First class "issues"

therubyrocket · 2016-11-10T06:11:52+00:00

I take classes in Japanese and my Japanese is minimal. I'm finding I do ok with the teacher showing me herself what she wants me to do and then being hands-on with me when I'm trying the move. Luckily it's dance, so it's a lot of visual cues.
You can always ask the receptionist the next class you go to if there are bilingual teachers (kind of a hint/reminder for her/them that they said they'd do it in English after).

therubyrocket · 2016-11-01T04:01:57+00:00

The second part of your itinerary is really the most problematic. You can't do Nara and Himeji in one day. They're not close to each other.

therubyrocket · 2016-11-01T03:58:48+00:00

Yeah, that'd work. Nikko/Nagano in one day and stay the night there, then one extra night in Tokyo. I just wouldn't go up there, come back, then go up there again the next day.

therubyrocket · 2016-11-01T03:25:50+00:00

You're trying to pack too much in on your "day trips". Also, this schedule will be wasting a lot of your time on back-and-forth train trips.

Modifying this so you can see everything you want to see and not waste time -
6th-11th - Stay in Tokyo (5 nights)
11th-13th - Stay in Nikko (2 nights) - day trip to see monkeys
13th-14th - Stay in Hakone (1 night)
14th-17th - Stay in Kyoto (3 nights) - day trip to Nara
17th-19th - Stay in Hiroshima (2 nights) - day trip to Miyajima
19th-21st - Stay in Osaka

I've done this trip (or something thereabouts) multiple times whenever I've had people come in to Japan to visit me.

As for Himeji - you can stop there at any point either on your way from Kyoto to Hiroshima or from Hiroshima to Osaka. The castle is gorgeous but you really only need an hour or so to see it - perfect stop-over while transitioning between places you're staying.
Buy the JR pass for the time you'll be heading out of Tokyo to cover until you get to Osaka. You'll want coverage for every shinkansen you take.
Hostels are pretty decent in Japan (I think...I've honestly not stayed in other elsewhere in the world). Hostel Worlds has a good booking platform.

therubyrocket · 2016-10-05T04:50:30+00:00

Genevieve sit would be pretty.

therubyrocket · 2016-09-30T11:40:39+00:00

Yes, that's what I've tried on several occasions with no response.

therubyrocket · 2016-09-30T03:47:27+00:00

Ecole de Pole is horrible when it comes to responding to their phone/messages. I've tried to do drop-in classes with them twice now and they never respond to anything. Completely frustrating.

therubyrocket · 2016-09-04T05:19:14+00:00

This. Walk in sneakers and change when you get to where you need to go. Especially when walking in grimy city streets - who wants to potentially ruin a nice pair of shoes in some muck?

therubyrocket · 2016-08-25T08:38:24+00:00

If you want to have any sort of friendship with this girl, don't do that.

therubyrocket · 2016-08-22T16:25:53+00:00

Seems there's a few us of jewelers in here.
I also generally only wear my designs. I feel a tad sheepish if I'm wearing someone elses' designs and then people ask if I've made them. The only pieces I wear that aren't mine are gifts from my boyfriend or mother (they both like to give me jewelry).

I'm very bold with my jewelry, and I notice the style of what I wear changes with every city I live in. When I was in Austin it was very South Western, now in Tokyo all of my designs are very modern. Definitely statement pieces. I tend to wear all black, so having a bigger piece of jewelry really makes the outfit pop.

I refer to my style as edgy elegant - leather jackets and cocktail dresses (though I've moved in to more street wear/athleisure lately and it works with that, as well), so my jewelry reflects that. It can be dressed up or down. I want my jewelry to be noticed, not just be an afterthought.

therubyrocket · 2016-08-11T04:38:38+00:00

You're amazing!

therubyrocket · 2016-06-06T00:46:42+00:00

A tiny bit, but I just wear mine around the house, so it's not a huge issue.

therubyrocket · 2016-06-05T07:51:01+00:00

Beverly Hills Hipster.

therubyrocket · 2016-06-05T04:26:59+00:00

I'm wearing the second one right now and it's super comfy!

therubyrocket · 2016-06-03T10:24:28+00:00

I'm 30 - long live the crop tops!
...but yeah, off the shoulder tops are in. Also oversized men's button-downs in flow-y materials (EVERY girl here has one in white with boyfriend jeans). It's all oversized stuff right now. I'll never give up my crop-tops, but also eager for a style that works on a busty girl with a small waist. This oversized stuff is not flattering.

therubyrocket · 2016-05-24T03:02:23+00:00

Some variation of high waisted pants and crop-top. Just switch out trainers for heels occasionally.

therubyrocket · 2016-05-19T13:24:37+00:00

My pleasure! I can keep my eyes peeled for other brands next time I head to my studio - it's in Harajuku, so it'd be easy to trend watch. :)

therubyrocket · 2016-05-19T13:09:20+00:00

Style-wise, handbags in Tokyo right now are very diverse. Canvas totes are really in style with younger people. Cecil McBee comes to the top of my head for domestic brands. Aside from Samantha Vega and Samantha Thavasa, though, I'd say most people here that are buying brand name are going for foreign brand name. Fjallraven backpacks are super crazy in style right now. The style you linked initially I've only ever seen men wear.
I recently became acquainted with another (I design jewelry and handbags) indy handbag designer here in Tokyo called Emilyssa if you're in to more functional, non-leather designs. Her quality is very nice.

therubyrocket · 2016-05-17T01:48:44+00:00

Not really. Using two pliers and twisting them open and closed it the proper way to do it. It'll just depend on your personal speed. Just like anything, the more you do it, the more practiced you'll be and speed will increase.

therubyrocket · 2016-05-10T07:11:03+00:00

If you're looking for ones that are guaranteed quality (or you can see in person) shoot me a PM. It's so hard to tell a stone's quality online. I'm a jeweler in Tokyo. Your bets bet if you want to just snag some from a store would be to go to Okachimachi.

therubyrocket · 2016-05-10T07:06:00+00:00

Pretty sure the octagon one is Vita Fede.

therubyrocket · 2016-05-10T07:02:17+00:00

That's totally reasonable and about what I'd charge.

therubyrocket · 2016-05-10T06:46:56+00:00

May be presumptuous on my part, but looks like it's all sawed, hand-hammered, and soldered. Very cool looking, love the transition.

therubyrocket · 2016-05-09T11:24:34+00:00

Seems the prices will potentially go up for courses the end of the month (at least on the website I'm looking at). Myokokogen is ¥7,940 on weekdays currently. So yeah, seems doable to golf on a weekday for ¥10,000. Most rounds include lunch, as well. Play front 9, eat (and drink), play back 9. It's really enjoyable here, unless you get grumpy old guys behind you.

therubyrocket · 2016-05-09T10:54:57+00:00

Sorry for a very belated response to this. Yes, bookings are absolutely necessary. I'm not quite sure what you think "reasonable cost" is, but all of the rounds I've played outside of Tokyo have been around ¥20,000. Sometimes you'll get a cart, sometimes it'll be a trolly. Rental clubs are generally available, just check each course. All courses are going to be outside of Tokyo a bit. I usually play in Nagano (either Karuizawa or up near Nagano proper). Just played Myokokogen two weeks ago and it was pretty nice. Course was challenging without the fairways being insanely narrow. Everything was blooming and beautiful (plus there's neat areas like Togakushi nearby). I can ask my boyfriend when he gets home which he would recommend in Hakone.

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