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Ride The Tokyo Metro Like A Boss With These Apps images

Ride The Tokyo Metro Like A Boss With These Apps

To people new to Japan, the Tokyo subway system, stylishly called "Tokyo Metro" is a confusing labyrinth of lines going every which way. Orderly thought and planning, it would appear, seem to be the main ingredients neglected when designing the subway subway system.Once you live here a bit, you …(375 words)

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jdlawrence

Figuring out the Green Car in Japan: JR Train Business Class Seats images

Figuring out the Green Car in Japan: JR Train Business Class Seats

JR Green Car is my favorite way to travel. After living here almost 27 years I still almost start to cry when I see the Green Car (premium seat car) slide past and go way down to the other side of the platform when I thought I was standing in the right place to meet it right when it arrives... Even…(825 words)

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Shibuya Subway Station, by Tadao Ando images

Shibuya Subway Station, by Tadao Ando

The Shibuya Subway Station is famous for a number of reasons. It was designed by world renowned Japanese architect, Tadao Ando. It's design, in not surprising Tokyo cool, is egg shaped and intentionally designed to look like a spaceship. There are locations in the station where the design can se…(469 words)

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mikekato

Japan Travel: Train Information Boards and How to Read Them images

Japan Travel: Train Information Boards and How to Read Them

When you visit Japan, did you ever wonder how to get from point A to point B? I did many times and I use information boards all the time. There are many information boards in and around train station/platform but unless you study well, it may be challenging to decipher so in hope of assisting y…(1441 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Follow the Yellow Brick Road in Tokyo images

Follow the Yellow Brick Road in Tokyo

Have you seen a movie produced by Warner Brother’s call “The Wizard of Oz”? In one of the parts, munchkins tell Dorothy, the Coward Lion, the Tin Man and the scarecrow to follow the yellow brick road. Well, this is almost like it to help people navigate from point a to b.When I came back to Jap…(394 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Tokyo's Major Streets images

Tokyo's Major Streets

In years past very few streets in Japan had names other than some of the major thoroughfares. These days it's possible to find more streets with names, but other than the major ones, most people won't know where "such and such" a street is located.Some use the word "kaido" in their name. The "…(337 words)

Joe Peters image

Joe Peters

Destination Outside Tokyo? How to Use the Ticket Machines images

Destination Outside Tokyo? How to Use the Ticket Machines

For English speakers, the easiest way to purchase Shinkansen tickets will be by using the ticket machines. Lining up to purchase the tickets directly from an attendent will be much more time consuming and a pain since it is likely he or she will not speak English. The ticket machines have English g…(101 words)

GenS image

GenS

What to do with Garbage While Travellng in Japan? Where are all the Trash Cans?!!! images

What to do with Garbage While Travellng in Japan? Where are all the Trash Cans?!!!

Are you used to having plenty of garbage cans everywhere?When I go home to the US, I am pleasantly surprised with the availability of garbage cans and how we can always find a place to dispose of paper waste, plastic bottles, candy wrappers and lunch leftovers that build up during the day.Hav…(669 words)

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World's Most Comfortable Economy-class Seats on Skymark Airlines images

World's Most Comfortable Economy-class Seats on Skymark Airlines

When I boarded my Skymark airline flight last weekend for a short trip down to Fukuoka, I was shocked by how large the economy seats were. Initially I miss took the economy seats to be business class seats and kept going till the back of the place. Skymark used to be the low quality, cheap-o ai…(231 words)

GenS image

GenS

Romantic Night Drive to Yokohama, Japan images

Romantic Night Drive to Yokohama, Japan

One of the most popular drives from Tokyo among couples is to the beautiful port city of Yokohama. The drive will only take you about 30 minutes one way and the views are spectacular. Yokohama is known to have one of the best views at night. Start in Tokyo towards Yokohama on the Shuto Expressway t…(238 words)

GenS image

GenS

In Japan train are always on time - always. images

In Japan train are always on time - always.

There are many goods things in Japan but there is one thing ingrained in the Japanese ADN and technology: punctuality.Here, trains and metro and bus are always on time. Never too early (they wait at the station), very very very rarely late (reasons: typhoons, accident but never because they are…(570 words)

Claire image

Claire

Yokohama City Bus in Japan images

Yokohama City Bus in Japan

Since I was born and raised in Yokohama, I can tell you economic ways to use the Yokohama city buses. As a tourist, the best way to ride buses economically would be to purchase a one day pass. These special passes are available for sail on board the bus. A one day pass costs 600 yen in Yokohama. Wi…(187 words)

GenS image

GenS

Enoden Train from Kamakura to Enoshima Island images

Enoden Train from Kamakura to Enoshima Island

Enoden is short for Enoshima Electric Railway. It is an old line that runs between Kamakura and Fujisawa along the coast passing Enoshima Island. Locals and visitors just love it. The line even has a fan shop with everything in the Enoden train theme from cookies to socks.Riding this small trai…(243 words)

David image

David

Obstacle course for kids images

Obstacle course for kids

This large park, the Heiwa no Mori Koen Field Athletic Course (peace forest park field athletic course, is located near Omori station on the Keihin Tohoku line (you can ride this line from Tokyo station).The park is filled with fun obstacle course-type playgrounds that kids and adults alike can…(141 words)

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KurtisW

Ome Kaido images

Ome Kaido

Ome Kaido is a major street running generally west from Shinjuku. Once past Shinjuku, the street becomes Yasukuni Dori.Ome Kaido is an old highway, National Route 411, and it runs from Shinjuku to Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture. It was a road used by travelers in the Edo period, both walking an…(249 words)

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mikekato

Go to Kamakura Using the Yokosuka Line in Japan images

Go to Kamakura Using the Yokosuka Line in Japan

Living in Hodogaya, a stop on the Yokosuka Line, the Yokosuka Line is one of the trains I ride most frequently. The line itself runs between Yokosuka station in Kanagawa prefecture and Tokyo station. Many of its stops overlap with the Tokaido line but there are many points of distinction. First of …(200 words)

GenS image

GenS

Best View in Japan: Angled Cliffs, Mount Fuji, Buddhist Temples images

Best View in Japan: Angled Cliffs, Mount Fuji, Buddhist Temples

Cable cars are often available to provide tourists with quick and scenic access to mountain summits in Japan. One that I recently used was the cable car which takes you to the summit of Nokogiri-yama mountain in Chiba prefecture. The ride was very scenic and is highly recommended. The mountain also…(164 words)

GenS image

GenS

Everything about Trains between Yokohama and Tokyo images

Everything about Trains between Yokohama and Tokyo

Born and raised in Yokohama, I know a lot about trains running between Yokohama and Tokyo. Here is a list of each of the trains with shorts explanations.JR1. The Tokaido LineThe Tokaido line is the fastest way to get from Yokohama to Tokyo. Between Yokohama station and Shinagawa station, it…(425 words)

GenS image

GenS

Beautiful Sumidagawa River near Asakusa or Shinagawa Tokyo. Japan from a river view is truly lovely. images

Beautiful Sumidagawa River near Asakusa or Shinagawa Tokyo. Japan from a river view is truly lovely.

Honestly, when I hear the word "Yakatabune", what comes up in my mind first is; a night river cruise in a decent sized house boat with inner tables, legless chairs installed on a tatami floor in it, where, you are probably with your close friends or good colleagues at work, and will be served tradi…(392 words)

Masa image

Masa

Theft Prevention images

Theft Prevention

Bike crime in Tokyo is certainly present, so locking up your bike is always a good choice. Because so many people ride bikes in Tokyo, the registration system is somewhat strict, and police will enforce the system by checking bike registration at random, to make sure that the bike belongs to you.…(201 words)

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KurtisW

Wi-Fi for travelers in Japan: At the airport (1 of 2) images

Wi-Fi for travelers in Japan: At the airport (1 of 2)

With the ubiquity of smartphones nowadays, the first thing many travelers want to do when reaching their destination is turn on and check in. Whether it is a mail to a loved one or boss, a check in with Facebook or Foursquare or a quick look at the news, flipping on your device and logging on is a…(422 words)

jdlawrence image

jdlawrence

Send Out the Towels images

Send Out the Towels

Ikeuchi Organic is a Japanese company that makes towels like no other. Towels are not its only products, but towels are the company's core products. And what wonderful towels they are!The company philosophy is totally organic. Certified organic: There are no chemical fertilizers or agricultural…(813 words)

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mikekato

Magical Cat Bus Ride to the Airport (1 of 3) images

Magical Cat Bus Ride to the Airport (1 of 3)

In the thirteen plus years that I’ve lived in Japan, I’ve never once taken the bus to the airport. That seemed to me an incredibly peculiar thing to admit, so I took it upon myself to do something about it. Living in Yokohama and very near Yokohama Station, it was a no brainer to finally give the Y…(433 words)

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Former Deep Japan Writer

Do You Know "Hidari Gawa Tsuko?" Pass on the left in Japan images

Do You Know "Hidari Gawa Tsuko?" Pass on the left in Japan

"To the Left, To the Left" is one of my favorite songs and it well applies to some parts of my life....okay, yes you're right, Ill avoid that topic for today :) But, "To the Left" is an important concept in Japan. When you walk around, basically anywhere in Japan, you'll see the cool everyone k…(435 words)

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The Haruka Express: Reaching Osaka & Kyoto from Kansai International Airport (KIX) images

The Haruka Express: Reaching Osaka & Kyoto from Kansai International Airport (KIX)

The Kansai International Airport (KIX) serves the Japanese cities of Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Nara. All Japan Rail Pass holders can take advantage of their pass to the fullest, by using it to reach the downtown areas of Kyoto or Osaka, using the Haruka Express, which is the direct connection between …(789 words)

Carlos P. image

Carlos P.

Royal Wing from Osanbashi Pier in Japan images

Royal Wing from Osanbashi Pier in Japan

Osanbashi pier is in Yokohama, but it is easily accessible from Tokyo on the Toyoko line. I grew up in Yokohama and have taken the cruise on the royal wing a couple of times. The cruise is very beautiful and you get a nice tour of Yokohama Bay. The ship will go under Yokohama Bay Bridge and then ma…(153 words)

GenS image

GenS

Recline and Relax on the Green Car in Japan images

Recline and Relax on the Green Car in Japan

The Green Car facility is offered on selected JR lines including the Shinkansen and the Tokaido and Yokosuka lines in the Tokyo area. Although it requires an extra charge, it is not too expensive and is worth it if you do not want to deal with packed trains and want to relax during rush hours. I us…(228 words)

GenS image

GenS

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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Cheapest or Quickest Transport from Narita Airport to Tokyo (TOP3) images

Cheapest or Quickest Transport from Narita Airport to Tokyo (TOP3)

Cheapest transport from Narita Airport to Tokyo (TOP3) : Any of the below takes about 90 minutes to Tokyo 1. Bus (Tokyo Shuttle) 900 yen : Adults and Children pay the same price. Without a reservation, it will cost you 1,500yen for early morning and late night buses. 2. Bus (Acces…(427 words)

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Eddie

Japan Travel: Toukaido Fifty Three Stations images

Japan Travel: Toukaido Fifty Three Stations

Toukaido was one of the five critical roads in Japan created by Tokugawa Ieyasu who ruled Japan during the Edo period. Specifically, Toukaido was created to connect between Edo (present Tokyo) where the Shogun resided and Kyoto where the Imperial party resided.Along its travel route from Edo to…(498 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

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

Take the Pandabus in Asakusa or at Tokyo Skytree images

Take the Pandabus in Asakusa or at Tokyo Skytree

If you do not want to walk from Asakusa to Tokyo Skytree, you can choose between train, taxi, ricksha, and panda. There is a boy panda bus and a girl panda bus with faces, ears, and paws. All the passenger seats inside have their own small ears. And the bus is free.Take the Asakusa line route to vi…(325 words)

David image

David

The Tokaido Line images

The Tokaido Line

The Tōkaidō Main Line is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group, connecting Tokyo and Kōbe stations. It is 589.5 km long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities. It runs 713.6 km including branch and feeder lines. It is run in cooperation with three railway…(313 words)

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jdlawrence

Tokyo's Tropical islands images

Tokyo's Tropical islands

Tokyo's outer islands are very diverse. Most of them are volcanic and some of them are quite far from the main part of Tokyo. Most of the main islands are accessible from Takeshiba Pier, where you can find Tokyo's main ferry terminal. Many of the main islands are also accessible by plane, from C…(302 words)

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mikekato

One park to the next images

One park to the next

A great cycling course for all skill levels is the length of Inokashira Ave., which runs from Inokashira park in Kichijoji, to Yoyogi park in Harajuku. I always recommend this course for bikers and walkers alike, because it gives you a great idea of the distinct environments of Tokyo suburbia and t…(111 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

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

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)

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mikekato

How to Ride Trains in Japan images

How to Ride Trains in Japan

The idea of riding a train in Japan can be intimidating. There really are so many different lines that almost for a web over Tokyo. However, you shouldn't be intimidated. Most signs are also in English and buying a ticket is easy. From personal experience, I think buying a ticket in Japan is easier…(132 words)

GenS image

GenS

Cheapest and Most Reliable Train Line, Yokosuka Line images

Cheapest and Most Reliable Train Line, Yokosuka Line

If you want to save some money on transportation but don't want to take the bus fearing traffic, you should take the Yokosuka line. The Yokosuka line will only take about 30 minutes longer than the Narita Express but you will only have to pay about half the price. Also, since it is a local train, y…(83 words)

GenS image

GenS

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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