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Showing 1-25 of 102 results
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Rice, Rice, Baby...
Blog: Budget Trouble - 26 December 2009
Many things confuse and baffle foreign visitors to Japan, that much is true. After reading an umpteenth travel blog post about “wow, it’s a washlet and I got sprayed” or “holy crap, it’s a squat toilet, in the middle of freakin’ Tokyo” alternating with “look at all the vending machines in this country!” and “meido cafés, those chicks are sooo cute” you may be excused if you think that Japan is visited mostly (only?) by idiots on their very first trip abroad. But recently, it was my turn to be baffled when a brave tourist, who ventured outside of the...
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Jingle Bells Chicken Smells
Blog: Budget Trouble - 25 December 2009
Our very traditional Christmas dinner is over… And thanks to the Colonel and a local cake shop, it was a smashing success. Yeah, the Colonel… I know this topic has been beaten to death on various J-blogs already, but not everyone who reads THIS blog frequents other J-blogs (and did I just include myself in the ranks of J-bloggers? Hell must have frozen over and the fat lady is singing…) But where were we? Ah yes, the Colonel. You see, it’s traditional in Japan to eat fried chicken on xmas day. Why? Simply put, turkey is/was too much of an...
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Japanese punk and ska music. Cherry Cokes, Junior
Blog: The Fashionate Traveller - 23 December 2009
When you think of music in japan, what comes to mind? Sickly sweet pop? J-rock? Visual kei with boys dressed as beautiful dolls? Rockabilly Elvises?How about Irish Punk?The best fun I had outside of the goth clubs in Tokyo was the Saturday we went to Shibuya to an all day Paddy punk gig.Held the week after St Patricks Day, it featured artists playing in the Irish (or Boston Irish) punk genre - bands sounding like the Pogues, Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys. No bad thing right?Yeah. Dead right :)
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Sendai - the Capital of Gyu-Tan (grilled beef tongue)
Blog: Budget Trouble - 23 December 2009
This is Yoshi's debut as a travel blogger. Not bad for a first-timer, wouldn't you say? It’s been a ...
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Winter Illumination at Ashikaga Flower Park
Blog: Budget Trouble - 20 December 2009
You'd think that someone who spent five years in northern Scandinavia would be resistant to cold and low temperatures, right? Wrong. There are few things I despise more than freezing weather. Yet even freezing weather and low temperatures couldn’t stop me yesterday from visiting the Ashikaga Flower Park. In Ashikaga, of course. That’s Tochigi for those of you in big-city Japan. Ashikaga is a wholly unremarkable town. At least for me. Oh, they have attractions over there – there’s the fireworks display (summer) and wine festival (fall).
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Onsen Adventure
Blog: World Travel Blog - 19 December 2009
Onsen, Ofuro and Rotemburo are a common sight in Japan, an ancient tradition still kept and one of the most interesting things to do for a cultural experience in Japan. Although Bathing naked with a bunch of strangers is not everyone’s cup of tea it’s still a nice way of getting clean and relaxing at [...]
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Jomon-era Houses at Seizan Park in Utsunomiya
Blog: Budget Trouble - 13 December 2009
Last weekend I went to Seizan Park to look at some old houses from the Jomon era. Not that I’m parti...
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Conveyor Belt Sushi revisited
Blog: Budget Trouble - 6 December 2009
I’m not a sushi snob. Though I have all the right in the world to be. I’ve spent many a miserable weekend slaving over slabs of fish, mountains of rice and endless nori sheets at a certain sushi establishment, where I was one of only two gaijin allowed in the kitchen (the other was proprietor’s husband). So yeah, I’ve paid my sushi dues. And believe me, there’s nothing to make you appreciate sushi like getting up at the crack of dawn to receive a shipment of fish. And so it’s somewhat amusing when I hear (or read) comments from foreigners...
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Hey, Who Stole the Toilet? What Do You Mean I Have to Hit That Hole in the Floor?
Blog: Flying Coach - 4 December 2009
Just a warning, this post may make you uncomfortable, or even offended. If you are one who gets squeamish easily, or who does not like talk of bathrooms, or things resulting from visits to bathrooms, please do not read any further. However, when you travel, the bathroom situation is something to consider, so you might [...]
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Adventures with Ink and Brush - Japanese Calligraphy Class
Blog: Budget Trouble - 3 December 2009
My handwriting is truly tragic. And that’s a fact. I vividly remember an incident in high school whe...
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Illumination Events in Tochigi Prefecture
Blog: Budget Trouble - 2 December 2009
Michino Eki Domannaka Garden Illumination Until March 30, 2010; Hours: from sunset to midnight; Free parking available; 366-2 Kissui, Sano, Tochigi; Tel 028 361-0077; Link here Ashikaga Flower Park; Until Jan 24, 2010 (except on Dec 30 and 31); Hours: 16:30 to 21:30 (until 21:00 during weekdays); how much: adult 500, child 300 yen; 607 Oima Ashikaga, Tochigi; Tel 0284-91-4939; Link here Uzuma Fuyu Hotaru Kirara Festival 2009; Until Jan 11, 2010; Hours: 17:00-23:00; Where: at Uzuma Park; Christmas concert on Dec 23, starting at 18:00 Hikari To Oto No Pageant; From Nov 27, 2009 to Jan 12, 2010;
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So Much to Eat, So Little Time
Blog: Budget Trouble - 29 November 2009
“Oh, I could never live there, I can’t imagine eating raw fish.” This is what I hear quite often when I tell people (mainly from the US or continental Europe) that I live in Japan. So what’s up with this raw fish bit? Do these people really think that here in Japan all we ever consume is sushi and sashimi? And the answer unfortunately is - yes, they do think that. Sadly, whenever Japanese cuisine is mentioned, raw fish is the first thing (and sometimes the only thing) that immediately comes people's minds. Granted, not to everybody’s mind, but to...
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Video – A Day At a Beach in Japan
Blog: GoBackpacking - 28 November 2009
_ This video footage was shot on a beach near Tokyo. Buy travel insurance from Worldnomads.com (Lonely Planet's preferred carrier) Buy travel insurance from Worldnomads.com (Lonely Planet's preferred carrier)
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Japanese Shrine Favorites
Blog: World Travel Blog - 26 November 2009
This are my favorite Shinto shrines in Japan most of them are around Nagoya :This Temple isn’t actually in Nagoya, but near a friends house living in the Nagoya District. This really old temple isn’t as cared as others what makes it a [...]
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Guest Post: A Letter from Hokkaido
Blog: The Silent I - 25 November 2009
Frank took a business trip to Hokkaido, ...
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Fun Things To Do in Kyoto with Kids
Blog: Family Friendly Hotel, Resort, Suite Reviews: Travel Savvy Mom » blog - 25 November 2009
Traveling with children in Japan can be intimidating. All that structure and serenity. I have visions of my children rearranging the rocks of a zen garden or putting their little fists through the traditional rice paper shoji screens that make up the walls of our ryokan.
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An American in Hiroshima
Blog: GoBackpacking - 23 November 2009
I saw a group of people around my age holding signs that said "Free Hugs." (Photo: Utente Adriano)Buy travel insurance from Worldnomads.com (Lonely Planet's preferred carrier)
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Transport in Japan (outside the JR lines)
Blog: World Travel Blog - 22 November 2009
Japan isn’t a big country really, at least if you compare it with other destinations as China, India, USA or even my home country, Argentina. Despite that I think Japan has the most extensive transportation system I have ever seen, including trains, subways, metro, tram, busses, monorail, cable cars… and they are all linked to [...]
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I "heart" konbinis
Blog: Budget Trouble - 21 November 2009
Two words for you: convenience stores. Actually, only one word if you say it in Engrish (or Japanese – depending how you look at it) – konbini. Japan does them like nobody else. They’re everywhere, easy to get to, sell all sorts of stuff, they're clean, efficient, and well, convenient. Konbinis were the one thing about Japan I missed the most when living on the northern outskirts of Europe. But they’re not just simple convenience stores. They’re conveniently convenient stores, too. And not just when it comes to melon bread and adult manga. Want to pay your car insurance and...
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The Capsule Hotel
Blog: Where is Rob? - 18 November 2009
Not that I have researched this at all but Tokyo must be one of the only places with Capsule Hotels, right? Well even if it isn't it was top of my list of things to do during my time in Japan.While an experience that is predominately based around sleeping shouldn't really be anything to get excited about I'm pleased I did as it was one of the most bizarre experiences I have ever had. Not to [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
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Osaka
Blog: Where is Rob? - 18 November 2009
Well originally I wasn't too up for going to Osaka. I'd read a bit about it and it didn't seem like there was much there (apart from the possibility of a day trip to Nara but we could do that from Kyoto) but Tommy was quite up for it and wanted to see the sky building so we ended up going. It turned out to be a quality few days and was just real fun. First day we went to the aquarium and I saw [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
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Kyoto
Blog: Where is Rob? - 18 November 2009
Going from one extreme to another we left the futuristic madness of Tokyo and headed west to Kyoto. There just seemed to be endless amounts of temples, palaces and pagodas in Kyoto to the point where it would take a good week to fit them all in. We were going to have a pretty busy few days there as we wanted to fit in as much as we could.First thing we did was to head over to Kyoto`s imperial [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
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The Izakaya
Blog: Where is Rob? - 18 November 2009
Right so the evening began when at about 7 we headed to the reception to grab some food for the night. When we get down stairs we are greeted by a film crew filming this massive banquet the hostel seems to have put on for the cameras. So we grab a few plates and start talking to some of the other guests. It's was real nice and the food was possibly the nicest we have had the whole time we have [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
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Miyajima
Blog: Where is Rob? - 18 November 2009
Miyajima is said to be one of the most beautiful places in Japan. I went on a wet and miserable day and thought it was absoutly stunning. Miyajima is a small island a 40 minute train ride and short ferry journey away from Hiroshima. It really was awesome so will just put up some pictures rather than type a load of stuff. One thing I will say is all the Deer that roam freely are cool but well [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
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Yokohama
Blog: Where is Rob? - 18 November 2009
Seriously quick visit to Yokohama as in just one night. Decided I wanted to come here last minute really just because I could using my JR rail pass. It's the 2ND biggest city in japan but haven't really seen any of it. Got here late and by the time we got food didn't were not going to be able to make it back if we went to the main district.The room we stayed in was far too small. Me and Tommy [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more!
