Blogs from Japan, Asia - page 926

Asia » Japan » Tokyo April 24th 2004

After last nights entertainment, I was doubting Yoshi was going to be up for going to Ueno Park… heck, I was doubting I could do anything today. But I finally fell out of bed, hung around in the lounge for a little while, then Ryan asked if I wanted to go to view of Tokyo in Roppongi. I needed to get some good pictures, so I figured this would be the opportune time to take care of business. We find the place, wait in line, and once we get to the front find out the observation deck is closed. Aha… that probably explains the people all turning around and leaving the line. Darn language barriers! People were still there for some strange art exhibit though, so we didn’t know any better. So now our only other ... read more

A Night in Shibuya

Asia » Japan » Tokyo April 23rd 2004

Me, Yoshi and Ryan

Savage

To tell you the truth, I can’t remember what I did during the daytime this day. But according to the pictures, I spent the night partying away in Shibuya with Yoshi and Ryan, which clues me in to the last part of the day! : ) A lazy day of sitting around the Guest House, and walking around Azabujuban. I called Yoshi up from the now trusty pay phone at the Mini Mart, and arranged to meet him at the same statue in Shibuya as I’d met him at the first time. Meeting time, roughly 5:30pm, so I left with plenty of time to spare to allow for some getting lost time. Little did I expect to find it right off the bat this time, having stopped for a few minutes in the station to overlook ... read more

Downtown Tokyo & Akihabara

Asia » Japan » Tokyo April 19th 2004

Statue of Kusunoki Masashige

Savage

Today I took off with one of the guys from the Guest house, a fellow Brit by the name of Indrin. Well, he’s kinda a brit, but that’s a minor technicality. Anyhow, I had no plans for the day, so he mentioned something about having to go to Tokyo Station to buy tickets for the Shinshokin (Bullet Train) to Kyoto. Asked if I could tag along and that was that. Tokyo Station is a pretty damn big station, and after about 20 minutes of walking around, we found the place to buy tickets. Joy of joy, nothing much was to be found in English, so I figured the old guy behind the counter was gonna be a tough one. I popped out the old phrase book, and had everything ready for Indrin, but, as with everything ... read more

Japanese Culture 101

Asia » Japan » Tokyo April 18th 2004

Small shrine in Shibuya

Savage

Sunday just didn’t start off how I anticipated. I expected to sleep in till 8 or 9 since I’d been awake for so long, but ended waking up at about 4am. There wasn’t a chance of getting back to sleep either, so after an hour of trying, I went up to the lounge to play around on the Internet. Of course, at 5am everyone was still asleep, Andrew, the Aussie from the station was asleep on the couch, he hadn’t made a reservation, so there was no room for him to sleep except on the couch. I thought I’d start getting ready for the day, take a shower and all, and noticed I’d forgotten my toothpaste. I don’t think I forgot it though, I just can’t find where the hell I packed it. So, a trip ... read more

Week 3, On to Japan, on my own!

Asia » Japan » Tokyo April 17th 2004

indrenp

Again just a quick one..... Flew in to Tokyo for Week 3 and immediately found myself at Narita airport with no japanese currency and no atms in sight. What´s the deal with the japanese and atms? Luckily met a dude from nyc on the flight who filled me in on the essential data before landing. With help of credit card made it into town and got lost trying to find my hostel. Even the taxi driver could not find it. Another black art: finding a place in tokyo based on the actual written address. After settling into my 3 triple-bunk dorm (v nice but a little cramped) in Azabu, which is a ovely neigbourhood next to Roppongi (gai-jin ville), check out the town and fell in love with it. Tokyo is super cool, evrythiong is so interesting, ... read more

'04 Radisson Grand Voyage-Segment 4

Asia » Japan April 1st 2004

Happy Valley Race Track, Hong Kong

Chazlin

What has four legs, weighs 1054 kg., and had the worst possible odds? Yes it was my horse “Divine Feeling” and the winner of the fourth race at the Happy Valley Race Course in Hong Kong. My first time at a horse race and I won $431.50 Hong Kong dollars for a $10 bet on a long shot. We had dinner and viewed most of the race from the post position, up close and personal. Very exciting! We had done most of the tourist attractions on our last visit, so we spent most of our time with a Hong Kong tailor, getting a Chinese haircut, sipping high tea at the famed Peninsula Hotel lobby, and watching the 8PM laser light show on all the high rise buildings across the river on Hong Kong Island. We couldn’t ... read more

The early days in Japan

Asia » Japan » Hiroshima March 15th 2004

beat the heat

wheres kevin

Arrival in August: humidity, typhoons, Atomic bombs and fireworks A fellow ALT, Assistant language teacher, who greeted us first years at Hiroshima airport, having just flown in from an initial 3 day seminar in a 5 star hotel in Shinjuku, told us we were lucky to be posted to Kure. Why then did the young man at customs in Tokyo, seeing where I was headed to, laugh and say, "oooh, countryside". I had practised over and over again how to greet my new boss in Japanese. Konnichiwa. Watashi wa Kebin desu. Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu. After gathering my luggage he approached me and without a bow curtly admonished that he was double parked and would we please get a move on. My senior ALT then explained that unfortunately our supervisor was an a*s. August was hot ... read more

Thoughts of and alien in Tokyo

Asia » Japan » Tokyo » Azabu-juban February 28th 2004

Monchichi

Just a quick note to say that I have arrived safely to Japan. WOW! I have not yet had a good look around as I arrived last night in the dark. I am staying with a lovely Japanese couple whose daughter I know from Cairns. Their names are Hiroshi and Yukiko. Their home is very traditional and we have set times for meals etc. Breaky at 7.30, lunch at 12.00 and dinner at 6.00. The food so far is amazing, this morning we had miso, rice, pickled vegetables, radish and these tiny little fish that I thought were baby straw mushrooms with eyes or little sperm! There also was this traditional stuff that had beans in it and was sooo sticky, it smelt a bit too. The toilet I am yet to figure out, I have ... read more

Best snow you can find

Asia » Japan » Hokkaido » Sapporo February 14th 2004

Cassandra86

I commend Hokkaido for its beautiful scenery and lovely snow. It is indeed the best place to ski, and has the most friendly people you could ever meet. Club Med is great for families.... read more

Kansai

Asia » Japan » Osaka August 25th 2003

Rome

Osaka My second trip to Japan. My first in Kansai. KIX is cool. As the plane was making its descent, I could see the airport's runway and terminal, and it was huge. It's too bad it's not full of planes like LAX. I've read about the engineering and construction of the airport, and to be finally standing on it, it was very satisfying. I arrived in the evening (maybe 5 or 6 PM). It's been years since I've spoken Japanese, and I was afraid that people might not understand me (fortunately, I could still read, even some of the kanji). A friend once told me, if you don't know where to go, go to the green window. That was sound advice. The green window (Midori no mado) is the name of the Japan Rail (JR) service ... read more

Brief history of Japan

In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol...more history

Forum Topics for Japan

JET Programme in JapanPosts: 13

8.9 magnitude earthquak...Posts: 16

Massive Earthquake 8.9 ...Posts: 2

JR pass QUESTION!Posts: 10

Kampu Ferry to Busan, K...Posts: 1

Ski Japan with 3 KidsPosts: 4

OkinawaPosts: 1

Is it practical to stay...Posts: 2

Japan in JunePosts: 1

Advice needed please!Posts: 1

Should I purchase JR pa...Posts: 1