Tokyo Travel Forum

I will be travelling to Tokyo and its surrounds in 2 weeks' time, between 8 - 15 June 08.

- What will be the climate like during this period in terms of temperature and rainfall? Will a light windbreaker or jacket be necessary?

- I would like to shop for children's toys for my nephews and nieces ( robots, legos, barbie and stuff) at affordable prices. Will be staying at a hotel in Shinagawa and travelling to Ueno, Shibuya,Shinjuku. Where will be the best concentration of good toy shops be?

- I would also like to shop for jewelleries for my mother( who particularly like ornamental pearls and stones). Where will be the shops which I can purchase genuine ones and at affordable prices?

- Will be spending about 1.5 days at Hakone. What will be the must-see around there?

Thanks.

The weather will be showery, with a possibility of heavier rain and strong winds. It will be warm and humid though, so you won't be cold.

Toys, you need the famous Kiddy land in Harajuku: (it's the FAO Swartz of Japan)
http://www.kiddyland.co.jp/en/about.html
http://www.kiddyland.co.jp/en/images/hara_map_640.gif
...otherwise you will need to head to the department stores deep in the burbs.

For pearls there can only be one choice:
http://www.mikimoto.com/

Good suggestions here:

www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html.?0+6336

akihabara is a great stop for action figures, robots and all electronics
major departments have pearls-exquisitely expensive!