Mar 23, 2017
Artisan Coffee in Tokyo
The Japanese are fond of coffee, as evidenced by the “kissaten culture,” which started in Nagoya and is exemplified by Komeda Coffee‘s man and ubiquitous branches, and the proliferation of coffee vending machines delivering largely sickly sweet but highly caffeinated “coffee.” But if you want a solid espresso drink or even a fine cup of “Joe,” as Americans like to say, away from the chain store uniformity? Tokyo is awash with great artisan and craft coffee shops, and below are just a few of our favorite ones in the capital.
Streamer Coffee Company
Technically a chain, but the coffee is good and the specialty “latte art” is amazing. As they focus on this art, the coffee they make can lean towards the milky for folk’s tastes, mine for example (!), but they do a good job of pulling the shots and the latte art is impressive. The owner has a couple of decades experience in New York’s coffee shops, and as a result the shops (there are a number of branches) offer amenities that western, especially from the USA, customers will recognize such as free wifi and shared seating arrangements.
Website: streamercoffee.com
Address: (see site for more branches) 1-20-28 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Sarutahiko Coffee
Named after a powerful Shinto deity, Sarutahiko Coffee near Ebisu station opened in 2011. It is popular with a young crowd, though situated ideally for the passing salaryman market. Although there’s seating for only eight amongst the Steampunk copper fixtures, the baristas are happy and friendly and have time to chat with their many customers, both sit-ins and takeaways alike.
Owner Tomoyuki Ootsuka began with hand drip coffee alone, but has now branched out into espresso drinks with beans supplied by Nozy Coffee and Cafetenango using a Synesso machine. If you want to hang around reading in the sometimes chilled ambiance you can find in store a copy of ‘Coffee With Tim Wendelboe’, signed by the eponymous winner of the 2004 World Barista Championship and 2005 World Cup Tasters Championship, commending Sarutahiko Coffee’s great brew.
Website: sarutahiko.co
Address: 1-6-6 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Blue Bottle Coffee – Kiyosumi Café
While the Blue Bottle Café in Ayoma is already well known, it is the Californian company’s new coffee shop in Kiyosumi that is causing quite a buzz. The café is set in a breathtaking building renovated by Schemata Architects from an old paper factory, with large glass doors and screens installed on each floor to maintain transparency between neighboring spaces, inside and outside, and the lower and upper floors.
The menu is familiar-looking: espresso drinks, single origin and blends as drip coffee, iced coffee as well as pastries; but the beans are roasted on sight in an immense Loring roaster that can roast 35 kg at a time, and used within 48 hours. The baristas are a mix of Japanese and Californian, and have been trained by former World Barista champion Michael Philips, ensuring the taste is the same as that you would get in Oakland.
Website: bluebottlecoffee.com/cafes/kiyosumi
Address: 1-4-8, Hirano, Koto-ku Tokyo,
Zoka Coffee
As the Latte Art Fest trade show is in town this month, it’s impossible not to mention Zoka. The coffee shop located in Mejiro is so well known for their latte art, that they even hold classes for the general public. It’s one of the most western style cafes in Tokyo with plenty of chairs and airy windows, and as it is just round the corner from Gakushin University it has a very youthful and vibrant clientele. The coffee itself is particularly strong, though as roasters themselves and past winners of Japan’s Roaster of the Year award, they seem to know what they are doing.
Website: www.ZokaCoffee.com
Address: 1F/2F Square Building, 3-3-1 Mejiro, Toshima Ku, Tokyo
Café Coutume
If there’s something that Parisians know about, it’s coffee. So when the Paris branch of Café Coutume was heralded as one of the hottest craft cafes in the city, there has to be something in it. Coutume first arrived in Tokyo in Aoyama in April 2014, and in February of this year a second Tokyo location was opened in Futakotamagawa.
While the Aoyama branch employs a self-service style, here the staff both take your order and serve you at your table giving you a more leisurely opportunity to peruse the menu that includes the familiar coffees and teas as well as sandwiches, salads and specialty deserts which are all reasonably priced (though ‘le petite déjeuner’ is only served between 7.30 and 11am). Having saved money on dining, take the opportunity to splash out on their specialty coffee, including their famous Esmerelda Geisha Boquete Panama.
Website: coutume.jp
Address: 1F Tamagawa Takashimaya, 3-17-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Café De L’Ambre
Most coffee houses on this list are of the modern, western variety, but Café De L’Ambre in Ginza couldn’t be any different if it tried. The sign on the small wooden door reads ‘Coffee Only’, and behind that door lies a traditional kissaten that has been serving locals since 1948, unbelievably in all that time owned by the one man, 100 year old Ichiro Sekiguchi. The décor is dark and heavy, lit by a beautiful stained glass lamp.
There is a washing machine behind the counter as drinks are made using cloth filters, and though gilt-framed French poems adorn the former actually assists in making it all feel authentic, historic rather than pretentious. The Francophile aspect extends to the menu that includes unusual blends such as cognac or even champagne. If you are unsure of what to order, the serious, dedicated staff will be able to help you choose with their English menu from their many own roasted blends, some of which are more than 30 years old.
Website: www.h6.dion.ne.jp/~lambre/
Address: 8-10-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Mark Guthrie
Photo yy Sandstein (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Mar 22, 2017
Baseball in Hiroshima with The Toyo Carp
Baseball in Japan
Nippon Professional Baseball (an organization similar to the USA’s MLB) consists of two leagues, the Central League (Chunichi Dragons, Hanshin Tigers, Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Yokohama DeNA BayStars, and the Yomiuri Giants) and the Pacific League (Chiba Lotte Marines, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Orix Buffaloes, Saitama Seibu Lions, and the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles). There are also two minor leagues, the Eastern and Western Leagues respectively.
Baseball season in Japan starts in late March or early April with spring training and continues with games nearly every day, six days a week with Mondays off, until October, when the annual playoffs called the “Climax Series” decides which team from each league will compete in the Japan Series, for a shot at the national championship.
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
A Brief History of the Toyo Carp
After the devastation of WWII, the Nippon Professional Baseball League underwent an expansion process to create two separate regional leagues for new teams to join. In December of 1949, Hiroshima Prefecture happily took part in this positive baseball movement by establishing their first professional team within the Central League, the Hiroshima Carp.
Following a shaky start with insufficient funding, a lack of solid recruits, and an unfortunate losing streak, Hiroshimans had to fight to keep their new team from being disbanded and having to merge with another team. Barely hanging on at the bottom of the NPB rankings, the Hiroshima Carp managed to stay strong and persist thanks to the loyal support of Hiroshimans and the determination of the players. In 1968, Toyo Kogyo, Mazda’s former title, became the main sponsor of the team, changing the name accordingly to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Following the new name and sponsor affiliation, the Toyo Carp went on to win a series of championships, quickly becoming a Central League powerhouse. Despite an unfortunate decline since their glory days, the Carp are still hailed proudly in the hearts of Hiroshimans as a source of entertainment, rivalry, and a symbol for overcoming hardships.
The MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium
These days, regardless of win or loss, attending a Carp game at the new Hiroshima Municipal Stadium (officially titled the MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium) is sure to be a fun way to spend an afternoon. With a capacity of just 32,000 seats, the stadium is the smallest in Japan, but thanks to the energy of Carp fans, the small size only adds to the experience.
Each seat offers a good, up close view of the field, and each is bound to be surrounded on all sides by some of the most notoriously spirited fans in the country. A close-quarters, high energy environment like this makes it impossible not to get into the spirit of the game, as Carp fans seem to be in constant cheer. For every player, the fans have a specific chant, and regardless of the score, this chant will be on repeat until long after the player has finished batting.
Even if you’re not a super fan, however, everyone loves an opportunity to catch a homerun ball, and the low outfield fences of this field provide ample opportunities. Despite the recent addition of a high-tech scoreboard, the stadium carries an old-fashioned charm, complete with a natural grass outfield and bullpens along the foul lines.
The MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium
2 Chome-3-1 Minamikaniya, Minami Ward, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture 732-0803 (map)
mazdastadium.jp
082-568-2777
Buying Tickets
With a multitude of spring training and pre-season games coming up, you can be sure to find at least one to fit your schedule! You can purchase your tickets from the stadium directly, or on the Carp’s official website, either pre-sale or on the day of the game.
Since this process can seem a bit overwhelming with all of the different seating options available, be sure to check out this page for a comprehensive guide. As mentioned previously, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house, but sometimes the volume of people in attendance makes it hard to secure a place with your group. This is especially true of the cheapest, non-reserved seat option, so get there early!
More info on Buying Tickets
You can find more information on buying tickets by clicking through to this article, also on Japan Info Swap: Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Baseball Tickets in Japan
Image by HKT3012 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Image by “unknown” [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Image by HKT3012 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
ByAdmin
Mar 21, 2017
Legoland Japan in Nagoya
Theme parks are one of the best ways to entertain the family all day, leave them enthused and exhausted, and talking about their adventure for many years to come. Of course, Japan has its fair share of amusement parks, however most of these cater to older children and even adults.
Thankfully, LEGOLAND Japan is a theme park tailored to families with young children aged two through twelve with over 40 attractions, meaning that those of us with younger kids can get in on the action. And what’s more, it’s right here in Nagoya!
What You Can Do at Legoland Japan
LEGOLAND Japan is an expansive theme park with a number of zones filled with fun activities for all of the family to enjoy.
Factory
Ever wondered how LEGO is made? What better way to see the famous building blocks being built than a tour of the factory, and watch the magic take place for yourself.
Learn about the history of how LEGO began and developed, see the machinery it takes to make the different pieces, and at the end of the tour, receive a fresh piece of LEGO right off the production line as a souvenir to take home.
Knight’s Kingdom
This medieval land is chock-a-block with rides and amusements to thrill, terrify and exhilarate your children of any age.
Pedal your way into the air with Merlin’s Flying Machines, get in a spin on Merlin’s Challenge carousel, and scream to go faster on the climbs and falls of The Dragon rollercoaster.
Bricktopia
Thrill-seeking kids can ride the Brick Party merry-go-round, the Wurlitzer-like Imagination Celebration or the Duplo Express train.
For your budding creatives there are a number of stations at which you can make your own LEGO creation, including flying contraptions and robots.
Pirate Shores
Yo-ho-ho and a barrel of, um, juice! In this pirate-themed world you can ride a spinning pirate ship, climb about in Castaway Camp and fire water cannons as you make your way through pirate-infested waters.
Miniland
Want to see Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya all in one day? Now you can, and so much more. Using more than 10,496,352 LEGO bricks, Miniland recreates ten landscapes and city skylines from all over Japan.
LEGO City
See your children grow up and become responsible members of society before your very eyes!
At LEGO City, kids can learn to drive electric cars at the driving school – picking up a license as they do – fly a plane, steer a boat, help the police and even save a “burning building”. There is also the Splash Pad water park, though it is seasonally dependent.
Anniversary Action
Until May 6, LEGOLAND Japan is celebrating its second anniversary, which means that there are a number of extra events going on.
NINJAGO Training Academy
In this event for children from 2 to 12 years, train to become a fully-fledged ninja! There are six challenges to undertake to attain your Ninja License. If you pass all six, you will be entitled to priority entry to LEGO® NINJAGO WORLD, due to open in July 2019!
Sea Life Nagoya
On Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 14:15 there will be a greeting show at Sea Life Nagoya, featuring underwater divers.
If you can find and take three pictures of Shark Guys hidden in Sea Life Nagoya and LEGOLAND Japan (Submarine Adventure) you can receive a special Sea life Nagoya block when you show your pictures to staff members.
Things to See
Around the park there will be specially-built lego models, such as a beautiful cherry blossom tree. Behind Miniland, from 16:00 or 16:30, there is also a daily Feel the Emotion show, performed by all your favorite LEGO characters!
LEGOLAND® Japan
Legoland is accessible just a short (3 minute) walk from Kinjo-futo Station on the Aonami Line( Nagoya Station).
2-2-1 Kinjo-futo, Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi-ken (map)
050-5840-0505
Annual Pass
Children: From 6,500 yen *ages 3–12
Adults: From 9,900 yen *ages 13+
1 Day Pass
Children: From 3,300 yen *ages 3–12
Adults: From 4,500 yen *ages 13+
Image: By S.Brickman via flickr.com [CC SA 2.0] – Modified
Images: via https://www.legoland.jp/en/ – Modified
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Mar 21, 2017
Sightseeing Loop Bus or the Maple Bus in Hiroshima!
If you want a leisurely tour of Hiroshima, but don’t feel much like stretching the legs and prefer to let someone else drive you around, then the Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus or the Hiroshima ‘meipuru-pu,’ is just what you’re looking for.
There are three routes available: the orange, green and blue. The three cover 11 of the major tourist spots that have been deemed essential for a proper introduction to our wonderful city. These include, among others: the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Castle and the three museums and art galleries. Each route takes approximately 50 minutes and the tours begin from the bus stop on the Shinkansen or North Exit of Hiroshima Station, just in front of Hotel Granvia.
Saying that though, you don’t have to catch it from there; you can board the bus every 30 minutes, seven days a week from any stop along the route. The cost for a single ride is 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for those under 12. A one day ticket, which allows you to hop on and off as many times as you like, is just 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for kids (again, under 12).
Despite being designed for tourists, the bus is frequently used by locals as it’s cheaper than ordinary buses. Then again, many people just want to take some time out and relax. Either way, it’s a good idea. The bus routes are clearly displayed on the side of the bus and there’s no need to pre-purchase your tickets, just buy them when you get on. Unlike the normal buses though, you board from the front door, not the side. When you want to get off, press the button before your stop and then exit using the side door.
There is also the option of riding the ‘Maple SKY,’ double-decker, open-top sightseeing bus. For this you do need to book and this can be done via the website. There is a one and a half hour or two hour tour and both include a free multi-lingual headset guide available in English, Korean or Chinese. Unlike the regular sightseeing bus, these tours costs 2000 yen for adults and 1000 yen for children. They are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday only and you need to board from the Hotel Granvia bus stop.
In winter there is also the annual Hiroshima Dreamination tour which costs 1500 yen for adults and 750 for children. It’s a great way to see the Christmas lights of the city without having to fight the crowds. Whichever option you choose, you are assured of a comfort ride and if you close your eyes you can almost imagine that you’re on vacation in a foreign country on a guided tour bus seeing the city for the first time. It’s the perfect way to see the sights and a fun experience, even if you are a local.
For more information check out the website, which is conveniently all in English and well set-out.
Mar 15, 2017
Getting Fit – Ex-pat Friendly Gyms Around Nagoya
If like me you have gained a few extra pounds over the winter – Christmas and the various new year festivities will do that to you – you may be thinking of the coming summer months and wanting to get back into shape.
One of the best ways to do this is to sign yourself up at a gym. Fortunately around Nagoya there are plenty of gyms, with a wide range of price plans and facilities that you can enjoy to help burn away some of that winter weight. Here are a few that are particularly convenient and friendly to ex-pats living in the city.
NESPA Gyms
Pretty much wherever you are in the city you will find one of the NESPA (Nagoya-city Education and Sports Association) community gyms, as each ward has one. Due to the fact that they are partially funded by the local councils the quality of the equipment can differ from place to place (the best I have seen is the Naka-ku gym) but they will all have pretty much everything you need. On the downside their opening times (approximately 10:00-21:00) can make them difficult to get to if you work long hours, and they tend to get pretty busy, particularly on weekends. However, their two major selling points are that many of them have indoor pools and they are incredibly cheap, so much so that a year’s membership costs less than a month at other places.
- Where: Check out this listing compiled by NIC to find your nearest community gym.
- Website: www.nespa.or.jp
- Fees: One session 300 JPY; one month 1,600 JPY; one year 12,800 JPY
Gold’s Gym
Started in Venice Beach, California, Gold’s Gym is perhaps the world’s best known gym. As such, all of the equipment is particularly top notch, with personal trainers, training support and various classes on top of the huge array of machines and free weights. They are two branches in the city, one in Sakae open until 23:00 and the other in Kanayama that is open 24 hours a day.
- Where:Naka Ward, Nishiki, 3 Chome−5−4, Central Park Annex 10F (map); Naka Ward, Kanayama, 1 Chome – 17 – 1, Asunal Kanayama (map)
- Website: www.goldsgym.jp
- Fees: 5,400 JPY registration. Monthly fees differ depending on course or gym. Contact local gym for details
Fitness STG 24
Between Takaoka and Shinsakae, Fitness STG 24 is another gym that is open 24 hours (as the name suggests). While it is a uni-sex gym, it caters very much towards the female market, with the posturing beefcakes that you might find in other gyms discouraged. The equipment is particularly unique: a dynamic stretch system called Shodo that focuses on building strength and toning muscles through advanced stretching. As well as the machines there are almost 20 different classes including yoga, Zumba, and circuit training. The higher level tariffs include towels and work out clothes meaning that you can pop in at any time, whether you have your kit bag or not.
- Where:Higashi Ward, Higashisakura, 2−15−4 Kamiya Building (map)
- Website: www.f-stg.com
- Fees: Fees vary from 4,400 JPY per month for night time users to 15,000 JPY per month for premium users.
Push Up Brahs
The Push Up Brahs (geddit?) are a mostly ex-pat group of guys and girls who meet in Tsuruma Park to work out together in the outdoors. They focus on bodyweight workouts, yoga and calisthenics, with people of all levels – from beginner to ripped – working together to achieve their fitness goals. As it is free to join, there is no concerns about membership, and it’s a great way to make friends in a healthy atmosphere, particularly if, like me, your social life tends to revolve around restaurants and bars. Recently featured on Japanese TV channel NHK, they hold event-style work out gatherings throughout the year. Contact them on Facebook to see when their next event will be held.
- Where: Tsuruma Park (near the pull up bars) 1 Chome Tsurumai, Showa Ward (map)
- Website: www.facebook.com
- Fees: Free
For a full extensive list of all of the gyms and sports centers in the area, check out this helpful list at kikuko-nagoya.com
By Mark Guthrie
Image by Pricenfees (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via www.pricenfees.com, (modified)
Mar 15, 2017
“Peacecle” Rental Bicycles in Hiroshima – Easy!
Spring is a great time to get out and take advantage of the lovely weather, and one of the best ways to explore Hiroshima (and get fit at the same time!) is to try the Hiroshima City Rental Cycles known as ‘Peacecle.’
At just 1000 yen (plus tax) per day. it’s amazingly cheap. Best of all there are a number of docking ports scattered throughout the city where you can rent them. And no you don’t have to return the bike to the same place you rented it. How convenient is that?! So familiar, in fact that the familiar red bikes are not only used by tourists but by the locals who want to get from place to place more quickly than walking or using public transport.
The instruction pamphlets are a little confusing as they say you can use your IC card such as ICOCA, yet the online registration says you can only pay by credit card. My advice is to go straight to the Hiroshima City Rental Cycle Office which is located just across the bridge from Hiroshima Station (other locations mapped below!). It will take you just five minutes to fill in a form, pay your money and have the staff show you how to use your bike. And don’t worry, they do speak English!
To operate your bike you simply scan the pass card given to you at the office and then press the power button on the left bike handle. Yes, these bikes are electrically assisted so going up hills is a piece of cake. When parking your bike at any place you want to stop along the way, you lock the rear wheel by pushing the lever down and then turning off the power button again.
Maps are available from the office but of course you can just let your feet (or in this case, wheels) do the walking (riding). A good route is to cycle first to Shukkeien Garden before heading to Hiroshima Castle, the Peace Park and then going along Peace Boulevard to Hijiyama Park and back to the office. Of course this can take you as long as you want with plenty of stops along the way. Have lunch somewhere nice, take some photos and rest awhile or stop in at cute and interesting shops along the way.
Rental time is from 8:30 AM until 9 PM. If you want to return the bikes to the office that’s also possible and if it’s after hours, you can leave your pass card in the box on the door. The One Day Pass Membership is the most popular option for tourists to Hiroshima but as a resident you can also take advantage of the Monthly Membership for just 2160 yen a month. Exploring the city using the Peacecle is a fun activity for the whole family and is a cheap and convenient way to get around town. As one of the few people without a bicycle, I’m seriously considering a monthly membership!
Hiroshima Rental Cycle Peacecle
More information on the web at www.docomo-cycle.jp/hiroshima/en
Image by Hiroshima Convention & Visitors Bureau, used without permission
Mar 15, 2017
A Wax a Day Keeps the Hair Away! Waxing in Hiroshima
Western women (and some men!) who are used to having easy access to beauty salons that specialize in waxing are often a tad fearful they won’t be able to find the same services here in Japan. Waxing, especially Brazilian, is still a relatively new concept in Japan and in a smaller city like Hiroshima it can be a bit harder to find somewhere offering the service. Although it takes a little research, I assure you, places do exist and yes, this includes ones where the staff speak English.
I first discovered Girassol Wax through a Google search and as both a licensed and extremely professional home business, I was also thrilled to find that the owner, Risa, also speaks fluent English. The salon specializes in full body waxing and uses high quality, low temperature wax for a smooth, silky and (relatively!) pain-free experience. Risa caters primarily for female clients but men who are interested in having their waxing done can be introduced via a female friend. Most overseas salons are quite expensive, but prices here are very reasonable. Brazilian waxes are 6000 yen, with eyebrows just 1000 yen (2017).
Although the salon is located in Hiroshima, Risa has recently started offering services to people in the Iwakuni region and is looking to expand to other places too. She also offers a delivery service for an extra fee, comeing directly to your house to provide waxing in the comfort of your own home.
Risa attends conferences and studies regularly to update her skills so you can be guaranteed you are getting the latest and most advanced skills, products and techniques. She also has a booth at the annual Sun Dance Festival held on Miyajima. Apart from waxing, she offers fun, non-permanent glitter tattoos for that special occasion, as well as imported lingerie, and skin care products to keep everything maintained between your appointments. The salon is modern and comfortable and Risa’s love of hip hop and salsa music will keep you bopping away as she attends to your needs.
For more information or to make a booking, contact her via her website, Facebook or Line. If you like her page on Facebook she will give you a 200 yen discount and an extra 500 yen if you have your waxing done within six weeks. If you recommend her salon to a friend, both of you are eligible for a ¥1000 discount. The website is in Japanese, but don’t let that put you off as Risa will reply in English!The salon is open 6 days a week between 10am and 6pm and is by appointment only. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Girassol Wax
734-0013 Minami-ku, Dejima, Hiroshima-shi Hiroshima Prefecture (map – general area)
www.girassolwax.com
