Trip report please. Didn't you like it as much as you thought you would? And why are you going back so soon?

It was an awesome trip, don't get me wrong. Hence I am going back there so soon :)

But I noticed that my wife seems to have a slight fixation towards clothes.

"oh look, H&M!"
~2 hours later
"oh look, uniqlo"
~2 hours later
"oh look, forever21"
~2 hours later

You get the point :D

So next time, I am going there without her. Don't get me wrong on that, but I just want to spend the vacation as I want to. I may sound like an ass, but that's how I feel.

Yeah, I know what you mean ;-) It's too bad you don't have H&M in Europe, so you have to go all the way to Japan...

Sega Joypolis.
http://tokyo-joypolis.com/

Other places of interest are:
- Shinagawa Aqua Stadium (with indoor roller coaster under a hotel)
- Tokyo Disneyland (explanations not needed?)
- Tokyo Tower (a copy of Eiffel tower)
- Tokyo Sky Tree (tallest tower, [not building] in the world)
- metros and trains during rush hour
- any grocery store to buy Pocari Sweat, Calpis Soda and Menthol Shock!!! :-)






Actually, for tourist purposes, all rail services are often presented on the same map in big cities like Tokyo, Paris, etc.
So that way Helsinki rail system seems a bit bigger.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Helsinki_Metro_and_commuter_rail_map.svg

But it doesn't take two hours to study it through, like is the case in Tokyo, London, Paris, etc. Which reminds me, I forgot to buy that Tokyo rail line poster that I intended to buy last year. Wonder if that's still available somewhere on the net?

My first trip wasn't all that great either. I mean, it could have been, and there were parts that were amazing, but I was a sour pants 18 year old, and much of the stuff we did wasn't fitting to my personality (places with lots of people, schedules). My second trip was absolutely amazing, though. We went hiking on mountains and ate baguettes filled with cheese at the mountain tops. Makes me salivate just thinking about it. I'd recommend hiking on mountains to you too, but I had a local guide, and it'd be kind of bad if you got lost or something there :p

...so if you're not a helpless person/have a guide and enjoy hiking, I really, really recommend the mountains.

Hiking does sound very neat-o, but there's just that one but. I have no idea how/where I would get a local guide :D

I went to Japan about 12 years ago, but I didn't make it to Tokyo. I was going by myself and was afraid it would be too much to handle solo. So instead I stayed in Kyoto and took a day trip over to Nara. Thought about hitting Osaka too, but chickened out.

It was a little overwhelming at first, but definitely the coolest thing I have ever done. I've had dreams about going back ever since. Don't think I ever will. Kinda wish I could now that I'm better with a camera. I know I wish I could have another bowl of the miso soup I had while I was there that was one of the best things I have ever tasted.

Lastly, one thing I remember most is that there were a lot of vending machines from which I bought lots of Coke and milk tea. A LOT of vending machines.

Now you got me feeling all nostalgic. Dug though some pictures. I've only had a few scanned so far. The rest are still sitting in neg form, many I never even got printed.

Sadly, I can't help you with that. My guide was found by the method of "knowing people you're related to" :p

Mister Donut, presents for your delicious taste!!!