I'm leaving for Japan soon - hotel recommendation?

No relation at all to PA. When I was a kid I started watching football in 1990. For some reason I was drawn to the Steelers, probably due to their famed success in the late 70's and popularity although the weren't that good when I started watching. 19 years later I've enjoyed 2 SB wins.

But definately keep your eye on my youtube videos. I'm doing alot of video tours of places like Super Potato, Mandarake, Sofmap, street crossing in Shibuya and lots more. All in HD but it's from a digital camera so it's not THAT great quality.

HUGE THANKS for the tip on taking those tissues they give out in front of stations. Came in very very very handy today.

 

1: Do not not go to the following in Akihabara:
-Hey
-Try
These are excellent arcades, and are sweeter spots to hit than the game stores if you ask me.

Shibuya Kaikan is a fun place to kill time on the cheap (most of the stuff is 50 yen).

Shinjuku is pretty amazing as well. Go at night for "that Tokyo look" for your videos.

 

Are there any places I can get bootleg dvds? Now, I don't own a single bootleg, even my damn hk flicks are all original (over 200) but I'm trying to find the kinnikuman series on DVD and the cheapest I can find it used is...

and get this

94,800Y!!!!! for a used 12 disc set argh....


I scored a Neo Geo for 10,800 at Sofmap now I gotta hunt down games. I've seen some neo geo carts but no samurai shodown yet....

Today was Shinjuku/Harajuka/Shibuya/Ameyoko/Aki shopping, tmr will be Odaiba/Pokemon/Ikebukururuk(i forget) and then we'll see what I have time left for. Maybe Nakano.

I may venture out to Yokahama Sunday because I'm dying to see that giant robot spider (google image search "la machine" or "la princesse").

 

Spoken like someone who is unfit... I normally bound up the stairs to the highest floor I need to be and walk downwards. I do miss the old Mandarake store as it had a nice hidden feel to it and it only sold CDs, models and merchandise and Doujin...

So did you have fun in the womans doujin section?

Surely Film me having my ass whooped?

 

Heh, well, after walking to aki from ueno I can only climb so many stairs. I'm not overweight but I don't know if I can argue unfit....Yeah at first those womens doujin sections were a bit of a shock to see (how open they were, some material not even hidden or in an 18+ only restricted area) but now it doesn't phase me anymore.

My record at SFIV out here is 2-2 all using Guile. I find the quality of players here is very skilled and not cheap like in North America (like constantly throwing fireballs).

I find Tokyo EXTREMELY expensive. Many things 50% more in cost than USA. Is there a really high avg income here and/or low income tax? I make over six figures back home and it seems I can live very comfortably but here I feel I'd really have to watch my money. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places though. Some examples (my $ currency is Canadian which is close to American) - my Sharp Aquos TV is $2500 back home, 550,000Y at Yodabashi....my mac computer cost me $2700 recently I saw it for close to 600,000Y in Aki...fruit is crazy expensive, at least 2x the price. Adidas store t-shirts were 4,000Y+ that are about $25-30 back home...fast food is about 50% more expensive but why go to McD's when you can have MOS or freshness burger. Those are just some examples. PC stuff is cheap though it was just mac that's crazy.

The purse I saw in Luis Vuitton for 734,000Y was pretty funny but that store is crazy price everywhere. A mens wallet was 50,000Y.

One thing I can't argue the price on is retro gaming stuff and kinnikuman items and those ar the two things I came here for the most so it all works out.

You guys were so right about checking prices before buying. Quick example I bought a Neo Geo Controller Pro for 1500Y in Mandarake that was 5000Y in Super Potato.

 

The reverse, if anything. Japanese companies pay shit. Pretty sure I read recently the average household income is 5 million yen per year ($51,839.88 USD) across the board. And, as you said, everything's expensive.

2005: 5.64 mil
http://www.risingsunofnihon.com/japan/3-reasons-why-the-average-japa/

2006: 5.74 mil
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20060629a3.html

The economy is in shambles, so I'm sure it's in the 5.2 mil range now.

Which model? I just got a 46-incher to the tune of 158,000 before shipping. You're probably witnessing something that takes a while to get used to: shops, with limited floor space, quite often only stock the medium to high end models. The model I bought was nowhere to be found. www.kakaku.com to the rescue.

The Macs, bought from Apple, are usually a smidge more than buying them from the US shop. Not enough to go crazy: 10-15%, which seems standard for an import item. I think there was something w/ that machine you were missing. Perhaps a hand job from one of the annoying girls working the elevator.

Only double? That's probably bad fruit then. I admit, I'm a fruit whore. I've left the shop having spent 5000 yen regularly, and only have a bag to show for it.

In short, luxury items (especially designer clothes) are ridiculous here. I go to the US 3-4 times a year for work, and buy all my clothes then. Retail price is cheaper, but really high discount sales are commonplace. Here, they seem to rarely happen. If you need cheap clothes though, Uniqlo is high quality for the price (mere sheckles). You gotta like solid colors though.

You'd be shocked to know that used cars have almost no value here.

One last thing: remember that not only are you visiting during the shittiest time of year, but also the shittiest year on record in terms of foreign exchange. It's up a good 10 yen from the disaster which occured earlier this year, but it's still awful (or excellent, depending on who pays you) for those of us that have spent a lot of time here.

 

Yeah in BC that's pretty close to our avg income. The other than housing though our cost of living isn't very high.

I'm pretty sure the TV was the same as mine. They only things I could make out was 120 and 4 which I assume is 120hz and 4ms (which my TV is). Yodabashi also had a Pioneer 103" TV that almost made me crap my pants. "Almost" - who am I kidding.

So far the weather has held up ok for me, no rain the past 2 days and I actually had sunny breaks this morning. I picked a good day for Daiba for sure. The Gundam statue was awesome, Pallette Town was alright (Toyota sure has a massive presence in the area) and I thought the science museum was cool too.

After that I hit up the Pokemon Center and the Tokyo Tower. So many kids in the Pokemon Center I'm surprised there wasn't a line to get in.

Ikebukuru was next - it was alright but after Shinjuku and Shibuya I'm a bit jaded I guess. Their train station was pretty big and busy too.

I think I'm going to relax in Aki tonight and lighten up my wallet a bit more. When I get back I'll plan tmr's trip which will either be Yokohama or Ginza/Roppongi/Nakano....

 

The Japanese TVs have loads of bells & whistles... hidden ones, usually. Not sure about now, but back in the day a BS tuner could add on another 18,000-20,000 yen. Also remember that chains like Yodobashi camera offer points (sometimes as much as 10% back). Places that don't offer points will almost always have cheaper prices. Japanese shops love sucking their customers in with them, and most of the customers eat that shit up. I'd rather save the money.

Bummer about the weather. I can say with 100% convicition this is the worst Spring/Rainy Season combo out of the 10 or so I've had here.

 

Earlier this year in BC we had I think 29 days straight with rain. And earlier we had the worst snowfall I've ever seen. Even by damn Canadian standards.

But, back to Aki. I raided the place for Kinnikuman items and even found a new addition for my Metal Gear collection as well. Can't believe I can't find Samurai Shodown AES cart but it's easy enough to get on ebay.

The yen in my wallet is getting really light though, so I may have some cheap sightseeing coming up heh.

 

When I lived in Hawaii there was 42 days of straight rain one year. It's all fine and dandy until they dump raw sewage in the canal, and in turn the Pacific Ocean. All the piss and turds wash up to shore so you can't walk on the beach less you get staph. Also sucks when someone dies.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ala_Wai_Canal

The way it was described at the time: "He was devoured by flesh-eating bacteria".
By the time he died, it was said he didn't look human. He was also pushed in afer a fight, reportedly...didn't fall in.

If you want some stuff on the cheap: I've said it in a million threads... Shinjuku Gyoen is the most serene spot in town. It's big, and screams to have a million pictures taken. But, wait until there's at least some sun... and preferrably a dry ground.

Kamakura is awesome as well, and quite cheap. 1500 yen round trip from Shinagawa I would guess. Maybe a couple of 200 yen bus rides locally once you get there. The temples are free. It's a great Kyoto substitute.

Tomorrow afternoon is the freak show at Yoyogi Park (right outside of Harajuku station). Free, and also something you won't get back home. It's over in just a few minutes though. Make sure to walk about 100 meters towards the main gate of Yoyogi Park to catch the Rock-a-billy guys. They're there come rain or shine.

 

Went to Yokohama. It was ok. The 2400 for Y150 was a bit of a ripoff but the La Machine gigantic robot spider was pretty awesome. After that hit up Nakano which is also awesome. PRICEY, but I got some really good deals on some Kinnikuman items. Cheaper enough I could flip em on ebay and make a few bucks, but I'm a collector so screw that. I spent I think 4 hrs in there with a break at Lotteria for a burger. Man their burgers are so fricken small and expensive but it's REALLY good. And of course I had to experience "giant ice cone". They had some Kinnikuman items barely ever even seen on yjp or ebay.

Hit up asakusa to finish the night (yes, alot of travelling today) to buy shit souvenirs for family. My mom will love the chopsticks I bought her for 600Y as I give them to her in a dept store bag and claim they were super expensive (I'll wrap them nicely and say they did it).

AGAIN NO RAIN!!! So far 3.5 days out of 4 have been clear. I don't even care if it rains tommorrow I'm all packed and ready to go. I'll hit up Aki and go through it really thorough but I only have about 12,000Y spending money left and I don't mind bringing it home.


One thing that isn't expensive here is smoking. I've never smoked so I can't partake in the savings. 300Y for smokes? It's like $10 a pack back home. It figures, that's what I find cheap here.

Where are the wacky vending machines? I haven't seen any. I thought I'd see some really cool ones but nothing. Only drinks and some small food items. I haven't even seen an umbrella one....*grumble*

Also where the hell are all the crazy flavor kitkat bars? I wanted to try rock salt and soy sauce....I've checked regular conv. stores like 7-11, am-pm, family mart, daily yamizake (or whatever)....some kplus I forget the name...no watermelon kitkat I mean WTF?!

 

Most of them are limited edition versions, which mean they come and go after a short space of time, so if you ain't in Japan when they sell them then tough.... You can visit here for the current range of kit kat sweets as well as what they have sold in the past...

Whacky vending machines are there but they are quite hard to find, mainly you will just find drink and ciggarette machines and every so often a sake / beer one (outside of a hotel) and batteries...

 

I got a bag of mini Kit Kats that are a mix of green tea and regular. Not bad! At least I tried one flavor.

 

Kiwi, Strawberry, and Sakura are other Kit Katflavors. I've never eaten a Sakura so no idea what that's supposed to taste like.

Cigarettes have always been in the 280-320 yen range... at least back when I smoked (basically 1998-2003 in Japan, and a few years before that in the US). Government owns most of the tobacco though, so they're not interested in taxing people through the balls so they quit. Redefines, "Get gun. Point at foot. Shoot."

 

Back in Canada thank god. Nothing against Japan tho, I always say that when I get back wherever I come from.

It was a great trip. I left with 100,000Y spending money - I came home with 301Y.

Massive thanks to everyone here for their help and tips. For sure I'll keep my eye on this section to help others out if they're planning a trip. Someone should almost trim out all the info in this and similiar threads and make a "New visitor to Japan guide". I'd do it but really who the fuck am I?! heh

Again thanks guys. The only thing that sucked about the trip was Jamtex not being around so I could pick up that Hello Kitty dreamcast dammit.

 

If we stickied that (and people actually read it) then there'd be about half the usual traffic in this forum.

 

301Y??? so yopu didn't do the pocky raid at the coffee shop at narita then?

When i came back in april, six of us chucked all our coins into a pot, and emptied the coffee shop of pocky, bought about sixty boxes in total - they thought we were mad lol.

 

Probably because Pocky is overrated?

 

maybe so, but it's good enough to give out at work when you get back.

 

Yeah I'm not huge on Pocky. The strawberry one is ok....

I tried green tea once it was awful.