travel in japan

5 great things in a beautiful water town, Gujo Hachiman

2019-10-22 by Taka

Hi, How are you? I’ve been traveling in Gifu area these days!

This time I wrote about a relatively unknown area to tourists, Gujo Hachiman. It is a small, riverside town which was founded in the 16th century as a castle town.
Gujo is known for clear water, Ayu river fish, and Gujo dance festival.

Below are the 5 major places I visited and things you should check in Gujo Hachiman.

1.Hachiman castle

Located on top of a hill, it is one of the oldest reconstructed wooden castles in Japan.
It was founded in 1559, destroyed in the early Meiji period(1868-1912) during Japan’s attempts to modernize called the Meiji Restoration, and was reconstructed in 1933.
There is a museum inside of it, displaying a lot of materials from samurai era including the samurai armors, the heirloom of Aoyama clan, and samurai swords.
The castle keep is an important cultural property, and it was listed as one of the 100 Japanese castles in 2017. You can enjoy a panoramic view from there.During Autumn leaf season, the maple trees surrounding the area attract visitors.

You can get to the castle by car or taxi. Or, if you like hiking, you can get there on foot. It takes about 20 min to get to the top.

top of hachiman castle — Great view from the top of the castle

Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm (Mar to May, Sep to Oct)
8:00am to 6:00pm (June to Aug)
9:00am to 4:30pm (Nov to Feb)
*Closed from Dec 20th to Jan 10th

Price: 310yen (650yen for a ticket that includes the visit to the Hakurankan Museum)

2.Hakurankan Museum

It is a museum located near Hachiman castle.
It includes an exhibition, Gujo Odori demonstration, and Museum gift shop. You can learn about History and culture of Gujo-Hachiman here.

Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm (During Gujo-Odori event, it is open until 6:00pm)
Price: 540yen to enter. *Closed from Dec 24th to Jan 2nd

3.Gujo-Otori (Dance festival)

It is held from mid-July to early Sep (over 30 nights every day) every year.
It is designated as a significant intangible cultural folk asset by the Japanese government.
It was originally started to encourage the town’s citizens to get together, and it has a history of over 400 years.
Dancers make a big circle and perform to the traditional music of Shamisen, Bamboo flute, and Taiko Drums.
During Obon season in the summer, the festival continues all night and over 30,000 people gather.

Lanterns for Gujo Odori. Too bad that I couldn’t be there during the event!!

4.Igawa Komochi

There is a small canal called Igawa Komochi located near the river (Yoshida river) close to Hachiman castle.
Big Koi fish swim there peacefully and it really is a beautiful canal.
Although it is small and short, the canal is very unique and worth visiting to take pictures!

5.Food replicas

Gujo hachiman is known as the home town of food replicas.
You can not only enjoy watching very realistic food replicas, but also make them and take home as souveniors!
Samples are from Japanese food like temple and sushi to other kinds like pizza, curry, cake, etc.
There are many places where you can make your own, but one of the most popular is Sample Kobo. The main shop (Honkon) is open from 9:00am to 17:00pm (closed on Tuesdays).

Access

From Nagoya

Take JR Tokaido Line or Meitetsu Konsen Line to Gifu station.
Then, take JR Takayama Line to Mino Ota Station, and use Nagaragawa Railway to Gujo Hachiman Station.
(It is about 2 hours and 50 min travel)

From Takayama

Take Nohi express bus to Gujo-Hachiman station.
(It is about 1 hour and 45 min travel)

At a cafe by the river. It was so peaceful that I could be there forever!

The city is very compact and rural, so you can see things just walking around. If you would like to enjoy a quiet, country side of Japan (and less touristy area), Gujo Hachiman is a great place to visit!

See you next time!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

12 amazing places you should visit in Hokkaido

2019-07-17 by Taka

It seems that the rainy season this year is going to last longer than usual in Japan.
As the temperature is going high, I already started missing the cool weather.
So, this time I wrote about Hokkaido, which is the Japan’s northernmost area and it is one of the best destinations during hot summer time.
Hokkaido is known for its tremendous land with great nature, landscape, and food culture.
22% Japanese land belong to Hokkaido and many parts of it are unspoiled.
Hokkaido attracts many outdoor lovers from all over the world like hikers, campers, and cyclists in summer, skiers and snowboarders in winter.

Here are 12 places you should visit in Hokkaido with info about food culture there.

1.Sapporo

It is the capital city of Hokkaido and there are about 2 million people there.
Combining both Japanese and foreign cultures, this place has unique atmosphere.
Many foreign cultures were introduced to this area during the Meiji Restoration period, when Japanese people started learning from overseas.

Sapporo Clock Tower, which was build it 1869, is a historical and cultural symbol of Sapporo.
This place was originally used as the first institution for Agricultural Studies in Japan, and students conducted their military training and physical education here. It is now a museum of history and the iconic tower of Sapporo. The bell rings every hour and tells the time to the city.

Beer is a popular product in Sapporo. Sapporo beer, which is the oldest Japanese beer brand is popular all over the areas in Japan. You can find Sapporo beer easily (the one with a Star label on) at any convenience stores or supermarkets. The technique of beer brewery was introduced to Japan from Germany in the late 1860s and the very first one was brewed in Sapporo in 1876 by a Japanese brewer, Seibei Nakagawa, who trained in Germany. At the Sapporo beer museum, you can take a guided tour of the history and brewing methods and taste fresh beer after the tour.

The must-see event in Sapporo is the Sapporo Snow Festival.
It is an annual event held in February. It features about 250 snow/ice sculptures on display outside in Odori Park, Tsudome, and Susukino.
At night, some of them are lit up and you can enjoy viewing/taking pictures of the beautiful art works.

2.Otaru

It is a harbor city which can be reached by train from Sapporo within an hour. This area thrived as a port city, and many western style buildings were made during Meiji era.
Glassware and music boxes are popular products here, and it is also known for its picturesque city view. There are many museums and shops, so this area is a good place to buy souvenirs!
In February, the Otaru Snow light path festival is held every year, when snow lanterns and illuminations light up the city during from 17:00 to 21:00 everyday.

3.Hakodate

Hakodate is the southernmost city of Hokkaido.
This city is the first port to open up to foreign trade, so you’ll find a lot of international influence in this area.
The Hakodate Morning Market (open from 5:00am until 3:00pm everyday), which is just a minute walk away from Hakodate Station is a great place to enjoy fresh seafood.
Major sightseeing spots are the Motomachi area, the Kanamori Red Brick Warehouses, and Goryokaku park with its historic relics.
At night, you can enjoy the amazing view. The night view here is considered one of the most beautiful in Japan along with Kobe and Nagasaki.

4.Niseko

This place is a very popular ski resort that attracts people from all over the world. The powder snow in this area is high in quality and there are a lot of hotels and Onsen spots.
If you like outdoor activities like hiking or skiing, you should definitely check this are out!

5.Asahikawa

This is the 2nd largest city in Hokkaido after Sapporo. There is a popular Zoo called Asahiyama Zoo, which has a glass tunnel through the penguin pool. You can learn about wild animals in Hokkaido such as eagles, deer, wolves, cranes. polar bears, etc.
Asahikawa ramen is a popular local food there. The broth is soy sauce based and a little more oily compared to most ramen in Japan.
Eating the ramen seeing the beautiful nature in Hokkaido will surely be a great experience!

6. Lake Toya

This lake is known for its spectacular view with the active volcano Mt. Usu and the nature around it. Lake Toya is one of the most popular hot spring areas in Hokkaido as well. In 2008, G8 summit was held here.

7.Furano and Bie

Furano and Biei are best-known for their lavender fields.
In Biei area, there is a popular blue pond called Shirogane blue pond and a spectacular waterfall called Shirahige Falls (it means “white beard waterfall”) , where you can see white curtains of water there and from November to April, light-up events take place from 6:00pm until 9:00pm. Biei Shirogane Onsen is another popular spot where you can relax taking a hot spring watching majestic nature around.

8.Noboribetsu Onsen

Located in south-western Hokkaido, it is the most popular hot spring town in Hokkaido.
There are 9 different kinds of hot-springs.
Among them, the most impressive one is Jigokudani, or Hell Valley.
The valley is 450 m wide, and 3,000 liters of hot water is produced per minute. In the north of the town, there are various hiking courses around.
Virgin forests in the area are designated as Japan’s natural monument.

9.Daisesuzan National Park

It is the largest national park in Japan (226,764 ha, more than 3 times bigger than Tokyo).
It is a great place for hikers. There are many different hiking courses, so any levels of hikers can enjoy walking in the beautiful nature seeing wild animals and flowers.
Asahi-Dake (2,291m) is the tallest mountain in the area, and there is a ropeway which goes up to 1,600m above the sea level.

10.Lake Mashu

This lake is considered as one of the clearest caldera lakes in the world.
Visitors are not allowed to go down to the lake, but there are two observation decks from which you can enjoy the views on a fine day.
It is the best if you could rent a car to get there, but you could take infrequent buses that run between Mashu station and the Observation deck 1 (until November).

11.Shiretoko National Park

This national park in the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2005.
The nature there is unspoiled and it can be accessed only by foot or boat.
It is a home to many wild animals such as beers, foxes, deers, etc.
Just like in all national parks, you are not allowed to feed or throw away trash in the area so you need to follow the rules strictly if you are going.
In winter, drift ice can be seen in the Shiretoko Peninsula.

12.Shikaribetsu Kotan

During winter (from January to March only), there will be a snow village at the highest elevation lake in Hokkaido, which is 800 m above the sea level. This is called Shikaribetsu Kotan and it features numbers of attractions such as ice bars, ice hot springs, and ice concert halls.
At night, some buildings are lighten up.
If you would like to enjoy the winter in Hokkaido, make sure that you check Shikaribetsu Kotan!

Popular cuisine in Hokkaido

・Ramen

There are basically four different kinds of ramen soup in Hokkaido: Miso (Sapporo), Soy-sauce (Asahikawa), Salt (Hakodate), and Curry (Muroran).
You can enjoy locally grown, fresh vegetables with delicious soup and noodles. Eating ramen is great especially during cold winter!

・Milk and Cheese

Hokkaido is known for its daily product.
Cool summers and snowy winters in Hokkaido is great for farming and agriculture. The quality of milk and cheese produced there is very high and rich in taste.

・Seafood and vegetables

Thanks to the surrounding seas, there are a lot of tasty seafood in Hokkaido such as salmon roes, squids, sea urchins, shrimps, crabs, sea shells, and various Sashimis. All of them are very fresh and taste great!
Hokkaido’s huge land is great for making vegetables.
You can enjoy fresh vegetables throughout the year.

How to get to Hokkaido from Tokyo

The easiest way to go there is by an airplane. The price varies depending on the season and the airline you use, but it usually costs from around 10,560yen to 25,000yen for a round trip. It takes about 1 hour and a half.
As an alternative way, you could take Hotoku Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo station to Shinhakodate Hokuto station. It takes about 4 hours and costs around 22,690yen for one way(reserved seat), but you can enjoy the beautiful view during the train ride.

Enjoy traveling there and embrace the nature!

If you need more info about Japan, give me a comment here or send me a message to[email protected]

See you next time,
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below.
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

Lost in Japan? 17 useful Japanese phrases ≪with audio≫

2019-05-24 by Taka

So many people, and so many narrow streets… It’s very easy to get lost in Japan! Things are very convenient and safe here, but the transportation system is a bit complicated and if you can not read/speak Japanese, you might have hard time finding the best way to get to your destination even using Google map.
Here are some of the useful phrases that you can use when you get lost and want some help in Japan. Learn these expressions and enjoy your travel in Japan!

・When you want to ask

すみません/ Sumimasen

Excuse me.

（ここは/今）何処ですか？/ (Kokowa/Ima) doko desuka?

Where is this place/am I now?

〜は何処ですか？/ – Wa doko desuka?

Where is -?

道に迷いました。/Michi ni mayoi mashita.

I’m lost my way. “Michi” means “Way”.

〜へはどうやって行ったら良いですか？/ – He wa douyatte ittara ii desuka?

What is a good way to get to -? “Douyatte” means “How to”.
When you don’t know how to do something, you could ask like, “どうやってするのですか？Douyatte suru no desuka?”

〜への行き方を教えて下さい。/ – He no ikikata wo oshiete kudasai.

Please tell me how to get to -. “Oshiete” means “Tell me” or “Teach me”.

〜が見つかりません。/ -Ga mitsukari masen.

I can’t find -. This phrase can be used when you lost something and you are looking for it. For example, “Tokei ga mitsukari masen” meaning, “I can’t find my watch.”

ここから何分くらいかかりますか？/Kokokara nanfun kurai kakarimasuka?

How long does it take to get there from here?

・Other useful expressions

右/左 / Migi/Hidari

Right/Left

ここ/そこ/あっち / Koko/Soko/Attchi

This place(or here)/That place(or there)/Over there

(この/あの)道をまっすぐです / (Kono/Ano) michi wo massugu desu.

Go straight (this/that) way. “Massugu” is “Straight”.

(右に/左に/角を)曲がる / (Migini/Hidarini/Kadowo) Magaru.

Turn (right/left/at the corner). “Magaru” means “To turn”.

(歩いて/車で/バスで/電車で) 〜分くらいです。/ (Aruite/Kuruma de/Bus de/Densha de) – fun kurai desu.

It takes about – min (on foot/by car/by bus/by train).

遠い/近い / Toui/Chikai

Far/Close

案内しますよ。/ Annai Shimasuyo.

I will take you there.
Lucky you if you get this phrase from the person you are talking to!

〜で乗り換えて下さい。 / – de norikaete kudasai.

Please transfer at -. “Norikae” means “Transfer”.

助かりました！ / Tasukarimashita!

You saved me! /That was a help!
You could use this phrase to say thank you.

By the way, we don’t usually use “Block” in Japan when we talk about the directions.
So, you rarely hear someone says things like “Go straight this way for 2 blocks…”.

It is hard for Japanese people who can not speak English well to explain the direction.
But if you can use the Japanese words and phrases here, it will be much easier for you to get the right information when you are lost/looking for a place.

This reminds me of the time when I visited the U.K.
When I went to the U.K for the first time (about 4 years ago), I couldn’t find the hostel I was staying, so I asked for a help and a very friendly local drove me there.
I was very thankful for that! And I try to do the same every time I see someone who needs help in Japan now.

Japanese people are generally friendly and helpful, so don’t be afraid to talk to locals when you need some help.
If you know some Japanese, it is most likely that they will try to help you as much as they can.

Hope this post will be of your help.
If there’s anything that you want me to write, feel free to send me a message to [email protected]
Or you could simply give me a comment.

See you next time!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my album below!
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

All about capsule hotels in Japan

2019-05-15 by Taka

Paying for food, transportation, shopping, and accommodation….
Traveling in Japan costs a lot of money.
If you are staying for a long time in Japan, you should plan out carefully.
There are a lot of delicious food and interesting goods, so without planning, you will end up spending too much money!

Here is an option for those who want to save some money during their trip in Japan: Staying at capsule hotels.
If you don’t care too much about the place to stay (or if you are a minimalist then definitely!), or looking for an interesting place to stay, booking capsule hotels is a great idea.

It will be a great experience staying at this unique accommodation and most of them are very comfortable and affordable.
Check the info below and learn all about capsule hotels!

Capsule hotels are cheap places to stay.
They were originally made for salarymen when they couldn’t make it home overnight.
Therefore, most capsule hotels are made only for men.
However, more and more capsule hotels are offering accommodation for women and foreigners recently.
At such places, they usually offer gender segregated sleeping floors for men and women and well maintained with security systems.
Such capsule hotels are usually found near major train stations and it only costs around 3,000yen to 5,000yen per a night to stay
(except at some premium capsule hotels that offer more space and luxurious experience).

The type of capsules are different depending on the hotels.
A typical capsule is a fiberglass unit (about 1.2 m wide, 2 m long, and 1 m high), and has a single size futon mattress with sheets, blankets , and pillows, a TV/radio ,bed light, outlet, and WiFi inside with a curtain/door to cover the entrance.
Usually, two units are stacked and lined up side by side along the corridor.

capsule hotel osaka — This is the original capsule hotel in Osaka.

Bathroom/Shower room are shared with other guests like a hostel or guesthouse.
Some places have restaurants, laundry machines, vending machines, lounges with massage chairs, game/manga rooms, or even a Sento (Sento is the communal bathing place. About Sento, check my another post:https://hidanotaka.com/sento/).

Getting interested? But don’t rush!
Here are the things that you should know before going to a capsule hotel.

・You need to remove your shoes upon checking in.
You will be given a key with the number of the capsule you are using. You will have to return the key to check out, so don’t lose it!

・Smoking is not allowed inside of a capsule.

・You need to refrain from making too much noise or mess.
*Note that some capsule hotels are for a single stay.
At such places, you need to check out and check in again if you are staying more than a day.

Here are the recommended capsule hotels

In Tokyo

Shinjuku Kuyakusho-mae Capsule Hotel
It is located close to Shinjuku station, near Shinjuku piccadilly movie theater.
This place has a 24 hour bath and sauna with a lounge, restaurant, and coin-operated laundries.

Check in: From 4:00pm until 3:00am
Check out: 10:00am
Price: 2,500 to 3,800yen for women, 2,600 to 3,600yen for men

Capsule Value Kanda
It is a popular capsule hotel near Akihabara station.
They have luggage storages and 24 hour room service.

Check in: From 5:00pm
Check out: 10:00am
Price: 2,900 to 3,400yen

Hotel Asakusa & Capsule
This place is located near Asakusa station.
It has a large shared bath, free wi-fi, and a lounge, and each capsule has a TV and Yukata robe.
Although they don’t serve food, it is a cheap, comfortable place to stay!

Check in: From 4:00pm
Check out: 9:30am
Price: 2,200yen
*You could choose to stay at a room here. It costs 4,400yen per a night.

In Osaka

Capsule Hotel Inn Osaka
It is the first capsule hotel appeared in Japan in 1979.
I went to this place about 4 years ago and it was quite comfortable!
It has a big sauna and spa, a restaurant, laundry machines, and a spacious TV room with sofas. It’s only for men, however!

Check in: From Noon
Check out: 10:00am
Price: From 3,400yen

In Kyoto

Smart Stay Shizuku
It is a brand new (opened in 2018) capsule hotel near Kyoto Station.
It has a manga/magazine room, massage chairs, coin-operated laundry machines, a sauna, vending machines, and a restaurant.

Check in: From 4:00pm untill 5:00am
Check out: 10:00am
Price: From 3,980yen

If you would like to stay at a luxurious capsule hotel, you could stay at First Cabin Haneda.
It is fancier than average capsule hotels and is inside of the Haneda International airport.
The price is a bit higher than average capsule hotels, but you will be able to enjoy spacious single room.
Check in time is until 7:00pm, and Check out time is 10:00am.
It costs about 6,000yen per a night to stay at a first-class cabin.

Narita Airpot also has this kind of service, at the place called Nine Hours Narita Airpot.
It costs 4,900 per a night on weekdays, and 5,900yen on Friday and weekends.
Check in time is from noon to 5:00am, Check out time is 10:00am.
*There are a lot of First Cabin and Nine Hours in major city areas in Japan! If you don’t know which capsule to stay, you should always look for them.

I hope this post will make your stay in Japan easier.
There are a lot more capsule hotels all over Japan, and they are very convenient.
You will have a very comfortable stay if you can use some Japanese phrases and talk to staff.
Check my another post to learn some useful Japanese phrases: https://hidanotaka.com/17-simple-japanese-phrases-used-in-hotels/

Taka playing the guitar — This is me playing my guitar.

If there’s anything that you want me to write, feel free to send me a message to [email protected]
Or you could simply give me a comment.

Have a great day!(or night)
Taka

*I’m a professional composer.
You can listen/download my album below!
Free Somebody
Skyhigh

A Simple guide to train travel in Japan

2019-04-07 by Taka

Hi, how are you?
I’ve been busy writing and working on music and getting ready for new projects.
I just got an art work for my new album and the final version of my songs after mixing.
I think I will be able to release it at the end of this month.
Wait for it!

This time I wrote about train system in Japan.
Japan has a very efficient transportation network. The whole country (expect Okinawa) can be reached by train.
Japanese trains are very safe and clean, and they keep time very well.
Using trains is a very convenient way for visitors to travel in Japan.
However if you are a first timer, you might have hard time understanding how it works.
Here is info about trains in Japan and how to travel using them!

Train Categories

There are 5 kinds of trains in Japan.
You need to choose one depending on your purpose.

1.普通 Futsu (also called Kakutei)/Local

This train stops at every station.

2.快速 Kaisoku/Rapid

It skips some stations.
The price for 普通 and 快速 are the same but 快速 is usually more crowded.

3.急行 Kyuko/Express

It stops at fewer stations than 快速.
In most cases, the price is the same as 普通 and 快速.

4.特急 Tokkyu/Limited Express

It only stops at major stations.
To use this kind of train, a limited express ticket (called 特急券 Tokkyuken) is required in addition to the cost for the regular tickets (they are called 乗車券 Joshaken).
The additional price is from about 500 to 4,000yen depending on the distance you travel.

5.新幹線 Shinkansen/Super Express

It is the fastest and best kind of train to travel distant regions in Japan. Just like 特急, a limited express ticket is needed.

Seat classes

When you take a long-distance train, you get to choose between Ordinary and Green (first class) seats.
Green is less crowded and you will have spacious seats compared to Ordinary ,but the additional 30% to 50% fee is required.
Many of Shinkansen and limited express trains have 自由席 (Jiyu seki/Non-reserved seat) and 指定席 (Shitei seki/Reserved seat).
It costs around 300 to 700 yen to have a reserved seat.
※If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you don’t need to pay the additional cost and make seat reservations for free. You just need to talk to the worker at the counter to reserve your seat.
※Hayabusa, Hayate, Komachi, Kagayaki, and Hokkaido Shinkansen only carry reserved seats.

Seat reservations can be made from a month prior to the travel date at ticket offices, ticket machines, or online.

On Shinkansen, smoking is not permitted on trains, but there are some areas where you can smoke on long-distance trains.

How to buy a ticket

If you are traveling the short distance, you can either buy prepaid IC cards (Suica, for example) or get tickets at ticket machines.
Here is the instruction to get a ticket at a ticket machine for short-distance travelers.

1.Check the map above the machines and find your destination and fare.
2.Put the money into the machine and select the right price.
3.Choose the number of tickets.
4.Collect your ticket(s) and change.

If you want to travel for long distance, you should get a ticket at a ticket counter.
You need to tell where you would to go at what time, and whether you are taking an ordinary or green, reserved or non-reserved.

Going through the gates

With your ticket, you can go through the gates to the paid fare zone.
Insert the ticket into the slot and pick up the ticket that comes up on the other side.
If you are using an IC card, you can touch the IC card reader.
※If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you must go through a manned gate and show your pass.

If you have a limited express ticket, make sure you insert it with your regular ticket.
When you are at your destination, leave the paid fare zone through the gate.
You just need to do the same as you entered.
If you traveled without paying the correct fare, you have to pay the difference at a Fare Adjustment machine or at a manned gate.

Japan Rail Pass

It is also called JR pass (JR is the major train company in Japan).
This pass can be used by foreign tourists only and you will get unlimited use of JR trains including Shinkansen, Limited express, Express, Rapid, and Local trains, as well as Tokyo Monorail from/to Haneda Airport, and Ferry to Miyajima.
(Note that you can ride on JR buses with it, but can’t use highway buses)
If you are staying Japan for a while, you should get it for your convenience and also to save money.
There are two kinds of it: Ordinary and Green (first class).
You can purchase the pass online.
After making the payment, you will receive a voucher.
Within 3 months of buying it, you need to exchange it to the pass in Japan.
(You can exchange it at major JR stations and Airports. You need to show your passport upon receiving your pass)
Details are on the link here:Japan Rail Pass

The price of the pass is
For 7 days: 29,110yen (38,880yen for Green)
For 14 days: 46,390yen (62,950yen for Green)
For 21 days: 59,350yen (81,870yen for Green)

※You could upgrade your Ordinary seat to Green seat by paying additional fee.
※The pass can’t be shared or given to another person.
※You could purchase the pass at stations in Japan (instead of online) at an increased cost.

Note that you can’t use the automatic ticket gates with the pass.
Pass holders need to go through the manned gate and show the pass and passport.
The seat reservation is optional, but when you want to reserve a seat, you need to talk to staff at the station (You can’t reserve your seat using ticket machines).

When you are on train, you need to follow the manner.
To learn about it, check my another post: 13 things to avoid doing in Japan

Train system in Japan is great and once you know how to use it, you will feel very comfortable traveling in Japan.
I hope info here will be your help!

See you next time
Taka

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

4 places to check in Otaku’s paradise, Akihabara

2018-09-15 by Taka

For Anime and manga lovers and computer geeks(We call them Otaku in Japanese),Akihabara is like a heaven.
The area is full of Japanese electronics, anime, and manga products.
I grew up in Tokyo but even now I still feel that I’m on a different planet in Akihabara area. It is that unique!
The lively music and lightings never stop all day, all night.
Tall buildings with colorful ads of so many anime characters welcome you right after exiting the station.
You can’t really see/experience everything there within a few days but here are 4 major place that you don’t want to miss in the area!

1.Maid Café (and other uniqueCafés)

Akihabara has many interesting (and very weird if you do not anything about our culture!) cafes that will surely make your visit memorable.Among them, maid café(a cosplay restaurant) is widely known even to a lot of foreigners.At the café, maid girls act as servants and serve customers as masters.Food and beverages are decorated with cute designs on the table.You will see some young girls dressed up and handing out coupons/flyers of their café on many streets of Akihabara.Note that they are just entertainers and maid cafe is not a place to hook up.Also, in most maid cafes, taking pictures of maids or interior is forbidden.Please pay respect to maids there.

Maidreamin
Hours: 11:30 to 23:00(Mon to Fri)
10:30 to 23:00(Sat, Sun, and holiday)

@home Café
Hours: 11:00 to 22:00

Gundam café is another popular café in the area.Gundam(giant robot, or mobile suit) is one of the most popular Si-Fi anime in Japan.Gundam café is an anime café for giant robot fans, and the interior and the design of menu are based on the characters/robots of the anime. Even if you don’t know about the anime, it is a good place to visit to enjoy the atmosphere.

Gundam Café
Hours: 10:00 to 22:30

There’s also AKB48 café. If you like Japanese idols, it is a nice café to stop by.
Though taking pictures is not allowed inside, you can enjoy colorful items and sweets. Stationery and other items are on sale as souvenirs.

AKB48 cafe
Hours:10:00 to 22:00 (Sun to Thu)
10:00 to 23:00 (Fri and Sat)

2.Anime Markets

There are a lot of anime shops in Akihabara as well as figure shops, video game stores, and arcade centers. In fact, it is so full of them that I can’t even tell how many there are…!You can find your favorite anime character goods and costumes for cosplay by just walking around, but here are some of the most popular places.

Animate Akihabara
Open: 10:00 to 21:00

K-BOOKS
Open: 11:00 to 20:00

Tokyo Anime Center in DNP plaza
Open: 11:00 to 20:00 (Closed on Tue)

3.Electronics stores

Akihabara has varieties of electronics stores from a big store like Yodobashi Camera(it has as 9 floors and each floor has full of latest gadgets, it is near the station) to small shops that sell niche products for computers.It is very easy to find good electronics there, and I would say there’s nothing you can’t find to build or customize your computers.Do you need a different type of LED light? They have it.Are you looking for a crazy colored buttons for a controller? They have it.Here are most visited electronics areas

Denkigai (Electric town)

Yodobashi camera
Hours: 9:30 to 22:00

4.Kanda Myojin shrine

It is a shrine located about 5 min walk away from Akihabara.Even a traditional shrine like this one has Otaku influence inside.You can buy good luck charm(Omamori) for IT workers.Most Omamoris that you can get at a shrine are made to protect the holder from having bad lucks, but this one is believed to protect the holder’s computer from virus attacks.You will also find a lot of anime/video game characters on Emas, wooden plates where people normally write wishes. It is also a popular spot as a place that was featured in the anime called “Love Live!”

Kanda Myojin shrine
（Open 24 hours）

If you like anime, manga, or electronics, Akihabara is a must-visit place.
Even if you are not too crazy about those things, you can still enjoy watching Otaku guys and cosplay girls in the area.
I remember going to a maid café with the bass player of my band a long time ago.
It was quite an interesting experience to be said “Welcome home, master!” and watch them dance and sing. My country really is a strange island!

Access

From Shibuya:Take JR Yamanote Line Bound for Shinagawa, Tokyo
(Time:28min Price:200yen)

From Tokyo: Take JR Yamanote Line Bound for Ueno, Ikebukuro
(Time:5min Price:140yen)

Where’s a strange/interesting spot in your country?
Send me a comment!
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