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My small travel agency also offers a concierge service and receives a lot of requests.
I can’t talk about the specific wishes of my clients, but I am happy to advise them on their purchases in Japan.
Some tourists come to Japan without inquiring beforehand because they think that in Japan you have easy access to everything you want For most things it’s not a problem, but it becomes more difficult when you want to buy something specific.
The time you will spend in Japan is limited. It is better to inform yourself in advance.
Special care should be taken if you want to buy antiques or works of art.
This is because some goods require documents issued by the Japanese government and are subject to customs inspection when leaving Japan.
Naturally, the documentation process takes time.
You also need to be careful with electrical appliances.
Electricity voltage may differ between Japan and other countries. Please note that in such cases, electrical appliances purchased in Japan cannot be used at home.
Some large electrical stores carry appliances that can be used worldwide. Ask the shopkeeper before you buy.
Tax-free shopping is not possible everywhere. Most small stores do not offer it. The current system in Japan is that the stores take care of the VAT refund. Customers pay the tax-exempt amount. No tax refund procedure is required for airport customs.
However, the system is currently being revised to allow travelers to make the VAT refund themselves at the airport. The exact date of the change is not yet known.
My small travel agency will be happy to assist you with your purchases.
Travel Concierge
Oct82024
On your next trip, why not try an Ekiben: a special lunch box that you can buy at the station.
It is considered impolite to eat or drink on trains or the subway, which you normally use to get to work or school.
But not so on trains that travel long distances.
Some trains also have small tables and cup holders that can be used for meals.
The Japanese look forward to eating on these trains.
There used to be dining cars on Shinkansen trains, but unfortunately not anymore.
But the Japanese have not given up eating on long-distance trains. Because eating with a view is much more pleasant.
In the large stations where Shinkansen trains arrive and depart, there are usually ekiben stores. Here, many people ask which lunch box they should buy. It’s always a lot of fun.
The railroad magazine can also publish articles evaluating the popularity of the various ekiben.
The ranking of the Ekiben at Tokyo Station is as follows.
No. 1 Gyuniku domannaka
This is a beef bowl-style bento with ground beef and beef stew seasoned with a special sauce on a bed of Yamagata rice.
No.2 Chicken Bento
Introduced in 1964. It is a combination of fried chicken and tomato flavored rice. The former emperor (Akihito) is a big fan of this bento.
No. 3 Sumibi-yakifu Gyutan Bento
A specialty from Sendai – grilled beef tongue – on a bed of rice. It is served with salt obtained by boiling clean seawater and seaweed off the coast of Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture.
When you buy a bento, pay attention to how you hold the box. You should always keep it flat. Otherwise the beautiful presentation will be ruined.
The drinks can be Japanese tea or beer. These are also sold in bento stores.
Unfortunately, vegan and vegetarian ekiben are hard to find. This is due to the Japanese way of thinking. The Japanese believe that not only animals but also plants have life. For this reason, they are taught from childhood to be grateful for any food.
If there is food that is taboo for you, it is better to stock up beforehand at a specialty store and take the food with you on the long-distance train.
Ekiben are a part of Japanese culture. It is a Japanese food culture that has been around since 1885.
I want everyone to get to know Japanese culture and try good Japanese food.
↑ No.2 Chicken Bento
↑ No. 1 Gyuniku domannaka
Sep22024
Are you afraid of earthquakes in Japan? With the right knowledge, you have less to worry about.
Nankai Trench earthquakes are earthquakes caused by the impact of the land plate (Eurasian plate) on the oceanic plate (Philippine Sea plate) under the Pacific side of Japan.
According to the government, a major earthquake in the Kyushu region has increased the likelihood of such an earthquake. This is because the plates under the sea are connected to each other.
Nankai Trench earthquakes generally occur at intervals of 100 to 150 years, and as more than 70 years have passed since the last Nankai Trench earthquakes (1944 and 1946), the next earthquake is becoming increasingly likely.
All Japanese people know about earthquakes, and earthquake drills are held regularly in schools. Everyone is trained not to panic in the event of an earthquake.
When an earthquake occurs, the first thing to do is to protect yourself. That is the most important principle.
There is a unique Japanese indicator for the degree of intensity of earthquake tremors, which we call SHINDO (seismic intensity). The Japanese judge earthquakes by this SHINDO value.they are numbered according to the magnitude of the earthquake. Explanations can be found below.
SHINDO 1 : Some people who are indoors will feel the vibrations slightly.
SHINDO 2 : Most people who are indoors will feel the vibrations. Some of the sleeping people will wake up.
SHINDO 3 : Most people indoors will feel the tremors.
Some people who are on foot will feel the tremors. Most people who are sleeping will wake up.
SHINDO 4: Most people will be frightened. Most people who are walking will feel the shaking. Most people who are asleep will wake up.
SHINDO 5-Weak : Most people are afraid and want to hold on to things.
SHINDO 5-Strong : Most people find it difficult to walk without holding on to things and have other difficulties with activities.
SHINDO 6 -Weak : Difficulty standing.
SHINDO 6-Strong and SHINDO 7: They cannot stand or move around unless they are crawling on the floor. Sometimes they are unable to move and are lifted into the air by the shocks.
The Japanese will behave as usual until SHINDO3.
At SHINDO 4, the Japanese are worried about the earthquake.
SHINDO 5 and higher cause problems, e.g. trains stop. Near the coast, people flee to higher ground because of the tsunami danger.
If you are in a hotel, the hotel staff will advise you; if you are on a train, the train staff will direct people. If you are in the city, a Japanese person nearby will probably speak to you. But they will only speak Japanese. Many Japanese people do not speak English. It would be good to learn some basic Japanese vocabulary in case of emergency. I doubt anyone would resort to a translation app in a hurry.
In the event of a severe earthquake, electricity, gas and water supplies are interrupted. Cell phones are also no longer functional. If the power goes out, ATMs and credit cards cannot be used. You should always carry some cash in Japanese yen with you. You should also have a drink and something to eat such as chocolate or cookies in your bag. If you have no other options, you will have something to drink or eat.
For about 2000 years, the Japanese have lived in Japan with earthquakes and typhoons.
I want you to enjoy Japan, but I also want you to have some reverence for nature.
My small travel agency can also offer simple Japanese courses before the trip via ZOOM or Skype.
In addition, the concierge service provides advice in emergencies.
A customer of mine who had traveled to Japan asked me why the Japanese don’t speak English.
He probably thinks the Japanese are a superior people with a high-quality education.
I am very flattered by this misunderstanding. But unfortunately his perception and the reality are different.
It is estimated that only around 10% of Japanese people speak English.
In larger cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, the proportion is much higher, but in rural areas, English-speaking Japanese are very rare.
While some people can communicate with a translation app, others refuse to do so.
Japanese learn English in junior and senior high school.
Some children go to an English tutoring school when they are in elementary school.
However, many Japanese do not speak English.
So my client asked me why the Japanese don’t speak English.
Japanese people only speak Japanese on a daily basis and therefore do not feel obliged .
There is no situation where a foreign language has to be spoken.
I think that’s the reason why the Japanese don’t speak English.
If there were books that could only be read in English and movies that could only be watched in English, the Japanese would speak English better.
But conveniently, various things of interest to Japanese people have been translated into Japanese.
This may be inconvenient for foreign travelers.
Even in hospitals, English is often not spoken.
Doctors read medical articles in English. They understand English, but many cannot communicate well in English.
It is therefore advisable to check whether interpreting services are included in the travel insurance.
It is advisable to learn basic Japanese before entering Japan.
In particular, it is useful to learn the Japanese words you will need in an emergency.
Japan is a country prone to natural disasters. Initial information will naturally be provided in Japanese.
Obtaining information in English takes more time.
Many Japanese do not speak English, so it depends on luck whether someone can translate for you.
My small travel agency can also offer simple Japanese courses before the trip via ZOOM or Skype.
In addition, the concierge service provides advice in emergencies.
One of my hobbies is visiting museums. When I travel abroad, I always visit the museums in the cities there.
It is very satisfying for me to see real paintings and sculptures that can only be seen there.
Maybe many of you have the same interest as me, so I would like to give you some tips about the museums in Tokyo.
There are a lot of information sources available about the National Museum in Ueno and other famous big museums.
Therefore, I would like to introduce some smaller museums in Tokyo. There may be little information about them.
〇Matsuoka Museum of Art
https://www.matsuoka-museum.jp/english/
This is a small museum that focuses its exhibitions on the collections of Japanese industrialists. I particularly like the collection of Buddhist statues.
〇Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum
https://www.teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en/
The museum was once built as the private residence of the imperial Asakamiya family.
Today it is managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, including the beautiful Japanese garden.
There is a very nice restaurant at the entrance to the museum, which is also recommended.
〇Seikado Bunko Art Museum
https://www.seikado.or.jp/english/
The museum was founded by the former presidents of the famous Japanese corporation Mitsubishi.
The museum used to be located in a suburb of Tokyo, but has recently moved to a new location near Tokyo Station.
Here you will find national treasures. The collection is impressive, not only from Japan but from all over the East.
〇Mitsui Memorial Museum
https://www.mitsui-museum.jp/english/english.html
The Mitsui Group is another well-known Japanese corporate group. This museum has a collection that was acquired by the Mitsui family.
If you are interested in Japanese art, you will love it.
〇Sumida Hokusai Museum
https://hokusai-museum.jp/?lang=en
If you are interested in Ukiyo-e, this museum is for you.
Visitors can view the works of the great ukiyo-e artist Hokusai.
The building, which is the work of Kazuyo Sejima, is modern and unique.
There are also other small museums in Tokyo. Our concierge service can give you recommendations depending on your preferences. In addition, it is also possible to find out about exhibitions.
https://kaguyareisebuero.com/concierge/
Have you ever heard of the Ghibli animated film “Kiki’s Little Delivery Service”?
It is the story of a cute little witch, Kiki, who is trained to become a big witch by working for a delivery service.
This delivery service is called “Takkyubin” in Japan.
“Takkyubin” is a registered brand name of Yamato Transport, a well-known Japanese shipping company, and Ghibli received permission from this company to use the name.
Yamato Transport not only allowed this, but also supported this wonderful animated film as a sponsor.
Yamato Transport’s trademark is a black cat. It is also a black cat that Kiki is traveling with, which is a nice coincidence.
Yamato Transport is the best-known delivery service in Japan, but there are also others.
Parcels can be sent from convenience stores and other Takkyubin counters.
If you send a parcel from Tokyo to Osaka, for example, it usually arrives the next day.
However, due to a shortage of drivers, this has become more difficult. Nevertheless, parcels can still be delivered the next day.
However, it can take longer on Hokkaido, Okinawa and remote islands.
Travelers can also use Takkyubin.
Not every hotel offers them, but you can often use a takkyubin from reception. Of course, they also take care of travelers’ luggage.
It is also possible to pick up a package or suitcase at the hotel using Takkyubin. The hotel employee then collects the luggage on behalf of the customer.
However, you must contact the hotel in advance to send and receive your luggage.
To avoid the risk of terrorist attacks, unannounced checked baggage may be returned.
In addition, the guest list is checked, so luggage checked in under the wrong name may not be accepted.
Therefore, please ask the hotel receptionist to contact the recipient.
Unfortunately, there is no reception desk in private apartments,
Takkubin is not available as there is no one to receive the luggage.
There is therefore a possibility that your valuable luggage will be lost.
If you use the Takkyubin service skillfully, you no longer have to carry luggage when traveling.
Below is the homepage of Yamato Transport for tourists.
Yamato Transportation
https://www.global-yamato.com/en/hands-free-travel/
My travel concierge service will be happy to answer any questions you may have about using Takkyubin.
I’ve been a tech enthusiast for a long time. From the days of dial-up connections, I’ve been carrying around small computers all over the world. Do any of you remember a device called a “modem coupler”?
Nowadays, with the development of Wi-Fi, things have become incredibly convenient. Moreover, you can easily connect to the internet using just a smartphone, without the need for a computer. Thinking back to the days of struggling with dial-up connections, it feels like a dream.
By the way, what do you do when you travel abroad? Do you rely on each mobile carrier’s roaming services or swap out SIM cards to use your smartphone in foreign countries?
Recently, something called “eSIM” has emerged. While you still switch out SIM cards, it’s done online, and there’s no need to physically replace the tiny SIM card inside your smartphone. Everything is done on your smartphone. However, since it’s still a relatively new technology, eSIM-compatible devices are limited. Nevertheless, more and more devices are becoming compatible, so if you’ve recently upgraded your smartphone, why not check it out? Your next trip could be even more comfortable.
Here’s a link for more information about eSIM:
You can get a small discount through this link.
Also, before making a purchase, be sure to confirm that your smartphone is eSIM compatible.
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