Japan 日本

[KopiKat]

All food in eateries or restaurants comes with free ice water or ice tea.

The beef bowl at Yoshinoya costs only 280 yen with free ice water/tea. The yoshinoya in Japan is different from Singapore's and they serve pretty good food.
Actually, it is not only the price and serving portion(normally bigger than Singapore), the quality of food is much higher than Singapore.

牛丼 Gyudon: Beef Bowl

[Temperament]

i like Japan very much for the the way they keep their toilets "very" clean. - Even at tourist's shopping centre. And all the toilet amenities are free. Disposable toilet seat paper and even alcohol wipes for cleaning toilet seat. i am talking about Hokkaido. i am very surprised till this day. Especially FOC. For cleanliness, i think they are ICHIBAN.
Is it the same everywhere in Japan?
If there are fellow value buddies who want to organise a private small tour group to Japan, we may like to join.

[sgd]

Can I ask, does anyone have any concerns about the radiation after the Tsunami?

Personally we didn't really pay much attention to it. We even passed by fukushima on shinkasen, things seemed normal people were still going about their business. I guess tsunami affected a small place in fukushima.

A lot of the fresh food comes from hokkaido and all over japan, I believe after tsunami they will have their own food safety checks in place and getting it from different places.

more tips:

--the diff between PRC and Japanese Sales Assistant

If you are looking for some one to ask for directions can try looking for prc people working in japan. I notice while shopping at the malls japanese sales assistant will greet you then leave you alone to wander around the store on your own. But some sales assistant will follow as you wander around the store high chance those are prc.

While conversing with these prc to ask for directions sometime we ask how they are so fluent in mandarin, they say they picked up mandarin as part of their training to serve prc tourists coming from china but denied they themselves are prc. We doubted it because the lingo was like prc but we didn't want to press.

-- Sundays free bicycle rides around imperial palace.
In tokyo, if you go to imperial palace on sunday mid morning they will close the roads and you will find a lot of people jogging around the perimeter of imperial palace, while crossing a carpark we stumble across a group of senior citizens managing a bicycle lot which allowed visitors to pick out a bicycle for free and cycle round a predefined route, we went for it, quite surreal cycling on holiday. Not sure if the bike lot opens on saturdays.

[Jon-san]

If you're going to Tokyo, remember Hakone... direct bullet train from Shinjuku (<2 hrs)

Travelling by Shinkansen is the fastest and easiest means of Rail Transport but also the most expensive. For those who're planning to do that, it may be cheaper to buy a JR Rail Pass in Singapore first (Pay 1st and collect in Japan, triggered on the day of collection). Comes in different no. of days eg. 7-days and for different region. For such a case, it'd also be better to plan your itinery ahead so as to maximise the usage of the Rail Pass.

http://www.japan-rail-pass.com/

If I do remember correctly, I think you can specify the start date at the point of collection or purchase, not necessarily on the same day as you collected the rail pass.

Personally, I have been to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Kanazawa, Hakone, Takayama, Toyama, none of them were organised tours. It's amazing what you can see and taste and experience without a tour guide rushing you all over the place.

To be able to read Mandarin is a help. Alternatively, the handphone cam is prob one of the more useful tools you can utilise. Just take a picture of the food you want to try, whether it is at the shopfront or at the malls, and use that as a guide to ordering your meals. FYI, many local eateries do not provide picture menu, only worded menus. So it is useful to learn the japanese names of things like prawn/shrimp, squid, meats, noodles, etc.

For accomodation, I usually stay at Toyoko Inn hotels. My wife has taken up a Lifetime membership there, costs about ¥1000 and lasts for life. Gives 10% off all room rates and for every 10 nights stay, you get 1 free night. Since this is a business hotel chain, they are located almost exclusively near major train train networks and stations and in almost every city and major town. Sundays are cheaper as well. Very clean rooms and all amenities are provided for (I don't bring towels or bath soaps or slippers to Japan trips ) Price ranges from ¥6k - ¥9k+.

For sightseeing, I highly recommend doing some research prior to the start of the trip. Things like festivals and special events are some not to be missed experiences.

---

To save on costs, do plan your trips well. Train ticket prices have not changed much since the first time I've been to Japan until now. That said, it is not cheap either. So taking multiple short train rides , at the end of the day, can use up quite a bit of your transportation money. Another way to save costs is to carry your own water. I generally go to the first convenience store I pass by when I first arrive, buy a 1.5L PET bottle drink (my favourite is a non-sweetened green tea that comes in a stout short bottle, easy to pack), finish it up within a day, then from that day on, top-up with boiled tap water from the hotel's kettle.

Smoking while walking on the streets is prohibited in most major cities in Japan. If you do need to smoke, either find a smoker's corner (identified by the public ash trays available) or stand away from the main street, preferably on a side-street or so, and do the deed. One of the reasons I found out is because smokers tend to flick their ashes anywhere and everywhere and many a time, the still burning tobacco sometimes flies into the eyes of children walking behind. (I usually just look out for a bunch of locals smoking to identify "safe" zones)

Some of the curious, yet amazing habits I've observed on my past trips thus far. In major cities like Tokyo, commuters standing on the escalator (not the rushing type) only stand on the left side, the right side is the express lane for people running to catch trains, etc. in Osaka, it is the exact opposite. Right for standing people, left for the express. Also, public trash bins are uncommon in some areas. Most train stations and shopping centers do have recycle bins ard, but in some places, refuse bins are few and far between, so it is a good practice to carry a small plastic bag to accumulate all your trash.

As for local delicacies, almost every town in Japan has their own locally available specialty dish. Some can be snacks, others can be a certain type of noodle, or sushi, etc. For example, on Miyajima Island near Hiroshima, their specialty is Oysters. So you can find Oyster on-the-rocks/grilled/ramen/udon/soba/crackers/ice-cream, etc, sold almost exclusively on the island. In Nagasaki, it is a special sponge cake, very fragrant and flavourful. In Osaka, it's TakoPachi, in Hiroshima, it's Okonomiyaki. So much to eat and so little time and money to eat them all...

[EnSabahNur]

Can I ask, does anyone have any concerns about the radiation after the Tsunami?

Personally we didn't really pay much attention to it. We even passed by fukushima on shinkasen, things seemed normal people were still going about their business. I guess tsunami affected a small place in fukushima.

A lot of the fresh food comes from hokkaido and all over japan, I believe after tsunami they will have their own food safety checks in place and getting it from different places.

more tips:

--the diff between PRC and Japanese Sales Assistant

If you are looking for some one to ask for directions can try looking for prc people working in japan. I notice while shopping at the malls japanese sales assistant will greet you then leave you alone to wander around the store on your own. But some sales assistant will follow as you wander around the store high chance those are prc.

While conversing with these prc to ask for directions sometime we ask how they are so fluent in mandarin, they say they picked up mandarin as part of their training to serve prc tourists coming from china but denied they themselves are prc. We doubted it because the lingo was like prc but we didn't want to press.

-- Sundays free bicycle rides around imperial palace.
In tokyo, if you go to imperial palace on sunday mid morning they will close the roads and you will find a lot of people jogging around the perimeter of imperial palace, while crossing a carpark we stumble across a group of senior citizens managing a bicycle lot which allowed visitors to pick out a bicycle for free and cycle round a predefined route, we went for it, quite surreal cycling on holiday. Not sure if the bike lot opens on saturdays.

Thanks!

[KopiKat]

Jon-san,

Yes, you're right about the Japan Rail Pass. So far, I think I have only bought it once for travels in the Kyushu area (Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima). Otherwise, it's not so cost effective as mentioned by 'yeokiwi', as just one area alone, there're already so many sight-seeing places to visit. The JR Rail Pass would be cost effective only if you plan to do longer journeys and especially using the Shinkansen (Bullet Train).

From the list of places you have been to in Japan, Toyama is in my wish-list, especially to see this,

[Image: 5956_01.jpg]

For reference to the other areas, a map,

[Image: map-prefectures.gif]

As for the local food, I didn't know that TakoPachi is actually TakoYaki until I searched the internet. Yes, I also enjoyed TakoYaki, especially during the cooler season. As for OkonomiYaki, Osaka also has their own variant. In Tokyo area, there's a similar but very gooey version known as Monjya Yaki. I first tried that in a a Tokyo suburb restaurant known as Nanjya-Monjya and was pleasantly surprised when they subsequently opened a branch in Singapore. Their current location is at Waterfront Plaza and they serves both OkonomiYaki & MonjyaYaki. For those're going to try it the first time, it's more fun to have it cooked at your own table (but can be hot and smoky).

Yes, when it comes to Japanese Food, gotta Eat Them All (just like Pokemon "Gotta Catch Them All)!

Lastly, have you been to MiyaJima, which is an island near Hiroshima? It's one of the 3 Scenic Spots (日本三景). The key attraction is a huge Torii Gate in the sea which is accessible on foot only during low tide,

[Image: 350px-JPN_0419.jpg]

The other 2 Scenic spots are at MatsuShima (many small islands which are mainly populated by Matsu trees) and Amanohashidate , a naturally formed sandbar, also populated by many matsu trees and which is wide enough for people to walk through.

---

EnSabahNur,

If you have concerns about Fukushima radiation, especially if you are bringing older folks who'll worry (no matter you much you reassure them), Japan is huge and you can go either to the northern tip (Hokkaido) or towards the Western side (from Osaka towards Kyushu or even Okinawa). There're many hotspring areas in Kyushu and there's direct flight by SIA from SIN-Fukuoka. But, Kyushu area is more ulu as compared to Tokyo or Osaka. So many places to visit and experience...

[sgd]

Toyoko Inn you need to book 90 days or 3 months in advance, last time I tried booking via their website it was like that, I'm not sure being member allows you to skip this requirement.

From their website Toyoko Inn hotels looks rather small and run down, we actually booked a hotel via agoda non peak periods can get good discounts for hotels.

IPC our listed company owns or rather trying to grow their stable of business hotels in japan, can't remember their brand "eazy" something

If you want cheap and don't mind run down or sleazy the cheapest I saw advertised on billboards are love hotels. Not sure if they are livable for long periods

[Jon-san]

Jon-san,

Yes, you're right about the Japan Rail Pass. So far, I think I have only bought it once for travels in the Kyushu area (Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima). Otherwise, it's not so cost effective as mentioned by 'yeokiwi', as just one area alone, there're already so many sight-seeing places to visit. The JR Rail Pass would be cost effective only if you plan to do longer journeys and especially using the Shinkansen (Bullet Train).

From the list of places you have been to in Japan, Toyama is in my wish-list, especially to see this,

[Image: 5956_01.jpg]

For reference to the other areas, a map,

[Image: map-prefectures.gif]

As for the local food, I didn't know that TakoPachi is actually TakoYaki until I searched the internet. Yes, I also enjoyed TakoYaki, especially during the cooler season. As for OkonomiYaki, Osaka also has their own variant. In Tokyo area, there's a similar but very gooey version known as Monjya Yaki. I first tried that in a a Tokyo suburb restaurant known as Nanjya-Monjya and was pleasantly surprised when they subsequently opened a branch in Singapore. Their current location is at Waterfront Plaza and they serves both OkonomiYaki & MonjyaYaki. For those're going to try it the first time, it's more fun to have it cooked at your own table (but can be hot and smoky).

Yes, when it comes to Japanese Food, gotta Eat Them All (just like Pokemon "Gotta Catch Them All)!

Lastly, have you been to MiyaJima, which is an island near Hiroshima? It's one of the 3 Scenic Spots (日本三景). The key attraction is a huge Torii Gate in the sea which is accessible on foot only during low tides.

The other 2 Scenic spots are at MatsuShima (many small islands which are mainly populated by Matsu trees) and Amanohashidate , a naturally formed sandbar, also populated by many matsu trees and which is wide enough for people to walk through.

---

EnSabahNur,

If you have concerns about Fukushima radiation, especially if you are bringing older folks who'll worry (no matter you much you reassure them), Japan is huge and you can go either to the northern tip (Hokkaido) or towards the Western side (from Osaka towards Kyushu or even Okinawa.

Yes, I did make a side trip down to Miyajima. Lovely place! I went to the peak that's accessible only by the cable car and then followed by a short trek to the viewing point. Great place for photography. I came down to the Torii gate just in time to catch the low tide too, although we didn't actually go down to the gate itself. Wife didn't want to pay the admission fees and also she was preggie at the time, so she was physically exhausted after all the walking around the island.

About Toyama, we actually used it as a base for us to make side trips to Takayama and also Kanazawa. Not much time to sightsee at Toyama in the end, coz it was rainy season.

My last 2 locations would be to Okinawa in the South and Hokkaido to the North. Forgot to add that I've covered Fukuoka and Nagoya too. So more or less East and West coasts covered. Avoiding Sendai atm, sad to say, I think post-tsunami, Sendai is a pale shadow of it's former self. Pity though, coz my ex-wife was telling me how beautiful the place was.

And oh yah, it's TakoYaki... TakoPachi is the brand... Lol...

Bro sgd, I usually book my hotel way in advance. Sometimes as far as 8 months away. Wife is a maniac for getting these things done early, so I 've never experienced those problems before. Honestly, their hotels are not as run down as one would expect. Sheets, furnishings and amenities are always new and in very good working order, so I've never had anything bad to say about them, except for the Kabuki-cho branch. And then, it's only that their breakfast everyday is always the same, unlike other hotels which vary their menus. One big major like I have about the Toyoko Inns is that all of them serve a traditional Japanese style breakfast, which I'm really hardcore about.

I still have many places I want to visit. All those little towns and outlying fishing villages. I just want to travel to them all and taste their specialties.

Wanted to add that I had actually planned for an Okinawa trip originally. The major setback was the costs of getting there. Whether by Ferry from Kagoshima or domestic flights from the major airports, both are equally eye-poppingly out of my budget range atm.

[EnSabahNur]

EnSabahNur,

If you have concerns about Fukushima radiation, especially if you are bringing older folks who'll worry (no matter you much you reassure them), Japan is huge and you can go either to the northern tip (Hokkaido) or towards the Western side (from Osaka towards Kyushu or even Okinawa). There're many hotspring areas in Kyushu and there's direct flight by SIA from SIN-Fukuoka. But, Kyushu area is more ulu as compared to Tokyo or Osaka. So many places to visit and experience...

Thanks KopiKat. I am actually worried for myself!
I have been to Tokyo and Kyoto, and would like to go back to visit. Especially Kyoto, which is a relaxing place to go.

For Japanese Manga fans

http://www.kyotomm.com/english/

Up Arashiyama
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3912.html

And a thousand Torii gates

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html

[swakoo]

To be able to read Mandarin is a help. Alternatively, the handphone cam is prob one of the more useful tools you can utilise. Just take a picture of the food you want to try, whether it is at the shopfront or at the malls, and use that as a guide to ordering your meals. FYI, many local eateries do not provide picture menu, only worded menus. So it is useful to learn the japanese names of things like prawn/shrimp, squid, meats, noodles, etc.

In the near future
Google glass translates menu as you read

[Image: head-mount-display.jpg]

[Image: menu-translate.jpg]