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Steve United Kingdom 12 years in Japan

Summer in Shinjuku Chuo Park

Want a place to entertain your kids in the midsummer in Tokyo for free?Well, look no further than Shinjuku Chuo Park The paddling pool　じゃぶじゃぶ池　is fantastic. It is fairly big.It seems that the water of these paddling pools are drained on a daily basis, so in theory, the water should…(116 words)

Steve

Park Summer Shinjuku Tokyo Beer Play Garden Kids Playground Pool

Wifi

On the Tokyo Metro lines (Marunouchi, Hibiya, Fukutoshin, Hanzomon, Tozai, Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Nanboku), there is Metro Free Wifi.On the Toei Subways, it is not availableThe service is OK if you happen to be outside the train, as the Wifi access points are generally located at the station thems…(138 words)

Steve

Wi-Fi Tokyo Train Internet

Order only the seasonal cuts of sushi.

Most sushi restaurants have recommended sushi for the day (normally around 5) which are often displayed somewhere in the restaurant.(19 words)

Steve

Restaurant Sushi

Shinjuku - Southern Terrace

Across from Takashimaya, Southern Terrace - some pretty good illuminations.(10 words)

Steve

Tokyo Shinjuku Takashimaya

You really need an invite from the Stable.

Sumo stables are certainly an experience. One stable, which has now closed down, used to have chanko events around the time of the tournaments, where the wrestlers in the evening after fighting would serve chanko to the guests. In addition, it is permissible for men to view the training area. Women…(54 words)

Steve

Tokyo Sumo

Japanese craft beers: Swan Lake, Aqula and Outsider

Swan Lake, based in Niigata has a range of genuinely good beers, which have won awards. The brewery is well worth a visit and there is a bar called Bar Pub Edo, the Yaesu side of Tokyo station devoted to Swan Lake.Aqula from Akita; I have never had a bad beer from there.A particular favouri…(99 words)

Steve

Tokyo Beer Niigata Lake Akita Yamanashi

The Mandarin Oriental, the ShangriLa, the New York Grill (Shinjuku Hyatt)

To name a few.I suppose you could go up to them for free for a look. But it is better to go there for lunch or afternoon tea.The view from the toilets at the Mandarin are pretty spectacular by the way.(43 words)

Steve

Tokyo Shinjuku Tea

Getting a seat on a crowded train & Offering your seat

Generally speaking, Japanese are very oriented on getting a seat on the train, as this is an opportunity to get some much-needed sleep! So, what will more often than not happen is people will generally try to avoid giving up a seat for someone who needs it. Offering a seat although it is done b…(148 words)

Steve

Train Etiquette Transportation

Travel north in winter, travel south in summer for sushi

My experience of sushi and if you get to travel around, as I used to a lot, was Hokkaido, Aomori, the fish is amazing in winter. Similarly, Fukuoka, and Shikoku some pretty fine sushi can be had during the summer.(40 words)

Steve

Sushi Hokkaido Shikoku Fukuoka Aomori Summer Winter

Go to the Koban (Police Box)

The Police Box policemen will do their best to assist.(10 words)

Steve

Tokyo Police

Change from 10,000 Yen not always possible

Sometimes, taxi drivers will not be able to provide change from a 10,000 Yen note, so either make sure you have smaller notes (1,000 or 5,000 or the 2,000 Yen note to commemorate the Year 2,000), or most taxis will take credit cards with no problem. (Visa, Mastercard etc)(44 words)

Steve

Tokyo Taxicab

20 to 30% extra in the evening

Although this does not affect every taxi. Most taxis normally charge 20-30% extra in the evening after the 1st meter (710 for 1st 2 km), I think after 8pm for taxi journeys.(30 words)

Steve

Tokyo Taxicab

Tipping versus Service Charge

Tipping - not normally done, don't think you have to, although if you want to, it's fine. Service Charge - Often restaurants will include this in the bill (by way of tip). Now, if for example, the restaurant's service was sub-standard, you are within your rights to ask for this to removed.(52 words)

Steve

Restaurant

Shochu and Awamori

Shochu - which is typically distilled from either rice, sweet potatoes, brown sugar or barley.Awamori - distilled from Thai rice, from Okinawa.(23 words)

Steve

Sake (Rice wine) Shochu Okinawa Sugar Awamori

Conveyor Belt Sushi would tend to be less fresh

Logically speaking, given the fact that sushi will stay on the conveyor belt until it is partaken to be consumed, it can be slightly less fresh as if it hasn't been covered, it has been exposed to the air.In conveyor belt style restaurants, you can normally always ask the sushi chefs for specia…(63 words)

Steve

Sushi Kaitenzushi (Conveyor belt sushi)

For English books, Bookoff in Jiyugaoka and Naka Meguro

Since the closure of Bookoff Cafe in Shiroganedai, the Bookoffs in Jiyugaoka and Naka Meguro are probably best equipped with English books. So it seems that these shops picked up most of the used books from Shiroganedai.It should be said that Jiyugaoka recently (February 2014), is offering …(62 words)

Steve

Tokyo

Seven Eleven (24 Hours) or Post Office (8am-8pm)

Seven Eleven better if you need money in a pinch anytime of the day, otherwise the Post Office.(18 words)

Steve

Tokyo Bank Post office

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