Advice about Hair
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The must-do of Japan: get a "hair-spa"
Or when you want to relax, enjoy time for yourself, get a nice hair brushing, refresh, get rid of your jet lag, all you need to do is pick up one of the numerous hair salons and ask for a head-spa.It takes 2 hours of your time, but, it is totally worth it. The hairdressers in Japan are doing ma…(187 words)
Claire
A Really Close Shave...
I've been shaving my head for the past 15 years. It is a chore, but I've gotten used to it. It sometimes grows a bit, during camps and sometimes during long holidays like Golden Week. But basically, I'm a skinhead. I love the feeling of cold water splashing on top during the summer months. It hooke…(893 words)
mikekato
Tsukishima Mizukake Matsuri
Tsukishima is one of the small island in Tokyo Bay. It is famous for its monjayaki street today. Tsukishima in English mean the Island of the Moon, which is quite poetic, but it used to be a place for fishing in the past (it must be why it is called so as fishing occurs early morning, before th…(179 words)
Claire
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
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)
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)
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
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
Must take a purikura!
In Japan, there is a big arcade culture, perhaps because of the variety of machines from Mario Kart to air hockey to UFO catchers. However, my favorite destination is the purikura or the print club machines. This is a machine in which you go in, take photos of yourself with different poses and back…(164 words)
RieS
The Three P's
Japanese hair salons are known for great service and outcomes. However, to make your experience successful, there are three P’s you should keep in mind: Pictures, phrases and price. Pictures. It is always a good idea to have a picture of what you want your hair to look like using pictures on a p…(218 words)
RieS
Make funny faces and have fun decorating!
Usually, at purikura machines, you take six photos. For about two of them, my friends and I just smile and do a pose. For the other four, we do funny poses or make faces that make us laugh. The best part of the experience is decorating the photos with comments, drawings and glitters. We can even ch…(121 words)
RieS
Tipping in Japan
One of the best cultural differences between Japan and the U.S. (my home country) centers around the custom of tipping. While tipping is not generally necessary in Japan, some service providers actually do appreciate it; for example, I've never known a taxi driver to refuse a tip!In the U.S., …(222 words)
Andrea Miyata
Street performers in Yoyogi Park
I visited Yoyogi Park in Tokyo near Harajuku station recently on a Sunday. As I walked through the park, there were numerous street performers. One of my favorites are the street rockers. They dress in black jeans and 50's style with Elvis style hair and ducktail haircuts. They dance to rockabi…(73 words)
Kevin