As per usual, feel free to ask any silly stupid questions or not so silly stupid questions that you haven’t had a chance to ask here. Be kind to those that do and try to answer without downvoting. Please keep criticism and snide remarks out of the thread.
27 comments
What would you do with a day to yourself (today) in Tokyo? Partner is busy till tonight so I’ve got a lot of free time. Already went to my favorite cafes yesterday. Was thinking of hitting up an art house theatre and watching something but hey, lay your suggestions on me.
Edit: went to cafe ace in kanda which was good, got a haircut, ate curry, went to Dug the jazz cafe/bar in Shinjuku which was good but made me reek of smoke, watched Everything Everywhere All at Once which I couldn’t stand, and now it’s dinner time. Solid day.
The other day while cycling I encountered a car of unknown brand (small sports car kind of thing) and came kind of close to colliding with it because it pulled out and I didn’t notice it was indicating, and the reason I didn’t notice it was indicating was because it didn’t have like you know proper orange indicators, but what appeared to be flashing brake lights. How is that even legal?
Why is it so goddamn WINDY?!!!
I have an almost new bicycle to sell.
I’m ok to take a financial hit to avoid hassle. So what’s the least stressful way to sell it?
They sell for 85-95k I’m ok with 60-70 to get rid.. not really thinking about learning mericari etiquette..
Filling out the extension of period of stay form for my spousal visa renewal, and I can’t figured out whether 19 (3) is asking for the total annual revenue of the company I work for, or just what they contribute to my annual income. I can see reasons for wanting either, so can anyone throw me a bone?
Tried to book tickets to FujiQ Highland, and the website is absolutely abyssmal. Had to create an account, give my details, verify account, download an app and still no sign on where to purchase the tickets! Anyway, question is: are tickets usually available at the gate?
When do the crowds from golden week wind down/dissipate? Trying to plan a weekend in Tokyo but want to wait until everyone is done extending vacation times etc
Are neurotypical and neurodivergent 2023 buzz words? I’m seeing these being used on social media a lot as of late.
How can a SOFA member report stuff stolen from her bag that she accidently left on a train? When it was turned in her passport and personal items were missing.
She tried going to the police in Yokohama where she got on the train line, but they were crude, rude, dismissed her, and asked her if she wanted her items back or if she “just wanted to get someone in trouble”.
Seems she has to file a police report in Tokyo where she switched trains, or Saitama where the bag was turned in.
What are the steps? She was told she needed a report to replace her passport from the embassy.
Is there any shop besides Blue Peter in Kyoto that does giant salamander tours?
Daft question but is Kake-yu before getting in the bath at the onsen not really that self-policed these days?
I was in an onsen in Arima the other day and out of 12 Japanese men, only 2 bothered to kake-yu before getting in. All of the other foreigners, being on best behaviour, made sure to. Found it funny.
Any recommendations for barbershops in Kyoto that have experience with beards trims and fades?
Is it actually legal for businesses to be cashless only? I don’t have a problem with them, but in most countries it’s not legal to not accept legal tender.
My wife and I are moving to Tokyo soon – we have a contract signed for apartment on the Hibiya line.
In Kansai, I just have PiTaPa which gives me a discount but pasmo seems to be best used with a credit card. Any recommendations for a good card to use with Pasmo?
Searching online gave a fair number of recommendations but I would appreciate the knowledge here. Also, if there’s anything to be careful with as well.
I can’t get the モバイルSuica app to do anything at all. I can’t press anything. Not even the “?” in the top right corner. Has anyone else had this happen and fixed it somehow?
Does not submitting a tenshutsu todoke affect you if you’re leaving Japan? I forgot to submit it before leaving my city, currently staying with some friends and not sure if I have to backtrack back to my previous city. Wondering about possible consequences with getting my pension refund and possible future visas…
Just moved in Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku on the first of May to start my research fellowship in Juntendo University. i was wondering what are the nice dinner spots and lunch spots in Yushima? Thanks 🙏🏽
Ps Im also considering buying a bike any suggestions?
Let’s say I have a commuter pass from station A to station F.
If I want to ride from station A to G do I have to get off at F, scan my normal card/buy a ticket and ride the train again? Or can I do everything at station G , like scan my 定期券 and use my suica for the remainder?
Does anyone know of schools(/school boards) direct hiring ALTs (preferably for August/September start)? anywhere in Japan is fine.
Alternatively, a company that hires “non natives” (people who have not received their education in English for 12 years) to be ALTs?
[I have looked at the requirements for the instructor visa (the one needed to work in a school) and it is easily obtainable through direct hire, but I do not know how working through an ALT company is viewed in terms of full/part time work.]
I fear I may have swallowed a fish bone from eating unagi too fast. As in I can feel it poking around in my lower right part of my mouth. It could be just the scratch from my research, but not sure. I’ve researched that it seems 耳鼻咽喉科 is what I want, but they all open seem to open on monday looking all over Tokyo on google, and I have a flight early on monday morning to Korea for a week.
It’s the most mild discomfort I’ve ever felt and causes no problems, but just concerned about going away without getting it looked at if it gets worse somehow. Does anyone have a Tokyo/Kawasaki reccomendation or with golden week and the weekend am I out of luck and if it gets worse, Seoul it is?
I’m not Nihongo Jyozu, so I guess SK or JP is going to be an equally fun Dr’s visit.
What are considered reasonable maintenance requests to a landlord from a tenant?
We’ve been in our house for seven years now — and, Japanese remodeling materials being what they are, there’s some very normal wear and tear that’d be nice if they addressed. The biggest one bothering me is the wood flooring; it needs a full wax stripping and re-waxing in the DK area and the stairs at minimum.
From what I’ve read online, the wax only has a lifespan of 3-5 years — so pretty reasonable for it to not be looking so hot seven years on. (It was not the fancy 10-15 year UV coating or whatever when we moved in. Just normal wax.) Given that re-waxing the DK will cost ￥150,000 minimum, shouldn’t the landlord pay for at least a portion of this? It’s maintenance on their property and waxing will help keep the floor looking good/prevent damage (at least in my opinion).
got stuck with a missing document for my residence card extension, so i was wondering is there like a minimum months left before my Yucho Bank account is invalidated or something?
I work for a small dispatch company that outsources teachers (not ALTs) for solo teaching positions at private junior and senior high schools. Most of the teachers are on fixed-term, yearly contracts with the dispatch company (not gyomu itaku/independent contractor). A number of the teachers have been dispatched to the same schools in the same positions for well over three years in violation of the three-year rule under the Worker Dispatching Act. This rule stipulates that a dispatch worker can not be dispatched to the same workplace in the same position for longer than three years, and must be transferred out of that position/workplace, or be offered a direct-hire contract with the client company.
My stupid question is how is it that both the dispatch company and the schools can openly violate this law? Are they just ignoring it hoping the teachers don’t try to exercise this right, or is there some obscure loophole they’re exploiting?
Where can I buy fennel???
My absolute most favorite of vegetables, after 12 months quite possibly the only thing about the miserable rainy islands off the coast of France I hail from is the ready availability of fennel in supermarkets year-round. Maybe samphire too, but not to the same extent.
Japan is a country with tremendously delicious veggies, and a ton of pork dishes – the perfect setup for this amazing bulbous herb. Yet I can’t seem to find it anywhere, except very occasionally on a restaurant menu.
So if anyone has ever seen it in a market in Tokyo or some random online farm shop please let me know – I would love to bring it back into my diet as we go into Summer.
How much of a normal life can a celebrity live in public here? Is any type of more respect here to leave celebs alone?
Japanese friend pointed out a 400k follower class Instagram celeb/ actor going around stores and in the busiest part of the city without a mask or anything to hide their identity, extremely obvious who they were. Got me wondering.
My flooring is white wood and I found a new nick in it. Is there any way to repair/hide this? If the flap comes off, there will be a black spot on the floor.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a good mattress? I would be fine with spending about 150000 Yen.