This page includes a guide to traveling in Tokyo.  I hope to include other notes at a later time.  If you have hints and tip for travel, especially for the business woman, please send them to me to include. 

I have been lucky to travel to Tokyo 5 times; my first trip was July, 1995, and my last was February 1998.  I did not enjoy it the first time.  I started to enjoy it the second time and now that I may not go back - I am really going to miss it.  If you get the chance to go - I highly recommend it.  It is a very expense place to visit, so business travel may be the only way that you see it and it is not to be missed.  You will enjoy it if you like food, shopping and/or exciting cities.  All you need to enjoy it is a little preparation.  Oh and I don't speak a word (well, maybe 5 words) of Japanese.

<-- Bride being prepared for portrait.

The law requires that your passport is valid for 6 months or more.  If your passport expires in less than 6 months from your date of your return, you need to renew.  Allow several weeks for this or plan to pay for expedite service ($100 - $200).

>Weather in Asia<.  You can always plan on rain - and sometimes snow.  It does get cold in the winter!

After years of travel, I have learned to study before I leave.  It is very important to understand business and social customs for you to be successful.  You must know for instance:  how to exchange business cards, how women are perceived, and proper dinner courtesies.  Even if you are not planning to do any personal travel, you will enjoy your stay so much more if you know something about the city/country you are visiting.  If you have never been to Japan, get a book on Japan or better - on your destination city - you will really enjoy it more.  And check the internet for information, including up-to-date restaurant guides and other timely information. Books I have used and highly recommend:
Tokyo, a Lonely Planet City Guide, Chris Taylor - I carried it everywhere - it is the best! 
Japan, a Lonely Planet travel survival kit, Chris Taylor, et.al.,  - comprehensive.
>Amazon.com<

Special Note:  If you have business cards, bring plenty of them.  If you do not, have some printed!

The other trips I was at the New Otani Hotel in Tokyo.  It is a wonderful hotel.  Rooms start at about Y25,000.  There are perhaps 20 restaurants, shopping and easy access to the rest of the city.  Apply for the New Otani Club - fax the New Otani right away and ask for information about this.  Breakfast buffet is about Y2,400 without the Club card; for members it's included in the room rate, along with discounts at many of the hotel restaurants.  Fax: (03) 3221-2619.

If it is not convienent or you can't stay at the New Otani, be sure and study the guides and book you can find and ask others for recommendations.  Your hosts in Japan will likely be most helpful in making a recommendadtion, as well.  Do not stay at a purely Japanese style hotel unless you know fully what you are getting into.

z EVERYDAY THINGS
Wear very comfortable shoes.  You will be walking more than the usual workday.  Taking a taxi is a last resort in my book.  I have had very bad luck with Tokyo taxi's.  The taxies are clean and very much like any big city taxis.  But, it is such a large city, no one taxi driver knows the whole city.  If you don't know how to get to where you are going, don't count on the taxi driver knowing.  The drivers also almost all smoke.  So the taxies are full of cigarette smoke and smell.

If you are not used to subways, keep in mind that you are not only walking more, but you are also carrying more.  You won't have the back seat of a car to throw everything into.  You are self-contained.  Bring amble bags, briefcases and/or backpacks.  Don't carry more than you have to.  Always carry, at a minimum:  your passport, the address of your hotel, the subway map and some cash.  Tokyo is very safe - you won't be robbed, but you might lose something - so fewer bags to keep track of is better.

Laundry is very very expensive at the Hotel.  It's cheaper to buy (in the states) new underwear.  So pack smart, but pack plenty of clothes.  Check your company's policy on paying for laundry before you leave.

It  is common to have no towels in the rest rooms (disposable or otherwise).  If you are so inclined, you might want to bring a handkerchief to dry your hands.  You will also find a handkerchief handy in the hot tropical weather.  Japanese carry lovely little terry cloth towels.  You can buy them in variety or department stores.  They also have available many many handkerchief - worth stocking up for taking back home.  I found once I started carrying one, I liked it.

Personal Space   This is a foreign concept in public Tokyo.  We're talkin’ 15 people in an elevator that in USA you would put 7 people.  There is truly a knack to walking on the street as well.  I finally did learn to do it without feeling like I was walking an obstacle course, but I can't say how I did it.  There are simply a lot of people in a very small space.  

Most restaurants do not have a non-smoking section.  You will find cigarette smoking most everywhere, including indoor shopping malls.  For non-smokers this can be very uncomfortable.

For Dinner, there is every kind of restaurant in Tokyo.  Dinner in and around Tokyo costs about Y3,000 - Y7,000 for native or casual dining.  Dinner can cost MUCH more.  A steak dinner (American style) is about Y18,000.  A fancy Japanese meal (tempura/sashimi) can run Y15,000 and higher.  A French meal (i.e., Maxim's) will run Y20,000 or more. Lunch at our work cafeteria was about Y500.  They do have snack foods also (western style - cookies, candies, soda) at most locations.  Breakfast at our hotel was ample and international.  It was included in our room rate - good thing, as it was Y2700.  Remember, its easier in a big group to divide up the bill when we all have cash.
Restaurants:
Best Italian at reasonable prices:  Baby Face. In Ginza - take the Ginza Line to Ginza station.  Exit B3 onto Ginza West 5th.  About 1 block away from the main street on the right, look for a sign, its on the 4th floor (“4F”).
Others to try - try a “garlic restaurant” - they usually serve cuisine from all countries (mostly Asian) with the focus on garlic.  Some “garlic restaurants” are actually Korean restaurants.  Still very good, just all Korean dishes.
For the most restaurants per square meter - go to Rappongi.  Rappongi also has the most anglos, sailors and hustlers per square meter - but I wouldn't miss it.
Whether you are staying at the New Otani or another hotel, I recommend these restaurants at he New Otani Tokyo:
The Blue Sky (Chinese Buffet).  It is a rotating restaurant and has a lovely view of that end of the city.  The buffet in the Tower Grill is also lovely and mostly Western food (if you get tired of fish).
For a Business breakfast or lunch try the Garden Lounge (with the view of the famous garden).  It is also wonderful for late evening dessert (primo!) and live jazz (or other live instrumental).  For Tempura:  Horikawa - on the lobby floor and the arcade floor of the New Otani.  Good tempera at reasonable prices (
 

Many of the stations in Tokyo have English character signs.  It is easy to get to know the system.  Red means express, is one thing you learn.  When you arrive at the station - check the subway map you carry everywhere, see what the terminal station is for the line you want.  That is how you tell which line to get on.  For instance - are you going in the Ginza-Asakusa direction or the Ginza-Shibuya direction?  You'll also get to know the colors - even after a year I remember - Ginza is gold and Hanzomon is purple.  Just follow the colors.  All stations have easy to make out sign and maps.  Each station also has more than one exit/entrance.  Make a note of what entrance/exit you use - THIS IS IMPORTANT.  Some stations have 12-15 exits.

Don't be afraid to ask for help.  While most of the subway workers don't speak English, most of the passengers do - especially the young (<40) people.  They are usually very pleased to help.

Take a taxi from your hotel to TCAT approximately 3 hours before your flight.  Do not arrive too early.  The airlines will not check your baggage at the airline counter more than (about) 2 1/2 hours before your flight due to security considerations.  The Airline counters are on the first floor.  After you finish at the airline counter, go upstairs, buy your bus ticket and Airport Tax.  At the bus lounge you can go through Passport Check.  This will allow you to go to the “Blue Sticker” line at the airport - saving you time.

Now just sit back and relax.  You're on your way home.