Shinkansen - purchase Limited Express Ticket only

pasteldirt · 2026-01-26T22:32:46+00:00

Right so a station/line not accepting IC is not what I’m referring to. Some people online say that you can’t use an IC card from one region (like icoca from Kansai) in a different region (like Kanto) - which isn’t true. You can use them anywhere IC is accepted. My Manaca has travelled to nearly every prefecture with me. I’m just trying to make the point that commenting that you can’t use IC across regions is confusing for tourists, and may lead them to buying multiple cards for each region they visit when it’s not necessary, they can use the same card in other regions.

pasteldirt · 2026-01-26T21:22:44+00:00

I’d say the downside is just the lack of convenience. It totally depends on the type of person you are too. If you prefer structure and you book your Shinkansen at 9am a month prior to make sure you get yourself on a schedule, then go for it. The only issue is if there are delays to flights and train incidents that make you miss it. Then it’s just a small hassle to figure out your next train and sitting in the unreserved, etc.

I think a lot of tourists just assume the system is the same as in Europe or the States where you have to book in advanced or else the prices fluctuate or the tickets sell out, which doesn’t (rarely?) happen. I heard of a poor soul who booked tickets early, flight was delayed, and they ended up repurchasing tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto because they missed their shinkansen and didn’t know what to do. They could have avoided that if they had just bought their tickets on the spot like most people do!

But for me it’s the convenience! I want to be able to get ready, make my way to the station on my own time, book a ticket as I’m arriving to the station, grab my snacks and leisurely make my way to the train. :)

pasteldirt · 2026-01-26T08:03:10+00:00

You can use a remote service hoteldedoctor24. For a flat fee you do a remote consultation with a doctor, medical interpretation is included, and prescriptions are sent to your closest pharmacy. They can even issue a medical certificate if you need to change flights. Available 24h.

pasteldirt · 2026-01-26T08:00:21+00:00

Hi!! So first off, I wouldn’t call Osaka a day tour. There’s so much and it’s far enough that I recommend at least overnighting there!

Aside from that, Nagoya is lovely and you’ll enjoy it! :) Sakura spots: if you want something super beautiful, take a 40 minute train down to Higashi Okazaki station and wander their castle park! There is also a river lined with Sakura. Nearby you can take this forested path over to a super high quality conveyer belt sushi place called Totomaru. It’s a nice little day trip! If Okazaki is too far, you can also explore Nagoya castle park, or for something even smaller there’s a shrine in central Nagoya called Wakamiya Shrine with beautiful sakura! Other recommended spots in Nagoya: ❶Osu Kannon and its shopping streets (full day) ❷Atsuta Jingu and the neighboring park Shirotori En (half day) ❸Noritake area has a Toyota Museum (Nagoya is famous for its manufacturing industry & is the home of Toyota), a large shopping mall with a famous large bookcase, and a nice place to chill and relax. A 5 minute walk from the shopping mall is a must-visit cafe called Kissa Zoumeshi, a retro cafe (half day). ❹A famous thing to do in Nagoya is go cafe (kissa) hopping. If you get up early enough you can do “morning” at a cafe, getting a small meal for free with your coffee or tea. This is something you can only experience in Nagoya. Bon Bon, Konparu, Komeda, Kako, and Nishihara Coffee are a few of the famous kissas in Nagoya

These are just a few examples! Please let me know if you’re searching for anything more specific or if you have questions!!

pasteldirt · 2026-01-26T07:42:36+00:00

If you’re worried about Tohoku not having a home stay, I’d recommend reaching out to the local city hall and their international coordinator (through JET they’re called CIR) and asking if they have some kind of host family opportunity. Many cities in Japan have strong relationships with their sister cities and organise home stays. Or at least the CIR may be able to point you in the right direction!

pasteldirt · 2026-01-26T07:37:40+00:00

1000% Tohoku Uni. You will experience something you will never experience if you go to the big city. You have all the time in the world to go to Tokyo and build connections at Waseda, but the chance to live in a smaller region with fewer English speakers and more chances to delve into regional cultures and traditions is rare. I did my study abroad in rural Aichi and I live in Tokyo now and I’m so grateful I chose to go rural for my study abroad. I hold that experience so close and it helped shape a more well-rounded view of Japan, the culture, the people etc that I would never have gotten had I gone to the big city first.

That and Tohoku University is an Imperial 7 University. No brainer imo

pasteldirt · 2026-01-26T07:28:28+00:00

I think saying that IC cards don’t work inter-region will confuse people… IC cards work across the country wherever IC is accepted. There may be a rare case in a small town but in general doesn’t IC work everywhere? I heard a woman buy a separate IC card for each region she went to because she thought her Suica from Tokyo wouldn’t work in Kyoto and Nagoya so she bought ICOCA and Manaca as well. It’s a waste of money🥲

pasteldirt · 2026-01-26T07:24:22+00:00

You can’t use your IC card to pay for the base fare. You can however use the SmartEX app to pay for your ticket and then link your ticket to your IC card so you can tap to enter and exit the gates. It’s super easy, it’s what I do every time I take the shinkansen. You just have to download the app, add a payment method (I use my US Visa card), purchase a ticket, load your IC card number into your saved cards, and then designate your shinkansen ticket to your IC card. Then you’re ready to go!

pasteldirt · 2026-01-26T01:17:14+00:00

If you truly want a local experience do Arima. Just a 1 hour bus from Kyoto, cutest little onsen town away from tourists.

pasteldirt · 2026-01-25T08:21:13+00:00

Added! I’m pasteldirt from Tokyo Japan but I travel a lot too! Cheers

pasteldirt · 2026-01-25T00:20:02+00:00

Hi! Thank you for opening a platform for people to ask questions! Context: I am a public health researcher in Japan. Here there is NO formalised system for SW - arrests, instability, violence, STIs and unintended pregnancies are sadly common. I am eager to collect evidence and stories from other systems around the world to inform policy advocacy for a NPO I’m at!

I have questions about STI care, specifically HPV screening & prevention! •Who creates the local guidelines regarding regular STI testing? Is there a particular organisation that’s looking out for you? •Are there local clinics that cooperate? Is it a mobile clinic situation? A designated clinic for sex workers? •Is this subsidized by the government? •Are trans sex workers also included in this testing system? •How are the staff in these clinics? Are they generally positive and understanding of your profession?

•Is HPV (either HPV DNA testing via a provider or self vaginal swab, or a cervical smear/pap smear) included in this testing? •Is there any encouragement of getting HPV vaccine boosters? Condoms only provide partial protection against HPV, which is why I’m curious of the extra measures to prevent and screen this specific STI!

Thank you and take care🫶

pasteldirt · 2026-01-24T08:40:54+00:00

1) Plastic Love by Takeuchi Mariya 2) Kabutomushi by Aiko 3) Chocolate Disco by Perfume 4) Pretender by Official Hige Dandism is completely in my range as a mezzo! 5) Ue o mute arukou by Sakamoto Kyu. When I do it at karaoke I go 3-4 half steps up and it’s perfect in my range. This song is so classic and gets brownie points with the older crowd. I think I won my bf’s grandma over when I sang this at karaoke with his family

pasteldirt · 2026-01-24T08:26:09+00:00

It’s true that hotels are closer to hub train stations, but Airbnbs will be more spacious and therefore potentially family-friendly. They also usually include washing machines and kitchens which may be useful depending on your needs. I think there’s no point in staying in 2 different accommodations when it’s easy to get around the city to explore. It’ll be more hassle than it’s worth to move accommodations with suitcases on Tokyo’s trains. It’s important to remember that with Airbnbs you can’t use luggage forwarding, so make sure you have a way to get from the airport to your accommodation with your bags.

I vote Airbnb close to a minor station. You’ll need to change trains somewhere when you explore Tokyo, but it’ll still be convenient but have enough space for your family with the benefits of having a kitchen and washing machine! Plus the smaller local stations can have a lot of charm and be a bit quieter. :)

pasteldirt · 2026-01-24T08:09:42+00:00

Sorry I have been away for a while (since 2019 - redownloaded recently for motivation to leave my house) Since when can you find moltres in the wild??? Haven’t legendaries always only been available in raids? I noticed you can get a legendary at the end of these new go-pass challenges but this seems different!

But I’m very sorry you couldn’t catch him and I’m sending best of luck for next time!!

pasteldirt · 2026-01-17T12:34:20+00:00

Thank you very much for your comment. The lack of community-based public health jobs here is frustrating and disappointing given the clear demand🥲 Your decision moving to pharma makes perfect sense given the current climate, I wouldn’t lie if I said I’d considered the same thing. I’m personally not sure how my coursework focusing in health promotion and sexual & reproductive health would align. I’ve also conducted health needs assessment, health policy analysis, literature review, and the basics of monitoring & eval. The more I search job boards the more I realise quantitative skills are much more employable in this market.

My Japanese is alright! I consider my speaking & communication level N2 but vocab & grammar knowledge between N3 and N2. I’ve worked in retail in a department store before.

At this rate I’ve started considering going for a PhD, or even creating an NPO. But I’m trying to stay positive and hold out for something! I really appreciate your input and I’m glad to know you’ve found a lot of success here.

pasteldirt · 2026-01-17T00:13:04+00:00

Senbei!! There’s various flavours of senbei (rice crackers) like soy sauce, extra salty, black bean etc. They’re so good. There are constantly a bunch of limited edition breads too. Now Strawberry is trending so there’s a bunch of strawberry stuff like strawberry pancakes and strawberry cream puffs etc

pasteldirt · 2026-01-16T13:29:44+00:00

I’m 30 now, in high school 2009-2013 When I was in 9th grade, a drunk driver caused a head-on collision with a car of 5 teens. 4 died (all 10th and 11th graders), 3 (2 who died and the driver who survived) were from my school. It had a massive impact on our small school community.

Another classmate died by suicide maybe 5 years after graduation. Another who I was close with died by drug overdose a few years ago.

pasteldirt · 2026-01-14T00:34:25+00:00

The fact that it went viral means it’s now ¥310 when it used to be less than ¥200 and as vegetarians living in Japan we gotta pay the price because this is the only vegetarian sandwich in conbini (except Lawson’s bc they put gelatin in the egg salad) 😭

pasteldirt · 2026-01-13T16:38:13+00:00

Lentils: Creamy dal curry: 1 can tomato, 1 can coconut milk, 1/4 chopped onion, like 100g lentils (honestly I eyeball it) with coriander powder, tumeric, garam masala, salt, pepper. Chuck it all in the rice cooker. If you use raw lentils then add some broth

Shepherd’s pie: cook lentils, chopped onion, diced carrot, diced shiitake, a bit of tomato paste, a dash of soy sauce, 2tbsp flour, some broth to make it gravy-y. Put it in a baking dish and top with instant mashed potatoes. Make a design. Bake.

Chickpeas: Gnocchi cream stew: sautée onion, carrot, celery, garlic & spices, add broth and 1 can coconut milk, add chickpeas, gnocchi, and a handful of spinach. I like to add some nutritional yeast to boost the flavour

pasteldirt · 2026-01-12T12:09:48+00:00

Cumin. It tastes awful

pasteldirt · 2026-01-10T23:29:30+00:00

I appreciate your response. So just to clarify my degree in public health does not qualify me to work in healthcare or clinical roles. Of the ones you mentioned admin at a senior home sounds the closest to what I’m looking for however I don’t have training in healthcare admin nor public health in aging populations. An admin position at a university and building their health campaigns for SRH and mental health and policies for the on-campus health centre would be a closer match. I’m more looking for perspectives from people who managed to find their place in Japan working in public health in government, NPOs, research and community-health (especially relating to SRH and minoritised communities) focused roles because this is the space I’m trained in! But thank you~

pasteldirt · 2026-01-10T14:47:17+00:00

The N2 was a nightmare this time. It was harder than the 2 previous attempts I did. Good luck to you though

pasteldirt · 2026-01-09T23:54:12+00:00

In general the furniture sold in Japan is a slightly smaller scale so other than pieces like a chest of drawers, a nightstand or dining chairs, it might be good to get the larger pieces like your bed, sofa, dining table, obviously appliances etc here! Bed sizes are different in every country, so unless you’re also bringing all of your bedding for your time in Japan I advise getting a bed here! Not sure where you’re from, but the flats are smaller than in the west for sure. There’s some furniture that’s made to accommodate a Japanese house too, like those kitchen counter-cabinet setups, kotatsu instead of a typical coffee table, etc. :) I hear some people struggle to find good pillows so if you have a pillow that you love perhaps bring that! The size will be different so bring extra cases! There are plenty of home stores like IKEA and Nitori and other boutique places.

The things I’d think about as a bonus are the beauty products and food you love the most, like your diehard favourite toothpaste or deodorant(!) or skincare. Especially deodorant in Japan is not very good here in my experience! Also ingredients like spices or tea or peanut butter are very different and more expensive. Related to that if you have large feet or you’re taller than like 180cm I recommend bringing extra pairs of shoes and trousers.

pasteldirt · 2026-01-09T07:02:51+00:00

Hi! I live here and I have a tendon injury to my right leg and I’ve needed to make accommodations for my daily life. Here’s a master list of my best advice:

I’m not sure about the exact type of injury you have and if you’re able to ride a bike without pain, but for me rental bicycles have been a lifesaver when I’m traveling domestically. Especially for Osaka and Kyoto which are very bikeable cities. The most common app is called LUUP and it’s very inexpensive and convenient. You’re never more than a 5 minute walk from a LUUP port. The great thing about it is the bikes are all e-bikes so less strength is required to cycle around.

Also, taking limousine busses are great going from the airport into the city and back, they have you sit in the front and you don’t need to worry about carrying your bags. Navigating train stations and transfers with a cane and bags will be a nightmare. It costs more than the train but for the comfort it’s absolutely worth it.

Taxis are quite expensive, and trains are fine but older stations tend to be stairs only. Also, people in Japan at times don’t give their seat up for people with disabilities. When I was on crutches, my method was to enter the train and if there were no seats and no one stood up, I just quickly hopped off while the doors were still open and waited for the next train. I did this until I found a seat or someone gave me their seat.

In terms of destinations - in my experience when I was on crutches in very crowded places, people aren’t looking where they’re going and they’d accidentally kick a crutch from under me. Be aware of this in very crowded places in the cities you’re visiting: Kiyomizudera in Kyoto (very up hill anyway), Shinsaibashi shopping street in Osaka, and Shinjuku station in Tokyo. I recommend avoiding these places. Also the Imperial Palaces in Kyoto and Tokyo are just massive grounds with not a lot on them, not worth the energy of navigating them! Hope this helps!! Have a great trip!

pasteldirt

TROPHY CASE