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Japan aficionados: help me plan my trip!

idlethink — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:03:55 -0800

I would like to see Tokyo, Kyoto, Miyajima, Hiroshima and Naoshima in the space of 10 days. What should I see? Is this possible? and if not, all advice welcome! Details after the jump. I'm planning a ten-day trip to Japan in June, part of which will be with family (one member of which is very familiar with Japan, so I am less concerned about those parts of the trip) and the rest on my own. I am flying into Kansei (Osaka), and from then will have a 7-day JR pass which will expire on the 20th, by which time I plan to be in Tokyo.

14-17 June: Kyoto with family
17-18 June: Solo - Miyajima
18-19 June: Solo - Hiroshima
19/20-24 June: Tokyo with family

My question is in two parts.

1) The question of the extra day

I potentially have one more night solo (19-20 June) before I head back up to Tokyo to spend the rest of the vacation with family. I'd love some advice regarding this extra day. I am extremely interested in seeing Naoshima/Teshima, but am having trouble deciding if that's logistically feasible. Options presently:

(A) Just spend another night in Hiroshima and take it easy
(B) Train up to Naoshima and Teshima, staying overnight on one of those islands
(C) See Naoshima, then stay overnight in a relatively nearby city (Okoyama? Kobe? Osaka?)
(D) Skip Naoshima entirely and spend the second night in a major city between Hiroshima and Tokyo, which would make getting back to Tokyo on the 20th easier

If (A), is two nights in Hiroshima too much? If not, I would love recommendations. Obviously, I am going to spend a good deal of time in the Peace Museum.

If (B) or (C), am I severely underestimating the amount of time it would take me to get from place to place? For example, if I left Hiroshima early on the 19th, by what time could I reasonably expect to actually be on Naoshima - and would there be enough time on the island before museums close or the ferry stops running? If (B), is it in fact worth staying the night? I have been told by many people that Naoshima is actually not quite even a day trip.

If (D), which city?

2) The question of what to see

I would love recommendations on anything I should see or do while in Japan, given where I'm going! My interests tend somewhat away from sightseeing as such (i.e. seeing for the sake of having seen), and more towards experiences unique to the place I'm visiting: seeing interesting exhibitions and museums (I am a historian), wandering around quirky & interesting places, people-watching, eating good food in interesting environments, watching interesting food or objects being made, visiting funky bookstores or shops, etc. I am not a huge shopper and not very much into souvenirs, but I'd happily buy edible things or crafted goods that are really unique to the place, if such things were available.

Any help would be enormously appreciated, and my apologies for the very long post. Thanks in advance!

Travelfilter: How to get the cheapest flight from Vancouver - Tokyo?

abbagoochie — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:02:04 -0800

I've wanted to go to Tokyo all my life, and have a few weeks off soon. I've been looking for flights and the cheapest I can find are $1450 all in... but I suspect if I the trip was broken up a bit by not flying there directly, it'd be a lot cheaper. Are there any resources you know of to help with this/have you done this before/do you know a good route that would shave off the $$$? Time isn't overly important as I have three weeks between jobs for exploring. But I don't want to be paying this off till next year. Help!

After the Quake

slowlikemolasses — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:43:11 -0800

Does Murakami's collection *After the Quake* mention the Great Kantō earthquake or include anything about tensions between ethnic Koreans and the Japanese?

Mystery ultraviolent manga from/before late '80s

shortfuse — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:52:09 -0800

Hoping to ID an incredibly violent manga that I read a few pages of, back around '88 give or take a couple of years. I've had some images seared in my then-impressionable brain. Lots of blood and gore but not explosively cartoonish like, say, Hokuto no Ken / Fist of North Star. More cruel than anything. Set in modern times. The main character was some sort of vagabond/wanderer/assassin, and was drawn in a Golgo 13 style, with longish hair and maybe a leather jacket. Episodic stories as far as I can tell of him going around fighting baddies. I had borrowed it from a Japanese girl - I believe it was a tankobon. I didn't speak Japanese then so I can't relay non-visual details. Some scenes I recall:

- The "hero" is being attacked by a "villain" who is trying to mow down the hero using a big rig truck with a bulletproof glass protecting the driver's seat. Unfazed, the hero jumps almost superhumanly, and dive-kicks the glass. Cracks appear to the speechless shock of the villain. Another kick, and the hero smashes thru the glass, jump-kicking the villain straight on the forehead. An x-ray-like frame shows the villain's skull, now with cracks. He dies.

- The hero is fighting off multiple villains. He beats them, but not before 2 baddies have driven their swords into the hero, from the back, around waist-level. He is bleeding profusely, but still walks away after saying some words to a female character nearby in that Japanese manga-hero macho way. Next frame shows him in a hospital though, barely surviving.

- A villain is able to control snakes to attack and murder people. He learned this in some sort of training camp for evil folks. He kills a bunch of people at a gathering (party?), sending his snakes into the house/building and having them bite and choke people to death. A woman who trained with him at the camp is involved in fighting him, and eventually she throws a short knife into his forehead/skull to kill him.

I give up. What is the name of this Japanese movie?

dcrocha — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:50:09 -0800

I once watched a Japanese movie on a flight but can't for the life of me remember its name. It is about a mysterious Chinese investor trying a hostile takeover of a large Japanese car maker. A retired legend of the Japanese car industry is brought back from retirement to try and save the company from being sold to the Chinese dude.

Wounded teddy bears?

Chocolate Pickle — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 08:57:49 -0800

Sorry for an otaku question, but what's the deal with bandaged teddy bears? In the recent series Girls und Panzer the protagonist Miho has a large collection of teddy bears in her dorm room all of which are covered with bandages. When her friends visit, none of them seem to think this is strange. And just today in the next-ep teaser of the first episode of Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S Mikoto is shown in her pajamas cuddling with a teddy bear covered in bandages.

Is this a "thing" in Japan all of a sudden? What's the idea here? Is "bandaged teddy bears" suddenly some sort of fad?

Other games using Karuta Cards?

Caravantea — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:44:51 -0800

When I lived in Japan I spent new years with a family and we played a card game using Karuta cards. It wasn't a variation of Karuta... it had something to do with the portraits of the people on the cards? Like, whether they were princesses, ladies or lords. Sort of like Old Maid maybe? Does anyone know what this was?

Will Chinese Manufacturing Quality Improve?

Quisp Lover — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:24:33 -0800

Will the phrase "Made in China" eventually overcome its stigma as "Made in Japan" once did? 50 years ago, cheaply-made goods Japanese goods flooded American markets. They were popular for some time until a widespread backlash developed as people noticed these goods were poorly made and easily broken. Slowly, the the stigma of "Made in Japan" was overcome, and today Japanese-made goods are actually prized.

This year I've begun to notice increasingly widespread backlash against crummy China-made goods. And I'm wondering if the Japanese analogy is likely to continue - i.e. is Chinese manufacturing likely to improve? Or is there just too much third world demand for dirt-cheap, barely-functional goods? That strikes me as the distinction here: Japanese were mostly targeting US and Europe.

What must I see in Japan?

Gorilla456 — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 21:18:04 -0800

I'm probably going to Japan at the end of July for roughly one week. What MUST I see or do in that one week? I'm primarily interested in sightseeing - temples, historical type things, some hiking in the mountains, stuff like that. Maybe a bit of nightlife thrown in. I'm not sure if I should pick one city and explore it better or try to go around to different cities during my one week.

I know basically nothing about Japan. What's a decent one-week itinerary that involves sightseeing and maybe some nightlife? Any other tips for travel in the country? I'm also somewhat low-budget, so any specific recommendations for lodging are welcome as well.

Insurance options for the recently unemployed in Tokyo?

princeoftheair — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:32:04 -0800

I'm an American living in working in Tokyo, but am planning on moving to the states in a few months. I will leave my current job in a month that is providing insurance and take a month or two off to get my affairs in order. What are my options for insurance after I resign? As far as I can tell, there is government insurance that I can buy into for being uninsured, but if I report that I have no job I will be switched over from my working visa to a 90-day tourist visa. I'm happy to switch over as I am planning on leaving anyway, but can I still register for insurance to cover my last couple months? Would it be possible to register for the insurance and NOT mention I am unemployed? Are there other options to alleviate my medical emergency anxiety?

I would just go without, but I have gotten pretty sick a couple of times in the last few months that required a hospital visit. I would gladly pay for some peace of mind that this point. I appreciate any information on this as my google searches have been rather unhelpful.

Help me identify this music video

mhjb — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 03:23:22 -0800

I'm thinking of a music video by a Japanese rock band that starts with a long tracking shot of a huge guitar effects pedal chain. I know it is an amazing song but I can't for the life of me recall the name.

Is this itinerary for a trip to Japan reasonable?

Heliochrome85 — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:23:44 -0800

I am traveling to Tokyo next week and have not been there before. Is this itinerary reasonable? I will be traveling alone to Tokyo for the first time. After doing a ton of research, I have been able to put together an itinerary, but am not sure if it is a reasonable one. My plan is as follows:

SA - March 23rd - TOKYO
- Arrive Narita 4pm
- Take train to hotel/check in
- Explore area around hotel
- Akihabara?
SU - March 24th - TOKYO
- Asakusa Shrine– Tokyo SGG club
- Nakamise Shopping District
- Shibuya
- Meiji Shrine/Harajuku(best on Sundays/Shibuya
M - March 25th - TOKYO
- Tokyo
- Tsukiji Fish Mkt./Ginza/Sony/Imperial Palace – Gardens East/Nissan Gallery
- Tokyo Sky Tree
Tu- March 26th - KYOTO
- Kiyomizudera Temple – Higashiyama District – Ginkakuji
- Kinkakuji Temple – Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Philosophers Walk?
Wed- March 27th - TOKYO
- UENO PARK TOUR – Tokyo SGG Club
- Akihabara/Asakusa(Sensoji Temple)
Thrs- March 28th - TOKYO?Hiroshima?
-
Fri- March 29th - TOKYO
- Kamakura to see Daibatsu (Great Buddha)
- Antique Mall Ginza
- Oedo Antique Market
- Shinjuku – Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck (Closes at 11pm)
Sa- March 30th - TOKYO
- Depart for Narita at 130pm
- Depart Narita at 555pm
- Land in LAX at 1130AM

Is this plan unreasonable? Are there things that I absolutely should not miss? Is hiroshima from Tokyo, a reasonable day trip? I have already purchased a rail pass and would like to use it as much as possible.

Postcard to Japan

Evstar — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:33:31 -0800

I want to send a postcard from France to this restaurant in Japan where my friend is a cook. There appears to be an address on the front page of the website, but I'll be damned if I can make out what it says, much less recreate it on a postcard in a way that the French post can parse. I'm sure I could ask him myself, but I would prefer to surprise him. Can anyone help me with this?

Pinched nerve, Tokyo: physical therapist or Alexander technique teacher?

Kamelot123 — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:06:11 -0800

I'm asking this for a friend, A. A has a pinched nerve in the neck that isn't getting any better. He has bad posture and sits in a cubicle all day. He would like to see a physical therapist for this, but has also heard good things about the Alexander technique for correcting posture. Which would you recommend? A works in Tokyo and is very stressed, and tends to hunch his shoulders. He says that his body is always tense, which I can tell easily from looking at him. He leans forward while walking and his neck is super sore. He had to use his cell phone to type often which has him always looking down.He is working on these things on his own, but is worried he is doing it wrong and would like a professional to help him do this correctly. He just bought an ergonomic chair, and is planning on buying a desktop for work (he was using an ipad with attachable keyboard which hurts his neck since he always has to look down).

He does not have health insurance, so a physical therapist would be about $130/hr while the Alexander technique teacher would be $40-50 for 45 minutes. He is intrigued by the Alexander technique, but has heard it takes more than one class to experience results and he would prefer more immediate relief from the pinched nerve pain, which he believes he might be able to get with a p. therapist. The difference in price is big for him, though - he isn't well off. Finally, he heard that the Alexander technique could help him with piano strain as well, since he often gets tense while playing. Then again, maybe the physical therapist could help too?

Has anyone tried either of these services? A would really appreciate advice on this subject if anyone has experience. He doesn't want to see a doctor again, he claims they were useless and a waste of money. Any recommendations for therapists would be most welcome as well. Thanks!

Japanese Cooking?

DisreputableDog — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 05:28:51 -0800

I am in Japan. I can not read or speak Japanese. I am a beginner cook. I have a limited budget; I can experiment but my first attempts better be stupid proof & edible. I am also a goat in that I am willing to eat just about anything (squishy squid, large amounts of raw egg, & crayfish that stare back seem to be at or near my limit; however, I love raw fish of many types & I often eat mystery meat on the streets of Asia). Help me master a few Japanese recipes? I'm already addicted to Japanese food...which is getting to be an expensive addiction on the weekends. The flavorful fish, the fresh veggies & fruit, the weird sweet meats, & sauces you just shrug at & dip your food into. I've been to a Japanese grocery store twice now and all of those mysterious packages & raw fish & tofu packages & little cutlets & veg aisles make my mouth water. I like seaweed & semi-scorn those Americans who need a steak or pork in order to survive here; I'm in a foreign country & want to eat what they eat & cook what they cook.

Help a beginner cook (I can make a pie, a messy shredded chicken rice dish, shrimp, ground hamburger, and anything that involves a can of beans + rice + hot sauce. And eggs + cheese) create a few Japanese staples to build off of? These websites of "create these basics!" are confusing for one who doesn't know her intimate way around a grocery store here & who's not used to shopping for meal planning at all, much less daily fresh food shopping as is prevalent here.

If you tell me to follow this guide first, make this dish, etc, I will practice that dish every other night until it's perfect. I just need to know where to start & what not to waste my money on.

I have a rice cooker, rice scoop, & other sundry utensils. Just make a point to mention it & otherwise assume I have it, because I soon will.

Thanks!

Advice for a (probably) pinched nerve? Good physiotherapist? (Tokyo)

Thanquol180 — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 06:17:23 -0800

I've had a tingling/burning sensation in my left shoulder/hand for about a week. A doc that I saw in Tokyo thinks I have a pinched nerve and told to come back in a week, but was rather vague about what to do in the meantime. I have no health insurance so I would prefer to not go back, but I just noticed the tingling starting up in my right hand as well. Hi all,

I posted last week regarding problems I was having regarding a tingling in the left shoulder. I stopped practicing piano for the time being and as the tingling didn't stop - it actually spread to my left hand - I decided to fork over the money for a doctor even though I don't have insurance (even without insurance, doctor visits are relatively cheap in Japan).

The doctor gave me a lookover (he bent my arms and head, asked of it hurt, never did), took an x-ray, and declared that I probably had a pinched nerve in the neck. He also said my neck was drooping forward because my posture sucks and told me to work on that. That makes sense - I always slouch when I walk + use the computer. He gave me some pain meds, sent me away, and told me to come back in a week if my situation doesn't improve.

I was told by a pharmacist that I should have gotten an mri as well to make sure that it is a pinched nerve, but that would mean forking out 350-plus dollars. The doctor didn't consult with me about that or give any other advice, just that a nerve was probably pinched and that I should "take it easy." He seemed pretty confident at the time, but looking on the internet there are plenty of illnesses that have tingling body parts as an illness.

That was yesterday. In between then and now, I have been working on sitting and standing straight, with my head further back (I think I am trying too hard, my lower back is getting sore). I also bought a better pillow and ordered an ergonomically correct chair for work. Before this I had been always using my laptop on my, well, lap. Besides that, I've been trying some stretches I found on youtube that are supposed to help (double chin + tennis in the sky) and doing some light jogging to try and get rid of some of this stress.

I also got an acupressure massage yesterday - it KILLED, especially in certain spots in the shoulder (where the pinched nerve is, I assume). I had to tell the therapist to take it easy more than once. I actually think the massage might have made the symptoms worse.

The therapist told me my shoulders/neck are super stiff. That makes sense, since I have been pretty stressed lately - I feel tension in my shoulders and jaw, which I am thinking might at least be one of the reasons I am having this pinched nerve problem now. my shoulders get really tired when typing, which usually doesn't happen.

Since I can't get on health insurance before April without paying a bunch of money, I am really hoping this goes away on its own and doesn't get worse. I am super worried though, and would like to get back to playing piano tingle-free. Someone recommended that I visit a physical/physiotherapist, but I don't know any good ones in my area (in or close to Tokyo).

TL;DR: Anyone suffer from a pinched nerve before? Anyone have any advice to help it heal on its own, or know of any physiotherapists to visit in Tokyo? What else could it be if not a pinched nerve?

The Japanese Flag of The Mysterious Island

slowlikemolasses — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 13:57:42 -0800

Which Japanese flag is described in the first chapter of part three of Jules Verne's *The Mysterious Island*? "Japanese?--it is yellow and black ..."

To rescind or not to rescind...

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:28:39 -0800

I’ve agreed to a job offer that I would now like to turn down. How do I best handle this situation? YANML but I'd like to hear your advice and what you'd do in my situation.

I live in Japan. I have worked for Company A for four years. For various reasons, I decided last fall that it was time to part ways and search for work elsewhere. After several interviews and offers, I accepted an offer at the end of 2012 (Christmas Day, actually) at Company B. The offer was for a permanent position starting from April, 2013. (Contract at Company A is set to expire at the end of March.) The salary was lower than what Company A paid and the cost of living would be higher, but I thought it was a good step in the right direction, career-wise. However, there were several large changes in Campany A’s organization after I accepted the offer from Company B—changes that have created career growth opportunities for me that were not there last year. But I decided to stick by my decision to leave. Excited about the offer from Company B I have spent the past month and a half preparing for the move and exchange emails in preparation for starting. Everything had been going according to plan, and life was good.

Until last week, when the President of Company A himself called me into his office for a chat. (A first for a low-ranking cog like me.) He got word that I was planning on leaving in April and would have nothing of it. Seeing opportunity, I asked about the possibility of a raise and a transfer in positions to work more in line with my career goals. To my surprise, he said yes, if I’ll stay on for another few years to help the company through its recent organizational changes.

After a lot of thought, I’ve decided I’d like to stay at Company A. I’m comfortable here, I'll make significantly more money, and I have a lot of hope for the new position it appears I’ll get. I feel absolutely awful about stiffing Company B, though, almost to the point where I feel I should just go ahead and move to Company B anyway. Well, not really, but almost. I mean, Company B has been extremely helpful and welcoming, and from what I know about their situation, for me to bail at this point will put serious screws on them (they are a smaller company), at least in the short term.

Anyway, my questions to everyone are: How would you handle this situation? What’s the best way to inform Company B of my decision to withdraw from the offer? (Other than tell them ASAP, obviously.) I imagine short and to the point is best, but I feel like I owe them an explanation with more substance than "sorry, I changed my mind."

In case it’s relevant, I never signed any employment contract after being offered the job at Company B, although I did confirm my intentions without provisions in an email. I know nothing of Japanese labor law, and I don't know whether or not the email agreement alone makes me legally liable for any loses on Company B's part.

Thanks in advance for your time and your advice.

Best travel SIM in Japan (speech + data)

mathiu — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:17:59 -0800

I'm searching for the best SIM card for a one month stay in Japan. I've already found e-connect (1 GB/30 days, only data @ 4100 Yen), but I would prefer an option including SMS/speech.

Origin of Hotta-San hunting knife at Best Made?

BlackLeotardFront — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:19:24 -0800

I've been looking at this knife at Best Made for a while, and I can't seem to find its provenance. Many other products at Best Made are rebranded or what have you versions from known suppliers, but I cannot for the life of me find a knife that resembles the Hotta-san — after looking at hundreds online. Everything I find refers back to Best Made's info. Can anyone unravel this mystery? I am looking to buy a nice wood-handled outdoorsy knife, and I have plenty of suggestions and leads. This one is just right up my alley, but I'm wary of the Best Made premium - $250 buys a lot of knife and I'm not sure this is comparable to others.

Help me travel to Japan!

Bebo — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:06:34 -0800

My sibling, mother, and I want to go to Japan (Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, and Kyoto) in late July. I am getting overwhelmed by trying to book tickets. Help! 1. We are all coming from different locations (St. Paul, Chicago, and Boston), but obviously would like to fly the majority of the time together. It seems like it would be cheapest for us all to meet on the West Coast (L.A.?) and fly from there to Narita? Or am I mistaken?

2. I have been thinking that it may be worth paying more $$ to fly a non-American airline -- is this true? Any particular recommendations? We will not be flying first/business class and cost is of some concern, but we are willing to pay a few hundred more if the experience is going to be much more pleasant on one airline versus another.

What's a trustworthy online store where I can import goods from Japan?

Lazer — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:59:28 -0800

I live in Europe and I would like to import some Japanese products as a Birthday gift for someone. What I'm looking for is traditional food/spices and things like pillows or bedding (two very different categories). What is a trustworthy online store I can use? I've started looking around, but most online stores I've found either sell "Japanese-style" products or consist of many tiny retailers that ship from Japan, but charge separately for each shipment (so if I want to get a couple of different kinds of products they would more than likely be shipped and charged separately and not arrive at the same time). Others claim they are selling Japanese products, but seem to mostly sell those cute plastic toys. I'm not looking for anime or manga style gifts - more for items that someone who has visited and loved the country for its nature, food, and history would enjoy.

Can anyone recommend an online store that might sell these kinds of items (and import directly from Japan)? Does such a thing even exist, where I can buy two categories in one shipment, or is my only option buying from one of those big online marketplaces that are fragemented? What I'm mostly worried about is having things come in tiny batches as well as ordering some sort of knockoff.

Salted rice

dontjumplarry — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 01:37:13 -0800

Is it common to add salt when cooking plain boiled or steamed rice? Specifically, is this widely done in India, China or Japan?

What is the title of this old Japanese Superman record?

MegoSteve — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 10:18:18 -0800

I collect Superman memorabilia and recently bought a Japanese Superman children's story record, but I can't actually read Japanese beyond vague recognition of the characters that make up the name Superman. What is the title of this record?

Samurai and contemporary Japanese social perceptions of disability

daisyk — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 07:45:50 -0800

Asking for a friend: "I'm researching for my current WIP, and I'm stuck. I need to build a comprehensive picture of the social perceptions of disability in Japan, both currently and within Samurai culture. Help, anyone?"