The Combini

In a country where the lifestyle is dependent on a lot of travel by foot, the Since the weekly shopping trip that we probably are used to in Western countries with big supermarkets and family cars is not a part of the Japanese lifestyle, instead, most people grab some items on the way home almost every day. For housewives and people with more free time this is usually done at the supermarket and fruit markets and so on, however for people with busy schedules, the convenience store is always accessible. They are called “conbini” by Japanese people. Usually there will be a few on the way home, or on the way to work, selling all basic goods. They are pretty well stocked and apart from a range of snacks, sell packed lunches and dinners in a variety of lunchboxes, as well as onigiri (riceballs), alcohols such as beer and chu-hi, and a range of diet and energy goods, toiletries including items like contact lens formula, some fruits and vegetables, magazines, and also . Tickets to events and so on can also be purchased through a machine that convenience stores keep, and all household bills can also be paid there. There is also a letterbox so that letters and parcels can be posted, and the necessary stamps and envelopes are also sold. Some plentiful ones are 7 Eleven, Sankus, Family Mart, Lawson.

Riding a Bicycle

A familiar form of transport in many places around the world, commuting by bicycle every day might however be new to many people from Western cities where the populace more or less relies on the car. It is very useful to have a bicycle if you are lucky enough to live within cycling distance to work, or if you are not, it is also normal to live a little further from the nearest station, where home prices are cheaper, but to use the bicycle to get to and from the station every day. The ”safety precautions” such as helmets and reflective gear, which are recommended in places where cycling is less familiar, are virtually unseen in Japan. In my opinion, this is a good thing, as it makes the preparations for a cycling trip less cumbersome, and it is easy to hop on and off unrestricted to buy goods at a few little stores on the way home. In addition, because of the narrow streets shared by cars, cyclists and pedestrians, it seems tome that a helmet would even work to obscure the view and prevent one from swivelling their head back as they ride, which is important tin keeping track of surroundings. Cars may ride very close, although usually at a slow speed, which can be unnerving at first.

Doing a longer cycling trip around some parts of Japan might also be a good way to see the country in spring or summer. The high density population of Japan and the relative personal safety accommodate cycling. You will be able to find ryokans and guesthouses along the way, and many towns and places of interest famous for their natural beauty or historical significance. A little planning can result in a wonderfully memorable few days or longer seeing Japan by cycling.

100 Yen Stores

The reputation that Japan has for being unaffordably expensive is not really accurate, although you might get an impression that it is a very expensive place if you wander around the department stores which are multi-level beautifully laid out and carry every kind of item from household goods to stationery to clothes. However, unless you want brand names which, this is not the right place to shop, cheaper alternatives can easily be found. The best place to buy everyday items Is at a cheap local supermarket (supermarkets also have a large range in pricing, with the ones attached to department stores carrying mainly high quality and gourmet and imported goods. If you walk a little further, down the street or closer to where you are staying, you will probably find a no-frills version. Some popular ones are Fuji, Tsurukame. The hundred yen stores which are dotted around well populated areas are very useful for getting anything from slippers for floors of your new guesthouse, to stickers to reward the kids in your English class, new undershirts or an apron to wear while trying out the cooking of some tempura, the as well as all the saucepans, a large range of plates, bowls, cups and utensils of reasonable quality, knives and tongs and saucepans, washing up liquid, cushions, even games, hair accessories and indoor plants. They almost all belong to a range of popular chains, for example 100 yen Daiso, CanDO, Shop 99, Tokutokuya, 100-yenomn. For a person who hasn’t got any solid plan to stay forever tin Japan, these simple durable goods are probably perfect, and although not everything is actually 100 yen, they are still the best buys you can get.

Train Travel

Always make sure you have a map of the train system in your pocket. The extensive JR network covers much of Tokyo, as well as other are Osaka, Kyoto, and other areas of Japan, however, there are also many other railway companies that run their own lines. In Tokyo some of the ones you might run into are the Yokohama municipal subway (Yokohama Shiei chikatetsu), the Tokyu (Tokyu Toyoko) the Keikyu (Keihin Kyuko), the Tokyo subway lines, the Den-en-toshi line, the Sobu line. Each company will carry its own map, however, an comprehensive map showing all of the lines together will be invaluable and can be purchased at bookstores. They are also available in English.

The major train stations in big cities are now quadrilingual, with station names and general directions in Japanese, English, Korean and Chinese languages, while most of the smaller stations are in Japanese and English. This is a shame in a way for people wanting to improve their kanji skills, as stations are an everyday thing you see, follow a repetitive route giving you time to memorize the names of your favourite and neighbouring areas, and they contain some common kanji. Another good thing about them is that names of areas are often descriptive, for example the touristy “Sakuragicho” in Yokohama means Sakura Tree Town, “Hokkaido” contains the characters for North Sea Road, etc. So it might be worth ignoring the English in order to improve your ability to reading Japanese.

Pets in Japan

Japanese apartments often don't allow pets, and the crowded and small spaces make Japan generally ill-suited for pets. However, that doesn't stop their popularity, particulary that of small, inbred, yappy dogs which fit into a carry-around bag. Many of these small dogs are of no discernible breed as they are simply bred to be the smallest possible and no longer look like dogs at all. Personally, I dislike dogs generally and am quite happy with this situation. It means that we are never in danger from any large, smelly, ill-tempered mutts as we walk past people's houses or into open spaces. You will see all kinds of lucrative industries centred around these spoiled little lapdogs. These include shops specialising in dog treats such as dog birthday cakes, "dog cafes" where humans and dogs can eat together, dishes for dogs such as meatloaf costing as much as human dishes at around 2000 yen, and an endless supply of designer outfits of a higher price and quality and smaller size than a lot of baby wear is.

Harajuku style

If you came to see original and wacky "Harajuku" style dressing of Japan's youth, you will be sadly disappointed. They are few and far between, and definately hard to find out of the Tokyo area. In Harajuku itself, it is also not so prevalent. But there is one big concentration of them on the walkway bridge between Harajuku Station and the entrance nearby to Yoyogi Park. These attention-loving dress eccentrics have constumes ranging from the popular "Gothic Lolita" style to weird punk adaptations to original styles involving cartoon characters attached to their clothing and peircings on their body. However, they are there specifically to pose for tourists and have their picture taken. But don't worry, it's free!

If you are interested in purchasing and wearing this style for yourself, there are also many Gothic Lolita stores and shops selling original styles in Harajuku.