This is a bit of a personal message, but monkey- I heard the Bo Sox beat the Yankees 8 to 1 today, Wakefield w/the knuckleball. And they got the World Series rings today- I guess they had to mail Kapler's to him in Tokyo...

Well, just figured out that the Giants will be playing at Tokyo Dome when we are there (one night against the swallows & one against the carps). This will be after we get back to Tokyo from Kyoto. Do you think this is an ok activity for our last night? Was it hard to get tix through your hotel?

Also, emd...Did you make reservations for Ninja through your hotel? Do you think it will be difficult getting same-day reservations? I was thinking it might be fun our first night since that is my husband's actually bday. Know anything about which room to choose for dining?

mrwunrfl...if you go to tokyo-dome.co.jp/e/ and go to their events schedule you can see all the teams games & times that will play there by month.

As for the Sox...we did a good job yesterday. Although, this year NONE of the games are broadcast on normal TV just NESN...So, no one without cable got to see the ring presentation or game (except on the news). People are MAD. It was a pretty bogus maneuver...

A baseball game is a great last night activity IMO. It will get you out and headed back to the hotel (or maybe out to have some more fun) at a pretty early hour. We did not get tickets thru the hotels, we went ourselves to the window to get them (day before for Giants at Tokyo Dome, day of game in Osaka).
I don't know about Ninja reservations one day before. Summer is a busy time, and it was very full when we were there. We reserved 3 days ahead. Could your hotel make the reservations for you in advance of your arrival? I don't think you get to choose your "room"- it is not really a room, more like a cubby room that just has your table and a wall hanging and a screen that closes but it is like lattice so you can see though it. But have the person making the reservation tell them it is his birthday, that migh tmake a difference. I did see/hear them bring a special dessert and sing to someone who was having a birthday (although it wasn't our version of Happy Birthday of course!)
Did you look into the New York grill place at the Hyatt at Roppongi Hills? Ooolala and nice view, but pricey. Maybe good for at least a drink.
that clucks about the ring presentation. All those years the fans waited and you can't even see the ring thing live.

I was there as a student so I know a lot of budget stuff. If you like tempura, try a fast food tempura chain. its almost a la carte. I know there is (or was) one just outside of Ikebukero station, on sort of in the direction of Rikkyo Daigaku.
Also, Curry House. You custom order your curry by grams of rice, and spiciness of curry and toppings like fried shrimp, fermented soybeans, quail eggs, bananas and even wierder.

Thanks for the Tokyo Dome schedule info, monkeyrhino. Now I'm tempted to go to Tokyo.

Food tips are great. I am trying to space out our fancier meals, so all these suggestions definitely help.

Does anyone know anything about the Women's Association of Kyoto? The offer all sorts of 1-2 hour workshops in everything from cooking to tea ceremony to origami. I also believe you go into a private home for some of these. Seems pretty neat, but wondering if anybody has any experience with them...

This is some of the best advice for Japan that I've seen anywhere! Cool! I'm taking about 15 students (college students - honors) to Japan for about 2 weeks in late July early August next summer (2006). We need to be in Hiroshima for the commemoration activities in early August, that is why we have to go then (I know it's hot and rainy, but it's better than Tampa, which is where we'd be otherwise!). I will definitely have questions for the group in the weeks to come.

birder, I took a quick look on the www to see if Tampa had a sister city in Japan. I think that the answer is no, but St Pete does with Takamtsu.

I did find the following website that might be of interest to you:
http://web.usf.edu/iac/florida-japan.htm
Perhaps you know about that already; there is a contact in Tampa.

I have a nice picture of a school kids posing for a group shot in Hiroshima. Please go to www.billk.org and click on "Japan, Bali, Hong". See the picture in the middle of the first row.

hey emd...did you end up going with Johnny Hillwalker on a tour? Do you think it is something we should do or are we ok without? Sounds kind of interesting...

Hi there. No, we didn't feel the need for it in Kyoto, but if I had had more time I might have done it. Also, recall that I was having foot problems in Kyoto and felt that I couldn't commit to a walking tour, it was better to do our own independently so I could sit when I needed to and get off the feet.
I asked about Johnny Hillwalker and someone on here gave me good feedback. Search for that post if you don't have it already.

monkeyrhino: this morning I posted some additional anime/manga, Ghibli, and other info for another poster that you might want to see. Check out the post by kswl, "Bought incredible tickets, spru of the moment-- now I need an iteinerary"

emd...you rock. I printed out that post and went to all the sites you mentioned. Very helpful. Things are shaping up nicely.

Should we in all cases possible, send our bags ahead? I am thinking we will take the limosine bus from Narita to Tokyo (it goes directly to our first hotel). Take a small bag to Hakone and have our bags sent ahead to Kyoto, then from Kyoto back to Tokyo. I can't decide if I want to send ahead to Narita for our departure. A little paranoid that time will be an issue. I was thinking of taking the Skyliner back to the airport since it leaves from Ueno. It claims only an hour in travel time. Is this true?