Living in Tokyo

Ghandi Curry - Shinjuku East Exit - Good Curry In Tokyo

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:45:54 +0900

Tokyo has loads of Curry houses and all of them are different. One day I want to visit like 30 of them in a row.....and write a huge BLOG about my experience. I just love searching out the most interesting and tantalizing places to eat in this city of some 10 million plus, What an adventure that would be! For now, I`ll start with the very very basics. Highly recommending Gandhi Curry or ”ガンジー”　for short *Just south east of the east exit of Shinjuku Station. Its a small place on the second floor - close to Matsumoto Kiyoshi. Ghandi`s got decent atmosphere. The shop goes for and - does pull off a slightly "rustic" ie "do it yourself" look. They rock decent tunes through strange harp shapes looking hand made speaker, enter through a beaded doorway. The staffs friendly. The curry itself is slightly spicy as well expensive (because of the location) - a little less than 1000 Yen a person. Warning; no side dishes, Its very minimalistic (think curry sauce with hardly and vegetables or meat served with plain white rice) You might ask me "why do you recommend it then?" The reason I recommend is for this one reason, the BASE SAUCE for the curry is of good quality - definitely home made, definitely original. Its very creamy, dark and has meaty/boney flavor thats quite distinctive. The base sauce of this curry is definitely "Japanese" ie "Tokyo Curry" and not "Indian" in taste and it makes up the core ingredient for all varieties of curried served there. Add cheese to the base = cheese curry. Add beef = beef curry. Add shrimp = shrimp curry. What I was amazed by was how VERY DIFFERENT each curry tasted with just the slightest addition of different elements. Go there to see it for yourself! Cheers and HAPPY EATS YALL!!!! See ya, Matt

Jiyugaoka - Buss Cafe

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:42:51 +0900

Hi guys, I cam across something quiet "novel" if you will. The "Cafe Bus" in Jiyugaoka - a station in Tokyo. There`s a very cool cafe inside of a broken down Volkswagen Bus in the middle of Jiyugaoka. The coffee good - and not terrible expensive - unfortunately its "take out only"...since its far too small to fit customers. I always love a good cup of coffee and the street on which this cafe is lined is very nice. Its rather green and has loads of outdoor restaurants and cafes. I also highly suggest making your way down to "Jiyugaoka Station" - from Shibuya. Its a cool place! Cheers, Matt

Street Musicians in Tokyo

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:41:16 +0900

Around any train station on about any night of week You`re liable to run into musicians. One unique group I enjoy very much plays daily both at Taka-Dano-Baba and Shin-Okubo Stations. One male Sax player, (the star) wearing an old Edo costume and wig is accompanied by two females, both of which play percussion - too are dressed as Geisha! I think this type of music is called "Chin-Dong-Ya" And they advertise for a Pachinko Parlor not too far from the station. Enjoy, They`re really fun! See you guys, Yours, Matt

Japanese Pizza

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:29:12 +0900

Theres a place called "Japan Pizza" in Ikebukuro. Theres a tiny little wagon called "Japanese Pizza" in Ikebukuro, which serves out the most delicious and affordable night snacks you've ever had. They serve small "Okonomiyaki Wraps" for about 300 Yen a piece. Basically they're deep-freid octopus balls wrapped up with fried shrimp and vegetables. The "Japan Pizza Shack" is just outside the west exit of Ikebukuro Station near the back entrance of Yamada-Denki, a large Electronics shop. Don`t knock em if you haven`t tried em, deep fried seafood wrapped up with fresh veggies! they`re great! Cheers all, Yours, Matt

TOKYO GAME CENTRES!

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:24:04 +0900

Playing video games in Tokyo is unlike anything else in Canada. Its taken very seriously and people of all ages and genders (middle aged and elderly women) with standing. There`s video games that cater to the likes of every type of person! There are; dance games, gambling video games (which you wager REAL money) photo-booth games, games that test your intelligence and math calculative abilities. wrap around 3-D shooting games and games you use "disk cards" or flat "baseball-looking-cards" on touch sensitive screens! I suggest taking the plunge into one of these gaming centres (not to be confused with an arcade) with about 4000 Yen worth of quarters one day. be warned though, like a "Pachinko Parlour" - If the noise, smoke and flashing lights don`t bother you...you`ll have yourself a grand old time! If however your idea of a fun time is the library...you`re better off renting a private booth at a manga-kissa to play online games. Have fun all, Yours, M

kinmokusei

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:06:28 +0900

I can remember - not too long ago, perhaps last year...one beautiful fall day standing just outside of an elementary school i used to work at. Something filled my olfactory senses with the most pleasurable experience I`ve laid my nose on. The "kinmokusei"( famous flower in Japan ) flower - I`m not sure how to spell it, is a beautiful little yellow orange flower ("kin" means gold in Japanese), similar in shape and size to lilac flowers - it too grows on a medium/large sized bush. I have officially designated the "kinmokusei"( famous flower in Japan) flower as the most beautiful smelling flower on earth. honestly I can`t describe it. Its slightly woody with notes of orange and vanilla. The plant blooms in early fall and can be found all around Tokyo. I`ve attached a picture of it here for you guys to scout one about yourselves. Remember take time in your live to "stop and smell the flowers"! See you guys, M

Using a Bike In Tokyo - The BEST way to travel.

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:01:43 +0900

One of the smartest things I did when I first came to Tokyo was buy myself a "mothers chariot or mama cherry" for short. Basically that's what everyone calls a cheap - 10000 yen or so bike. Nothing fancy or special it served its purpose - of getting groceries, hauling my lazy but too and from the train station as well as the coffee shop on a daily basis - very very well. As you probably noticed Tokyo is constructed in a sort of mish-mash web tangled sort of way. This is because the city itself grew very quickly after world war 2 - the streets, alleys and avenues for all intents and purposes were not "laid out" or planned as they are in Sapporo or Kyoto. Owning a bike in Tokyo for this very reason makes ALOT of sense. Believe it or not the streets are laid out in a very similar fashion to Amsterdam, Holland - the bicycling capital of Europe!! I say this to anyone "get yourself a bike in Tokyo and your life will change". You will see Tokyo differently - at a different pace...you will have time to explore your local station, visit corners of the city, shops, alley ways, parks - that you never would on foot or simply pass by on the train. Keep Exploring guys! Yours, Matt

Small differences between Canada and a Japan

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:09:58 +0900

I'm often attracted to all the numerous small differences between Canada and a Japan. Between Vancouver and Tokyo, they are VERY different cities indeed! As a student of art and design - I appreciate differences in architectural design; probably more so than most. One interesting difference that I came across between Japanese and Canadian apartments or "mansions" *besides the fact that Japanese call apartments "mansions" and not - "condos". Is the fact that in Canada HALLWAYS are built WITHIN apartment buildings, with rooms on either side. In Tokyo, most "hallways" or walkways are built on the outside of apartment building. I'm not sure why this is. But this certainly gives Japanese/Tokyo apartments the look of having an "exoskeleton".... as if they were wearing their structure "on the outside". Have any of you ever noticed this? Pretty cool, huh!? See you everyone! Yours, Matthew

Tokyo Tako-Yaki Party!

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:00:08 +0900

What's better than a long night out clubbing in Roppongi? What could possibly be more exciting than cruising Tokyo's party strips, padio's and cabanas? What does every Tokyoitte well know well.....yet keep secret from most foreigner people? Tako-Yaki Parties! A night spent in at home with a couple of good friends and a "Tako-Yaki" machine! Is the funnest, greatest thing anyone can do at night in all Tokyo! YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY! Tako Yaki is so fun and easy to make, these tasting little octopus balls are absolutely DELICIOUS! I'm just waiting for it to take off in baseball parks all across the States and Canada upon my return. Seriously, these little "Osaka Treats" are my absolute favorite! What's Tako Yaki? basically its battered and fried octopus balls with a couple of onions, and small veggies thrown in for good measure and then finely topped with mayonnaise, fish flakes and sweet sauce! How to make them; 1). Get a Tako Yaki machine 2). Buy; Tako Yaki powder, freshly boiled octopus (chopped), pickled ginger, tempura bits, eggs, chives or long onions (finely chopped) Make the batter using the tako-yaki power, onions, pickled ginger. Get the Tako Yaki machine nice and hot and place one bit of octopus into each "tako-hole". For a more thorough instructions, please check this link on youtube; Have fun guys! Tako-Yaki balls are complimented well with Beer and a baseball game. If you're Canadian (from Windsor) like me, you can even eat them while watching the Wings! Cheers!

Natsukashii !!!

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:20:57 +0900

Along with the word " Kawaii "!!! You may hear one of your Japanese friends scream out the word "natsukashii "! Loosely translated it means "nostalgic"! Or - "Wow I remember that from my childhood!". The Japanese, like Americans or Canadian too - carry with them fond childhood memories. There is a whole culture built up of this called; "Natsukashii "! Where to find "Natsukashii " Items? Clothing; There are dozens of "second hand" clothing shops both in Shimokitazawa and Koenji, Video Games, Manga and Posters Go to the "Mandarake" in the Nakano Broadway Sun Plaza. Take the Chuo Line one express stop west of Shinjuku Station. They have video games for the original Nintendo system, original James Bond and Bruce Lee Movie Posters from the 60's and 70's. Manga? They have original "Astro Boy" or "Atom Boy" prints from the 50's (thousands of dollars). The "Mangadake" is one of the BEST places in Tokyo for all pop culture items "retro"! Candy; Go to Odaiba and search for the 1950's Candy Shop. Its called "Dagashiya". Bars; 80's - Punk - Koenji Station 80's New Wave - go to Shimo-Kitazawa 60's Jazz - Go To Jimbocho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line 50's to 70's - Go to "The Who Bar" - Golden Gae, East Exit of Shinjuku Station. 40's, 50's Enka - Go to any "Snak Bar". I suggest Kagurazaka

Going to the Bone Doctor in Tokyo.

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:50:39 +0900

I enjoy playing sports here in Tokyo *especally "Budo" as there's a tone of quality places to play at with high level karate-ka, judo-ka various types of wrestlers and kick boxers. I try to make the most of my time here while in Japan and join in whenever I get the chance. When you're involved in such sports, injuries are inevitable even for the most cautious of people. Twisting an ankle, sprained hands bruises and a bloody nose every so often is something you so on a daily basis in the dojo. Yesterday I was wrestling with someone much faster, younger, stronger and higher ranked than myself when I head a loud "pop" in my ankle. This was followed by immediate pain. Well....with the help of 2 very good friends of mine I made it home, elevated it, tapped it up and put ice on it. The next day I headed off to the "bone clinic" in Oizumi Gakuin. Here's a few tips for you if you hurt yourself in Japan. 1). Have at least one Japanese speaking friend; They will help you out with the details....if you're like me and you can't speak Japanese that well - looking for hospital, specialist or particular doctor by phone would be difficult. 2). Trust you're local clinic to help you out. *Don't be shy. When in doubt - just drop in ANY medical clinic. Get to know the closest one to your house. Show them your injury and I'm SURE the staff will take care of you. 3). Get or come to Japan with some kind of insurance. In the end you will save some money. 4). Medical costs in Japan are NOT that expensive. It's cheaper here to go see the doctor or dentist than in Canada, and MUCH cheaper than going to one in the United States 5). If you don't have insurance and you MUST pay for everything yourself, *it's not the end of the world (see point 2). 6). Bring your gaijin card, some form of i.d. and some cash. Again *if you don't have ID with you at that particular moment they're NOT going to turn you away. if you don't have cash or i.d. it might be embarrassing, but again *they are not going to turn you away. Japanese doctors have always been kind to me. The Good News; All in All, I paid 5000 yen for a pair of lent crutches (to use as long as I like), 5 cold packs, pain killers, the x-ray as well as my "first time visitor registration fee) The doctor was kind and smiled at me as he had a chance to practice his English. It was a positive experience! I hope my story makes you guys feel at ease, there's nothing complicated or difficult about going to the doctors in Japan.

Kagurazaka

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:42:46 +0900

Kagurazaka may not be as glamourous as Ginza, unique as Harajuku, or exciting as Roppongi or Shibuya, but I really feel that it might be the "classiest" (if you will) place in Tokyo. She just doesn't seem to call out as loudly for attention, yet...it is well deserved. *Nothing here is over priced, over-hyped or commercially done; yet the food the service and atmosphere are all top of the line! Kagurazaka, 5 min. from the Metro Iidabashi Station is made up of numerous small cleanly swept cobble stone back-streets there for you're pleasure to explore and very much reminds me of booth Shinjuku's "Golden Gae" as well as Gion in Kyoto. On your exploration through the maze you'll find yourself passing various French Cafe's (Iidabashi is a French neighbor hood) as well as high-end, "Kaiseki Ryori" restaurants, some of which are attended by Kimono clad Maiko. These women are actual Geisha in training! Where to go; Sushi! The BEST sushi lunch I've ever had in my life was in Kagurazaka. For $10 bucks or 1000 Yen, I got 15 pieces of sushi as well as tofu and miso soup. I've attached a photo of the entrance. There was no need for me to chew - it actually melted in my mouth! Usd Kimono Shops! You can buy used kimono here for less than $400. I mean REALL, nice clean - beautiful silk Japanese Kimono's...gorgeous cherry blossom and auten pattered kimono's for sale here. These dress' would sell for thousands of dollars anywhere else! A Temple There's a beautiful red temple along "Kagurazaka Dori" (Dori Means Street) right off the main drive. It seriously worth going into - the interior is absolutely gorgeous! Theres a giant golden chandandeliar thing, columns made of golden dragons and nice alter made in the honor of the buddha. Men, pay attention - Kagurazaka is one of the FEW places left in Tokyo where you can have a drink with an actual Maiko (a Geisha in training) ! There are a couple open to the public, and aren't nearly as expensive as you might think. Meiko are trained to make you feel warmly welcomed no matter what you look like or where you come from. They are real professionals! I won't go forever about all the wonderful things that Kagurazaka has to offer, you should just go there and see it yourself!

Yanaka, Nishi-Nippoli and Nippoli.

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:24:33 +0900

My quest for an ever expanded understanding of the people, architecture, gardens history and culture of tokyo has brought me this week to a quiet little corner of the city affectionately reffered to as "Yanaka". Tokyo can be divided into any number of ways depending upon how you'd like to view the metropolis; one such division can be made between the more commerical/fast paced business and shopping districts of Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ginza, or Roppongi - and the eastern, older "less hip" areas of Nippoli, Asakusa and Ueno. Everyone is familiar with the glitter and lights of Roppongi or Shibuya but I encourage you all to explore the dozen or so "village like" towns that make up eastern Tokyo! The people here - are more than likely FROM this area - as opposed to those who have come to Tokyo for work. *For this reason their families roots are planted deep into the fabric of their neighbor hood... they are in less of a hurry, more open and friendlier than people who spend the majority of their days of the commercial centers of Tokyo. My Tour of; Yanaka. Head out from the south exit of Nishi-Nippoli Station, walk left up the hill, pass a police box (on your left) continue walking until you come to a small traffic light/crossing. This might be a little hard to find - so you might want to ask the police for some help. Just tell them you want to see some temples in Yanaka. Turn left onto a small street and you'll begin a magical tour of; Well kept temples, grave yards, art galleries, gardens and hundreds of small family owned handcraft shops, goods and grocery stores. Not to mention the old outdoor shopping complex "Yanaka Ginza Dori"! This area is like Kagurazaka; both really does remind me of Kyoto. Also, I recommend using this - pre-made walking map of the Nippori Area! Link: http://www.digi-promotion.com/tokyo-neighborhoods/yanaka/yanaka_attractions.html

My "Tokyo Style" Bath-tube

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:26:42 +0900

Bath tubs are different in Tokyo than in Vancouver. Well - I don't know about ALL bathtubs in Tokyo - but I can speak for mine. Its shorter, deeper and more "high tech". Why "High Tech" ? People in Tokyo typically used to use one bath tubs worth of water for the entire family... first papa than mama and the baby. This might sound "dirty" to a westerner, but each member of the family would usually shower or at least rinse themselves first before entering the bath-tub - actually quit clean. A long time ago the first bather would usually have the hottest water, and the last(mama and the baby) would be stuck with cold water. But not anymore, Most tubs now have cool "temperate control units"! Thats what I mean by "high tech". My tub has one too! This allows me to fill the bath with hot water and have it perpetually recycled through at the perfect temperature. In the end it saves me a lot of money because I don't have to keep adding more hot water as it cools. I can even keep the same water in the tub for the next day. If you do this, Just remember to use this bath water "to soak in" only. And be sure to shower once again after getting out! Japanese washing machines even have a "hose attachment" - that allows people to cycle their hot water from the bathtub to the washing machine. Japanese engineering is GENIUS! We can save a lot of water this way. I think the people in Las Vegas - or the dessert areas of Canada (Alberta) and the United States should give some serious consideration to this! Thanks everyone for your time - and remember "ECO is GOOD" Yours, Matt

Origami

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:09:00 +0900

Origami is a beautiful thing. Its simple its clean and fun - its meditative and good for the mind. More importantly its a VERY cheap means of entertainment in Tokyo. Its also a good way of making friends in Tokyo. Just go down to your local "culture centre" or BUNKA centre and ask them if they have "origami class". Even if its in Japanese - you can just smile and follow along. Origami Paper in Tokyo; Origami paper comes in dozens of shapes and sizes, there's large paper, medium paper and small paper - paper in plain solid colours as well as with "kimono-like" prints. I prefer the more fancy paper myself. There is cheap paper - at the dollar store, and expensive paper - at the department stores all across the various train stations in Tokyo. The Seibu, Tobu, Odakyu and Lumine department stores are all well stocked with Origami paper. Just go to wherever they sell stationary supplies. The best place to go is directly to large stationary stores located in Ginza and Shinjuku; "Itoy-ya" or "Toku Hands" should have a HUGE SELECTION OF PAPERS. CULTURE 1000 Origami Cranes are sometimes made for sick people, it is not un-common for people going to the hospital to bring 1000 cranes with them to give to whom ever they may be visiting. Just imagine - you KNOW someone was thinking about you after having made 1000 cranes! Making paper cranes, frogs, trains, planes or flowers - can be a fun "stay indoors activity" for anyone visiting Japan. I suggest you sit down with a Japanese friend and ask them to show you how to do origami! Not everyone knows how to make origami, but many people do! See you guys, Matt