Quicky: afraid of pick pocketing on a crowded densha (train)? Don’t be. Everybody is too busy either with their phone or book or is sleeping.
Quicky: I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it before, but if so, it cannot hurt to reiterate the following.
When you shop for non-perishable goods (that is, non-food, for example), you are eligible for a tax refund or deduction on those items. That is, only if you are a tourist not living in Japan.
In some stores in the more touristic places, signs (or other methods) in the stores will indicate this as well.
Elmira (my host in Nagoya) mentioned that it is also possible to get a refund at some designated location at the airport. I might check that out, if there is enough time before departure.
Quicky: Labi Shinjuku (another depāto, department store) is also loud. That is all.
Quicky: as everywhere I go in popular districts of cities in Japan, lots of folks are trying to hand out flyers and such. I have no idea for what, except when I got that one for a Maid Cafe, which was in English.
But here in Shinjuku it seems particularly prevalent. Guys are actually prowling after the girls and standing in bunches at the center of intersections of low traffic areas.
I believe to be in Kabukichō, where my hostess advised me not to go. I’ll have a quick look around and be on my way again. I have no interest in meeting Chinese maffia, who are said to roam here as well. And in fact do like to target lone tourists, as apposed to Japanese maffia. Nice going!
Quicky: presently I’m having a pizza in Papa Milano, an Italian restaurant near Shinjuku eki (station). They are playing (modern) western style ongaku (music) in the background.
- Daft Punk ft Kanye West – Harder Faster Better Stronger
- Eminem – Sing for the moment
- Jay Z & Linkin Park – Encore / What are you waiting for?
- Pink – You and your hand
So much frickin’ win!
Quicky: Tokyu Hands is another depāto (department store) but is definitely more pleasant to be in. It’s a bit more classy and not so screamy and loud as Sofmap and Bic Camera, for example. But then again, they did not have a large electronics department, if I’m not mistaken.
Wednesday 6th November – Alright, I’m in Tōkyō, birches!
This morning I said goodbye to Juan and Elmira and took a bus for Nagoya station. There I quickly found the right platform for the Shinkansen towards Tōkyō, which came pretty soon after. There are lots of these bad boys speeding across the country. Yeah!
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Quicky: it’s been a long day. Tired and worn… More news will follow after the sleeping part.
Quicky: there are stewards everywhere that are making sure that you don’t accidentally get hurt in any type of situation. And they take their jobs very seriously.
For example, everywhere where work is done on the road, there will be a man (I haven’t seen women doing it yet) waving a flag or a blinking torchlight and possibly do some yelling. Same on platforms at either the train or subway station.
Quicky: Sofmap is a depāto (department store), identical in every way to Bic Camera, which I visited yesterday. So it too is loud. And has everything of anything.
Quicky: in Akihabara there is a little store which sells working second hand models of Nintendo consoles (Famicon aka SNES) and Sega Dreamcast. Including old game cassettes. Awesome. Even the sniper scope for the SNES. Kawaii!
Quicky: it’s very convenient that the subway stations have a sequence number indicating the position on the respective subway line which are each colored uniquely. Also very convenient. Even better: Google Maps uses these colors as well when planning a trip by public transportation.
Quicky: when you enter a toilet and you’re not sure if it’s occupied, just knock. If so, the occupant will knock back.
Quicky: as suggested by Stefano, I bought a Suica card, which is prepaid public transportation pass. ¥2000 should get me around a bit without having to keep buying tickets. Yatta!
Quicky: I got on the Shinkansen in Nagoya and took off for Tōkyō.
When I started taking pictures, the lady sitting next to me at the window, quickly thereafter offered to switch seats with me.
So sweet of her! She was also underway to Tōkyō.
We tried to talk a little, but my Japanese just isn’t that useful yet, for smalltalk. 🙁
Quicky: trash bins are between coaches in the Shinkansen. Just so you know where to find them.
Quicky: that’s a first, having my train ticket validated by a conductor.. ding
Quicky: I’m now waiting for the Shinkansen that will take me to Tōkyō!
It’s good to know that (in general) there are special lanes near the entrance locations, which are clearly marked on the platform. This way you can (relatively speaking) reserve your boarding spot.
Also, the trip will take 105 minutes, no less.
Quicky: since you have absolutely no use for ¥1 and ¥5 coins, in regard to paying for things at machines (for instance, ticket machines), it pays (no pun intended) to get rid of these coins when buying stuff at shops.
Kombini (convenience markets) have items that are all strangely priced. That is, nothing is exactly ¥200 or even ¥199. No, an exemplary item will cost you ¥213. Just perfect for getting rid of small change.
But, mind you, when you pay with bank notes or coins of ¥100 or ¥500, you will get even more of these ridiculously inconvenient coins.
Oh how I wish I could just pay for everything and everywhere with my credit card…
Tuesday 4th November
So, yesterday was Culture Day, but that had some implications for today. I will get to that. First things first.
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Quicky: long overdue, but here goes anyway. So, when you enter a shop or restaurant, be prepared to be shouted at by as many employees that you can or cannot see. They will cry out irasshaimase at you, indicating that you are very welcome in their shop (and in doing so, possibly, alerting colleagues).
Read more, here.
And also, this is very, very true as by personal experience.
Quicky: there are not many places where you can park your bicycle. That is, there is space to park your bicycle, which people do, but it’s definitely not marked as such.
On the other hand, sometimes there are places that are designated as parking spots and then you can store your bicycle in a clamp, which doubles as some kind of lock. A chain lock if you will.
I noticed that almost no bicycle is locked with an additional lock, let alone securely attached to immovable objects. But maybe that’s not necessary when every bicycle is explicitly registered…
Quicky: to continue my observations regarding traffic lights, over here they are almost strictly on a timer creating “waves” of traffic, you could say.
This is unusual to me because in the Netherlands there are detectors in the road, which sense if there’s traffic waiting. Only then will that particular lane get a green light shortly thereafter.
Similarly for pedestrians, in the Netherlands they press buttons to indicate they want to cross the street.
Only once or twice have I been at an intersection of crossing here, where I had to push a button to wait for a green light.
Quicky: the first thing you get asked when entering a restaurant, is how many people will be there. Just so you know. Your host will point up 1 finger and ask you a question when you enter. You answer by saying “hitori (alone)” or “futatsu” (with two).
Quicky: so this is a thing in Japan…
It’s just chocolate (with almond, in this case), stuck on a pretzel stick. But, it’s convenient for not getting chocolate in your fingers.
Quicky: trying to order a set menu, but varying one element, which deviates from the standard, making the set more expensive (or so I believe), proves to be quite a challenge. And leads to humorous situations. lol
Quicky: Nagoyans love building shopping malls underground. Lots.
Quicky: calling a taxi is easy. All you have to do is see an unoccupied one coming your way and raise your hand. The driver should stop close by and hastily get out of the taxi to pick up your luggage and store it in the trunk.
You can tell if a taxi is unoccupied by the light on the roof. If it is lit, the taxi is unoccupied. (if I’m not mistaken)
For more info on taxis, see a previous post.
Quicky: I learned that every bicycle is registered with it’s own number. That is, if ever a stray one is found or fined, the owner can be traced.
Quicky: many trucks that are driving around over here, have ridiculous amounts of chrome parts on them. Pimp my truck, baby.