Adventures of JAPAN!

hey all, just thought I'd fill you in on what's happened so far.

well I arrived after a 9 hours flight, and the first thing that stumped us was the train system. GOD it was so damn confusing, but got the hang of it. so after a day and half, we sorta figured out how to go about the train system, and no, don't get me to explain it, I am kinda drunk at the moment.

For today, we went to Shibuya hoping to buy some winter clothing, but to no avail we could not find any MALE clothing stores. alot of it was female clothing stores, all the male oriented ones were very very expensive stores (69000 yen for a coat :|).

next was Akihabara. here I bought myself a PSP and I'm loving it. and with the amount of Key related items that I have seen, you'd all hate me if I bought them. Today I happened to have found the Planetarian CD from last year's Comiket with a poster and I am planning on buying that the next trip I make to Akihabara. but I can tell you all this, my suitcase isgoing to be filled with alot of Key/Circus merch.

as for pics, unfortunetly the computer I am using does not allow for plugging in external devices, but with a frst trip to Akihabara, I didn't plan on taking many pics.

anyway, I'll post more, maybe after Comiket.

[Leo_Otaku]

awww lucky you. I'm probably going again this summer. But yourthere now >.< hey I'm new and all but if you see the AIR TV potato plushie let me know....

I remember the trains >.< shinkansen are confusing.....

You bring two suitcaese one of clothing n stuff and one with gifts so it will be empty. Then you get a tube that you mail posters in so if you get any they won't get bent.

[cyanoacry]

Then you get a tube that you mail posters in so if you get any they won't get bent.

I wish I could trust those things, but I've learned (the hard way) not to... I sent a poster tube from Baltimore, MD (US East Coast) down to Los Angeles, CA (US West Coast). When I received the tube it was bent in the middle, nearly folded at a 90 degree angle, with the seams ripping due to the stress. It had one Digi Charat poster in it.

Pray tell what happens with tubes like that when you give -two- governments -and- an international courier a chance to screw things up... :(

I hardly ever get out of my little town, and rarely even get to Houston, much less Japan...

I've been to the Phillipines twice, though.

well just got back from meeting a friend of ours that lives out in Ashikagashi (which is two hours but normal subway out of Tokyo) and browsing around the local area. ALSO I happened to have found a 1/8 figure of Ayu made by Clayz. this item is VERY rare as it was released about 4 years ago. also happened to come across some Kanon TCG booster packs. Though I didn't buy them as I am not into TCs.

today I'll be wondering around Tokyo and going to Tokyo Tower. Since its the day before C69 I won't be making anymore purchases today. depending on time, this will be the last post for a few days.

@Leo_Otaku: I have the Potato plushy, but they are quite hard to find now as they are quite rare now.

well its been a while since I posted. from what I have gathered of my purchases, I have spent well and truely over $1200 AUS for the two days of C69. and about $350 AUS of that is doujinshi. though I found it hard to find H-doujins of Key related series.

right now I am back in Tokyo, the last few days I was in Kyoto for New Years and it was pretty good. I visited many shrines and even saw shrine maidens. though lately the only bad thing is that most places are closed between the 1-3rd Jan so been pretty bored and my friend doesn't like walking around to explore places.

the weekend coming up I'll be heading to an onsen so that'll be an experience.

[GreatSaintLouis]

Sounds like you're having quite a time! If you don't mind my asking, where are you staying - hotel, a gaijin house, a friend's place? And would you happen to have an estimate on your average daily food expenses and other necessities of life?

And no, doujin does not count as a necessity.

.... yea I'd like to know as well... because if all goes well as planned, i may be spending quite some time there, and be around for next years comiket...

(knowing how much to bring/save for that day would be realllly nice...)
<_<

OK, right now my friend has bought himself a laptop, so now I have a bit more freedom for internet. the place I am staying at is a ryokan. right now I can`t remember the website address but search up Andon Ryokan on google.

as for daily expenses I`d roughly calculate to about 2000-4000 yen. this is including food, travel etc. currently I am not making any major purchases as i still have till the 12th Januy till I leave, and after Coiket69, yeah..... you get the idea.

[Donut]

Wow the Ryokan is really small :O How much does it cost? Ehr Is there a bathroom there? I hope so :P. Althou I can slack at a monks place if I go to Japan :P. Hmmm how long ya staying there? Buy a laptop there? Better be one of those UltraUltraUltraPortable ones :P

[GreatSaintLouis]

Wow, 2000-4000 yen daily is certainly below the inflated budget I'd reasoned out! Good to hear that one can get by on a visit so relatively cheap.

the ryokan has everything you need to get by.

http://www.andon.co.jp/

just remembered the site address for you guys.

as for living expenses, do keep in mind I left home with alot of money, about $3500 AUS. it just depends on what you really want to eat, these last few days I`ve been eating bread, ramen and occassionally family restaurants (which are really nice).

though for those who have been to Jaan, WHERE can I find Taiyaki, lots of places I`ve been to don`t have taiyaki. so any help would be appreciated. also being a Naiyuki fan, I`ve even eaten lots of Strawberry foods, eg Strawberry Parfait.

oh yes now that I have access to a laptop, I may upload photos.

[procyon]

Originally Posted by adun50

though for those who have been to Jaan, WHERE can I find Taiyaki, lots of places I`ve been to don`t have taiyaki. so any help would be appreciated. also being a Naiyuki fan, I`ve even eaten lots of Strawberry foods, eg Strawberry Parfait.

Really? Given that its a winter thing I'd expect it to be everywhere. Last time I was there, I saw it in many places (even though it was the middle of summer). Try in the food court/market type places that tend to be in the basements of one of the bigger department stores? If they don't have it, they probably will know where to get it.

The big question is can you find strawberry taiyaki? :) I've been meaning to concoct a recipe for some time now, but I'm sure someone over there must sell it.

Awww... so you're not freeloading at a girl's house?

[Haeleth]

If you find yourself short of things to do and with a day or so to spare, I hear the daffodils on Awajishima are particularly fine at this time of year. ;)