I'm Going To Japan

lol are they?

i will take the one in the middle.

FamilyMart opens 1st U.S. outlet in West Hollywood

Friday, July 22, 2005 at 07:35 JST
LOS ANGELES — FamilyMart Co said Thursday it has opened a convenience store in West Hollywood, California, the first step toward its plan to set up 200 stores in the United States by 2009.

The Famima luxury convenience store, the first Japanese convenience store outlet in the United States, sells Japanese food such as sushi, rice balls, and other merchandise, says the company. (Kyodo News)

qilver - Do you speak Japanese? If not did you find it easy to go up to a kiosk like that and just buy stuff.

Tu_triky wrote:FamilyMart opens 1st U.S. outlet in West Hollywood

Friday, July 22, 2005 at 07:35 JST
LOS ANGELES — FamilyMart Co said Thursday it has opened a convenience store in West Hollywood, California, the first step toward its plan to set up 200 stores in the United States by 2009.

The Famima luxury convenience store, the first Japanese convenience store outlet in the United States, sells Japanese food such as sushi, rice balls, and other merchandise, says the company. (Kyodo News)

awesome news, thanks. Hopefully they will open a Lawson chain, but that is just wishful thinking...
:bonk: :thumbsup:

Jimmi wrote:qilver - Do you speak Japanese? If not did you find it easy to go up to a kiosk like that and just buy stuff.

when i was in Japan, it wasn't difficult to buy things at the kiosk, whether it be for a snack, drink, or a manga, i just brought it up, and paid it. When i was in the bookstores like Kinokuniya and Bookfirst, and i was looking for a particular item like a photobook of a certain J-idol, that was more challenging. I would use my phrase book and "try" to speak some basic words in Japanese and point to the words in the book. The japanese people seemed very patient with me and were very helpful as their customer service is the best. In Akihabara, there were a few stores were i had some moments of confusing and the language barrier was defintely there, so simple words sometimes helped, and some sign language. Fortunately, some Japanese people could speak some english words and understand a little. So, i do not speak japanese, i did pick up a few words while in Japan, and using my phrase book helped me somewhat. I would like to learn more Japanese though. :bonk:

@supermidget, how was your day in akihabara?? elsewhere in the massive Tokyo city? take lots of pix and post them up so we can see them. what places are you going to visit next? after tokyo area?
enjoy. :thumbsup: :bonk:

I'm be going to live and teach in Kyoto for 1-2 years starting next August. My sister is also applying for an exchange student program there at the same time. I'm very nervous about it. My dad's starting to spaz out too :sweat:

qilver wrote:

when i was in Japan, it wasn't difficult to buy things at the kiosk, whether it be for a snack, drink, or a manga, i just brought it up, and paid it. When i was in the bookstores like Kinokuniya and Bookfirst, and i was looking for a particular item like a photobook of a certain J-idol, that was more challenging. I would use my phrase book and "try" to speak some basic words in Japanese and point to the words in the book. The japanese people seemed very patient with me and were very helpful as their customer service is the best. In Akihabara, there were a few stores were i had some moments of confusing and the language barrier was defintely there, so simple words sometimes helped, and some sign language. Fortunately, some Japanese people could speak some english words and understand a little. So, i do not speak japanese, i did pick up a few words while in Japan, and using my phrase book helped me somewhat. I would like to learn more Japanese though. :bonk:

i think most japanese appreciate you trying to speak the language so will help you out. i also find that plenty especially girls like to practice english with you so communicating isn't a big a problem as it could be. at least for everyday things. :mrgreen:

shoujo22 wrote:I'm be going to live and teach in Kyoto for 1-2 years starting next August. My sister is also applying for an exchange student program there at the same time. I'm very nervous about it. My dad's starting to spaz out too :sweat:

teaching in Kyoto? sounds exciting!, i am planning to apply to some teaching prg's soon, and do that hopefully in 2006. :bonk:

kenjilina wrote:

i think most japanese appreciate you trying to speak the language so will help you out. i also find that plenty especially girls like to practice english with you so communicating isn't a big a problem as it could be. at least for everyday things. :mrgreen:

yeah, although my attempt at speaking japanese was limited, i definitely gave it my best efforts. I found that the japanese girls were a bit better at trying to or attempting to speak english and converse some. I remember a few j-girls that were willing to go out of their way a bit to guide us and point us the store that me and my friend were searching for. It was quite too common that we would get a bit lost in the big city. I can't think of any other city that i would rather be a bit lost in, and trying to discover my way around, there is so much to do in Tokyo! as a tourist. Maybe if you were living there, and going places, it would be a different story. :hehe:

qilver wrote:

teaching in Kyoto? sounds exciting!, i am planning to apply to some teaching prg's soon, and do that hopefully in 2006. :bonk:

I'll be there in 2006 too :metaldevil:

shoujo22 wrote:


I'll be there in 2006 too :metaldevil:

cool...
do you know which prgs you are going with? or are you applying directly from within Japan. The application process can be long, but hopefully worth it, just have to submit app. and wait and see, hear that JET is one of the top ones to try for.
i am excited to go and teach in japan, it has been my dream for a long time to do that. :thumbsup: :victory:

I'll be working through the JET program. Normally if you've been selected for the program then drop out you can't apply for a few years. I was selected to go this year...but I had something unexpected and extremely serious happen earlier this year. After much consideration (and paper work :banghead: ), I was permitted to delay my trip for a year. :victory:

qilver wrote:

oh yeah. I recommend staying at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, four star hotel, do a search online and check out the pix. I stayed there during my first stay in Japan back in June '03, and during my recent trip May '05. The price wasn't too bad, figuring you are staying in Tokyo, in a four star Hotel, and a nice big city like Shinagawa, which is across the street from the main station. the price per nice after tax/hotel fee, was about roughly $125 a night, which is not too bad for two twin beds, and for two people in one room.
I have never been to Paris, someday, it has a lot of nice things, and it is a good place to take that special someone, perhaps someday i will take Nana there.....(***dreaming***) :smitten: :hehe:
also, i heard that the Tokyo Tower(looks like the effel tower), is actually taller than the one in Paris.

thought here is better

yeah infact on google when i just type "shinagawa" .. ... the first reply is the hotel in tokyo .. :hehe: now that is a good hotel

125 hmm cool ... seems it has increased a bit now ..

paris - special someone city .. :say_yes: yeah roaming around becomes so much better with *nana* with u ...

yeah the tower is actually taller ... 133m ....

eiffel is 130m

i guess the japanese just have to better everything ...

shoujo22 wrote:I'll be working through the JET program. Normally if you've been selected for the program then drop out you can't apply for a few years. I was selected to go this year...but I had something unexpected and extremely serious happen earlier this year. After much consideration (and paper work :banghead: ), I was permitted to delay my trip for a year. :victory:

i so want to work for JET, got loads of questions about JET, could you help me out some questions? I am planning on applying. I got a four year bachelors degree and a huge desire to teach and live in Japan, it is my dream and passion to work with Japanese students to teach them about english and america!
That's cool that they let you delay it for a year, I heard many good things on the JET prg, but i also hear it is very competitive and hard to get in. I hope i have a chance to get in :fingerscrossed:

z123_us wrote:

thought here is better

yeah infact on google when i just type "shinagawa" .. ... the first reply is the hotel in tokyo .. :hehe: now that is a good hotel

125 hmm cool ... seems it has increased a bit now ..

paris - special someone city .. :say_yes: yeah roaming around becomes so much better with *nana* with u ...

yeah the tower is actually taller ... 133m ....

eiffel is 130m

i guess the japanese just have to better everything ...

yeah, i'm sure the hotel prices flucuated during the peak seasons, keep checking the prices, and maybe you can look into it online, they might be cheaper. When are you planning your trip to Japan?
Have you ever gone to Asia, Japan before?
must be tough, knowing that probably in Paris there are no Japanese food/book stores nearby. where do you get your goods on Japan while in Paris? fortunately for me, there is a good amount of japanese that live in SoCal, so there are quite a few places that i go to on a weekly basis to get my fix on anything Japanese, but of course it is not the same as being "in Japan", that is so so much better. two words come to mind, "vending machines, and Lawsons", and many other things in Japan.

anyone know if there's car rental place in japan?
more specifically, sport bike rentals... that'd be awesome.

krim wrote:anyone know if there's car rental place in japan?
more specifically, sport bike rentals... that'd be awesome.

not sure where, but you can do a search online, hmmm
try japan-guide.com or japan-101.com they might not give you the direct info, but maybe can point you out to another site that may help online. or you can join the forum(i believe it is free) at forum.japantoday.com and look under the travel section, and ask around, maybe some people can give you some good advice on your questions...otherwise....anyone else on here can offer some advice??

good luck. when are you planning your trip to Japan?

oh, it wont be for a while, earliest is after Peru next Sept.

krim wrote:anyone know if there's car rental place in japan?
more specifically, sport bike rentals... that'd be awesome.

Extending what qilver said, here's the page: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2024.html. I have never rented a car from Japan, so I wouldn't know if they had bike rentals.