Sandboxes of a different kind. 砂箱 すなばこ sunabako snow box

If you live with snow, it is an important kanji. 

Wouldn’t you think?

砂箱　すなばこ　sunabako snow box

砂箱　すなばこ　sunabako snow box

砂箱　すなばこ　sunabako snow box

砂箱　すなばこ　sunabako snow box

砂箱　すなばこ　sunabako snow box

砂箱　すなばこ　sunabako snow box

Obviously the sand boxes are a seasonal thing in heavy snow areas.

Sapporo City: sand to stop you from sliding.

Please, help yourself as you wish.

砂箱　すなばこ　sunabako snow box

Even trains need it, if the wheels were to loose some traction on the rail.

SNOW IN HOKKAIDO

Japan Rail Pass

One of the most practical ways to travel around Japan is the railway system. The Japanese railways are something to experience! Their しんかんせん Shinkansen, or Bullet Train system, is amazing and the system has been copied essentially by the Spanish, the French and the Chinese. It seems that it is going to be the standard for all future high speed train systems.

The passes are really easy to purchase and relatively cheap. But: they must be bought outside Japan, so they are only for tourists to enjoy the cheaper fares. Good to know. The link for buying is at the bottom of the page.

This is how the system works: you buy your ticket on-line. You receive a voucher. At any station you can exchange the voucher for the actual pass.

It is also important that you can still choose the day that your ticket starts! You may want it to start on the third actual day of your holiday for long distance travel, while spending three days with friends in Tokyo etc. This is just a scenario.

What is important that the system is so easy to use for travellers. Use it for long distance travel and you get the best value out of your pass.

Another great advantage of your pass is that you only need to wave it to the station official and you walk past any queues, or groups of people (there are plenty of those).

Your entry into the stations, as well as your on-the-train checking are so easy. Just wave and “cheese“!

You need to remember though that the Shin-station is quite separate from the ordinary station. Usually the Shin-station is on top of the ordinary station. Wave your pass and you’ll be fine. Keep your pass in a safe place though.

There are lots of English, Korean and Chinese signs to help you. The Japanese Railways staff is amazing too!

Lastly, if you’re on the wrong train, or you change your mind, your pass will allow you to do as you please!

Rail Pass Link:  RAIL PASS

Kansai Airport 関西空港 かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

One important fact needs to be remembered about Kansai International Airport and it is that the airport is built on an island. Therefore there are only two ways on and two ways off the island: either by plane, or by train. There are no cars on the island for passengers. As you can see from the following photos, train transport is extremely well organised. English is not a problem. You cannot go wrong, as they say.

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

The airport itself is well laid out and easy to find your way around, even when there is a crowd. There are lots of shops and restaurants, should you be on your way through somewhere and there is entertainment too. The website link is at the bottom of this page.

The airports code  is KIX, which is a reference to the district of Kinki, where the airport is situated. 

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

By the way there is another airport in Osaka, which is commonly called Itami Airport (officially ‘Osaka International Airport), but it is now only for national flights.

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

While we have your attention, assuming you read this BEFORE you travel to Osaka, please consider the Japan Rail Pass for the bullet train. The pass can only be bought outside Japan and acquired in Japan through a voucher system. This option will save you a fortune in travel expenses. Here is the link:

Railpass

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

Kansai Airport  関西空港　かんさいくうこう

For more information on 

Kansai International Airport:

http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/index.asp

(other language options are on the page)

Itami (Osaka International) Airport:

http://osaka-airport.co.jp/en/

(other language options are on the page)

Here are two pictures to give you an idea about Itami Airport:

Bullet Trains 新幹線 しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

This is your seat ticket travelling from Nagoya to Kyōto, Tokyo to Nagaoka etc. on the Shinkansen, or Bullet Train.

For tourists from outside Japan there is a much cheaper option to travel longer distances. This is easier if you buy a so-called Japan Rail Pass outside Japan first. You can exchange the voucher for a pass, which would entitle you to unlimited travel on JR for one or two or three weeks.  Remember though that the Rail Pass can only be bought OUTSIDE Japan.  Here is the link to more information on this subject.  

JAPAN RAIL PASS

It is an important piece of information to know that all Shinkansen (Bullet Train) stations are quite separate from ordinary stations. The Shinkansen stations tend to be “upstairs” and you need your tickets before you can get in. In order to separate the two stations, the Shinkansen stations are talked about as “Shin Osaka”, or “Shin Yokohama”, or Shin Kōbe “; that way no one is confused.

On the platform the space where the train doors will be opening, with their numbers, has already been marked.

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

First class Green Seat Compartment

博多 はかた Hakata

 

is the old name for

 

福岡 ふくおか Fukuoka

 

 and it is still used by the railways

(for the western line, it is the end of the line)

The lady with the trolley will travel up and down the train for passengers who would like to buy some food or drinks and who do not wish to make use of the dearer option in the dining car. You could of course bring your own prepared food with you, as long as you do not impose on other travelling guests. 

A little commercial break

Here is an important Japanese word; Japanese HATE it, they LOATH it;

it is sooooo un-Japanese:

迷惑　めいわく　imposition  meiwaku 

bother, nuisance, trouble

bubble-crushers, loud-mouths, mess-makers, whingers

To bother other people, to impose on them, to make someone else responsible for your issues, to waste other people’s time, to burden them with your problems, to not know your limitations, to play it out in public, to cause a scene, to intrude into someone else’s bubble, to bore other people, to leave your mess for someone else, to be loud and overbearing, to forget that you are a guest, to forget that life is not about you, to seek attention unnecessarily. Do these sound familiar to you? If this is your way of getting by in life, then Japan is sooo not your place to visit! 

“But what if…” – stop whingeing! Deal with it! It is your issue, not the world’s. Get help, if you need it; they’ll gladly give it to you, you can get help everywhere and anywhere and anytime, but then MOVE ON!  As a nation, the Japanese are perhaps the most helpful people in the world, but DO MOVE ON! They all have a train to catch somewhere and it is a fast train and it isn’t in your direction. Get the idea?

迷惑　めいわく　imposition  meiwaku 

Now back to the Bullet Train again:

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

Don’t worry:

they also have western-style toilets on the train.

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

“oh, dear, is that the price of petrol?”

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

Look! There’s your “Shin” reference!

and here’s your real “Shin”! Oh, what fun!

The dearer option, but very pleasant indeed…

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

upstairs downstairs

Enjoy your trip!

新幹線

shinkansen

しんかんせん

Tokyo Subway 東京の地下鉄 とうきょうのちかてつ

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So easy to use! Ticket vending machines are everywhere – well, at the entrance anyway. Plans, diagrams and maps are everywhere, and in English as well. Spare a thought for those visitors from Russia, Venezuela and Togo who may not speak English. Difficult, but they seem to manage and the Japanese staff are most helpful.

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地下鉄の地図

chikatetsu no chizu

ちかてつのちず

subway map

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A child can do it – (and a child must be able to do it)

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きっぷうりば　ticket sales place   kippu-uriba

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きっぷうりば　ticket sales place  kippu-uriba

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Please, put the ticket in the right way.

Your kneecaps will help remind you for next time.

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• Not a good idea to lean forward.
• Also, there are those boxes on the side for those who thought they might like to slide down the banister, so to say…
• Do keep to the left as people will try to pass you.
• Wherever you go in the subway, do follow your coloured circle.
• You can’t go wrong.
• There is braille everywhere for the visually-impaired, so they have thought of everyone and everything: Japanese organisation and planning.

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Shinbashi (=New Bridge) Ginza Line, 8 station

station 8 going to station 7

(counter clockwise direction)

(Hang on… how did we know that?   Aha! From 8 to 7!)

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You can even see how long the ride will take you.

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 Rush hour is a different matter though…

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We are not quite sure why a cat would have a problem here, because we leave the cat at home. We all get the message though. You don’t need language for these pictures, do you? It usually happens to you only once. Oh, dear. You will get sympathy, but no-one is likely to give up their seat. If you are slow to learn, there will be staff on the platform to help you though – Just take care.

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We all know what these mean: don’t take the cat on the train and be careful with your fingers.

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This says: (If you want to be a slob) – do it at home! (Your mother will love you for it! – no, it doesn’t say that last bit. LOL.)

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And another gem:

Take care to avoid ‘helpful’ pickpockets!

They may take advantage of you.

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He has a cold and is being considerate

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poor people

they work so hard

their work day is so long

the train is so boring

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Now you know why Japanese people are so fit – and so informed!

Very difficult to not notice the advertisement.

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There are some rules to observe on public transport:

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• You should speak in a low voice, not speak out aloud. (You recognise foreigners straightaway. They are so noisy and their conversations include the whole world: talking from one end of the carriage to the other! Or calling out: “Hey, Lisa, have you… blah, blah, blah…?” How un-Japanese! No sense of restrained consideration. Remember that everything new on the train, the other passengers have already seen thousands of times before you, so they don’t really want to hear about it. They just want to get home, or to wherever they want to go, without your comments.)

   

• Also, you shouldn’t eat or drink on the train. There are plenty of coffee shops elsewhere. That includes revolting chewing gum. Nasty habit. Yuck! Not to mention what foreigners do with their chewing gum when they have finished. A great way to make your hosts sick or take a dislike to you!

   

• These days you shouldn’t use your mobile phone on the train either. Inconsiderate.

   

• Just don’t bother other people – lead your own life and get on with it.

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These rules may seem strange to us, but imagine if 2000 passengers all talked aloud on the train, it would be too noisy. Not a good look and not very pleasant.  Remember too: you’re on holiday, they are not.

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Normally you should stand in line when boarding a train. The spaces where the doors of the train are going to be opened, are marked on the platform, so you can already line up in anticipation.

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  he’s not lining up…

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and this is only the start of the week…

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Don’t you just love those little square windows

next to the machines: human help!

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I did it! Pretty cool!

Yes, pretty and cool.

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very few miss their station though…

must be years of training

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The puzzle パズル is referring to something else

not to the subway train system!

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Nice one! (whoever you are who took it)

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Narita Airport 成田空港 なりたくうこう

 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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aeroplane　 飛行機　ひこうき  hikōki

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Narita Airport 成田空港 なりたくうこうNarita is a large modern airport, about 70 kilometres from the centre of 東京 とうきょう tōkyō Tokyo.

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Japan Airlines 日本航空 にほんこうくう nihon-kōkū

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It is a hub of activity and designed to cater for modern air travel. Although all announcements are in Japanese, an English translation, or a translation in the language of the target group is provided. All signage has English, Chinese and Korean translations as well.

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your most important piece of paper:

パスポート　pasupōto  passport

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(Or the one from your own country. Do check whether you need a visa. Many countries have agreements with Japan, so for tourist purposes under a certain length of time a visa is not needed).

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Your very smart piece of paper: レールパス reeru-pasu  rail-pass

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This can only be bought OUTSIDE Japan.

It saves you an awful lot of money.

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 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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それはちょっとねえ–え

sore wa chotto neee

That’s a little… (cheeky)

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Carrying suitcases is not a problem as elevators, escalators automatic walkways and conveyor belts are everywhere. We would have taken the elevator, but well… hey, why not the escalator, some people seem to think! It’s an -ator after all, isn’t it?! Close enough.

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Ever tried running on one of these?  not very Japanese…

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  成田空港 Narita Airport なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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 And then there is East and South and West

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North　北　きた  kita

East　東　ひがし  higashi

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South　南　みなみ  minami

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West　西　にし  nishi

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 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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There are many arrivals and departures all day long, so please keep an eye on the different boards. However, if you speak Japanese or English you won’t have a problem. The Japanese have a reputation for being just superbly well-organised. Unbelievable! They even manage to smile to their guests while being very busy.

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 成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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Welcome to Japan

yōkoso

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成田空港   Narita Airport   なりたくうこう narita-kūkō

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