Japan trip report

May 8, 2008

I just got back from Japan recently and finally have some time to blog about it. I went for 17 days and had a great time.

If you've never visited Japan, I recommend it. There's lots of cool things about the city and culture that are worth experiencing. I remember the first time I went in 1991, not knowing what to expect, and my whole perspective on the United States changed forever. I always assumed we were the most advanced country on earth (I was young and naive back in those days). That's not to say Japan is perfect, but there are many great things there that I wish would make it's way to the USA.

One of the best things about Japan is the food. I'm not talking about fugu or high priced sushi or anything fancy. I'm talking about Japanese fast food, donut shops, pastry shops and even food from 7-11. Just about anything you try there will be good and the service will be good. Plus there's no tipping!

Here's a pict of one of my favorite places. "Mister Donut". Cheap, good coffee and a cute japanese girl comes by every few minutes to refill your coffee. What more could you want?

The infamous "Cocoa Float" at a great fast food place called "First Kitchen". If you're ever in Japan, you MUST try this. It's awesome.

Starbucks has a green tea frappuccino that is delicious:

During the trip I met up with some fellow mac developers living in Japan. One day we went to Kamakura to visit a Zen temple and sat in for a session of zazen. It was one of the most famous Zen temples. I can't remember the name at the moment.

I'm interested in Zen, but I'm too lazy to practice it. Maybe some day. One thing interesting happened during zazen. There were about 40-50 people there and we were all sitting down and the priest walks around carrying a big stick. If a person gestures to the priest, the priest will whack the guy on the back. But the problem is every other person requested getting whacked on the back so it was really hard to meditate with so much noise. I couldn't focus!

Here's a pict of me and one of my developer friends waiting to eat awesome Japanese beef stew in Kamakura.

I also stopped by my friends office to see what's its like to be a developer working in Japan. The office was very tiny, but it was cozy and enough room for a desk and monitor and stuff. (not the best pict, but the office was so tiny it was hard to get anything in frame)

Like a good geek I had to take a trip to Akihabara which is the mecca of the infamous "Otaku". Akihabara is home to the "maid cafe" phenomenon. Here's a maid on the street begging me to taste her treats. I found out later that the best looking maids are inside, but they are extremely strict about taking photographs. I was forced to erase a picture I took inside by an angry maid.

We visited a few Maid cafes and they were fun. It's wasn't what I expected. It's really quite normal except for the fact that the waitresses wear costumes. All the customers where normal people men and women. I expected there would be tons of geeks drooling over the maids, but it's wasn't like that at all. Good food and service.

I'm kind of perplexed how so many shops there are in Akiba selling dolls and figures. There are tons of them and all packed to the roof. Who buys this stuff? It's all very cute and fun, but in order for these places to all stay in business there must be tons of Otaku buying lots of figurines. They sell everything thing at these stores. Doll clothes, hair, doll paint. Once again it was hard to take a picture since the spaces where so cramped and tight with stuff. Here's some bare dolls you can buy and you can design your own anime character.

Here's another pict of one display case. The store is packed wall to wall with cases of figures. I just noticed the "no camera" sign on the left side.

Another shot of display cases stuffed with stuff.

We had lunch at the famous Otaku food stand. Star Kebab.

Me and the gang hanging out inside the Star Kebab.

We walked by this business which offers a high tech face massage given by a maid. I regret not trying it!

There were also lots of shops selling vintage game systems from the 80s and 90s.

Here's a classic. I wonder why it never took off?

Some vintage hand held game systems:

We also visited this vintage arcade. Every machine there was filled with almost every known game ROM imaginable. All the classics in one place.

Before the Otaku took over Akiba, it was home (and still is) to vendors selling every conceivable electronic part or device. You can find any type of resistor, switch, capacitor etc. There are rows and rows of these little one man shops no bigger than 6x6 stuffed to max with electronics with a little old man sitting behind it all selling day after day.

I only bought one thing in Akiba. This killer mask for my son Kai. It was only $2.

Here's a pict that really illustrates why Japan is awesome. This is a toilet on the public train. No graffiti, no trash, clean and safe. It wouldn't last 1 day in San Francisco. In SF they locked all the public toilets in the train stations for "Security Reasons" Where do they expect the bums to shoot heroin?

Here's the family in front of some Cherry blossoms. There were blooming why we were there.

Bought my kid another mask. His hero is Ultraman!

The toilet on the Bullet train for Gaijin like me.

My brother in-law is also a Mac user. He does page layout for game magazines and has a hardcore setup.

Here he is wearing the Steve Jobs uniform

My sister in-law is an awesome cook. Here's your typical Japanese high rise Kitchen.

Another thing great about Japan is the CD and DVD shops. Everything you could ever want and you can rent them. Most people rent them, copy them and return them the next day. It's super cheap.

My sister has this great place in Tokyo near Shinagawa station. They're on the top floor and have a great view of Tokyo.

Well, that's it. There was lots I didn't mention, but those were some highlights. Just like anything, you have to experience it. There's lots to see and do.

Posted by sgehrman at May 8, 2008 11:04 PM