Living in Tokyo - Wisdom please!

Very nice, you know even if I end up in a similar shit hole I can just keep reminding myself that it is only 30000 yen a month!

I actually had a pretty similar set up last year at uni, lived behind a fish and chip shop, the oil and food they dumped was pretty nasty. Meant I could not open my bathroom window as the smell would seriously stick around.

it sounds a decent enough area, I mean where I lived before, despite being right by Osaka, only had a uber posh deli, conbini, old lady beauty place and a f-ing "bigot" bakery (worst cakes ever). Nice to live in the heart of things-ish. Least I can grab a beer or hit a restaurant when cooking is not an option.

And bonus on the new Tipness. See I reckon gym leads to more "succesfull" partying. And nothing perks me up from the ol "lifestyle flu" then hitting the gym and getting some healthy chemical running around.

BTW I love the sound of those pigs in the blanket. Best crust I ever had was one soaked in Tabasco sauce, real heavy.

 

30,000 a month... I wouldn't expect much. Besides, there's no shame in living in a dump when you're a student. When you work, it's a bit embarrassing.

Tabasco isn't too hard to find here. Most stores (even convenient stores) have it. There's a bakery I talk about in one entry on the site somewhere (probably not too far down). Some of their sandwiches have a Tabasco option.

I was never able to get import beer (other than Heineken) in Meidaimae though. You might have better luck searching around. I have a few local stores now that carry some Belgian stuff.

 

congratulations mate! that sounds awesome!

that one was good, i had to laugh my ass off

btw, are we talking NTT Communications? i just noticed that i have a poster of them in my office, or better my collegue has one hanging in our office

 

Actually we were talking about NHK. My brain switched to NTT b/c I fucking hate them so much.

Some reading material
http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32316

I jump in and piss people off on page 3 or so.

 

I lived in Nishi eifukucho for 6 months last year (only 3 or so stops from Meidaimae) and never really visited the place much once the C&C Curry was knocked down bu tit is a handy station to get right into Shinjuku at least. And being an Express stop you'll be very happy from either Shinjuku or Shibuya.

As for Shimokitazawa that was my local arcade area, at the time there were 2 arcades, one called Las Vegas and another that was UFO on the ground and Jamma up above.

Being into music games took me into Las Vegas mostly, they got Guitar Freaks & Drummania 2 days after release which gives you an idea of how up to speed they are. Of the top of my head the games they had when I left were IIDX, Pop 'n Music, Taiko no Tastsujin, HOTD4, Virtua Cop 3, some great Print Club machines, some Mah Joon game and lots of sports.

They were also cheap too, most 200y games in Shinjuku would be 100y there. Even brand new ones.

Not too much into shooters and they like so the one opposite didn't get much use but a friend of mine who loves his jamma told me it was really good.

There's a decent branhc of Dorama there too and that will just abut do you for new games but second hand is not so great.

All of these are on the main strip on the (I think) south side. The side with Tsutaya and Starbucks.

As for Vintage gear, don't equate that to cheap. Prices seemed inline with London.... possibly more in some places. There is a huge thrift shop right down the bottom of the main street which, I'm told, is one of the ebst but I thought was pricey.

The indoor market type place on the North side has some great stalls for really cooll tshirts.

Add a mix of great music venues, superb restaurants and very ecclectic shops and you get a great place for a night out.

There's even an English bar hidden away, Heaven Door's or something. Pricey (and possibly gone by now as it was often empty) but a good pub for football. It's about £3 a pint and don't even look at spirits but you can get Guinness and I think Stella or Fosters. If you facny it I can give you directions.




Man.... I miss Shimoki.....:crying:

 

Was the Rock & Roll Diner there when you were there? I've not been there in years... or Shimo in general for that matter.

 

Didn't see it although I did have a look. Found a really good faux cowboy place though so meat and fries are well covered.

 

Nice one iestyn, sounds like a good place to be, just for the active vibe if anything. You know it is nice to have a GameCenter or game shop close at hand, of course if you want the real deal you can toddle off to Akiba, but having one nearby just authenticates the quality of the area!

As for vintage gear, yeah it is hardly charity store prices. But it is great (in both Japan and London) for picking up second hand designer gear. Especially in Japan where ppl seem to take better care of their clothes.

And yes I would like to know where that pub is, I do like to watch the cricket and rugby.