Mike's's Advice List

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Water, water everywhere images

Water, water everywhere

Due to rainy seasons akin to visits by monsoons, typhoons and a goodly amount of snow, which remains in place until spring and then replenishes the water supply both above and under the ground, water for the most part is abunda. Unfortunately clear, potable water has been used for many other purpos…(115 words)

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Mike's

City Snow Spring
I concur about Roppongi Hills Observatory but don't forget the Big Picture too images

I concur about Roppongi Hills Observatory but don't forget the Big Picture too

Indeed, I second the advice that the Roppongi Hills Observatory - the night view in particular - is to be recommended. But in fact I think you can get a nice view from many other locations in the Roppongi Hills area, whether in the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower (Academy Hills) facilities on 49th floor,…(143 words)

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Mike's

Roppongi Roppongi Hills Building City Hotel Odaiba Tokyo Tram
What are popular? Usually the latest. Where can you get them? Usually everywhere. images

What are popular? Usually the latest. Where can you get them? Usually everywhere.

Japan is full of electronics - whether it be in areas known as clusters of electronics-oriented shops like Akihabara in Tokyo or Nipponbashi in Osaka, in stores specializing in electrical and electronic products (Denki or Denka Seihin) like DeoDeo (Hiroshima-based nationwide outlet), Joshin Denki …(185 words)

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Mike's

Tokyo Shopping Event Department store Osaka Ueno Akihabara Kansai Kanto Camera
Guys images

Guys

Wear dark-colored suits from fall (October)(6 words)

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Mike's

Tokyo
Machida images

Machida

Urban amenities yet close to greener areas west of Tokyo Proper (23 wards); good access to Kanagawa also!(17 words)

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Mike's

Tokyo Kanagawa
Akihabara images

Akihabara

All types of electro-gizmos available there(6 words)

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Mike's

Akihabara
Japanese lottery images

Japanese lottery

If parimutuel, think of them as a Japanese version of Lotto (in fact there is something called Lotto on sale here as well); usually these tickets can be bought at booths located near Mizuho Bank, in addition to standalone booths found on street corners... there are also "Takarakuji" tickets from st…(86 words)

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Mike's

Shopping Bank Akihabara Japanese style shopping arcade
Football teams images

Football teams

I think many cheerleaders, according to the Texan definition, are quite visible at football events in Japan (which seems to be more popular in Kansai from my feel of things, with Kyoto University being a "powerhouse")(36 words)

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Mike's

Kyoto Kansai
Once a year images

Once a year

There is an "open market" (late October?) for those interested in purchasing a Japanese sword at a building right near the Atago Police Station {across from Japanese Red Cross headquarters}; I don't recall the exact building name [Nihon Token Club Building? Token means "sword & stuff" in Japanese, …(117 words)

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Mike's

Tokyo Building Police Art
Kikkoman images

Kikkoman

I believe Kikkoman's customer relations department offers information to foreigners interested in cooking Japanese food - I presume as a soy sauce manufacturer Kikkoman will direct you to cooking schools that use their sauce...(34 words)

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Mike's

Tokyo Soy sauce
Byou-in images

Byou-in

If in emergency, hop a cab and say "Chikakuno Byou-in" (not "Biyou-in", that is a hairdresser's place); seems most taxis in Tokyo have GPS devices to find a hospital nearby even if the cabbie is a novice and not used to the neighborhood(43 words)

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Mike's

Tokyo Hospital
Arigato, demo Gomennasai images

Arigato, demo Gomennasai

Say thanks but no thanks - "Arigato, demo Gomennasai"... or better yet for English-speakers, "Thank you, demo Gomennasai" and if the "inviter" is persistent, just say "No, no, Gomennasai"(29 words)

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Mike's

 
Many stores catering to mountain climbers images

Many stores catering to mountain climbers

Many stores that cater to mountain climbers and hikers usually have items useful in responding to disasters (water purifier bottles for example); the Ogawamachi area of Tokyo, near Ochanomizu/Meiji University/Nikolai-do (Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral), is full of such stores, but ICI Ishii S…(91 words)

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Mike's

Tokyo Sport Osaka Mountain Disaster Nagoya Fukuoka
Catholic service images

Catholic service

St. Ignatius in Yotsuya/Kojimachi(5 words)

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Mike's

Tokyo
Catholic Mass images

Catholic Mass

St. Ignatius Church in Yotsuya/Kojimachi, adjacent to Sophia University (the Jesuit university), has Mass in English(17 words)

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Mike's

Tokyo