tokyostyle Wrote:Cheap bars begin and end at the 40+ Hub locations in Tokyo and as a bonus that has the highest concentration of Japanese people that want to talk to you.

I really feel bad for you if this is true. I haven't gone out drinking too much in Tokyo so I don't know for sure. In Kyoto there are a million places that are better (and cheaper) than the Hub. (Though, recently I met an absolutely stunning girl at the Hub and I've gone out with her three times now. So I guess if she ends up as my gf I have to give some props to the Hub.)

The Hub is a great place to go. Yes it's an english bar. Yes some people go there for english practice. But it's always thought of as just a fun place to go to. I've met plenty of cute to absolutely beautiful girls at HUB. Not all speak english and even if they do they prefer to speak Japanese anyday. I would usually start my nights off by getting one drink at the HUB with friends and because of the social nature of the place warm up by talking to a few groups of people.

There are lots of great cheap bars in tokyo if you look around. I really like Coins Bar in shibuya. All the drinks and all the food items are only 300 yen. And unlike those 270 yen izakayas that sprouted up all over, its a full bar. 300 yen Long Islands are great!

Some places also do "Blast hours" if you go early. 1,000 yen all you can drink from 7-9 usually.

tokyostyle Wrote:

Tzadeck Wrote:I really feel bad for you if this is true.

Most places in Tokyo charge a seating charge in addition to having prices above Hub prices. I tend to go to lots of other better places, but I can't think of a single one that is actually cheaper.

Wow, didn't know that.

tokyostyle Wrote:Is there going to be some "Welcome to Japan, jettyke" nomikai in Tokyo?

That would be real cool, but I have 5 days to spend in Tokyo and a background of being a big fan of Japan for about 5 years. So I'm not sure that I will have a day or an evening for that. Have lots of plans :p

But then again, I'm not yet sure about my schedule and plans so in case I will see a good gap in an evening, I might as well organize something!
I also have quite a few friends in Tokyo, so perhaps a nomikai would be a good way of seeing them all at once, as well as new people :p

I am quite sure that I will couch surf in Ikebukuro btw.

Got for free an old Lonely Planet Japan 2003 from friends.
Do you think it will have any use or it's so old that it's pointless?

jettyke Wrote:Got for free an old Lonely Planet Japan 2003 from friends.
Do you think it will have any use or it's so old that it's pointless?

There is always many starting points. Make "Lonely Planet Japan" one of them. There is a 2010, but there many more travel books in Japan.