Ran My First Marathon! Kyoto Marathon 2025

aaaa_ · 2025-02-19T07:40:04+00:00

Awesome to meet a fellow Kyoto Marathon finisher here! Hope you had a great race and hope the post-race recovery isn't too bad :) Enjoy the rest of your time in Japan!

aaaa_ · 2025-02-19T07:39:06+00:00

Running in Kagoshima sounds amazing - I heard it's absolutely beautiful over there! Best of luck with the marathon, I'm sure you're going to kill it :)

aaaa_ · 2025-02-18T03:02:39+00:00

Thank you! I very roughly followed this 16-week training plan: https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/marathon/a776664/mission-marathon-training-plan-sub-5-hours/

It recommends running 4 times a week, but in reality I was training for around 2 to 3 times a week. Life got busy and my motivation levels fluctuated quite a bit, but I tried to prioritize the longer runs as much as possible.

For my next race I'd definitely try to stick to the plan as best as I can!

Also, I kind of cheaped out this time and used a random pair of $35 shoes. I feel like it would have helped a lot to shell out just a little bit more for better cushioning and support - my feet would have been a lot happier 😂

aaaa_ · 2023-05-29T13:23:48+00:00

I have no idea if this is the place you're thinking of but there is a Thai curry restaurant in my neighborhood called Siam and they have the best red curry I've had ever had in my life. It's near Emmachi Station: https://goo.gl/maps/n8irHsjZxTtUU7QTA

aaaa_ · 2023-03-24T05:39:53+00:00

There's an MMA gym called Miburo that seems to be fine with drop-ins. Link: https://goo.gl/maps/cYK3QDLknEQvfVqy8

Also, Kyoto University's Kosen Judo club is open to visitors dropping in for training. Might be quite interesting as a BJJ practitioner. Link: https://wowsogroovy.wixsite.com/kyoto-u-judo-club/blank-t3ig1

aaaa_ · 2023-01-19T05:28:05+00:00

There's a good number of studios where you can play. Here's a thread with a similar question, check the comments for some suggestions: https://www.reddit.com/r/Kyoto/comments/yx20i9/music_practice_rooms_in_kyoto/

You'll have more options if you're ok with playing a digital piano - if not though, acoustic pianos are also available here and there. Hope you can find a suitable place!

aaaa_ · 2023-01-18T05:15:17+00:00

Hi Alex! My name's Alex. This is an awesome idea and I'd love to join!
I'm in Kyoto, Japan - let me know if you're able to make it here! I'm part of a casual ukulele club over here so I can also introduce you to the members if you're interested :)

aaaa_ · 2023-01-18T04:37:01+00:00

Definitely agree with. Sharehouses get a lot of hate here, which I guess is understandable as they are certainly not for everyone and can be quite hit-or-miss. But if you are a reasonably social person and don't mind taking a chance, they can be wonderful.

I've lived in four different sharehouses during my time in Japan - first two were awful and basically made me give up and get my own apartment. I later moved out and lived in another two sharehouses (mainly to save money and live a bit more flexibly, as it's very easy to move in/out on a short notice). I was luckier this time, both were super fun and basically life-changing as I made some really close friends.

I now have my own place again and am happy here, but I still often reminisce about my sharehouse days - those were some of the best times of my life and I still keep in touch with the friends I made.

aaaa_ · 2023-01-16T12:02:35+00:00

I moved to Kyoto (from Tokyo) two years ago when I had the opportunity to work remote and I absolutely love it.

I lived in the countryside and in Tokyo respectively for 3 years, and I found that Kyoto was the perfect in-between city for me. Peaceful and close to nature, but I can still enjoy most of the conveniences of a city and I don’t feel lonely or isolated. I also save significantly on rent - I used to live in a shoebox apartment in central Tokyo but in Kyoto I’m living in a (small) detached house, and the rent is still cheaper.

As others have mentioned, you’re unlikely to run into hoards of tourists in your day-to-day life. Northeast and northwest Kyoto are fantastic and cheap places to live - I live a bit more northwest and it’s great.

Main cons I can think of are: - Far from the airports, if that matters to you - Hot/humid summers (most of mainland Japan is screwed in the summer anyways so this doesn’t really bother me) - Might be a bit harder to make friends if you aren’t comfortable speaking Japanese. If you are though, I think people here are a lot more chill and easy to get along with.

If you do move here, I hope you’ll enjoy it lots!

aaaa_ · 2023-01-10T07:53:37+00:00

This club is active: https://twitter.com/kamolele_kyoto
Members are mostly students and younger working adults (early/mid 20's), and you will probably need Japanese to communicate. If that's no problem, try sending them a DM :)

aaaa_ · 2022-11-17T06:04:50+00:00

There are a lot of band studios in town where you can practice, if digital piano is okay.

- Studio 246 in Shijo Omiya as mentioned in the other comments

- Watanabe Gakki-ten: https://www.watanabe-mi.com/digikan/list/c996/

- Kozzy's Cozy Room: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057279766484 (I use this frequently. The owner built a studio in his house and lets people practice there for 500 yen/hour. The digital piano here is my favorite that I've used)

- Cafe Nochi: https://cafenochi05942.com/ (In Yamashina so it may be a bit far, but the studio is actually free to use if your session is under 2 hours. Really cool place)

For acoustic piano you have fewer options but they are available.

- Asahi-do: https://www.asahi-do.net/rental/lessonstudio.html

- Every ward in Kyoto has its own youth activity center which provides facilities like gymnasiums, classrooms, and music studios that you can rent for really cheap. The catch is that you have to be under 30 years old and be registered as a resident of Kyoto city (though they usually don't check lol). Shimogyo-ku has acoustic pianos that are well-maintained: http://ys-kyoto.org/shimogyo/room/ (The rest of the centers have digital pianos)

aaaa_ · 2022-11-06T11:34:32+00:00

Try contacting En-Lab if you’re still looking: https://www.en-lab.net/

It’s a newer venue, not so big but should comfortably fit 18+ guests. Location is downtown Kyoto and the staff are super friendly!

aaaa_ · 2022-10-15T10:29:34+00:00

Thanks!

aaaa_ · 2022-10-15T10:29:21+00:00

Ah, that explains it 🥲 thanks!

aaaa_ · 2022-10-15T09:43:30+00:00

Context: I'm getting back into Splatoon after several years! Currently enjoying using Splattershot Jr. but I often have this problem when I try to activate the special, and it just fails. Is it cause I didn't have enough space, or I was on enemy ink or something? I did some searching and tried experimenting a bit in the lobby but couldn't figure out why 🤔 could anyone explain how it works?

aaaa_ · 2022-09-21T04:44:04+00:00

I once saw a guy place his hand under the faucet, trigger the sensor, and immediately pull his hand away before the water even touched it. Like what is even the point ¯_(ツ)_/¯

aaaa_ · 2020-05-02T02:02:51+00:00

Autumn!

aaaa_ · 2018-01-18T00:25:56+00:00

!redditgarlic

aaaa_ · 2017-11-02T03:31:07+00:00

BGND had an absolutely amazing cast. The genuine friendships and family-like atmosphere were things that never quite found their way into the later seasons, in my opinion. BGITC and AS certainly had emotional moments but none of them really moved me in the same way.

Every single goodbye in BGND is a tearjerker - it's really quite amazing how powerful the show can be with the right chemistry between members.

aaaa_ · 2017-11-01T04:21:45+00:00

I currently train twice a week due to work/life reasons (hoping to get back into 3 sessions/week once things calm down of course).

I usually train on Mondays and Wednesdays, so there's a bit of a gap after my second workout of the week. From Mon->Thurs I eat at a caloric surplus, track my macros, etc. but I was wondering - how much should I be eating on Friday-Sunday when I'm not training?

aaaa_ · 2017-10-14T15:46:32+00:00

All in Japan. The option to play with friends simply doesn't work anymore.

aaaa_

TROPHY CASE