's Advice List

 image United States 30 years in Japan

Craziest Amusement Park in Japan, Fujikyu Highland images

Craziest Amusement Park in Japan, Fujikyu Highland

I was at Fujikyu Highland the other day for a speech and from the window in the hotel I spied this unbelievable drop on their huger roller coaster. Yes, you are right, it actually inclines like that and you could hear the screams of delight all through the day. The park did not seem very crowded on…(125 words)

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Fujikyu Highland Japan Tokyo Park Hotel Bus Onsen Food
Cleanliness in Key in Japanese Shops images

Cleanliness in Key in Japanese Shops

One thing I absolutely love about Japan is how clean everything is. Today I was at a soba shop and I noticed the little cup of toothpicks was knocked over and that about 20 toothpicks were strewn across the countertop. I noted this to the staff in the restaurant and he immediately said "So Sorry!" …(183 words)

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Fast food Tokyo Restaurant Etiquette Soba noodles Coffee Shop
The Cutest Cartoon Character in Japan, Funasshii images

The Cutest Cartoon Character in Japan, Funasshii

My daughter and I love the character representing Funabashi City in Chiba Prefecture named "Funasshii". Recently the characters or mascots from different areas of Japan are on TV a lot and there is actually a Sumo contest on TV between these adorable and playful characters. Each of them has a perso…(225 words)

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Japan cartoon City Souvenir Chiba Sumo Camera Kids
Wasabi! Watch out when Eating in Japan images

Wasabi! Watch out when Eating in Japan

If you dont really like having a lot of wasabi in your sushi, please make sure you ask the Chef "Wasabi wa karume de". This literally means, "Please go lightly on the wasabi". Or, you can ask for "Sabi Nuki" which means they wont put any wasabi in the sushi at all. However, the wasabi flavor actual…(146 words)

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Sushi Japanese cuisine Japan Horse radish Soy sauce Vinegar Fish Cuisine
The Real Sushi Experience, Don't Miss Out! images

The Real Sushi Experience, Don't Miss Out!

I always went to "kaiten sushi" because it was easy, you can calculate expense based on color and design of the plates and you could see what you are ordering as you take a plate off the conveyer belt. I still go to kaitenzushi when I want a scrumptious meal of sush (I want to eat a lot) or when I …(351 words)

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Sushi Sashimi (Raw fish) Kaitenzushi (Conveyor belt sushi) Japanese cuisine Restaurant Fast food Food Winter
Make sure in Japan to drink tea at a restaurant images

Make sure in Japan to drink tea at a restaurant

Today, we stopped in at a beautiful little Sushi Shop in Ginza in Tokyo. The warm tea that came out right at the beginning prepared our palate perfectly for the lovely fish to come after. It was a truly perfect experience. We would recommend that when you come to eat sushi you make sure to prepare …(76 words)

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Japan Dining Tokyo Sushi Ginza Tea Green tea
Nissan World Headquarters in Minato Mirai, Japan great place for Tech-Savvy people images

Nissan World Headquarters in Minato Mirai, Japan great place for Tech-Savvy people

If you want to see cutting edge green cars of the future getting ready for mass production, the Nissan World Corporate Headquarters in Minato Mirai is a great place to visit. The Showroom is state of the art and you can take a look at the history of Nissan and how the cars have evolved over the yea…(103 words)

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Japan Nissan Technology Yokohama History Visit Walk
Eat the Best Ramen Noodles in Japan images

Eat the Best Ramen Noodles in Japan

You can see here that we have ordered Jumbo Ramen with Nori (seaweed) as one of the best toppings. Floating quietly in the hot and tasty soup is the Onsen or boiled soft egg. If you cut it open with your chopsticks the soft yellow yolk will flow out into the ramen soup and add that last amazing tas…(90 words)

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Eat Japan Drink Ramen noodles Onsen seaweed chopsticks
Special Fairs and Shops to Check Out in Japan images

Special Fairs and Shops to Check Out in Japan

Yesterday, we went to see a movie at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Theatre and were happily surprised with the Akita Bisaikan specialty shop right across from the entrance. You can try different produce from this beautiful prefecture, buy rice samples and taste the lovely Amazake of the area. It was r…(185 words)

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Hotel Akita Shop Tokyo Movie Theatre
Did you know you can eat Raw noodles in Japan? images

Did you know you can eat Raw noodles in Japan?

Tsuke-men can be one of the best Ramen Experiences ever! You can get a soft boiled egg along with the dish and I like to cut the egg in half with my chopsticks and put it in the sauce to add the juicy egg-yolk to the mix. You pick up cooler noodles and then dip them into the sauce. This is differen…(163 words)

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Eat Japan Tokyo Restaurant Ramen noodles Soba noodles
Japan has the Cleanest Shops in the World images

Japan has the Cleanest Shops in the World

If you happen to be a bit jet lagged and feel like walking around some of Tokyo's downtown neighborhoods (Roppongi, Shinjuku, Shinbashi, etc.) early in the morning, you will see some interesting culture that has to do with how this city stays clean. In the Summer time, shop owners will often do som…(170 words)

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Japan Tokyo City Etiquette Shinjuku Roppongi Salt Shinbashi Summer
From Luxurious Shops to Majestic Gardens: Tokyo Midtown images

From Luxurious Shops to Majestic Gardens: Tokyo Midtown

There is almost too much to see at Tokyo Midtown to write it all down here. One of the best things about the area are the floor guides who wear beautiful uniforms that change with the season and can help you in several different languages. There are many different shops that feature excellent Japan…(182 words)

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Tokyo Tokyo Midtown Park Building Tea Art Uniqlo
The Best Spa in Japan images

The Best Spa in Japan

Enoshima Island Spa is located just outside Tokyo (direct ride on the Romance Car from Shinjuku Station..60 to 70 minutes). This ancient healing spot is just off the Shonan Coast and you take a 10 minute walk over the bridge to the island itself. The spa entrance fee of 2,650 yen gives you access t…(136 words)

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Tokyo Enoshima Island Japan Shinjuku Swimming Spring Winter
Packed Trains, Bustling Streets, How to survive as a foreigner in Japan images

Packed Trains, Bustling Streets, How to survive as a foreigner in Japan

You may see someone move to another seat when the person next to them starts to nod off as the sleepy passenger might actually accidentally rest their head on the person sitting next to them. Or, you might see someone who has partied too hard, stretched out sound asleep on a station bench. Well, th…(164 words)

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Transportation Japan Train Park Etiquette Railway platform
Japan's the Best Place for Cute Tiny Gifts images

Japan's the Best Place for Cute Tiny Gifts

Look closely at the little knick knacks in the various shops along a street or shopping arcade in Japan and you will be amazed by the ingenuity that goes in to one little item and how it can grace the home with a bit of sweetness and be useful at the same time. I believe Japan has kind of mastered …(166 words)

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Shopping Japan Art Coffee Souvenir Milk Arcade
When Shopping in Japan Live as the Japanese Do images

When Shopping in Japan Live as the Japanese Do

Shopping in Japan can be a dream. The stores are beautiful and the shopkeepers are very civilized and unaggressive. One thing to remember is that when the staff say "Irashaimase" it basically means welcome and is a set phrase at every establishment. They are just welcoming you and not being pushy i…(113 words)

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Shopping Japan Shoes Etiquette Phrase Clothes
Take a risk and emerge yourself in the fine Japanese Art of Ikebana images

Take a risk and emerge yourself in the fine Japanese Art of Ikebana

Okay, well, I have never studied Ikebana (Japanese style flower arrangement) but I love the style and I admire all the work of art I see all around (even in local train stations done by loyal and dedicated Ikebana artists each week). I believe Japan is confident enough in the art and the style it o…(152 words)

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Flower IKEBANA Train Train station Art Hair style
Experience Japanized Style American Breakfast images

Experience Japanized Style American Breakfast

There is a Denny's just down the street from my house and I used to go there all the time for bacon and eggs with a side of toast. But....in Japan, Denny's also offers the opposite of the all-american breakfast. Fried fish, white rice, miso soup, umeboshi, dry nori (seaweed), an egg and some otukem…(127 words)

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breakfast Soy sauce Miso soup Toast Umeboshi Stay
Home of the Emperor of Japan, Ornate Edo Castle images

Home of the Emperor of Japan, Ornate Edo Castle

I think the best way to access this area is from Yurakucho station. It is an open area that used to be the Edo Castle. It is now home to the Emperor but you can see the remains of the buildings, the moat is huge and if you are really lucky you might actually witness a dignitary visiting the Emperor…(90 words)

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Castle Japan Emperor Tokyo Lucky Horse used
Weird Japanese Devices: Vegetabrella images

Weird Japanese Devices: Vegetabrella

I found this site Japan Ichiban that is an online shop for cool things from Japan. I particularly like this vegetable umbrella and will probably by this for my mom to take back to her for Christmas this year. It is fun to browse through the different items since they have sourced them from around t…(102 words)

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Umbrella Japan Tokyo Souvenir Christmas Shop
Cozy Places to Stay for Foreigners in Japan images

Cozy Places to Stay for Foreigners in Japan

The very strict laws about hotel licenses in Japan require all serviced apartments to rent from only one month or longer. These are fully furnished, have cleaning service and best of all a 24 hour toll-free hotline in English so that if you need assistance during your stay, there is always someone …(169 words)

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Stay Japan places to stay Tokyo Yokohama Hotel Nagoya Summer
Amazing Japanese Festivals in August images

Amazing Japanese Festivals in August

Many neighborhood associations take great effort to prepare for the yearly Matsuri (festival) in their area. This photo is taken in August as a group in the Noge area of Yokohama transports their O-mikoshi (portable shrine). The taxi driver proudly told me that one of these shrines can cost more th…(166 words)

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Japanese festivals Tokyo Yokohama Jinjya (Shrine) Taxicab Summer
The Most Spectacular View of Tokyo, Japan is Surprisingly Not in Tokyo images

The Most Spectacular View of Tokyo, Japan is Surprisingly Not in Tokyo

Well, I love the observation deck in Landmark Tower. It is in Yokohama (10 minutes walk on electric walkways) from Sakuragicho station one stop after Yokohama station but it is the second highest building in Japan and has a great observatory floor. The Royal Park Hotel in the building has great res…(92 words)

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view Tokyo Park Yokohama Shopping Hotel Building Landmark Tower
Great Tip to Avoid the Rush Hour in Japan images

Great Tip to Avoid the Rush Hour in Japan

On a longer (30 minute plus) train ride, I will often splurge on a Green car ticket. These temperate cars have a nice train attendant who comes by to sell snacks and drinks and when it is not rush hour you can get a window seat with a table to tap on your computer while enjoying the sites. During r…(279 words)

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Japan Rush hour Train Etiquette Ticket Shoes Computer Business
Learn how to arrange a beautiful, traditional Japanese bouquet images

Learn how to arrange a beautiful, traditional Japanese bouquet

Well, one of my favorite things about traveling around Tokyo is the Ekibana (Station flower arrangements) you can find at many of the local stations. I wrote about this in my book because it is such an amazing way to welcome people back after a long day at work as well as to send them off in the mo…(153 words)

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Flower Traditional Tokyo Art Station master Stay Work
The Best Natural Japanese Hot Springs in Japan images

The Best Natural Japanese Hot Springs in Japan

This is the only location I have ever seen in Japan that has a natural hot spring pool in the indoor pool area. This means you can go in with your family in your bathing suit and enjoy the deep mineral bath. The water feels very smooth and thick in a way as it comes up from 1500 meters below this h…(93 words)

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Onsen Enoshima Island Japan Tokyo Yokohama Spring
Where to Find a Tasty Japanese Bento in Japan? images

Where to Find a Tasty Japanese Bento in Japan?

I had a wonderful taste of Miyagi, Hiroshima and Kyoto before I reached Fujisawa just 30 minutes later on the Tokkaido line from Tokyo station. I splurged on the green car for a very relaxed and private meal and let me tastebuds have a party. If you a planning a 30 plus minute ride on a train from …(79 words)

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Bento (box meal) Japan Tokyo Train Kyoto Hiroshima Miyagi
Where can you buy a Kimono for a good price in Japan? images

Where can you buy a Kimono for a good price in Japan?

I love to wear Kimono to weddings and parties in Japan. It is also really fun to get dressed up early on a Saturday morning and spend the day at Midtown or Shinjuku Gyouen in Kimono. You would be very surprised at how easy it is to wear and how comfortable the little zori slippers are. You will fee…(190 words)

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Kimono Tokyo Roppongi Tera (Temple) Art Hair Slippers Kimono experience Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo Gekka Bijin Beauty Salon Roppongi
Enjoy a relaxing walk along Japan's famous Diet Building images

Enjoy a relaxing walk along Japan's famous Diet Building

It just so happened I had a meeting near Kokkai Gijido Mae station (Marunouchi Line) the other day and was absolutely amazed with how peaceful, beautiful and relaxing the area was for my jaunt to the event location. It was around 6 p.m. on a weekday evening and since most government offices are in …(184 words)

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Building Government office Walk Tokyo Event Marunouchi
How to be prepared for an Earthquake in Japan? images

How to be prepared for an Earthquake in Japan?

You would be very surprised at the items you can find in Japan for that just-in-case feeling. A lot of the items would be very convenient to have in your bag during your travels around the world, so a leisurely jaunt to Tokyu Hands in Shibuya would be a very educational and helpful experience. Find…(144 words)

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Earthquake Japan Tokyo Shibuya Disaster Tokyu Hands
How to be Polite in a Restaurant in Japan? images

How to be Polite in a Restaurant in Japan?

These are not just little finger towels placed neatly next to your plate for conveniently wiping stray food off of hands and fingers...these Oshibori are almost like an appetizer to the meal itself. You go into a restaurant, settle in with some water or tea and an Oshibori wet towel. Some places wi…(139 words)

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Etiquette Japan Restaurant Tea Tera (Temple) Oshibori Summer Food
Beautiful, Family-Friendly Beaches in Japan images

Beautiful, Family-Friendly Beaches in Japan

Being from Hawaii, I am pretty strict when it comes to beaches but I must admit that relaxing at a beach "Japanese Style" is pretty great. It has much less to do with the water actually. In Hawaii, I usually spend the entire day in the ocean catching waves and watching the shore from the water. In …(293 words)

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Beaches Japan Tokyo Drink Enoshima Island Spring family-friendly Food
Amazing Shopping Stores in Tokyo, Japan images

Amazing Shopping Stores in Tokyo, Japan

Since Shibuya's newest shopping Oasis, Hikarie, is located immediately above the Shibuya Station on the Ginza, Hanzomon and other lines, I happened to walk up into the amazing structure the other day. I was taken immediately by the high ceilinged/airy feel of the building and I could tell there was…(146 words)

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Fashion Tokyo Shopping Building Shibuya Ginza Department store Art
Beautiful Japanese Garden, Hama Rikyu Gardens In Japan images

Beautiful Japanese Garden, Hama Rikyu Gardens In Japan

This is my personal favorite historic location in Tokyo. If you want to see the huge gap between modern amazingness and ancient beauty, please visit Hama Rikyu Gardens in Shiodome. You can get off at Shiodome station on the Oedo line and walk underground through a concrete hall of art (there are li…(153 words)

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Japanese garden Tokyo Bay Shiodome Tokyo History Park
How to Negotiate Cheaper Prices for Japanese Products? images

How to Negotiate Cheaper Prices for Japanese Products?

Well, to be honest, I've been in Japan some 25 years and never negotiated a price. Well, maybe okay, at the electronics store in Akihabara or when buying real estate. I've noticed a big hint that negotiating is possible is when the clerk pulls out a calculator. So, if you sort of hesitate in front …(179 words)

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Taxicab Japan Game Akihabara Camera Computer Bic Camera Yodobashi Camera
Cute Japanese Cheerleaders part of Japan's semi-professional league, X League images

Cute Japanese Cheerleaders part of Japan's semi-professional league, X League

I actually used to cheer for the semi-pro X league back in the day. This was when it was kind of a group of companies that sponsored teams. Now, the sponsors are still there but the whole thing is much better organized (called the X League) and the games and competition are really exciting. From wh…(145 words)

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Japan Cute Japan Game American football English Stay used cheerleaders cute japanese cheerleaders
Tokyo Baptist Church in Japan is a great place to celebrate Christmas images

Tokyo Baptist Church in Japan is a great place to celebrate Christmas

Although I have not attended Tokyo Baptist Church personally, I understand they have multiple English services (even one at 7 p.m. on Saturdays!). Here is the link: http://www.tokyobaptist.org/live/services/times.html# However, if you want the ambience of a traditional church building, Tokyo Union…(64 words)

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Japan Tokyo Building Shibuya Christmas English Traditional choir church
Tokyo Union Church is great for English Language Services in Japan images

Tokyo Union Church is great for English Language Services in Japan

If you are planning to shop at Omotesando Hills or go to the Oriental Bazaar, Tokyo Union Church is situated just along the main Omotesando road on the left when you have Harajuku ahead of you. This is the church where many expats go and it would be a familiar protestant service for visitors from t…(106 words)

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English Japan Tokyo Shinjuku Harajuku Onigiri (Rice ball) Easter Shop
Japan Festivals for December and January. images

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)

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Japan Event Mochi (Rice cake) New year Japanese food Japanese Culture City Hotel English