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How do the Japanese promote good behavior? images

How do the Japanese promote good behavior?

I always wonder how it is possible to get so many people behave in a special way, especially when it comes to public manners. No scoop here, but the Japanese society model is not based on individualism. Fitting in is a matter of survival. But well, how do they promote good manners? But what…(433 words)

Claire image

Claire

Train Etiquette Strawberry Cake
Odawara Castle - Worth a Visit! images

Odawara Castle - Worth a Visit!

When you are in Odawara area, the Odawara Castle is worth a visit. It is actually located in a fairly short walk from Odawara Station. You can see it from the station as this castle is built upon a small hill. What I liked most is a beautiful red bridge leading across the moat into the castle g…(269 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Visit Castle Odawara Train Park Kimono Samurai Amusement park Walk Kids
Best Soba in the Middle of Nowhere, Japan images

Best Soba in the Middle of Nowhere, Japan

Just last week I had the best soba in my life in the middle of nowhere, a five minute walk from Nakagami station on the Ome line. I was on a business trip on the way to a meeting at the Akishima city water purification facility. For those of you who have no clue where akishima even is, it is in the…(449 words)

GenS image

GenS

Soba noodles Japan Tachikawa Showa Kinen Park Tokyo Train Restaurant Park
Tourist Tip #4: The Underground World of Food and DEPACHIKA! images

Tourist Tip #4: The Underground World of Food and DEPACHIKA!

Japanese department stores are famous for many things: elevator girls, first-class customer service, and unparalleled gift wrapping. But venture underneath one (on the basement floor) and you'll discover something else they have to offer: the world of "depachika"."Depachika" is a portmanteau on…(296 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Food Tourist Tip Depachika Tokyo Train Shopping Visit Shinjuku Ginza Train station
Bouncy Skirts the Newest Tokyo Fashion Trend images

Bouncy Skirts the Newest Tokyo Fashion Trend

And, as for fashion, how about these new bouncy-wouncy skirts I spotted in the display window at Issey Miyake in Omotesando?!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShCPRlwQeYQ&feature=youtu.beIt is as if your skirt or blouse was on a trampoline! We understand that Issey Miyake is all about the move…(185 words)

Kong image

Kong

Tokyo Fashion Train Shopping Harajuku Outdoor recreation Omotesando Japanese Culture and Style
Japan Travel Advice: Transportation from Haneda Airport to Tokyo images

Japan Travel Advice: Transportation from Haneda Airport to Tokyo

Once you arrive in Tokyo Haneda airport, you have several transportation options to get to Tokyo area. They are by train, bus, hired limousine or taxi. I guess you can hitchhike and walk but we will not discuss those options here:) I travel from time to time with my work so I come into Nari…(767 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Tokyo Airport Transportation Train Yokohama Hotel Building Ticket Limousine Bus
Escape To Nikko images

Escape To Nikko

If you really want a chance to experience a taste of ‘traditional’ Japan, like you might see in the movies, you should check out a place like the city of Nikko. It is only a two hour bullet train, shinkansen, ride away from Tokyo station. Frequently you hear about going to Kyoto, the old capitol t…(508 words)

Alex image

Alex

Hostel Nikko City Tokyo Train Restaurant Park Trip Kyoto Bus
Ginkgo Biloba, Get Ready for a Gold Tokyo! images

Ginkgo Biloba, Get Ready for a Gold Tokyo!

I live in the city of Shinagawa and on my way to Shinagawa JR train station, I walk along the properly spaced and placed trees along the main road along the JR train tracks. The tree I am describing is titled Ginkgo Biloba or at times it is known by maidenhair tree. According to Wikipedia, “Gin…(541 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Tokyo Train City Summer Art Tera (Temple) Food Spring Jinjya (Shrine) History
Wired-In Dining images

Wired-In Dining

One of the most novel, convenient, and custom dining experiences I have come across in all of my travels can be found popping up in restaurants in and around Tokyo. These hybrid systems of food ordering and delivery are truly an entertaining spectacle while you eat. Technology and food combine to o…(412 words)

Alex image

Alex

Dining Food Technology Tokyo Train Sushi Tea Shinkansen Bullet Train Eat
Celestial Geisha: A Perfect Performance images

Celestial Geisha: A Perfect Performance

Yes, you may not realize it, but not only is there a history of geisha in Tokyo, but there are quite a few places where there are active geisha communities, including Kagurazaka, Asakusa, Shinbashi/Ginza, and Hachioji. There are, of course, Hatobus and other tours that offer geisha shows, but it se…(1873 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Tokyo geisha drinking Art dance Train City Drink Food
How to Plan a One-Day Shopping Tour in Japan, From Haneda Airport images

How to Plan a One-Day Shopping Tour in Japan, From Haneda Airport

Yokohama Shopping Day with Lunch and Dinner, Various Options from Fancy Japanese Department Stores to Popular Local Discount Shops!If you have only one day available for shopping, how can you spend a day most efficiently? Would you love to enjoy shopping experience in Japan such as fancy famous…(480 words)

Eddie image

Eddie

Haneda Airport Shopping Yokohama Bus Food Ramen noodles Souvenir Train Visit
LiveYell Wedding Hall and My Experience in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan images

LiveYell Wedding Hall and My Experience in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan

In Yamaguchi Prefecture for the first time, I arrived by Bullet Train for to speak to local business, military and government leaders about my book “33 More Reasons to be Proud”. My speech was held at a Wedding Hall called “LiveYell”. While I sipped hot coffee in the waiting room, I chuckled to…(355 words)

 image

Yamaguchi Japan Train English History Airport Business love
Inokashira Park - a quick and refreshing excursion from central Tokyo images

Inokashira Park - a quick and refreshing excursion from central Tokyo

Want to take a rest from the big city without the hassle of taking a long trip? How about Inokashira Koen (Park), all it takes is 35 to 50 minutes and 200 yen to get there by train from Shibuya station on the Keio Inokashira line. My suggestion is to take the express train 4 stops to Kugayama stati…(212 words)

Aron image

Aron

Tokyo Park Inokashira Park Train City Trip Shibuya Walk Holidays Camera
Japan has an annual Ninja Festa (Kids welcome!) images

Japan has an annual Ninja Festa (Kids welcome!)

Iga-Ueno City's Ninja Festival celebrates Japan's famed warriors and its place in their history. Few iconic figures are more closely identified with Japan than the ninja; a combination of elite warrior and intelligence agent whose basic mission continues in various forms to this day. "The art o…(549 words)

GoodPeople image

GoodPeople

Japan Kids Visit Train Event Ninja Castle festival Shiga Tokyo
The many different ways to get to Kusatsu images

The many different ways to get to Kusatsu

Kusatsu is less frequented by foreign visitors given that it doesn’t have a train station, never mind a bullet train stop. That isolation is one of the reasons Kusatsu has managed to maintain its special atmosphere, but for those that want to go there it’s actually not difficult to get to.On my…(535 words)

AndrewShuttleworth image

AndrewShuttleworth

Tokyo Japan Train Trip Spring Ticket Bus Onsen Transport
Okutama, easy access and abundant nature in western Tokyo. images

Okutama, easy access and abundant nature in western Tokyo.

Okutama Town is located on the western edge of Tokyo. It is 40 miles west and two-hour train ride from Tokyo Station via Shinjuku and surrounded by green mountains but certainly within Tokyo Prefecture. It is a part of Chichibu Tama Kai National Park but major local tourist attractions are within s…(442 words)

Hagi image

Hagi

Tokyo Nature Train Hotel Onsen Fishing cave Soba noodles Okutama Yoga
Nikko travel guide: access and things to do images

Nikko travel guide: access and things to do

Nikko is one of the most historically significant cities in Japan, situated between the mountains of north Tokyo. The city is located in very close proximity to the Nikko National Park, which offers great views of the mountain peaks, as well as numerous waterfalls and hot springs, where you can…(673 words)

Carlos P. image

Carlos P.

Guide Nikko Tokyo Japan Visit Train City Park Japanese Jinjya (Shrine)
Go north! Nikko National Park Day 2 images

Go north! Nikko National Park Day 2

I woke up early to the sound of the rushing river below and the view of the snow covered mountain, had some Japanese tea while enjoying the scenery for awhile and then went down for breakfast. I arrived at a spacious big dining hall, and the staff escorted me to a private dining room where my frien…(1282 words)

DeepJapan Editor image

DeepJapan Editor

Park Nikko national park Tokyo Japan Visit Train City Trip Hotel
Takatsue Winter Wonderland One-night Onsen Trip images

Takatsue Winter Wonderland One-night Onsen Trip

I wanted a quick overnight getaway from Tokyo to experience some nature instead of heading to crowded tourist areas. Takatsue Ski resort in Fukushima is relatively close to Tokyo, only about 170 minutes Tohoku Shinkansen, and is not just for skiing. All four seasons offer many seasonal activities l…(812 words)

DeepJapan Editor image

DeepJapan Editor

Trip Onsen Winter Tokyo Japan Visit Train City Hotel English
Be polite images

Be polite

The key is to be conscientious of others: don't eat on the train, don't talk on the phone, remove your back-pack, try to speak a bit quieter than normal, and don't cross your legs.(34 words)

Sweet42.195 image

Sweet42.195

Train Etiquette
Main idea first images

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 image

KurtisW

Train Ramen noodles Bus
An honest thank you! images

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 image

KurtisW

Train Phrase
SL hiroba images

SL hiroba

Shinbashi is great spot to feel in Japan. It's call salaryman(Japanese business man called salary-man) paradise! There are many inexpensive izakaya(casual Japanese tavern) .Shinbashi station is one of the big station in Tokyo and it's so hard to find a good place to meet.I highly recommend …(95 words)

yukorose image

yukorose

Tokyo Train Park Ginza Izakaya Shinbashi
Train stations, convenient stores and book stores are few places where you can get maps & guidebooks images

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 image

suku

Train Train station Tokyo Subway
Taxi, Business hotels, Manga kissa (Internet comic cafe) are some options where you can spend night images

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 image

suku

Manga Taxicab Train Hotel Coffee Bicycle Earthquake Comic cafe
The imperial palace gardens; well worth trying! images

The imperial palace gardens; well worth trying!

If you look for ones in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, I'd recommend you should go visit Koukyo if you haven't tried it yet; the imperial palace gardens park in the right front of the Tokyo Station. In spite of its location, there are good amount of nature preserved, and lots of "space" available in …(185 words)

Masa image

Masa

Tokyo Train Park Museum Nature
Turning in lost items images

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 image

Andrea Miyata

Train Police Train station Hair
Business Hotels images

Business Hotels

Business hotels are much cheaper than regular hotels. They tend to be located near stations, convention centers, and facilties where meetings and events are held. The rooms tend to be much smaller and less "plush" than regular hotels. For example, there may be a refrigerator in the room for your…(133 words)

Andrea Miyata image

Andrea Miyata

Train
Try McDonald's and Starubucks images

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 image

taro

Tokyo Train Kyoto Shinkansen Bullet Train
Lost without Translation images

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 image

mikekato

Tokyo Train Police Train station
Leave the dog images

Leave the dog

The most popular meeting place in Shibuya is, by far, at the Hachiko statue, the famous dog. But not only is the place crowded, but the odor of tobacco is extremely difficult to bear for a non-smoker. The best place near Hachiko is inside the green train car located in the plaza area. However, t…(71 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Train Shibuya Museum
Taking the bus in Tokyo images

Taking the bus in Tokyo

With so many buses and bus stations, how can anyone get around Tokyo by bus? Although you can get fairly near anywhere by trains, sometimes the bus is the best way to get around. Sometimes a bus takes a much more direct route between two spots. One clue is if you think two places are pretty clos…(142 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Tokyo Train Ticket Bus Subway
Back it in images

Back it in

When boarding a really packed train in the morning, it may look like there is absolutely no more space, with people already flush against the entrance way. However, don't be fooled, as there is still space in between each person. They simply maximize the amount of space they have at the moment, so …(135 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Train
In a morning train bound to Shinjuku, or Shibuya Station ! images

In a morning train bound to Shinjuku, or Shibuya Station !

I would definitely recommend you to try taking morning trains which are destined to Shinjuku, or Shibuya station to arrive in between 8:30AM to 9:00AM, at which most of Japanese companies start working, then staffs and employees are most likely to take ones around this time to be able to be at offi…(199 words)

Masa image

Masa

Train Shinjuku Shibuya Tokyo City Kanagawa Saitama
Hakone about 1.5 hours from Shinjuku station images

Hakone about 1.5 hours from Shinjuku station

I recommend that you go to Hakone that has been known for hot springs since the beginning of the Edo period. You can also enjoy lots of kinds of Japanese traditional hotels and restaurants.How to get to Hakone?1.5 hours from shinjuku station by train (Odakyu line)Here is the link about Hako…(57 words)

makiko715 image

makiko715

Tokyo Train Shinjuku Hakone
Start Train-ing! images

Start Train-ing!

There are sooo many trains in the Tokyo Metropolitan area! It is a maze for people who live here; for a visitor, it may seem a huge mess. But getting around by train is often the best way to get around, so start your train-ing early in your visit.I recommend two things to make train riding ea…(241 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Train Tokyo Bus Railways
Go to Daiso for low-cost solutions! images

Go to Daiso for low-cost solutions!

The most common and popular 100yen store in Japan is Daiso. They are usually placed close to a train station or in malls and therefore are easily accessible. Although I go to Daiso for stationery goods such as notebooks, binders, folders and erasers, there is so much more available, from food to gl…(100 words)

RieS image

RieS

Train Train station Stationery Daiso 100 yen shop
A store for things you may need on the train images

A store for things you may need on the train

The kiosk is usually a small stall in the middle of the train platform, which sells goods that you may need on a train ride. Common things are drinks, snacks (candy, cookies, gum, etc.), magazines and newspapers. They also sell other small commodities such as masks, tissues and band-aids.(49 words)

RieS image

RieS

Train Railway platform
"Okowa" is a must-eat! images

"Okowa" is a must-eat!

My favorite Bento place is “Tagosaku,” often found in the basement of big department stores or near the train stations. “Okowa” is Japanese mocha-gome (sticky rice) with various vegetables or beans. I love eating the “gomoku-okowa,” which is the sticky rice with a variety of vegetables and chicken …(91 words)

RieS image

RieS

Tokyo Train Department store Train station Bento (box meal)
The best way to buys bullet train tickets images

The best way to buys bullet train tickets

Although it's possible to purchase bullet train tickets at the automated ticket machines, I prefer to stand in line at the train ticket office (usually located near the shinkansen entrance in stations). Even though this sometimes entails standing in line for a few extra minutes, I prefer being abl…(180 words)

Andrea Miyata image

Andrea Miyata

Train Ticket Shinkansen Bullet Train Ticket machine Railway platform Trip