Travel: Japan - General
-
MMM:
Sunday and Meiji Shrine/Harajuku today! Saw 100 yen shop in Nakamise but was too rush to check it out properly. Will do so today - thxs! Saw 1000 yen shop as well in Kyoto but hasn't seen one in Tokyo yet though.Did you check out Meiji Shrine? We saw lots of little girls in kimono. They look really cute.
Also, have you check out the daiso shop???? Was told there was a 100 yen shop but we didn't see any. We checked out Daiso at Harajuku after our Meiji Shrine visit. If your kids are young or have girls, the hello kitty stuff in Daiso shop is cheap. We got those hello kitty purse, stamp, stationery, disney handkerchiefs for my girl, etc... that make great gifts for girls. Hubby regret not buying more.... Also those disney party bags at Daiso, it's only Yen 105, but you got to pay around S$4 at Singapore party shops. So that is worth buying if you've some kids party coming up.
To all travellers to be, Japan's GST is 5%. -
Hello…
I will be flying to Japan as in tokyo tonight…how is the actual weather over there now?
A friend warned me to be very careful of H1N1 when am there…can someone update the situation?Am contemplating whether to bring mask…but i really dont like the idea putting on when am HOLIDAYS…
Thanks
Rgds
Joy -
Tokyo is not that cold - long sleeves and sweater will be okay. Check out the yahoo weather update before you leave. For kids, I more kiasu and standby coat in case weather turns sudden cold / in the nite.
People wearing masks are a common sight in Japan. Not sure if it’s due to H1N1 or due to the high hygiene consciousness of Japanese to cover due to flu. You won’t feel out of place wearing here. Everything feels normal once you are here. -
Spent an entire day in Harajuku including Meiji Shrine. Super crowded but love the shop mix, fashion and offers. If you have girls or love accessories - this IS the place. PS: Ironically, I bought a top that says \"made in korea\"
& MMM, did spend at least an hour in Daiso
Almost all made in China but did \"sweep stock\" when I saw those cute stuffs that says \"for japan sale only\" :love: My christmas shopping is 80% done!
Was expecting a congregation of cosplay characters but was disappointed - possibly we weren't at the right place
Interestingly the people we asked were not able to tell us as well. Did see a couple of manga characters but they walked past us so fast that we were not able to stop them to take any pics at all
If you folks are there and keen in buying cosplay costume, visit the cosplay costume shop called \"Bodyline\" along Takeshita Street. Lovely! Else, when asked if there was anything for boy, the answer came with a firm NO
(Cont'd...)
13. Metro Subway. So far, I only need to use the subway to move around. Subway map looks messy but it's pretty easy to navigate around. Just pick up a map, go to the station control and ask them which # to board the train and which station to alight and how much. Note: I do not have to pay for my kid. & if you wish to keep the subway tickets like me, go to the station control prior to exit to have them \"stamped\" -
Joy:
You will feel safer in Japan than in Sg. The Japanese standards of hygiene are legendary. All the way to the toilets. In some toilets, even their soap dispensers are infrared activated, so that you don't have to touch any buttons/taps.Hello....
I will be flying to Japan as in tokyo tonight...how is the actual weather over there now?
A friend warned me to be very careful of H1N1 when am there...can someone update the situation?Am contemplating whether to bring mask...but i really dont like the idea putting on when am HOLIDAYS....
Thanks
Rgds
Joy
I still shake my head when people in Singapore (we who still have people who spit in public and shit in food courts) \"warn\" travellers going to Japan about H1N1. Please! I felt so much safer in Japan!
The Japanese have been wearing hygiene masks for the longest time, long long before H1N1 ever appeared. They have a habit of wearing them when they have the flu - any flu. And it's not to protect themselves but to prevent their germs from spreading to you.
Weather - so long as you have access to Japanese TV, you can check out the news every morning /evening. Japanese weather prediction is amazingly accurate (not 100% but still astonishingly accurate). They can predict the weather at 3-hr intervals. There was one day on my last trip, the prediction was that it would rain after 6pm the next day - and it did, on the dot! :shock: -
radiantmum:
& MMM, did spend at least an hour in Daiso
Almost all made in China but did \"sweep stock\" when I saw those cute stuffs that says \"for japan sale only\" :love: My christmas shopping is 80% done!
Since you are there at the end of the year, go buy their calendars!!! I'm not talking about Daiso only. Go to any bookshop or, best of all, go to Tokyu Hands, and buy them! You don't even have to spend a lot to get something of good taste and quality. (In SG, if you're unwilling to spend like $30-40 or above, you tend to end up with ugly and/or lousy quality ones.) You can buy many of them since they're not very heavy or thick (get those that display a few months per page and for tabletop display) and give them as souvenirs cum christmas gifts to friends and colleagues. That's what we did. Don't forget to grab some for yourself too! (^_^) -
sashimi:
This is the scene I saw in Japan ...
You will feel safer in Japan than in Sg. The Japanese standards of hygiene are legendary. All the way to the toilets. In some toilets, even their soap dispensers are infrared activated, so that you don't have to touch any buttons/taps.
I still shake my head when people in Singapore (we who still have people who spit in public and shit in food courts) \"warn\" travellers going to Japan about H1N1. Please! I felt so much safer in Japan!
The Japanese have been wearing hygiene masks for the longest time, long long before H1N1 ever appeared. They have a habit of wearing them when they have the flu - any flu. And it's not to protect themselves but to prevent their germs from spreading to you.
Somene dropped a piece of tissue on the floor. The Jap person behind picked it up automatically and walked to the nearest bin (& mind you, not within immediate reach) to dispose it.
I remembered thinking to myself then what would Singaporeans/I do?
(a) Ignore it
(b) Tapped on the shoulder to notify that someone that he/she dropped something
I must admit that it certainly doesn't cross my mind to pick it up and throw it away (i'm guilty of my lack of civic consciousness :oops:) Consolation is at least if it's not tissue I would still pick it up and return to the person
The POINT is it's true that Japs have higher hygiene discipline than in Singapore ... at least you see that trays are being automatically returned and NEATLY too. -
schellen:
Hey schellen, & that I did, after reading your post ! Bought dozens of calendars and schedule books with those cute Disney characters - all at 105 yen each! Didn't get much for my own shopping though ... I bought Phitens (saw another C-brand but not sure of its effectiveness), cosemetics (Shiseido, Kanebo etc are common and pretty cheap here - saw SKII only in Ameyokko area - VERY CHEAP but not sure if it's genuine so did not buy). Mostly spent on food souvenirs - - was recommended to buy Tokyo Banana - will taste it and let u folks know yummy or not
Since you are there at the end of the year, go buy their calendars!!! I'm not talking about Daiso only. Go to any bookshop or, best of all, go to Tokyu Hands, and buy them! You don't even have to spend a lot to get something of good taste and quality. (In SG, if you're unwilling to spend like $30-40 or above, you tend to end up with ugly and/or lousy quality ones.) You can buy many of them since they're not very heavy or thick (get those that display a few months per page and for tabletop display) and give them as souvenirs cum christmas gifts to friends and colleagues. That's what we did. Don't forget to grab some for yourself too! (^_^)
-
Perhaps because in Japan, most of the times when people drop tissue, it is by accident and if they don't pick it up themselves, it's either because they can't (hands full, etc) or they don't know. On the other hand, most of the times in SG, the \"tissue-droppers\" litter on purpose or they know they dropped the tissue and refuse to pick it up even when they can. Well, this is my POV.
About returning trays, notice that the cleaning staff/fastfood restaurant staff are mainly there to serve and not clean up unless there is a spill/mess or someone needs help clearing their tray. Remember to dispose of your trash appropriately when you clear your tray cos the trash bins may specify where each item is supposed to go. They should have pictures to guide you or you can just \"signal\" one of the staff to help you.
-
radiantmum:
Wow.... that's so cool& MMM, did spend at least an hour in Daiso
Almost all made in China but did \"sweep stock\" when I saw those cute stuffs that says \"for japan sale only\" :love: My christmas shopping is 80% done!
We deeply regret not buying more stuff or seeing the 100 yen shop. BTW, some of the stuff are tax refundable.
I saw some sporeans crowding round the burberry store in dept store. My friend said it's cheaper there? Those are tax refundable.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login