This post is one from a series of entries called Your Guide to Making it Big in Tokyo., in which we explore ways you might over come or avoid a possible Tokyo Tragedy when the honeymoon fades and the city buzz kicks in.
Becoming a positive activist takes some effort both mentally and physically. The moment you decide to become an impassioned warrior and truly take action towards attaining that illuminated life you dreamed of in Tokyo, the faster connections will be made, networks will be gathered and opportunities will start to arise.
Yeah, yeah it is easy to say and yet not always that easy to do, so to help you out and give you a teeny little push in the rockin’ direction I am gonna spill some of my beans, open my little black book and give you some of the juice chotto zutsu (little by little) in the days leading up to my 5th anniversary. How and where can you really start to get connected in Tokyo?
Are ya ready? Got a pen and paper? Right…in no particular order
- Educate your right brain. Open up a can of creatively kick ass worms with a right brain drawing class, a creative writing session or a visual journal journey at RBR, Tokyo’s center for creative arts.
- Fun for Free Getting on your feet financially can be tough. Moving to a new space, new city, new country can take it’s toll. There is so much talk about Tokyo being an expensive city, and while it is not a free for all, there are so many things you can enjoy without a lot of cash.
I have always loved Ping Mag’s 10 Things to Do for Free in Tokyo article because it really shows how entertaining the city can be when we take the time to look around. It is extremely easy to get caught up in the intensely hyper consumer vibe here. It is just as easy to make the choice to really enjoy the city you chose to move to.
Free and Cheap Things in Tokyo
Sightseeing in Tokyo without Spending a Yen
- - Get Your Kit On Take a leaf out of a Harajuku girl’s book and know that behind the veil of a costume many things are possible. A new character can be created! Cosplay is popular for a range of reasons here in Japan, explore them! It is colorful, creative fun and will give you a completely amazing insight into the underground as well as totally street level world.
Dive into the wonderful playground of cosplay parties in Tokyo. Tokyo Decadance, Tokyo Dark Castle and Torture Garden Japan hold regular events in some pretty lush clubs throughout Tokyo. These parties are an eye opening experience and always filled with inspiration.
I whipped myself, head to toe, into a costume a few weeks ago and trotted off to one of these parties to feast my eyes on the wall to wall candy and color. While I suggest always being safe and traveling in packs, I feel completely secure and welcome at these parties on my own. I love to duck in at about 1am get my fill of inspiration, enjoy the music, connect with some people and then fly home on the first train.
I take my costume, transform in a local convenience store toilet ( like many of the party goers do) and do a Clark Kent on the way to the station. Waiting in line at the bathroom watching the complete transformation that takes place is also a highlight. Peeps walk in as an illuminated cyber goth raver from another time and space and walk out as a jeans and t shirt clad college kid with no trace of the night before. Amazing stuff!
I recommend checking out La Carmina’s experiences in Tokyo.
- Beat the Shit Out of Something Isaku Kageyama knows how to dance to the beat of his own drum. Guess what? He can help you find your rhythm.
Perhaps the Shinagawa Djembe Posse is more your style. Once a month they do their stuff at The Pink Cow in Shibuya (which by the way is one of the greatest places in Tokyo to get connected – check out their COWlander!!)
- Join the Circus The performing arts communities in Japan are huge and will give you the warmest welcome. Play with fire, juggle or spin poi to your heart’s content at the Shinjuku Zatsugidan. Take yourself to a higher place with some aerial art. Or just come and hoop with me!!!
- Advertise for Love – I am not suggesting you need to go partner hunting via the classifieds, (although as luck would have it that is how my twisty path turned out) but there are a number of magazines and online spaces based in Tokyo and other parts of Japan that allow you to pop ads in for free.
Looking for a face painting partner? Want to learn to speak Thai while playing the piano? Have a talent you would like to teach and share? Dying to air out your jersey and socks for a rugby game? Craigs List Tokyo Metropolis Classifieds Seek Japan Tokyo Notice Board BAB Discussion Board
- Meet the Peeps There is something very comforting about the international community (when I say international community I don’t just mean foreigners, I mean worldly go-getters with open minds and hearts) in this city, there is a sense of understanding, support and collaboration. Having said that, there are those who do not fit into this set, you will definitely run into them from time to time. The way I see it – we all make choices whether or not we allow and keep them in our lives – I choose the friendly, vibrant, outgoing, positive, encouraging, supportive, interesting and life loving ones.
So where do they hang out? In hot spot all across the city, on any given night you can find spaces filled with them! I am going to drop a few names that I can think of, off the top of my head, ones I have been to personally…
Super Deluxe, The Ghetto, unice, Office (think this was our second date spot), Gotanda Sonic, Liquid Room, Mado Lounge, Dr Sketchy’s Tokyo, BiZNITES, Tokyo Portraits, The Pink Cow, Sign (first night I met Masao), Kingyo (goldfish) Cafe, Ni-chome ,Inokashira Park, Rhythm, WOMB, 101 Tokyo, Le Baron, FEW, Yoga Jaya, Cafe Pause, Victoria Disco, Yoyogi Park, Spiral, CLASKA…
More soon! I would love to hear about the places you soak up inspiration and good vibes in the city, any city.
In the meantime some interesting reading to fuel your plans…
Oh no, look what they have gone and done with real veggies…now it is a ‘trend’.
Filed under: life in tokyo | Tagged: enjoying life in tokyo, japan, life in japan, living in japan, places to go in tokyo, tokyo events, tokyo for free, tokyo life, tokyo parties
I am really enjoying this series! It totally makes me want to move to Tokyo and give it all a try. I have always wanted to go there, but all the great things you are linking to and talking about are making the craving even more strong.
Oh, it is fabulous for a holiday too! Sakura season is just around the corner. Spring is a lovely time here!
Come on over, you will love it!
d
xx
Thanks for this guide it’s an awesome resource for my next trip to Tokyo. Just a word with the cos play reccomendations – the link to Tokyo decadence keeps taking me to a page advertising a “forced sex” website with quite graphic pictures. Just thought you’d like to know.
Thanks Nicole! Be sure to get in touch if you are heading this way!
Thanks for the heads up about the link, I changed it (QUICKLY!) I actually went to the Tokyo Decadance party on Saturday night, too much fun!