Japan travel guide - Japan Hopper

Japan travel guide - Japan Hopper » Product http://www.japan-hopper.com For all your Japan related needs - Hotels, Restaurants, Activities, and much more on the map of Japan Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:46:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 ja Why don’t we have this stuff??? http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/09/26_112192.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/09/26_112192.php#comments Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:19:06 +0000 ltndncr http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=2192 Sure, we’ve got sushi. We’ve added mayonnaise and hot sauce and sushi rolls that have no rice or fish in them. We’ve got kara-oke, although we still can’t pronounce it (KAH-rah OH-kay), and all of its attendant headaches. Hello Kitty has made it here, and anime is almost an English word. Even markets that specialize in Japanese merchandise and cater to the Japanese populations of moderate size cities. I had an Oronamin-C just the other day (natsukashii!), and we have shabu-shabu in my household at least once a month.

But where’s all the good stuff? The little stuff that made life so much easier? So much more home-like? I know you can get a kotatsu here, but you have to search long and hard. And spend alot. And han-ten? I have to drive to L.A. during the exact right season, and make sure my wallet has plenty of fodder. What about those little plastic containers of simple syrup that are served with iced coffee and tea?

And Kin-en Pipe. I want to quit smoking. I NEED to quit smoking. My doctor has told me, my mother has told me, my partner (who smokes as much as I do) has told me. But I can’t do it cold turkey. And the patches only help with the cravings. There’s that free-hand thingy to deal with, too. Those little flavored pieces of plastic could be wielded just like a cigarette. You could tap pretend ashes off of them. You could jab the air with them while you spoke, emphasizing your point. You could hold them in your mouth, buccaneer style, when your hands were otherwise occupied. And best of all, you could take a drag and it would almost, almost feel like you were really inhaling smoke. And they were cheap. Way cheaper than cigarettes, because one pipe could last you a whole day!

We need these little amenities in America. And with the internet, we should have them! As I said, I MUST quit smoking. I also HATE stirring my ice tea for ten minutes so I don’t get a mouthful of semi-crystalized sugar! If you travel to Japan often, couldn’t you bring some of these things back for us? ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/09/26_112192.php/feed Nepali & Indian restaurant “Himalayan Moon Cafe” Tokyo, Japan http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/09/13_142168.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/09/13_142168.php#comments Sat, 13 Sep 2008 05:32:12 +0000 sherpa http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=2168 Himalayan Moon Cafe’s official Site, URL: http://www.himalayanmoon.info/

Welcome to an unique dining experience at Himalayan Moon Cafe.This is one of the nice and popular nepalese & indian restaurant in the Tokyo city Japan. It has been recognized and telecasted as the super nepali & indian restaurant of the Tokyo city by the Japanese Television Asahi’s program and The Fuji Television’s ” Super News” for many times. We use only fresh and unique blend of herbs and spices. Every item is prepared fresh, healthy and real original taste, using traditional methods by experts chefs both invited from nepal and india with many years of experienced, paying careful attention to our patron’s choice mild medium or hot flavor. We focus on quality at every stage…quality ingredients, quality preparation and quality friendly service!

The Nepalese food also known as the cuisine of the Himalayas is diverse as the country itself and famous for its nutrition level and tempting taste. Wecome and have great time with our taste. ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/09/13_142168.php/feed Hello Kitty digital camera and suitcase ! http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/06/26_141748.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/06/26_141748.php#comments Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:26:11 +0000 akko@hakata http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=1748

5 million pixcel digital camera with Hello Kitty design!

Suitcase, with mature kitty design!
There are four colors, black, gray, red and pink.

Light, quiet!

And easy to find out of many others.

Let me just mention that the sparkling round, small stickers on camera and suitcase are my own decoration.

You can find them at Hello Kitty Shops (Sanrio Shops ) in Japan.
The largest Hello Kitty shop is in Ginza, very near to Yurakucho Station,
B1F and 1st floor of the Nishi Ginza Department (Please check the map below .) ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/06/26_141748.php/feed MA by So Shi Te - Japanese interior furnishings shop http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/06/22_011745.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/06/22_011745.php#comments Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:58:28 +0000 kodaman http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=1745

There is an unique exhibition at MA by So Shi Te Minami-Aoyama interior furnishings shop.

MA by So Shi Te’s concept is modern Japanese and its main products are laminated-bamboo furniture, which are very stylish and simple. MA also offers Japanese crafts with modern design, which are unique and appealing.

The exhibition features Masahiro Ishimaru’s furniture and other smaller works. He lives in Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture and makes very unique handmade wooden furniture.
For this exhibition he created a coat hanger made from dear antlers, that have been shed naturally.

-MA by So Shi Te-

Address: 2-19-5 Minami-Aoyama,Minato-ku 107-0062
Tel: 03-3401-0922
Web: http://www.mabysoshite.com ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/06/22_011745.php/feed Try Maiko Makeup @ Yoji-ya http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/06/03_151729.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/06/03_151729.php#comments Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:42:52 +0000 akko@hakata http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=1729 If you are interested in trying Maiko makeup, not in a heavy, authentic way, but in a casual, easy way, Yoji-ya would be the best solution.

These are colors for your eyes and lips. Each is from Japanese traditional natural colors of flowers, fruits, snow, etc.
They may look unusual, but once you put them, you’ll find they fit beautifully.

Lip balm made of Yuzu (Japanese citrus), with relaxing sweet sour scent.
The woman illustrated on the cap is the cover girl of Yojiya’s Aburatorigami, facial oil blotting paper, a popular Kyoto souvenior among girls.

Original makeup tools. These brushes are made of goats’ hair.

Soap, Lotion…skin care items to make moistured skin.

Variety of high quality makeup brushes, all made in Japan.

Adding `red’ to eyelids and lips, `sakura (cherry blossom)’ to cheeks.

Snow-skin is essencial to Maiko makeup.
So finish with a light dusting of translucent snow white powder.

The great advantage of visiting counter is that you can get personal makeup advice face-to-face.
What I found out today is, this Maiko makeup is very cool (I mean not simply traditional), and I can put it on everyday. So please try :>

*Photographed and Reported at Yojiya @Daimaru, Fukuoka Tenjin. ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/06/03_151729.php/feed Solar Panel Bras - Only in Japan http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/17_011692.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/17_011692.php#comments Fri, 16 May 2008 16:54:33 +0000 Bill Belew http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=1692 Green Japan -

The lingerie maker Triumph Japan has come up with a solar-panel bra.

The solar panel bra can display messages on a removable small electric board.

Yeah, as if I believe that. Take off your shirt and let me see it work. That’s what I say.

The bra also has pad designed to hold beverages - cold and hot, depending on the mood of the wearer I suppose.

I volunteer to test the temperatures of the, um, beverage containers.

The purpose of this green loulou bumper, to cut down on the usage of cans and plastic bottles.

And, to provide comic relief, er, environmental relief for the rest of us.

Alright…take off your shirt and show me how it works.

]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/17_011692.php/feed Honda Accord, 2008: Efficient, Cool, Handsome http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/14_141686.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/14_141686.php#comments Wed, 14 May 2008 05:19:09 +0000 James307 http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=1686 There’s nothing wrong with a good, healthy dose of competition. And in the automotive industry, there’s no better example than in the midsize sedan category.

The top three players — Honda, Toyota and Nissan — all have loyal followers, and each manufacturer works nearly continuously to outdo its competitors.

Amongmost successful vehicles, Honda needs little help with the Accord. But for 2008, the Accord was redesigned and it’s a prime of example taking a vehicle that’s already an industry leader and making it better.

Between the coupe and sedan and seven trim options, the Accord is available with more than 30 configurations. My weekly drive was the EX-L. With its new 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower V6 engine and navigation system, it’s the most expensive non-hybrid Accord on the market at slightly more than $30,000. It has a five-speed automatic transmission. (A six-speed manual is also available.)

The new Honda is bigger and “badder” in all areas, which might mean one downside — fuel economy. But that’s not the case. The new Accord, with both four and six-cylinder engines, is at least equal or exceeds previous year models’ gas mileage averages.

How did that happen? It’s because of the Honda’s cylinder-deactivation technology. It allows the engine to run on six, four or three cylinders depending upon driving conditions to maximize fuel efficiency. The new Accord with a V6 engine now averages more than 3 mpg over last year’s V6. And the ‘08 engine has 24 more horsepower.

As the largest Accord ever manufactured, the ‘08 edition offers 14 cubic feet of trunk space in the sedan and and 11.9 cubic in the coupe. It’s the most of any of the major players in the midsize class, although the Altima Camry and Hyundai Sonata have very similar interior dimensions.

Like recent previous Accord editions, the 2008 version performs admirably in all areas, steering and handling to acceleration.

Safety Features — Dual front, front side and side curtain airbags; Fuel Mileage (Estimates) — 19 mpg (city), 29 mpg (Highway); Warranty — Bumper-to-Bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles; Base Price — $30,260.00.

James Raia/www.theweeklydriver.com ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/14_141686.php/feed Honda Civic Hybrid (2008): Exceedingly Quiet & Efficient http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/14_011684.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/14_011684.php#comments Tue, 13 May 2008 16:54:20 +0000 James307 http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=1684 The 2008 edition continues the second generation of the Honda Civic hybrid, which was introduced in 2006 and has maintained a strong share in the ever-expanding hybrid market.

Like I experienced when I first test drove the Civic hybrid in 2004, the current version in exceedingly quiet. During stops, it seems like the vehicle’s engine has stopped. Instead, it’s the engine operating solely on electric power.

The hybrid Civic is equipped with a 110-horsepower, 1.3-liter engine with two relatively new features largely known by acronyms, IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) and CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). A five-speed manual transmission was previously available, but now the hybrid is only offered with an automatic transmission.

The IMA, as previously mentioned, allows a vehicle to operate solely on electric power in certain situations. The CVT feature replaces conventional gears with a belt-and-pully system that continuously and automatically adjusts to provide a more efficient and nearly unlimited number of drive ratios.

The exterior features include: chrome front grille, angular front headlamps, a longer, slanted and near panoramic front window and expanded length and width. An the interior also has a long standard features list: 160-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with six speakers and steering wheel audio controls, power windows and locks, front map lights, cruise control, exterior temperature gauge and a navigation system with voice recognition.

Safety Features — Dual front, front side and side curtain airbags; Fuel Mileage (Estimates) — 40 mpg (city) 45 mpg (highway); Warranty — Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 10 years/100,000 miles, Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles. Base Price — $24,350.

James Raia

www.theweeklydriver.com ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/14_011684.php/feed Toyota Corolla: Most Remarkable Car Ever? http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/13_071682.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/13_071682.php#comments Mon, 12 May 2008 22:28:11 +0000 James307 http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=1682

The Toyota Corolla may be the most remarkable car ever, particularly since there’s little remarkable about it.

What makes the Corolla (the little crown) so remarkable is that it’s the largest selling car in history. Toyota has made more than 33 million Corollas since its debut in Japan in 1966. It’s now manufactured in more than a dozen countries, and it’s estimated one Corolla is purchased somewhere in the world about every 40 seconds.

I’m driving a 2009 Toyota Corolla this week, my first 2009 test drive. It’s a four-cylinder, four-speed automatic with front-wheel drive and 15-inch wheels.

Standard equipment is plentiful: four airbags to Halogen headlamps, heated side mirrors to cruise controls,

Its base price in $16,650, which is about half of what the average new car now costs in the United States. That’s also about 1/10 of what the Corolla cost in 1968, the first year it was available in the United States.

Considering its price point and longevity and the Toyota reputation, the 2009 Toyota Corolla is a reliable choice as an entry-level compact.

James Raiawww.theweeklydriver.com ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/13_071682.php/feed Where Japanese Go to Buy Coffee http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/04/16_011527.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/04/16_011527.php#comments Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:32:43 +0000 Bill Belew http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/04/16_011527.php If alcohol is the oil that keeps the Japanese society lubricated, coffee is what powers the people.

The kissaten (coffee shop) is an icon in Japan. You would think that Japanese get their coffee at these places. Wrong. Those places are for hanging out.

Starbucks introduced the coffee craze in 1996.

Doutor Coffee has built the largest chain in Japan with 1,479 outlets.

McDonald’s sold 120 million cups of the brown juice in 2007, enough for every person in Japan to have at least one cup and up from 95 million the year before.

Japan’s favorite coffee stops-

5. Mister Donut

4. Starbucks

3. Mos Burger

2. Doutor

1. McDonalds

More people prefer Ronald as their barista than any other.

The secret - high quality coffee beans from Ethiopia combined with beans from three other countries to make Makudonarudo’s “Premium Roast Coffee.”

Where do you go to get your morning boost?

source ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/04/16_011527.php/feed