Tokyo Survival Guide - Tips and How to's for living in Japan » Uncategorized

Relaunching

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:55:08 +0000

Hi Folks,

As you can see, TokyoSurvival is undergoing some construction. I can’t officially announce a launch date yet, but it’s coming! I’ve been working together with some friends, and I hope to relaunch the website with a steady stream of Tokyo survival tips. Please stay tuned.

If you have any requests for How To’s or questions about Japanese culture, please feel free to e-mail Claudia@tokyosurvival.com

In the mean time, please enjoy my favorite How To:

http://www.tokyosurvival.com/how-tos-6-survive-a-rush-hour-train

Sorry for the Absence

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:05:14 +0000

Hey guys,

I’ve been getting some awesome fan mail from you guys, and I hope you answers proved useful. For all of those who haven’t e-mailed me directly, sorry I haven’t been keeping up with the blog. I’ve just started work with Ubisoft and it’s been one helluva ride. I still have a lots I want to write about. In fact, I have posts that are roughs and never finalized. I’ll try to post more regularly. In the mean time, I’ve decided to post more content that I get from Tokyo Gaijins to fill the interim. I love getting your fan mail questions so go for it! claudiajmng@gmail.com

Tokyo Gaijins: a group of adventuring gaijins that put together awesome experiences that you will likely not be able to enjoy without the aid of Japanese person. Meet some great people from all over the world!

Jan. 23~24 Myoko Suginohara ski/snowboarding

For questions contact: info@tokyogaijins.com

Enjoy a great weekend of skiing and snowboarding at Myoko Suginohara Ski Resort. This resort is extremely famed as one of the highest-caliber ski slopes in Japan, with 3,700 feet (1,124 m) in vertical drop and one of the longest ski runs in Japan at an unbelievable distance of 5.3 miles (8.5 km) in length.

Nice long trails designed with you in mind at any level. And with such long runs, you don’t have to worry about losing your valuable ski time waiting for the lifts. Its ski lifts swiftly bear skiers up to 2 miles (3 km) in one stretch, and it has three relating lines of quad lifts that can carry skiers to the peak. SNOWBOARDERS this is for you, since they offer a very nice snow park, where you can show off your skills. This resort has it all for every level of skier or snowboarder. A great chance to truly relax while playing in the snow.

Myoko Suginohara ski/snowboarding
January 23~24 (Saturday~Sunday)
Myokokogen, Niigata
Confirmed participants: 23 | Spots available: 22 | RSVP

A brief description of what will happen on the event:

* Fri (Jan 22)
- Meet at Tokyo station Yaesu central exit at 7:30pm
- Get on the bus
- Arrive in Myokokogen around 11:45pm
- Check-in at the lodge
- Sleep

* Sat (Jan 23)
- Breakfast at 7:30am
- Get the gear on
- Ski/snowboarding until 5pm
- Onsen/relax
- Dinner at 6pm
- Karaoke party

* Sun (Jan 24)
- Breakfast at 7:30am
- Get the gear on
- Ski/snowboarding until 4pm
- Onsen
- Check out at the lodge
- Get on the bus
- Arrive back in Shinjuku around 9:30pm
+++ End of the event +++

Price: 26,000yen
Price includes;
• Private bus transportation (round-trip)
• Two (2) nights accommodation
• Two (2) days lift pass
• Dinner for Sat
• Breakfast for Sat & Sun
• Ski insurance

Optional;
• Boots & ski/snowboard set (2,000yen for 2 days)
• Ski jacket & pants set (2,000yen for 2 days)
• Gloves (500yen for 2 days)
• Goggles (500yen for 2 days)
• Ski/snowboarding group lesson (3,000yen/person for 3hrs)
• Private room for couples (3,000yen/person for 2 nights)

Take note of the following:

• Itinerary may vary due to the weather, traffic conditions, and other unavoidable circumstances.
• Group discount (of 4 or more) 1,000yen/person.
• Minimum of 4 and maximum of 7 persons for shared room.
• Rooms are allocated to your preference, M or F only, mixed or group of friends.
• Private room for couples available at extra cost.
• Good skiers must rent/pay own boots & ski set directly from a proper rental shop to personally check the quality.
• Quality of rentals at the hotel are OK for casual skiers/snowboarders.
• Extra 2,000yen rental fee if boots size bigger than JPN 29.
• Ski/snowboarding group lesson is from 10am until 1pm on Saturday and it’s for beginners only.
• Lunch not provided but available at the ski resort.
• Vegetarians can be accommodated but advance notice necessary.
• Soap, shampoo & rinse are provided in the onsen.
• You can check-out at 10am the latest on Sunday but you must put your stuff in the luggage room before going ski/snowboarding.
• Final details will be sent to the participants two days before the event.

What to wear/bring:

• Skis/boots/poles (if you have)
• Snowboard/boots (if you have)
• Ski jacket/pants/gloves (if you have)
• Ski goggles (if you have)
• Winter/warm/thermal/extra clothes
• Winter hat
• Winter gloves
• Comfortable shoes/socks
• Towel
• Soap/shampoo/rinse
• Lip balm
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Eye mask
• Ear plugs
• MP3/iPod player
• Book (to read on the bus)
• Camera
• Cellphone
• Cash

Guitar Hero…Eat You Heart Out!

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:30:23 +0000

The anticipated Guitar hero on tour is seems pretty impressive, but come July 28^th, Japan is selling their mega awesome rhythm/ synthesizer/ karaoke/ interactive rock band game.

Introducing…

Daigasso! Band Brothers DX

It’s bigger and better than the first Daigasso in 2004!

The video is in Japanese, but here is a run down of it’s AWESOMENESS!

The first feature starts with implementing the mic. You sing into your DS mic, whilst the lyrics scroll on the bottom. It counts your accuracy, and you get ranking and scores. However, for the Japanese gamers, I guess playing this part of the game in train is out of the question.

Second, we have the normal rhythm based game using the D-pad and the ‘a’ ‘b’ buttons. Once the song is chosen, you can pick from various instruments. The examples given in the commercial are the: Flute, Guitar, Percussions, Shamisen, and Electric Guitar. Of course, it would not be complete, if you can’t stroke the strings of your digital guitar.

Third feature is the vast collection of songs. Built into the game you can choose anything from classics to J-pop. What the Japanese consider “classics”?…I have no idea. However, you can use your wifi connection and download and store up to 100 songs of your liking!

Fourth is that synthesizer! You can use the digital piano to create notes on your music sheet, or you can move them around yourself. This is midi-based composing, so you can choose the instruments and create your own songs.

Fourth is my personal favorite, you have many ways of interacting with your friends! All the music that you have, rather downloaded or personally composed can be shared with friends. And for the rhythm game, you can link up to 8 people and have your own digital rock out! Best part, is you only need one copy of the game.

Lastly, you can connect via Nintendo wifi to your wii and have all the music played on your TV Stereo,instead of you dinky DS Speakers. House party via DS? Uh…yes!

If we are to compare, Guitar hero has completely different game play and an enormous cult following. Moreover, this game is at the moment only playable by those who understand Japanese. If and when will be introduced in the states? Unknown. But all in all, you have to admit….Daigasso! Band Brothers DX is pretty awesome!