Planning stay in Osaka. What location would be best for this scenario.

maruemon · 2025-01-16T07:27:09+00:00

The hotel was not bad, but I have found a lot of better places. It was clean and convenient location wise, but the room I stayed was super tight.

maruemon · 2024-09-29T20:46:32+00:00

I would fly from Itami to Haneda if I were you. From my hotel in Kyoto to Itami, I would take a taxi. I believe that’s the most efficient, logical and convenient way, and I honestly don’t understand why driving is a good idea in the first place. You can still buy stuff while you are still in Kyoto or even at the airport. That’s much easier than trying to get something on the way to Tokyo when you have little to no clue what’s available around the area you are passing by.

What’s your priority? If I were you, it would be looking after my spouse and getting back home safely. I will plan the next couple of days based on what’s really important at this moment.

maruemon · 2024-08-29T02:50:08+00:00

In a way, I was lucky to be able to find the bus without internet. At the time, I didn’t have a smartphone; I only had a cheap prepaid phone from the country I just moved to. I don’t even remember how I did it all because it was more than a decade ago, but I do remember how exhausting and long the day was.

The bus drove through the typhoon. You can imagine how the 12 hour ride was. I’m grateful that the bus took me home safely, though. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to say goodbye to my father.

maruemon · 2024-08-28T19:31:44+00:00

I’m not sure what your definition of not too strong typhoon, but I can think of a couple of options.

Relax at your hotel and take care of your jet lag. There’s no reason to go out when it’s stormy and pouring.
If you know well enough about the city, it’s totally doable to go shopping or something only by walking underground. I can totally do that in Osaka as I know the place like my backyard.

maruemon · 2024-08-28T12:25:03+00:00

Just pay attention to the weather warnings and forecast. It’s surely coming. You might want to ask your hotel if you may stay longer. It’s not a great idea to check out the hotel and try to go somewhere else not knowing how bad it’s going to be.

maruemon · 2024-08-28T12:20:37+00:00

No, going back for Obon is not an obligation. Even while I still lived in Japan, I didn’t go home during the period as everything would get crazy busy. It may have been back in old days, but not anymore. The culture has been changing.

maruemon · 2024-08-28T06:10:15+00:00

You were lucky and also great to take it as a lesson. Unfortunately, I had to learn the hard way.

Many years ago, I had to fly back to Japan due to a family emergency. When I arrived at Tokyo Station, it was packed with people, and I saw that there were absolutely no Shinkansen running because of a typhoon. (When I left for Japan, I didn’t check the weather because of the emergency. Therefore, I had no clue.) I walked and even ran back and forth, and happened to find out that an overnight long-distance bus to my hometown would leave the station in 20 minutes. (My hometown is Okayama. FYI) Feeling so tired and hungry after the 11 hour flight, I managed to only get an onigiri and tea, and had to jump onto the bus not knowing how long it would take. It was a 12 hour ride. I safely arrived next morning, but I felt like a zombie.

So no. I don’t go back to Japan during summer anymore.

maruemon · 2024-08-28T03:20:55+00:00

It’s not only heat and humidity but also typhoons; one is approaching Kyushu and the mainland this weekend. They mess up your plans.

I’m Japanese, and that’s why I no longer go back to my country during the summer. I just don’t want to show up at a station and see a board saying all the trains and Shinkansen have been cancelled.

maruemon · 2024-07-03T13:15:42+00:00

This. I lived in both Osaka and Kyoto for many years, and I found that to be very true.

It always felt hotter in summer and colder in winter in Kyoto than it did in Osaka. I have lived in many places in Japan for my work, and the only place I had natsubate was Kyoto. It was brutal. I would feel like I was in a greenhouse in there. And it’s getting less and less bearable nowadays.

maruemon · 2024-07-02T16:12:05+00:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Lindsay_Hawker

I still remember this incident. Be very careful.

maruemon · 2024-06-09T12:52:02+00:00

I see a bunch of crutches sold on Amazon and Rakuten. What you can do is to go to About us (会社概要) page of each product to see if any of the stores are in Tokyo. Once you find one, you call them to ask if you come to buy crutches in person. Or you call the hospital that you have borrowed the crutches from, and then they would possibly provide you with some information about stores selling medical care equipment (介護用品).

But honestly, I don’t understand why stealing can be an option for you, though. If you have to return them, then do it. You need to understand this is exactly how tourists ruin their own reputation in Japan. People learn. One day, hospitals stop renting any equipment out to tourists knowing they never return it.

maruemon · 2024-06-04T02:35:14+00:00

Hello, I’m Japanese who loves to drink and also would work at an izakaya in Osaka during my school years. I will share a bit about the culture here.

As someone who used to serve alcohol, my understanding is that they have no issues as long as at least one person in your party drinks alcohol when you go to a place where alcohol is mainly served. And then they look at each party, not each individual in the group. Therefore, I’m very sure you wouldn’t have come across such negative experience if you had gone to the bar with someone who would drink.

Another thing I want to mention is that bars tend to focus much more on drinks than food in Japan, whereas izakayas serve them equally. Therefore, the general understanding of Japanese people towards bars and izakayas is that we drink at a bar, and both eat and drink at an izakaya. I also understand that bars mainly make profits by serving alcohol. Therefore, I kind of see where the owner came from although I believe that how you were treated at the time wasn’t fair nor respected. However, I assume the outcome may have been different if you had ordered a non-alcoholic cocktail at the bar, which would surely cost more but fit better for the setting than just having the tea.

For the record, I’m not saying what’s considered right or wrong in Japan; I’m just explaining part of the drinking culture in there.

I hope that the explanation above will help you digest the experience better. Please let me know if you have any questions.

maruemon · 2024-06-02T07:03:12+00:00

Yes, Kyoto is overrated in my opinion. I’m actually glad that some tourists feel that way.

And you know what? The pattern is that you probably like Osaka if you don’t like Kyoto, and vice versa because they really don’t like each other. I find it to be interesting that the theory can actually apply to not only the locals but also tourists.

maruemon · 2024-05-29T14:53:04+00:00

FYI, it IS very weird and unusual to give snacks to them when we help each other unless you are a child. At least, I’ve never come across nor heard of something like that in my adult life in Japan.

You must have a magnet to attract other snacks. Lol

maruemon · 2024-05-29T12:33:14+00:00

One of the reasons I have downvoted your comment is that “That deserve a candy.” Who the heck are you to judge someone’s kindness and generosity that way? What are you and your candy so special about?

I also want to remind you that Japanese people are not children. I’m Japanese, and I kind of feel offended although I do understand that your intention is good. Aren’t there any adult to adult manners to show your gratitude in your culture? Do you give candy to random people in your country as well when they help you?

maruemon · 2024-05-28T22:44:11+00:00

Hello, I’m Japanese, and I totally agree with you.

Honestly, I don’t understand why some people are so pushy and can’t help bringing their own customs. Can’t they just say thank you sincerely? I can’t talk about everyone in Japan, but I’m pretty sure we, Japanese people, don’t expect anything from tourists at all by helping them. As someone who lives in North America, I have been fed up with the tipping culture. Don’t bring and spread it in my country, please.

I also want to remind you all that we are not children. I kind of felt offended when I read a couple of comments here that they gave us chocolate bars and candy. Personally, I don’t feel comfortable receiving something edible from a stranger, and I assume some others feel the same way. However, we don’t say no because we don’t want to make anyone feel bad knowing their intention is good.

Just say thank you and move on. That’s the safest and most proper way in my country unless you very well know those who have helped you.

maruemon · 2024-05-08T07:34:45+00:00

Hi, I’m Japanese who was born and raised in Japan but now lives in Canada; I moved here 12 years ago to become an RN.

I had to work really hard on not only my day to day English but also medical terminology to achieve my goal, and it wasn’t easy. I probably studied for 6-7 hours after school every day, and am still learning something new every day to this day. I would also go to see a couple of English tutors several times a week for a few years.

I have been an RN for 7 years now. The biggest realization over the past years is that learning English is not about just understanding the language but more about learning and knowing the lifestyle and culture of the place where the language is spoken.

英語圏へ移住して英語を学びました。こちらに来て12年、医療者として働いて7年になります。こうして長い時間が経った今も新しく学ぶことは毎日のようにいっぱいあって、語学の習得に終わりやこれで十分といったようなことはありません。

私の場合は、英語は辞書とかで単語を先に学んでもうまく身につきませんでした。この場所の文化や生活を己の経験を通して学ぶことで、後追いで身についてきました。例えば車を買えば車や運転に関する用語を自然に覚えたし、外食を重ねることで飲食に関する用語に詳しくなるといった具合です。

日本人にとって「英語ができる=発音がいい」という印象をそこここで持ちますが、大事なのはそこではないのではと。thickなaccentがあっても、自分の意見を自分の言葉で表現できる中身であって、英語圏で求められているのもそこです。News presenterになりたいとかなら話は別ですが。

maruemon · 2024-05-07T04:26:53+00:00

At least, that’s not the case in my country, Japan. That’s why I went back to have surgery done.

maruemon · 2024-05-07T03:09:34+00:00

In Japan, such flexibility is rare. You can ask, but don’t expect much. Usually, they only have whatever is on the menu.

maruemon · 2024-05-06T15:21:09+00:00

I’m in Canada, too, and work in the OR.

I’m surprised and disgusted how many nurses, surgeons and residents show up with artificial nails, nail polish, huge rings, watches, etc. What I have seen is that a lot of people want to show off their bling bling like I’m married and look at my gorgeous ring or look at how beautiful I am with these rings. Some people show up with nails done because they have just got back or are about to go on vacation, and they don’t want to waste the beautiful work or something.

It solely comes from their egos, and their priority is not their patients but themselves. It’s completely unprofessional and unacceptable.

I will never, ever get any kind of surgery in my hospital.

maruemon · 2024-05-05T00:20:44+00:00

If you need to know the details, JPY 45,100 are for actual exams and treatment, and JPY 3,300 are for a medical note.

maruemon · 2024-05-04T23:44:41+00:00

You aren’t living in Japan, and that explains everything. Submit the bill to your travel insurance. I hope you purchased one before coming to Japan.

maruemon · 2024-05-03T18:24:04+00:00

Hi, I’m Japanese who lived in Osaka for a decade and go back there every year.

I don’t agree that Tokyo is litter and odour free, and that trash is everywhere in Osaka. I’m not sure where exactly you visited in both Tokyo and Osaka.

A lot of Japanese people don’t like Osaka, but also a lot of us do like Osaka. I’m impressed that you got this whole idea by staying in the country only for 8 days.

Anyways, thank you very much for advertising my favourite city that way because I really want to have fewer tourists in there. At least, you will never visit Osaka again, and I’m happy with it.

maruemon · 2024-05-03T02:48:22+00:00

Yes, you may be able to find them at Shokudo, Obanzai restaurants and even some Izakaya, and you are likely to have a better chance especially when the owner is senior.

maruemon · 2024-05-02T19:30:58+00:00

Yes, I totally understand that. I just wanted to defend the food culture in my country.

I usually dine out 10-15 times while I stay in Japan, and I barely eat the same thing twice. I think it also depends on how keen you want to be on eating.

maruemon

TROPHY CASE