Tokyo – Page 2 – Jet-Set Japan

AEON Shopping Mall

December 24, 2018February 8, 2019Food and Drink, ShoppingLeave a Comment

Happy Holidays!

Brandon and I have been busy this holiday season, but Brandon and his friends were able to travel to Japan in November for almost two weeks. So, we’re preparing to push out a lot of content over the next few months.

Because it’s the holiday season, our post is about SHOPPING. Japan has tons of department stores and shopping malls where you can easily spend half the day, but let’s take a look at a specific shopping mall ー AEON.

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The AEON, pronounced ee-ohn, in the photos were taken at AEON Style Shingawa Seaside. Shingawa Seaside Station is on the Rinkai Line and the next station from Tennozu Isle Station, which has direct access to Haneda Airport.

Unfortunately, AEON Style’s homepage is not in English, but here are some details:

Business Hours:
B1 Supermarket: 8:00am-12:00am
B1 Food Court: Restaurants have various business hours
B1 Starbucks: 7:00am-10:00pm

1F, 2F, 3F: Most stores are open from 9:00am-11:00pm, but some stores have different business hours.

Shops:
B1: Supermarket, food court, and other specialty shops.
1F: Women’s fashion, Health & Body Care
2F: Kids’, Baby, Men’s fashion
3F: Interior Decor & Furniture, Electronics

Most importantly, and undoubtedly our favorite area, the supermarket!

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Here’s a tip for those late nights when you want a snack before bed: supermarkets start putting discount stickers on food after about 7:00 or 8:00pm, so swing by to get a good deal, but if you go too late, the only option you have might be kimchee cucumbers or potato salad.

Keep an eye out for more updates!

Recommended Areas to Stay in Tokyo

July 27, 2018November 19, 2018Accommodations, FAQ, Trains, Shinkansen, TransportationLeave a Comment

Happy Aloha Friday!

First-time travelers to Tokyo, maybe even those who have traveled to Tokyo a couple times, might not be sure which area they should set as their base camp. Depending on the type of experience you’re searching for, your travel itinerary, and, of course, your wallet.

Here is a list, in no particular order, of train stations that we recommend to stay near when you visit Tokyo. The list is an image, and there is a lot of info. So, click on the image for high-resolution or you can download the image.

In a nut shell, we recommend the following areas: Shinagawa, Shimbashi, Tokyo (Station), Ginza, Akasaka, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ueno. Each area has its own characteristics which appeal to different people. For example, Shinagawa, Shimbashi, and Tokyo are extremely convenient areas because of their access to different train lines, and all three have an image of being major hubs for business people. If you compare the three, Shimbashi has the strongest image of drinking; Tokyo has the most elegance; Shinagawa might actually be low-key compared to the other two.

Akasaka is not a major hub for business people, but there are a lot of companies, government institutions, etc. in the area, so streets in evening will be full with people looking for a place to drink.

Ginza, like Roppongi, Aoyama, Omotesando, is considered to be a high-class area. But even in these areas, there’s always reasonable and quality places to shop and dine.

Shinjuku and Shibuya are geographically next to each other in Tokyo, but Shibuya has an image suited more towards the younger generation (not saying that Shinjuku is for older people). Both areas have a lot of shopping, eating, drinking options, but a lot of visitors to Tokyo are attracted to Shibuya’s “scramble crossing”.

Ueno is located in Tokyo’s shitamachi (old downtown) area, so the atmosphere is different to other areas of Tokyo mentioned above. Ueno is close to Asakusa, and Asakusa has a nice “nostalgic” feel with its shopping arcades.

For more detailed information, check out the list above!

Fireworks Shows in Japan

July 21, 2018August 6, 2018FAQ, Seasons, Summer2 Comments

The rainy season in Japan usually ends around the first week of Japan, and this is also the start of weekly fireworks shows which are held all over the country. Summer in Japan is hot and humid, so why do thousands of people go out to watch fireworks in the summer heat? People get a chance to get out of the house to eat, drink, and talk with family and/or friends. Not to mention many people wear yukata (summer kimono). Some Japanese people say the sound of fireworks being shot high into the air and seeing the beautiful colors and patterns dazzle in the night sky help them forget about the heat.

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If you are in Japan now or if you have already planned a trip to Tokyo for July or August, here are dates and times for some fireworks shows:

Saturday, July 28:

(7:00pm-8:30pm) Sumida River Fireworks Show – Best viewing is from riverside along the Sumida River in the Asakusa area. Last year, 950,000 people went to watch the show, so it will be extremely crowded. A few years ago, I watched the show, but arrived at the viewing area a little too late to get a place where we could sit and watch. If you want to sit and watch, I suggest you go there during the early afternoon to save a spot.
(7:20pm-8:20pm) Showa Kinen Park Fireworks Show in Tachikawa – Always held on the same day as the Sumida River Fireworks Show to spread out the number of people who watch. Last year, 260,000 people when to watch the show. I watched this show a few times, and it is a lot more relaxed because of the fewer amount of people. However, people from Hawaii might still be surprised at the large crowds. Tachikawa is located about 30 minutes west from Shinjuku on the Chuo Line.

Wednesday, August 1

(7:40pm-8:30pm) Koto Fireworks Show – Access to viewing areas from Minami-Sunamachi Station on the Tozai Line. Last year 300,000 people went to watch this show.

Saturday, August 4

(7:15pm-8:30pm) Edogawa-ku Fireworks Show – Edogawa-ku located next to Chiba Prefecture. Best access to viewing areas are from Shinozaki Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line. Last year 900,000 people watch the show from the Tokyo side. This show is popular because fireworks are synchronized with background music.
(7:00pm-8:30pm) Itabashi Fireworks Show – This show can be access from JR Ukimafunado Station, which is on the Saikyo Line, Takashimadaira Station/Nishidai Station/Hasune Station, which are on the Toei Mita Line.

Saturday, August 11

(7:10pm-8:30pm) Tokyo Fireworks Show~EDOMODE~ – Fireworks will be shot up from Tokyo Bay near the Odaiba Area. So there are many places to view this show. This is the first year to have this show, but I think this show is taking the place of the Tokyo Bay Grand Fireworks Show that was discontinued in 2015.

Important Note: Fireworks shows can be canceled/postponed due to high winds or rain. So, if you are planning to check out a show, check weather reports or webpages/SNS that provide information.

Some things to prepare if you go to a fireworks show:

Food and drinks – I suggest buying the majority of your food and drinks before you arrive at your destination. Vendors will be selling food and drinks, if you want hot food or if you drink all of your drinks.
Location of bathrooms – Plan out your day so you can go early to check out where bathrooms are located. Because most people are drinking alcohol and tons of water, lines for the bathroom will be long.
Hit up a 100 yen shop – You can get cheap cooler bags, cups, napkins, and everything else you will need.
Get a blue tarp/sheet – Unless you have to watch the show standing up, get you and your group a blue tarp/sheet to sit on.
Make a plan for after the show – After the show ends, even a little bit before the show ends, thousands of people will try to catch the train at the same time. If you don’t mind staying a little later to avoid the traffic, go get a few extra drinks. If you don’t mind walking a little further to a less crowded station, research for stations you can walk to.

If you want some information regarding fireworks shows in different areas of Japan, feel free to contact us!

Recommended Destinations for Your First Trip to Japan

June 29, 2018June 29, 2018FAQ, Food and Drink, Modern Culture/Spots, Traditional Culture/Spots2 Comments

Happy Aloha Friday!!!

Planning your first trip to Japan, but where to go? We recommend going to Osaka and/or Tokyo. If you have only a short period for your vacation or if you are on a tight budget, we think going to Osaka is best for your first trip. If you have time and enough money, we think going to Osaka first, and then going to Tokyo is a good plan. In this post, we’re going to explain why Osaka and/or Tokyo are good destinations for your first trip to Japan.

Osaka

Osaka culture – In my (Chad’s) experience, locals in Osaka are really honest and genuine. Not saying that people outside of Osaka are not honest and genuine, but the people in Osaka (well, Kansai in general) are very easy to connect to because they are usually outgoing. If you go to a bar and meet a few locals, it’s easy to start a conversation. You must be thinking, “I don’t speak Japanese, so how will we communicate?” But there are people who will try to have a conversation even though they don’t have English speaking skills. It helps to speak a little Japanese, but I think making an effort is what is most important.
Great access to other areas of the Kansai Region – From Osaka, you can go to every prefecture in the Kansai Region (Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Mie, Shiga) without riding a shinkansen. In other words, you can Osaka as a hub to travel around the Kansai Region, which is rich in Traditional Japanese Culture. Historically, Kyoto was the capital of Japan for a little over 1000 years, and Nara was the first capital of Japan. So, if you want to get in touch with the roots of Japanese Culture and History, Kansai is the place to go.
Traditional and modern Japan – Osaka is a fusion of both traditional and modern Japanese culture. During the spring, you can enjoy the sakura around Osaka Castle during the day, and eat good food and drink alcohol at night around Dotonbori, Namba, or Shinsaibashi (to name a few places) at night.
Awesome grinds (food)! – Osaka has GREAT food! Okonomiyaki, kushiyaki, takoyaki, yakiniku are just a few of the super ono local foods you can each in Osaka.

Tokyo

Multicultural metropolitan – Without a doubt, Tokyo is the most multicultural city in Japan because of the sheer amount diversity in the city. If you want to eat Japanese food, of course you’ll be able to find good quality food in Tokyo. If you feel like eating great pizza, there are a lot of authentic Italian restaurants with delicious pizza. If you feel like Nepalese curry, Tokyo’s got it! You get the picture, right? You can find all kinds of food in Tokyo to satisfy your craving. Another thing is Tokyo is relatively multilingual, which means you can find English signs almost everywhere. Also, compared to other areas of Japan, a lot of people speak enough English to help you if you are lost.
Convenience – First and foremost, trains throughout Japan are on-time most of the time, but if you miss a train in Tokyo, the next train will come in 5 to 10 minutes. So, it’s not a big deal if you miss one train. Next, if you’re craving some ramen in the middle of the night, you’ll find a place to eat. Tokyo is the city-that-never-sleeps.

In conclusion:

1. Osaka-only plan: If you’re short on time and money, and want to see both traditional and modern Japan hit up Osaka. If you’re in Osaka for 5-7 days, you can check out more places than if you were in Tokyo for 5-7 days.

2. Tokyo-only plan: If you want to jump straight into one of the most populated cities in the world, and also want to be on full-gear for your entire trip, head over to Tokyo.

3. Osaka-to-Tokyo plan: If you have the time and money, and want to ease into Japan, head over to Osaka before Tokyo. So, you have to first fly into Kansai International Airport, and then book a flight out from either Narita or Haneda (we recommend Haneda).

4. Tokyo-to-Osaka plan: If you have time and money, and you want to jump into the excitement (and craziness) that is Tokyo before taking it (a little) easy, go to Tokyo and then Osaka.

Parks, Rivers/Ocean, & Mountains ー Nature in Japan

June 11, 2018August 6, 2018NatureLeave a Comment

Featured Image: Na no Hana (Rape Blossoms) in Hararikyu Gardens.

Because Japan is an island nation, it’s possible for visitors to check out parks in the city, head to the mountains, and relax riverside or beachside in one trip. In this post, we will show pictures of parks, bodies of water, and mountains from all over Japan.

Parks

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Japan has immaculate Japanese gardens and parks. Depending on the time of year you visit, it’s possible to see various types of flowers and other plants, except during winter when everything is in hibernation mode.

Rivers/Ocean

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Because the majority of Japan’s land is mountainous, there are a lot of rivers throughout the country. A lot of these rivers provide for great views during sunset and even a place for people to picnic. Regarding beaches, coming from Hawaii, most of us are spoiled with beautiful beaches (except maybe Hilo, where we’re from), but the sunrises and sunsets along the coastlines of Japan are absolutely picturesque.

Mountains

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In the mountain areas of Japan, visitors can find shrines, temples, onsen (hot springs). For those who are adventurous , there are shrines where you can go hiking into the mountains to another shrine which is located deeper in the mountains. And some shrines will let you stay there if you make reservations.

This post is just an introduction to the great nature spots in Japan. Look out for future posts about nature in Japan!