I'm in Shinjuku, have a few questions.
 

Hi, been here for a few days now, and have a few days remaining. I'm loving it and the weather has been great(apart from today).

Is there anywhere you would recommend in/around shinjuku. We have been ueno(the zoo was great), asakusa, akihabara and all over shinjuku. Any suggestions?

The main question I have is 'Where are the bins!?'. Im gathering rubbish throughout the day without a bin in sight. Are they hidden or am I missing something?

Also, a little language question. Is 'de wa mata' see you soon? When ordering something, does the number of items go first:

IE
'ni grande cappuchino onegai shimasu'(excuse the spelling)

or is it

'grande cappuchino ni onegai shimasu'.

Also, what is a less formal good bye, as alot of people are saying something Im not understanding, it sounds like the last bit is 'ma sa'.

Thanks, Philip

Grande cappuchino futatsu kudasai will probably be more appropriate...

how many more days? Hop over to Daiba, that will kill a day... maybe take the shinkansen to Yokohama for another day?

You're not seeing bins because you're supposed to take your rubbish home with you rather than ditch it in the street ;)

Seriously though I had no trouble finding bins in public spaces such as train stations, shrines, gardens, etc. If you've been carrying your trash around for a couple of hours, drop into a train station and see if you can't spot a bin - or just outside Metro station exists rather than inside the station.

You might also be missing bins for recyclables - rather than a one-hole-fits-all, these have specific compartments for paper, PET, cans, etc.

Basically just keep the first plastic bag you get and stash your trash in it. Sometimes you have to hang on to it until you get back to your hotel, other times you can get shot of it sooner. It's no real trauma.

I'd use "Ja, mata ne" for "see you", but dewa is equally suitable. "See you tomorrow" would be "mata ashita".

There are two counting systems in Japanese between 0-10. From 11 there is only one. If you want to use the ichi, ni, san... system, you should really add a counter type to the number, but it's not essential for a foreign tourist to get that right. I would also use o kudasai rather than onegai shimasu when asking for a physical item as opposed to an ephemeral (a service, for example). Thus:

grande cappuchino o ni-hai kudasai.

(where -hai is the counter for liquids in cups / bowls / glasses, etc. Not bottles, which is -pon or -hon).

In the other counting system - hitotsu, futatsu, etc - the number itself is all you need. No counter is required:

grande cappuchino o futatsu kudasai.

"mata" is the only real informal "goodbye" I know, but that doesn't mean there aren't others. Also, people might be saying shitsureishimasu, which more kind of means "Please forgive my impoliteness", if they're leaving at a time which they consider to be early, or if they perceive that they are cutting you short by leaving.

Depending on how many more days "a few" is, are you there long enough to catch the opening ceremony for the sumo? That might be worth a shot :) It opens on the 10th of May: Ticket Sales Information - Nihon Sumo Kyokai Official Grand Sumo Home Page

I heartily reccommend the Edo-Tokyo Museum: Edo-Tokyo Museum

If you like cats, head up to Ikebukuro and go to Tokyu Hands' 8th floor: http://ikebukuro.tokyu-hands.co.jp/

Sengaku-ji is a fantastic way to spend a couple of hours: Tokyo Travel: Sengakuji Temple

You'll find rubbish bins at the station (inside the gates), and in front of larger convenience stores.

If you get tired of Shinjuku, you can take the Chuo line train to Hachijoji, which is nearby, and has a few more interesting things to see. The park there (near the station) is very nice.

Generally on most side walks, outside convenience stores, etc.

Once you spot one, you won't miss another.

In the meantime, possibly take a plastic supermarket bag along for the walk to put your rubbish in.

Missed the last questions.... are you referring to something that sounds like "Ja, ma ta ne"??? That will be "Ok, see you later then"

I looked it up, and the site says it's see you again. (also it's dewa mata)
(Onizone.com - Learning Japanese Page 2)

but it does mean see you later according to japanese.about.com(Japanese Language - from About.com)

Meiji Jingu shrine.

Shinjuku gyoen, the old imperial gardens are nice too it'll cost you 200 yen.

Wow: A lot of options: (some have been said before):

- Taking the train to Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 (30 min.)
- Odaiba
- Meiji Jingu Shrine and Yoyogi park in Harakuju (specially on sundays!)
- Shibuya for great late night sightseeing (and Tokyu Hands is a must!)
- Tokyo Dome City for leisure!
- Shopping in Ginza streets
- Sushi in Tsukiji Market
- The Hama Rikyu garden near Shiodome (is BEAUTIFUL)
- The gardens around the Imperial Palace

Enjoy, I was there for two weeks and it has been the greatest trip of my life!

Ron.-

I thought the lack of bins was largely due to past incidences of bombs being placed in bins.

A fair bit you can do..

+ Asakusa - Kaminarimon, temple, chocolate bananas!
+ Ueno - Science museum
+ Shinjuku - Batting practise
+ Harajuku - not the shops along the main roads but along quiet alleyways

A little further out..

+ Odaiba - Future Science museum (also the Ooedo onsen might be worth checking out)
+ Roppongi Midtown - just a slice of snobbery, everything here is so upmarket (hope that the chocolate fountain is still there :P)
+ Motomachi / Chinatown - nice place to eat and go for a bit of a stroll (the Minatomirai line is a bit expensive though)
+ Kamakura

I loved the science museums!

Take the Keio line from Shinjuku Station to Takao-zan, and hike to the top. It's a good workout, you'll get to see a lot of interesting people, and the views from the mountaintop are great. It's nice to get away from the city once in awhile. The climb and descent only take about 3 hours.

When I first came to Japan, I couldn't get enough of Tokyo, now that I've been living here, I come to find that one part of the city is much like another. The city doesn't vary much, restaurants, shops, convenience stores, and traffic.

I find now that I enjoy the countryside/beaches/mountains much more than the city. The people outside the city are much friendlier, the prices are lower, and the atmosphere is much more relaxing.

If you have time, climb Takao-zan, it's close to Shinjuku, you can take a direct train there. You'll get to see the natural beauty that Japanese love instead of the concrete, aspalt, neon lights, and trendy poseurs of the city.

With the weather like this, you may not feel like going too far away. If it clears up soon, Takao-zan would be great.

If not, have you tried beer and yakitori at Omoide-Yokocho, the two-foot-wide alley just south of the Shinjuku station?

Tokyo Dome City is good for all the rides and/or natural hot springs. The Giants have games (baseball) at Tokyo Dome today thru 10th as well.

If you're into the otaku culture, Nakano Broadway is only one train stop away on the express.

You can also walk north to Okubo Street for the best Korean restaurants in Japan.

I've made a note of Okubo street for hopefully a future visit.

Now, the most important part, can you name the street corners that have bins:mtongue:

Thanks for all the help, today is our last day(whats left of it) as we fly out at 11am tomorrow.

We spent the couple of days around Harajuku, the imperial gardens and will nip into Shinjuku centre later for coffee and arcades. The car games look good(never did find a garage supplying Mitsubishi FTO spares).

Thanks for the help, sorted the bin problem out with a carrier bag as suggested :D

Phil

That's great Phil and glad you took my suggestion on board.

Have you seen an umbrella machine yet?

Actually that sounds so awesome I think I'll do that next week. Thanks! :)

Yes, even used 1!

Now its that, and the electric toilets we need in the UK :D

Tell me about it. But can you get a Toto Washlet here? Pffft. Not for a reasonable price.