EstherM:
Please take more pictures if you're up on the copter!

qilver:
I'll be staying in Ueno, short walk from Ueno Park. Looking forward to the cherry blossoms! I haven't fixed the exact itinerary yet, will be a tight schedule, heh heh... didn't arrange to meet up, just wondering if we'll catch each other in our photos.

Will be flying tmr morning!
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Genma wrote:

I'll be staying in Ueno, short walk from Ueno Park.

My favorite part of Tokyo.

bmwracer wrote:

My favorite part of Tokyo.

Pimsleur's Japanese uses Ueno park and Ueno station as examples of locations in Level 1. Always made me smile.
_________________

"Actually, I don't have bones. I'm supported
by a system of fluid-filled bladders"

phlargo wrote:

Pimsleur's Japanese uses Ueno park and Ueno station as examples of locations in Level 1. Always made me smile.

Indeed they do. Ueno kouen he ikimasu ka?

Hi All,
If this has been posted already...sumi masen. I read this on the Yahoo.com News page this morning and thought you might find it interesting.

US urges citizens to avoid Tokyo nightlife area


TOKYO – The U.S. Embassy in Japan has urged Americans to avoid going to bars in Tokyo's raucous nightlife district of Roppongi due to a surge in reports of drink-spiking incidents there.

The number of reports of Americans being drugged in Roppongi bars has increased significantly, the embassy said in a statement released Tuesday. Victims drink drug-mixed beverages and fall unconscious for several hours. They wake up only to realize their credit cards have been stolen, it said.

Roppongi, home to more than 330 bars and nightclubs, is hugely popular among foreigners.

"If you, nevertheless, choose to participate in Roppongi night life, we urge you to remain extra vigilant of your surroundings and maintain a high level of situational awareness," the statement said.

The embassy did not give the number of drink-spiking cases. But Masahito Fujita, a police official in Roppongi, said there have been no reports of drink-spiking cases since this year.

Enna wrote:

Hi All,

Hi Enna!!! Long time, no see!! I don't know if you know it or not, but Sensei, Genma and quilver are all in Japan right now. Let's hope they avoid the bars. Stop by more often, we've missed you.

gaijinmark wrote:

Hi Enna!!! Long time, no see!! I don't know if you know it or not, but Sensei, Genma and quilver are all in Japan right now. Let's hope they avoid the bars. Stop by more often, we've missed you.

I concur.

Not sure about Genma, but I don't think Sensei or Q are really big drinkers, if at all...

bmwracer wrote:

I concur. Not sure about Genma, but I don't think Sensei or Q are really big drinkers, if at all...

I have not gone to any bars, and i do not have any intention of visiting any, or any nightclubs. I think i would be wary of visiting any, moreso, since i am alone on travel. My day usually starts quite early, and i head out by just after 8am each day, so i end each day early and so far i have not stayed up past midnight.
I have not heard back from Wynchan, or Genma, but i do hope that they are enjoying their adventures while in this wonderful country. There is plenty to see, and please if anyone has any questions on Japan, if i do know of it, i would be more than happy to give any info.
I am here only a few more days, so if Wynchan, or Genma want to meet while in Tokyo, let me know.
I depart on Monday.
Anyhow, i went to Kamakura today, i took the Yokosuka line from Tokyo station to Kamakura station, which took about an hour, each way, and free with the JR-pass. I saw the great statue, Daibutsu statue and took some photos. I am now back in Tokyo and i am going to head out to Akihabara soon. It is always so busy, and i had the experience of getting sardine packed in the Yamanote train this morning around 9am, gosh there is so so many ppl here in Japan.

qilver wrote:

I have not gone to any bars, and i do not have any intention of visiting any, or any nightclubs. I think i would be wary of visiting any, moreso, since i am alone on travel.

I could never walk into a bar on my own and order a drink. But my sister and me will surely go out a few times in Tokyo. I am not worried though, we certainly don't go to shabby places.

Enjoy your last weekend in Japan qilver-san!

Hi Enna!

Sounds to me like going drinking with a sober friend sounds safest.
_________________

EstherM wrote:

I could never walk into a bar on my own and order a drink. But my sister and me will surely go out a few times in Tokyo. I am not worried though, we certainly don't go to shabby places. Enjoy your last weekend in Japan qilver-san!

thanks.
The weather today in Tokyo is overcast, and it was a good thing when i went to Kamakura yesterday, the weather was very nice.
There is so much to see here in Tokyo, and so much walking, that in the next few days, i am not exactly sure where to see, as i already visited the areas i wanted to see, mostly. I will just try to enjoy, and relax more during my last few days here, and get some more souvenir shopping in.
I do hope that wherever Wynter and Genma are in Japan, that they are having a great time and are safe in this great country.

Enjoy Japan Q. You lucky guy.

Genma wrote:

I'll be staying in Ueno, short walk from Ueno Park. Looking forward to the cherry blossoms! I haven't fixed the exact itinerary yet, will be a tight schedule, heh heh... didn't arrange to meet up, just wondering if we'll catch each other in our photos. Will be flying tmr morning!

Enjoy the trip! I stayed there, last year, at the same date. You should be able to see some nice sakura and yopparai oyaji.

Have fun!
_________________

Hey tabana is back!! How are things at the Takoyaki Museum?

gaijinmark wrote:

Hey tabana is back!! How are things at the Takoyaki Museum?

Hopefully it's not just a cameo appearance...

Maybe he's been gone for so long as a result of eating something he cooked.

tabana wrote:

Enjoy Japan Q. You lucky guy. Enjoy the trip! I stayed there, last year, at the same date. You should be able to see some nice sakura and yopparai oyaji. Have fun!

hey Tabana!!
after nearly 16 days of being here, i think i lost about 5 pounds, and i am in better shape now climbing all those stairs. I will miss everything about Japan, which includes food, the hot Japanese girls, the maids in the cafes, AKB, Sakura trees, the customer service, the awesome multileveled stores, the cleaniliness, and orderlyness, the trains, the HMV, Mister Donut, the train noodle and curry shops, ..............i think you get the idea what i will miss from here.
Hey i was here last year too, about when you were here eh....
ok, I will try to upload some photos of my trip after i get back next week.

Got a PM from Sensei yesterday (which is today in Japan) she was in Kyoto, heading back to Osaka and then back home. Said she had lots of pictures, can't wait to see them!

gaijinmark wrote:

Got a PM from Sensei yesterday (which is today in Japan) she was in Kyoto, heading back to Osaka and then back home. Said she had lots of pictures, can't wait to see them!

I didn't get a PM.

bmwracer wrote:

I didn't get a PM.

That's because I sent her one first.

Hi all!
I'm new here so I'll introduce myself.
I'm Michael 19y/M and I live in Belgium.

I was looking fo JDorama's when i saw a post "I'm going to japan" so i clicked it an read a few posts to get some info 'cause I also want to go to japan someday.

Now my biggest problem is to find someone to go with me... I don't have any friends with the same interests sadly enough.

I was also wondering if it would be possible to find a "host family" (don't know if its the right name) because hotels are kinda expensive and then I would have no idea where to go or what to do.
I do not have real experience with traveling, went to spain with my parents that's about it :p

So if anyone could help me , would you please be so kind...??

My apologies for the long post.

Grtz,
Michael.

���肪�Ƃ��@�������܂��I
P.S.�@���{��̂��������ł��B(I'm in my first year of japanese ^^)

Michael_6140 wrote:

Hi all! I'm new here so I'll introduce myself. I'm Michael 19y/M and I live in Belgium. I was looking fo JDorama's when i saw a post "I'm going to japan" so i clicked it an read a few posts to get some info 'cause I also want to go to japan someday. Now my biggest problem is to find someone to go with me... I don't have any friends with the same interests sadly enough. I was also wondering if it would be possible to find a "host family" (don't know if its the right name) because hotels are kinda expensive and then I would have no idea where to go or what to do. I do not have real experience with traveling, went to spain with my parents that's about it :p So if anyone could help me , would you please be so kind...?? My apologies for the long post. Grtz, Michael. ���肪�Ƃ��@�������܂��I P.S.�@���{��̂��������ł��B(I'm in my first year of japanese ^^)

Hi Michael,
For cheap flights check out www.connections.be - they had fantastic offers in February. I am going for 460 Euros in May and a friend of mine goes for 410 Euros from Paris in June.

You could join http://www.couchsurfing.com/ and offer your place to people visiting Antwerp and use it in exchange in Japan.

Japan and Belgium have very strong business connections - I am sure there a lot of internships and programmes are available, especially for students. Check with the Japanese embassy in Brussels.

Last but not least, a friend of mine told me about these organised group trips for young people in Flanders. You travel with a guide and everybody is under 30. I don�Lt know though which travel company and if they go to Japan at all.

Good luck ne! And btw welcome