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Going to Japan


Blair Thaumic

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I’ll be going to Tokyo (my first time, and my first trip to a non-English-speaking country) from 5/1 to 5/31, and was wondering if you guys had any recommendations for visitors?

I definitely plan on doing some of the typical ‘tourist’ activities, like visiting Akihabara, Harajuku, and Tokyo Skytree. Also want to check out some of the city’s older neighborhoods, along with nature walks and parks. And go to Koenji Cave, of course. :) Outside of Tokyo, I want to take day trips to Yokohama, Kamakura, Nikko, and Okutama (to see the limestone caves), and there’s a three day festival in Chiba that I might go to. I don’t have plans to see the other parts of the country (it’s a little out of my budget, sadly!) but I can already tell that there’s a LOT to do in the Tokyo region.

Let me know if there's anything else, psytrance related or otherwise, that I ought to check out while I’m there? Also if you have any tips for navigating the language and culture, I'd really appreciate it (I know a little Japanese, but I'm far from fluent)

 

Hope to be partying Tokyo Tekno style soon...

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My personal hilights were the mountains around Kobe and Koya-San, in the southeast of the main island. An old temple village for monks in the mountains. No tourists and VERY special/spiritual atmosphere :) Loved it! :)

(and in Tokyo, you have amazing second hand stores for cds (lots of goa!)) :) Coolest region is Shibuya for sure :P future is now!

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One month only in Tokyo? This can be costly too. Anyway, I'd suggest spending a couple of days at a hot spring inn near Fuji Mt. (Not in Tokyo, but quite near). It's really beautiful and relaxing there. And if the weather is good, you can enjoy a gorgeous view of the Mt. while you take a bath. It's not that expensive either. 

 

Shibuya is horrible, too crowded and many tourists there, and nothing really interesting IMO. 

 

You can also ask Abasio, IIRC he's been living in Japan for many years. 

 

Cheers

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I’ll be going to Tokyo (my first time, and my first trip to a non-English-speaking country) from 5/1 to 5/31, and was wondering if you guys had any recommendations for visitors?

 

 

 First, start using a date format that makes sense i.e. 1/5 to 31/5  :P  :P  :P

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So you go down to Shibuya at night and you play Filteria's Lost in the Wild. When The Lights of Shibuya start playing you dance like a madman in the middle of the street. With any luck you might make the local news in Tokyo.  ;)

 

I don't really know what to recommend, but I hope you have a good time!

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One month only in Tokyo? This can be costly too.

 

It can be but I'm staying in a gaijin house, so my lodging isn't expensive at all. :)

 

I don't want to spend all my time in Shibuya, but I'll be checking out the CD shops for sure. They have a nine story Tower Records that I really want to explore.

 

What do you think about Rebirth? http://www.rebirth-fes.com/ The pictures of the last few years looked pretty great. Not buying a ticket until I have some idea of the lineup though.

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  • 1 month later...

Abasio has disappeared into the blue, but I've been having quite an adventure in the meantime. Including two nights in Koenji and a night in the red light district. Unfortunately I walked a little too much and my feet are horribly blistered. :/ Ashi ga itaiiiiii.

 

So many great record stores, though, omfg.

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I’ll be going to Tokyo (my first time, and my first trip to a non-English-speaking country) from 5/1 to 5/31, and was wondering if you guys had any recommendations for visitors?

 

I definitely plan on doing some of the typical ‘tourist’ activities, like visiting Akihabara, Harajuku, and Tokyo Skytree. Also want to check out some of the city’s older neighborhoods, along with nature walks and parks. And go to Koenji Cave, of course. :) Outside of Tokyo, I want to take day trips to Yokohama, Kamakura, Nikko, and Okutama (to see the limestone caves), and there’s a three day festival in Chiba that I might go to. I don’t have plans to see the other parts of the country (it’s a little out of my budget, sadly!) but I can already tell that there’s a LOT to do in the Tokyo region.

 

Let me know if there's anything else, psytrance related or otherwise, that I ought to check out while I’m there? Also if you have any tips for navigating the language and culture, I'd really appreciate it (I know a little Japanese, but I'm far from fluent)

 

Hope to be partying Tokyo Tekno style soon...

Have you decided to go to Kyoto? I think you would enjoying seeing their old stuff and traditional culture.

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Nah, too busy doing things in Tokyo, and I'm more interested in the contrast between old and new that presents itself here. Someday I'd like to take a month to go around the country, though.

 

My only real regret is not hearing any Goa! I did get to see Ree.K's set last night though, at the Rebirth Fest after party. No trance, it was pure techno, but solid stuff nevertheless.

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I used to score my musshies from Conscious dreams in Ogikubo. Mad times back then.

 

Anyway some things not psy trance-war museum at yasikuni jinja was wicked, Meiji jingu and rocknroll dancers by HArjuku bridge was a standout

 

Dance of shiva is on this weekend if you can get there. I reckon that would be a standout party.

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I used to score my musshies from Conscious dreams in Ogikubo. Mad times back then.

i used to get them in Shibuya from this basement store with a giant mushroom painted on the outside... i think it was like 3 grams for about 2000 yen.

 

sometimes guys with suitcases full of chemicals laid open on a table in the middle of the street would show up but i didn't know about the wonders of DMT at that age...

 

 

 

big psy party next weekend at Ageha...

 

http://www.trancelife.net/img/event/flyer/2924_0.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

It must all be on the DL now, because I didn't see any psychedelics at the parties I attended.

 

It sucks that all the Goa and Suomisaundi in Tokyo was happening on different months. I missed https://www.djsbarcave.tokyo/single-post/2017/05/28/63-Strange-Girls-%EF%BD%9E%E5%85%A8%E5%9B%BDSuomi%E5%A5%B3%E5%AD%90%E7%B7%8F%E6%B1%BA%E8%B5%B7%E9%9B%86%E4%BC%9A%EF%BD%9E by three days, boo.

 

Aside from that, the trip was amazing. Here's a small taste:

 

Ueno Park with a view of the Skytree:

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/2320.jpg

 

Koenji at night and Koenji Cave:

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/7641.jpg

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/2760.jpg

 

Hippie van in Shimokitazawa:

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/7734.jpg

 

One of the coolest stores in Tokyo:

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/3375.jpg

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/3265.jpg

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/3997.jpg

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/4210.jpg

 

Waterfall in Nikko and the Senjougahara Marshlands:

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/8075.jpg

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/8417.jpg

 

And my haul of CDs. Everything in front on the top shelf is from my trip! 55 albums+11 singles in total :)

 

http://spirit-zone.dreamwidth.org/file/6938.jpg

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  • 3 months later...

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