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[Beautifully Shaped Monsters]

My initial impression upon hitting Tokyo put it at a jarring contrast to Seoul. I was in another Asian megacity, but stripped of the chic, modernity, and straightforward ease of use.

After a full day here, though, I see the charm to it and I'm adjusting to its quirks. Rush hour aside (was fun being at Shibuya and Shinjuku stations during that time frame), Tokyo evokes a relaxed, peaceful state of mind. The politeness often feels genuine. It seems better connected to nature. The food culture seems fantastic. The women aren't all trying to emulate popstars or getting plastic surgery to look identical, and aren't afraid to smile. There's definitely a je ne sais quoi to this place that instantly appeals.

Last week I was having lunch at international plaza near Marunouchi and there were a massive line of teenage girls all dressed in Korean fashion. I'm not sure what they were waiting for, but my Korean coworker said that he initially thought they were all Korean.

The bottom line is that wannabee's do come out of the woodwork occasionally.

I'd love to join the nomihodai tomorrow, but I'm going to Saitama of all places

 

[ThreePiMatt]

I remember Shinjuku station being a labyrinth.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

My initial impression upon hitting Tokyo put it at a jarring contrast to Seoul. I was in another Asian megacity, but stripped of the chic, modernity, and straightforward ease of use.

After a full day here, though, I see the charm to it and I'm adjusting to its quirks. Rush hour aside (was fun being at Shibuya and Shinjuku stations during that time frame), Tokyo evokes a relaxed, peaceful state of mind. The politeness often feels genuine. It seems better connected to nature. The food culture seems fantastic. The women aren't all trying to emulate popstars or getting plastic surgery to look identical, and aren't afraid to smile. There's definitely a je ne sais quoi to this place that instantly appeals.

Is this your first time in Japan?

For some reason that's surprising to me.

 

[Desmond]

I remember Shinjuku station being a labyrinth.

I didn't find it too bad, even when drunk. Shibuya was a mess though lol

 

[midramble]

I didn't find it too bad, even when drunk. Shibuya was mess though lol

That might be state of mind where it makes the most sense.

 

[FINALFANTASYDOG]

From what I've seen/heard, only fellow gaijin might look at you as a weeaboo. Japanese people don't care. You'll be loved by them, anyone who shows interest in the culture/language/whatever are always interesting to them. At least most of the time. As long as you don't show up in a Naruto headband. =3=

I don't think I've ever actually seen Japanese consider someone a "weeaboo". My proclaiming my love for Japanese fashion brands / music / movies has gotten positive reactions. "It makes us proud that foreigners like Japanese stuff"

Even if you do show up in that Naruto headband, they are just going look at you as some foreign nerd tourist.

 

[Gromph]

have a good one tomorrow, maybe next time there's a GAFup i can make it.

Also - Gromph - can you add my pics to the OP please?

Hey!

What pics? :d

 

[Aizo]

I remember Shinjuku station being a labyrinth.

I lived there. It is the most confusing place I've ever been in my life. The station, especially. Trying to find certain stores underground or meeting someone I'm the station is difficult.

I didn't find it too bad, even when drunk. Shibuya was a mess though lol

My roommate said he didn't have a problem when he was drunk, either. This same roommate hated the station so much our first few months that he refused to even transfer there.

 

[I'm an expert]

Ikebukuro station is the worst/most fun.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Ikebukuro station is the worst/most fun.

Can't hate on a station with this guy:

 

[ponpo]

Ikebukuro stealing Tsukuba owl mascots smh

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Ikebukuro stealing Tsukuba owl mascots smh

The what?

This, sir, is the いけぶくろう and it's been around 27 years! Stolen from nowhere.

I'd never even heard of Tsukuba being associated with owls before.

 

[m3r4]

In the Shinkansen right now. Sendai - Tokyo in 90 minutes, aww yiss!

 

[Parakeetman]

The what?

This, sir, is the いけぶくろう and it's been around 27 years! Stolen from nowhere.

I'd never even heard of Tsukuba being associated with owls before.

Tsukuba Mascot 2002

the actual animal itself

1997 or something?

 

[TransTrender]

Had the burnt miso ramen at Gogyo's in Kyoto last night.


Hnnnnnng sooo good!

Back to Tokyo for now. Kyoto is an absolutely amazing place.

 

[ponpo]

The what?

This, sir, is the いけぶくろう and it's been around 27 years! Stolen from nowhere.

I'd never even heard of Tsukuba being associated with owls before.

Yeah was just kidding ._. Though 27 years isn't that old I was expecting it to be older than Tsukuba itself :v

 

[Hasemo]

Ikebukuro station is the worst/most fun.

What? I think it's the hardest "big" station to get lost in. It's basically a few long corridors as opposed to the Shinjuku maze.

 

[Ayumi]

I'm gonna go ahead and recommend an amazing food place that serves gyoza. If you've been there, you already know where I'm talking about.

Not sure why I suddenly remembered since I haven't been there for a loooong time.

Anyway, there's a gyoza place in Harajuku. It's very famous, especially for tourists, and always has a long line outside completely worth waiting for!

It's called Gyouza Lou/Gyouzaro (depends on who you ask) and is very easy to find if you have access to a map.

Best gyouza ever. And the cucumber dip (I think it's miso) is amazing too!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...aro-Shibuya_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

 

[RyougaSaotome]

Pft, you guys don't no difficult to navigate stations like I do.

Hell, these inaka stations with just the platform and a field of long grass? YOU GONNA DIE.

 

[Futaba]

I moved here in 2012, married a Japanese woman, never left, no plans to either.
Living in Seya-ku now, was originally living a few train stops away near Yamato.

<edit> damn, i find out about a gaf meet on the afternoon of said meet, WELP.

Guess i'll just resort to the Q/A from previous page.

What made you interested in Japan?
Always wanted to visit, but never for the life of me though i'd ever actually do so, or the notion of actually living here - was just one of those far off "someday" dreams.

Why did you learn the language (for those who are not learning, are you interested?)?
I didn't, and still haven't learned much, to the amusement of my wife. mainly because moving here was completely unplanned.

Are you currently living in Japan?
Yes.

How long have you lived in Japan?
Two years thus far, probably for the rest of my life now.

What is your favorite Hotto Motto meal?
Like my wife would ever let me go in to one after I said the girl on the adverts was cute.

What is your favorite place in Japan?
Probably the somewhat abandoned hillside streets further inland between kamakura and zushi, but not so far inland that you're closer to yokosuka than kamakura.
Some really cool streets, buildings and, in case someone needs random trivia, the tunnel from the end of the animated film Roujin Z is there, and looks more or less exactly like it's drawn in the film.

What is your favorite Japanese food & drink?
My wife works in a resteraunt with a standing bar, so whenever I go with her I end up drinking all sorts, some of the potato shochu is amazing.

What is your favorite season to be in Japan?
Fall, winter is too cold, summer is too hot and filled with suicidal cicadas, spring is wet as hell.

Where are you from, and which languages do you speak? (conversational and above)
UK, so English, and very very bad Japanese (just enough to get by level).

What should we call you if we ever met you IRL?
Dan I guess, unless you come up with some sort of pet name you'd rather use ?_?

Also, I on occasion meet up with a fellow gaffer to go hunting for retro games/consoles in various hard offs around tokyo/kanagawa.

 

[TransTrender]

What? I think it's the hardest "big" station to get lost in. It's basically a few long corridors as opposed to the Shinjuku maze.

Hah. The first time we were in Ikebukuro we got soo turned around and lost...it was extremely frustrating. No other station messed us up as bad as Ikebukuro.

 

[Aizo]

Pft, you guys don't no difficult to navigate stations like I do.

Hell, these inaka stations with just the platform and a field of long grass? YOU GONNA DIE.

Well, you can't use stairs in Mara's dongwagon, so there.

 

[EviLore]

Chinese girlfriend screaming and kicking her poor boyfriend repeatedly in the street in Akihabara. He said nothing and eventually turned around and walked away, and she screamed again and ran after him and attacked him. He left a second time and she stood there for three minutes with her arms crossed glaring.

In other news, I walked up to a SIM shop here and bought that So-net data sim no questions asked.

 

[TransTrender]

I'm gonna go ahead and recommend an amazing food place that serves gyoza. If you've been there, you already know where I'm talking about.

Not sure why I suddenly remembered since I haven't been there for a loooong time.

Anyway, there's a gyoza place in Harajuku. It's very famous, especially for tourists, and always has a long line outside completely worth waiting for!

It's called Gyouza Lou/Gyouzaro (depends on who you ask) and is very easy to find if you have access to a map.

Best gyouza ever. And the cucumber dip (I think it's miso) is amazing too!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...aro-Shibuya_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Sweet! Thanks for the heads up. I plan on heading there tonight.

 

[Gromph]

Sweet! Thanks for the heads up. I plan on heading there tonight.

So... going there and not going to the gaf meetup? i see...

Enjoy.

I know the owner and the site is amazing.

 

[TransTrender]

So... going there and not going to the gaf meetup? i see...

Enjoy.

I know the owner and the site is amazing.

I fly out tomorrow and I thought the meeting was on Sunday the 7th. If I'm wrong let me know and I'll show.

 

[Gromph]

I fly out tomorrow and I thought the meeting was on Sunday the 7th. If I'm wrong let me know and I'll show.

Dont worry man.

The meetup is today, but please go to eat Gyozas, or i will never forgive myself.

 

[Desmond]

Good thing I checked the thread. Akasaka Mitsuke, right? For some peculiar reason I thought it's was Asakusa.

Also, I hope someone has change, I only have 10,000s. Lol

 

[midramble]

Chinese girlfriend screaming and kicking her poor boyfriend repeatedly in the street in Akihabara. He said nothing and eventually turned around and walked away, and she screamed again and ran after him and attacked him. He left a second time and she stood there for three minutes with her arms crossed glaring.

In other news, I walked up to a SIM shop here and bought that So-net data sim no questions asked.

What cost and how much data? (the sim of course, not the awkward breakup)

 

[Ayumi]

Ehehehe I see you, Desmond.

Stalker level 2 obtained!

 

[SolidChamp]

Great OT!

Agreed. Our time in Tokyo/Shinjuku was fucking magical.

 

[TransTrender]

Dont worry man.

The meetup is today, but please go to eat Gyozas, or i will never forgive myself.

Thanks.
Just got back to the station after my last clear out of Akihabara. I'm using the free WiFi because I left the hotspot with the people that went directly back to base after Kyoto and it's a PITA to stay connected.


Heading to Gyoza after cooling down a bit with an iced tea.

If the party continues at a bar or something afterwards send me a PM or post here and I'll head over.

 

[Gromph]

Thanks.
Just got back to the station after my last clear out of Akihabara. I'm using the free WiFi because I left the hotspot with the people that went directly back to base after Kyoto and it's a PITA to stay connected.


Heading to Gyoza after cooling down a bit with an iced tea.

If the party continues at a bar or something afterwards send me a PM or post here and I'll head over.

karaoke kan in shibuya

Let me know if you are coming and I pick you at hachiko

 

[Gromph]

I left everyone alive in a Karaoke.

I withdraw my responsibilities for today

Have fun guys!

 

[Ayumi]

If the party continues at a bar or something afterwards send me a PM or post here and I'll head over.

Sorry for the super later reply, so for what it's worth, we are at a karaoke in central Shibuya!

 

[Blimblim]

Hey guys. I'm heading to Tokyo next week for the tgs, and bayonetta 2 will be released on the day we will head back to France. Is there a way to get the game one day in advance in Tokyo? I heard about places in akiba but I don't have any details at all. Djmizuhara will bring his JP wiiu to the house we rent, so this would allow us to do some nice videos before heading back home
Any plan for a tgs meet up?

 

[Ayumi]

Hey guys. I'm heading to Tokyo next week for the tgs, and bayonetta 2 will be released on the day we will head back to France. Is there a way to get the game one day in advance in Tokyo? I heard about places in akiba but I don't have any details at all. Djmizuhara will bring his JP wiiu to the house we rent, so this would allow us to do some nice videos before heading back home
Any plan for a tgs meet up?

Hello! I hardly doubt you can get it before, but I'll pick it up for you and send it to you if you want?

 

[Blimblim]

Hello! I hardly doubt you can get it before, but I'll pick it up for you and send it to you if you want?

Thanks for asking, but it's more a matter of being able to do it while there than anything else
DjMizuhara can pick it up on the Saturday and do the videos himself when he arrives at his place in Nagoya. It just would be more fun to do that when we are all together on our last evening in Japan
But still, thanks!

 

[BronsonLee]

Well la-dee-da...

Looking through my Flickr account today to make a photo book, and I realize my pictures from Nara aren't up there!

After an hour or so of scrambling, I've found em and I'll upload em tonight. Is it possible to get the link to them put with the rest of my photos in the OT? I should ask about this in Japan Travel too, but I'll wait until the pics are uploaded tomorrow to do that.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Good times, everyone. Let's keep in touch.

 

[Ayumi]

Good times, everyone. Let's keep in touch.

Holy shit, awesome night. I'm rolling around in bed, drinking 10L of water to survive what's coming when I wake up.

A million thanks to everyone who showed up, this was one of the most fun times I have ever had. It was great meeting every single one of you! And a special thank to Gromph and Evilore!

 

[EviLore]

Yep, good times. Great group of folks showed up. No waifu pillows *or* naruto headbands? What a letdown.

I'll be around until the 17th; taking the shinkansen here and there of course, but throw me a PM if you have time, since I'm solo traveling and I'll be in Tokyo a lot.

Ayumi, get these: http://coopervision.com/contact-lenses/biofinity-toric-contacts-astigmatism

 

[Desmond]

Sleepy sleepy.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Yep, good times. Great group of folks showed up. No waifu pillows *or* naruto headbands? What a letdown.

I'll be around until the 17th; taking the shinkansen here and there of course, but throw me a PM if you have time, since I'm solo traveling and I'll be in Tokyo a lot.

Ayumi, get these: http://coopervision.com/contact-lenses/biofinity-toric-contacts-astigmatism

Hah, I owned a Naruto headband at one point. My roommates bought it for me. I don't know what happened to it.

 

[FINALFANTASYDOG]

Chinese girlfriend screaming and kicking her poor boyfriend repeatedly in the street in Akihabara. He said nothing and eventually turned around and walked away, and she screamed again and ran after him and attacked him. He left a second time and she stood there for three minutes with her arms crossed glaring.

Yes, seeing this sight:

Welcome to my life everyday for the past 5 months in Hong Kong. Really come to China and spend some time and it will amaze you up about the good parts of JP culture.

 

[MightyKAC]

Ugg...

My throat is SOOOOO raw right now from all the Karaoke but it was totally worth it.

Without a doubt one of the best times I've had in Tokyo in years. Hope to see all you

guys again some day.

Highlights of the night include:

Meeting 2 legends in one night (Gromph and Evilore).

Singing Barbie Girl in growly death metal voice.

And dat panty shot tho.....


Really good times all around.

And now off to comasville......

 

[ponpo]

I went to a bunch of Vogue Japan fashion party garbage last night. 2busy4me but free macaroons &#9488;(´&#12540;&#65344&#9484;

 

[Gromph]

I see everyone is safe at home.

Amazing night guys!

For sure let's get in touch, and also, next one is a &#39154;&#12415;&#12507;&#22823;. Before Evilore leaves Japan.

So be ready!

 

[rocksolidaudio]

Okay, I'm wracked with some serious indecision here.

Going to TGS for work from 09/17-09/21, then my girlfriend flies out and we're on our own from 09/22-09/30. Staying in Tokyo Mon/Tues/Wed, then on Thursday we head to Kyoto.

We're staying at least Thu/Fri/Sat night in Kyoto, but my question is whether we should spend one more night in Kyoto before heading back to Tokyo (and then have one final night in Tokyo before we fly home at 5pm on Tuesday), or leave Kyoto on Sunday and have two nights in Tokyo before we head home. Seems like some of the best day trips (Nara, Osaka?) from Kyoto are worth spending some extra time based there, but one night back in Tokyo before we leave feels like it could feel rushed before we have to fly out. As a side note, we plan to stay in a Ryokan either the first or last night in Kyoto, which I also can't quite decide on.

Any thoughts on Kyoto v. Tokyo for one extra day? Thanks!

 

[ponpo]

Any thoughts on Kyoto v. Tokyo for one extra day? Thanks!

I'd pick Tokyo. Especially if you're already doing three nights in each.