Living In Japan

Houses may be small in Japan - and most people only lived in cubicle houses or apartments - but the Japanese living is by far the most innovative - because they have all sorts of gadgets to make living easier and so much more pleasant.  One would think you cannot entertain in such a small place - but it’s far from the truth - because the Japanese uses the electric grill to BBQ and entertain so much - just like us in the west.   They also have this tako machine that I wished I had bought one back from japan - and they make this yummy tako and have tako parties.  The Japanese loved grilling everything and anything they can lay their hands on - and entertaining whether family or friends is second nature to them.

Gadget Shopping

So the girlfriend from her migrated to Japan in the name of love - and had emailed me to get her a list  laptop computers because hers has broken down and was getting too old and needs to retire.  Being in Japan - you would think she could get one there - with  no trouble right?  but apparently, everything was in Japanese - as you can see above and it’s really expensive to get someone to put in the English version of anything in Japan.  So yes I’m out hunting for a  laptop computers list to compile for her - and let her make some comparison - when it comes to what is inside the laptop.  We are definitely more fortunate here when it comes to shopping for a new laptop or computer - everything is written out and they tell you what the operating system is - and how much hard drive and what kind of video card  - and for someone in Japan who don’t know too much Japanese - to shop for a computer - I can understand why she prefers to shop from here in Canada.  Mailing might be a bit costly - but she said it was worth it.

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.

Japanese Popsicle

The next time you are in Japan - I urge you to try the Japanese Popsicle - they are really unique and quite colorful and they don’t taste bad either.

They make the ice cream the way the Japanese liked them of course - from red beans to milky white milk outside from Meiji.

Or the watermelon shaped Popsicle are refreshing too - kids loved this one.

The blue one tasted like mountain dew.

And of course the creamy type of soft ice cream is to die for when you are in Japan - from Lavender to roasted coffee and green tea - are the few common ones.  But i loved the strawberry ones - and the yam ones too.  They do have some really exquisite food in Japan - even the ice cream and popsicle.

Outdoors In Japan

If you think that Japan is all about sushi and shopping - boy ! are you wrong.  My girlfriend who is in Japan permanently is doing more outdoor stuff than when she was in the West - and she had photos of her going for white water rafting, atv rides, snowshoeing and hiking and camping outdoors as well.  Just the other day - she wrote to me asking me to look for atv winches for her - as well as hiking stuff.  So if you are heading to Japan - you may want to try doing one of these sports if you haven’t - they are quite fun.   As for myself - I haven’t done any of it in Japan - like most people we go shopping and eating in Japan - and enjoying the scenery - but I would love to go for an atv ride - or white water rafting sometime.

Missing Japan’s Food

I have been missing real japanese food for months now - and been thinking of visiting Japan again.  But as you all know - going to Japan is going to be really expensive - so some savings need to be done.  And after checking on my insurance quote on  Wholesaleinsurance.net and saving some on my insurance this year - I might just have enough to go - for a week.

I would definitely  not mind eating all these again.

A visit to my favorite sushi bar is a must - and like I said - it’s not going to be cheap - so I’m glad I’m paying less for insurance and have more money for food hunting in Japan for my Japan vacation.

And of course - a visit to the longest sushi bar in Japan is a must - Kaitan I think that was the name.  You see what I mean by needing to spend more money than most places I’ve been to?  The spouse told me - you can do whatever you want - but make sure our insurance is intact and that it is paid before you go anywheres.  So yes!  I luck in - by finding Wholesale insurance - I get to compare rates before buying my insurance - that way I can get the cheapest - why pay for more when you don’t have to right?

Souvenirs From Starbucks Japan

So the girlfriend who is coming back from Japan - with her new born girl to Canada - sent me a picture of these starbucks cuppie and asked if I wanted any for souvenirs - because she knows I was crazy about Starbucks for the longest time.  Over here in this small town we don’t have Starbucks - unless we go to the city.  And I like the red/orange one but I also liked the pink one with flowers - so I told the girlfriend to get whatever pleases her.  I can’t wait to get my Starbucks souvenir from Japan.

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.

Traditional Hotels In Japan

There are many kind of hotels in Japan - but even the most expensive ones will not give you the exact traditional feel of Japan till you’ve stayed in a Ryokan - a traditional japanese hotel - also known to as a B & B in the West.  Each ryokan is unique in their own ways - but most are beautiful with flowers, trees and shrubs all around the property  - some hanging on iron s hooks - while others are just potted around the ryokan.

Some even have an open air spa - like the Asaba Ryokan in Shuzenji Izu Japan - but this is a luxury ryokan and of course - it’s not cheap.  But most ryokan like the Asaba are pretty old and handed down for generations.  All of these ryokan - or traditional hotels are very personable and clean and comfy and all of them served breakfast - lunch and dinner.

Most ryokan have hot springs - not all but most - and I loved it so much - it was definitely an experienced for me.  The hot spring water is so good for your skin - so I’ve heard.

This is another Ryokan in Hakone  - it is called Hotel Senkei  - this place have a very nice hot spring.  And in all the ryokan that I’ve been to - they always provide you with a yukata.

I’m not very good sleeping on a tatami mat - truth be told - I rather a modern bed - that’s my only dislike of a ryokan.

Hello Kitty Tea In A Bottle

Only in Japan can you find a Hello Kitty Tea In a bottle - a friend from here just returned from a teaching stint in Japan and brought this all the way back for my kid.  So sweet eh.  In Japan - you can find the prettiest Hello Kitty stuff - and all original.