About
Konnichiwa.
I was living in Toronto, Canada, but have moved and am currently working in Tokyo, Japan on a 2 year international assignment with my company.
My interests include globalization, diversity and Web 2.0 – which I believe are all connected or interlinked. In this blog, I’ll probably talk about these topics, but mostly will write about my excellent adventures in Japan.
Finally, I am using this public blog, along with the very popular social networking tool Facebook, to stay in touch with family, friends and colleagues back home in Toronto, while on far away on assignment here in Tokyo – it’s my little Web 2.0 and social networking experiment.
July 3, 2010 update: My assignment to Japan has finished so I am back living in Canada. I am continuing to post about Japan as I took a lot of pictures so please do continue to follow me – I appreciate your comments.
Hi,
Pleasure to meet you.
Enjoy your Japanese experience !!
I’ve RSSed you
Dvir.
Looks great!
Konnichiwa,
Very rich and interesting contents in your blog. It’s good to see you carry your BlogCentral to the public WordPress. Now not only people in Big Blue can enjoy your blog, but also the public Internet folks. I’m sure lots of people will be interested and benefited from your adventure experience in Japan. Well, at least I’m one of them. I really do find your blog very helpful. Thanks.
Hi There! Dkerr sent me here to visit your blog. Looks like you’re having a fabulous time – the blog is wonderful! Keep it up and I’ll pop in for a visit now and then!
Take care.
Nice new header picture!
I agree. It’s an excellent photo of the 桜 (Sakura) with the nighttime illumination.
Thanks my friends, you are too kind. I just changed my blog header (again) and hope you like that one too!
I’m working this days on a website that should help foreigners find their way in Japan (trains + walking directions – a bit like hyperdia but with more features).
I am looking for people who like to travel around and can send me some feedback and suggestions
If you’re interested, please send me a mail !
matane
Hi,
We have spotted your blog and find it very appealing.
We would like to offer you to pay you in exchange for publishing html links to Japanese commercial websites (no pornography).
I work for a Tokyo-based company called Jokey Gene. We do SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
I can send you links to our website and partner sites so you can see what the links look like.
Could you email me if you might be interested in this kind of offer? If you are, I will send you more details about it.
Best regards,
Tram Le
Konnichiwa to you, too. Nice blog. Looking forward to seeing more. I’ve been living in Japan for more than 4 years, and I’m a fellow Canadian. I hope you’re really enjoying life in Japan. I sure am!
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. We’ve only been here for less than 2 years, but are certainly enjoying life in Japan as you are!
I’m glad you’re enjoying it
Life in Japan is definitely much more interesting and exciting than my hometown, Edmonton. Winter is better, too. Do you like the hot weather here?
No, the hot weather is definitely not enjoyable at all. I do like the very mild Tokyo winters compared to Toronto (or Edmonton).
I actually don’t mind the hot weather. How about the earthquakes, like tonight?
Nope, don’t like earthquakes either … we were quite scared with the one that happened tonight!
See http://bartman905.wordpress.com/2009/08/09/earthquake-in-japan/
Hello,
This is Armine Hareyan writing from http://www.huliq.com. I visited your blog and liked your content.
Would you be interested to send us a guest post on any of the issues related to the topics that you cover in your blog. We will publish it in our site http://www.huliq.com
In return with each guest blog we will give one link in the author’s biline back to your blog. We only ask that the guest post ( we prefer it be a news coverage, sources can be Google News, CNN, MSNBC, Yahoo News, BBC and others) be a unique story and not be published in your blog.
Please let me know if you may have any questions about http://www.huliq.com.
If you want to consult the topic with me first that’s perfectly fine as well.
Many thanks
Best regards
Armine Hareyan
http://www.huliq.com
Konnichiwa ,
First of all , thanks for the great blog !
I ll be in Tokyo next week , between 15th Sept and 29 September, I am wondering if there is any nice events like you mentioned in your blog between these dates ( as I know there is Hachimangu Festival near Kamakura , unfortunately too far to Tokyo ) near Tokyo.
Thanks again
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog.
Kamakura is actually not that far from Tokyo (about 1 hour train ride) and quite accessible so I would recommend that festival (and of course, a visit to the Great Buddha in the area).
There are several festivals during your stay – for example, the Fukuro Matsuri in Ikebukuro. For a complete listing of all the September festivals in and around Tokyo, see http://www.japantimes.co.jp/entertainment/festivals.html.
Also, you can go to:
- Tokyo Game Show http://expo.nikkeibp.co.jp/tgs/2009/en/
- Yokohama 150th Celebration (not really a festival) http://event.yokohama150.org/en/
Have a great trip to Tokyo and I’ll know you enjoy it.
Thanks a lot , I have checked and added all those festivals to my visit plan.
Hi there, I like your blog. Very interesting subjects, also good quality pictures! Thanks for sharing all these. Hope to seeing your postings regularly. Cheers.
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comments, please come back often.
Ohh I so want to visit Japan or live there >_<
Thanks for visiting my blog and more importantly, leaving a comment – much appreciated. I do hope you get a chance in the near future to visit or live in this interesting and wonderful country.
What a lovely blog and great photos. Found your blog because my 12 year old son is keen to go to Japan (we live in Sydney) and I was looking at the Anime Festival as a possible event to link a trip to. Any thoughts on experiences that you have had in (or close to) Tokyo that would be fun for a family ?
Our kids have pretty low tolerance for temples etc. Get into contemporary art if its interactive.
PS hope you don’t mind being consulted as travel adviser !
Thank you visiting my blog and your very nice comments. I have a few suggestions:
- Tokyo Disney http://bartman905.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/tokyo-disney/
- Odaiba http://bartman905.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/odaiba/. The Tokyo Anime Fair is usually held in Tokyo Big Sight which is in Odaiba
- Akihabara http://bartman905.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/akihabara/, Tokyo’s electronic capital, you can also visit the Tokyo Anime Center in the UDX building (though the center is small)
- Tokyo Dome City http://bartman905.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/tokyo-dome/, there is an amusement park, shopping, eating or you could watch a baseball game
- Hakone http://bartman905.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/weekend-in-hakone/, views of Mount Fuji, hot springs
- Sumo http://bartman905.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/2009-may-grand-sumo-tournament/, only 6 times per year so the timing is the key
Finally, if the timing is right, the best time to visit Japan is in the spring during Cherry Blossom season (actually, this is around the time of the Tokyo Anime Fair at the middle or end of March).
Have a great trip to Japan.
PS. Of course, one of my favorites is to attend one of the many festivals if you get a chance.
Thanks ! Some great ideas here and have even convinced my partner to come along. We’re hoping that gigantic Gundam is still in place.
I am now trying to figure out the whole maid cafe thing. Would you take your kids ?
You are most welcome – I hope this information will be useful to you to plan your trip. Good luck.
The gigantic Gundam is not there any longer, but I read that it will return in the summer. The Gigantor at Kobe is permanent though if you are in the Kansai area.
I have not been to a maid cafe before but from what I know about it, I would not recommend taking the kids there. You can read about maid cafes reviews at http://maidrunner.blogspot.com/.
Hi – Bernie Michalik referred me to your blog, which I am enjoying. I am blogging myself and wonder what template you are using? I like it much better than mine and may adopt it. Please let me know and keep up the interesting work! Thanks John Hamilton
John, thanks for visiting my blog – I’ll have to pay Bernie a referral fee
Anyway, the theme (or template as you call it) is called Mistylook by Sadish. I think you are using a theme called Cutline. You can usually find the name of themes in WordPress blogs at the bottom.
Hi, I just bumped into your blog as I was looking for some information about Hinamatsuri. It’s very surprising that you have been experiencing a lot of Japanese culture.
I have not seen most of things you have seen, even though I grew up in Japan.
I was soooo impressed!! Honestly, how can you find those intresting places and events??
Also I love your photos, they are great. Not only are they good angles, but also you have a taste.
Where is the next spot you would like to go? or even visit again?
Thanks for visiting my blog and leave such a nice comments, much appreciated!
We still have lots of place to visit in Japan, but I think our next trip outside Tokyo will be to Hiroshima. Also, I do want to visit Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Himeji Castle – so much to do and see, so little time
Do you still live in Japan? If not, do you visit Japan often?
Hi, thank you for your reply.
I live in Minato-ku:)
Yeah, my friend also told me that Hiroshima was a good place to visit.
Now I’d like to go to Nokogiri-yama located in south Chiba. Have you been there?
Anyway, keep updating:)
I visit here very often. Love it!
I have not yet visited Nokogiriyama but it looks quite interesting so I’ll have to put it on my list of places to visit.
Yes, I will certainly continue to update my blog, thank you for continuing to visit.
Hello,I just found ur Blog and really interesting for me,cuz I’m japanese and living in Toronto,Canada.I just have moved So,This blog will be my favorite*
Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting – glad you like my blog, please come back often.
When did you move to Toronto? Which part of Toronto are you staying? Do you like living in Toronto and Canada?
Hi Bartman0905
Just like Lisamum, I came across your blog while doing a search online about Tokyo. I’ll be in Tokyo for 1mth during the Cherry Blossom season and will be staying in ropponggi area with my 2 munchkins (3 and 1YO). Can you advise how I can maximise my time there and get the most out of Japan. I’m most appreciative if you have information on Supermarket, Eateries, Playgrounds/ Parks.
Many thanks in advance for your advise.
Cheers
m.mum
Many places to visit in Tokyo and outside Tokyo, some of the most popular in Tokyo are:
Meiji Shrine/Harajuku, Odaiba (there is an amusement park so kid friendly), Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tsukiji fish market, Akihabara (Electric Town), Tokyo Disney, Tokyo Edo Museum, watch Sumo wrestling, watch baseball game at Tokyo Dome (Tokyo Dome City is also a good place to visit with kids as it has an amusement park and shopping center)
Outside Tokyo (can be a day trip): Kamakura, Nikko, Mount Takao, Hakone, Saitama, Kawagoe.
Even further (may be overnight or longer): Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo, etc. You many want to think about buying a JR Rail pass before coming to Japan if you intend to travel outside Tokyo. In Tokyo, you can use the subway and train system (taxis are available, but are expensive). Use http://www.hyperdia.com/ for subway and train routes.
There are many supermarkets in the Roppongi, but two which are foreigner friendly are: Food Magazine and Preece (inside the Tokyo Midtown shopping center)
There are many parks in the Tokyo area, where you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing (so they may be crowded):
Ueno Park
Yoyogi Park (near Harajuku and Meiji Jingu Shrine)
Shinjuku Koen
Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens (near Tokyo Dome)
For food, there are too many restaurants and eateries in Japan to list, and it will depend on your taste and budget. In Roppongi, there are several Western restaurants like TGIF, Hard Rock Cafe and Tony Romas.
Have a great time in Japan and enjoy cherry blossoms as it is very special here (see http://bartman905.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/sakura-2009/ for our experience last year).
There’s a Tony Roma’s in Roppongi? I’m not a fan of Roppongi, but I’d go there to have some Tony Roma’s. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten at that restaurant.
The Tony Roma’s is right beside the Hard Rock Cafe (not sure if you know where the Hard Rock Cafe is?).
No idea. I’ve only been to Roppongi once.
Hi Bartman0905
Many thanks for your generous info. Will take note of these places you recommended and plan my way there.
Cheers
m.mum
Nice. I was actually over there just last week, as it’s not so far from my home base.
So many dogs there on the weekend.
Rick Martin (who is now more famous than the Latino singer Ricky Martin),
Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting.
From your blog, you are a fellow Canadian living in Tokyo – how long have you been here and how long are you planning to stay?
Anyway, I have added you to my RSS reader so I will follow your blog from now on.
Hello.
You have great experiences in Japan. I enjoy reading your blog very much.
Recently i link to your blog from my own blog, i hope you’re not mind.
Thank you for the nice comments – yes, of course, please go ahead and add a link to your blog.
I was curious where you were after your Okonomi post. I see you have returned to passport country. Any reverse culture shock?
BTW, thanks for keeping up with me on my blog. Your photos are beautiful. If you are doing that with an iPhone you need to offer a course.
Yes, I have been back to “my passport country” (which is Canada) for almost 1 1/2 years now. No, not really reserve culture shock. Although we terribly miss the different and wonderful life in Tokyo, which has become our second home so we plan to visit back as often as we can.
Thanks for the nice comments. I don’t have an iPhone so I can’t help you there. Most of the pictures in my blog have been taken using a Canon entry level DSLR (Rebel, or known as Kiss in Japan) which I bought in Japan. Some pictures were taken using an old Panasonic point-and-shoot.
So lovely to “meet” you! So enjoying your blog as it brings back happy memories for me — I also lived and worked in Japan for a few years, am originally from T.O., then Mississauga, then moved back from Japan with my hubby to Chicago and now we’re back in Mississauga…but oh so homesick for our life in the East! Loved looking through your posts, and looking forward to more
anne
Thank you for visiting my blog, commenting and all the “likes” – much appreciated.
We have been back to Toronto for almost two years now and miss our “second home” in Tokyo and Japan. Although there are so many other places to see around the world, we hope to visit Japan as often as we can (we were actually there last Christmas).