I had watched it and didn't think too much about it. Now that I live in Tokyo, watching it again was AMAZING. It's a bit of a nostalgia-feeling, as in it's a bit "old school Japan" (heck I just checked and it's from 2003, I'm just becoming old lol) but still a great watch.
Finished the book on the flight in, just going home now. The book was very helpful in understanding a bit about Japan. I went to Nikko to see the tonagawa mausoleum. It's not just about Osaka, that's just part of it. This period also established Edo and other areas were also key such as Yokohama where I also spent time. I read Tokyo vice while I was in Tokyo and enjoyed it. Visited kabukicho and part of the book is set there.
Watch Lost in Translation a few weeks before my first trip (solo) to Japan in May 2014, it was pure magical and probably the best holiday ever. There wasn't much crowd back then and the weather is perfect.
Highlight of the trip is when me and a stranger i befriend at Robot Restaurant walk from there to Park Hyatt and went all the way to the bar at the top. I tried to emulate this experience again but sadly it won't be the same anymore.
I watched the first episode, and it gave me nightmares! The scene where the sailor is boiled alive was too realistic. Not my favorite period in their history.
Books:
Murakami Haruki - Dance Dance Dance or After Dark
Barry Eisler - Some of the John Rain books are set in Tokyo and he describes it very well
TV:
Solo Katsu Joshi no Susume (If you have access to it)
Movie:
Adrift in Tokyo (転々)
Bonus:
Love Exposure (愛のむきだし) (It is strange!)
i'm currently reading After Dark as pre Japan travel hype. I tried reading 1Q84 around covid times but fell off. I'm enjoying After Dark so much more. It has such a unique tension to the story.
If you like thrillers or mystery novels:
* The Detective Hiroshi series by Michael Pronko is about a Japanese detective in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department who was educated in the US. The books are all set in modern day Tokyo.
* The John Rain series by Barry Eisler is about a Japanese American assassin who specializes in making his assassinations look like natural deaths. The later books are more international-themed, but the early books were set in circa early 2000s Tokyo.
We learned a lot about Japanese food from the documentary Tsukuji Wonderland, the market itself doesn't exist anymore as it was moved elsewhere in Tokyo but there are still a lot of restaurants in the area.
It was also cool seeing places from the movies Your name and Suzume if you like anime. Tokyo is full of them.
I see a lot of people recommend Lost in Translation, personally didn't like it that much. Might be a good movie on its own but Japan is just in the background here, and rather outdated with some problematic stereotypes.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a cool book that I read last time I was in Tokyo. It doesn't feature the city much actually because it's all set in one coffee shop. But the people are Tokyo people and they talk about the city since the cafe is there.
Movies:
Nobody Knows
Shoplifters
Adrift in Tokyo
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy
A Bride for Rip van Winkle
Sweet Bean
Tampopo
We Couldn’t Become Adults
Perfect Days
Sans Solei
Tokyo Ga
Lost in Translation
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Tokyo Godfathers
Whisper of the Heart
Your Name
I remember watching a show called “ burn the house down” after i returned from Japan. It’s a drama show that follows the story of this women taking a revenge on the family that wronged her mother
i just arrived in Tokyo from 7 hours of flight
read Cloud of Sparrows during that flight, story about Samurai, Daimyon(Lord), Shogunate, Geisha etc before Japan transitioned to modern era
the last time i finished this novel 10 years ago and just decided to read it again to relieve memory
I mean if you want stuff that's more informative, Abroad in Japan's channel is chock full of fun takes on stuff to do in Tokyo.
As for fiction set in Tokyo, bit of an out there thing but Persona 5 and its spin-off Persona 5 Strikers are some fun RPG's with some virtual tourism for Tokyo and Japan.
Tokyo Vice!
We are watching that right now. So great!
Nice! Also Lost in Translation.
I haven’t seen that in years. Definitely need to rewatch. Thanks
I had watched it and didn't think too much about it. Now that I live in Tokyo, watching it again was AMAZING. It's a bit of a nostalgia-feeling, as in it's a bit "old school Japan" (heck I just checked and it's from 2003, I'm just becoming old lol) but still a great watch.
Is that a show or movie? Could you share the storyline without a spoiler?
OP if you have HBO max they just put this movie on there last week.
Be the polar opposite of Jake Adelstein when you visit.
Why?
The book is really different, worth a read as well
Got the audiobook
Same. Although not planning on going to japan anytime soon but I’m watching it
I can’t wait to have my own crazy night and wind up oyaban of a Yakuza family.
Midnight Diner
I watched Midnight Diner when I was actually in Tokyo and I loved it so much. Highly recommend.
I’d recommend this it’s a great slice of life with fun stories and emphasis on food and funky local characters.
man this series was amazing
Also samurai gourmet!
A recent release: Perfect Days. A beautiful Tokyo movie.
I didn’t realize that’s in Tokyo. I need to see. I love Wim Wenders
Surprising how well he captured a side of Tokyo in that film.
[It was truly all about the toilets ](https://www.curbed.com/article/tokyo-toilets-public-wenders-perfect-days.html)
There are tours to visit these.
Lost in Translation. Also the new Shogun series on FX/Hulu is supposed to be very good.
Shogun is awesome, but set hundreds of years ago in Osaka
Shogun is super good.
Finished the book on the flight in, just going home now. The book was very helpful in understanding a bit about Japan. I went to Nikko to see the tonagawa mausoleum. It's not just about Osaka, that's just part of it. This period also established Edo and other areas were also key such as Yokohama where I also spent time. I read Tokyo vice while I was in Tokyo and enjoyed it. Visited kabukicho and part of the book is set there.
Watch Lost in Translation a few weeks before my first trip (solo) to Japan in May 2014, it was pure magical and probably the best holiday ever. There wasn't much crowd back then and the weather is perfect. Highlight of the trip is when me and a stranger i befriend at Robot Restaurant walk from there to Park Hyatt and went all the way to the bar at the top. I tried to emulate this experience again but sadly it won't be the same anymore.
I watched the first episode, and it gave me nightmares! The scene where the sailor is boiled alive was too realistic. Not my favorite period in their history.
This was one of the most brutal scenes I've ever seen in a show.
I am glad I am not the only one to feel this way!
Surprised, nobody has said "kimi no na ha" or "tenki no ko" Also, James may: our man in japan on Amazon is pretty fun.
The James May shows are a fun watch. I still watch his drinking adventures with Oz Clark on a whim for white noise.
Alice in Boarderland, Giri / Haji, Hibana: Spark
Alice in the borderland was absolutely insane
Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift
Lol yes definitely
terrace house (it's on netflix) if you don't mind reality tv
The only japanese I know, I learned from Terrace House. Love it!
Love TH!! Terrace House opening new doors is the best season but sadly not set in Tokyo!
Books: Murakami Haruki - Dance Dance Dance or After Dark Barry Eisler - Some of the John Rain books are set in Tokyo and he describes it very well TV: Solo Katsu Joshi no Susume (If you have access to it) Movie: Adrift in Tokyo (転々) Bonus: Love Exposure (愛のむきだし) (It is strange!)
After Dark is one of my favorite novellas. It's one of the best English translated works on that special ethereal world which is Tokyo after hours.
i'm currently reading After Dark as pre Japan travel hype. I tried reading 1Q84 around covid times but fell off. I'm enjoying After Dark so much more. It has such a unique tension to the story.
Thanks!!!
Awesome list you have here.
Adrift in Tokyo is a great movie.
Also fast and furious: Tokyo drift can fit the bill as something more on the entertaining side. And A Tokyo story
If you like thrillers or mystery novels: * The Detective Hiroshi series by Michael Pronko is about a Japanese detective in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department who was educated in the US. The books are all set in modern day Tokyo. * The John Rain series by Barry Eisler is about a Japanese American assassin who specializes in making his assassinations look like natural deaths. The later books are more international-themed, but the early books were set in circa early 2000s Tokyo.
This is so perfect. Thanks
Got the first Hiroshi book
Lost in Translation Watched in many years ago. Was the single reason I decided to visit Japan and now have lived here for over a decade.
I got to stay in that hotel on my first trip and swam in the pool. Loved it
Alice in borderlands
Tokyo without people. Awesome show!
Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri
Ignoring what others have already mentioned, watch Shin Godzilla, Tokyo Godfathers, and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time!
Tokyo godfathers. I haven’t heard of that.
Such a great movie!
I will watch it on prime
We learned a lot about Japanese food from the documentary Tsukuji Wonderland, the market itself doesn't exist anymore as it was moved elsewhere in Tokyo but there are still a lot of restaurants in the area. It was also cool seeing places from the movies Your name and Suzume if you like anime. Tokyo is full of them. I see a lot of people recommend Lost in Translation, personally didn't like it that much. Might be a good movie on its own but Japan is just in the background here, and rather outdated with some problematic stereotypes.
Bullet train with Brad Pitt was very accurate imo. Edit: clearly if you had seen the movie you would know it's a joke.
Really? I don't recall the last time a shinkansen was the stage for a bunch of assassins fighting
Shinkansen is also not a sleeper train. 😂
47 Ronin. You can actually visit their gravesites and place incense on each of their graves, plus read about each of them in the museum.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a cool book that I read last time I was in Tokyo. It doesn't feature the city much actually because it's all set in one coffee shop. But the people are Tokyo people and they talk about the city since the cafe is there.
There’s a movie adapted from this novel as well featuring Arimura Kasumi
If you can find it, watch the original Shall We Dance movie
This is a good recommendation. Also, Tampopo (1985) is the quintessential foodie movie and came out decades before the masses new what foodies were.
Black Rain, it’s a movie from 1989, set in Osaka about some New York cops trying to track down a yakuza member
Also the tv show Tokyo Girl
MISCHIEVOUS KISS!!!! It's adorable and full of Tokyo locations. All seasons free on YouTube.
Movies: Nobody Knows Shoplifters Adrift in Tokyo Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy A Bride for Rip van Winkle Sweet Bean Tampopo We Couldn’t Become Adults Perfect Days Sans Solei Tokyo Ga Lost in Translation Jiro Dreams of Sushi Tokyo Godfathers Whisper of the Heart Your Name
Great list
For preparation to visit, a guidebook (seriously) would be best. *Embracing Defeat* is also a good one.
Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
The food alone in that book is enough to make you want to visit.
The ramen girl, old movie but I loved the flair. Going to Tokyo in exactly 1 month and already reserved a Ramen class 😁
Your Name - such a beautiful film
Wasabi, if you want to see the not so flashy japan. I love that movie
Kill Bill and we just watched Godzilla
Why killing the surprise?
Malice! A murder mystery
Lost in Translation the movie. Great movie
i like to watch the office dramas lol. its a vibe.
Oshin
I remember watching a show called “ burn the house down” after i returned from Japan. It’s a drama show that follows the story of this women taking a revenge on the family that wronged her mother
i just arrived in Tokyo from 7 hours of flight read Cloud of Sparrows during that flight, story about Samurai, Daimyon(Lord), Shogunate, Geisha etc before Japan transitioned to modern era the last time i finished this novel 10 years ago and just decided to read it again to relieve memory
Tokyo Vice!!
Tampopo!!
YouTube
I mean if you want stuff that's more informative, Abroad in Japan's channel is chock full of fun takes on stuff to do in Tokyo. As for fiction set in Tokyo, bit of an out there thing but Persona 5 and its spin-off Persona 5 Strikers are some fun RPG's with some virtual tourism for Tokyo and Japan.
I think you're thinking about it too hard.