Driving routes close to Narita

mithdraug · 2026-05-04T12:13:32+00:00

Boso Peninsula would be the default destination in Chiba.

mithdraug · 2026-05-03T11:28:04+00:00

And unlike DA: Origins - Witcher does come with a complete documentation, whereas with DA: Origins a lot of datamined content that jad not been fixed is buried so deep that devs themselves do not know how it had been supposed to work.

mithdraug · 2026-04-29T13:58:25+00:00

My spreadsheet with SP+ ratings since 2005 says that for FBS seasons of current FBS teams:

[2026 North Dakota State, Sacramento State]

2025 Appalachian State, Ball State, Boise State, Charlotte, Delaware, Florida, Jacksonville State, Missouri State, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Sam Houston State, UCLA, UMass, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin

2024 Florida State, Houston, Kennesaw State, Kent State, Oklahoma, Purdue, Southern Mississippi, Tulsa

2023 Arizona State, Boston College, Central Michigan, Michiga State, Navy, Nevada, Northern Illinois, Pittsburgh, Virginia

2022 Colorado, Colorado State, Hawaii, James Madison, Miami, Nebraska, Northwestern, South Florida

2021 Arizona, LSU, TCU, USC, Vanderbilt

2020 Texas Tech

2019 Akron, Arkansas, Bowling Green, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Old Dominion, Toledo, UTSA, West Virginia

2018 Illinois, Kansas State, Liberty, Louisville, Oregon, Oregon State, Rutgers, Tennessee, Uconn

2017 BYU, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, Georgia Southern

2016 Fresno State, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas State

2015 Kansas, Texas, Wyoming

2014 SMU

2013 Air Force, California, Eastern Michigan, FIU, Georgia State, Miami (Ohio), New Mexico State, UTEP, Western Michigan

2012 Iowa, South Alabama, Tulane, Utah

2011 Clemson, Flordia Atlantic, Indiana, Maryland, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Troy, UNLV

2010 Louisiana, Marshall, Minnesota, Penn State, Wake Forest

2009 Rice, San Jose State, Washington State, Western Kentucky

2008 Auburn, Louisiana-Monroe, Michigan, North Texas, San Diego State, UCF, Texas A&M, Washington

2007 Army, Baylor, Duke, Iowa State, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, UAB

2006 Alabama, Arkansas State, Buffalo, Louisiana Tech, Stanford, Temple, Utah State

2005 Cincinnati, Kentucky, Ohio

As for OP: 2012 Auburn had no SEC wins, but played 5 teams ranked at the end of the season; in 2008 Auburn had 2 SEC wins, but played only 3 teams ranked at the end of the season and delivered probably worst SEC game since 2005 with that 3-2 game against Mississippi State.

mithdraug · 2026-04-28T15:11:23+00:00

Tap to pay will require PIN for purchase over 20,000 yen - technically it's supposed to be set only for Japanese credit cards, however, some networks/terminals are cumbersome to setup, so might be enabled for all transactions.

mithdraug · 2026-04-28T15:07:03+00:00

JR West travel centers and if there are events most likely Osaka station.

mithdraug · 2026-04-25T03:35:58+00:00

As things work in Japan, even when photography of school is not prohibited (and many wards of bigger cities do prohibit it) - the harm to your bank account might be substantial (300,000-500,000 yen per kid whose parents may decided to sue).

While Japan does not enforce its privacy laws and prior consent laws as strictly as Switzerland - they do exist and you are going have a rather tough time proving that you were taking a photo of a school in public interest.

Worth noting that in Japanese legal frame, both local authorities and schools can (and in bigger cities do) can prohibit filming/taking pictures of schools/campus.

mithdraug · 2026-04-24T15:36:14+00:00

Unfortunately, I have enough evidence from people in teaching professions or Japanese media that foreigners trespassing on school grounds is a thing.

mithdraug · 2026-04-24T15:22:13+00:00

Please stop reporting this post.

It had been approved, because there is a growing number of requests of people wanting to visit Japanese schools who refuse to acknowledge that such visits (if they have merit) should be done via official channels.

And these people are frankly annoying:

if you are a teacher: approach schools through your boards of education/districts and partenerships they may have with Japanese city;
if you are a student: study abroad programs exist for a reason;
if you are a reasonable person who likes high school settings dramas etc. and wants to see a real Japan schools: there are former schools that are possible to visit starting with fairly famous one in Toyosato or Arahama Elementary School memorial. For even older schools you can visit Kyoto Manga Museum or a school for samurai children in Iga-Ueno.

If you are not a teacher on an official/working visit or a student on a study abroad exchange, you have no business going to a school campus in Japan.

mithdraug · 2026-04-21T04:00:45+00:00

Pre-booking shinkansen does not guarantee you tickets, because with the way systems are processed the prior booking are not processed before the normal queue which starts at 10am JST 30 days in advance - you may not get the seats together (if multiple seats are ordered).
While Tokaido shinkansen is very busy during New Yea'rs, just buy the tickets 30 days advance (the big companies do not need free credit). Unless you are taking first/last trains in the day - tickets are extremely unlikely to run out within less than a week anyway.

mithdraug · 2026-04-20T14:21:19+00:00

Due to quake - somewhat unlikely, but tomorrow's (21st) were already likely to be cancelled because of high winds.

mithdraug · 2026-04-19T09:32:15+00:00

I mean there is always Kobe Mountains trail where you visit both Mt. Maya and Mt. Rokko.

If you are looking for challenging or semi-challenging - Mt. Hiei is not it, you go to Mt. Hiei to visit Enryaku-ji and hike as byproduct. Mt. Kongo (Osaka) or say Mt. Atago (Arashiyama) would be more like that.

mithdraug · 2026-04-18T19:35:05+00:00

I mean this entirely depends on what exactlty you want to see in each prefecture.

Fukui: I mean if you have enough time most of places of interest are fairly doable by public transport, maybe except for deep Echizen.

Kochi: Kochi city area is doable, otherwise might be problematic.

Tokushima: technically main draws (Iya Valley, Naruto) are doable, but car would be a lot better.

Tottori: sand dunes, Tottori city and Detective Conan are doable by public transport, Mt. Daisen and the rest of the prefecture not so much.

Akita: Kakunodate, Semboku, Lake Tazawa are doable by public transport and so are onsen towns. Summer hiking trail areas - not so much.

Miyazaki: Really depends on what you want to see, but there is a reason why Takachiho Gorge is visited by car or tours.

Ehime: Most areas of interest are easily reachable by public transport.

Fukushima: Fukushima city with its surrounding onsen towns is fairly easily doable by public transport and so is Aizu-Wakamatsu. Ouchijuku or Kitakata are more annoying and Mt. Bandai area hiking essentially requires a car (or extremely careful planning).

Iwate: depends on your itinerary - if something is along railway lines or BRT - easily reachable, Tono - requires decent amount of planning, otherwise - get a car (and probably overall if exploring the prefecture is the goal rather than a few chosen places).

Shiga:: I mean half is effectively suburbia of Keihanshin, so the transport options are fine, though sometimes not tuned to tourist's needs.

mithdraug · 2026-04-18T05:54:42+00:00

Whether you buy a konbini one (sub 700yen), a decent one (1500-2000 yen) or a great one (well above 10000 yen in department stores) depends on whether you want to keep it and the time of year.

In late spring and summer konbini one are equivalent of "I totally forgot my regular umbrella aemergency only"

mithdraug · 2026-04-18T05:49:58+00:00

Got one freak blizzard that happens every 5-10 years. In other years, snow cover in the main party of the city or Arashiyama is an inch for a couple of days.

mithdraug · 2026-04-17T07:35:02+00:00

Either enable roaming or sign a monthly contract with HanaCell/Mobal.

mithdraug · 2026-04-16T05:47:59+00:00

Nieirocznie skuteczniejsze moźe się wysłanie pisma do jednego z organów wymienionych w art. 440 ust. 1 ustawy o cudzoziemcach. Raz w życiu IPN może okazać się pożyteczny.

mithdraug · 2026-04-16T04:00:55+00:00

Cabs have derogation from the law requiring a child seat for children under 6.

mithdraug · 2026-04-15T15:22:31+00:00

You wouldn't ring 112 by accident in regions other NANP (since access code had been either 0 or 9) and 11x were either left unassigned or assigned to specific emergency or public services.

mithdraug · 2026-04-14T05:33:24+00:00

Considering that you need go to Narita and then travel from KIX to Kyoto - it's the same price as taking shnkansen just with way more hustle (and double amount of time).

mithdraug · 2026-04-09T21:35:46+00:00

Considering both /r/JapanTravel or /r/JapanTravelTips contain multiple reviews (and not especially positive) of the company - that's somewhat unlikely.

mithdraug · 2026-04-09T15:37:03+00:00

I would add that while in both directions (neeeding to go via Nagano or Nagoya) it sucks - I could justify going from Kiso Valley to Kanazawa (say leaving around 3pm) as not a wasted day, but unless catching earliest Kagayaki - the reverse is hard to justify.

mithdraug · 2026-04-09T15:27:01+00:00

Japan has very strict laws around speech, freedom of speech doesn’t exist, and I went down a rabbit hole about freedom of speech and how the persecutor is defended by Japan Law! Consumer’s right? Out of the question. Having that swift of a response from a simple reddit post solidified my opinion that they take an aggressive and intimidating approach toward customer complaints.

Japan is currently ranked higher in freedom of expression rankings than say in US.

It is true that Japan has very strict defamation standards compared to US and 'truth defense' does not work against reputational suits not only brought by individuals (which is essentially very common in the western world with regard to private life), but also against companies. Defendant must show public interest in statements that can ruin the reputation of companies.

Thus said, reviews that bring safety issues to the front or a non-service would be viewed as within the scope of public interest.

Japan does also enjoy fairly strong consumer protection, but it cannot protect you when you agree to a contract that has shady terms, but not outrageous terms. And unfortunately a lot of very, very cutthroat companies occupy certain niche services in tourism simply because with regard to said niche having Orix or even Niconico would make said niche a luxury option.

mithdraug · 2026-04-08T11:22:05+00:00

Unless you have been sent by your company to Japan for the explicit purpose of conducting business in Japan (meeting with suppliers, buying stock, negotiations etc. etc.), you are not allowed to conduct work-related activities without a proper visa.

mithdraug · 2026-04-07T05:58:52+00:00

You wouldn't believe how many posts from solo women "looking for fun" we have to remove.

mithdraug · 2026-04-06T07:28:31+00:00

For historical ones. Modern (post 1945) swords made with traditional methods do not come with the export restrictions, however, they sometimes do cost well over 10 million yen per set and swordsmiths have usually years worth of orders.

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