<p>Going to Tokyo for business in a few days and will have one day for sightseeing. Have been unsuccessful locating a private guide - they are all booked up - so I’ll do this on my own. Suggestions on what to do / what to see and how to navigate when I will be unfamiliar with the characters? How much English (if any) should I expect to see? </p>
<p>Am staying at the Hyatt Regency in Shinjuku if that helps.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I hope you can find someone to show you around. I think it would be very tough to get around efficiently in one day, by yourself and a woman. I haven’t been in Tokyo in 20 years so I am not going to make suggestions. What kind of business? Any chance one of your business contacts could show you around? Japanese are very hospitable people.</p>
<p>Toyko is pretty easy to get around. The trains go all over and the signs all have English translations. What do you want to see/do? A garden? A temple? Something cultural, like sumo or kabuki? Something modern? Shopping? Toyko has fantastic shopping districts, everything from amazing department stores and food halls to crazy anime stuff (they have 6-story toy stores). Shinjuku is full of department stores. The Ginza is like 5th Avenue in New York. You can also take a day trip to a hot springs. There a a million things to do. Eat sushi at 6 in the morning in the fish market, see autumn leaves at Asakusa temple…Give me an idea what you want to do.</p>
<p>We live near Tokyo. It’s easy to get around and English signs are in all Tokyo train stations. What would you like to see? Tokyo is the largest city in the world and there are a plethora of things to do.</p>
<p>Less interested in shopping, more interested in shrines, temples and cultural attractions. Glad to hear the signs have English translations - I am not a skittish traveler but that is the part that has been scaring me a bit - my ability to recognize the Japanese characters and navigate.</p>
<p>Pizza girl, we spent 10 days in Japan a few years ago. It was relatively easy to get around. People were friendly and willing to help in the subway if you look lost. We stayed in Tokyo for a few nights. There were some very interesting temples/shrines/palaces there. One tip…it is very much a cash society (except hotels). A lot of restaurants wouldn’t accept credit cards.</p>
<p>Honestly, I thought Italy was much harder to navigate on our own than Japan.</p>
<p>Tokyo is really easy to get around on the train/subways. All the maps/stations are in Japanese and English, so worst case, just figure it out ahead of time and count your stops.</p>
<p>Just two stations away from Shinjuku (which is a pretty vibrant area itself!) is Harajuku station. You can tour the Meiji Shrine there. That would be pretty high on the list of shrines and stuff to see in Tokyo. The area around Harajuku station is a major college/youth area. I spent an enjoyable hour or two there walking around the open air markets (selling rock and roll t-shirts, etc.)</p>
<p>It would not be hard at all to take the train to the Imperial Palace. And, if you are doing that, walking around the Ginza at night is pretty amazing.</p>
<p>With only one day to sightsee I would recommend getting an early start. (Coming from the States waking up at or before dawn probably won’t be a problem) The two shrines near Shinjuku that I would recommend are Togo and Meiji Shrines. At Meiji there is a beautiful inner garden with something like 100,000 trees from all over Japan, there is also a traditional Japanese Tea House, Japanese pond, and an ancient wall. It’s a really nice glance an traditional Japan. Hanazono Shrine is also in the area and one of the oldest shrines in Japan.</p>
<p>From there I would head toward Asakusa. It’s a fabulous area, and still holds the feel of old Japan. Asakusa Kannon Temple is there. There is a beautiful temple, five story pagoda, Asakusa jinji (a Shinto shrine) and shops lined in a really cool old building and pedestrian street. This is the one area we always try to take visitors if time is short. </p>
<p>For museums I highly recommend the Edo-Tokyo museum. It’s only a train stop or two from Asakusa so it’s easy to hit both up. Tokyo National museum is also very nice, and in the Ueno area. </p>
<p>I think the best garden in Tokyo is the Rikugien Garden. It’s around 400 years old, and just incredibly beautiful and peaceful. </p>
<p>Any chance you are going to be in Tokyo this coming weekend? My husband and I have a dinner to attend on Friday night and are staying the weekend. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>Thank you to all. Much appreciated.</p>
<p>I tired to reply to your PM Pizzagirl but I don’t have enough posts. Hope you don’t mind if I post it here.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I have to teach all day on your free day and we live about an hour south of central Tokyo.</p>
<p>As someone else mentioned Japan is a VERY cash based society. Many places don’t except cards.</p>
<p>I HIGHLY recommend this site: [Hyperdia</a> | Timetable and Route Search in Japan.](<a href=“http://www.hyperdia.com/en/]Hyperdia”>HyperDia | Route Search in Japan.) You can type in any two train stations and it will give you the times, cost, etc. The hotel should have a train/subway map in English; make sure you pick one up before heading out.<br>
Please feel free to ask me any questions. We’ve lived in Japan off and on for eight years over the past 20.</p>