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JetLag RocknRoll: Tokyo Travel Guide

Legendary Tokyo rockers Seiji (Guitar Wolf), the 5.6.7.8’s, and Fifi (Teengenerate, Firestarter, the Tweezers) take you on a tour of their sprawling hometown, stepping off the beaten path to share their favorite restaurants, bars, record stores, clubs, and more. Map should appear at the end of the page but can also be accessed here.

DO

  • Step back in time at Asakusa, home to shrines, temples, and tasty food vendors. Stop by Marubell to browse their collection of photos of old Japanese movie stars (burobaido).
  • Experience a re-creation of old-timey Tokyo as well as countless bowls of ramen at Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum.
  • Stroll and eat your way through Yokohama Chinatown, the largest Chinatown in Japan.
  • Soak up the unique atmosphere of American military base towns such as Fussa.
  • Explore the dark, narrow paths of Harmonica Yokocho (Harmonica Street) and its warren of shops, bars, and restaurants.

EAT

  • Many different styles of ramen at the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum. Seiji recommends Sumire’s rich Hokkaido miso ramen in particular.
  • Soba and kakiage at Yabusoba in Kanda
  • Classic ramen, fried rice, and Chinese fare at Mintei in Shimokitazawa
  • DIY okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake/omelet) at Mari-ya in Kichijoji
  • Yakitori (skewers of grilled chicken) and other staples at Iseya in Kichijoji
  • No-frills ramen at Taiyo in Koenji

SHOP

  • Disk Union (specifically the branches at Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, and Kichijoji) for used and new records
  • Harajuku (unique clothing and accessories)
  • Shimokitazawa (clothing, novelty items, books, records)
  • Koenji (vintage clothing, books, records)
  • Nakano Broadway (manga, toys, clothing, cosplay accessories, records, guitars, antiques)

ROCK

DRINK

  • Ebisu in Nishi Ogikubo
  • Poor Cow in Shimokitazawa

FEATURED BAND PERFORMANCES (in order of appearance)

Guitar Wolf at Earthdom
Fifi & Boogie Hiroshi at Poor Cow
Fifi with The Fadeaways at UFO Club (courtesy of Yukiko Ono)
The 5.6.7.8’s at Shelter
Electric Eel Shock at Earthdom
Melt Banana at Shimokitazawa Basement Bar (courtesy of Pete Slovenly)
Cracks at Earthdom
Peter Pan Speedrock at Earthdom
The Fadeaways with Seiji Guitar Wolf at UFO Club (courtesy of Yukiko Ono)
Tina Lucchesi with Fink & The Thunderroads at Shelter
The Thunderroads at Shelter

At UFO Club

Toyozo of The Fadeaways with The Mellvins (courtesy of Atushi of Gorilla*/Pop’n’Roll Records)
Guitar Wolf (courtesy of Ameku)
The Fadeaways (courtesy of Yukiko Ono)
The Mellvins (courtesy of Yukiko Ono)

At Heavy Sick

Supersnazz
Eddie Legend A Go-Go
The Titans

At Poor Cow

Runaway Boys
The Sex

JetLag RocknRoll: San Francisco Travel Guide

San Francisco musicians Blag Dahlia (the Dwarves), Shayde Sartin (Sonny & the Sunsets, the Fresh & Onlys), and Sammy and Helene (the Okmoniks) take you on a rocknroll tour through San Francisco, sharing their favorite sights, restaurants, bars, record stores, clubs, and more. Respectively, they’ve lived in San Francisco for 30, 17, and 7 years.

DO

  • Step back in time with vintage arcade games and toothpick dioramas made by Alcatraz prisoners at Musée Mécanique (Pier 45), tucked amidst the touristy chaos of Fisherman’s Wharf.
  • Fill your pockets up with quarters for pinball-palooza at Free Gold Watch (1767 Waller Street), a silk-screening shop that’s home to dozens of machines.
  • Pull on your walking shoes and explore North Beach, Chinatown, the Mission, the Haight, the Richmond, the Sunset, and San Francisco’s other colorful neighborhoods.
  • Clamber around the ruins of the Sutro Baths (Point Lobos Ave) and dare to venture into the nearby Goonies– style cave.
  • Escape to the towering redwoods of Muir Woods (1 Muir Woods Road, Mill Valley).

EAT

  • Indian pizza at Zante Indian Pizza (3489 Mission Street)
  • Authentic German sausages, schnitzel, and more at Schmidt’s (2400 Folsom Street)
  • Organic California cuisine served until 1am at Nopa (560 Divisadero Street)
  • Artful sushi and Japanese fare at Tsunami (1306 Fulton Street)

SHOP

  • Thrillhouse Records (3422 Mission Street)
  • Rooky Ricardo’s (448 Haight Street)
  • Grooves (1797 Market Street)
  • Valencia Street (boutiques, bookstores, record stores)
  • Chinatown (souvenirs, firecrackers, novelty items)
  • Haight Street (vintage clothing, record stores, Loved to Death)

ROCK

DRINK

RECOMMENDED HOTEL

The stylish, mid-century Phoenix Hotel (601 Eddy Street) is where touring bands such as the Black Lips, Joan Jett, the Jesus & Mary Chain, and the Damned stay when they’re passing through town. The heated pool is a plus and often the focus of splashy events.

FEATURED BAND PERFORMANCES (in order of appearance)

The Dwarves at Thee Parkside, San Francisco
Sonny & the Sunsets at Midsummer Studios, Emeryville
The Fresh & Onlys at The Chapel, San Francisco
The Okmoniks at Hemlock Tavern, San Francisco / Stork Club, Oakland / Thee Parkside, San Francisco

At Hemlock Tavern

Ultimate Painting
The Teutonics
Hard Left
The Ogres

At The Knockout

Nobunny
Vicky & the Vengents
The Atom Age
DJ Daniel Segura
DJ Russell Quan

At Thee Parkside

Giuda
Davila 666
Traditional Fools
King Tuff
Personal & the Pizzas
Mean Jeans
The Rantouls

At Bottom of the Hill

Gooch Palms
Guantanamo Baywatch

Best East Bay Record Stores

East Bay musicians Shannon & the Clams, Tina Lucchesi (Trashwomen, Bobbyteens, Cyclops), and Jesse Townley (Blatz, Gr’ups, Criminals) share their favorite record stores in Oakland and Berkeley. Collectively, Shannon & the Clams have lived in Oakland for over 30 years, while Tina has called Oakland home for 15. Jesse has been a proud Berkeley resident for nearly three decades.

Did your favorite record store make this list? If not, what is it?

Top 4 East Bay Eats

East Bay musicians Shannon & the Clams, Tina Lucchesi (Trashwomen, Bobbyteens, Cyclops), and Jesse Townley (Blatz, Gr’ups, Criminals) share their favorite restaurants in Oakland and Berkeley. (Check out their other East Bay tips here.) Collectively, Shannon & the Clams have lived in Oakland for over 30 years, while Tina has called Oakland home for 15. Jesse has been a proud Berkeley resident for nearly three decades.

  • Japanese-style fried chicken and side dishes at Aburaya Japanese Fried Chicken (380 15th Street, Oakland)
  • Authentic Laos/Thai/Cambodian cuisine (Tina highly recommends the rice ball salad) at Champa Garden (2102 8th Avenue, Oakland)
  • No-frills diner food with some vegetarian options at Broom Bush Cafe (2725 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley)
  • “Honest, awesome, Mexican food” at Juan’s Place (941 Carleton Street, Berkeley)

What are some of your favorite East Bay eateries?

JetLag RocknRoll: East Bay Travel Guide

East Bay musicians Shannon & the Clams, Tina Lucchesi (Trashwomen, Bobbyteens, Cyclops), and Jesse Townley (Blatz, Gr’ups, Criminals) share their favorite haunts in Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Alameda, and Albany. Collectively, Shannon & the Clams have lived in Oakland for over 30 years, while Tina has called Oakland home for 15. Jesse has been a proud Berkeley resident for nearly three decades.

 

DO

  • Catch the panoramic view from Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science (1 Centennial Drive, Berkeley).
  • Explore the post-apocalyptic landscape of the Albany Bulb, aka Albany landfill (1 Buchanan Street, Albany).
  • Spend a day at the races with $1 beer and hot dogs at Golden Gate Fields (1100 Eastshore Highway, Berkeley).
  • Hike through redwoods and around a funeral pyre and pyramid at Joaquin Miller Park (3590 Sanborn Drive, Oakland).
  • Get lost in Tilden Park‘s 2,079 acres of natural beauty.
  • Catch a film at one of the East Bay’s many movie theaters (Grand Lake Theatre, New Parkway Theater).
  • Stroll around Lake Merritt to watch some peeps, pups, and ducks.
  • Tune in to UC Berkeley’s radio station KALX (90.7fm).
  • Tool around town on a bicycle.

 

EAT

  • Japanese-style fried chicken and side dishes at Aburaya Japanese Fried Chicken (380 15th Street, Oakland)
  • Authentic Laos/Thai/Cambodian cuisine (Tina highly recommends the rice ball salad) at Champa Garden (2102 8th Avenue, Oakland)
  • No-frills diner food with some vegetarian options at Broom Bush Cafe (2725 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley)
  • “Honest, awesome, Mexican food” at Juan’s Place (941 Carleton Street, Berkeley)

 

SHOP

 

ROCK

 

DRINK

 

FEATURED BAND PERFORMANCES (in order of appearance)

Shannon & the Clams at Starline Social Club, Oakland
Shannon & the Clams at Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
Tina Lucchesi with Thunderroads & Fink at Shelter, Tokyo
Cyclops at Shelter, Oakland
Cyclops at White Horse, Oakland
Blatz at 924 Gilman Street, Berkeley (footage courtesy of Shayne Stacy)

At 1-2-3-4 Go! Records, Oakland

Try the Pie
Radioactivity
Synthetic ID
California
All Dogs

Rule of Thirds at First Church of the Buzzard, Oakland (footage courtesy of Alejandro L. Flores)
Healers at Life Changing Ministry, Oakland (footage courtesy of Alejandro L. Flores)
Weather Warlock at The Church, Oakland (footage courtesy of Alejandro L. Flores)

At Stork Club, Oakland

The Shanghais
Little Queenie
Teenage Sex

At White Horse, Oakland

The Mantles
Swiftumz

At 924 Gilman Street

Melted!
Genuine Parts
Jakob Danger
Dinosaurs
The Side Eyes

Jello Biafra at Forbidden Island, Alameda