Aug 2007

Well here's my first entry. I figured I should contribute something to this awesome piece of wonderful blogness. There are now 63 days to go.

Here are a few peculiar and amazing things I have stumbled upon that will certainly leave us feeling like we're in another world. These are some of the things we can hope to expect in Japan.

Vending Machines
The Japanese have vending machines for everything. Even the used panties of schoolgirls (Josh).

In Japan, with a high population density, limited space, a preference for shopping on foot or by bicycle, and low rates of vandalism and petty crime, there seems to be no limit to what is sold by vending machines. While the majority of machines in Japan are stocked with drinks, snacks, and cigarettes, one occasionally finds vending machines selling items such as bottles of liquor, cans of beer, fried food, underwear, pornography and sexual lubricants, and potted plants. Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita, with about one machine for every 23 people.

Cosplay
Cosplay is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games, and, less commonly, Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, or Japanese pop music bands. However, in some circles, "cosplay" has been expanded to mean simply wearing a costume.

In Japan, "cosplay" as a hobby is usually an end unto itself. Like-minded people gather to see others' costumes, show off their own elaborate handmade creations, take lots of pictures, and possibly participate in best costume contests.

The Harajuku district in Tokyo seems to be the most popular location for cosplayers in Japan. Below is a good example of a cosplayer. Here we have Vincent Valentine from the video game Final Fantasy 7.

Toilets
There are many toilets in Japan that have computers built into them. A button for a squirt of water up your bum (no homo), a button to heat the seat, a button which starts gurgling, swooshing, nature noises to disguise the sound of your urine hitting the basin.

Capsule Hotels
A capsule hotel is a hotel system of extremely dense occupancy. Guest space is reduced in size to a modular plastic or fibreglass block roughly 2 m by 1 m by 1.25 m, providing room to sleep and little more, although facilities usually include a television and other electronic entertainment. These capsules are then grouped and stacked, two units high. Luggage is usually stored in a locker away from the capsule. Privacy is maintained by a curtain at the open end of the capsule but noise pollution can be high.

wow strong cosy

Love Hotels
Love hotels usually offer a room rate for a "rest", as well as for an overnight stay. The period of a "rest" varies, typically ranging from one to three hours. Cheaper daytime off-peak rates are common. In general, reservations are not possible, leaving the hotel will forfeit access to the room, and overnight stay rates only become available after 10pm. They are often used by young couples, since many young Japanese people live with their parents. They are also commonly used for prostitution (Josh).

The Metro Train
All I can say is...

Groping is also common on trains. I'm looking at you Josh.

Karaoke
Karaoke is a usual form of entertainment of the business people in Japan. After a hard day's work which is can sometimes be unusually long, they would drop into a bar; have a drink and enjoying humming to popular tunes with the help of a karaoke machine. Karaoke was invented approximately 20 years ago and has gradually been a part of the Japanese society. It is not just a temporary boom but a regular form of entertainment both within and outside Japan.

If I'm feeling up to it (AKA drunk) I might bust out a Rick Astley song or Chocolate Rain by Tay Zonday.

Oxygen Bars
The oxygen bar is a trend that started in the late 1990s in Japan. O2 bars can now be found in many venues such as nightclubs, salons, spas, healthclubs, resorts, tanning salons, restaurants, coffee houses, bars, airports, ski chalets, yoga studios, chiropractors, and casinos.

"Airheads" will normally pay 100Y per minute to inhale an increased percentage of oxygen compared to the normal atmospheric content of 21% oxygen. This oxygen is produced from the ambient air by an industrial (non-medical) oxygen concentrator and "inhaled" through a nasal cannula (AKA nose hose) for a period of 5 to 10 hours - or even longer.

Well we are exactly 67 Days and a bunch of hours (too lazy to work that much out) until we fly out of Sydney International destined for Osaka!! With airfares book, accommodation reserved things are going pretty smooth and now we start looking at a must-do! things to achieve during our time in the land of the rising sun. Here's a small list so far!

• Chill in a hotspring (onsen) in Nagano with the snow monkeys!
  
• See the ninja museum and shows in Iga Ueno
  
• Get a rundown on some edo period samurai history.
  
• Visit the peace park in Hiroshima
  
• Check out the wooden gate in mayajama and chill with the deer on the island.
  
• Do some shopping in Ginza, Shibuya & Akihabara
  
• Have a coffee at the starbucks overwatching Shibuya crossing (as you can see on the background)
  
• Walk the street markets of Osaka & Akasusa.
  
• A day of eating the best japan has to offer in Osaka (right before we fly home ^_^)
  
• Ride the metro train and visit Shinjuku station during peak time.
  
• Visit the imperial palace and its surrounding gardens
  
• Check out the Harajuku girls and some cosplay.
  
• Visit Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea
  
• Spend a night in the Gold-Gai bar district (Shinjuku) and Kabukicho's karoake bars
  
• Visit Mt Fuji.. jeah!
  
• Bail Josh out of a Japanese jail.
  
• Visit Japans largest castle in Himeji
  
• Scope out of the shrines and temples Kyoto has on offer
  

and this will only continue to grow the closer we get to October 21!

The three stages of travel:

1. Planning!
2. Planning!!
3. Planning on arrival about what to do first!!!

To my utter horror and dismay I found out that there will be no semi naked large folk trying to grapple with each other while we are in Japan. Now I am not sure if there is an 'underground' sumo league but I assume that there would be in some form or another so my current mission is to find it!

Apart from that nothing much is developing, we are deciding on what rail passes to buy and are leaning towards the cheaper economy seats for the 'mingle' and 'cheap' factors.

I have been keeping an eye on the seismic activity around Japan in the ope of getting some early warning signs about a terrible catastrophe, you can find the site that I have been using HERE. I have heard that in the event of an earth quake to STOP, DROP and ROLL is the best practice to ensure your safety, I will make sure we are all drilled beforehand on proper earthquake procedures so rest assured that what ever happens at least one of us will survive.

On to some local Japanese info:

Current conditions as of 4:00 pm JST
Partly Cloudy
Feels Like: 34°
Humidity: 66%
Visibility: 9.99 km
Dewpoint: 23°
Wind: S 35 kph
Sunrise: 4:54 am
Sunset: 6:39 pm