Tsukiji fish market. Perfect destination for jet-lagged tourists.

tsukiji-market.or.jp/youkoso/…24hours.htm

Subway/train schedule/planner: www.hyperdia.com and click on English

Most sushi restaurants at the Tsukiji market start opening at 5:00. One "western" restaurant opens at 3, another two at 4. (as per official printed map in Japanese, http://www.tsukijigourmet.or.jp/list.htm )

Yes, Tsukuji is a good option. You could always take a nice stroll around Ueno park, Shinobazu pond area must be beautiful at that hour!

As for food, if you don't find an open restaurant, just look for a conbini (convenience store) like AM/PM or Family Mart. These are typically open 24/7 and will feature a world of things you can snack on, like o-ni-giri (rice balls) or nikuman (steamed pork buns). But if you're going to do a picnic, be prepared to carry your trash afterwards because garbage cans are difficult to find in Tokyo (even in parks).

Other notes: subway starts at 5 a.m. I think. For more subway details check: http://www.tokyometro.jp/global/en/index.html

For an exact best route, click the Tokyo Transfer Guide button half way down the right hand side of the Metro site (the hyperdia link given by bimbimbob, while a great resource, is only for trains, not the metro).

Enjoy!

Thanks for the ideas.

Yes, it does look like subways don't open until about 5 AM.

I wake up the same time my first morning in Tokyo. I usually hit the bakery or convenience store when I get in the night before. I bring a Melitta filter and pick up coffee; most hotel rooms have an electric kettle.

Much of Tokyo is surprisingly quiet before 7 am or so. I like wandering the neighborhoods and side streets while waiting for the city to wake up.

Have just come back from Tokyo. We stayed in Ueno also - great position... very central and lots of good places to eat. We went to the fish market on the first morning - caught the train from Ueno station straight there - it's easy. Once you get out of the station there are maps to show you exactly where to go. Don't get caught up in the shops outside the market - head straight in and visit the shops on your way back or else you'll miss out on the action. You can still see the tuna auctions - they have a public viewing area. It is true what they say about visitors not being welcome though - get in the way and you'll know about it!

There is a great bakery at Ueno station called Andersons - plenty to choose from at great prices. Don't think it is open quite so early though!

I personally thought the restaurants around the fish market were expensive and some of them were clearly not interested in serving tourists - we didn't feel welcome and decided that we'd cut our losses and find somewhere else to eat.

We walked from the fish market back up to Ginza, found a coffee shop for breakfast and then had a look around but found nothing open. We then decided to head back to Ueno and walk around the garden there for a bit - beautiful and worth a walk...

Make sure you take in Ameyoko - it's a low-price shopping district that runs along a number of streets from JR Ueno Station to Okachimachi Station. You'll find some great stalls there - food stalls, little restaurants, snack bars etc. It's very lively and a great place to sit and people watch over a beer and some edamame. Have fun!

Many Denny’s, Jonathan’s and a very few Coco’s restaurants open for 24 hours. However, they may not be located near your hotel. If you are hungry, try to find a “Combini”, convenience store, near your hotel. It should be open for 24 hours. Macs in town opens at 6:30.

BTW: I woke up earlier today even though I dont have jet-lag. No early bird benefit!

We are in Toyko now.

There are a couple of 7/11's and AM/PM type stores in the area of our hotel between Nippori and Sendagi stations. We now pick up some pasteries at one of the many bakeries during the day to tie us over with the tea/coffee in our room early in the morning.

The first morning we were here we left our hotel at about 4 AM after waking between 2-3 AM. We found out Sendagi Station won't open 'til 5:30 AM so we flagged down one of the many taxis on the street to go to Tsukiji fish market. The cab fare was 2870 yen from Sendagi.

There is one 24hour Denny’s on Kototoi Street in between Nezu and Uguisudani stations, may be located at 1/4 mi south of your hotel, near Tokyo Universities of Arts.

Yes, walking is good for killing your jetlag. I walk the bay shore walkway near San Francisco A/P.

Have nice days in Tokyo.