Speaking of Japan...

[d000hg]

I am a whisky fan as it happens. I wonder if I can convince anyone else that's interesting

[WTFH]

1. Get a JR East pass (use the JNTO website to get to it, there are other sites which will try to sell you the same thing but charge you more). You need to buy that before you travel.
2. What part of Tokyo are you staying in?
3. Download google translate for your smartphone.
4. Shaba-shabu, Okonomyaki, Sukiyaki
5. Yamazaki 12.

[Old Greg]

We've just booked flights for a week in Tokyo in late February, visiting friends working there.

5 full days, our friends will be working during the day leaving us to explore. Any suggested itineraries... We know literally nothing about Japan or Tokyo or the geography or anything, a complete blank slate

Japan is a country in Asia and Tokyo is its capital city. I think you'll have a nice time.

[BlasterBates]

Another place yoiu can visit is Nikko.

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Nikko

Lots of pleasant hikes in the mountains and views of Mt Fuji.

[DaveB]

We've just booked flights for a week in Tokyo in late February, visiting friends working there.

5 full days, our friends will be working during the day leaving us to explore. Any suggested itineraries... We know literally nothing about Japan or Tokyo or the geography or anything, a complete blank slate

If you are feeling energetic then a day trip to hike Mt Fuji is worth the effort if the weather cooperates. About an hour from Tokyo by train and there are well maintained routes and busses to take you too the 5th climbing station if you don't want to hike all the way to the top.

If you are into technology, Anime, gadgets and Otaku culture in general then Akihabara is worth a visit, especially at night for the sheer impact of the neon and displays.

Otherwise just wandering around will keep you occupied for hours. On the surface Tokyo is just like any other big city, but it's also a deeply weird place for westerners and there is always something to see.

[quackhandle]

We've just booked flights for a week in Tokyo in late February, visiting friends working there.

5 full days, our friends will be working during the day leaving us to explore. Any suggested itineraries... We know literally nothing about Japan or Tokyo or the geography or anything, a complete blank slate

Not sure if you have time but l travelled around Japan with a rail pass from JNTO. They are only for tourists, could use the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) and it was free for the Yamanote line which loops around Tokyo. Saved a fortune on underground costs. Kyoto worth a visit. Plenty of shrines around Tokyo.

qh

[d000hg]

We've just booked flights for a week in Tokyo in late February, visiting friends working there.

5 full days, our friends will be working during the day leaving us to explore. Any suggested itineraries... We know literally nothing about Japan or Tokyo or the geography or anything, a complete blank slate