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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
Fujino Art Walk images

Fujino Art Walk

Fujino station, which is a bit far west from Tokyo, is a very cool starting point to some walking courses lined with modern art from local artists. Fujino has actually been considered an "artist town" since the end of WWII, and although is somewhat struggling in the modern day, the public art remai…(126 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Art Tokyo Train
Check out One day ticket! images

Check out One day ticket!

Almost every train companies offer some sort of one day tickect. Train ride in Tokyo can cost a lot if you get on a lot of different lines to look around. I recommend to look for an information about one day ticket if you plan to spend a day by train. It can save you a lot of money.For example…(82 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Tokyo Train Ticket
Looking for a great location outside of Tokyo? Kichijoji is Great! images

Looking for a great location outside of Tokyo? Kichijoji is Great!

Staying for more than a few days in Central Tokyo can be a drain, both on the wallet and the mind. There are other cities that don't sleep, but there are few cities in the world that remain as bustling and wide awake 24-7-365 as Tokyo.While both the Imperial Palace grounds - Kokyo - and Yoyogi…(437 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Art Bus City Music Park Shibuya Shinjuku Shopping Tokyo Train
Getting a seat on a crowded train & Offering your seat images

Getting a seat on a crowded train & Offering your seat

Generally speaking, Japanese are very oriented on getting a seat on the train, as this is an opportunity to get some much-needed sleep! So, what will more often than not happen is people will generally try to avoid giving up a seat for someone who needs it. Offering a seat although it is done b…(148 words)

Steve image

Steve

Train Etiquette Transportation
Travel Travails & Coupons images

Travel Travails & Coupons

Actually, travel coupons are few are far between in Tokyo. You can see coupons for hotel discounts if you are signed up for Groupon Japan, or Ponpare (like Groupon), but you'll have to be able to read Japanese or use the Google translate function on your browser to get a fair idea of what the coupo…(180 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Tokyo Train Hotel Subway
Recommendations - How to spend your extended stay in Tokyo images

Recommendations - How to spend your extended stay in Tokyo

If you are staying by yourself then suggest to sleep over at a local Capsule hotel. Capsule hotels are unique invention of japan namely for the weary office workers ("salarymen") who travel long distances daily or for those looking for a cheaper and cleaner alternative for a good night`s sleep. If …(292 words)

Samir Bodhe image

Samir Bodhe

Tokyo Train Hotel Ticket Kyoto Onsen Subway Hiking Nara Capsule hotel
Graze the department stores images

Graze the department stores

In the B1 of most department stores there are amazing prepared foods, breads, snacks, bento boxes, great to eat in a hurry OR to take home for a high quality already cooked meat. The Isetan in Shinjuku has one of the best b1 food areas in Tokyo, Also LOVE the one in the new Daimaru building in …(77 words)

LShannon image

LShannon

Tokyo Train Shinjuku Building Department store Bento (box meal) Isetan Daimaru
Can Coffee images

Can Coffee

Coffee, anywhere and everywhere, to get you through another day in Tokyo. It's very rare however to see someone walking around with a coffee cup with a lid, such as one you may get at a coffee shop. There is no shortage however of coffee in small aluminum cans that can be bought at basically an…(132 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Tokyo Train Coffee
Tokyu Store images

Tokyu Store

And yes that's Tokyu, not Tokyo. The Tokyu is a train corporation which extends itself to many different economic areas, such as grocery stores and real estate.The Tokyu store is a high quality grocery store, but not entirely limited to expensive items. It is a typical store with all the regula…(145 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Tokyo Train Soy sauce Beer Wine
A Few International Supermarkets and other places to shop images

A Few International Supermarkets and other places to shop

There are a few international supermarkets located around Tokyo. Some of the better known markets are:1. National Azabu, located close to Hiroo subway station (Hibiya Line). See the website: http://www.national-azabu.com/e_index2.php2. Meiji-ya (Meida-ya) has a few locations around Tokyo an…(393 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Tokyo Train Shopping Convenience store Coffee Wine Subway Flower Isetan Japanese style shopping arcade
Myoko Kogen images

Myoko Kogen

I recommend Myoko Kogen in Niigata. It is not on a shinkansen (bullet train) line so it is a lot less busy to other more famous ski resorts on the shinkansen lines. You can read more about Myoko Kogen here (http://myokokogen.net/resorts/suginohara/)If you prefer nice powder snow, I recommend …(76 words)

Jase image

Jase

Train Shinkansen Bullet Train Hokkaido Niigata Skiing Snow Snowboarding
Snow in the Weather Forecast? Here is a collection of spots for skiing and snowboarding images

Snow in the Weather Forecast? Here is a collection of spots for skiing and snowboarding

A friend of mine had a collection of links and reccommended spots.Madarao Sanpatekku and/or Madarao KogenThese are places in Nagano prefecture. The price is reasonable and they have nice ski slopes, hotel and onsens. Distance is around 300km from Tokyo area. The Itinerary with night bus w…(492 words)

Biju Paul image

Biju Paul

Skiing Bus Holidays Hotel Mountain Nagano Shinjuku Ticket Tokyo Train
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
Day Trekking at Mt. Takao images

Day Trekking at Mt. Takao

At 599 meters, or just under 2,000 feet, Mount Takao - Takaozan in Japanese - isn't an especially high mountain. However, with over half a dozen trails leading to the top, in addition to a cable car and chair lift that goes about halfway to the summit, Takaozan offers a great place for a day outing…(822 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Takao Tokyo Train Restaurant Shinjuku Trip Soba noodles Jinjya (Shrine) Shoes Mountain
The Plum Blossoms are the tough guys... images

The Plum Blossoms are the tough guys...

People think of Japan and many think of Cherry Blossoms first. Actually Apricot and Plum Blossoms are the tough guys, they push past the snow, they stand firm in rainstorms and endure the rainstorms... Posting this photo was inspired by a kind Facebook Friend who had spotted the early plum blos…(317 words)

Andrew Grimes image

Andrew Grimes

Tokyo Train Park Shinjuku Sushi Cherry blossom Cherry Flower Spring Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
Wifi images

Wifi

On the Tokyo Metro lines (Marunouchi, Hibiya, Fukutoshin, Hanzomon, Tozai, Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Nanboku), there is Metro Free Wifi.On the Toei Subways, it is not availableThe service is OK if you happen to be outside the train, as the Wifi access points are generally located at the station thems…(138 words)

Steve image

Steve

Wi-Fi Tokyo Train Internet
Enospa Sojourn Part 2: “To Enoshima Island Spa: a breathe of scented airs” images

Enospa Sojourn Part 2: “To Enoshima Island Spa: a breathe of scented airs”

The whole of Enoshima Island Spa has been designed in a curvature minded sense. No straight lines or stiff rectangular changing rooms to re-activate traumatic schooldays memories. Quite the contrary, all the corridors and four floors of Enoshima Island Spa (nicknamed "Enospa") you follow a flowing …(472 words)

Andrew Grimes image

Andrew Grimes

Enoshima Island spa Tokyo Train Shinjuku Sea English Express train Pool
Enospa Sojourn Part 1: “Far from the madding Tokyo crowd at Enoshima Island Spa” images

Enospa Sojourn Part 1: “Far from the madding Tokyo crowd at Enoshima Island Spa”

Some days, even on one of those lovely sunny mid-winter days that Tokyo is often blessed with, it can still feel too close and up in your face to contemplate another day of stress and strain in the maddening Tokyo streets. When you feel like that, especially when mulling over your first cappucc…(359 words)

Andrew Grimes image

Andrew Grimes

Tokyo Enoshima Island spa Train Shinjuku Sea English Express train
I did it! I have found the proof of the existance of incivility in Japan! images

I did it! I have found the proof of the existance of incivility in Japan!

Have you ever wondered how they do it to keep their cities and public space so spic and span clean? I do. Every day I walk the streets of the city, and I am amazed by its welcoming cleanliness. - There is no paper, not gums littering the streets. No nothing. They even do not have rubbish bins! …(387 words)

Claire image

Claire

City Bicycle Train Etiquette
The Madding Crowds images

The Madding Crowds

Now that the sakura blossoms are nearing their end, at least in Tokyo, the next 'season' coming up in Japan is Golden Week. (If you still want to see sakura head north and it's possible to have another couple of weeks or more of sakura blossom viewing.)Golden week this year starts from Tuesday,…(253 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Tokyo Train Visit Cherry blossom Train station Onsen Golden Week
Enjoy Japan Travel Even More with the Cheap, Kanto Area Train Pass images

Enjoy Japan Travel Even More with the Cheap, Kanto Area Train Pass

The Japan Rail Pass, which allows tourists unlimited rides on all JR trains (including bullet trains across the country), is one of the great ways to see lots of different cities without breaking the bank.For non-Japanese residents, or tourists with more limited time or means, there is also the…(302 words)

Chiara image

Chiara

Cheap Kanto Area Pass Chiba Karuizawa Summer Train Winter
Should I Get The Japan Rail Pass? images

Should I Get The Japan Rail Pass?

One of the first things travelers often bring up when we’re discussing their trip is purchasing the Japan Rail Pass.However, while it’s commonly thought to be *hands-down* the best – and least expensive – way to travel around Japan, in fact it’s not always the best option!JAPAN RAIL PASS “B…(656 words)

Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan image

Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan

Japan Rail Pass Train Shinkansen Bullet Train Express train Japan Travel Tokyo Hotel Ticket Trip Train station
~ Picasso and Henry Moore ~ Inside and Out ~ Outside In ~ images

~ Picasso and Henry Moore ~ Inside and Out ~ Outside In ~

Turn left when you get off the train and with a little walking you'll see the Ticket Office. Different priced tickets for the members of your family, depending on how many days and years you have been wandering around this planet where sometimes you can get a sense of normality. You're not going to…(561 words)

Andrew Grimes image

Andrew Grimes

Train Park Shinjuku Building Ticket Museum Art Souvenir Nature English
Sunsets in Japan images

Sunsets in Japan

As Japan is an island nation, if one enjoys sunsets and I think pretty much everyone loves sunsets, then this island nation of Japan has coastlines galore. Take a break from the big city, take a train or drive to the coast, take some photographs with your family and friends. These particular phot…(74 words)

Kevin image

Kevin

Sasebo Trip Kyushu Sunsets Hakkeijima Sea Paradise Train City Sea
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
Sumo!! images

Sumo!!

Sumo-the image conjured up in many gaijin minds is that of a couple of overweight guys in adult diapers belly-bumping each other until one of man falls off a raised platform like a drunken Baby Huey. As a martial artist, I never really thought of sumo in that way, but I get why others would. Still,…(1153 words)

Dave image

Dave

Sumo Tokyo Train Summer Shopping Visit Event Sport Food Play
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
Kamakura Daibutsu and the Beach images

Kamakura Daibutsu and the Beach

For a great day trip on the weekend, visiting Kamakura is a great place to visit. The Daibutsu (Great Buddha) in Kamakura is one of the most famous and well known Buddha statues in all of Japan. In fact, you can actually go inside of the statue and see what it looks like from the inside. In the …(200 words)

Kevin image

Kevin

Kamakura Tokyo Train Visit Trip Bus Walk Tokyo Station Buddha Statue
Smart Cities, Expanded images

Smart Cities, Expanded

In our last installment, we discussed the upcoming Smart Cities Week 2014 (SCW 2014) which will be held in Yokohama, Japan this coming October 29-31 at the Pacifico Yokohama Hotel and Convention Center. While the event itself is looking to attract in the area of 50,000 attendees, the concept is ex…(1500 words)

jdlawrence image

jdlawrence

Smart Cities Tokyo Train Yokohama Hotel Event Osaka Hospital SCW Wearable Tech
Tourist Tip #1: Invest in a Suica or Pasmo IC Card images

Tourist Tip #1: Invest in a Suica or Pasmo IC Card

The Suica and Pasmo IC cards are e-money cards that can be used in a variety of ways. The two most practical: riding public transportation and shopping. The cards are accepted at an impressive number of locations, including convenience stores, coffee shops, coin lockers, vending machines, and many …(226 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Suica Pasmo Tourist Tip Train Shopping Train station English Transportation Live
Tourist friendly town at Hida Takayama images

Tourist friendly town at Hida Takayama

Places to go in the Tokai area I recommend going to Hida Takayama.It is in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. 3 hour train ride from Nagoya station to Takayama station (3,350yen one way).The hotel I stayed at was the Takayama Ooan(高山桜庵)right next to the Takayama Station.The entranc…(300 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

Train Hotel Onsen Beef Nagoya style Futon Gifu
Business hotels - more than business images

Business hotels - more than business

As a frequent traveller, I need to minimize the fuss when booking business hotel.What I want is very simple; close to the train station or airport, clean room, free wifi, hot shower, decent AC, wide & comfortable bed, enough space to put my large size suitcases, little desk to get some work done,…(286 words)

ISoffice image

ISoffice

Business Hotel Train Train station English Airport Taxicab Entertainment May Wi-Fi
JR East - Japan Railway Company images

JR East - Japan Railway Company

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.htmlThe JR East train homepage is a great way to learn about train routes, fares and activities throughout what is known as Eastern Japan. This site: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/index.html shows the routes that the different bullet trains take from the T…(201 words)

Kevin image

Kevin

Tokyo Train Summer Visit Fireworks activities Travel
Experience old Japan in Kanazawa images

Experience old Japan in Kanazawa

In the Edo period Kanazawa had about the same poplulation as Nagoya.Edo being largest then Osaka, Kyoto then Kanazawa and Nagoya.During WW2 Kanazawa was not bombed and the old scenery of the Japanese culture can be seen today.Higashi Chayagai (東茶屋街) is one of the places you can experien…(173 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

Hostel Train History Sake (Rice wine) Japanese Culture Jewelry
Transportation from Narita Airport to Tokyo/Yokohama images

Transportation from Narita Airport to Tokyo/Yokohama

I just returned to Japan today and arrived in Narita airport terminal 1 via Delta Airlines. I’ve done this so many times but noticed so many visitors are wondering around with such a lost look that I’ve decided to write this article. Once you arrive in Tokyo Narita airport, you have several choic…(828 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Tokyo Yokohama Airport Train Hotel Shinjuku Building Ticket Bus Train station
A view to die for images

A view to die for

Nagasaki was chosen to be one of the NEW top three night views in the world (the other two being Hong Kong and Monaco)! The observatory can be accessed easily by bus, train or taxi, depending on where you are. On a clear day, you can see the whole city light up like a Christmas tree. The feelin…(98 words)

RieS image

RieS

Nagasaki night view view Train City Bus Taxicab Christmas
Yakatabune Harbor in Tokyo - One of the most convenient and comprehensive "harbors" in Tokyo images

Yakatabune Harbor in Tokyo - One of the most convenient and comprehensive "harbors" in Tokyo

Firework, Cherry Blossom, just Lunch or Dinner, etc.... Yakatabune is very attractive play spot (?) nowadays.Tokyo is, more than you may imagine, harbor city and water front city as well (like Manhattan) and Yakatabune harbor is conveniently located near Shinagawa (the first stop - 5 min. - of…(213 words)

KIH image

KIH

Tokyo Yakatabune Train Cherry blossom River Tempura Dinner