im-roberto » Japan 2008

Memories

Roberto — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:39:42 +0000

Though its been around seven months since my trip to Japan I still talk excitedly about it and share various observations with friends and coworkers. Here’s a little video I came across while browsing around my profile on vimeo.

Mt. Fuji Cuisine from Roberto on Vimeo.

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Japan ’09?

Roberto — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:33:28 +0000

A bunch of people have asked me if I’m going back to Japan next year. My answer is always a bit mixed mainly because I’m still not sure what changes may come especially after moving out from Palmdale. I’m hoping to go back next year but if its not possible I’ll definitely be going to Seattle to visit some friends there. In any case this fishy video made me want to visit Japan again.

Sneaker Shopping, in Japan?!?

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Tokyo Tower Observatory

Roberto — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:21:00 +0000

I’m pretty sure I have posted this video before. I don’t remember but in any case, this is on top of Tokyo Tower. It was the first whole day that we spent in Japan. Really nice view of the city, and a really nice way to enjoy the architecture.

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Shopping list overview

Roberto — Mon, 05 May 2008 01:52:00 +0000

I was looking over the stuff that I had purchased for Japan, and I realized there were a few things that I didn’t really use. So I just wanted to write about some of those articles that came in handy and some that were just a waste of money, or extra weight on the pack.

First and foremost lets begin with all the goodies:

Packing Cubes: These were extremely useful with the fact that everything was always very organized. Therefore when it was time to pack and go it was always done very quickly. Aside from their practicality they just made things quick in revision with the customs.

Japanese: Lonely Planet Phrasebook: Although I really didn’t use this much while walking around in the streets of Japan. It did come handy in the way I memorized some of the phrases in there. Which in the end helped simplify things sometimes.

Gorillapod: This mini tripod helped while filming. It doubled as a miniature monopod which helped keep a steadier shot while walking and filming. Makes it easier to the audience when they aren’t getting motion sickness ala Blair Witch Project.

Let’s go over the wasted money, or excess weight:

Monster Portable Power Strip: If you plan on visiting Japan keep in mind that all of the United States products are compatible with their wall sockets. Now the only difference is the fact that they don’t have the little hole in the middle (I think its for grounding). So in this case the Monster Strip was useless and extra weight and space. Though I must say it is a great product if you travel within the U.S.

Master Lock Luggage Locks: The customs agents and revision agents advice you to take them off while checking in any large luggage at the Air Port. Luckily I found this out before heading off and left these behind. In is very safe and don’t expect anyone really going through your stuff at the hostels there.

Compass Travel Pack 29": This is somewhat of a mixed feeling. Your backpack when backpacking (duh!), is the most essential thing you’ll be carrying of course. So it can make or break your trip while you are trekking around with it on your back. Personally I would go with something a bit smaller in size, due to its weight and size. I had the problem of stuffing it with clothes when I really should have just carried 2 to 3 clothes changes, and they very bare essentials. The mini day pack attached to it was great and very useful while sight seeing. It held my camera and gorillapod, water, snacks, and at times a sweater. Personally the pack is great if you are only staying at one place but for my use where moving around a lot was a daily thing I would say go with maybe the 23" version of this pack.

Experience is what makes you learn best I know now what to carry and what not to. If you are considering a back pack trip to Japan take my recommendation in mind but please don’t let me stop you.

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Uploaded another video on Youtube

Roberto — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:18:00 +0000

This is Osaka Jo Cohen, a park in the heart of Osaka, near Osaka Castle and Osaka Jo Hall. More videos will be coming.

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Accommodations

Roberto — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:20:00 +0000

I must say I had some pretty low expectations out of the places I was going to be staying at. Considering the price per night (average of around $30 a night), I was expecting to find dead hookers underneath the mattress or something similar to that. Out of the 4 places I must say Yougendo Inn was by far the best place I’ve ever spend a night at in any of my vacations.

Aizuya Inn (the first and last place we slept at) was fair, they were small rooms with a shared bathroom per floor. There was 3 coin showers (100 yen for I belive 10 mins)in the lower floor. If you traveled as I did where you only spent time at your room to sleep then this place is great because you can just take the Hibiya line to Ueno, or the Jōban Line to the Nippori JR Loop to get nearly anywhere in Tokyo. I must say the people in the neighborhood are friendly, and will recognize you if you after a day or two.

J-Hoppers Osaka and Kyoto is more of a true backpackers hostel as most of the rooms in those places are dorms. In Osaka we stayed in one of their dorms, which really wasn’t bad because the people in the shared room really minded their own business and nothing else. The J-hoppers in Kyoto being a bit of an older facility wasn’t as great but then again I just didn’t have much of a great time in Kyoto. Possibly due to fatigue.

All in all the places were great especially Yougendo. All 4 of these places were near a metro. I would just suggest trying to book ahead to get yourself a private room.

Nara, and Osaka

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Missing the other side of the pond

Roberto — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:14:00 +0000

Coming from Tokyo where you can easily get around to almost any corner of the city via metro to Palmdale really blows. I already miss Japan, its food, and its great night life. No related posts. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. No related posts. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

2 days in Kyoto

Roberto — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:49:00 +0000

Unfortunately our stay in Kyoto in my opinion sucked. We took the metro to the manga museum only to find out it was closed, from there we walked for nearly an hour -_-. Finally moving out onto the Kyoto Imperial Palace, only to find out that the gardens and the outer area is open to the public. Moving from the palace we took the metro back to the main kyoto station and just walked around a bit, and visited a fairly large buddhist temple around there. Our second day there was mainly our laundry day so not much walking or running around. The only upside to it is visiting a manga shop where I bought a few books (which unfortunately got wet because on the way back home I put my wet towel over them -_-), and a magazine. We left Kyoto early to catch the shinkansen back to Tokyo seeing that there was far more things of interest to see there.

I must advise that if you plan to travel to Japan, and plan to go city hopping as I did make sure you purchase a J-Rail Pass, as it will save you tons of money.

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