If petai (never eaten it) is what I think it is i.e. a vegetable, you might have trouble bringing it through customs.
They most likely will not find it, but if they do, you might be in a spot - the customs officer won't speak English well and if you don't speak Japanese well, this is a recipe for disaster.

Foods I'd recommend that I think Japanese would like. I brought these in the past as omiyage:
1) If you are Chinese, a good present would be bak kwa i.e. BBQ pork. Or pork/chicken floss. You can get these vacuum-packed.
2) Dodol (here's your chance to introduce Durian!)
3) Mooncakes esp. with the mid-autumn festival coming up. Apropos given your nick.
4) Some kuih. Not sure what options exist in Malaysia but I'm sure there's something like Singapore's Bengawan Solo. http://www.bengawansolo.com.sg/ they do a nice box.
5) Kaya
6) Packets of tomyam instant noodles.

Miso is more prevalent and flexible though. You can marinate meat in it, make the morning omiso shiru, flavor ramen, and even pickle vegetables. I think I saw a skincare line once that was based on miso.
Cencaluk though has more kick but don't put it on your face

This post has been edited by tatsuyachiba: Aug 25 2009, 10:46 AM

Google nevaah lies. Sounds about right. From Tokyo Sta. to JR Maihama Sta. (i.e. where Disneyland is) is roughly 15 minutes using the JR Keiyo Line or JR Musashino Line.
Roughly 15 minutes from Akihabara to Tokyo Sta. Be prepared though for the madness that is Tokyo Sta. - lots of people traffic and you'll likely spend 10-15 minutes getting from one track to another track on another floor on the other end. So if Disneyland opens at 9am - leave your hotel at 8am.

You really want to go to Disneyland? I'd only go if I've never been to one before, and if I had lots of time in Tokyo to kill. There are much better uses of time in Tokyo. Disneyland in Tokyo isn't operated by Disney, all the shows are in Japanese, the lines are crazy and it has probably only 70% of the rides in Disneyland, CA or Disneyworld, FL. Ditto for Disneysea (although it has some unique rides like the 20,000 Leagues one which is unique to Tokyo; also its Little Mermaid show is different from the one in Disneyworld and much better). If you're a Sanrio fan, there's also Puroland to consider.

If you do go to Disneyland, remember, Fast Pass is your friend.

You do realize that Chiba is an entire prefecture (ken). Lots of nice ryokans in the Boso (that's the name of the Chiba-ken part that is a peninsular) side i.e. the the south-east/west of Chiba-ken in cities/towns like Kamogawa (where there is a fantastic Sea World as well), Kominato, Amatsu etc.. If you mean Chiba-city, it is roughly 40 minutes from Tokyo Sta. via JR Soubu line. If you take this train, make sure you take the Rapid train (Blue) instead of the local train (yellow). Faster.

BTW Disneyland is in Chiba-ken (all that was built on reclaimed land!). Makuhari Messe (reclaimed land as well) is in Chiba-ken. Narita airport is in Chiba-ken. There is an interesting story on how the airport was built and why it is so hard to expand the airport. You will see lots of rice fields on your journey from the airport. In the 1970s, those farmers agitated against the building of Narita and well, in Japan, rice farmers carry a lot of political weight. There were protests/rallies/bomb threats etc. Still tense today - that's why you see ID checks just entering the airport area - I know of no other airport in the world that does that.

I was talking about both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disneysea. Disneysea, as you already know, is an expansion park that groups a bunch of aqua-related attractions available in the USA Disney parks (the 2 Disney parks in California and the 4 Disney parks in Florida). It then adds a couple of new attractions that are unique to Disneysea only: for example, 20,000 Leagues (which is a quasi-submarine ride) and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Tokyo Disneyland, on the other hand, adds nothing.

I know this only because my kids were learning geography and as a result, there's a big map of Japan up on our dining room wall.

There are x (I don't know exactly how many) prefectures in Japan. Prefectures are analogous to states. They will have a "ken" suffix e.g. Fukushima-ken, Gifu-ken, Chiba-ken except for 4 special areas: Tokyo (Tokyo-to), Osaka (Osaka-fu), Kyoto (Kyoto-fu) and Hokkai-do. Why? Probably historical: Tokyo is a huge metropolis and was the shogunate HQ - all the other lords (tohno) were forced to keep their families there as hostage. Kyoto was imperial HQ with people with white faces, funny painted high eyebrows. Osaka is comedy central HQ (haha those bros. in Japan will appreciate this) and Hokkaido wasn't really part of Japan but a separate kingdom that nobody cared about (it was too cold). Actually I think these are the reasons but I skipped that part of the geography lesson - I was out of town on business.

So Chiba is Chiba; and Tokyo is Tokyo. 2 separate states. Like KL (Tokyo) and Selangor (Chiba). What gets people confused is that the airport is called New Tokyo International Airport. Only that it is in Chiba - 1.5 hours away from Tokyo. Subang is not in KL proper and neither is KLIA.

Within a "ken", there are districts. These are labeled "shi" e.g. Chiba-shi is a "daerah" within Chiba-ken. Tokyo has no "shi".

Then, within a district, there are cities/towns e.g. these are "ku" e.g. in Tokyo, you could be staying in Taito-ku or Minato-ku etc. Only in Tokyo, these are called "wards" (because Tokyo is special mah).

You can stop here if that's all you want to know. But continue, if you really want to find out more about the Japanese address system. To say it's complicated is to put it mildly - it's very puzzling even for the Japanese. That's why sometimes, even with a GPS or a map, it can be a challenge to find an address. That's why it is common to see pictorial "small maps" when a business advertises itself in the newspapers for example. So that customers know how to find it from the nearest train station.

The "ku" (towns) is subdivided into "cho". Cho is a village. Long time ago and even today, Tokyo was really a conurbation of small villages. That's why the roads are twisty. You worked in your village and lived there and most probably dies there. Villages grew and grew, lines blurred, and then snowballed into Tokyo/Edo.

The "cho" (village) is then divided into sections called "chome". "Chome" is then divided into "banchi" (like a city block) and lastly, you have your lot, the "shikichi". The "shikichi" is where your house is, it is the land you own.

OK. An example. Your hotel - Oak Hotel's (I've never been there) address is:
6-1-2, HigashiUeno, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Tokyo has no "shi")

1) You will notice they have a picture of the neighborhood map. As I said, this is common. Nobody except people in the village "cho" will know how the "chome"s and "banchi"s are laid out. It gets worse (read on)

2) So the address above is 6-chome ("roku-chome") Higashi Ueno. Higashi means east. So you know that roughly, the hotel is in Ueno, east, and in the 6th section.

3) The address is then "ichi-banchi" i.e. the 1st block. Fine, you can still find your way there

4) Here is where it gets weird. The lot ("shikichi") e.g. like "nombor rumah" is not numbered sequentially but rather, using the date of when the house was built. This might screw you up seriously. On a street, you might find 5, and then 2, and then 6 and then 3 one after the other.

You pronouce the address above as "roku ichi ni Higashi Ueno"

So if you're lost in Japan, hopefully, all this info will help you out. Don't be afraid to ask for directions.

I've lived and worked in several different countries over the years. I've found that you can always get help without knowing much about the local language
1) Never be afraid to ask. Smile and look helpless. If you have to discriminate, ask someone who's younger. Female if possible.
2) Learn some basic lingo. In Japanese: migi, hidari, masugu, doko, numbers etc. Just 20 words will save you a lot of trouble.
3) Always ask in English. Do not speak in complete sentences - just focus on the key words e.g.
Not "do you know where XXX hotel is?" but "hotel XXX?" and see (5) below
4) Bring a map. Maps need no language.
5) Use hand signs.

As long as you smile, look helpless and non-threatening and know when to cut your losses and ask someone else, you'll be fine.
Works in Japan and works in Timbuktu.

Contrary to popular belief, the younger set of Japanese do know English. They just can't speak it (no confidence etc etc)
It is compulsory from junior high onwards (sekolah menengah rendah - haha did I get it right?)
There are plans to introduce it in elementary school in the future. Japanese parents spend obscene amounts of money to send their kids to English classes.
The problem is, it is hard to learn a language when one don't use it. So Japanese understand better than they speak.
Stick to key words, basic words and speak clearly, slowly, don't use slang terms, and don't use complex sentences.

This post has been edited by tatsuyachiba: Aug 26 2009, 07:02 AM

Of course some do, for example that famous female Japanese pro ping-pong player (whats her name? Ai-chan?) that lives and plays in China. There are after all 125 million Japanese. Just like some speak German, French etc.

But common? Definitely not.

There's a huge influx of Chinese immigrant workers in Japan, esp. in the last 5-8 years.
You can find them everywhere: most cooks, a lot of restaurant servers are Chinese.
To us, they look and sound like Japanese. But to the Japanese, they can always tell.
Accent different, dress different, mannerisms different. It is very hard to speak native Japanese to the level that Japanese cannot tell.
One big giveaway is that foreigners cannot master keigo, which is the polite form of Japanese. You may know the words but very hard to know the context in which you must use which form of keigo.

Also, Taiwan (and Korea) were colonies of Japan for more than 50 years. Taiwan is the only East Asian country that does not hate the Japanese.

Very unlikely. Japanese are "book and exam smart" in English but cannot communicate effectively.
I've a couple of friends who graduated from Sophia University (the top English language university) and they are nowhere near native-level.
Most likely you stumbled upon either
a) kikokushijo - Japanese that spent childhood in a foreign country because of expat parents e.g. Utada Hikaru
b) they attend international school in Japan

Another useful tip: during o-hanami season, TV news will report on the "forecast" for the blooms. Part of the weather report. They will show the bloom as it progresses from the south (earlier to bloom) to the north (the latest to bloom). The reverse happens during the autumn season. This is one of the "Only in Japan" things.

You do know that Fuji-san will be closed for climbing in March right? Climbing season is in July/Aug.

Hakone? On your way back to Tokyo.
Don't forget Tsukiji in Tokyo. Must-see. Don't touch the tuna though.

Minshuku is a good idea. Cheaper. Basically a "do it yourself" ryokan experience

Railpass is worth it if you're taking long inter-city trips. Which you are. And you don't have to buy the "green" JR pass - you're not coming during a peak period.
One thought would be to get a 7-day one instead and activate it only on the day you're leaving Tokyo.
Within metro Tokyo there are maybe 7-8 different train companies. JR pass is only for JR trains. If you're taking a combination, you have to pay the portion that is not JR.
When you buy the JR ticket, they will be able to calculate the fare payable to the other company.

This post has been edited by tatsuyachiba: Aug 28 2009, 02:34 PM

In the past, I used to travel (work) to Japan every 2 months. In the last 3 years, universal handsets have become reality because of 3G rollouts (previously I had to rent handsets in Korea/Japan). I travel with a quadband GSM/dual-band UMTS/wifi phone (HTC Touch) - I have no problems roaming anywhere I've been so far

Even though my company picks up the tab, I try to save $$ whenever I can. Here are some of my experiences:

1) For 3G, Japan is using WCDMA-2100

2) Don't forget to turn off email sync if you don't have unlimited data plan

3) If you decide not to pickup a call while roaming, remember that voicemails also incur roundtrip roaming charges. You will be billed one roundtrip (e.g. Malaysia-Japan) every voicemail you receive, unless you never turn the phone on at all in Japan.

4) Next cheapest outgoing would be a phonecard. Again, while I have a global company-provided AT&T card, you can buy an international prepaid phone card e.g. http://speedypin.com/phone/card/MCI-prepai...ernational.html. You basically call an access number(sometimes local call, sometimes tollfree) in whatever country you are in, enter your PIN and destination number. Not the cheapest rates but the easiest to use for those brief "I'm OK" calls.

5) The cheapest option for incoming calls from your country is to call forward your cell->VOIP->rented handset. Cheapest outgoing would be VOIP.

6) As with hotels worldwide, most of the budget hotels offer free internet and the more expensive hotels charge you an arm-and-a-leg. Upside down logic.
7) If your hotel doesn't have internet, you can get prepaid wifi for 500yen/day , http://www.hotspot.ne.jp. You buy the cards at Family Mart kiosks.

8) Payphone: I believe you can use credit cards

Most cofeeshops e.g. Starbucks, Doutor, Tully's etc have wifi. Most fastfood e.g. McD's, KFC etc have wifi too. But not free I believe (someone please correct me).
Unfortunately I'm not an expert on free options since I use a company-provided service called iPass that allows me to connect a host of hotspots worldwide (company gets the bill).
Would be great if you could provide a report after your trip on free options.

Credit card situation? Do you mean acceptance rate or exchange rate?
Credit cards accepted widely - most things you're going to run into as a tourist will accept cards: hotels/restaurants/supermarkets/JR/Disney but a not insignificant part of Japan remains a cash society. For example, you cannot top up your Suica with a credit card. So always good to have cash in Japan just in case.
If you mean exchange rate - sorry I don't know anything about Malaysian credit cards - I don't have one. Typical credit cards charge interbank + 2-3% exchange fee (which is imposed by Visa/Mastercard/Amex)

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Added on August 29, 2009, 2:13 pmI've rented phones (not SIM) in the past before 3G.
My experience is that they are all the same in terms of risk/service in that as long as you're picking up the phone at the airport, there's no risk. All are reputable.
They have your credit card # as a deposit ( they don't actually charge a deposit), they offer insurance in case you lose handset etc.
They give you the set + charger + instructions in English. The phone menu is also in English and you return it to the same counter.
They then send you an itemized bill by email and charge your credit card.
Remember, in Japan, incoming calls are free.

I would pick the cheapest option. Go with a SIM if you have a 3G phone so you don't have complications if you lose handset etc.


This post has been edited by tatsuyachiba: Aug 29 2009, 02:13 PM

Kimono for men or women? I'll assume women but men wear kimono's too. For an example, look at any sumo basho (tournament; there's a BIG one coming up mid-Sept called Aki basho-it's in Tokyo) and you'll see several men sitting by the dohyo (ring) on the floor. They are judges and are usually past champions. They will be wearing male kimonos.

But before you buy a kimono, make sure that's really what you want. Are you sure you want a kimono? It is very difficult/impossible to put on a kimono without any training. There are kimono schools you go to to learn this or you pay $$ for someone to help you put on a kimono. A kimono, as tanoshi, points out, is mucho $$. If you really intend to buy a kimono, buy a 2nd-hand one. Here's a good place: http://www.ichiroya.com/

Also if you want something like a "touristy" kimono, go to Omotesando. There's a famous shop there called Oriental Bazaar. They say the typical Japanese woman wears kimonos only a few times in her lifetime: shichi-go-san (literally 7-5-3: the important years as a child) when they are little kids, when they turn 20 (that's when they reach adulthood), wedding and funerals.

I think perhaps you mean a Yukata. Many non-Japanese are confused between the two. Yukata is worn in summer, especially during Obon (Like the chinese qing ming). It is made from cotton instead of silk. Much cheaper.
Like tanoshi (he's an obvious expert in women so he knows hahaha) says, you can buy Yukata (perhaps best during summer) at Uniqlo or any department store (like Keiyo at Shinjuku Sta.). Together with this, you should buy some underwear (called hadajuban) and then a belt (obi - get the ones that are half as wide - forgot what they are called). You can also get cute coin pouches that tie to your obi. Then, to complete it, you need the wooden clogs called geta and the split-toe socks that go with it. All those accessories can be found at the same stores.

HTH.

Are you planning to attack Japan? "9am - get ready ship. 9:15am - Refuel. 9:30am - Aim. 9:31am: Fire".

I certainly like your itinerary for Wed: "10pm - Check in into Love Hotel".

Tsukiji - you need to get there at 5am. I think Toei-oedo will get you there. Get out of the train station and follow the crowd. When you get to the market - go all the way in. The auctions are waaaaaayy at the back. Later, after the auctions, have breakfast at Tsukiji if you like fresh seafood/sushi etc. Besides Odaiba (which you can get to by the Yurikamome train), Ginza is near Tsukiji too. Kabuki-za is in Ginza. Kabuki plays run the entire day in several acts but you don't have to buy tickets for the whole play. You can buy them just for specific acts - some acts are only 20-30 minutes long. You can get an English headset translation as well.

Didn't see Yasukuni shrine on your list. For me, this is an interesting place - the war from Japan's POV. Plus the fact that a couple of Class A war criminals are interred there. Lots of ultra right wing people visit this shrine.

While in Shibuya (Love Hotel!), perhaps you should shop at Shibuya 109 and also Tokyu Hands (interesting store)

You should also go to a department/supermarket store to eat. They are called depachika i.e. in the basement. You only find out how different another country is by visiting their supermarkets (very true).

Finally you should try to catch some street festival or something if something is going on. Your hostel should know. Japanese street festivals are a sight to be seen. Since you are going mid-autumn - I'm sure there's something going on. Perhaps around senso-ji - that area seems like something is always going on.

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Added on September 3, 2009, 1:42 pmNamja Town - I like this place. I think you have to pay to get in though.. If you go there, try "Miracle Fruitsu" - try it and report back hahaha

I like the Yokohama suggestion. Chinatown especially. I always get goosepimples every time I see a Chinatown anywhere in the world. SF lah, Toronto lah, London lah etc. It always remind me of how much hardship the Chinese people have had to endure in the great southern migration of the late 19th/early 20th century. And everywhere we went, we were not welcome and had to struggle.

Yokohama has a huge Chinatown and a big Chinese school there where large numbers of kids go - totally outside the Japanese school system. You will then understand how tough it is for minorities to survive in Japan. Just like the zainichi Koreans (I have a colleague in my my Tokyo office who's zainichi Korean - some of her stories just break my heart) - they too have their own school system.




This post has been edited by tatsuyachiba: Sep 3 2009, 01:42 PM

No not big festivals, what I was talking about are small town/neighborhood festivals called matsuri. There will be a "pasar malam" food environment, dances and parades on the street and perhaps the neighborhood men hoisting an o-mikoshi around (while wearing fundoshi or underwear), shouting "hoi hoi hoi" while totally drunk, as they race round and round around the block. Great fun. But you have to find out when they occur. Different towns will hold them at different times during Sept-Oct on either a Saturday or Sunday.

As to Namja, I was talking about food - they have 3 food theme parks there. It is also a game center (arcade) but I know zero, and have no real interest, about games. Sorry.

About masks and flu, a couple of observations:
1) In the past, Japanese wear masks when they are sick, to avoid spreading germs. Aside from seasonal allergies, they usually don't wear masks to protect themselves. Very different from Malaysian rationale for wearing masks.
2) Of course, that changed with SARS and now, H1N1. Japanese wear masks to self-protect as well.
3) Masks (the common 2-ply type) do a big fat zero to protect anybody from anything. May even exacerbate things because you constantly have to put it on and take it off, thereby leading to more chances of infection by touch.

Only bad time to travel during winter is during the oshugatsu (New Year) period i.e. between New Year's eve to a couple of days after Jan 1.
Prices are expensive, travel is a little chaotic and lots of places may be closed. Generally, for travel, rest of year is good except for Golden Week (May), Obon (Aug), New Year and summer in general (when school is out). Also I never think that summer is a good time for Tokyo or Kyoto - the heat is oppressive.

On the plus side, if Tokyo, winter is very mild (jeans and a hoodie is enough for me) + probably no snow. Gets much colder in the North.
Also a plus for being in Tokyo during New Year is that the palace opens up one day (probably Jan 2) and you can see New Year culture e.g. fukubukuro e.g. "mystery packages" on sale. omochi-making at the shrine, festivals at the shrine on new year (e.g. daruma dolls, burning of arrows, the bell-ringing of New Year, the thousands of floating lanterns at Meiji-jingu at midnight, getting new omamori amulets etc) and NHK's Kouhaku on TV etc

I find that in Tokyo, most restaurants, if in a busy place, are good, because competition is so keen.
Also, unless the recommendations are for chains, might be impractical to travel in search of a particular restaurant.
So perhaps you should make a short list of foods you want to try instead and then see if they are near where you are going/staying.

Such a list could be:
Kaiseki (this is going to be the most expensive)
Tonkatsu (I like Wako - this is a chain)
Tempura (I like Hageten in Ginza)
Okonomiyaki
Gyoza
Yakiniku (I like Akamon - this is a chain)
Donburi
Curry Rice
Japanese desserts e.g. traditional wagashi (e.g. daifuku, odango), crepe, pan, custard puff (e.g Beard Papa) etc.
etc.

If you want to just try this and that, I'd recommend a izakaya instead of a sit-down restaurant. An izakaya will have small portions of a variety of foods across the spectrum. You'll find izakayas everywhere. Another option, just to get a variety of foods, is the depachika i.e. food court in a department store. Isetan in Shinjuku has a very good one.

How do you tell if an mp3 was legally (e.g. you own the CD) or illegally ripped? I believe you can't.

I'm sure all of us keep sensitive info on our laptops.

My biggest fear used to be someone stealing my laptop and then booting/ghosting the HD to obtain all my personal data (e.g. financial data/logins etc).
This is quite easily done.

That's why I use (my company mandates these):
1) Encryption software like TrueCrypt which not only uses AES (or better) to encrypt data but also hides the drive if you so choose. Nobody will know that the partition is there. I always hear about Malaysian cops carting away computers for forensics - if perps use encryption, there's no way the mata will be able to crack
2) I also schedule a freespace wipe (I'm paranoid) with a 7-way DOD algorithm with a program like Eraser or Disk ReDactor.
3) My smartphone's also encrypted and I can request a remote "poison pill" be sent that nukes the phone.

No lah-if I was a spy I'd have better luck with the ladies. The security procedures I mentioned are pretty common/mandated in most companies, no?
I did not install this - my laptop comes templated with the above and my company phone also, by default, is secured.
You always hear of people losing laptops with customer data etc etc.

WizGuy, rather than looking at costs first, I would look at the research faculty first.

While Todai, Kyodai and Handai are probably the top 3 universities in Japan, there are probably differing research concentrations/focus in the area of your study amongst the 3. Since you're in academia, you know that the general reputation of the university counts for nothing; it is the specific faculty and area of research that is important. Also, the people/personalities you work for (and with) are critical i.e. are there titans in your field in either of the 3 univ?

So for postdoc work, costs should be way down on the totem pole in terms of influencing your decision. You're looking at maybe a max of 20,000-30,000 yen difference in living costs between Osaka, Kyota and Tokyo. This is an insignificant difference.

I wouldn't worry about not speaking Japanese - you can always get a long-hair dictionary . In my experience, for example investment banking, you could throw a dart in a crowded room and have more than even odds of hitting someone who doesn't speak (and doesn't want to) Japanese - very common in Tokyo.

As to advice on being frugal and how to get up to speed, I will reiterate most of the things already said:
1) Come with some startup $$. You will need this to to rent your apartment and fund other startup costs - almost all apartments as unfurnished. One or two months refundable security deposit and maybe one months "key deposit" - "deposit" is a misnomer, that's $$ that you will not see again.

2) Apartments
You might see these referred to as "mansions" as well. Essentially same thing.
Ads will say 1LDK, 1DK, 2LDK, 3LDK etc.
The number = rooms. L=Living room. D=Dining Room. K=Kitchen.
Size of flat might be measure in "tatami"s i.e. how many tatami mats (which is a standard size; google to find out) will fit.
You will probably need a 1DK which you is like a studio with a loft for sleeping.

3) You will need to work with HR (Japanese companies might call this "GA" or General Affairs) to get
a) letters of recommendation for opening bank a/cs, credit cards, utilities, renting an apartment
b) you need to get/establish a hanko stamp. That's why you use to sign official docs (e.g. at bank)
c) I think you need to register at your ward office when you move in. Also maybe post office (I believe post office will not deliver mail to an unknown person at an address)

4) Buy a bicycle so you're not constrained to living right next to a metro station. Further from station, the cheaper the rent. Get a cheap 2nd hand bicycle because bicycle theft seems to be Japan's #1 hobby. #2 hobby is stealing umbrellas.

5) Cook your own food.
a) Supermarkets mark down certain produce after 8pm-9pm.
b) Certain days = sale on certain items e.g. because the day sounds like "meat", then meat will go on sale.
c) Watch for sticker sales where they give out discount stickers - stick them on product to get like 20yen discounts
d) Buy store brand instead of name brand. This is one of the big retail changes in the last 5 years, the mushrooming of store brands.
e) Buy Chinese products instead of Japanese - supermarkets label their produce according to origin. e.g. Chinese cabbage cheaper than Japanese cabbage.
f) all supermarkets have a "points redemption" system - sign up to get freebies after accumulating points for purchases.

Interesting. I've always been interested in tax and health insurance in Japan. I've been thinking about spending more time in Japan - possibly a couple months out of a year - when retirement comes (still a long way). n

How many of the posters here think they will be Japan long term (define long term?) and the whys and why nots of living and working in Japan? I think this is possibly an interesting discussion.

Thanks for the insights. Several years ago, I was asked if I would consider relocating to Tokyo. As it was, I was already spending a significant time in Tokyo. I looked at the numbers, the work culture, and the challenge of adapting to a foreign environment and in the end, I turned the offer down. One reason was financial: I would've taken a hit in post-tax terms after factoring in costs of international school for my kids (package included partial tuition but I was taxed on it). There were a myriad of other financial factors as well: I didn't want to contribute to a pension scheme that had no guarantees of solvency when I retired, higher costs of living, getting less in housing value for $ spent. I did like the national health insurance system - costs were much lower, and coverage much wider. However, the Japanese health system means you've got to get used to waiting an hour for a doctor.

Office culture took getting used to but, other than socially, I would've not been affected by the idiosyncrasies: after all, I would not have reported directly to the Japan office. But the differences were there: the Japanese seem to spend a lot of time at the office but spin cycles in process and minutiae: the productivity in the end was the same. The other differences were trivial: slippers in the office, desks arranged like classrooms with the bucho in the front, whiteboards tracking your time and movements. Some were funny: I swear there are guys who spend their entire day in the smoking room.

The main reason, perhaps, why I did not go was cultural. To me, living and visiting Japan (even for a frequent visitor like me) were entirely 2 different things. The Japanese, like the Germans, are too pre-occupied with process and Japan brings red-tape to a new level. The end-effect is simply tiring. Visitors don't see this, but rather, the product of this: things are efficient and things work in Japan. Japan is a good place to visit because of its past (and even present) cultural homogeneity: you are in Asia, you know you're in Asia but yet, things look and feel different. But that also works against us: we are different and more importantly, seen as different, than the Japanese. Japanese prize conformity but we stick out.

Now retirement is a different thing. I remain a visitor. I don't have to care if I am an outsider because I am. I like the vibrancy of Tokyo. As you say, shuttling between Malaysia and Japan in between seasons would be nice.

Sini, semua sempai lah. Selamat Hari Raya. Sambut Raya kat Tokyo sama feeling ke?
Hilang? School just started so busy with the kids - ferrying them here and there for after-school activities.
Kids' schedules today macam CEO tau?

Disclaimer: this info from colleague who is a real "pro" - this guy travels the world and literally has a girl in every port. This guy is a legend in my company. One time, accodring to legend, he chatted up a JAL cabin attendant (that's what they call them in Japan) he bumped into at Narita airport and managed to follow her back to her apartment in THE JAL EMPLOYEE SHUTTLE. Doubly amazing, he speaks no Japanese and is of Indian heritage. I don't know how he does it. He's my hero no doubt.

The real redlight area (soapland) is in Ogoto near the Biwa Lake. Maybe 30 minutes from Kyoto Sta. Of course, if you know Japan, soaplands (unlike Puro Land and Disneyland) are only for the Japanese. Following link NSFW.
http://www.ogoto.net/indexf.html

This post has been edited by tatsuyachiba: Oct 4 2009, 11:43 PM

Wedding in Japan fun but a little susah. You have to give an "envelope gift" of at least 30,000yen. Like angpow but you must get crisp fresh notes and put it into a special envelope (you buy this at a stationery store). The envelope is a 2-piece affair and the inner piece has to be folded correctly.

Then after the ceremony itself, there is a "second party" or reception, usually in the evening, called the nijikai. You have to pay to get into this party too around 5000yen for the booze. If you're a close friend, you may have to give a speech. If you do, never never say the words "dekichatta keikon?"

The fun part of weddings is that you get drunk, get to hit on the bride's single girlfriends and you get a goodie bag of gifts in return.

Enjoy.

Depends on on the ski slope (called "gerende" in Japanese) you are going to and how much skiing you are planning to do.
Most gerende have pricing for an entire day or just part of the day. Typically, night skiing is the cheapest i.e. starting at 5pm onwards.
Lift tickets are also priced based on "all access" or just certain slopes. Unless you want to ski on the "black" (i.e. steepest) slopes, maybe you can buy a cheaper ticket that limits you to just the green or red slopes. Finally weekdays are cheaper than weekends/holidays.

On our annual ski trips, we usually go to Echigo Yuzawa in Niigata.. Around an hour's shinkansen ride from Tokyo.
Relatively cheap - lift ticket's, IIRC, are around 3000-4000yen but we usually book a package that includes shinkansen, hotel + food, rentals, and lessons for the kids.

This post has been edited by tatsuyachiba: Nov 6 2009, 03:19 AM

Ahem, for the record, I had asked (and got a good one!) for a review of hostels, not love hotels.
If I wanted the latter, I would've PM'ed you discreetly. Was there really a vibrating water bed in there?