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Going to Japan for my second time at the end of this year (Fly out from Dublin on Dec 23rd, fly back from Tokyo on Jan 23rd) and I wanna try to book tickets for shows that are less tourist-centric. Which means dealing with the notoriously difficult process of trying to buy a ticket when you're not already living in Japan. Namely, the shows I'd wanna see are: Either the "Cat's Hole" or the "Stylish Wave Countdown" shows on New Year's Eve for Exist Trace. http://www.exist-trace.com/live/event/ And the DDT wrestling (apparently they're hilarious, I'm not normally big into wrestling) Christmas Day show. Ticket pre-sale opens in about a week so I'm not sure yet how I can get tickets for that, but other shows have options for buying through Ticket Pia so I guess that's an option? http://www.ddtpro.com/ddtpro/31134/ The Countdown one for Exist Trace has stuff like e-plus ticketing so I assume there's resellers for that but I'm not sure how the other two work. For Cat's Hole does it just want me to email to say I'll be showing up? Incidentally, my Japanese is super awful (only recently passed N5), the Countdown show says "open14:30/start15:30 ～終演25時". "25 o'clock" would be an odd translation, does that mean the show runs from 3:30pm right up to 1am? In which case, I'd have to go to the other concert since my friends expect me to do some traditional new year's ceremony stuff with them sadly. As so long as I'm asking questions I may as well chuck these out there too: Just how am I meant to book a Christmas KFC and fukubukuro at Shibuya 109 MEN'S? Thanks for any help!
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Oct 16, 2016 13:44
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| # ¿ May 12, 2024 22:18 |
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I've been reading that luggage forwarding services to/from hotels (or even convenience stores?) are pretty common all over Japan. If so, that would be extremely handy for a few of the more awkward travels we're making - especially as we'll have either 4 or 5 suitcases between 3 people! Is it reasonable to expect most hotels to use these and, for the days we're staying in Airbnbs, to expect most areas to have a convenience store that would accept them? The main instances it would be useful for us would be for getting from Tokyo to Appi, Appi to Hakuba (more on this in a sec) and Hakuba to Kyoto. For the Appi to Hakuba section, we actually have a two day break in Tokyo but could happily live out of our backpacks for this. If these luggage forwarding services tend to be everywhere, are they also able to hold bags for a couple of days? We're about to email specific services to find out what we can do but thought I'd look for goon-approved advice first on whether this is possible and what services to use. Cheers!
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Nov 28, 2016 10:45
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orenronen posted:The most well known company that does this, and the one you're most likely to use as a tourist, is Yamato Transport (also known as Kuroneko after their black-yellow cat logo), and they do everything you want. Any decent hotel will arrange for them to pick up your luggage and can accept it (even before you arrive). As for Airbnbs, it's easiest to just indicate which day and hour you want them to deliver (they work until 9pm or so), and just wait for them at the apartment. For sending luggage outside hotels, you can indeed go to many convenience stores or even request they pickup from the apartment (there's a form on their website). And yes, they can hold your luggage for up to a week without any extra charge.
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Nov 30, 2016 00:25
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peanut posted:Koya-san, Japan's (the world's?) largest graveyard.
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Nov 30, 2016 23:57
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How exactly do new year's lucky bags / fukubukuro work? I wanna pick up some random bags of clothes from 109 MEN'S for me and a friend. Do I show up a few days in advance to get a ticket and pay for it, or do I show up on the day and hope I can get in?
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Dec 11, 2016 16:34
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Can anyone vouch for whether the Warehouse amusement center in Kawasaki is any good - and worth visiting if I have a free evening staying in Tokyo and don't really mind the transport? If it's good, anything else in Kawasaki worth checking out? edit: Also, is that big spider still in Roppongi? Pretty sure it's not, but just so I know if it's worth keeping an eye out. Question Mark Mound fucked around with this message at 15:50 on Dec 16, 2016 |
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Dec 16, 2016 15:05
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DiscoJ posted:It's worth for it just for the toilets. The Kowloon-themed part may feel pretty limited but entering and exiting the building is an 'experience' in itself. As an arcade, it has a decent selection of modern titles (and is very good for music games) whilst the retro section is small, but full of games with special cabinets (e.g. Street Fighter with the pressure sensitive buttons, Space Harrier with the moving cab, Virtual On, etc.). Oh god I'm already overrun with gimmick cafes and restaurants but I wonder if I can find some time to go here. I have no real knowledge of Ultraman but I love awful rubber monster costumes!
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Dec 16, 2016 16:51
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Axel Rhodes Scholar posted:You mean Maman outside the mori tower? That's still there.
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Dec 17, 2016 14:11
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Does anyone happen to know the opening hours for that "Warehouse" arcade in Kawasaki and if it'll likely be closed on the evening of Christmas Day? I know Japan doesn't really do Christmas but just want to check before I make the trip.
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Dec 19, 2016 16:08
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DiscoJ posted:It's open until 23:45 every day, including Christmas (which is just a normal Sunday in Japan). Other than how to reserve a fukubukuro I think my trip is more or less all sorted - excited!
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Dec 20, 2016 15:30
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peanut posted:Traditionally it was a discounted grab bag of leftover merchandise. I estimate a 1:5 nice:meh ratio. 
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Dec 21, 2016 17:36
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I'm finally in Japan and my feet are killing me. Just because I CAN walk everywhere with huge luggage bags, doesn't mean I SHOULD. Saw an awesome jacket in one of the 109 MEN'S stores (Fuga, I think?) but I know I have to save money. January sales aren't a thing in Japan, right? Didn't see anywhere advertising pre-orders of fukubukuro so I might just show up on NYE or Jan 1st and see if there's carnage. Speaking of, saw Yodabashi Camera doing what I think were lucky bags, do they tend to do good value ones?
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Dec 24, 2016 10:03
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VelociBacon posted:Pop into a tokyu hands or w/e and get some insoles, usually you can try on different ones. Speaking of Tokyo Hands, am I going crazy or did I hear about them stocking Neko Atsume cat toys?
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Dec 24, 2016 12:09
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VelociBacon posted:I think I might have noticed that. Also, it's TokyU hands isn't it? Or did I have a stroke. I checked the Shibuya one but saw nothing in the pets section. Might check Shinjuku next time I have time. I totally missed the beer terrace, though! I think we have plans to go back in a few weeks' time so I'll make sure we don't miss that.
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Dec 24, 2016 12:47
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goth smoking cloves posted:Hello thread, I was thinking about visiting Japan for my next vacation and I just had a quick question: Is 10 days long enough?
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Jan 24, 2017 12:46
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I'm hoping to get to Japan again in early-mid September 2019 (getting back home before the Rugby World Cup starts and the crowds come in). Are there any seasonal things worth doing around that time of year?
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Feb 23, 2017 17:44
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peanut posted:You can also mail suitcases directly between the airport and hotels.
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Feb 28, 2017 12:30
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zmcnulty posted:-Hesitate to get a Hub members card
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Mar 2, 2017 11:43
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Sounds like I should give it a miss. Speaking of drinks, I know that liking sweet things is considered a more feminine trait in Japan but just how weird is it for a man to drink something that isn't either beer or whisky over there? I always got handed my friend's beer when we all ordered together. Eventually just started owning it at bars and asking for the absolute sweetest cocktail they could make (ended up with a great chocolate banana milkshake kinda thing at a bar called Jayco in Shinjuku).
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Mar 2, 2017 12:45
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LimburgLimbo posted:Apparently he/she's from England so they may not
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Mar 2, 2017 21:43
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sarujin_nz posted:Turns out I'm going to Japan for the first time in April for an Expo in Tokyo/Chiba. The Expo is in Makuhari Expo Centre in Chiba. As I'm traveling by myself, and would love to squeeze as much sightseeing of Tokyo in as possible, is there anyone who could recommend a good business level hotel close to Tokyo, (but still within easy travel to Makuhari Expo centre)? So I get more of a chance to see Tokyo. As for sights, you can go up the Tokyo Skytree until 10pm I think to get a great view of the city.
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Mar 9, 2017 15:43
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In terms of accommodation, what's the cheapest way for someone to travel solo (mostly in Tokyo) without sharing a bedroom with strangers like in youth hostels? Capsule hotels? Odds are people will be travelling with me but I just wanna check my options in case they flake out!
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Mar 16, 2017 11:28
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zmcnulty posted:Cheapest? Internet cafes are cheaper than capsule hotels and have semi-private booths with fully reclining chairs or mats. However the ceiling is usually open, so in a sense you're sharing a bedroom. As for "DVD" places, I assume they're thoroughly scrubbed between uses but... yeah... maybe I'm not looking for the very cheapest places to stay now. edit: Unrelated question - someone I know who fancies visiting Japan is vegan. Is he basically gonna be living off tofu and literally nothing else? I don't recall seeing much decent food that didn't have some kind of egg or fish in it.
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Mar 16, 2017 11:48
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Grand Fromage posted:There's hippie vegan places in Tokyo at least and Buddhist temple food is also vegan. Otherwise you're hosed, dashi is in everything and that's made with fish. Speaking of dashi, I finally developed a taste for miso soup during my last trip and now I can't get enough of it. Let's see how much sodium my body can handle before my heart explodes!
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Mar 16, 2017 13:06
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Original_Z posted:Although I'm unsure how common this is, be aware that some concerts will actually check the name on the ticket with some sort of photo ID to discourage scalping and won't let you in if the name differs. Not sure if there's even a way to research whether or not they'll do this, but be aware that the risk is there. Haven't had to do that myself but I've heard of people who live and work in Japan getting away with that kind of stuff.
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Apr 9, 2017 13:09
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Has anyone been to Hashima (Gunkanjima / Battleship Island) and can vouch as to whether it's worth the hassle? Factoring in transport (flights from Osaka or a super long train) it's pretty much a whole day trip to get there. I figure if I'm looking into that, I may as well find some more stuff to do in Nagasaki to justify the journal - what's cool in that area?
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Apr 14, 2017 09:08
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zmcnulty posted:Apple regrets cheaping out on the chips in the non-Japan iPhones, since the NFC Forum agrees to use TypeF for anything new after April 2017. If Apple open their stuff up and I can add my Suica and Aime cards onto my phone (upgrading this year when the new ones are out) before my next trip that would be sublime.
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May 25, 2017 11:29
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zmcnulty posted:So I've got mod permission to post about a new site I've launched: http://nomunication.jp Also turns out I've been using the wrong kanji for nomu? I've been using 飲 this whole time.
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May 30, 2017 09:09
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Knuc U Kinte posted:What...
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May 30, 2017 11:32
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That Initial D machine is in Sega Joypolis in Odaiba. Prepare for massive queues. Shinjuku and Akihabara in general are good for arcades, and Anata no Warehouse in Kawasaki has a really cool aesthetic.
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Jun 10, 2017 14:01
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The Great Autismo! posted:this sounds interesting, I may join for part of it if that's allowed. I didn't even know Japan had pro rugby. I've got stringent on my slack and Facebook so I'll reach out when I'm getting into Tokyo, like a day or two before. Tokyo goons own thx for being so inclusive and welcoming @(・●・)@ I'm planning to be back in Japan during that event, but I'm the only one of my friends who isn't into rugby so while they're at a game I'll go find something to do that they'd hate.
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Jun 29, 2017 14:18
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My group’s next planned trip to Japan seems to include a lot of scenic forest walks, traditional and local eating, temple sightseeing, etc. So if anyone could tell me of something in Tokyo that’s even more tacky and garish than Robot Restaurant and Kawaii Monster Cafe that wold be fabulous.
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Aug 31, 2017 16:36
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.Z. posted:Alcatraz ER? Maid cafes aren’t really our jam.
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Aug 31, 2017 18:23
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.Z. posted:Anata no Warehouse might also be up your alley, thought it's an arcade and not a restaurant.
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Aug 31, 2017 19:37
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Stringent posted:I've still not been there, but there's the fishing restaurant in Shinjuku: https://www.picrumb.com/unique/zauo/
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Sep 1, 2017 08:02
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Okaikei kudasai (oh kye kay koo da sigh) is a way to ask for a bill at a bar or restaurant, very useful one that classes never taught me. Also, okawari (oh kah wah ree) if you want another serving of a drink. Of all the writing systems, katakana is the most helpful since then you can read menu items for English-language things like fast food or drinks.
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Sep 16, 2017 10:24
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LimburgLimbo posted:If you’re young the nearby HUB is probably literally a better representation of what young Japanese people your age do and will have more friendly locals interested in talking.
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Nov 9, 2017 12:06
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LimburgLimbo posted:Hub is not about the food, it is about the relatively cheap drinks and the people. It’s one of the few places in Japan where it’s entirely normal to start chatting with the people sitting or standing next to you, and full of a mix of foreigners, Japanese college students, and a variety of weirdos.
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Nov 9, 2017 12:44
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I've been to two ski resorts in Japan. I for sure heard more Australian voices in Hakuba than Japanese. Appi seemed more like where the locals go for the winter.
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Nov 13, 2017 23:32
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I read earlier today that apparently Japan is one of the cheapest countries to buy iPhones. If I was to buy an iPhone during my next trip to Japan, is there anything specific I should be worried about? As mentioned above, the contactless payment chip has become standardised so that shouldn't be an issue for when I get it back to the UK at least. Also, is the camera shutter sound permanently switched on or can it be silenced if I log in to a UK iCloud account or whatever?
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Dec 19, 2017 16:33
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