Kumamoto Tram System

October 10, 2013, 7:27 am

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熊本市電

The Kumamoto tram (streetcar) system - in Japanese Kumamoto shiden - has two main routes running on five lines. The tram system in Kumamoto has been in operation since 1924 and is one of the oldest continuously running streetcar networks in Japan. The flat rate to ride on a Kumamoto tram is 150 yen.

Route A (A系統) operates from Tasakibashi to Kumamoto-Ekimae, Karashimacho, Suidocho, Suizenji-Koen terminating at Kengunmachi.

Route B (B系統) runs from Kami-Kumamoto-Ekimae to Karashimacho, Suidocho to Suizenji-Koen terminating at Kengunmachi.

Kumamoto trams are not barrier-free.

Kumamoto Travel Passes

If you plan on going further afield in Kumamoto there is a new city-wide public transport pass at 500 yen for one day or 800 yen for 2 days.

The two travel days do not have to be consecutive. This pass covers all the trams as well as all the city buses including the Shiromegurin and also JR trains within the prescribed area.

The Kumamoto Port Shuttle Bus in not included in the pass, though if you take a regular bus to the port the pass covers part of the fare.

The Kumamoto Loop Bus is also a convenient way to visit the main sites in Kumamoto including Kumamoto Castle, the Children's Culture Center, Prefectural Art Museum, Municipal Museum, Hosokawa Residence, the Traditional Crafts Center, and the Art Museum Chibajo Annex. Downtown the Kumamoto Loop Bus stops near the Contemporary Art Museum and Lafcadio Hearn House.

Kumamoto Tram, with Kumamoto Castle, Kyushu, Japan

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Japan Moth

October 11, 2013, 7:44 am

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日本の蛾

According to the Wikipedia article on moths in Japan, Japan has over 6,000 moths (varieties, that is!), one of which I saw on my door the other day.

This F-117 Nighthawk-shaped little insect, a mere 2.5 or 3 cm long, looked drab at first glance, but closer inspection revealed a rich, perfectly symmetrical embroidery of myriad shades of cream and brown dabbed aesthetically with touches of moss green.

Despite extensive internet searching, I was unable to identify this moth, so leave just a photographic record of it here as a kind of moth encountered in early fall in Tokyo.

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Japanese Grand Prix 2013 Suzuka

October 11, 2013, 7:11 pm

≫ Next: Japan News This Week 13 October 2013

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鈴鹿サーキット

The 2013 Japanese Grand Prix takes place at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, central Japan on Sunday with championship leader Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) from Germany virtually assured of another title.

Practice was perfect on Friday with more excellent weather in the Nagoya area forecast for this long weekend holiday. Temperatures on Sunday will be on the warm side for this time of year.

The 5.8km Suzuka circuit is a classic figure of 8 track with an overpass and has seen some great races in the past. Suzuka hosted the 2010, 2011 and 2012 races after Fuji Speedway dropped out of the F1 calendar after hosting the Japanese Grand Prix in 2007 and 2008.

The Japanese Grand Prix race takes place over 53 laps covering 191 miles or 307.4km). The lap record at Suzuka is held by Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren) in 2005 with a time of 1 minute 31.540 seconds.

Suzuka hosts other motor sport events and the Suzuka Street Car Festival.

Suzuka is in Mie Prefecture not far from Nagoya city by public transport. Take a Kintetsu or JR train from Nagoya Station or Osaka Station.

Shiroko Station has shuttle buses to the track. Alternatively change at Yokkaichi and take an infrequent Ise Tetsudo Line train to Suzuka Circuit Ino. Then a 20 minute walk.

If driving from Nagoya or Tokyo take the Tomei Expressway and exit at the Suzuka IC. From Osaka take the Shin Meishin Expressway and exit at the Kameyama IC.
Suzuka Circuit
Tel: 059 378 1111
Tickets 11,000 Yen - 72,000 Yen

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Japan News This Week 13 October 2013

October 18, 2013, 8:22 pm

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今週の日本

Tokyo left in the cold as ties between Beijing and Seoul warm
Asashi

Japan Companies Sued For Illegally Using Michael Jackson's Name
Global Post

Broken lives of Fukushima
NBCNEWS.com

IMF’s Shinohara Says More BOJ Easing ‘Dangerous’ Without Reforms
Bloomberg

Japan monkey attack victims to be given compensation
BBC

Japan tabloids brimming with anti-Korea diatribes
Japan Times

Japan Needs More Brawling Billionaires
NPR

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Statistics

Percentage of abortions in Japan of all pregnancies:
2001: 22.6%
2010: 16.6%

Source: Johnston Archive

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Peninsula Tokyo Hotel

October 15, 2013, 12:53 am

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ペニンシュラ東京

The Peninsula Tokyo is a luxury, 24-story hotel in the Yurakucho area of Tokyo, just a few minutes' walk west of the high-class Ginza shopping district and one short train stop from recently refurbished Tokyo Station and the chic central business district of Marunouchi in which the station is located.

Night view of the Peninsula Tokyo hotel, Japan.

The Peninsula Tokyo has 267 spacious rooms and 47 even bigger suites, all featuring the latest in high-tech gadgetry and connectivity.

The Peninsula Tokyo opened in 2007 - the Peninsula group's only flagship presence in Japan - but in the six years since has distinguished itself as one of Japan's top hotels.

The Peninsula Tokyo offers not only the convenience of nearby shopping, but, being located close to Hibiya Park, has ready access to greenery and the events that often happen in Hibiya Park, not to mention views from the rooms of its verdancy. Across from Hibiya Park, and also fully visible from the Peninsula Tokyo, is the Imperial Palace, adding a further note of beauty and dignity to the overall setting.

The Peninsula Tokyo is impeccably decorated inside in generally dark, muted tones, but, as the above picture shows, cuts a dazzling figure in Tokyo's nightscape.

There are five restaurants and bars in the Peninsula Tokyo, serving Japanese, Chinese and Western-style food - and drinks.There is also a spa and fitness room.

While rates change according to season, package and type, rooms start at roughly USD500 a night and suites at about double that. Rooms facing the Imperial Palace are the most sought after.

The Peninsula Tokyo
1-8-1 Yurakucho
Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0006
Tel: 03 6270 2888

View Google Map of the Peninsula Tokyo in a larger map

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A Walk Around Kyushu Day 18 Sotaro to Nobeoka

October 16, 2013, 2:16 am

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A Walk Around Kyushu Day 18, Saturday March 23rd Sotaro to Nobeoka

Once again I am up and out before light. The train I need to catch back up into the mountains where I finished walking yesterday leaves just after 6. If I miss it I have an 11 hour wait until the next one!

Today I will be walking downhill all the way..... my favorite kind of walking. Starting in Sotaro, the valley is narrow and steep and as it slowly becomes light it reveals a thick mist filling the valley.

After a while the valley widens enough to have two roads, one on each bank of the river, and whenever possible I take the narrower road with less traffic. I stop in and explore a few shrines. There seems to be quite a few. At times I can walk for most of the day without passing one, but sometimes they are more common.

Eventually the sun rise above the hilltop and shines through the mist, but there is no warmth, no yellow, only a cool blue like a full moon. Another river comes in and joins the one I am following and the valley is wider and the mist has burnt off to reveal blue skies.

A narrow concrete viaduct curves across the valley but is silent with no traffic. A new expressway not yet open. Even when it does open it will likely not have much traffic as most drivers won't pay the exorbitant tolls, but never mind, the construction companies will have made their money, some of which will find its way back into the coffers of the bureaucrats and politicians who authorized the construction in the first place.

At the next horseshoe bend in the river a long flight of stone steps lead up to a shrine on top of the hill. If I had a penny for every shrine step I had climbed I could probably retire. Fortunately I left my backpack at the hotel I will be returning to tonight so it's not such a bad climb.

From the top I look down on what is going to be the interchange for the new expressway and a little further downstream I have a good view of Mount Enodake, a flat topped granite mountain that was the site of the decisive battle of the Seinan War, sometimes known as the Satsuma Rebellion or Saigo's War.

In 1877 Saigo and three thousand troops were surrounded by 50,000 troops of the Imperial Army. To everyone's surprise Saigo was not captured, he managed to sneak out with a couple of hundred men, but without ammunition for their guns it was all over. He managed to make it back to Kagoshima where he famously committed suicide.

I turn in to the next village and visit the small museum in the old house that was the site of his encampment. It's dominated by a life-size tableau of Saigo and his lieutenants, and there are a couple of small rooms filled with old guns, uniforms, etc. Worth visiting if you are a Saigo fan I guess.

Behind the house is a small park with cherry trees and a trail that leads up to the top of the mountain and I'm surprised to read that up there is believed to be the tomb of Ninigi, the grandson of Amaterasu the Sun Goddess, and great grandfather of Jimmu, the mythical first emperor of Japan.

From here on into Nobeoka is uneventful. The road gradually widens out and fills with suburbs and traffic. It's only early afternoon when I get back to my hotel next to the station so I have plenty of time to visit the two temples that are part of the pilgrimage route, numbers 31 and 32.

The first is an uninspiring concrete structure in a quiet neighborhood, but the second was quite nice, on a wooded hill at the edge of town. I headed back towards the station and about halfway there was the castle hill located between two rivers. Only the stone walls and ramparts remain now, and like every castle ruin in Japan I have been too it has been planted with cherry trees.

Being a weekend, and being a sunny, warm day, the grounds of the castle were swarming with people. Dozens of blue tarps were already spread out on the ground, music was playing, and alcohol was being consumed. It's O-hanami.

On my way back to my hotel there is one more stop. On the hill behind the train station is the main shrine of the city, a Hachimangu, and above it on the hilltop a small temple with a big statue. It was once advertised as the biggest statue of Kobo Daishi in the world, but a few years ago a bigger one was built in Shikoku. Now it is having a face-lift and is encased in scaffolding so cannot be seen properly. A bit of a let down to end what has been a long and enjoyable day.

Jake Davies

A Walk Around Kyushu 17

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Izumo Dome

October 18, 2013, 4:28 am

≫ Next: Japan News This Week 20 October 2013

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出雲ドーム

Though there are many large-scale domes scattered across Japan, the Izumo Dome is not one of the better known ones: those would be Fukuoka Dome or Tokyo Dome, but it does have some distinction, being the biggest wooden dome in Japan and by some accounts the biggest wooden building in Japan.

The Great Buddha Hall at Todai-ji in Nara is most often described as the biggest wooden building in Japan and even the world, but at 49 meters in height the Izumo Dome is a tad taller, and while the Great Buddha Hall has base dimensions of 57 by 50 meters the Izumo Dome has a diameter of 143 meters, a much larger area, but when it comes to the respective volumes of the 2 buildings the Great Buddha Hall checks in as the biggest by virtue of its shape.

Like its more famous counterparts in Tokyo or Fukuoka, the Izumo Dome was built as an indoor sports arena, but as there are no professional sports teams in Izumo its capacity is quite small with just 2,500 seats.

Izumo Dome was built in 1992 and designed by the Kajima Corporation. Its design is based upon the structure of Japanese umbrellas, and is really quite a strikingly elegant building, although that is more apparent from the inside.

The skin of the dome is translucent so the inside is bathed in warm light and so no artificial lighting is needed for daytime events. If you visit when there are no events taking place the staff will allow you to walk out to the center of the dome and if you look up you might imagine you were under the dome of a great European cathedral or Islamic mosque.

When there are no ticketed events taking place the Dome is open to the public from 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week for a 150 yen entrance fee.

Izumo Dome is located about 4km from Izumo Station and 6k from Izumo Taisha, and is accessible by a 12 minute bus journey from Izumo Station.

Izumo Dome
999 Yano-cho
Izumo-shi
Shimane 693-0058
Tel: 0853 25 1006

Google map of Izumo Dome

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Japan News This Week 20 October 2013

October 21, 2013, 7:09 pm

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今週の日本

Japanese Leader Rejects Appearance at War Shrine
New York Times

Japan PM hints at amending pacifist constitution
Global Post

China media: Abe criticised
BBC

China summons Japanese ambassador over war shrine visit
Guardian

Defending champion Giants wrap up sweep against Carp, return to Japan Series
Japan Times

Fukushima: Life and the Transnationality of Radioactive Contamination1 - See more at: http://www.japanfocus.org/-Adam-Broinowski/4009#sthash.SlItA5LR.dpuf
Japan Focus

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Statistics

Japan's tuna catch quota for 2015-2017 will increase to 4,737 tons.

The Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna adopted the quota at its annual meeting, which was held in Australia.

Member states include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea.

Source: Japan News

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Mark 1 Hotel Tsukuba

October 20, 2013, 8:58 pm

≫ Next: Ryogoku Station in Tokyo's Sumo Heart

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ホテルマークワンつくば研究学園

Virtually next door to the Toyoko Inn Kenkyugakuen Tsukuba, at Kenkyugakuen Station is the Mark-1 Hotel Tsukuba - a superior business hotel with the added luxury of a spacious onsen bath open to guests-only.

The boxy rooms are modern and the beds firm. There are excellent views of Mt. Tsukuba from the north facing side.

Tsukuba (Science City) in Ibaraki Prefecture is best reached on the Tsukuba Express (TX) Line from Akihabara (1100 yen) in Tokyo.

Near the Mark 1 hotel is the pleasant Kenkyugakuen-mae Park and the popular Iias shopping mall with its food courts, import supermarket and large Uniqlo store.

Also in Kenkyugakuen-mae the Bestland Hotel has an excellent Italian style restaurant, La Porta, on the ground (1st) floor.

Mark 1 Hotel Tsukuba
D3 Gaiku 5
Kenkyu-gakuen
Tsukuba city
Ibaraki 305-0817
Japan
Tel: 029 875 7272
Check-in: 15:00
Check-out: 10:00

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Ryogoku Station in Tokyo's Sumo Heart

October 23, 2013, 8:13 pm

≫ Next: Japan News This Week 27 October 2013

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両国駅

Ryogoku Station is a station in Tokyo's Sumida ward at the east end of the metropolis, and serves the JR Sobu line. Ryogoku Station dates from 1904 when the then private Sobu Line was first established here.

The Sobu Railway line began in 1894 with the establishment of a line from Sakura, about 40 km east of Ryogoku, to Ichikawa, about 11 km east of Ryogoku. The line was extended as far as Ryogoku in 1904. The construction involved extending the line from what was then Honjo (now Kinshicho) station. That 1.5 km section was the first ever elevated railroad to be built in Japan. It begun as a single-track line, but with provision for double tracks, and was made double-track two years later.

Ryogoku Station is right beside the Sumida River, and Sobu Railway lacked the means to build a bridge, so Ryogoku became the line's Tokyo-side terminal, and the company headquarters was built alongside Ryogoku Station. It so happened that in the same year, 1904, the Tobu Railway line's westernmost station, Azumabashi Station (now the Tokyo Skytree Station) was built. This prompted the construction of the Kameido Line running south from Azumabashi (now Asakusa Station), connecting Azumabashi and Ryogoku. This lasted until 1910, making Ryogoku the terminal station for both the Sobu and the Tobu lines during that time. As such, it was the biggest earning station east of Tokyo, and the sixth-biggest earning station of all Tokyo stations, until 1932 when the line was extended west to Ochanomizu.

Ryogoku Station burnt down in the 1923 Kanto earthquake, and was rebuilt in its present form in 1929.

East of Ryogoku, railway lines were not yet electrified, so the establishment in 1958 of a (steam) express train service between Ryogoku and the Boso Peninsula down south in Chiba prefecture saw Ryogoku somewhat restored to its former glory as a terminal. As Japan's economy grew during this period, so did the numbers of people going down to Boso and back for a day at the beach. Even after electrification, many express trains ended here instead of Shinjuku Station, but this finally ended in 1988.

In 1972, an underground express line between Tokyo Station and Kinshicho Station wsa built as part of the Sobu Line (Rapid), which trains passed Ryogoku by.

So since 1988, Ryogoku Station has served as a local station only.

Ryogoku Station is saved, however, from obscurity by its prominent place as rail hub for Japan's preeminent sumo wrestling area. The Kokugikan sumo stadium is less than five minutes' walk from Ryogoku Station. Ryogoku Station itself features sumo-related paraphernalia inside, and is surrounded by restaurants specializing in the dish associated with sumo wrestling: chanko nabe.

(Most of the information here was provided by the Japanese Wikipedia article on Ryogoku Station.)

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Japan News This Week 27 October 2013

October 28, 2013, 4:27 pm

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今週の日本

The Lessons of Japan’s Economy
New York Times

Fatal addiction: Authors accuse Apple of destroying Japan's tech industry
Global Post

Small tsunami reaches Japan after earthquake
BBC

Why have young people in Japan stopped having sex?
Guardian

Japan receives global offers to contain water spills at Fukushima No. 1
Japan Times

Can Abenomics Cope With Environmental Disaster?
Japan Focus

After Storm, Toxic Water Overflows in Japan
New York Times

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Statistics

In September, foreign tourists to Japan numbered 867,100. That was an increase of 31.7 percent and the highest number since those numbers began to be counted in 1964.

The largest number came from Taiwan (206,800). Those from China came to 156,300.

Source: Japan News

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Roof Gardens At Osaka Station City

November 1, 2013, 9:38 am

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大阪ステーションシティ

The massive Osaka Station City in Umeda, Osaka, consists of multi-story North and South Buildings spanned by a huge roof.

Yarawagi-no-niwa Plaza (Healing Garden), Umeda, Osaka

Both the North Gate and South Gate buildings have roof garden spaces, where visitors can relax and enjoy the views.

The taller North Gate Building has three roof garden spaces. The Yarawagi-no-niwa Plaza (Healing Garden) on the 10th floor includes a central water feature and gardens and is the most frequented.

Yarawagi-no-niwa Plaza (Healing Garden)

The Kaze-no-hiroba (Wind Plaza) is a smaller space up on the 11th Floor open 7am-midnight.

Tenku-no-noen is a small urban farm on the roof of the North Gate Building on the 14th Floor and is accessed by stairs from the 11th as part of an exercise course.

Tenku-no-noen

Tenku-no-noen is open 7am-9pm. One visiting friend mocked it as just a "few cabbages on the roof" and to be sure the over-riding impression of a visit to OSC is one of concrete and glass rather than flowers and grass.

Taiyo-no-hiroba (Sun Plaza)

The South Gate Building's roof garden is the Taiyo-no-hiroba (Sun Plaza) an open-plan roof garden on the 15th, 16th and 17th floors with more views over the city, wooden decking and benches. It looks as if it would be baking on a hot day in summer with little shade and not really that much greenery.

Kyoto Station pioneered the roof garden concept with its "Happy Terrace".

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Super Hotel Otsu

November 1, 2013, 2:50 am

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Visiting Japan rates as a highlight of my year. My daughter and I have traveled around the country many, many times now. Recently we returned from a trip, and we are still aglow with the sights, sounds, and colors of our experience. We've also come back with some new insights. I'd like to tell you about what turned out to be a good idea.

We had planned to spend some time in Kyoto, but we felt we didn't need to stay overnight in the city. On an earlier trip to Japan we had visited Shiga Prefecture and were comfortable riding up and down the JR Biwako Line. Amanda suggested we stay in Otsu - she thought it would cost less and it was just a 10-minute ride to the former capital city of Kyoto.

We arrived at the sleepy Otsu station and headed down the street ahead of us. A couple of blocks later we spotted a Lawson's on the left side of the road. When we looked to the right, above us was a lit up sign, and there it was: Super Hotel.

I am happy to report that Super Hotel was clean, comfortable, and convenient to the station. The staff was pleasant, and we enjoyed the free buffet-style breakfast. You even get free use of the cup type vending machine - I tried peach iced tea, hot cocoa, and strawberry hot cocoa over a three-day stay. Not only that, Super Hotel had free wifi with an excellent connection. For us, the hotel was perfect... and all for 7900 yen per night for 2 people!

Amanda and I were able to venture to Kyoto and various other cities, then return to Otsu in the evening. You may also take the JR to attractions in Shiga, such as Hikone Castle - it is one of only twelve castles in Japan with the original keep, and only one of four castles designated as a national treasure. You may also visit Lake Biwa - it is the largest freshwater lake in Japan and is one of the world's twenty oldest lakes, dating to almost four million years ago. So if you don't require fancy digs, stay at Super Hotel in Otsu and make your yen go further!

Super Hotel Otsu Map

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Japan News This Week 3 November 2013

November 6, 2013, 5:08 pm

≫ Next: A Walk Around Kyushu Day 19 Nobeoka to Hyuga City

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今週の日本

With a Plant’s Tainted Water Still Flowing, No End to Environmental Fears
New York Times

2 Chinese navy ships sail just outside Japan waters between Okinawa islets
Global Post

Latest NSA revelations on US actions in Spain, Japan.
BBC

Japan's three biggest banks face yakuza links inquiry
Guardian

Tepco confirms U.S. will help with Fukushima No. 1 dismantling, cleanup
Japan Times

Japan's Cut-Price Nuclear Cleanup 福島は割引清掃
Japan Focus

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Statistics

The Global Gender Gap Report 2013 has recently been released by the World Economic Forum. Here are the results. Japan placed 120 out of 135 countries..

1. Iceland
2. Finland
3. Norway
4. Sweden
5. Philippines
6. Ireland
7. New Zealand
8. Denmark
9. Switzerland
10. Nicaragua
11. Belgium
12. Latvia
13. Netherlands
14. Germany
15. Cuba
16. Lesotho
17. South Africa
18. United Kingdom
19. Austria
20. Canada
21. Luxembourg
22. Burundi
23. United States

33. Mongolia

69. China

120. Japan

Source: Japan News

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A Walk Around Kyushu Day 19 Nobeoka to Hyuga City

November 3, 2013, 5:18 pm

≫ Next: Goofing Off in Japan (Not Me This Time)

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A Walk Around Kyushu Day 19, Sunday March 24th Nobeoka to Hyuga City

It's the fifth day of this leg of my walk, and by now my body and mind have both readjusted to what is needed of them. A 15 kilo pack on my back now feels normal and I feel strangely light when I take it off, and most, but not all, impatience has faded from my attitude.

For the next few days my route heads south along the east coast of Miyazaki, mostly following the main road, but hopefully I can take detours to take a break from the traffic.

Today is only about 22km with one temple stop along the way, and there is a bit of high cloud but no rain in the forecast. I pass a very pleasant morning stopping in at shrines along the route. None of them were big or famous shrines, just small, local shrines, and I don't know anyone else who likes to visit them, but for me I can usually find something of interest in any shrine.

These shrines in Miyazaki have interesting and different styles of komainu, and at many shrines there can usually be found eclectic collections of small statues left by parishioners.

A Walk Around Kyushu Day 19 Nobeoka to Hyuga City

Late in the morning I reach the outskirts of Kadogawa and temple number 33, Eiganji. It's up the inevitable flight of steps on a small rise overlooking the port town. Surprisingly there are people about, most of the temples I've visited on this pilgrimage have been quiet and empty.

The priest's wife invites me in for tea and I'm not sure why but I politely decline. South of the town I look back across the bay to the peninsular with Mount Eboshi bristling with antennae. There are dozens of Mount Eboshi's all over Japan, eboshi being a type of hat worn by Shinto priests so I guess the shape of the mountains resemble said eboshi. The rivers I cross over are still and mirror-like.

Another hour and I reach the northern edge of Hyuga City. The main road heads over a low rise but a side road to the left, lined with very tall palm trees, heads around a small peninsular.

I follow the palm trees, figuring the small coast road is more likely to offer up something interesting. But no. Hyuga city is spread out but there doesn't seem much to it. The name comes from the old name of the province, and I don't know what its original name was before the 1950's when it was renamed.

There is a nice new train station but not much of a commercial district. I did some research before I headed off on this leg but couldn't find anything of interest in the town. It does have some hotels, and as there appear to be few accommodation options for the next 30km or so I decide to make an early end to the day and get some laundry done. Out of my hotel room I have a nice view of the sunset over the wide river. A pleasant enough day but with nothing particularly exciting.

Jake Davies

A Walk Around Kyushu 18

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Goofing Off in Japan (Not Me This Time)

November 9, 2013, 2:21 am

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Goofing off. Don't we all need to do that once in a while? As an advocate of this type of thing, I would say, "Yes, indeedy."

Recently my daughter and I took a train ride from Nara to Wakayama. It took a while, a bit over two hours. We saw people board and get off all along the way, the usual train traffic. After a while, I began to notice a group of three boys who I guessed to be middle school aged. The boy in the red shirt shot past us, snagged a blue backpack from the overhead rung, slipped out the doors, and breathlessly handed the bag to a high school girl (her friends broke into giggles) before jumping back on the train. Then he lightly deposited himself on a seat near the end of our nearly deserted train car.

Over the course of our journey the boy in the red shirt engaged in several activities, once or repeatedly. He opened and closed his umbrella in succession, making a snap and a whoosh-whoosh sound; he grabbed the commuter rings, hung on and then swung himself upside down; drank a beverage and let the bottle roll on the floor; stretched out and laid down on the train seat; streaked off the train at a brief stop to buy cup of noodles; ate said noodles and left the empty carton on the floor; then, he took off one shoe and one sock, smelled the sock, and rolled up one pants leg to his knee.

We were trying not to laugh in an obvious way, but we couldn't help it - here was a kid being a kid, whether he was Japanese or not. We imagined his mom being really angry if she knew what he was doing. But what really made us laugh the harder is that a salary man was sitting just a few feet away from the red shirt boy, and he behaved as if the boy did not exist.

All three boys had noticed us, too, and Amanda could hear them talking in Japanese. At the end of the line, they approached us and spoke English: "Why have you come to Wakayama?" Amanda responded, "To see the castle." But for both of us, the journey had been quite amusing while we surreptitiously watched this good-natured fun (the red shirt boy had not left his trash) and it had done my heart good.

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Japan News This Week 10 November 2013

November 11, 2013, 4:11 pm

≫ Next: Japan: Big in Bangkok

≪ Previous: Goofing Off in Japan (Not Me This Time)

今週の日本

Japanese Pitcher’s Winning Streak Ends at 30
New York Times

Japan's PM warns China on use of force as jets scrambled
Global Post

Japan's Quest for Empire 1931 - 1945
BBC

Fukushima nuclear clean-up enters critical phase
Guardian

Japan brings out the big guns to sell remilitarization in U.S.
Japan Times

Miyazawa Kenji’s Prophetic Green Vision: Japan’s Great Writer/Poet on the 80th Anniversary of His Death - See more at: http://www.japanfocus.org/-Roger-Pulvers/4021#sthash.PxoMQQDv.dpuf
Japan Focus

Last Week's Japan News on the JapanVisitor blog

Statistics

From a recent poll in the Asahi Shinbun:

Are you a hardworker or lazy?

58% replied in the former, 42% the latter.

The poll was of 2,217 adults in Japan.

Source: Asahi Shinbun

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Japan: Big in Bangkok

November 10, 2013, 7:01 am

≫ Next: Top 10 Tips for Traveling in Japan on a Budget

≪ Previous: Japan News This Week 10 November 2013

A weekend spent in Bangkok showed Japan is BIG in the Thai capital.

The Gateway Ekamai shopping mall on 982/22 Sukhumvit Road is right in front of Bangkok's Ekamai station. The Gateway Ekamai is famous as "little Japan" in Bangkok, advertised by among other things the massive lucky maneki-neko beckoning cats out the front. An hour or so there on Saturday more than confirmed that reputation for Japaneseness.

The ground floor was chockablock with Thai kids, many in the quirky cosplay fad that Japan has made famous. There was a Japanese-style boy-band doing its slick synchronized dance thing on a raised floodlit stage.

And the energy level! Whatever floor we were on, the high-energy buzz of the huge, excited young crowd of Thai guys and girls made itself heard throughout.

Gateway Ekamai is full of Japanese-themed shops, stores, restaurants and stalls selling everything from Hello Kitty to takoyaki to Hokkaido milk to sushi.

If you find yourself in Bangkok, check out Thailand's take on Japan at the Gateway Ekamai.

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Top 10 Tips for Traveling in Japan on a Budget

November 13, 2013, 3:23 am

≫ Next: Gifu Squirrel Village

≪ Previous: Japan: Big in Bangkok

安い日本

1) Buy drinks from drug stores

While 100 yen shops may seem like a good deal (about a dollar for a drink), drug stores usually have drinks for as cheap as 60 yen!

2) Fill up your water bottle for free

Have a look in that restaurant you want to visit. Are there water bottles on the tables? Most cheap places have them. Don't bother orderings drinks, drink that free water and refill your water bottle.

3) Eat at Japanese fast food restaurants

With prices starting at 3 dollars, get your fill of some junky, but Japanese food. Look out for Matsuya (松屋), Yoshinoya and Sukiya.

4) Go to cheap bento box takeaway shops

Origin Bento is a great place to pick up a cheap bento for 400 yen or more (about 4 dollars). There is loads of choice and there are plenty of little parks around to eat them in.

5) Use 'Free passes'

Going for a one day trip somewhere? There may be a 'free pass' to this place, offering unlimited bus and/or train use plus maybe some discounts at tourist attractions for a whole day, for a fixed price.

6) Eat at cheap all-you-can restaurants

Look out for these signs outside a restaurant: 食べ放題 (tabehoudai) or ご飯のおかわりが無料 (free rice). These mean all-you-can eat!

7) Don't get the expensive express train from the airport

Instead of getting something like the Narita Express into Tokyo, get on a normal express train and save on the extra charges. It will only add half an hour or so to your journey.

8) Stay in a love hotel

While they do sound a bit sleezy, many offer a nice, small room for around 6000-9000 yen a night. A stay in a love hotel is also a truly 'only in Japan' experience.

9) Stay in a capsule hotel

It may look like a coffin, but it’s the cheapest way to stay in a 'hotel' in the center of a Japanese city. Prices start from just 2500 yen a night, about 25 USD.

10) Use highway buses instead of the Shinkansen

Use cheap bus companies like Willer Express and take a night bus to save a huge amount of money over taking an expensive bullet train and staying in a hotel room.

Matthew Baxter

Matthew is a blogger, game developer and writer living in Tokyo, Japan. He has lived cheaply in Japan for over 5 years, and writes for Cheapo Japan, a travel guide dedicated to budget travel in Japan. You can read more of his work at www.cheapojapan.com

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Gifu Squirrel Village

November 14, 2013, 7:04 am

≫ Next: Japan News This Week 17 November 2013

≪ Previous: Top 10 Tips for Traveling in Japan on a Budget

金華山リス村

I am fascinated by Japan's Warring States Era, and over the years I have visited historically significant sites all across Japan.

On this day my daughter and I took the ropeway up to Gifu Castle. Once inside, we enjoyed viewing the portraits of warlords such as Saito Dosan and Oda Nobunaga, but seeing the brutal weapons of war made us cringe with discomfort.

Also, I think there is something about Gifu Castle and its environs that you should know - there is a Squirrel Village. In fact, we stopped at the Squirrel Village before we climbed the steps to Gifu Castle (Sorry, Nobunaga). And we were utterly charmed.

After we paid the 200 yen entrance fee, the attendant handed us each a glove to wear. She opened the gate and we could see squirrels both gallivanting and lazing about. The attendant sprinkled a finely ground "nut dust" into our gloved palms and the squirrels were immediately attracted, jumping up and nibbling at the treat we held. It was pretty darn cute.

We each took pictures using our un-gloved hand. Next, we were given a few peanut pieces to feed to the caged chipmunk, who was even cuter than the squirrels. I felt sorry that the chipmunk was confined because it zipped frenetically around the cage - it would have driven my cats insane - but given a peanut, the chipmunk paused to eat. We were enchanted by the Squirrel Village, but if you are afraid of rodents (like my mom) or if you consider them pests (like my dad) it is probably best to pass this one by.

Amanda and I reflected on what Oda Nobunaga would think about the Squirrel Village existing on the castle grounds. We concluded that it would meet his approval as long as it produced revenue!

Gifu Squirrel Village map

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