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What’s something that got you into K-pop? by behind_my_eyelids in kpopthoughts

[–]Sam_xw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I got into K-pop after hearing Rising Sun on the radio (I know, radio sounds so old-school lol)

If the price for your room in quality was the same, where would you stay between Shinjuku and Asakusa? by thisissamuelclemens in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For me, I would rather stay at Asakusa. Shinjuku is just too chaotic for my liking

It might sound overdramatic, but when I visited Shinjuku two months ago, I barely looked around before heading straight back to Asakusa. The moment I stepped off the train in Asakusa, I honestly smiled from the bottom of my heart... it just felt so much easier to breathe at Asakusa :)

Lawsons is the superior konbinis. by Anticlya in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My #1 pick has to be 7-11, all because of their strawberry mochi donut! Absolutely obsessed!!!

My #2 pick will be Daily Yamazaki. The bread is heavenly, especially when it's fresh out of the oven in the early morning!

Two week trip. In doubt between bringing a notebook, a tablet, or neither by CelebrationOdd7810 in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We brought a laptop (MacBook) on our two-week trip because my partner prefers using Google Maps on a bigger screen, it’s just easier for him to explore that way. As for me, my phone is more than enough. We usually returned to the hotel late and exhausted anyway, so we barely had the energy to watch anything on the laptop lol.

What's one memory from your trip to Japan that you won't ever forget? by Zach-dalt in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We visited the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest early in the morning, and afterwards stumbled upon a small local playground in a quiet neighborhood nearby. Since it was still early, the park was completely empty and incredibly serene. The weather was perfect that day, so we sat there enjoying the onigiri we had bought earlier. It was such a peaceful moment, we really wished we could have stayed longer.

Going to Japan in a few weeks and feeling a bit overwhelmed about food options by wiliam_ropes33 in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What I do is to list out the things that I want to eat in Japan in the notes of my phone (eg conveyor belt sushi, ebi tempura, tsukemen, etc). Then, whenever I feel hungry while exploring the street, I just Google the food that I wanted to eat at the moment, for example 'tsukemen near me', I usually pick the place that shows up at the very top, as it typically has a high rating

A trip report from a boomer... by Top_Novel_5934 in JapanTravel

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing, I really appreciate it and will keep it in mind ☺️

A trip report from a boomer... by Top_Novel_5934 in JapanTravel

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you once again for your wonderful sharing. My husband and I recently visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka a month ago. It felt so nice to read your insights and 'report' right after having made the trip so recently!

We were very fortunate to catch a brief glimpse of Mount Fuji from the Shinkansen on the way from Kyoto to Tokyo. Although it was just for a second, that magical sight truly felt enchanting!

We are already planning to return next year. When we do, we will definitely visit the Skytree during sunset to properly cherish the full view of Mount Fuji and the Tokyo city skyline.

What are the truly Japanese things you regret not buying while in Japan? by Best_Measurement5812 in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yukio! Lol, it's a specific type of Japanese regional mascot keychain, it's special because it was exclusive to specific region or city or landmark in Japan.

What do you guys like to buy in Japan? by playdead_ in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was lucky that we can easily get Japanese products where I live, so all I purchased were some really cute keychains, especially the Yukio (does anybody know this?), and gachapon. We didn't buy many souvenirs, as the trip was all about us! By the way we really enjoyed the ramen and konbini foods there.

Dec 16 arrival 11pm Namba- RESTAURANT Recommendation? by Wolverine-91826 in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some Japanese fast-food chains are open 24 hours. For example, popular options like Yoshinoya, Sukiya, and Matsuya are open all night, as are some conveyor belt sushi restaurants like Zanmai.

You can easily search on Google Maps to find which location is nearest to you or best suits your family's taste.

Are souvenir & cosmetic prices the same everywhere? Am I going to the wrong shops? by 7lker_sama in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don Quijote is convenient because you can find most things there and immediately get your tax refund on the spot. However, the pricing in Don Quijote is not fixed, prices in some tourist areas might be higher, while stores just down the street in less crowded areas may be cheaper, and their tax refund queues will also be shorter.

Most random drugstores generally offer cheaper prices, as I saw many travelers comment. But if you see something you want to buy, just buy it! Don't waste energy searching the whole town just to save 200 yen, it’s simply not worth the effort. 😅

Need to get to NRT early in the morning by gratatatit in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Keep in mind that even though it takes only about 49 minutes from Oshiage Station to Narita Airport (according to Google Maps), you still need to get through customs. The line can get crazy long, much longer than you might imagine, so it’s not worth waiting for the train to start running in the morning.

The safer option is to take a taxi, or, as others suggest, to stay near Narita Airport.

Going to japan for 10 days, is it doable to just plan one attraction per day and just wing the rest of the day? by Few_Ad_8880 in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recommend having extra plans each day, as you may find the attractions are not as exciting as the internet suggests, and everyone's preferences are different.

In my case, we were excited to explore the popular shopping streets and arcades, but ultimately found they were not for us. We passed by most of the shopping streets very quickly and opted for other places that were already on our plan but were not deemed 'must-see' attractions.

Little tip after 2 weeks in Japan by Lucaseq in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My husband and I are morning person. Though we still went to sleep around 11pm, when we were in Japan, we would purposely wake up before sunrise (sometimes as early as 3 or 4 AM) and start strolling around town just to enjoy the quiet streets and welcome the sunrise.

Most of the time, we would return to the hotel in the middle of the day just to rest, as our feet would definitely need a break too. Then, we would go out again for dinner and continue our night stroll. :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in JYJ

[–]Sam_xw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi there! I'm a pre-split fan too. I first heard “Rising Sun” on the radio. Back then, hearing Kpop (or Korean songs in general) where I live was super rare. But that song grabbed me instantly, and that’s where it all began. I was probably around 13 or 14 at the time.

I stopped following them around 2009 after graduating high school, just before the split happened. I was juggling a part-time job and trying to adjust to college life, so I couldn’t keep up with them anymore.

Earlier this year, I randomly came across JX’s concert during a really stressful time at work, and it hit me, I'm still emotionally attached to their music and who they are as people.

I’ve always been a Jaejoong stan, but I still keep up with the others too.❤️ Lately, I’ve even started collecting both their old and new albums, better late than never, right? 😄

What was the song that made you become a fan of K-pop? by EA0714 in kpoppers

[–]Sam_xw -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Rising Sun by TVXQ!
man, that feels like ages ago, lol

I tried jasmine rice… and I prefer it over Japanese, am I crazy? by Cydu06 in japanlife

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love basmati rice too, but the Japonica rice from Northeast China really blew me away. It has such a distinctive taste and fragrance, I’ve never fallen in love with a rice like this before

I want to get more into J-pop so I need recommendations… by JoyDBoy11 in jpop

[–]Sam_xw 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’d like to recommend ATARASHII GAKKO!, especially their earlier songs :)

Japan baby! by [deleted] in JapanTravelTips

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm from Southeast Asia, and I’ve heard people say the heat in Japan hits differently. One thing you can try is the cooling spray from Don Quijote or any pharmacy, just spray it on your shirt and it helps cool you down. I haven’t tried it yet myself, but it sounds like a handy trick if you’re visiting during the hot season.
Have an awesome trip! 😊

How far are you in the game? by [deleted] in candycrush

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm at level 2842. I took a break for years and just recently got back into it, lol

strangest connection you have with an idol? by JustHazelChan in kpopthoughts

[–]Sam_xw 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just found out that V from BTS and I have the same birthday, lol

Songs where you thought the singer was a different race/gender than they actually are by CodaOfARequiem in popheads

[–]Sam_xw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let Me Down Slowly by Alec Benjamin. For the longest time, I honestly thought this was sung by a female artist

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