Disneyland is called as one of the most magical places on earth. A place where you come to see your favorite childhood characters come to life. Even the Japanese have come to know and grow with these characters. Rumor even has it that the huge, bulbous eyes of anime characters were inspired by Mickey Mouse.

Welcome to Tokyo Disney Resort! It has two theme parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, plus eight hotels (Disney Ambassador Hotel, Tokyo Disneysea Hotel Miracosta, Sunroute Plaza Tokyo, Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel, Hilton Tokyo Bay, Hotel Okura Tokyo Bay, Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel, Tokyo Bay Hotel Tokyu). A ninth one, the Tokyo Disneyland Hotel is opening this July 2008. Or, you can opt to stay at other Tokyo hotels nearby the area.

Tokyo Disneyland is styled after Disney’s classic Disneyland in California and first opened in 1983 making Tokyo Disneyland the first Disney park opened outside of the United States of America. Tokyo DisneySea is a nautical themed park that was opened in 2001. The Disney resort complex is conveniently circled by a monorail that connects the parks and hotels to the JR Maihama Station which is only 15 kilometers from the core of Tokyo.

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Posted in Attractions, Japan |

Japan has a Great Three of about everything. It has its three great views, three great castles, three great night views and just about every three great something anyone could think of. One of the most impressive out of these three great everything is Japan’s three great mountains. These three mountains are considered the greatest among Japan’s numerous peaks and mountain ranges. Namely, these mountains are Mount Fuji, Mount Haku and Mount Tate. The Japanese term for Mountain is ‘Yama’ so Mount Fuji is also called Fujiyama, Mount Haku is Hakuyama, and Mount Tate is Tateyama. Sometimes, the ‘Mount’ is not removed so they can also be called Mount Fujiyama, Mount Hakuyama and Mount Tateyama (which seems very redundant).

Mount Fuji needs no introduction. It is one of the most famous mountains in the world. With its majestic cone, this dormant volcano has been depicted in countless photographs and artworks over the years. Mount Fuji is the tallest among Japan’s three great mountains and all other mountains in Japan, towering at 12.388 feet above the ground.

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Posted in Attractions, Japan |

So you want to go to Japan, but do you know the acceptable manners by Japanese standards? These manners are very much different than in other countries. One must know them in order to not offend or embarrass your host and other people around you.

BOWING

Bowing is probably the most well-known Japanese etiquette outside of Japan. Bowing is extremely important in Japan. Even though kids learn to bow at a very young age, companies still provide training for their employees on how to bow.

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Posted in Food, Japan, Things to do |

Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region of the island of Honshu, one of the islands of Japan. It is often said that “Sendai is just right”, as it is close to both the seas and mountains. Even the weather in Sendai is just right, not too hot in the summer and not too cold in the winter. Locals have also said that it is a very comfortable place to live in. A thing worthy of noting about Sendai is the fusion of its greenery and the industry that makes it the city that it is. It is a city where the streets are cemented and wide yet the view is also very green, trees can be found everywhere. As a matter of fact, Sendai’s other name is Mori no Miyako, or City of Forest. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Attractions, Japan |

Previously, we’ve discussed about the Electric Town of Akiba and Gadgets. This time, let us take a look at another popular reason to visit Akihabara: anime and games. Akihabara or more commonly called as Akiba has been strongly identified with anime and games in recent times, mostly because of anime, TV shows and movies that takes place in the said area. Akiba is also home to legions of otaku that flock its streets everyday. It is mainly thanks to them that Akiba is what it is now.

Akihabara is best known as a Gamer’s Mecca, no one can possibly miss the huge towers of Sega and Taito, along with other amusement centers in the area. Akiba is home to numerous eighties games which can be found in the amusement centers all over. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Japan, Things to do |

Have you ever thought of a haven for gadgets, games and anime? Wonder no more because such a place exists. Conveniently nestled in the heart of Tokyo, Akihabara or Akiba as it is often called, is the place to be if you happen to be a techie, a gamer, a toy maniac or an anime fan. In short, it is the place for different otakus to meet and catch up. One can easily gain access to Akihabara as its station runs along the JR Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, and Chuo train lines. Also, Akihabara is just walking distance of the Ochanomizu and Ueno areas.

One of the main reasons for coming to Akiba is to shop for gadgets. Akiba does not disappoint, it’s not called Electric Town for nothing. In here you can find every gadget conceivable, both new and second hand, from PC parts to household appliances. As long as it exists, chances are there’s one for sale somewhere in Akiba and most of the time they are very reasonably priced.

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Posted in Japan, Things to do |

So you’re in Japan, but you don’t speak a word of Japanese. Fear not, here are a few essential phrases which will help you get by when you visit Japan. There are a lot of phrases that is useful to know. If you plan to go to Japan and you are not fluent, remember that it is also helpful to bring a Japanese-English dictionary to better understand what your Japanese counterparts are saying to you. One thing to remember is that the japanese have distinct ways of speaking, depending on who the speaker is addressing and the situation. Nihonggo can either be formal or informal, such as when talking to friends or family the informal form is usually used. Most of the phrases here are in their informal form. When speaking in a formal event or to one’s elders, it is imperative to use the formal way of speaking.

PLEASANTRIES

Good morning - Ohayou

Good evening - Kombanwa

Good day - Konnichiwa

Good night - Oyasumi

How do you do? - Ikaga desu ka?

Nice to meet you - Hajimemashite

I am very well - Genki desu

Thank you - Arigatou

Many thanks - Domo arigatou

Goodbye - Sayounara/ Ja ne

Best regards - Yoroshiku

By all means - Douzo

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Posted in Japan, Language |

It’s 12am in Tokyo. You’re itching for the nightlife but all the bars you go to are now closed. Where do you go then? Where else but Roppongi. Roppongi is exactly where you want to be when you want to go out at night, with its many establishments open until the first trains start their first trips.

Roppongi is filled with restaurants, clubs, discos and bars to satisfy even the wildest party animal, with restaurant prices ranging from ¥150 to ¥30000($1.50 to $290) and bar prices from ¥400 to ¥5000($4 to $50). Among the numerous bars in the area, one of note is the Lexington Queen. This bar which features a wide variety of music, is usually dominated by a young crowd. If you’re looking for something more upscale and mature, try going to Heartland. Located at the bottom of Mori Tower, this bar’s patrons are usually attired in business suits. There is also no entrance fee for this bar. And if you’re checking out bars, you might as well go to Absolut Icebar Tokyo. With walls, bars, tables and even your own glass made out of crystal clear ice, if you’ve ever dreamed of being in an ice palace this is the next best thing.

Everything is ice!!

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Posted in Japan, Things to do |

If you are an anime lover, then you must know the works of Hayao Miyazaki. For decades, the legendary animator and visionary behind Studio Ghibli has produced many animated classics known throughout the world. Who can forget the post-apocalyptic eco-princess named Nausicaa? Or the perservering teenage witch in Kiki’s Delivery Service? Far different from the mainstream anime aesthetics of ninjas, beguiling vixens and space robots, Miyazaki’s vision is clean and simple, celebrating an imaginary 19th century Europe in all its architecture and mechanisms, and the joy of flight.

Ghibli fans, rejoice! For there is a place which brings to life the visual marvels that Miyazaki brings to the screen. The Ghibli Museum is a compound in the Mitaka suburbs, just 20 minutes away from the Shinjuku Station through the JR Chuo Main Line. Lovingly designed by the people behind Ghibli, the museum is a delightful attraction, part animation exhibit, part recreation center, and part Miyazaki tribute.

Approaching the entrance, visitors will be greeted by a stuffed Totoro and his smaller companions from the film of the same name. Ticket holders will immediately receive a prized item: clippings of film stock from various Ghibli animes. From there on, visitors are left to themselves: there are no set paths to follow, just interconnecting rooms which lead from one surprise to the next. Doubling back is inevitable, just to be certain that no section is left uninspected.

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Posted in Attractions, Japan |

For a foodie like me, where better to buy and eat food than in the streets? Littered in the streets of Japan are stalls that sell udon, soba, ramen, takoyaki, nikuman, castella, taiyaki, imagawayaki and yakitori, just to name some.

Can you name these Japanese street foods?

For those who are unfamiliar with the food that was mentioned; udon, soba and ramen are all noodles served in soup or broth. Ramen noodles are relatively thin compared to udon and soba noodles. Ramen is usually served in hot pork or chicken broth. Udon noodles are thick noodles also served in broth, although the broth is usually made from shoyu or soy sauce. Soba is served either in hot broth or chilled with a dipping sauce, much like udon. Also, yakisoba has actually more in common with ramen than soba.

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Posted in Food, Japan |