Baby Shopping In Japan

My friend who just had her baby not too long ago, shopped for most of her baby stuff in Japan - because they are ohhh - so cute!  as she puts it.  But because she jogs a lot and walks everywhere in Japan for her daily shopping and groceries - she needed a good stroller but can’t find one that is tough enough for daily walks and jobs.  So she ordered it online - the UPPAbaby Cruz was what I had recommended her - because I’ve seen everyone using it in my neighborhood and they are for the on-the-go parents.  My girlfriend is constantly on the go - so this would be an ideal product for her and her baby.   Lucky for us - we have the internet to buy whatever we need even if we are not in the same country.  90% of her baby stuff were bought in Japan - but the stroller and car seat I know she chose to get it from home.

Tokyo Subway

Unfortunately, I haven’t been on the Tokyo subway on my own - I always travel with someone who have been in Japan for a long time.  The subway in Tokyo is like a huge maze - looking at the maps in the train station can be very mind boggling and intimidating if you ask me.  Even if you approach anyone - they hardly speak in English.  I have never seen a cramp train before - maybe I was lucky - but it can be very crowded at the Tokyo subway - at all times of the day.  But given that there are so many people living in Tokyo alone - it’s not hard to understand that the subway is open till late at night.  But if you are ever in Tokyo - you have to take the subway at least once and experience it yourself.

Avid Gardeners In Japan

My girlfriend from Canada - who moved to Japan permanently became an avid gardener after seeing what her neighbor did with hers.  In Japan - space and a garden is rare - but those who own their own house definitely took the time to beautify their home and garden themselves and we all know that the Japanese are meticulous and they are quite artsy.  I loved their garden for they are so zen like - so calming - and of course they are into the recycle thingie and compost bin is a big thing for them in Japan.  I never knew much about compost bins till I came to Canada - and now everything needs to be separated.  But with the right compost bin - you can even save on the fertilizer for your garden.  Pretty awesome right !  no wonder the Japanese loved the compost bin so much and of course gardening has never been easier.

Avid Japanese Golf Players

For those of you who are not aware of this - the Japanese are avid golf players - but there are not many golf course in Japan and it is very expensive - to play golf - therefore when Japanese friends comes to Canada to visit me in Canada - they ask to play golf all the time and some even go to golf resort around Canada.  Here in Nova Scotia - we have many golf resort - and most of them supply the garmin gps for golf - and that’s what the Japanese golf players loved.   A dear friend of mine - who is coming home from Japan asked me to look for a golf resort for his family - that provide this garmin gps for golf - and I’ve found a few that have this gps for golf.   You can sell just about anything to a Japanese golf player - when they are in town - I know that this Japanese friend of mine - will even buy a whole range of golf clubs to bring home to Japan - the yen is so strong - they shop like lords here.  So if you are playing golf with a Japanese - don’t under-estimate them.

Wedding Gifts For Japanese Weddings

Many people asked me about wedding & anniversary gifts for their Japanese friends when they were once upon a time working in Japan - whether in the hotel industry like myself - or teaching English in Japan.  We all encouraged friends to give lucky money - but Japanese loved any gifts that you send to them all the way from the West.  From a nice silver photo frame - to a Mr & Mrs cooking apron - or even a memory frame.  Japanese folks are very grateful for anything you give them as an overseas friend and they will always remember you - on Christmas - and birthdays when you become friends.  I always send gifts to my Japanese friends - because they always send all sorts of Japanese gifts to me.

Magazines In Japan

Do you know what I really missed of Japan - the gifts that comes with the magazines !  yes!  and they are not some cheap pouch that comes with the magazines but nice ones that one can use.  In all my years in Canada and the amount of magazines that I buy - I haven’t found one that gave out a tote or a pouch !  now that really suxs right!  look !  right now - they have this free PAUL & JOE SISTER when you buy a Steady magazine as per a local japan blog I follow - maybe I should suggest this to the magazines in this part of the world eh.

Serene In Kyoto

Given what had been happening around Japan - I was quite pleased to see pictures on my g/f’s facebook - showing me about her short vacation in Kyoto.  Pretty serene as you can see it here - in fact - there were a lot of tourist from around Japan during the time she was there.  Older couples mostly with  social security disability insurance - taking a day drip to Kyoto she thinks. I really think it is so cool that they get all kind of help with their disability insurance - for back home where I am from - I don’t think the government do as much for us as they do in the States and in Japan.  But Japan is a aging country - as you can see the majority of the population are older folks - so it’s good to have the disability insurance in placed because we all know it’s not easy with the health when one gets older.

Kyoto is full of these gardens and tea houses  like this one.

feeding of carp is allowed here.

This place is so serene - according to my girlfriend - her boisterous kids were so calm here she was quite intrigue.  She said if they were like this the whole time - she can even live here.

Good Wishes For Japan

So I’ve asked my girlfriend in Japan - Tokyo - how are things there - and she had said that a lot of people are praying for the entire Japan and her family had gone to the temple and pray for the bad things to go away too.   I don’t blame them - and if I were in Japan - I would be writing on those wooden blocks too - wishing for a safe year not only for Japan but for everyone around the world.   For those thinking of traveling to Japan at this time - they should all hold their horses - according to my girlfriend - no point risking it at this moment.

Modern Living In Japan

While a lot of younger people love the modern living and contemporary sofa they buy from imported stores - most of them have a piece of art that represents their culture in their home too.  My girlfriend from United States who now currently lives in Japan on a permanent basis - have lots of these art pictures of old Japan in  her home - although everything in the house looks like an American home.  Besides the modern sofas, all her bedrooms have modern bed sets as well - but they can be pass as Japanese furniture as well because of how they look - very clever of my girlfriend because that pleases her in-laws a lot - who are Japanese.

Tell me this don’t look like a japanese bed to you?  see I told yer - but nope contemporary design - modern living brought to you from United States.  So if you want some Japanese in your home - you don’t have to look too far eh.

Education In Japan

in Japan it’s well known for its high standards in education - I’ve heard so many times how a kid or a teenager would not be able to cope and seek help to graduate.  Some takes  online degree programs when they started working - to get a better job (securing their future)  and ra ecognition of their own accomplishment.  The Japanese loved to learn just about anything and everything and I wasn’t even surprised that my co-workers father-in-law was taking up another degree just to get feel useful about himself.  These day and time, one can find online program easily.