Archive for August, 2010
The Accessibility of Online Flight Tickets
Travelling is among the things that all of us would love to perform. For some reason all of us travel to visit the family who’re from far from all of us or just simply possess a great split from work as well as visit a few crucial locations. One of the modes associated with going is as simple as oxygen nevertheless just like any transport; you must have your tickets very first. If you’re planning for any journey on a tight budget, you can begin doing this through availing the actual cheapest online tickets.
Easily, with just a couple clicks on the mouse, you are able to update your self using the information of online flight tickets with regard to excellent sale and discount much more especially upon particular dates. The internet is actually filled up with info and by simply sitting on a comfy chair before your computer for a few minutes; you can get the actual details that you’ll require. Attempt to look at the actual differences of the prices particularly with regards to the time and day time each week. You will be able to see the pattern wherein previously plane tickets are a lot less expensive.
Attempt to see regardless of whether you are able to avail of vacation packages wherein check in will go along with hotel accommodations as well as property transportations. If you are a new comer to a place, it might be best that you’d avail crucial location deals not only because it will currently plan your actions for the day but it’s additionally less expensive as well as you get to follow your allowance with regard to journey. It’s very simple to publication with regard to online air tickets as well as inquire about different packages because the websites of the selected airline or your options already are obtainable on the web.
If you want to avail for less expensive seats also, you must publication your flight ahead of time or even from an earlier date. Usually, airlines would provide you with a low cost if you pay for the tickets months prior to your own journey. Aside from getting a good deal, you’re assured which you already have a reservation and you have no more concerns with regards to fully booked plane tickets especially throughout unique months. It might be a wise proceed to ready your tickets to prevent any kind of problems whenever planning a vacation.
If you want to obtain more discount rates, try to pay for the circular journey priced. Generally whenever you invest in your plane tickets within visiting the place and coming home, these people can get you a discount. It may currently help you save while travelling. Aside from a round journey ticket, you can also purchase in the same flight the tickets for your joining airline flight. Whenever your location is extremely much as well as you have to visit a specific country, in the event that these types of occurs attempt to get from the same airline organization.
Fundamental essentials suggested methods where you can avail inexpensive online air tickets. By just following these simple reserving tips on the web, you will be able to save lots of money in your travel programs as well as perhaps utilize it in order to have a blast on your destination.
Via online air tickets, you have the opportunity to book and have a reservation on the airline organization you want. Not only that, you can also get for great discounts. To be able to learn more about how to do it, simply click http://onlineticketshere.com/.
Top 10 Snowboarding Spots Near Tokyo
1st Nozawa Onsen
This is an incredibly picturesque mountain village, situated at the foot of the mountain with snow falling in winter. The community itself is undulating, at the foot of the mountain, and absolutely oozes character. There are 13 free onsen in the municipality where you swim when you can take your own towels and soaps dispersed. In addition, there is a large complex near the Onsen ski terrain and a few more in a short drive away.
2nd Myoko Kougen
Myoko is always accessible recently that they now have a shuttle service from Nagano Station to provide less than 5000 yen. It is a beautiful room is hidden and not visited, as some other areas because of the difficulty to get it. There are a lot of nice ski-boarding is being done in this area and the snow is usually very good. The slopes are best for beginners and advanced skiers / snowboarders suitable. The Onsen are very nice to Akakura Onsen overlooking the valley of snow were milled at a height of 780 meters.
3rd Shiga Kougen
Shiga Kougen is actually a chain to operate independently skifields which are all linked. This has been the scene of many events for the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. Because Shiga Kougen is a group of mountains that are bigger than most ski areas in the vicinity of Tokyo, it is often dry and powdery snow. Due to the large number of ski resorts there are a variety of options for the boarders and skiers. Because it is so high, there is no village fixed Shiga Kougen and most hotels and restaurants are usually hotels before the bubble burst in ‘89 built. It is an ideal place to explore the field and often reliable slopes when others are wet snow.
4th Hakuba
Hakuba is a valley in the hinterland of the Nagano Prefecture embedded. It is a very good selection of ski mountains, with a Happo Hakuba and 47 is the most popular. Tsugaike, Cortina and Iwatake be recommended to all very much. Other stations in the region are Sun Alpina Goryuu Tomi and picture taken. All these titles are funny in their own right and are well worth it. You must spend a minimum of one day of skiing at all. The snow is generally very good here and there are many restaurants in the area when you explore the area. There are also some good onsen.
5th Yuzawa
Gala Yuzawa station of its own high-speed and can be reached by train from Tokyo in just over an hour. He is also fast you drive, with just over two hours, making it one of the steepest popular (and crowded) places around. In any case, avoid this place on holidays. However, if you only have one day on the slopes, it is a good mountain offers a fantastic view on a clear day. There are many onsen and equipment for the whole family.
6th Naeba / Kagura
Naeba is Gala Yuzawa Yuzawa with and Iwappara and is probably the best known resort in Japan because of its proximity to Tokyo and a reputation for good powder. Naeba ski resort is enhanced by its connection to the station by the Kagura “Dragondola. Between the two stations, there are a variety of tracks and field experience. Only a small jump in Tokyo is one of the best places to go. Naeba respect can be very crowded.
7th Kusatsu
Kusatsu is a holiday resort in the mountains of Gunma embedded. The town itself is very pretty and has a geothermal source, the smoke on the floor in the middle of the city. Kusatsu is a popular family resort and has a market feel slightly up to it. There are many onsen, restaurants and souvenir shops to buy the local specialties. The ski area (Kusatsu Kokusai) itself is enjoyable for beginners and advanced. It can be a little crowded during the holiday season.
8th Ontake
Ontake is a mountain of good size with lots of lifts and ski in / ski-board. It offers a beautiful view on a clear day and a bit closer to Tokyo than in Hakuba. It is on the southwest side of Nagano Prefecture and is located near the Douro Chuo. There are not many, but there are onsen baths, far from Nice to soak in.
9th Karuizawa
Karuizawa is a wealthy seaside resort, that a fairly large Outlet Mall, has Onsen and skiing. The ski area is not very difficult, but is ideal for a family. There are many things for other people to do, if they are non-skiers in the group. Karuizawa is an ideal day trip from Tokyo that the ski area is close to the station.
10th Minakami
The area is north of Minakami in Gunma Prefecture in the Tanigawa mountain ranges. This region is famous for its onsen and there are many picturesque spots for a swim after a day of skiing in the snow. The region has 10 ski and snowboard, including; Houdaigi Minakami, Minakami Kougen, Minakami Kougen Fujiwara, Minakami Okutone, Norn Minakami, Ohana, Tanigawa Onsen White Valley Tanigawadake and Tenjindaira. Only 70 minutes by train from Tokyo oftern this site is overlooked by the masses and for Yuzawa Naeba. However, this range is superior and far less crowded if you add in the nice onsen. Houdaigi is strongly recommended, since the residents are very nice tracks left and right when you reach the summit of the mountain. The valleys are shaped big half-pipe and make this a hidden treasure (as its name implies). Do not expect to be the mountains, the size of Naeba / Yuzawa, but there are 10 fields to choose from.
Tokyo in June Or July
The weather in Tokyo in June or July
If you are visiting Tokyo in June or July, and I wonder what are in your case, I can help you with your packing list. June is known for the Japanese with the rainy season during July sees the start of the summer. So what’s the difference?
In June you can expect the gray skies and a fairly regular basis, believe it or not, rain. It’s not as if the rain in the UK – my home country. It is hot and humid rain leaving a heavy scent of moisture, even if to stop the rain drops.
My first wet season
I remember my first rainy season here – I have long only in Tokyo for about two months and was still let to adapt to a complete change in lifestyle, food and language – only weather. Thus, in the rainy season rolled. I had heard of it – has been warned about this yet – but I was not prepared. I woke up on the gray first and last days in the British fashion. It must be cold, it rains. Inside you have no idea of the outdoor temperature, the control of the air conditioning in the atmosphere. I pulled my warm clothes in the closet and got ready for work.
Time to go. I opened the door … Wham! It was like walking into the sauna when someone threw water on the embers. It was not so much heat – even if it was hot – but the wall of humidity that hit me. I immediately turned around and left the head and a light cotton skirt, made a quick change, and finally left to catch my train. I felt uncomfortable after about 10 minutes on foot and to understand why people fall all around me seemed to have a transmission. The rainy season is not the ideal time to run around.
What to Bring
So. If your visit to Tokyo in June, will be prepared with an umbrella and bring light clothes that do not cling to you when the humidity begins to peak. Do they have something a little warmer with you, as it is not constant – it can go from hot heat for 24 hours. Are you a Mosquito Magnet, and I want to keep them to bring something of yourself, as they begin to show their remorse at this time of year.
July is similar to June except for the rain stops and the sun comes out to play. It is hot and humid again, only less rain. The hottest month is August in Tokyo, with the temperature minus 40 degrees C the head, but July is still up there. Typical day is 30 or higher.
Bring suntan lotion, because it is not easy for some of the best known brands can be found here – and it is expensive. So pack your deodorant. Pharmacies have recently started selling a wider range of deodorant for men, but women have little choice. For some reason the Japanese deodorant is not working for me either – no matter how I place. Fortunately, my mother sends me regular packages, so I do not offend people.
Do not forget your sunnies, some form of the shadow of your head and your sense of humor. When the time for HoTs, the minds of people may Fray. Overall, however, you should have a good time – as long as you do not mind the heat.
Hanko Stamp with Fraud Protection
I always used to wonder how on earth traditional id stamps such as the chops used in China were not used by anyone other than its owner to sign. Barring keeping these chops in high security, there’s nothing to stop someone else just making a quick imprint to sign a document. However, this Hanko stamp design with anti-fraud mechanism goes some way to answering.
A two digit dial creates a series of marks around the printed name making it difficult to copy.
Granted, the code wouldn’t be too hard to crack, and I can’t understand how someone can easily spot a “forgery”, but the idea is a start.
Technorati Tags: chop, gadgets, hanko stamp, stamp
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Paper Ninja iPhone Game
Paper Ninja is a simple but nice looking iPhone game featuring ninjas you battle with the onscreen swipe movement.
More on the Real Inverse site, creators of the game
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Hello Kitty Online Launches
We’ll keep this short and sweet as we’re sure fans of Hello Kitty will be itching to click on through – Hello Kitty Online launches for the US and Europe…
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Darth Vader Does Tai Chi
We know the force is strong in this one and now we know why. Darth Vader does tai chi…
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Pizza Makes Korean Girls Dance
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Forever 21 Take Over HMV Shibuya – Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Forever 21 To Take Over HMV Japan’s Prime Site
The fast-fashion store is expected to open by January after renovating the location in the capital’s bustling Shibuya commercial and entertainment district. HMV Japan closed the Shibuya store last Sunday after its sales had been eroded by Internet music delivery in recent years.
Forever 21 will occupy the first-to-sixth floors of the well-situated building, giving it 4,000 sq. meters of floor space, far larger than the U.S. group’s existing four local outlets, including the roughly 3,000 sq. meter store in Tokyo’s posh Ginza district that opened in April.
Keihan Electric Railway Co. (9045) will sublet the space to Forever 21.
(The Nikkei Aug. 27 morning edition)
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Duck lips are the way to be kawaii?
Duck lips are called “Ahirukuchi” or “Ahiruguchi” in Japanese. (ahiru= duck, kuchi= mouth, guchi is to make kuchi pronounced easier when it’s combined with other words.) Making duck lips is considered kawaii in Japan now, especially among young Japanese girls. I didn’t know Ahiruguchi is even popular as “duck lips” outside Japan!! I don’t know [...]
The Tokyo MetPod for September 2nd, 2010
CONCERT CALENDAR
Recommendations from one of Tokyo’s busiest musicians, Mr. Kaleb James. This guy knows his music and he knows what’s goin’ on.
And, something special again...FREE HOT DOGS from Doggy’s Diner. Listen to hear how you can get yours.
PARTY REPORT. BYE BYE SAFARI x CLASSY BEACH HOUSE
soo cute!!
I know I said I hate the beach, and I’ve been to the beach 3 days in a row…..but what can I say..when I have a chance to DJ..I go! Today was Latin Day but I dj-ed what I usually do and it was so much fun once again. Good Bye Summer and Good Bye Safari x Classy Beach house!! See you next year!!!!!!!!!!
ほよよ〜
PARTY REPORT. IMAGE / SIGNO BBQ @ ZUSHI
soo cute….
イケメン
my favorite girls, ninon x beni
the sky was SOO beautiful!!
ほよよ〜
PARTY REPORT. GIRL’S DAY @ THE SAFARI x CLASSY BEACH HOUSE
BeamsのAONOさん
daisuke x kurumixxx
i heart canny (pink bull)
イケメンhehe
cdj comakiss
the guard dog.
he was so calm..
so this staff……gets a lot of FAN mail. hehe
ok..he kind of woke up..hehe
the sunsets..and im watching it alone……
mm..he’s soo over me!! boo
glaceau vitamin water drinkers..YES!
hehe
GIRLS DAY. SO MUCH FUN!!!!I was invited to DJ at the SAFARI x CLASSY Beach House yesterday. As you know, I’m not really a fan of the beach but I was interested to see what this beach house was like…and I must say..I LOVED IT!!!!!!!! I think I’ll be coming here to DJ every summer now. hehe Sponsors of this SAFARI x CLASSY beach house included, Ron Herman, Ugg, Dove, Lux, Opi etc.. 楽しかった！
ほよよ〜
Ippou, Ebisu (一歩)
CNN would have you believe Ippou is a ‘sushi and sake’ specialist, which is just not correct. Did I miss the ‘sushi’ section of the very normal izakaya menu? At least the ‘sake’ part is correct, with a big list and a lot of interesting items thrown in. Many more of them would have been unknown to me, had they not also featured on the menu the night before; these places seem to share the same sake sensibility (and pricing, which is much less justified for Ippou).
Let the record show that they were, unsurprisingly, out of the Juyondai jungin that featured on the menu, and boo on that. But yay for featuring one of my favorites, Amabuki, also in a jungin mode, and for leaving the bottle with me to finish since there was only half a glass left. Pouring yourself a glass out of an isshobin is always fun, especially when the other staff members, not privy to the deal, look at you like ‘errrrrrr?’
In keeping with the atmoshpere, the fish was a bit rough and ready (seriously. We can go back to the Shinbashi place any time you want.) The standout was the lightly-grilled…hmmm, I’ve forgotten if it was flying fish or scabbard fish. Probably the latter. Either way, the searing makes it taste more complex, and it was chewy in a good way.
Typically I’m not one to order boiled flounder (or fluke, whatever) – the skin is disturbing to me. This was pretty good, and you can’t go wrong with copious ginger.
Aaaaand, you know it’s becoming autumn because sanma is all over menus as of about 2 weeks ago. It seems extra good this year, or maybe I just forgot what it was like. That’s what seasonal eating is all about – when you don’t eat something for 9 months, it’s exciting to get back to it (I know, you can get sanma in the supermarket any day of the year, but restrain yourself, OK?). One tip – eat carefully. These guys aren’t gutted before cooking, and if you dig into the brown stuff through an inadvertent chopstick thrust, I think you’ll regret it. Otherwise, you should be happy.
Satsuma age is a specialty here too – described on the menu as ‘fluffy’, it lived up to that billing and more. Always nice to see a place describe something as their specialty and then find it to be worthy of the praise. Much like the fish – looking back, they did have a nice selection and decent cooking.
There you go. If I lived on the west side, and especially if I was lucky enough to live in Ebisu, I could see this becoming a regular stop. It’s the kind of place where patience would be rewarded with occasional brilliance.
Ichii, Shinbashi (いし井)
What’s happening in Shinbashi around quitting time? I mean this semi-rhetorically, because if you have to ask, you don’t know. But the big plaza with the steam engine outside the ‘Crow Forest’ entrance on the west side of the station is quite the scene in the early evening. Part of why it’s so startling is that it’s big, open and chaotic. In contrast to the ‘scramble’ intersections like Hachiko in Shibuya, people aren’t really walking in particular paths. In a sense, I’m also startled that it was so startling – am I too used to rules and order?
A short, confusing walk gets you to the small alleys in the southwest quadrant of the neighborhood, where real fortitude (or a recommendation from Et-chan) is required to pull open most of the doors, including Ishii’s. It’s not as intimidating as going up the stairs and picking the right tiny door that corresponds to the Fish Research Center sign though; Mr. Ishii has nice frontage and a quality sign, and that kinda lets you know it’s going to be a friendly place, even as it tips you off that it may not be cheap. In case you’re wondering, it’s the lit sign high up on the wall on the left side. Not the brighter one underneath.
Inside you’ll find some welcoming signs, like lots of wood, lots of bottles, a packed fridge, and a master eager to practice his English (so you could go here with no Japanese skill, but you’d be very reliant on him). You’d also find something I love to see in izakayas, a big screen TV. In this case, it was playing a loop of photos that the master had taken on visits to sake breweries. Changing every 2 seconds or so, the loop was probably 2 hours long, give or take – we saw it start to repeat, but it took a looooong time. This is a guy who loves his sake.
This is a guy who loves his sake. Did I already say that? There were a bunch of brands on here that I had never heard of, and I think any sake lover must love that.
While we started with these individual 120-ml glasses of different varieties, I quickly convinced Woodsworth that we should be drinking out of the 180ml ‘pitchers’, for which you get to choose your own little cup and then share the taste. The bottle pictured here was Asamayama sparkling nigori; after the elaborate opening ceremony featuring a needle to let out the excess pressure in a controlled way, we were pressured into drinking some. Just one glass though.
Since I complained about the pricing at Nekoya earlier this month, I should mention that the prices on this sake and food are in line with the pricing there. But the food is a bit more elaborate, there’s a greatly-reduced reliance on cats as a decorative motif, and the master is a good deal less cute. On balance, the comparison is balanced. Why not try both places and see for yourself? Why not invite me? Actually don’t. I’ve had enough sake for this month.
Food-wise, the highlights were really the fish and the smoked items. Here’s the fish, which deserves its own picture due to the elaborate serving platters (seemingly hewn from living rock.) Do be careful -these are not cheap either, but they sure were good.
And finally we have the obligatory ‘everything else we ate’ shot (time goes quick, so this is over 4 hours). Clockwise: dried, toasted skate wing; very good satsuma-age, not sure what was in it but it was steps above the usual; smoked egg, terrific! as long as you like smoked and egg; boiled fish, a disappointment because it was done in a sort of dry style and was less sweet, fatty and falling-apart than I like my nitsuke; smoked scallop, kinda beastly looking and too dried out from smoking (but cf earlier comment about smoke); yuba sashimi; salmon toba, very fatty and very grilled, quite crisp.
Or the bill might hurt your feelings.
03-3593-0141
Taverna Gustavino, Yaesu
The surface scratching for today was supposed to be this little bistro that I walked past last week, down in Kyobashi (on one of those “go somewhere that the map doesn’t yet include” days). Well, contrary to the business card, they’re closed. More cruising around ensued, during which time I got fixated on pasta, and Gustavino happened. Just a pleasant little Italian place on the south side of Yaesu – and it happens to have good scores on Tabelog, which I think showed in the cooking.
Things were surprisingly busy inside, considering it was already after 1, with a lot of people rotating through the counter. With all the offices in the area, they must get busy at night. That ham-clamp on the counter is a bit too new and unused-looking. They’ve gotta get a pig leg in and get the grease flowing.
Lunch menus are limited to 3 pastas and one soup (minestrone, actually, which reminds me of this time I was at l’Unico in Balmain (part of Sydney’s tough inner-west) and saw an old Australian guy trying to get a young Chinese girl to go to bed with him on vague promises that he’d help her get a visa. He was sitting way too close to her, on the same side of a 4-person table. That was creepy in itself, but he was also ordering for her. For some reason I’ve never forgotten how he disregarded the menu and asked the waiter “Do you have a minestrone soup?” Maybe the creepiness and redundancy fixed it in my mind. And in case you’re wondering, I only said that Balmain is ‘part of Sydney’s tough inner-west’ because I was thinking of a capsule biography I read one time in a travel article where the writer mentioned that the subject had grown up in the ‘tough housing projects on Tokyo’s east side’. A good example of the power of cliche to bite one in the ass; the toughest thing about those ‘projects’ is that they’re a little far from the station.). By the way, small salad. And mediocre house-made bread. On a board.
I ordered the octopus ragu just to show the skeptical waiter that I could read the menu. No, I lie, I wanted to eat octopus in cream sauce. This was very tasty, although I think I might just have been in the mood for cream sauce on penne without realizing it. You can see that the octopus is largely ‘butsu’, i.e., ‘funny bits’ like diced-up suckers. This gives it texture, but I think also lets them save the meatier part for dinner. Spinach completes the scene.
‘life in the city, life of people’
Rei Shito, a Tokyo street fashion photographer, blogs here:
Love it!
A bunch of her photos filled the fashion pages of last Sunday’s English print edition of the Asahi Shimbun — shots of local ladies sporting socks with sandals and high-heeled shoes, a curious (if not entirely new) style choice given the oppressive humidity this time of year. Apparently it’s a growing trend, in Japan and elsewhere…
More photos, and the accompanying article, can be found here.
The neck stretcher: Tokyo’s latest must-have accessory
Worried that your neck is too short? Have no fear, the neck stretcher is here:
Try using it for a few weeks. The results are astounding:
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Farm Party #3 this Sunday Sept 5th!
Tokyo Gig Guide’s next Farm Party gig will be this Sunday, September 5th. It will be loads of fun so we hope to see you there! It only costs 1000円 (plus 500円 drink order) to see three great Tokyo bands and a bunch of ace DJs.
Tokyo Gig Guide presents FARM PARTY #3
Live:
1000s of cats
Guitar & drums 2 piece not afraid of blending cuteness with noise. They appeared on the Tokyo Gig Guide blog list of amusing band names.
ABIKYOKAN (with special guest Sawako on vocals)
International avant-pop new wave band with members hailing from 4 continents. Abikyokan will play as a 5-piece with me on bass and Sawako on vocals.
PSOCASE
Fun sax and electronics duo who appeared at the very first Farm Party.
VJ: craig eee
Old films and craziness cut-up and projected throughout the gig.
DJs: Mu-tan, Goatherd, Antonio Yodobashi, Grant McGaheran, Jake Arntson, craig eee
Super-eclectic international DJ team playing all kinds of danceable stuff form all kinds of places.
Kicks off at 18:30.
Schedule:
18:30 DJ soundclash – Jake & craig eee
19:00 DJ Grant McGaheran
19:30 LIVE: PSOCASE
20:00 DJ Antonio Yodobashi
20:30 LIVE: ABIKYOKAN
21:00 DJ Mu-tan
21:30 LIVE: 1000s Of Cats
22:00 DJ Goatherd
22:30 DJ craig eee
On Tokyo Gig Guide: http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/3301
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142454559120344
New U.S. Sanctions Aim at North Korean Elite
The administration is trying to choke off the flow of luxury goods for cronies of Kim Jong-il.
Petraeus Finishes Rules for Afghan Security Transition
New guidelines for turning some security duties over to Afghan forces call for allied troops to step back from areas that are calmed.
India Passes Nuclear Deal
Some analysts said that compromises needed to push the bill through Parliament undermined its intent to transform relations with the United States.
China Asks C.E.O.’s to Work for State
China ran a huge help-wanted advertisement seeking managers for some of its biggest state companies.
World Briefing | Asia: India: 9 Suspected of Being Pakistani Militants Are Killed
Indian troops killed nine men suspected of being Pakistani militants trying to sneak in to Indian-controlled Kashmir late Sunday night.
Japan Plans New Steps to Curb Yen
Analysts said that the new stimulus steps announced by the prime minister and the further easing of monetary policy were too timid.
Names of the Dead
The Department of Defense has identified 1,236 American service members who have died as a part of the Afghan war and related operations.
China Fortifies State Businesses to Fuel Growth
While China owes its rapid growth to private business, it is often the state’s companies that are on the march, in part because of state-bank financing and stimulus spending.