I feel bad for Tabana and Q, since their weak dollars won't go as far as it used to. I'm planning to go to Japan in December. Hopefully the dollar will strengthen.

dochira wrote:

I feel bad for Tabana and Q, since their weak dollars won't go as far as it used to. I'm planning to go to Japan in December. Hopefully the dollar will strengthen.

Well hopefully they already paid for their accommodations up front Or if you haven't already exchanged some foreign currency, do it now before the exchange rate gets worse!



I guess I'll have to cancel my JAV tour next month.

Well, I paid for a few things, but not everything. Like the most expensive stuff. I wanted to by a few yens before, but it started to go down. I waited thinking it will go up, but it's not. I should I've bought oil and gold. I would've been rich by now.

I think it's $1 = 103 today. In November it was $1 = 123. The Canadian economy is ok, but most of our exports goes to the US. So our dollar is going down too.

It's not too bad overall. It's not like I'm going to have to eat cup ramen for the entire trip. I'll just have to work part-time in Kabuki-cho.
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tabana wrote:

I think it's $1 = 103 today. In November it was $1 = 123. The Canadian economy is ok, but most of our exports goes to the US. So our dollar is going down too.

I forgot. The Canadian Dollar is stronger than the US Dollar. Add that currency to the list of sucky exchange rates for US Dollars.

Remember what happens in Kabuki-cho stays in Kabuki-cho. Unless they have cameras in which case we'll see it on Youtube.

I'll post the torrent for the high res version later.
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dochira wrote:

Unless they have cameras in which case we'll see it on Youtube.

*makes room on hard disk*

tabana wrote:

It's not too bad overall. It's not like I'm going to have to eat cup ramen for the entire trip. I'll just have to work part-time in Kabuki-cho.

Hell, at least they have good cup ramen over there...not the Maruchan crap that's over here....

dochira wrote:

I forgot. The Canadian Dollar is stronger than the US Dollar. Add that currency to the list of sucky exchange rates for US Dollars. Remember what happens in Kabuki-cho stays in Kabuki-cho. Unless they have cameras in which case we'll see it on Youtube.

Tu_triky wrote:

Well hopefully they already paid for their accommodations up front Or if you haven't already exchanged some foreign currency, do it now before the exchange rate gets worse! I guess I'll have to cancel my JAV tour next month.

my Kyoto accomodations i had to reserve and pay inadvance. The Tokyo accomodations is while i am at Tokyo and in person, so i guess i will have to deal with the rates. I will exchange my currency while at the airport, so i have a few more days, hopefully the dollar in the next couple days doesn't fall further below 100Y - $1

Has anyone been to Takayama or knew anyone that has gone. I am thinking of making a day trip there, but not sure if i will have enough time since i will be staying overnight in Kyoto during those 6 days i am in the Kansei region. I figure that i split the time, maybe 2 of those days in Kyoto area, 1 in Hiroshima, 1 in Kobe/Osaka, and (1 day is spent traveling to and from Kyoto-Tokyo), and possibly 1 day left for Takayama? any other suggestions in the area, i just wasn't sure if i can squeeze that in a day trip since my hotel accomodations are in Kyoto.

Tu_triky wrote:

Hell, at least they have good cup ramen over there...not the Maruchan crap that's over here....

exactly. the ramen there is levels above what we have here, although there are a few places in LA/OC that aren't too bad.

The food in Japan is amazingly good, and people think that Tokyo is so damn expensive to eat, and buy things, but there are some things that are amazingly cheap and good too. I miss going to the Combini's, something that i look forward to again, Lawson's, ...can easily get a bento for 700Y or lower and have a good meal. Or their eki-ben, meals on the shinkansen trains, and green tea or other drinks.

qilver wrote:

exactly. the ramen there is levels above what we have here, although there are a few places in LA/OC that aren't too bad. The food in Japan is amazingly good, and people think that Tokyo is so damn expensive to eat, and buy things, but there are some things that are amazingly cheap and good too. I miss going to the Combini's, something that i look forward to again, Lawson's, ...can easily get a bento for 700Y or lower and have a good meal. Or their eki-ben, meals on the shinkansen trains, and green tea or other drinks.

I just read an article that said that JR was selling expired food on their trains so BEWARE.

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15 million expired food items sold on JR shinkansen bullet trains

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 09:16 EST
TOKYO — A catering subsidiary of Central Japan Railway Co said Tuesday that it sold an estimated 15 million food items with expired dates for safe consumption on shinkansen bullet and other trains.

JR-Central Passenger Co has received no complaints of health problems stemming from the expired box lunches, sandwiches and other food items but company President Takeshi Tategami apologized for "undermining public trust," saying the false labeling "became habitual due to familiarization of the process." The company sold expired items accounted for 30 percent of what were sold between April 2005, when the company shortened its period for safe consumption of the products, and February this year, when the false labeling came to light, it said. (Kyodo News)

Tu_triky wrote:

I just read an article that said that JR was selling expired food on their trains so BEWARE. ======================================= 15 million expired food items sold on JR shinkansen bullet trains Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 09:16 EST TOKYO �\ A catering subsidiary of Central Japan Railway Co said Tuesday that it sold an estimated 15 million food items with expired dates for safe consumption on shinkansen bullet and other trains. JR-Central Passenger Co has received no complaints of health problems stemming from the expired box lunches, sandwiches and other food items but company President Takeshi Tategami apologized for "undermining public trust," saying the false labeling "became habitual due to familiarization of the process." The company sold expired items accounted for 30 percent of what were sold between April 2005, when the company shortened its period for safe consumption of the products, and February this year, when the false labeling came to light, it said. (Kyodo News)

ackk!!! and i was going to consider, guess i will have to see how it is, maybe i will get some eki-ben from the station before boarding...

places to see in Kobe? Osaka? and a day trip to Takayama seem possible when overnight lodging in Kyoto?
i need some suggestions, recommendations if possible.
thanks.

qilver wrote:

ackk!!! and i was going to consider, guess i will have to see how it is, maybe i will get some eki-ben from the station before boarding... places to see in Kobe? Osaka? and a day trip to Takayama seem possible when overnight lodging in Kyoto? i need some suggestions, recommendations if possible. thanks.

One of the only places that I'm familiar with in Osaka is Dotonbori.....that's where most of the grub is.....I'm sure others who have experience with Kansai would be better suited to give you some recs.

Hi all, I'm planning to study abroad in Tokyo on July. Besides going to school, I'm hoping I'd come across celebs. Where can I get information about who's having a concert during my stay? And does anybody have any experience in attending TV shows? Any help will be greatly appreciated!
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Tu_triky wrote:

15 million expired food items sold on JR shinkansen bullet trains

Did they learn that from us Americans?

bmwracer wrote:

Did they learn that from us Americans?

Next thing you know they'll be making steaks from Downer Kobe Kows...and feeding them to all the gaijin.

Tu_triky wrote:

Next thing you know they'll be making steaks from Downer Kobe Kows...and feeding them to all the gaijin.

The betting line at Vegas has that at even money.

bmwracer wrote:

The betting line at Vegas has that at even money.

<calls up bookie>

bmwracer wrote:

Did they learn that from us Americans?

I think someone thought the idea was not bad.

IIRC, they did the same for frozen manjuu too. Like 6 months old manjuu were sold as new. Not to mention thawed and frozen a few times in between.
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