Extremely Cheap - Japanese Bento

From what used to be over 700 Yen

to as low as 298 Yen!!

A slowdown in economy has taken effect on department store. "People spend less", "there are very few shoppers", "fewer people go to department store" ... these slumber conditions force department stores to take a new strategy to draw customers attention by introducing extremely cheap bento. In the case of department stores, these bento are like lost leader, made not to make profit but mainly to attract customers to come.

A staff in charge at the department store said on an interview that "the more we make these bento, the less profit we make ... we can actually lose mony... but we have to do it as a strategy to bring customers back".

Following the same strategy are convenient stores and chain stores, like Seiyu (which is now owned and run by Walmart), where they introduce good quality bento at a very cheap price.

In the past I used to tell friends that food in Japan is expensive, well.... that may not be the case now, if you buy these bento. They are indeed extremely cheap for such a quantity and quality - consider they are made and sold in Japan!

Watch a video below (in Japanese) about how department stores in Japan fight the battle of surviving through bargaining bento boxes :

http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00158685.html

Come To Tokyo July 22, 2009, For Partial Eclipse

Photos are copied from NAOJ.
Other related website, for those interested in astronomy and its technological development:

http://subarutelescope.org/

Click above Title for info about Total Eclipse or click

http://www.nao.ac.jp/E/Outreach/TotalEclipse2009/index.html

My Favorite Cycling Track

I usually begin cycling from Nishi Tokyo, just near where i live, and follow a (two way return) of 35 Km cycling track. Along the way you can see a hill, some colorful vegetable farms, nice cafeterias (for lunch/tea time, i recommend "Cafe Kaze No Symphony"), many parks and a large artificial lake with various natural habitats. By the lake is Seibu Dome, where you can watch baseball match of Lions, a major Japanese baseball team owned by Seibu Group.

This cycling track is great for those beginners, especially women, because there are many shades along the way and you can find parks, trees and bench where you can rest for water or snacks.

To visit Cafe online:

http://www.geocities.jp/cafekazenosymphony/

Come To Odaiba To See Gundam

First, some of you may ask, what is Gundam. Here it is check it out, it is on Wikipedia!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundam_Evolve

What has Odaiba got to do with Gundam? Well, come and visit Odaiba online to know more!

http://www.aquacity.jp/en/index.html

Then, watch this gigantic Gundam (the Gundam Project) displayed in Odaiba.

(without music & up-close)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM6nUX57gCg&feature=yva-title

(with music)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajm7lZgZpJQ&feature=response_watch

(Gundam moves)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykamCJsKFBI&feature=related

More about Gundam and its related products (hm... this one i am afraid is in Japanese only) but just let me know if you have any troubles understanding.

http://www.gundam.info/

Enjoy!

Nanzen Temple (continued)

This is not a concrete but sand, piled together to produce a shape of mountain.

Kyoto is famous for its beautiful colors in spring and autumn.  In most temples there are various type of trees, like cherry blossoms, maple trees, that change colors with the coming of new season.   

These colors reflected in the pond make beautiful pictures.  Unfortunately when i was there, most trees were lustfully green - a beautiful color but less gradation of various colors that you would be able to find in autumn.

If you come in summer, the color of leaves are even greener than springtime.  Weather will be hot and humid, therefore it is best to walk in sandals and wear short sleeves.

Kyoto Day 1 - Nanzenji (Nanzen Temple)

Priests in this temple artistically design the sand in such a way to replicate water and land.    This laborious process takes place every month and in some harsh weather like heavy rain or storms, remaking may be needed.  You can see the gradation made by brushing the sand finely to produce such a shape.

Landscape around the garden is beautiful and serene with many tall trees, many of which are cherry blossoms, pine, maples and other Japanese trees, most of which are more than a hundred year old.    On a very crowded day, it is difficult to enjoy the garden so it is best to go on a less crowded day - such as weekdays in early spring.

A Trip To Kyoto

You probably have already heard about Kyoto famous for its temples, beautiful colors in different seasons, fabulous delicacies and famous geisha, geiko, maiko dances.... well, just recently i went there again, for the third time.

http://www.princehotels.com/en/kyoto/

I stayed at the Grand Prince Hotel, just off Kokusaikaikan station.    The location is off Kyoto central station, a little far according to some people, but i like the place a lot.   It is far off the busy traffic of the city, so you can go out for a stroll for fresh air, listening to birds singing and watching a lower mountain just across the window from the hotel.     Another plus point of this hotel is that you can check in your luggages at the Kyoto central station - where the Hotel Luggage Check In and Transfer Service Center can help you out for free.  

The only limitation of this hotel is that you need to take 2 different subway trains to get there.   I suggest that you get an English train and subway maps when you arrive at Kyoto central station.

Here are some of my visits during a 2 night/3 days stay in Kyoto - covering my favorite spots:

*Nanzenji 

*Kyoto Studio Park (Toei Uzumasa Eigamura/Movie Land)

http://www.eigamura30.com/english/index.html

*Kinkakuji

*Ryoanji

At Kyoto Studio Park, both local and foreign visitors can dress up like a samurai, traditional Japanese King or Queen, a geisha, or just a local girl in kimono and enjoy taking photos at the man made town picturing the old days of Japan.   The best way is to make reservation early and to arrive a few minutes before the time reserved.   I was only 2 minutes late arriving and i lost my reservation to dress up as "oshin" for the day.... hiks ;(

For more photos of the trips, read along ....  hopefully you will love Kyoto like i do!

Not To Miss Out

When you arrive at Narita Airport:

* Visit JR East Tavel Service Center

Here you can book the best and most reasonable tour and direction from the expert, such as if you

 want to visit Mt. Fuji, the Imperial Palace, Kyoto Day Trip, travelling around Tokyo with a cheap day pass, make reservation for Hotels, Shinkansen, etc.

* Mobile Phone Rental Service Center (Just across the JR East Travel Service Center)

Please double check if your mobile phone system works in Japan, otherwise you may like to rent a Japanese latest mobile phone with an audio/TV recording system, all Japanese TV channels online, Internet connection, video & photo capture, wide screen ; check out the latest technology in mobile phone.

When you arrive at a department store, visit Underground level for food and beverages:

*Japanese pickles - various color of vegetables  

*Japanese lunch boxes (bento)

My favorite is to spend time at the 

Art & Lifestyle or Home ware/ Kitchenware section, usually on the upper floor, where you can find Japanese traditional goods, such as "urushi" (Japan), ceramics (Noritake, etc.), Japanese seasonal decorations, such as the Hina dolls (only displayed during February-March), Kabuto, etc.

600 Years Old Cherry Tree

In Oku-Chichibu, a local station just about an hour and a half away from central Tokyo, you can visit a temple where they keep a 600 years old cherry tree.   At this time of the year, from late March to early April, many local Japanese would go and visit this temple to witness a natural treasure.

This tree is 15 metres height and the trunk is 3 metres in width.    It stands strong in all weather for the past 600 years - a really amazing view.   Today, hundreds of Japanese went to visit and take picture of the cherry blossoms of this tree - a beautiful sight indeed.   

At night there will be light ups around the tree so that people can enjoy a different sight of this "shidare" sakura.

Warning For Those With Hay Fever

Hi Friends,

Just a note to let you know that some of you who suffer from hayfever (like me) should be aware that Japan has mountaints full of cedar trees that create countless pollen every year, especially in spring.   For you visiting Japan, you may like to avoid March-April period or get an anti pollen mask at the airport when you arrive.

Having said that there are apparently various types of hayfever, yours may not be caused by cedar pollens.    March-April period is in fact the best time to visit Japan if you love flowers, especially if you would like to see the cherry blossoms.

Get your medication ready if you like to enjoy Spring time here.   

Also, have you heard of what we call here "the sakura zensen map" : it is a yearly updated map informing very accurately the best date when you can enjoy cherry blossoms anywhere in Japan.

When you arrive at the airport, go to the JR Information Center and ask for "the sakura zensen map".    Japanese travellers use this map to plan their trip around Japan - especially to get the best shot of cherry blossoms ... yes, here travelling throughout Japan chasing the cherry blossoms is common for the retired, a healthy way to kill time and enjoy nature, i guess.