Country Roads Japan

31/08/2024

Anyone who has visited Japan has no doubt noticed the extraordinary number of convenience stores, called konbini (コンビニ) in Japanese. How many are there and where are they located around the country?

Please check out my new post featuring two interactive maps from DataWrapper to learn more.

https://realgaijin.substack.com/p/data-deep-dive-japanese-konbini

#コンビニ #コンビニエンスストア #24時間営業 #セブンイレブン #ファミリーマート #ローソン #ミニストップ #ニューデイ #ポプラ #セイコーマート #デイリーヤマザキ

How many convenience stores are there in Japan and where are they located around the country?

28/08/2024

I, along with many others living in Japan, have been frustrated by the slow track and highly inaccurate weather forecasts for Typhoon Shanshan, which is simply known as Typhoon #10 in Japan. Of course, in the grand scheme of things, there is nothing to do but wait and see what happens. Instead of dwelling on the potential for damage and destruction, it is good to make the best of the situation by looking for signs of how nature is adapting to this strange weather pattern. Last night at dusk I was treated to a giant rainbow that appeared briefly between the thunderclouds. Occasional patches of blue sky temporarily erased parts of this rainbow, but much of it remained visible for about 15 minutes before the sun was finally blocked out. The view from a huge rice field in Kyushu was particularly impressive.
#虹

16/08/2024

All Aboard! Especially for those who live and work in the Tokyo metropolitan area, how is your morning and evening commute? Hopefully it's not as bad as some of the most congested routes in the country, which are highlighted in the attached post. Read on to see if your commute is one of the "worst five" in the country.
https://realgaijin.substack.com/p/commuter-train-congestion-in-japan
#通勤復活 #鉄道混雑率 #通勤電車 #通勤 #満員電車 #殺人的ラッシュ #通勤ラッシュ #押し屋

Although rail ridership has not yet returned to pre-Covid levels, for many it feels as if the peak commute times are as crowded as ever.

14/08/2024

Because many friends and business associates have asked for recommendations on where to go when visiting Kyoto, I have prepared a short article on my favorite "go to" spots that can be neatly fit into a 2-night, 3-day itinerary. I have led small groups on this route many times, and it was, therefore, high time to put pen to paper (or at least to blog post) - no more writing everything down on a napkin!

Also, while the plan is to continue using Substack as the primary medium for writing and publishing podcasts (with video), at the request of several people, I have also started posting the podcasts on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/). While it generally takes me longer to convert written content to video, the podcast version of the Kyoto Guide is already available. Please feel free to access the content in whatever way is easiest for you.
#京都 #京都観光 #そうだ京都へ行こう #京都旅行
https://realgaijin.substack.com/p/kyoto-ultimate-3-day-travel-guide

Despite concerns about "over-tourism," there is a reason why Kyoto is Japan's top tourist destination and remains a "must see" for any foreign visitor to the country.

12/08/2024

While there is much to see and do during any visit to Japan, the quintessential "must see" tourist destination is, of course, Kyoto. I have literally written this itinerary for many friends and friends of friends - even on a napkin! So it is high time that I put pen to paper (or Substack editor) to be able to send a link next time.

Also, yes, I am aware that there is much more to see and do in Kyoto. But if you have limited time, this should be a good list to start with.

Please let me know what you think. Thank you very much!
#京都 #京都観光 #そうだ京都へ行こう #京都旅行

Despite concerns about "over-tourism," there is a reason why Kyoto is Japan's top tourist destination and remains a "must see" for any foreign visitor to the country.

29/07/2024

Since the original article was published on July 9, 2024, my friend and fellow sailor, Naoki Uemura, left Japan right on schedule on July 18 and is now somewhere in the western Pacific Ocean on his way to San Francisco. Learn all about this epic journey and be inspired by his adventure, which is expected to last until sometime next spring.

You can also check out Uemura's YouTube channel (see the link in the article) to follow his progress on a daily basis.

#脱サラ #ヨット #セーリング #太平洋 #セーリングアドベンチャー #堀江謙一 #白石康次郎 #上村直輝 #ヨットライフ #ヨットクルージング #ヨットたのしみ
#ヨット旅 #ヨット好き #海が好きな人と繋がりたい

Narration of "Japanese Solo Adventurer Sets Sail to Circumnavigate the Pacific Ocean"

28/05/2024

While seeing the sights, eating the food, riding the bullet train, etc. are all good things to do during any visit to Japan, the quintessential Japanese experience is visiting a hot spring, which is called onsen (温泉) in Japanese. If you can get past your inhibitions, the only challenge is navigating all those pesky rules. Not to worry! Let's unpack them one by one to keep you out of "hot water," although that's the main destination, of course!

#温泉マイスター #温泉 #お湯 #浴場 #銭湯 #大浴場 #家族風呂 #湯船 #混浴 #サウナ #湯着 #日本語

While most of the rules for bathing at an onsen or sento in Japan are common sense, a rudimentary understanding of the signs will enhance the experience.

23/03/2024

If you could live and work anywhere in Japan, where would you like to live?


#東京一極集中 #国内移動 #人口 #転入超過 #転出超過 #首都圏 #地方

There is mounting demographic evidence that internal migration is slowing to a snail's pace compared to the past.

12/03/2024

Are you ready for the next "Big One?" If you live in Japan, you better be ready for the coming Nankai Trough earthquake and tsunami.

#地震 #津波 #南海トラフ地震 #災害対策 #東日本大震災 #能登半島地震 #大震災 #事業継続計画

The long-anticipated Nankai Trough earthquake and tsunami could cause 330,000 deaths and displace more than 8 million people.

09/03/2024

There is still time to ski (or snowboard) in Niseko, Hokkaido in Japan, which has some of the best powder snow in the world, but you might want to prepare for the prices.

#ニセコ #スキー場 #オーバーツーリズム #価格高騰 #ニセコバブル #物価高騰 #海外観光客 #フードトラック

Native Japanese are being priced out, and there seems to be an undercurrent of discontent just beneath the latest dusting of snow.

30/10/2023

The English language translation of the Japanese newspaper article that recently appeared in the Asahi Shinbun (newspaper) has been published in the English version of the same newspaper: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15041520

Curiously, it has additional detail than the original article in Japanese.

先日、朝日新聞に掲載された日本語の新聞記事の英訳が、同新聞の英語版：https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15041520。

不思議なことに、日本語の元記事よりも詳細が追加されています。ご参照まで。

#自転車

#サイクリング

#電動自転車
#電動アシスト自転車


#プロジェクトダルマ

#トーマススティーブンス



#ハイホイーラー

#ペニーファージング
#ダルマ自転車
#オーディナリー

YOKOHAMA--U.S. antique bicycle enthusiast Eric Knight was teary-eyed after completing a journey of around 1,550 kilometers from Nagasaki to Yokohama on a high-wheeler that was popular in the 19th century and called “dharma bicycle” in Japan.

29/10/2023

https://realgaijin.substack.com/p/reflections-on-the-role-of-domestique

Project Dharma successfully completes more than 1,500 km (900 miles) of cross-country travel on a high-wheel bicycle.