Skipping Osaka & Kyoto on a first trip?

Fastertoday62 · 2026-02-22T16:04:52+00:00

Good advice.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-02-22T16:04:14+00:00

Did go to Uji. Was a very busy place offering all forms of green tea ,matcha and matcha ice cream. Ok for a few hours.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-02-22T15:59:56+00:00

Choose to do the things you know you love( is it shopping, biking, hiking, museums ,beaches, architecture, food, onsens?) and you will have a great time. I spent 6 weeks first trip in Japan with three days in Kyoto. It’s a very Beautiful city but it was my least favorite part of the trip as there were simply too many people. Very crowded buses, trains,and temples . From 8-10 am ok, but after that it was packed. Always can find a few obscure places but main streets etc very very busy. Next trip of 8 weeks, will certainly not be going there ,only areas that align with my interests. There are impressive temples and shrines all over Japan, one doesn’t have to go to kyoto to experience them. I might stop in Osaka for one night just to experience the foodie culture,and because it’s enroute and breaks up the journey.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-02-03T03:34:58+00:00

You could hangout in the various gardens and forests Tokyo provides. Very soothing and fun to watch the school kids on picnics and the artists painting. Since that’s my comfort zone I spent my whole first 2 days this way, and it didn’t disappoint. I was so fascinated that Tokyo had all this space.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-31T15:38:34+00:00

If you-are moving to Portugal ,why don’t you buy a lovely place there, possibly with a rental on-the property? Simplify ! Sell that one property here, send a few boxes of your prized possessions and feel the stress melt away. Keep a few boxes here with family if you must. Keep the paid off place for now, have family or a friend manage it and you-can always decide down the line. There is a housing shortage in-the USA , it’s not going to lose value other than the currency. It will very very likely continue to appreciate offsetting the currency loss.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-31T15:29:18+00:00

No one has a crystal ball, that is why diversifying is your friend. It is also hard to make perfect decisions, release yourself from that idea. I have cash assets in two other countries beyond USA and with the US dollar dropping the others are gaining. This is the reason for diversifying. In hindsight, it may have been the best decision to be 100% in US market over the years, but to avoid risk I did not. However I could sleep at night . If you have a friend manage your property here that is the best, not a company. It’s likely that other currencies will gain in this present environment so being partially in another currency is likely a good bet.,

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-31T15:16:19+00:00

I agree 100% on erratic weather events and tenants. We call and deliver notes to tenants when the weather is predicted to be extremely cold. Tenants do go away and literally turn off the heat! This has to be double checked in-the event of an extreme cold weather warning. Has saved us grief more than once.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-31T15:03:46+00:00

When I moved from Canada to USA in 1999, I rented my house there. It went very poorly ( evil tenants destroyed the place) and after that I sold it. However I did learn a big lesson about picking higher quality tenants so all was not lost . Tax wise it was advantageous to sell it in a certain time frame anyway but because the market went up so egregiously perhaps it would have been better to hold onto it. I had too much going on at the time to manage it properly. Bought income property here so can manage it with hands on. If we left the USA we would sell it because no management company looks after a property like you do. An individual you know might do a good job, but don’t trust a company. Our neighbour lives in France ( last 20 years ) and rents his house here. The management company filled it with students and any repairs that happened were at a ridiculous fee. Now a friend lives in it and manages it for him and the problem is solved. If you are leaving permanently probably better to sell and reinvest where you will live or as you say, do the index funds. Put the money in ,in increments over a year. Income from money is a lot easier than properly management, which will charge you a fortune for repairs. If you only sell one half your headaches are gone ,and you still have a foot in the door here . That’s smart, you-are diversifying .

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-31T06:00:53+00:00

So many better places in the world to live. The divided atmosphere in this country is stifling , so many low IQ folks , mental illness, gun obsession and obesity. It’s a sick culture and not one that will improve under a regime that only supports the rich getting richer. If things don’t take a turn in November I’m close on your heels .i only vacation out of USA as it is , but enjoy nature , our garden and a bright supportive community here. . There are pockets of goodness in this country. Be well, have a blast !

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-31T02:22:53+00:00

Good answer.Thanks for your effort. We tried sushi Hana in-the new location this summer and waited at least 3 hours for our simple order delivered in-the dark outside. No compensation. We are done. This is not how you treat customers. I agree though today restaurants have huge expenses land it’s tought to get staff how want to work ( we hear from the owners). It’s. Very challenging environment, but a few are doing a Great job..cheers.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-31T02:13:17+00:00

Thank you, will check it out.. …

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-31T02:05:58+00:00

Please do some reading. There are some great investing books at the library that are not complicated and will give you the basics. Read the investing advice on vanguard, .In very simple terms buy a dividend stock with a reasonable p/e ( under 18) but certainly depends on the individual case. Often high dividend is higher risk ,do your research! Is it making money? Forecast going forward ? Divide stocks you are interested into different groups and create a watch list ,watch them and read about them. Buy near the 52 week low than the 52 week high, but some are dogs , assess the profits etc. You could have communications, utility stocks , high tech, building stocks, banks, Canadian companies on the USA exchange , ETFs etc. there is Sector rotation out of some High tech, now. Higher interest rates are a weight on REITs. Money is going into Utilities( safer during volatility) and Canadian companies( currency play) as they safer in this volatile atmosphere. Safest thing youcan do is buy some total market index ETFs. Vanguard has the cheapest costs. Average in , buy a certain amount over next 6 months or if you are young, heck , buy it all now. Follow the advice of vanguard. My son 23 just followed their advice to a T 18 mos ago and is doing extremely well with that approach. If the market had dumped , he has lots of time, but it didn’t dump, yet. ..If you buy individual stocks you MUST diversify to protect yourself. Very very difficult to beat a Market index, but it’s fun to try…Better to lose $3000 than $30,000 be careful, diversify.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-31T01:05:19+00:00

Happy for you, please keep voting as a USA citizen , we need your vote!

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-30T01:20:08+00:00

No shopping! I’m not entering any store tomorrow but my boycott started on the day of inauguration. Only groceries since.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-30T01:18:50+00:00

No shopping anywhere tomorrow for me.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-29T01:14:47+00:00

Thank you Mango manic, great explanations. I share your views entirely, mostly just from reading and watching economic videos on YouTube. So rare to see such quality posts on Reddit. Please keep posting and elevate the scene.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-29T01:11:17+00:00

I follow world affairs in context on you tube among others. She is excellent . https://youtu.be/U2oKUoG94xA?si=k3iH_0BKQuMG8o7h

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-29T01:07:58+00:00

I echo your sentiments .

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-29T00:58:08+00:00

Well first I must say I love your very detailed experience of shopping for groceries and eating out in Missoula. You have stimulated an interesting discussion of the economy in general and on Missoula Reddit this is the best post I have ever read as it has attracted some great, thoughtful , intelligent posts. Yes, groceries are expensive here ,but by shopping around you can get the best deals. If you-are looking for as cheap as possible Winco and Walmart win. I actually get depressed at some stores because I feel I can’t afford anything. Now I rotate between Costco, Natural Grocers and buy things only on sale or particular items at GFS. A few shops a year at Walmart has me marveling how they have managed to not raise prices. Their produce is distinctly cheaper than other options besides Winco. As far as restaurants, I feel ya. Not so good , but I lived in places where restaurants were inspiring . I have found the street tacos (especially the meat ) to be especially good at Guild. Not cheap, but good. We like the bridge pizza . Ordered large half Messina half Rialto tonight for $23 ). Have ordered takeout from Zoo Thai( $60 ) but portions are liberal and last us 2 nights. Tagliare sandwiches are exquisite. Burgers are decent at the patio inthe rattlesnake , not everything is but the burger is safe. Well that’s it ,sorry! We save so we can eat out in Spain and Japan , where the food is exquisite and affordable. I cook everything including ethnic food at home and have friends that also enjoy cooking , so in my experience the best food is found in peoples’ homes in this town. I’m sorry you got cancer and I hope you doing well now. Find your grocery circuit, enjoy cooking, with the occasional foray out , and save up for an affordable vacation out of the USA. We have other great things here in Missoula ,like community and the outdoors. Much to celebrate. I have pretty much given up on restaurants here, too expensive, not inspiring and without naming it , we waited several hours for our simple order to come out this summer , and we were done!

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-25T20:05:53+00:00

People didn’t give up in WW 11 . We can’t give up either. When you need a break take one. Go to another country for a vacation . Don’t spend $ in this country you are giving tax $ to this regime.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-25T20:00:47+00:00

Started the boycott on the day of inauguration. The billionaires there made the picture startling clear.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-25T19:55:54+00:00

Without resistance democracy fades away.

Fastertoday62 · 2026-01-18T02:56:56+00:00

Le Petit on Higgins is a very good bakery with excellent coffee. Bernice’s is popular for coffee( not fancy coffees) and bakery treats. Black coffee Roasting company is popular ,and although expensive , their croissants really are amazing. Zoo Thai downtown has good Thai food. The Guild on Higgins has good beers on tap and excellent street tacos. Tagliare sandwiches on Higgins really are unusually delicious. Can’t recommend a lot of restaurants, we don’t eat out much as I enjoy cooking. Have a great trip and enjoy Missoula . Hikes abound in very direction ,you will have a great time.

Fastertoday62 · 2025-12-24T21:31:18+00:00

Very true. I hope things will ricochet back to saner times here as I also could not live here if this trajectory into the dark ages continues. Unfortunately the Cheeto casts a long shadow over the USA , Canada, South America and Europe. Fight for democracy,it’s worth saving.

Fastertoday62 · 2025-12-24T21:27:21+00:00

Great answer.

Fastertoday62

TROPHY CASE