Yaikagashi (burn and smell) at Setsubun
On Setsubun day (February 3rd), there is a culture to make "Yaikagashi" (a holly sprig with a baked sardine's head). Japanese people have a time-honored custom of putting this "Yaikagashi"at their door on Setsubun (the traditional end of winter) to ward off evil spirits. They may look a little bit …(73 words)
OKAKI-sun
Winter Setsubun
What do do on a rainy day in Tokyo
It always feels like such a waste when it is grey and rainy for an entire weekend.So, what DOES one do on a rainy afternoon in Tokyo or Yokohama?Go to the spa, of course!There are several to choose from, depending on your location. LaQua in Tokyo, EAS and Manyo in Yokohama, Oedo Onsen M…(147 words)
Chiara
Tokyo spa Yokohama Onsen Chiba
Tokyo Primary Care - 'where all three words ring true 'Tokyo - Primary - Care'
Tokyo Primary Care is the brainchild of Dr Joe Kurosu M.D, and his clinic is a top rank medical international clinic "providing primary care services to the local and foreign resident communities" that truly lives up to it's name. The "Tokyo" you may have heard of and be quite familiar with, and ev…(698 words)
Andrew Grimes
Tokyo Building Flower Shimokitazawa Hospital Doctor Pharmacy Mothers and Children Clinic Clinic Medications
Sites and Sounds of Japan - the Used Goods Truck
Oct. 13, 2014http://youtu.be/jJvXx1eqI7QAs you wander around Tokyo you may see some little trucks driving very slowly along the street with a very loud announcement, and perhaps a bit of music, emanating from a loudspeaker system attached to the truck.Look at the truck and if you see ol…(296 words)
Joe Peters
Sounds Truck Tokyo Traditional
Turkey Day Tokyo Style!
Many restaurants do Thanksgiving specials now- a big change from just 10 years ago! I must admit that I am biased. I own a small restaurant called "Kimono wine and grill" which is a euro american bistro. We do an Awesome Thanksgiving! truly one of the best and most affordable here in Tokyo. We do o…(128 words)
LShannon
Kimono Restaurant Roppongi Thanksgiving Tokyo Wine
Go to Shinjuku Kinokuniya Bookstore at TimesSquare
I guess Kinokuniya at Shinjuku TimesSquare offers the widest range of selection in terms of English books. Magazines, hardcovers, paperbacks, even Mangas in English, you name it! It is on the 6th floor and can be easily accessed from Shinjuku station. It even often holds English book sale which is …(71 words)
taro
Tokyo Shinjuku
The Easiest Place is a 7-11 Convenience Store
Several times I have been asked, "Where can I get money from my overseas bank account?" And I have replied, "Go to a 7-11." The look I usually get is one of confusion. 7-11 is a convenience store, not a bank. Yes, that's true but it is honestly the fastest most convenient way to get cash from overs…(102 words)
Nate
Tokyo Convenience store Bank
Online is a good option but if you wish to have the touch and feel experience and browse physically..
Kinokuniya in Shinjuku has been popular for such but other large book stores, like Maruzen in Marunouchi, also have sections on English books of varying sizes.(26 words)
Sanjeev Sinha
Tokyo Shinjuku Marunouchi
Tokyo guide books
Your best bet is either at a bookstore in your home country before you leave or using resources on the Internet.If you get to Japan without a guide, there are several other options: The airports (Narita and/or Haneda) have English language book stores and there are a number of stores in the city …(122 words)
jdlawrence
Tokyo City Yokohama Shinjuku
HoneyBaked Ham also available from fall 2013.
I did just learn that HoneyBaked Ham (available only in US) will also begin selling in Japan this coming fall. www.honeybaked.co.jp.(24 words)
JiyugaokaPaul
Tokyo
Black or Dark Suits/Dresses
If you are in Japan during a funeral, a dark suit should be worn for men, along with a black tie. Very inexpensive black ties can be found for men in most men's clothing stores and department stores. For women, black or dark dresses.(44 words)
Sweet42.195
Department store Funeral
Feel Lost all the time
If you know your way around in Tokyo you must not be new here.I go to Tokyo many times but always feel lost in all the people.People are busy in Tokyo but if you ask people will stop for a few seconds to tell you the way.Open up and don't think Tokyo will be like the Big Apple.(61 words)
Yuuki I
Tokyo Apple
The wait sweetens the drink
Timing is everything when toasting in Japan. The toast is the official start to the party, rather than simply an acknowledgement of something or someone. Parties in Japan tend to be well-planned, and often the “wonderful and lucky opportunity” for everyone to be gathered despite busy schedules, etc…(136 words)
KurtisW
Etiquette Drink Event Toast
Main idea first
Using English with non-native speakers has its own general rules to follow, but I have found some decent techniques when needing to be understood in English in Japan. Japanese is a subject-initial language like English, but in many cases, the object of English could very easily be the subject in Ja…(146 words)
KurtisW
Train Ramen noodles Bus
Name Drop
Usually when I meet Japanese people, even though I speak Japanese, they may be hesitant to properly introduce themselves to me, particularly if it is a group with multiple people and one distinct leader, or connection between my group and theirs. One thing I try and make a point of is coming across…(200 words)
KurtisW
Etiquette Nature
An honest thank you!
In Japan, it may not be quite as common for strangers to help each other for no reason, but as a traveler, you will find that people in general are willing to help you with this or that, particularly if you express to them that you need help with something. Just asking someone for directions may le…(173 words)
KurtisW
Train Phrase
No reply necessary
One thing to point out, which may not be terribly important except in saving you some confused looks, is when you walk into a store, employees will greet you with a special phrase: “Irashaimase” (E-ra-shai-ma-se). This is the universal greeting that store owners and employees use toward customers t…(118 words)
KurtisW
Greeting Phrase
Japan Festivals for December and January.
There would be opportunities to join a community Mochi-zuki making event at the annual year-end/year-beginning season (in Japanese it is called Nen-matsu, Nen-sho). Please ask the hotel concierge or someone who speaks English where your City office is. Then, you can go over to the City office and i…(130 words)
Japan
Event
Mochi (Rice cake)
New year
Japanese food
Japanese Culture
City
Hotel
English
Train stations, convenient stores and book stores are few places where you can get maps & guidebooks
You can get a subway / train map at any train station. They are kept there - and could be in Japanese. You can ask for a English one.You can also find road maps in any of the convenient stores. But they might be in Japanese. Then there are book stores like Yurindo - Kinokuniya etc where you can c…(135 words)
suku
Train Train station Tokyo Subway
Key is to greet in Japanese and with a sincere humble intent
Japanese greet often amongst themselves though it is not like in US or other countries where even if you dont know anybody people say "Hey hello - whats up" or something. But typically there are daily greetings like Good Morning (Ohayo Gozaimasu) or Good Night (Oyasumi Nasai) etc. - which perhaps…(281 words)
suku
Greeting
Taxi, Business hotels, Manga kissa (Internet comic cafe) are some options where you can spend night
If you miss the train - which happens many times then there are couple of options.. 1. If you are closeby your hotel or place of stay then you can take a cab. After 11, the cab will charge an extra 10-15% depending on if it is a company taxi or personal /private taxi (you will find this mark when…(283 words)
suku
Manga Taxicab Train Hotel Coffee Bicycle Earthquake Comic cafe
The Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park
I recommend to join "Tokyo earthquake simulation seventy-two hours tour" at the facility in Odaiba waterfront area.http://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/showa/tokyorinkai/english/72h/1f.htm(29 words)
ko
Tokyo Park Odaiba Earthquake Disaster
About toasting in Japan
Usually at formal occassions (a work-related party, wedding, etc.), the head person of the group / company / school (if a wedding, someone close to the bride or groom) will be asked to give a short speech and the toast. When that person calls "Kampai!" and raises their glass, everyone else will do…(77 words)
Andrea Miyata
Toast
Appropriate attire for funerals
Everyone in Japan wears black for funerals. For men, this consists of a black suit (no pattern or design), white button-up shirt, black shoes (with no ornamentation), and a black necktie. For women, this consists of either a black suit (skirt or slacks with a jacket) and a black blouse, or a blac…(155 words)
Andrea Miyata
Department store Shoes
Turning in lost items
If you find a lost item in a train or train station, turn the item in to a station employee or at the lost-and-found / information counter.If you find an item worth any kind of value (monetary or otherwise) on the street, you should take the item to the nearest police station. The officer in c…(216 words)
Andrea Miyata
Train Police Train station Hair
Try McDonald's and Starubucks
I've seen some McDonald's equipped with free AC outlets. The one in Yoyogi has a counter with ac outlets per seat. Also some Starbucks have free ACs. Newer Shinkansen (bullet train) also has AC outlets per seat so you can use your laptop all throughout your journey to Kyoto!(49 words)
taro
Tokyo Train Kyoto Shinkansen Bullet Train
Lost without Translation
Don't worry, in most places in Tokyo, you're not far from someplace easy to navigate. Try asking anyone you meet. Some people may say they can't speak English, but they should be able to direct you to the nearest train station, or "eki." If not, ask for the nearest "koban." The police boxes are…(96 words)
mikekato
Tokyo Train Police Train station
Check the vicinity
It is not as though earthquakes are constantly happening in Japan, it is just that they are more frequent statistically. Being slightly more aware and prepared is thus advisable, but the precautions don't need to be excessive. One thing however to keep in mind is where you will go in the event of a…(142 words)
KurtisW
Tokyo Event Earthquake Zone
Used: "Good Day Books" in Gotanda/ New: "MARUZEN" in Otemachi
If you would like to buy a used English book, I recommend "Good Day Books" in Gotanda which is 15 minutes from Tokyo station on the Yamanote line. This book shop has various kinds of books. Check the map:http://www.gooddaybooks.com/contents/home/new_location?language=englishIf you would like …(92 words)
makiko715
Tokyo Marunouchi
Please speak clearly and simply
I recommend you speak English clearly and simply. Japanese people studied English in junior high and high school. We don't understand idioms very well - I don't know the meaning of " foot the bill." So please use simple words and short sentences for us like I do to talk to non-Japanese people study…(56 words)
makiko715
Smile! :)
Smiling is the most important thing you can do when you meet Japanese people. If you know some Japanese greetings like “Ohayou,” and “Kon-nichiwa,” you can use these words for the beginning of conversations. When Japanese people know you try to speak the Japanese language, they feel happy and comfo…(59 words)
makiko715
Etiquette Conversations
Go to a "dagashiya" to buy some souvenirs!
Other than donating the change to a local or national charity, I recommend going to a dagashiya and buying candies and other sweets for your friends and family back home. Japanese sweets are incomparable to those of other countries due to its creativity and variety. Perhaps you should avoid stickin…(101 words)
RieS
Rice cracker
Keep your attire dark
Some women may wear a dark colored kimono but recently I've noticed that most women wear a black formal dress. Men wear a dark suit with a white shirt and a black tie.(33 words)
Kenji
Kimono
Look up TV antennas
Look up TV antennas on houses and buildings to check placement of short elements. When you are in Tokyo 23 ward, it is normally pointed toward Tokyo Sky Tree or North East of Tokyo. For example, in case of the attached photo, the antenna is beaming toward the left.(48 words)
Asiantiger
Tokyo
Tullys or Starbucks
Some Tullys or Starbucks coffee shops provide AC power. They do have WiFi also but normally you have to subsribe to Japanese telecom subscribers to use.(26 words)
Asiantiger
Tokyo Coffee
JP (Japan Post) or Citibank ATM normally accept foreign cards
JP (Japan Post) or Citibank ATM normally accept debit and credit cards issued overseas. JP ATM can be found even in rural Japan.(23 words)
Asiantiger
Tokyo Bank
Mochi-tsuki events
The rice cake making is carried out in a shrine,temple and a martial arts school, local community from about Decenber20 through around January 15.However, it is not often performed on December 29. This is because there is the jinx that a Japanese avoids a day to arrive of 4 and 9.Most of th…(121 words)
FRITZ
Soy sauce Event Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Mochi (Rice cake)
It depends on the hospital
Japan has public and private specialist and general hospitals. There are also quite a few public and private clinics. Your medical need may influence your choice.All hospitals require initial registration at which time a card will be made for you. If you don't have Japanese health insurance you…(76 words)
Kenji
Hospital
Use it in spurts
You can use English as a tourist in Japan. Just speak clearly and smoothly without running your words together.(19 words)
Kenji