Aug 27, 2015
Using Jumper Cables
If your battery dies you may be able to use jumper cables to jump start it using another vehicle. This guide will give you an idea of how to use jumper cables in an emergency, but you should refer to your car’s and the cable’s manufacturer’s guides for specific instructions before attempting the procedure. Please remember that incorrectly using cables could damage either or both vehicles, or result in injury.
Make sure both cars are turned off, and in park or neutral with the parking brakes on.
- Connect one end of the red (positive) jumper cable to the positive terminal* on the stalled vehicle (dead) battery.
- Connect the other red (positive) jumper cable clamp to the positive terminal of the starting vehicle battery.
- Connect one end of the black (negative) jumper cable to the negative terminal* of the starting vehicle battery.
- Connect the other black (negative) cable to a clean, unpainted metal surface under the stalled vehicle’s hood, away from the battery; somewhere on the engine block is a good place.
Start the vehicle that’s doing the jumping, and allow it to run for about 2 to 3 minutes before starting the stalled vehicle. <important> Remove the cables in reverse order. Keep the jumped car (stalled vehicle) running for at least 30 minutes to give the battery sufficient time to recharge.
- *The positive terminal should be marked ( + ), or (POS), and/or have a larger “terminal post.”
- *The negative terminal should be marked ( – ), or (NEG), and/or have a smaller “terminal post.”
If you do not have a car, but want one, navigate over to www.LeaseJapan.com and check out our selection of new and used vehicles for sale or lease. Need a driver’s license first? www.JapanDriversLicense.com has tools, tips, and guides to help you navigate the system. Happy motoring!
Aug 26, 2015
International Supermarkets in Nagoya
Japanese food is celebrated the world over, and you are perhaps lucky to live in a country in which the cuisine is held in such high regard. However, sometimes you just hanker after something that tastes of home. Fortunately, some supermarkets cater in particular to those wishing to purchase international foods.
While products on sale at these stores are often imported and thus come at a substantially higher cost, they are increasingly popular with both locals and ex-pats alike.
COSTCO Wholesale Japan
You probably all ready know this membership only giant grocery store carrying imported and Japanese goods. Low wholesale prices and bulk quantities. Ample parking.
1-25-14 Rinku-cho Tokoname City
Tel:0569-38-9000, 10:00 – 20:00
Seijo Ishii
Seijo Ishii can be found in many cities, often in or around central train stations and carries products from all over the world, including French cheese, Australian wine and American candy.
Nagoya Station
Marche cuisine, Meieki1-1-4, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-587-2345, 7:30 – 22:00
Asunal Shopping Centre – Kanayama Station
1st Floor Asunal Shopping Center 1-17-1 Kanayama, Naka Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-324-8577, 10:00 – 22:00
Kaldi Coffee Farm
An international supermarket that sells much, much more than coffee. There are many locations around the city as well as online shopping.
AEON Mall Aratamabashi
1 Chome-7-10 Kikusumi, Minami Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-824-5267, 10:00 – 22:00
Daiei Kamiida
1F, 1 Obecho, Kita Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-981-8838, 9:00 – 21:00
AEON Mall Atsuta
1 Chome-2-11 Mutsuno, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-883-6705, 9:00 – 22:00
Airport Walk Nagoya
1F, Hayashizaki-1-8 Toyoba, Toyoyama, Nishikasugai District
Tel: 0568-39-3770, 10:00 – 21:30
Sakae Chika
B2F, Sakae 3-4-6, Naka Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-962-0030, 9:00 – 21:00
Kitano Ace
A supermarket that sells various international goods from their four citywide locations.
La Chic
Underground 1F, Sakae 3-6-1, Naka Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-259-6266, 11:00 – 21:00
Mozo Wonder City East Court
1F, 40-5 Futakata-cho, Nishi Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-506-7033, 10:00 – 22:00
Mitsukoshi Hoshigaoka
Underground 1F, Hoshigaoka, 14-14 Chikusa Ward, Hoshigaokamoto-cho,
Nagoya
Tel: 052-789-0257, 10:00 – 22:00
Kintetsu Pass’e
1 Chome-2-2 Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-561-7453, 10:00 – 20:30
Yamaya
High quality beer, wine and spirits stocked from around the world. International dry and tinned foods also available.
128 Fujigaoka, Meitou Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-760-4811, 10:00 – 22:00
Dean and Deluca
High quality but pricey store for wine, cheese and bakery goods.
Midland Square
B1F Midland Square, 4-7-1, Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-527-8826, 10:00 – 21:30
Matsuzakaya
1-16-3, Sakae, Nagoya
Tel: 052-249-8838; 10:00 – 20:00
Tomizawa
Sells international cooking and baking ingredients including chocolate and various flour types.
Midland Square
B1F Midland Square, 4-7-1, Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-527-8817, 11:00 – 20:00
Amica Discount
The next best thing to Costco. Frozen, dried and tinned foods at wholesale prices and quantities. Includes many international brands.
Osu
3 -39-8 Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-259-3955, 09:30 – 20:00
Nakamura-ku
4-35 Ibuka-cho, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya
Tel: 052-459-5688, 09:30 – 20:00
Use this map to find details of international supermarkets in Nagoya
Key
Costco=C
Seijo Ishii=S
Kaldi Coffee Farm=K
Kitano Ace=N
Yamaya=Y
Dean and Deluca=D
Tomizawa=T
Amica=A
loading map - please wait...
 |  COSTCO Wholesale Japan www.costco.co.jp/eng Costco Wholesale, Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
 | Seijo Ishii Nagoya Station www.seijoishii.co.jp 日本愛知県名古屋市中村区名駅１丁目 成城石井名古屋駅広小路口店 |
 | Kaldi Coffee Farm AEON Mall Aratamabashi www.kaldi-online.com AEONMALL ARATAMABASHI, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Kaldi Coffee Farm Daiei Kamiida www.kaldi-online.com Daiei Kamiiida, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Kaldi Coffee Farm AEON Mall Atsuta Aeon Mall Atsuta, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Kaldi Coffee Farm Airport Walk Nagoya Softbank Airport Walk Nagoya, Toyoyama, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Kaldi Coffee Farms Sakae Chika 日本愛知県名古屋市中区新栄３丁目４−６ カルディコーヒーファーム サカエチカ店 |
 | Kitano Ace La Chic KITANO ACE, Sakae, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Kitano Ace Mitsukoshi Hoshigaoka 日本愛知県名古屋市千種区星が丘元町１４ 北野エース・三越星ヶ丘店 |
| Kitano Ace Mozo Wonder City East Court 日本愛知県名古屋市西区二方町４０ ＫＩＴＡＮＯＡＣＥ上小田井店 |
17 markers per page | |
Mark Guthrie
Photo: flickr.com "Supermarket" by Camilo Rueda López (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified
Aug 25, 2015
Buying Gasoline in Japan
Got a car? You are going to need gas! This is a basic guide to buying gas in Japan. Most stations around Japan are “full-service,” so the staff will come to you and fill your tank, but you can also find “self-service” stations where you do it all yourself.
Buying gasoline in Japan is surprisingly easy. You will find both “full-service” and “self-service” stations available, but at either it will be helpful to know a little vocabulary when you go. There are three types of automotive fuel available, and you can also buy kerosene for heaters and other devices at many stations.
|
English |
Romaji | Japanese Characters |
|
Regular |
Re-gyu-raa |
レギュラー |
|
High Octane |
Hai-oku | ハイオク |
|
Diesel |
Kei-yu |
軽油 |
|
Kerosene |
Tou-yu |
灯油 |
Useful Vocabulary
|
English |
Romaji | Japanese Characters |
|
Gas/petrol station |
Ga-so-rin su-tan-do |
ガソリンスタンド |
|
Full tank |
Man-tan |
満タン |
|
1000 yen |
Sen-en | 千円 |
|
2000 yen |
Ni-sen-en |
二千円（２千円） |
|
3000 yen |
San-zen-en | 三千円（３千円） |
|
4000 yen |
Yon-sen-en |
四千円（４千円） |
|
5000 yen |
Go-sen-en |
五千円（５千円） |
|
Cash |
Gen-kin | 現金 |
|
Credit Cards |
Ku-re-jitto kaado | クレジット・カード |
|
Liters |
Rittoru |
リットル |
|
Ash tray |
Hai-zara |
灰皿 |
|
Windows |
Mado garasu |
窓ガラス |
|
Please |
Onegai shimasu |
お願いします |
Sample Sentences
- Re-gyu-raa wo, mantan de onegai shimasu Fill it up with regular gasoline please
- Hai-oku wo, ni-sen-en-bun onegai shimasu Give me 2000 yen’s worth of high octane please
- Genkin de onegai shimasu Let me pay in cash please
- Mado garasu wo fuite kudasai Please wipe/clean the windows
Other Notes About Using Gasoline Stations. You may be…
- Asked if you would like your ashtray dumped and cleaned
- Asked if you would like your oil/tire pressure checked
- Given a cloth so you can wipe your car interior while you wait
If you do not have a car, but want one, navigate over to www.LeaseJapan.com and check out our selection of new and used vehicles for sale or lease. Need a driver’s license first? www.JapanDriversLicense.com has tools, tips, and guides to help you navigate the system. Happy motoring!
Aug 22, 2015
Mount Gozaisho – Nagoya Day Trip Destination
An hour outside of Nagoya on the Kintetsu line is Gozaisho-Dake’s 1,210 meter peak. It is a great hike up the highest peak in the Suzuka Mountain Range, and it offers great views of Shiga and Mie Prefectures, the beautiful snow capped Japan Alps, as well as the waters of Ise Bay and Lake Biwa. On a very good day, you can catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji. This is a great spot to visit whether hiking or riding up the rope way gondola to the top. It is a beautiful place, and it even has a restaurant and gift shop on top where you can get some curry and coffee – a BIG bonus when you hike up in the winter and find yourself in a snow storm!
Gozaishodake is right on the border of Shiga ken and Mie ken. It takes about 1 hour from Nagoya on the Kintetsu line, but you can also ride a bus from Sakae Station to Yuno Yama Onsen, and that will actually dump you closer to where you want to be. The train stops about a 30 minute walk up hill to the onsen area. You can also ride infrequent buses or a taxi up from there.
A little farther uphill from the bus station you will find a 2.161 kilometer long rope way, supposedly the longest in Asia, which takes passengers 780 meters up the mountain, where you can enjoy some great views, and the curry I mentioned earlier. If you go up during winter to ski, you can catch the ski lift from that point.
I highly recommend going up during the usual great times to see anything; autumn and spring. The fall colors are particularly great there, though they do not do “illumination.” There are plenty of onsen in the area, so this would make a great day trip. The view, is very nice, I might add.
I would wander around the town (if you are brave then the trails around town are nice too!) for a couple of hours in the morning, take the ropeway up in the afternoon, and then sit in the onsen for a bit before heading home. Be careful if you plan to ride the bus; it stops early! If you don’t feel like rushing, why not stay in an onsen for the night? The mountain air is a lot cooler than the city…
You might try the Hotel du Marrionier (Tel: 059 392 3210), for either accommodation or simply for their onsen, which is very close to the bus station. It is a big place, and features outdoor baths- which everyone knows are best in snow!
Photo By Alpsdake (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Photo "Ise Bay and Yokkaichi, Mie from Mount Gozaisho 2011-10-02" by Alpsdake - 投稿者自身による作品. Licensed under CC 表示-継承 3.0
Aug 13, 2015
Martial Arts Lessons in English: Tokyo
Whether you are a total beginner or a high ranking expert, there is something extremely special about learning a martial art in the nation of inception. As well as providing you with the skills necessary to progress in the sport, it also gives an invaluable insight into the background, culture and discipline of, not only the art itself, but also Japan as a whole.
Japanese Martial Arts
Martial arts in Japan have their ancient origins in the times when the caste based society meant that only the samurai class were permitted to carry weapons, thus making knowledge of hand-to-hand combat imperative for all aspects of society. Japanese martial arts can be separated into two classes: koryū, the traditional school referring to codes such as sumo, jujutsu and the various forms of swordsmanship that were used pre-Meiji Restoration on the battlefield; and gendai budo, modern, post-Meiji sports such as karate, kendo and judo that have more emphasis on self improvement than warrior combat.
Martial Arts Lessons in Tokyo
If you are interested in taking part in a martial art during your stay in Japan, there are plenty of classes you can join. The dōjōs (training schools) listed below offer at least some instruction in English.
Japan Karate Association – ISKC Karate
Classes taught in English by Richard sensei, a certified JKA instructor.
- Address: Meguro Honshou 5-22-8, Meguro-Ku,
- Website:www.jka.or.jp(Japanese)
- Telephone: 03-5800-3091
- Email: iskctaishijuku@yahoo.co.uk (Richard Sensei)
Japan Karate Association – Shimokitazawa
Current karate practitioners who cannot speak Japanese are welcome, though for beginners, some basic level Japanese is required.
- Address: Shimokita 3-30-13, Setagaya-Ku,
- Website: www.jka-shimokita.jp (Japanese)
- Telephone: 03-3469-5295
- Email: miwako-abe@athena.ocn.ne.jp
Japan Karate Association – Meguro
Information in English, Portuguese and Spanish is available, though some basic Japanese may be required.
- Address: Higashi Gotanda 2-11-12 – Shinshinagawa-Ku,
- Website: www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~karate/
- Telephone: 03-3714-6469
- Email: kikori-1996@mc.point.ne.jp (Tetsuya Sugioka) kanamomi@hotmail.com (Kanako Goto)
Japan Karate Association – Joosai
Current karate practitioners who cannot speak Japanese are welcome, though for beginners, some basic level Japanese is required.
- Address: Nakano 4-12-7, Nakano-Ku,
- Website: http://www009.upp.so-net.ne.jp/n-taishi/ (Japanese)
- Telephone: 090-8811-3441
- Email: jkajosai@js6.so-net.ne.jp
Hero Karate Girls
Karate lessons for women and girls instructed by English speaking JKA instructor Hiromi Hikishi.
- Address: Check website for your nearest class or contact the school.
- Website: www.agila.co.jp
- Telephone: 03-3772-8846
- Email: karate@agila.co.jp (Ms. Hiromi Hishiki)
Seidokan Akido of Tokyo
All level akido lessons are offered for both men and women at Seidokan Akido of Tokyo, instructed by American and fifth level black belt Chris sensei.
- Address: Higashi Itabashi Gymnasium, 1 Chome-10-5 Kaga, Itabashi
- Website: www.tokyoseidokan.com
- Email: dojo@tokyoseidokan.com (Chris Koprowski)
Kodokan School of Judo
This judo school has an English speaking instructor. Information in English can be given on the below telephone number.
- Address: 1-16-30, Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku,
- Website: 03-3818-4172
- Telephone: www.kodokan.org
Tokyo Kyumeikan Kendo Dojo
English lessons are available here for all levels of student, including children, wanting to learn this swordsnamship based martial art.
- Address: 2-1-7, Akatsukashin-Machi Itabashi-Ku,
- Website: www.bekkoame.ne.jp
- Telephone: 03-3930-4636
- Email: kyumeikan@mbb.sst.ne.jp
Tribe Tokyo MMA
Tribe Tokyo has a wide range of Mixed Martial Arts classes including jujutsu, striking and yoga. Classes are available from children to professional levels.
- Address: B1F, Elegance-Nerima, 1-22-10 Nerima, Nerima-ku,
- Website: www.tribetokyo.com
- Telephone: 03-6914-9497
Grabaka
Another MMA gym, Grabaka offers classes in many martial arts disciplines including judo and jujutsu for all experience levels.
- Address: Higashi-Nakano 4-27-26 1F, Nakano-ku,
- Website: www.grabaka.com
- Telephone: 03-5348-3092
JS Gym Wing Chun
Wing Chun is a Chinese martial art also practiced in Japan. The Danish instructor at JS Gym speaks English and Japanese.
- Address: Kanagawa-ken, Kawasaki-shi, Nakahara-ku, Marukodoori 1-660-3-103
- Website: www.js.dee.cc
- Telephone: 080 3515 8485
- Email: jsgymshinmaruko@gmail.com
Mark Guthrie
Photo: flickr.com "High kick" by Pandiyan V (CC BY-SA 2.0) -Modified
