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2 Weeks in Japan?

ATOMIC SUPLEX said:
The bigger department store hyakuen stores are AMAZING. I stock up on slippers, sieves, cooking stuff, whatever, all good quality all 100yen. If you think Japan is expensive ,visit the hyakuen shops and see the other side of the story. Pound shops here are joke.

Also, if you get to go to a car boot sale, they tend to be insanely cheap, far far far cheaper than ours. More about a clear out and having a community moment than making money.
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The "pound shops" & second hand places are ace. I've picked up so many bargains there. Got a real nice pair of shoes for £3! 6 weeks until I'm next there :D
 
I have perhaps bought too many brilliant things to list.
Here is a small selection of 100yen bits.

A meter long shoe horn.
A fantastic metal sieve (£5 at least in the UK for one like this)
Silicone molds for a three tier bear and rabbit cake.
Slippers
A Tambourine
Watches (in fact someone asked me the other day where I got my 'designer' watch as they wanted to get a cool watch for their husband)
Six piece screwdriver set.
Hashi
Several bar / celebration hangings.
Pack of 20 batteries.
 
When last over we bought a garlic skin remover. It's basically a rubber tube, you put a clove in and roll it on a flat surface for 2 or 3 seconds and the skin just comes off. I love it!
 
Anyone been to Studio Ghibli? Weve prebooked tickets, was wondering how much time we should allow for it.
 
starfish said:
Anyone been to Studio Ghibli? Weve prebooked tickets, was wondering how much time we should allow for it.
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I seem to remember we booked a few months in advance, through the Japan Centre in Piccadilly Circus. It's a bit out from the centre of Tokyo and there are a lot of kids (obviously). They show 15 minute shorts in the cinema, we were lucky and saw a Totoro related one. They often have foreign cartoonists exhibitions there and Aardman had their stuff on show when we visited!
 
starfish said:
Anyone been to Studio Ghibli? Weve prebooked tickets, was wondering how much time we should allow for it.
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Been there three times weirdly.
I'd give it a good few hours if you are familiar with the films. If not it might be a bit of a bore.
One of the best museums I have ever been to. There are something like six exclusive short films that play randomly on the day, everyone wants the Mai and the koneko bus / spaceship film. I never got to see that (bah).

Food is not amazing and is fairly expensive as I recall (apart from the hot dogs). Biggest problem though is that everyone wants food at once and the queues are ridiculous, also perhaps go to the gift shop early.

My other recommendation is not to bother waiting for the free bus. Just walk. Can't be arsed to queue for that as well, and it's quicker and far nicer just to walk.

I have not been for quite a few years now, but here is my last visit. You can't film or photo any of the inside stuff so bear in mind there is a LOT more to see.

Christ, I was so hungover that day. I had done three or four gigs in a row and been staying out until about 4am for over a week straight. I can't do that sort of thing any more. I had to get off the train to Mitaka (or was it the way back) about three times, not because I was going to be sick but because I felt that I was just going to switch off. Not faint, I know what that is like, I felt like I was going mad and was just going to flip out of existence.
 
I really enjoyed going to the Ghibli Museum. I went on a weekday so it was not so busy then. I had a hotdog there but it was tiny :mad: The area itself is quite nice but it helped that I went on a sunny day.
Anyway, in Kyoto now. It is ssoooo pretty here :cool:
 
such and such said:
I really enjoyed going to the Ghibli Museum. I went on a weekday so it was not so busy then. I had a hotdog there but it was tiny :mad: The area itself is quite nice but it helped that I went on a sunny day.
Anyway, in Kyoto now. It is ssoooo pretty here :cool:
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Actually, there is a limit to how many people can go on a certain day, hence the ticket booking system, so it is not generally any busyier on a weekend, however you do have to book further in advance because the places go fast.
 
Atari teenage riot are playing in tokyo when I'm there.

Is it bad to ditch my folks to go see them? :hmm:
 
sim667 said:
Atari teenage riot are playing in tokyo when I'm there.

Is it bad to ditch my folks to go see them? :hmm:
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Yes.
. . . but really only because they are shit. Prepare to pay a fortune. Seeing bands in Japan costs a lot at the best of times, seeing a foreign band is even more pricey.
I would definitely go and check out some of the Japanese underground live houses and clubs, but that's because I love all that shit.
 
krtek a houby said:
When last over we bought a garlic skin remover. It's basically a rubber tube, you put a clove in and roll it on a flat surface for 2 or 3 seconds and the skin just comes off. I love it!
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Why bother? Just use an old tin or jar with a lid. Place the cloves in the tin and shake it vigorously.
 
ATOMIC SUPLEX said:
Yes.
. . . but really only because they are shit. Prepare to pay a fortune. Seeing bands in Japan costs a lot at the best of times, seeing a foreign band is even more pricey.
I would definitely go and check out some of the Japanese underground live houses and clubs, but that's because I love all that shit.
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Ah, ill give it a miss then.

But atari teenage riot are not shit, maybe just not to your tastes....

I was thinking if Hifana are playing I might try and see them.
 
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