RieS
Japan
20 years in Japan
I love Japan, especially Japanese FOOOOOOOD!
RieS's Advice List
RieS
Japan
20 years in Japan
Souvenir ideas for your home
As a college student, when I return to Japan, I look for things that are Japanesque and remind me of home. This summer, I bought room-decoration items that have brightened up my room. These are some of my tips on where to buy Japanese souvenirs to add that Japanese-touch to your home. 1. Go to …(175 words)
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Souvenir room decoration Summer Art Kyushu stationary Tenugui (Japanese towel)
Champon - a MUST eat in Nagasaki
Each prefecture in Japan is famous for some type of food. In Nagasaki, the featured is Champon. Brought in from China, it is a fusion of Chinese noodles and Japanese ramen. This delicious dish, is filled with vegetables and seafood. The thick noodles add texture to Champon, as well.(55 words)
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Nagasaki Eat Food Ramen noodles Seafood
A view to die for
Nagasaki was chosen to be one of the NEW top three night views in the world (the other two being Hong Kong and Monaco)! The observatory can be accessed easily by bus, train or taxi, depending on where you are. On a clear day, you can see the whole city light up like a Christmas tree. The feelin…(98 words)
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Nagasaki night view view Train City Bus Taxicab Christmas
A beautiful gorge in Miyazaki
Looking for scenery that's impossible to capture with a camera? Miyazaki Prefecture has a beautiful gorge named Takachiho-kyo, one of the must-go places in Kyushu. It is filled with greenery and the water has a beautiful turquoise tint.There are also areas to eat typical Japanese food and purch…(94 words)
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Miyazaki view Kyushu Park Visit Food Camera Japanese food Eat
For a fancy and healthy teishoku
Recently, I ate at a cute, fancy restaurant near Shibuya and Omotesando station and the UN University, called PARIYA. As this is catered towards women as well as business-people, they offer take-out as well as a sitting-area with a fancy, relaxing atmosphere. When you go in, you can choose amon…(156 words)
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Teishoku Shibuya Lunch Restaurant Drink Tea Coffee Shop Business Juice
Shopping in Kyushu
Yufuin （湯布院） is one of the main tourist attractions of Kyushu. It is in Oita prefecture, which is famous for its hot springs. If you are looking for traditional Japanese goods, cute souvenirs or delicious food, this is the place to go!Yufuin is a small area (similar to Komachi-dori in Kamaku…(116 words)
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Shopping Kyushu Souvenir Visit Tea Soy sauce Food Kamakura Mochi (Rice cake) Jewelry
In the case of a small car accident
If a small car accident, such as bumping into another car, you should both go to the side of the road and discuss the situation. Let's say that person A's car bumped into person B's car. They should both take down the other car's license plate and ther other person's name, phone number and address.…(109 words)
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Tokyo Police
Getting ready for earthquakes
At Mark Is, the new mall in Minatomirai, on the 4th floor, there is an exhibition on how to prevent yourself from getting hurt by taking some precautions for your house during an earthquake. There were things such as putting attachments that prevent your bookshelves from falling over, locks on draw…(85 words)
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Tokyo Earthquake Disaster
An integral part of Japanese sports games
Ouendan is an important part of the sports culture in Japan. When you go to Japanese baseball, soccer and other sports games, the Ouendan lead the cheers so that the supporters can follow them. Although most of them are at the front of the stadium (near the sport players), there are several others …(144 words)
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Sport Baseball Soccer
Check out governmental facilities!
There are cooking classes offered at governmental facilities in Tokyo and Yokohama. These governmental facilities are called "chiku center （地区センター） and hold events to train sports clubs to hold cooking lessons. Although the majority of these classes will be in Japanese, it is worth giving a t…(156 words)
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Tokyo Train Yokohama Sport
Harajuku is the place to go
Recently, I went to Harajuku's Takeshita Dori to do some shopping. This is probably one of the hottest spots for Gyaru, where even some of the store employees have the Gyaru make-up and fashion. As the stores are aimed for young Japanese girls, the prices are also reasonable and many stores often h…(134 words)
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Harajuku Shopping Fashion Jewelry
harsh or soft?
In an informal occasion, for example if asked to enter a restaurant or bar by an employee or if a waiter is asking whether you would want another drink or dessert, the most simple and straightforward way would be to say, "kekkoudesu" (meaning "no, it's okay") would be okay. This does not sound as h…(103 words)
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Restaurant Drink Dessert
For humility, politeness and respect
In Japan, bowing to a person is an expression of humility and politeness. Therefore, the lower you bow, the more humble you seem and the more respect you show to the person you are bowing to. If the person is of a more respected status, you should definitely bow lower than the person. When bowi…(79 words)
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Greeting Bowing
Just go to the website!
The easiest way would be to go to the hotel's website. The big hotels usually have their sites in English as well. If you see an "English" link on the website, press that. If not, try to look for 予約 on the website. From there it is straightforward. You just have to input the days that you wan…(119 words)
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Yokohama Hotel
Go for some magic at Tokyo Disney Resort
The resort that I would like to go to the most would be the Disney Resort. This way, I can go to Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea one after another as well as enjoy the services offered at the Disney Resort. There are three hotels with different themes - one in Disneyland, one that has an old-fashion…(108 words)
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Tokyo Tokyo Disneyland
Be efficient.
If there is a long line at the cashier, while you are waiting, you may want to get your change ready (if you know the price). This will reduce the waiting time for the people behind you. This comes from the Japanese attitude of wanting to please other people or not wanting to bother others. In orde…(95 words)
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Etiquette
YUMMY FLAVOR
The most common form of seaweed I use in nori (or dry seaweed). This can be used as topping for many Japanese dishes, such as soba, okonomiyaki and ramen. It adds a delicious flavor to the dishes as well as nutritional content. Another form of seaweed I love is hijiki, which is a type of seawee…(125 words)
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Ramen noodles Soba noodles Okonomiyaki
Don't worry!
If you are at a department store or mall, I recommend you to go to the information desk to give the lost item that you have found. If you are on the street, it would be best to give the lost item to the police station. Although they may ask you to fill in a form, do not hesitate. You will have …(111 words)
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Police Department store
Hidden beauty
At Kouza Shibuya, there is a small Japanese temple named Jousenji （常泉寺） with an absolutely beautiful Japanese garden. If you love flowers and different types of plants, this is the place to go. The gorgeous flowers change seasonally and the garden is copious with different colors each season. I …(156 words)
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Beauty Tokyo Park Shibuya Tera (Temple) Cherry blossom Cherry Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Spring
Starbucks at Shibuya!
Other than Hachiko, many people meet in front of Starbucks, which is across the Shibuya crosswalk and on the other side of the Shibuya station. The Shibuya Starbucks looks big from the outside and is close to the popular Shibuya shopping street, so no one will miss it. This is a convenient place to…(78 words)
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Shopping Shibuya
Toys "R" Us in Japan isn't just any other Toys "R" US
Toys "R" Us is a children's toy store that can be found around the world. However, the Toys "R" Us store in Japan is different from any of the Toys "R" Us I have seen. Japanese toys nowadays are very high-tech. I used to love going to the arts and crafts section to get the toys that make badges, wa…(123 words)
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Tokyo Toy
Stay in Minatomirai
One of the nicest hotels are Pan Pacific and Intercontinental Hotel in Yokohama, Japan. Although not in Tokyo, it is right smack in the middle of Minatomirai, a district with a breathtaking night view and amazing experiences. From these hotels, you can easily access any of the main facilities/build…(118 words)
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Tokyo Yokohama Shopping Hotel Shinjuku Shibuya Ginza Roppongi Kamakura Enoshima Island
Natsumatsuri and Suika Wari - like a local
During the summer, other than going to the beach and pool, there are two things that I love to do:1) Go to natsumatsuri (summer festival). These are festivals held throughout the country to celebrate the summer season. Many Japanese women wear yukata (traditional Japanese summer clothing) (men …(208 words)
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Watermelon Game Okonomiyaki Yukata (Light kimono) Summer
PIPING HOT YAKIIMO!
Other than observing the leaves change color from green to brown, red and yellow, to me autumn means delicious food. My favorite thing to do in autumn is to wait for the yakiimo (cooked sweet potato) truck come around town, selling piping hot sweet potato. The smell of the sweet potato wafts to you…(102 words)
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Convenience store Autumn
Go to a nearby cellphone store!
When I run out of battery on my cellphones and if I am not carrying along a charger, I often go to a nearby cellphone store and ask them if I can charge my phone. The cellphone store you go to, however, depends on your mobile phone operator (the biggest ones being Docomo, AU and SoftBank). You shou…(83 words)
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Tokyo
Fruits and vegetables at the combini!
When I'm hungry but don't want something high in calories, I go to the nearby convenience store and get a fruit cup, vegetable cup or fruit yoghurt. As convenience stores are easily accessible, you can purchase these snacks any time! Fruits, vegetables and yoghurt are also healthy choices as snacks…(74 words)
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Love heights? SKY TREE AND TOKYO TOWER!
One of my favorite dates was going to Sky Tree and Tokyo Tower. These are easily accessible places with beautiful views. I recommend you to go to Sky Tree during the day (much better if you go up on a clear day) and enjoy the day view of the surrounding area from a bird's eye point of view. At nigh…(137 words)
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Tokyo Tea Coffee Tokyo Tower
Don't hesitate!
Do not hesitate to ask around! There are so many services around you that are willing to help you get to your destination. I recommend either 1) Go to the information desk at the nearby mall or department store, 2) go to the police station or 3) ask a foreigner (or local) on the street (they may be…(76 words)
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Tokyo Police Department store
Shop and eat at Motomachi!
Motomachi is a popular area among women, because it is a chic and fancy street full of delicious restaurants and brand and non-branded stores. Along the street, you will come across stores such as Zara, Samantha Thavasa, Star Jewelry and so on. My favorite part of Motomachi, however, is the street …(140 words)
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Tokyo Restaurant Jewelry
Don't pass food using chopsticks!
Although chopsticks are probably one of the most useful utensils you will every use, there are some manners that you should learn about them prior to using them. The most important rule is to never pass food using chopsticks. This is done in funerals to pass the bones of the dead. Therefore, if you…(93 words)
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Etiquette
KURI-GOHAN!
My favorite food during the autumn is kuri-gohan, which is sticky rice mixed with sweet chestnuts and red beans. The stickiness of the rice and the sweetness of the chestnuts go perfectly together. It tastes even better if you sprinkle some salt or sesame seeds! I definite food you must purchase or…(86 words)
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Department store Salt Bento (box meal) Autumn
A fantastic New Year's filled with classical music!
This New Year's, I did something other than watching the music program "Kouhaku Utagassen" or go to Minatomirai to watch the clock tick to 0:00 of January 1st. I went to Minato Mirai Hall to watch the Sylvester Concert, which is a classical concert with music ranging from baroque to modern. I espec…(111 words)
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Music New year Concert
What's inside that bag?
On the first three days of January, many people in Japan go to the near by mall, outlets and department stores to get the "Fukubukuro" or Lucky Bags. The customers do not know the contents of the bag, but purchase it because it's cheap price relative to their actual values. It is fun to open the ba…(90 words)
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Department store Stationery
Looking for traditional snacks? Go to Kamakura!
During the holidays, I always reserve a day to wander around Kamakura. I love Kamakura and how every time I go, I come back full and satisfied. Kamakura has one of the best Japanese restaurants and wagashi (Japanese snacks) places. If you walk along the main road right outside the station, there is…(152 words)
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Kamakura Tokyo Mochi (Rice cake) Holidays
Mochi - different experiences with different flavors
My favorite O-kashi are mochi (Japanese rice cakes) of all different shapes and flavors. These are so fun to eat, because the selection of mochi change depending on the season. During the spring, there is sakuramochi (pink rice cakes with anko inside and a sakura leaf wrapped around the mochi); dur…(140 words)
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Go to Yurindo!
I always go to Yurindo when looking for English books. Yurindo is a chain book store that is present everywhere in Japan, usually near big stations. The one in Yokohama station has a relatively good selection of English books. The books range from well-known classics to popular books that were rece…(120 words)
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Yokohama Holidays
A dip into the hot springs in Enoshima Island Spa
One of the best hot springs near Tokyo is Enoshima Island Spa, which is easily accessible from Tokyo and is right near the Enoshima Station. There are set to three different temperatures to suit your body. Also, before you enter, there is an explanation on how to use the baths for different aims: r…(100 words)
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Enoshima Island Tokyo Spring
Turn the slippers around!
It is usually polite to use slippers instead of walk in bare feet or with socks on. When you take your slippers off, to enter a room, you should slip them off quietly and carefully and turn them around so that you (or someone else) can slip it on later with ease.(52 words)
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Etiquette Slippers
Cook okonomiyaki like a pro!!!
The first step is to mix the okonomiyaki well, so that you have a gloopy mixture of the mix and toppings. Then, pour the mixture on to the pan and create a circular shape that is about two centimeters thick. You don't want it to be too big, because then it will be difficult to flip. The maximum siz…(176 words)
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Okonomiyaki
Community centers have free ping pong facilities!
Many community centers offer ping pong and badminton facilities for free! I recommend you to research a community center near you and call to just make sure that they have ping pong tables! The one close to my house (Naka sports center) has many ping pong tables that the community uses.(51 words)
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Tokyo Sport Tennis Table tennis- Page 1 of 3
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