Advice about Train
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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
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
Old Saidaiji Railway
Saidaiji is well-known for its Hadaka Matsuri or Naked Festival but few people, even locals are aware that there was once a light rail line that ran to central Okayama City. Saidaiji Railway was in operation from 1911 to 1962 and provided transport along the 11.4 kilometers between what was then Sa…(364 words)
Kenji
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
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
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
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
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
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
What to Do When An Earthquake Hits Japan
I often tell my friends that Japan might be one of the best places to be in an earthquake. Why? Nooo, you say! “I don't want it to happen when I am in town!” “Cant it wait till I leave?”. Hmmm, Mother Nature is usually pretty unpredictable and actually can be quite surprising in her timing and conc…(761 words)
Hiroshima Landslide - visiting & volunteering
As many of you have heard, there was a horrible landslide triggered by a severe thunderstorm that hit Hiroshima city in the early morning of 8/20/2014. As of 9/10/2014, 72 people were killed and 2 remain missing and over 830 people have lost their homes. The city center did not have any serious…(304 words)
jjwalsh
Assistance/Help button: Subway ticket machine
Tokyo is covered by a dense network of train, subway and bus lines. They are operated by about a dozen different companies. The train lines operated by JR East and the subway lines are most convenient for moving around central Tokyo. Although smartphones and mobile phones can provide great navigati…(129 words)
EmiOnishi
Hamamatsu City, Japan: Birthplace of the Big Corporation, Yamaha
I often wondered about Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture as I watched it slip by during my bullet train rides from Tokyo to Osaka. A very good friend of mine is from Hamamatsu and would tell me about his father’s company. He himself towered over most Japanese men at just under six feet tall and…(873 words)
Manga Starbucks
From one little coffee shop in Seattle Washington in 1971, a coffee empire unlike any empire ever seen was born. Their cafes can be found in sixty five countries, with more than sixteen thousand locations. Their products are also sold ubiquitously from convenient stores to grocery markets, and in …(269 words)
Alex
JAMSTEC Should be a first Choice for a Visit During Your Japan Travel
JAMSTEC stands for Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology was renamed from Japan Marine Science and Technology Centre in April 2004.http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/ChikyuImages/video2.htmlJAMSTEC’s main objective is “to contribute to the advancement of academic research re…(788 words)
AustinA
History in Iron and Steel at Saitama's Railway Museum
If your kids love trains or if you're a railway buff at heart, look no further. Have I got the museum for you! Located in Saitama, Saitaima, Japan, the Railway Museum （鉄道博物館） is a treasure trove of all things related to Japanese trains - past, present, and future.The museum opened in 2007 …(220 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
5 Offbeat Tips for Travelers
Looking to get beneath the surface of Japan, instead of just seeing the main tourist spots? Well, here are a few tips:1- Read UpBesides Deep Japan, check out English language publications (like Time Out) and see what is going on. Join in food festivals (for instance Tokyo Harvest in Novembe…(312 words)
Chiara
Fish market for lazy birds - part1
Early bird catches the worm.... and maybe fish, too...Since I'm not an early bird in the mornings, I always give up going to Tsukiji fish market and where the famous tuna auction is held ......super early in the morning.Also the tourist cannot just show up and see them anymore. You need …(308 words)
Zara
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Kiuchi Brewery
If you're a beer enthusiast, nothing is better than a brewery tour. You get to go behind the scenes and see how your favorite brew is made and sample the freshest product.Beer enthusiasts visiting Japan should make their way out to Kiuchi Brewery, home of Hitachino Nest Beer, to have a look at …(368 words)
Petra
Stranded in Japan without shoes?
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons the global average shoe size for an adult male is US size 9 - 12. As hard as it may be to believe the largest size footwear carried for men in most Japanese shoe stores is a mere 28 cm (around US size 8 1/2, EU size 43), and even if you are l…(206 words)
Aron
Nihon Minka-en Enjoy a quiet stroll through a collection of old style traditional village houses
Escape the busy city for a while and let the olden days of Japan enrich your life. Located in Kawasaki's Ikuta Ryokuchi Park, the "oasis for the heart" of Nihon Minka-en might just bring traditional Japanese scenery alive for you (photo 1).Nihon Minka-en has 25 structures on display, including tr…(622 words)
Kanagawa P.G.T.D.
An Elegant Lunch - Chinese Fine Dining at Ginza Aster
I recently had the pleasure of having lunch at Ginza Aster, a very well-known Chinese restaurant with a long history in the heart of downtown Ginza. The restaurant is famous for very good reasons. They offer some of the finest Chinese food available in the country, food that comes with excellent se…(388 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
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
Japan offers you a "Retreat of the Heart"
I read recently about how it is very important to be able to retreat within yourself. Are you able to do that? Do you find peace and calm for retrospection as you walk around, take care of daily tasks or ride a bus?If you are like me, I bet a lot of the time, you are kind of on alert. One of my…(637 words)
Kure port town and surrounding islands on the inland sea.
Kure port town and surrounding islands on the inland sea. The historic and beautiful port town of Kure is located between the more famous tourist destinations of Hiroshima and Onomich. A mere 60 minutes on the local train on the Sanyo main line directly from Hiroshima Station. For those …(545 words)
Robert
Maizuru - The Dancing Crane
Along with Kure, Sasebo and Yokosuka, Maizuru is one of the four most important port towns in Japan, located in the northern part of Kyoto prefecture, which is about an hour and a half train ride from JR Kyoto station. Its name consists of two kanji 舞鶴, which literally translated mean “Dancing Cr…(1000 words)
DeepJapan Editor
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Telepathy or just lost in translation?
Any major city in Japan you'll notice how crowed it can get.People don't yell or fuss.When you want to get through the people in the train.You simply put your hand out in front of the person you want to get by and people will know you want to go through.Amazing!!(54 words)
Yuuki I
What can you tell me about the Yokosuka Line?
The Yokosuka Line is one of the most widely used train networks for traveling directly south of Tokyo -- it stops at both Yokohama and Kamakura, which are two popular destinations for foreign tourists and Japanese alike. For people living in Tokyo, the Yokosuka line is also very convenient, for it …(61 words)
mark
Can't make the scene if you don't have the green.
The green car is like business class for the bullet train.Personally any seat on the bullet train is fancy enough for me.If you like the feel of VIP I recommend the green car seats.To ride the green for free.If you can collect points if you have a JR credit card every time you buy a Shink…(77 words)
Yuuki I
You can eat and drink in some trains!
Shinkansen is OK. Romance Car is OK.Basically, you can eat and drink sitting in box seats, but there are some exception ; Yurikamome is not suitable.Commuter trains are not suitable.When you find a vendor selling Obento by a cargo in train, definitely you can eat there. You need t…(55 words)
Moo Moo