly
buddies, there are local volunteers in Tokyo who can help show you around.
At least they will get your daytime sightseeing off on the right foot, and
one of the organisations is staffed by students. At night, even if you
aren't staying there, dropping by a good hostel is your best springboard
into the city's frenetic nightlife.
For daytime, there are several Goodwill Guides associations in the city, with
local volunteers who can show you some of their city for free. Visit www2.ocn.ne.jp/~sgg
for details of walks around some central sights.
Or for shopping, you can find a free guide for three hours via www1.cts.ne.jp/~koasa/SGG.
There's also Tokyo International Student Guides, arranged by contacting Mr.
Takahashi by email at takahashi@tit.ac.jp
For evenings out, you'll find it easy to meet other foreigners at the bigger
hostels, plus their front desks are fonts of useful information on where are
the latest hotspots. Try the Sakura
Hostel or the Tokyo International Hostel.
For something very Japanese and great fun, Experience
Tokyo offers a range of small group courses, where you can watch Sumo
practice over breakfast, and then enter the ring for a push and shove
yourself, or try your hand as a Sushi chef, or take on some Taiko Drumming.
There are calmer experiences too, like the traditional tea ceremony, silk
dyeing and calligraphy. Prices start at £37pp, bookable through Via
Japan (020 7484 3328).
For further information on Tokyo and Japan, there's the Japan
National Tourist Organisation (020 7734 6870).
If you want to avoid the tourist trail altogether, you could shun hotels and
sleep on a local's couch. The website couchsurfing.com
might locate a friendly Tokyo resident with a sofabed, as it has more than
1,000 members listed in Japan - beware though, it's considered poor
couchsurfing etiquette not to offer a place on your sofa in return.
Only lack of confidence is making you hesitate. As preparation, rent "Lost in Translation" and learn to use chopsticks. If budget is an in issue (when isn't it?) check into a downtown business hotel; just grab the regular train from the Airport and engage the Indian sales reps in casual conversation. Written English is everywhere, and people are only too willing to give you directions. Fortunately, English gentleman is flavour of the month. TIA; this is Asia, man. But here's the deal, when you get back to the gastly "real world", make out it's a serious hardship posting. Don't want Tokyo mobbed out with Brits.
Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan