Advanced Search

Tags

Search
call 119 ! images

call 119 !

If you need to call ambulance in Japan remember you dial 119.You can call from your mobile but you need to explain where you are.The Japanese government recommend try to call from public pay phone.If you can't find pay phone near by, try to explain where is the landmark near you or go to the …(75 words)

yukorose image

yukorose

Ambulance
Convenience store solves all images

Convenience store solves all

If you find that at some point you have no more underwear in your luggage, or you forgot underwear altogether, never fear for there are easy solutions.My favorite convenience store, "Lawson 100" is a slightly different convenience store that can be likened more to an "all around" food store. Wi…(125 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Convenience store Lawson
after ambulance arrives... images

after ambulance arrives...

Getting the ambulance to come is just the first step. One is far from out of the woods once they arrive. It may be good to know what happens then as it is probably different than your home country. As I am from the U.S., where ambulances are generally very sophisticated, that is my orientation.…(426 words)

Bones image

Bones

Ambulance Tokyo History Taxicab Hospital
MUJI, Tokyu Hands, Loft images

MUJI, Tokyu Hands, Loft

You can buy disaster prevention goods at major lifestyle retail chains, such as Tokyu Hands, Loft and MUJI. http://www.tokyu-hands.co.jp/www.loft.co.jp/‎http://www.muji.net/Or you can even order them on Amazon Japan. http://www.amazon.co.jp/Highly recommend to purchase bottles of wa…(58 words)

Natchan image

Natchan

Tokyo Disaster
Place you can eat a Thanksgiving meal in Tokyo images

Place you can eat a Thanksgiving meal in Tokyo

You can have a Thanksgiving meal which is Turkey at Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo at Roppongi and Hard Rock Cafe Ueno-eki at JR Ueno station. They will probably serve the meal from Nov 15th to 30th.(36 words)

shinR image

shinR

Tokyo Roppongi Ueno Thanksgiving
Forgot to pack underwear! Go to Uniqlo! images

Forgot to pack underwear! Go to Uniqlo!

Any season, the place to go is Uniqlo - they have sizes for just about everyone now (didn't use to), and their stuff is basic, well made, reasonably priced, and simple enough to go with most peoples' styles. I have taken people there several times when they've arrived in Japan without a key piece …(90 words)

William Nealy image

William Nealy

Tokyo Uniqlo
You forgot to pack underwear?! images

You forgot to pack underwear?!

Uniqlo stores are everywhere, but in a real pinch, try the convenience stores. Many of the Family Mart's carry selected items from the Mujirushi (MUJI) line. I've picked up underwear, pajamas, and toothbrushes at convenience stores on many different occassions - the "konbini" saved me!(45 words)

Emmie image

Emmie

Convenience store Uniqlo
Hotels are pretty fair for exchange rates AND there are more ATM Options images

Hotels are pretty fair for exchange rates AND there are more ATM Options

Unlike in many countries, I feel that the hotel exchange rates in Tokyo are pretty fair and accurate. The best is to change money at the airport but if you need to change more later- then most of the large hotels can take care of your request (depending on currency) Also if you are using an interna…(108 words)

LShannon image

LShannon

Tokyo Hotel Airport Bank
This is not an unusual happening in Japan because there are many places to help you out images

This is not an unusual happening in Japan because there are many places to help you out

This problem can be easily solved by getting to any convenience store as they will have basic sizes (S, M, L, LL) and probably just white or black colors. If you are looking for more variety than it will be easy to find a Uniqlo clothing store which has a very good selection for men and women at af…(60 words)

JudithMikami image

JudithMikami

Convenience store Uniqlo
place to purchase devices or adaptor images

place to purchase devices or adaptor

Electric appliance shops in Akihabara is always good option. FYI:Yodobashi in Akihabara offers multi language assistant service. In case if you stay or bout to be at Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Shinagawa, their in house convenience store always has devices stocks.(42 words)

lenamum image

lenamum

Tokyo Hotel Convenience store Akihabara
Many wear mask to avoid pollen in Spring images

Many wear mask to avoid pollen in Spring

Some statistics shows that more than 30% of all Japanese are allergic to some kind of pollen. The most common allergen is cedar pollen. Due to massive plantation of cedar for the post-war recovery lumber demand, there are so many cedar trees in Japan that produces huge amount of pollen. Since avoid…(104 words)

taro image

taro

Surgical mask Medicine Spring
Here are 3 very important risk reduction advices when Tornado occure images

Here are 3 very important risk reduction advices when Tornado occure

* On September 2, 2013, a tornado caused extensive damage in a total 19km area from Saitama, Chiba and Ibaragi Prefecture just north of Tokyo. To be honest, I had no idea a tornado could be powerful enough to blow off a house….I cannot help but call for your attention after I went to the damaged re…(281 words)

totowatanabe image

totowatanabe

Tokyo Building Chiba Region Saitama Disaster
LOST IN TRANSLATION images

LOST IN TRANSLATION

You may feel physically lost but in a sense it's not just you.Even the people that know their way around feel lost.Going into Tokyo to find something larger.After a while many Japanese people feel that they are getting farther from why they came to the big city.One of the biggest cities…(124 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

Tokyo City
Multifunction Masks only in Japan images

Multifunction Masks only in Japan

Before coming to Japan, in my hometown Colorado I've never used or seen a mask.After coming to Japan I've seen many people using masks.During the Fall season.It's easy to catch a cold on a over packed train to work.Many use masks to reduce inhaling the breath of the person standing next t…(135 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

Train Surgical mask Spring Summer
Many convenient stores carry underwear and other just in case items images

Many convenient stores carry underwear and other just in case items

You will be surprised to find many convenient stores carry the various just in case items like underwear, shaving goods, shampoo sets and others. If you are in a pinch and have to spend a late night at the office or have checked into a hotel without amenities, a quick trip to the nearby convenient …(148 words)

Tomlin image

Tomlin

Train Hotel Convenience store Train station Trip
Seven Eleven (24 Hours) or Post Office (8am-8pm) images

Seven Eleven (24 Hours) or Post Office (8am-8pm)

Seven Eleven better if you need money in a pinch anytime of the day, otherwise the Post Office.(18 words)

Steve image

Steve

Tokyo Bank Post office
Go to the Koban (Police Box) images

Go to the Koban (Police Box)

The Police Box policemen will do their best to assist.(10 words)

Steve image

Steve

Tokyo Police
Christmas 2013 in Tokyo images

Christmas 2013 in Tokyo

Highly recommend the Tokyo Union Church in Omotesando for Christmas Eve Candlelight service, and maybe on Christmas day too! I think this year they might also have a special "Blue Christmas" classical concert on Dec 18th, with Ave Maria and other special music. Welcome!http://www.tokyounion.o…(48 words)

Yobochusha image

Yobochusha

Tokyo Music Concert Christmas
Tower Records, Shibuya images

Tower Records, Shibuya

I believe there are more outlets of Tower records other than the shibuya one.http://tower.jp/Shibuya one has a nice collection in the top floors. Magazines and books including a decent collection of business books. But lately I have moved to ebooks and suggest the same via amazon kindle app o…(64 words)

idivilayil image

idivilayil

Tokyo Shibuya
Maruzen in Marunouchi images

Maruzen in Marunouchi

Maruzen is one of the big bookstore chain with Kinokuniya.The one in Marunouchi is in Oazo building, 20 meters away from Tokyo station Marunouchi North exit. They have everything you would want: all kind of literature, and also a huge collection of art and science, including economics and b…(103 words)

Claire image

Claire

Tokyo Shopping Building Art Marunouchi Cuisine Literature
to protect yourself from other people's cold images

to protect yourself from other people's cold

Yes, as all the other sempais say, the masks are for protecting yourself from pollen, and to protect others from your your virus and cold.I think it is also a way to protect yourself from other people's virus and cold, when you feel weak. No Japanese people would admit this of course but it is …(189 words)

Claire image

Claire

Police Surgical mask
ohayo gozaimasu gives a sense of belonging images

ohayo gozaimasu gives a sense of belonging

Ohayo gozaimasu is what we usually say in the morning, before switching to konichiwa. But it is also used as a greeting among members of a community, or at the office, usually a community that will perform some tough job or sports together. It gives a sense of belonging. This ohayo gozaimas…(57 words)

Claire image

Claire

Sport Greeting
Do what the people around you do or ask you to do! images

Do what the people around you do or ask you to do!

Most of the time, there is nothing to do.When there is an earthquake that feels longer, stronger than normal, you can switch the radio on and listen to the information that they will give. You can also rely on internet meteo data to know where it did happen, if there is any risk of tsunami (if …(304 words)

Claire image

Claire

Drink Sport Shoes Earthquake Surgical mask Medicine
a boy/girlfriend and money; finger counting is also different images

a boy/girlfriend and money; finger counting is also different

when someone is talking about someone else's boy/girlfriend they might not say the wooooord, but use their little finger up. Easy to do, close your hand, fingers looking towards you and raise the little finger. Everyone will understand.Money. In Europe, we use the thumb and the forefinger in a …(327 words)

Claire image

Claire

Restaurant Coin
Kagami biraki: The opening of New Year's rice cakes images

Kagami biraki: The opening of New Year's rice cakes

Kagami biraki is the practice of eating the kagamimochi (round mirror-shaped rice cakes) that were offered to the gods. It is supposed to bring a sense of closure to Osyogatsu (New Year’s Holidays). Kagami biraki is to get power from the year gods to live happily for one year. For Kagami biraki, pe…(92 words)

OKAKI-sun image

OKAKI-sun

Holidays Mochi (Rice cake) New year
Japanese habits that you catch without noticing... images

Japanese habits that you catch without noticing...

With friends, we have created a list of Japanese habits that makes Japanese people soooo Japanese. The thing is, these habits rubs off on us too so, here's the diagnostic test (short version), hold on with me!You need to check the number of habits that you have.- you rush to get your train …(564 words)

Claire image

Claire

Train Summer Building Music Cherry blossom Taxicab Cherry Hair Surgical mask Kabuki
In Praise of Shadows images

In Praise of Shadows

Japan has raised lavatory facilities to a palatable topic. Hygiene is very important here, and of course, toilets should reflect your concern. Even if you are in the wildest place of Japan, in a rush, don't worry, you will always find a clean, hygienic, welcoming toilet. If you are in crowded area…(431 words)

Claire image

Claire

Tokyo Train Train station Hair Public toilet
nature airliner images

nature airliner

nature airliner emerged as a husband-and-wife folk duo in the summer of 2010, when Japanese photographer Eiko Hosaka Tiernan (vocals) and Canadian musician Laurier Tiernan (guitar) joined forces to start playing unplugged shows of Laurier's unreleased songs which suited Eiko's voice. The first sing…(183 words)

Laurier Tiernan image

Laurier Tiernan

Tokyo Summer Music Museum History Osaka Kansai Christmas Nature Playing
Show me your socks, and I'll tell if if you have a tear images

Show me your socks, and I'll tell if if you have a tear

When in Japan, there will be many occasions to take your shoes off:visiting a lab? take off your shoesa temple: off they goa Japanese restaurant: all shoes stay at the entranceJapanese people are socks freaks. They have all kind of colors and patterns. 5 fingers's socks, tabi-esque 2 fi…(149 words)

Claire image

Claire

Visit Shoes Slippers Restaurant
If you get sick in Japan... but not enough to go to the doctor images

If you get sick in Japan... but not enough to go to the doctor

Well, it can be a cold, a hangover, jetlag, ...There are plenty of pharmacies in Japan. The thing is, they do not always look like pharmacy. They usually sell a lot of different things that you do not expect to find in a pharmacy.Such as beauty product like shampoos, shavers, hair dying pro…(190 words)

Claire image

Claire

Beauty Medicine
Funny souvenirs from Japan images

Funny souvenirs from Japan

Yesterday, I was screening the cosmetics section of Zakka, the small beauty outlet inside Kyoto station and I found wonderful promises of beauty and youthfullness! These huuuuge sections, that you also find in Loft and Tokyu Hands like shops are wonderful. You spend 5 minutes there and underst…(387 words)

Claire image

Claire

Kyoto Beauty Cosmetics
Tissue Paper Advertising in Japan images

Tissue Paper Advertising in Japan

I am sure that you have seen the people around the train stations and other locations throughout many cities passing out small packs of tissue papers to nearby travelers.When offered, I usually take one from them for I feel bad since most people ignore them and will not take one. Especially dur…(258 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Train Spring Train station Flower Entertainment May Weather advertisement Japan Travel
Commuting during Rush Hour ! images

Commuting during Rush Hour !

Imagine you have to board your 7:45am train by hook or by crook (so you can arrive in office on schedule). Let's add to this imagination, images of japan train rush and getting shoved by polite train conductors without any apology. So how do you board train now, especially during mad rush on weekda…(303 words)

Samir Bodhe image

Samir Bodhe

Commuting Rush hour Railways Transportation Train Ticket Children May Railway platform good luck
Tourist Tip #2: Coin Lockers will Free Your Hands (and Mind) images

Tourist Tip #2: Coin Lockers will Free Your Hands (and Mind)

Imagine: your hands are full with bags and boxes of on-sale purchases and more. The only thing is, now you’re on your way to spend hours going temple hopping, and then finish with dinner at a recommended cozy restaurant. What are you going to do with all of those bags and boxes?Never fear, do w…(353 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Tourist Tip Coin Lockers Train station Shopping Dinner Japan Travel Luggage 100 Yen Coins Suica Pasmo
Japan: entirely another planet for advertisement images

Japan: entirely another planet for advertisement

If you are in Japan, you have seen it. It is everywhere. It is either fixed or mobile. Sometimes fixed in mobile environment like the handles in trains. I am talking about advertisement. For this, Japan is another planet. Well you do find the straightforward ones like beer or laundry powder…(274 words)

Claire image

Claire

advertisement
Nissan Global Headquarters images

Nissan Global Headquarters

If you like cars, then the Nissan Global Headquarters in Yokohama is well worth your time to visit. Entry is free and the showroom always has a number of Nissan and sometimes, if you are lucky, they will also have some Infiniti cars on display. Access is just a few minutes walk from Yokohama stat…(167 words)

Kevin image

Kevin

Yokohama Visit Walk Nissan Automobiles
Of course it's hot! images

Of course it's hot!

Look at a map or better, draw a horizontal line from East to West, at the level of Tokyo. What happens? You will notice that well, Tokyo, and even more Kyoto, are quite South. As South as Kabul, Beirouth, Sfax, Casablanca and Jacksonville, Austin ... And Japan, is an island, all surrounded by w…(549 words)

Claire image

Claire

Tokyo
How to Be Prepared for Rain in Japan images

How to Be Prepared for Rain in Japan

In my Hawaiian home, we get some type of rain in the morning or evening, the wind gusts strong and a Typhoon comes by every once-in-a-while, but the temperature is pretty much paradise year-round. I was 12 before I realized how each and every day’s weather can be such an exciting experience!My …(889 words)

 image

Rain Tokyo Train Yokohama Hotel Etiquette Art Sea Train station