Why I don't drink Diet Coke in Japan
Alternate titles:
- Coked up SJP
- New Taste! More SJP in every drop!
- Sex and the Aluminum Cylinder
- Sucking on SJP in Japan
- I don't know why people think Diet Coke is a chick soda
- Diet Coke Fail
4:41 AM
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Alternate titles:
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Why there are no fat Japanese people on the trains
I know that I walk a lot more in Japan than at home. At home, I walk around the house and the office, but I drive everywhere else. In Japan, I walk to the train, from the train, to meals, from meals, up stairs, down stairs, and sometimes just around and around the hotel room at 3am.
For a couple of weeks before my latest trip to Japan and for the entire week in Japan, I wore a pedometer to see exactly how much more walking I do in Japan than in the U.S.
In the weeks before the trip, there were a couple of days that I thought I was relatively active. I mowed the lawn wearing the pedometer. I coached soccer wearing the pedometer. I visited a colleague at Georgia Tech and walked around campus. I took a family vacation to Callaway gardens and spent an afternoon hiking and biking around. Surely those active days would be on par with a normal working day in Japan.
Nope. Only the day hiking around the park had more steps than a normal working day in Japan. A normal working day in Japan takes almost three times as many walking steps as an average day in the U.S.
It would be interesting to compare with more pedestrian-friendly cities in the U.S. to see where a normal working day falls for folks there. In the meantime, I need to rest for a while. Perhaps a 13 hour flight will suffice.
For a couple of weeks before my latest trip to Japan and for the entire week in Japan, I wore a pedometer to see exactly how much more walking I do in Japan than in the U.S.
In the weeks before the trip, there were a couple of days that I thought I was relatively active. I mowed the lawn wearing the pedometer. I coached soccer wearing the pedometer. I visited a colleague at Georgia Tech and walked around campus. I took a family vacation to Callaway gardens and spent an afternoon hiking and biking around. Surely those active days would be on par with a normal working day in Japan.
Nope. Only the day hiking around the park had more steps than a normal working day in Japan. A normal working day in Japan takes almost three times as many walking steps as an average day in the U.S.
It would be interesting to compare with more pedestrian-friendly cities in the U.S. to see where a normal working day falls for folks there. In the meantime, I need to rest for a while. Perhaps a 13 hour flight will suffice.
7:44 PM
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Head in the Clouds
Due to the need to return to Atlanta to catch a flight to Japan, my father-in-law and brother-in-law recently flew me in their Mooney through weather that was less than perfect for small aircraft.
Once you get past the abject terror, the views are spectacular. Even within the limitations of a phone camera, these came out well.
For those who only ever fly in commercial aircraft, here's what you're missing a few thousand feet below.
Once you get past the abject terror, the views are spectacular. Even within the limitations of a phone camera, these came out well.
For those who only ever fly in commercial aircraft, here's what you're missing a few thousand feet below.
8:45 PM
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Shabu-Shabu Yokohama
A fabulous Shabu-Shabu restaurant in Yokohama that I never knew existed. It has been in this location for 60 years. Highly, highly recommended and absolutely top-notch service and food.
See the happy people?
See the happy people?
Labels: travel
7:56 AM
Friday, June 16, 2006
Skin Cracker Salada
We visited our favorite Yokohama Yakitori restaurant again this week, and they have a fancy new printed English menu.
It was too dark to get many clear pictures of the very entertaining menu. It ranged from the simple misspellings.
Fryd cartilage anyone?
To the truly incomprehensible.
Skin cracker salada?
After our experience with the sparrow, we chose to avoid the skin cracker salada.
It was too dark to get many clear pictures of the very entertaining menu. It ranged from the simple misspellings.
Fryd cartilage anyone?To the truly incomprehensible.
Skin cracker salada?After our experience with the sparrow, we chose to avoid the skin cracker salada.
Labels: travel
8:14 PM
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
My birthdays just aren't getting better
To make up for last year's birthday being short, this year's was extra long. It started with the kids singing "Happy Birthday" on a webcam at 7am in Japan and ended with a conference call at 3am the next morning (technically still my birthday where the other folks were).
Still not a huge improvement year-to-year, but I have great hopes for next year.
Still not a huge improvement year-to-year, but I have great hopes for next year.
Labels: travel
2:15 AM
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Things you don't expect to encounter in Japan
A restaurant in the airport playing the Beastie Boys "License to Ill" instead of muzak.
10:58 PM
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Directions to Hitachi's Totsuka Facility from Yokohoma
For a more thorough printable PDF version complete with helpful diagrams and photographs, please click here.
Purchase a ticket from the ticket machines in the Yokohama station. The ticket from Yokohama to Totsuka is \210.
Put the ticket into the gate and pass through. Be sure to pick up your ticket again after passing through as you’ll need it to exit on the other side.
Go to platform 6, the Tokaido line. It has orange colored swatches on the signs. Typically, this will be the first set of stairs on your left after you pass through the ticket gates. Ascend the stairs.
The train that you want will arrive on the right side of the platform. It will have green and orange stripes on it. With very rare exceptions, every train that comes to this platform will stop at Totsuka, so you should be able to just take the next train that stops.
(As an aside, the blue striped train that comes on the left side of the platform will also get you to Totsuka, but it stops twice on the way. During high traffic hours, it’s better to wait for the orange and green train.)
The train ride to Totsuka will take a little over 10 minutes. On the Tokaido line, there are no stops between Yokohama and Totsuka, so Totsuka will be your next stop.
Exit the train, descend into the station, and pass through the ticket booths. You will have to insert your ticket to get through. The ticket will not be returned to you.
Look to your left to see the stairs that exit the station. Ascend the stairs and/or escalator and exit the station.
Look to your right after exiting. You should see the “Mr. Donut” shop on the corner. Turn left in front of Mr. Donut and start walking down the very long road lined with shops and crowded with pedestrians.
You will walk down this road for a long time, past McDonalds (on the right) KFC (on the left), toy stores, restaurants, and an elementary school. Be sure to bear left to continue past the “am/pm” convenience store (on the right).
At the end of the road, look to your right to see the entrance to Hitachi’s facility. There will be a guard standing there and, in the morning, lots of people going in.
You will have to show your Hitachi identification to get in or you will have to be escorted by a Hitachi employee. The main building (where meetings are held) is in front of you and to the left. Conference rooms are on the second floor.
Purchase a ticket from the ticket machines in the Yokohama station. The ticket from Yokohama to Totsuka is \210.
Put the ticket into the gate and pass through. Be sure to pick up your ticket again after passing through as you’ll need it to exit on the other side.
Go to platform 6, the Tokaido line. It has orange colored swatches on the signs. Typically, this will be the first set of stairs on your left after you pass through the ticket gates. Ascend the stairs.
The train that you want will arrive on the right side of the platform. It will have green and orange stripes on it. With very rare exceptions, every train that comes to this platform will stop at Totsuka, so you should be able to just take the next train that stops.
(As an aside, the blue striped train that comes on the left side of the platform will also get you to Totsuka, but it stops twice on the way. During high traffic hours, it’s better to wait for the orange and green train.)
The train ride to Totsuka will take a little over 10 minutes. On the Tokaido line, there are no stops between Yokohama and Totsuka, so Totsuka will be your next stop.
Exit the train, descend into the station, and pass through the ticket booths. You will have to insert your ticket to get through. The ticket will not be returned to you.
Look to your left to see the stairs that exit the station. Ascend the stairs and/or escalator and exit the station.
Look to your right after exiting. You should see the “Mr. Donut” shop on the corner. Turn left in front of Mr. Donut and start walking down the very long road lined with shops and crowded with pedestrians.
You will walk down this road for a long time, past McDonalds (on the right) KFC (on the left), toy stores, restaurants, and an elementary school. Be sure to bear left to continue past the “am/pm” convenience store (on the right).
At the end of the road, look to your right to see the entrance to Hitachi’s facility. There will be a guard standing there and, in the morning, lots of people going in.
You will have to show your Hitachi identification to get in or you will have to be escorted by a Hitachi employee. The main building (where meetings are held) is in front of you and to the left. Conference rooms are on the second floor.
6:13 PM
Directions to the Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel from Narita Airport
For a more complete version of these directions in PDF printable format, complete with lots of helpful pictures, please click here.
Step 1: Getting on the Narita Express train
After exiting through customs, descend into the JR station. The entrance is to the right after exiting customs if you came into Terminal 2 (Delta comes in here). Go down the escalator.
At the bottom of the escalator, turn left and go through the glass doors into the main area of the station. On your right, on the corner with the main thoroughfare, is the Narita Express ticket counter.
Go to the ticket counter and purchase a ticket to Yokohama. Your ticket will have a reserved seat location. The first number is the car number, the second number is the row, and the third number is the seat (for example car 10, seat 7 C).
Your ticket will also have a time. The train will arrive at that time. Be there before the train arrives.
Go through the entrance (use your ticket). Don’t lose the ticket. You’ll need it later. Turn right and go through the pylons then down the escalator.
Wait for your train. It will arrive exactly on time. Make sure you look for the car number. Lower numbers platform left, higher to the right.
Step 2: Getting through Yokohama Station
Once on the train, find your assigned seats and settle it. It will be about 2 hours to Yokohama. There are two initial stops (Tokyo and Shinagawa) before Yokohama.
At Yokohama, get off of the train and descend the steps into the main Yokohama station. Use your Narita Express ticket to exit through the gates into the main area.
You will be on one of two sides of the station. Look for signs to the “West Exit”. If you are the main side of the station, you will see this immediately at the end of the station. If you are on the other side of the station, you will see signs that say “N. Passage West Exit” with an arrow.
If you are on the main side of the station, take the stairs up the West Exit. Walk straight forward out of the station through the crowds of people. In front of you and slightly to the right is the entrance to Diamond, the underground shopping area. Go to the next step for directions from here.
If you are on the other side of the station, you can either walk outside or inside.
To walk inside, turn left inside the station and go down the stairs towards the subway station area. Go past the entrance to the subway. At the next set of stairs, follow the sign pointing up to the West Exit. Climb the stairs. At the top of these stairs you will see the West Exit stairs to your right. These are the same ones referred to in the column to above in the “Main Side” directions. As described above, go up the stairs then straight ahead to leave the train station.
To walk outside, take the escalator up. Turn left and go into the little alleyway. Follow the alley to the end, then bear left into the large open area in front of the train station. In front of you on the right is the entrance to Diamond (the underground shopping area) referred to in the next section. Go to the next section for further directions.
Step 3: From Yokohama Main Station to the Hotel
You now have two choices. You can walk outside or underground to the hotel. Outside is simpler with fewer crowds and less chance of getting lost, but you have to carry luggage up a long set of stairs. Underground can be done with escalators and elevators the entire way, but is more crowded and a bit more complicated.
To walk above ground, bear left after exiting the station. You will enter an open pavilion area with taxis and a little police kiosk. Directly across the street, you will be able to see the hotel. To get there, climb the red stairs that cross the street. Go straight ahead and enter the hotel. You will be on the second floor – descend to the first floor lobby to check in.
To walk underground, take the stairs or escalator down into the Diamond shopping mall. (The escalators are to the right of the stairs.) Go straight down the main area of the mall (it’s a bit to your left if you took the escalators) Continue on past the KFC. At the end of the hall, bear left then right and cross outside from the shopping area into the basement of the hotel. Take the elevators (to your right) up to the first floor lobby to check in.
Enjoy your stay at the Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel!
Step 1: Getting on the Narita Express train
After exiting through customs, descend into the JR station. The entrance is to the right after exiting customs if you came into Terminal 2 (Delta comes in here). Go down the escalator.
At the bottom of the escalator, turn left and go through the glass doors into the main area of the station. On your right, on the corner with the main thoroughfare, is the Narita Express ticket counter.
Go to the ticket counter and purchase a ticket to Yokohama. Your ticket will have a reserved seat location. The first number is the car number, the second number is the row, and the third number is the seat (for example car 10, seat 7 C).
Your ticket will also have a time. The train will arrive at that time. Be there before the train arrives.
Go through the entrance (use your ticket). Don’t lose the ticket. You’ll need it later. Turn right and go through the pylons then down the escalator.
Wait for your train. It will arrive exactly on time. Make sure you look for the car number. Lower numbers platform left, higher to the right.
Step 2: Getting through Yokohama Station
Once on the train, find your assigned seats and settle it. It will be about 2 hours to Yokohama. There are two initial stops (Tokyo and Shinagawa) before Yokohama.
At Yokohama, get off of the train and descend the steps into the main Yokohama station. Use your Narita Express ticket to exit through the gates into the main area.
You will be on one of two sides of the station. Look for signs to the “West Exit”. If you are the main side of the station, you will see this immediately at the end of the station. If you are on the other side of the station, you will see signs that say “N. Passage West Exit” with an arrow.
If you are on the main side of the station, take the stairs up the West Exit. Walk straight forward out of the station through the crowds of people. In front of you and slightly to the right is the entrance to Diamond, the underground shopping area. Go to the next step for directions from here.
If you are on the other side of the station, you can either walk outside or inside.
To walk inside, turn left inside the station and go down the stairs towards the subway station area. Go past the entrance to the subway. At the next set of stairs, follow the sign pointing up to the West Exit. Climb the stairs. At the top of these stairs you will see the West Exit stairs to your right. These are the same ones referred to in the column to above in the “Main Side” directions. As described above, go up the stairs then straight ahead to leave the train station.
To walk outside, take the escalator up. Turn left and go into the little alleyway. Follow the alley to the end, then bear left into the large open area in front of the train station. In front of you on the right is the entrance to Diamond (the underground shopping area) referred to in the next section. Go to the next section for further directions.
Step 3: From Yokohama Main Station to the Hotel
You now have two choices. You can walk outside or underground to the hotel. Outside is simpler with fewer crowds and less chance of getting lost, but you have to carry luggage up a long set of stairs. Underground can be done with escalators and elevators the entire way, but is more crowded and a bit more complicated.
To walk above ground, bear left after exiting the station. You will enter an open pavilion area with taxis and a little police kiosk. Directly across the street, you will be able to see the hotel. To get there, climb the red stairs that cross the street. Go straight ahead and enter the hotel. You will be on the second floor – descend to the first floor lobby to check in.
To walk underground, take the stairs or escalator down into the Diamond shopping mall. (The escalators are to the right of the stairs.) Go straight down the main area of the mall (it’s a bit to your left if you took the escalators) Continue on past the KFC. At the end of the hall, bear left then right and cross outside from the shopping area into the basement of the hotel. Take the elevators (to your right) up to the first floor lobby to check in.
Enjoy your stay at the Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel!
5:13 AM
Monday, September 12, 2005
CNN-J Hits Bottom
When traveling in Japan, CNN-Japan is a welcome port in the storm, a source of news from the US, a way to hear the English language, a comforting piece of home. However, CNN-J for some reason believes that the one thing that the world needs to see every night is Larry King's little talk show.
On a good night, the Larry King show is news neutral - perhaps a fluff interview with someone in the government or an author or newsmaker that could actually impact your life. On a bad night, it's an hour of interviews with a teacher who married her student. This week, however, represents a new low, as we Asian travelers have been subjected to the Larry King interview with Pamela Anderson.
You turn on the TV expecting to catch up a bit on world and US events, and instead you find yourself confronted with a program that actually SUCKS THE NEWS OUT OF THE ROOM. It's a net negative news show, that noticeably makes the viewer less intelligent every minute that he watches.
Personally, I turned on the computer, read articles off of the internet, and set the TV to a Japanese broadcast of Sumo wresting instead.
On a good night, the Larry King show is news neutral - perhaps a fluff interview with someone in the government or an author or newsmaker that could actually impact your life. On a bad night, it's an hour of interviews with a teacher who married her student. This week, however, represents a new low, as we Asian travelers have been subjected to the Larry King interview with Pamela Anderson.
You turn on the TV expecting to catch up a bit on world and US events, and instead you find yourself confronted with a program that actually SUCKS THE NEWS OUT OF THE ROOM. It's a net negative news show, that noticeably makes the viewer less intelligent every minute that he watches.
Personally, I turned on the computer, read articles off of the internet, and set the TV to a Japanese broadcast of Sumo wresting instead.
6:34 PM
Thursday, June 30, 2005
How to Create a Zombie
- One fourteen hour direct flight across 13 time zones
- Two 12+ hour work days
- One thirteen hour return flight
Guaranteed to look just like the fancy made-up zombies that Hollywood produces.
Throw in some rain, heat, 100% humidity, stressful discussions, and crowded 2-hour train rides to enhance the effect.
5:55 PM
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Recommending the Yokohama Bay Sheraton
- Right next to the Yokohama train station.
- Tons of shopping and restaurants nearby.
- Bathroom mirrors that don't fog up in the middle. Very cool.
- Fancy toilet seats with many buttons that westerners are afraid to push.
- High speed internet, $10 for the entire stay.
- Breakfast buffet with seasonal fruit.
- CNN on the television.
- Friendly, English-speaking staff.
- Control panel by the bed to set "Do Not Disturb", alarm clock, and room lights.
- Elevator door close buttons that actually close the doors.
Filed in: travel
Labels: travel
8:55 AM
Monday, May 09, 2005
Delta - Technically Insufficient
Yes, I'm back in Japan. So ... why no movie review updates? Well, the row of seats that I was on - for 14 hours - had a problem with the movie. Every 15 minutes - for 14 hours - the movie would turn off and the system would take 5 minutes to reset. The power supply for computers was also inoperable - for 14 hours. And during the system resets the controls for the reading lights were also inoperable - for 14 hours.
I saw part of "The Phantom of the Opera", but missed most of the climactic scenes. I know that the chandelier fell at some point (not the same point as in the stage show), but I'm not sure when. I also missed the climax of the graveyard scene and, of course, the last 5 minutes of the movie. Otherwise it looked good.
I cannot recall a single flight on Delta to or from Japan in the last year that hasn't had some sort of problem with the entertainment or power system. Either some screens are out or the movies are in the wrong order or it's last month's movies, or the power ports are inoperable in some section of the plane.
I spoke to a flight attendant about the problem for quite a while. She confessed that there are significant problems with the entertainment systems on the Tokyo/Atlanta jets. According to her, Delta doesn't have the funds to fix the problems.
Although I'm sure that attitude does not apply to the technology that keeps the plane in the air, the continued failures of the on-board systems will eventually drive frequent fliers like myself to consider the indirect flights through New York or San Francisco on another airline.
Delta, whoever inside there thinks that new uniforms or paint jobs matter to fliers needs to get a lesson in what keeps people on your planes. 14 hours in a dark, cramped cabin with no entertainment, no ability to work, and not even reading light at the seat is not acceptable in modern travel.
I saw part of "The Phantom of the Opera", but missed most of the climactic scenes. I know that the chandelier fell at some point (not the same point as in the stage show), but I'm not sure when. I also missed the climax of the graveyard scene and, of course, the last 5 minutes of the movie. Otherwise it looked good.
I cannot recall a single flight on Delta to or from Japan in the last year that hasn't had some sort of problem with the entertainment or power system. Either some screens are out or the movies are in the wrong order or it's last month's movies, or the power ports are inoperable in some section of the plane.
I spoke to a flight attendant about the problem for quite a while. She confessed that there are significant problems with the entertainment systems on the Tokyo/Atlanta jets. According to her, Delta doesn't have the funds to fix the problems.
Although I'm sure that attitude does not apply to the technology that keeps the plane in the air, the continued failures of the on-board systems will eventually drive frequent fliers like myself to consider the indirect flights through New York or San Francisco on another airline.
Delta, whoever inside there thinks that new uniforms or paint jobs matter to fliers needs to get a lesson in what keeps people on your planes. 14 hours in a dark, cramped cabin with no entertainment, no ability to work, and not even reading light at the seat is not acceptable in modern travel.
Filed in: travel
Labels: travel
5:58 AM
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Bloody Cold
I forgot my electric razor this time on my trip to Japan, and I'm enjoying the pleasures and pains of running a sharp blade across my face repeatedly until I'm bleeding on nearly every facial surface. I spend the moments before breakfast wrapping toilet paper around my lower face.
I also forgot my jacket, and the weather has been unusually cold and wet so far this trip. I've taken to wearing multiple shirts and wrapping anything available around my arms when walking to and from the train station.
No camera available, but here's an artist's rendition:
I also forgot my jacket, and the weather has been unusually cold and wet so far this trip. I've taken to wearing multiple shirts and wrapping anything available around my arms when walking to and from the train station.
No camera available, but here's an artist's rendition:
9:25 AM
Yakitori Surprise
We went to a very nice yakitori restaurant last night for food on a stick. You can’t go wrong at a restaurant where an entire section of the menu is entitled “skin”.
The four of us ordered a variety of skewered food. My favorites were the spicy chicken meatballs and the asparagus wrapped in bacon. Very tasty and in manageable bites. Getting adventurous, we started ordering other things on the menu, and believing that there must be some sort of translation error, we ordered the “sparrow”. We imagined that to be some sort of game bird pieces on sticks.
Imagine how you would react if a fully formed and grilled baby bird was suddenly dropped in front of you, complete with skinny little neck and fully formed head. It was unnerving to say the least. Being game, each of us eventually bit off a wing (bones and all) and managed to force it down. It tasted like very strong liver.
We spent the rest of the evening eating anything else to get rid of that flavor and texture and making jokes that seemed progressively entertaining as the sparrow experience began to fade.
The four of us ordered a variety of skewered food. My favorites were the spicy chicken meatballs and the asparagus wrapped in bacon. Very tasty and in manageable bites. Getting adventurous, we started ordering other things on the menu, and believing that there must be some sort of translation error, we ordered the “sparrow”. We imagined that to be some sort of game bird pieces on sticks.
Imagine how you would react if a fully formed and grilled baby bird was suddenly dropped in front of you, complete with skinny little neck and fully formed head. It was unnerving to say the least. Being game, each of us eventually bit off a wing (bones and all) and managed to force it down. It tasted like very strong liver.We spent the rest of the evening eating anything else to get rid of that flavor and texture and making jokes that seemed progressively entertaining as the sparrow experience began to fade.
- If I get hungry before breakfast, I’ll just get something off the windowsill.
- So how do you catch sparrows for food? With a plate glass window? Whack! There’s dinner!
- And more in that vein.
8:38 AM
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Happy Birthday to Me
When we crossed the International Date Line in the air, I officially turned 37 years old. A short, 12-hour-or-so birthday this year. Does that mean I’m really only 36 and a half?
Filed in: travel
Labels: travel
3:03 AM
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
A Tip when Traveling in Japan
Turn off the alerting feature on your PDA. You really don't want to, for example, be jarringly reminded of your 10am weekly group meeting at midnight local time. You'll end up awake at odd hours, typing blog entries in a dark hotel room.
Filed in: travel
Labels: travel
4:26 PM
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
What's on CNN Japan?
Although I have spent some time watching Japanese game shows and subtitled American movies on television, CNN-J is the primary source of English language noise in my little hotel room. So, now I know all about
The commercials for English-speaking hotels, newspapers, and computers are fascinating. And for some reason, CNN-J now plays re-runs of The Daily Show in the afternoons. I'm never here to see it, but that's certainly an improvement over the interminable Larry King re-runs that used to be the staple of CNN-J.
- The trials and tribulations of English, Spanish, and German football
- Lebanon's protests and optimism (including fascinating statements from the opposition that they were encouraged by elections in Iraq)
- The weather around Europe (blizzards seem less intimidating when delivered with a British accent)
- Tony Blair
- and of course - myriad inconsequential details about the Michael Jackson trial
The commercials for English-speaking hotels, newspapers, and computers are fascinating. And for some reason, CNN-J now plays re-runs of The Daily Show in the afternoons. I'm never here to see it, but that's certainly an improvement over the interminable Larry King re-runs that used to be the staple of CNN-J.
Filed in: travel
Labels: travel
4:35 PM
Monday, February 28, 2005
No Room, but a Great View
For the first time in ages, I have a window seat on the flight to Japan and the skies are clear. Coming over the Aleutian Islands, there is a magnificent view of the snow-covered mountains cascading down to an ice-encrusted sea. Absolutely incredible and overwhelming, stark and beautiful. The two things that come to mind are the Biblical story of creation and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy bit about creation of the fiords.
Sorry, no photos (no room to carry a camera in my luggage and more photogenic folks staying back home).
Sorry, no photos (no room to carry a camera in my luggage and more photogenic folks staying back home).
Filed in: travel
Labels: travel
3:43 AM
