Just curious... I've noticed a couple of people posting from/in Japan.
Howzabout a roll call?

I'm in Tokyo myself. Has there ever been a Tokyo gathering I wonder?

I'm down here in Okinawa! Be grateful you're in Tokyo and not marooned here!!

I've been up to Tokyo once, and that was to see Madge at the Dome!

Hello down there!

...and there I was thinking nobody was going to reply
Thanks!

Never been to Okinawa but would love to go there one day. I hardly ever get out of the Kanto region and there are loads of places I'd like to visit in this country.

Btw, are there any branches of Book Off in Okinawa? I've found Prince, The Time and Wendy and Lisa CDs there dirt cheap.

Wonder if P will ever do a show in Japan again? Now that would really be something.

Yes, there's a Book Off not far from me! I've only been in it once, but maybe I should give them another try. Hopefully I can find a CD I want cheap there too...it's hard to do that here, even in second-hand stores!

There's something called Book Box (books, CDs, DVDs, and games) that I frequent, mostly for their CD rentals.

There is actually a Tower Records in Naha (the biggest city here), and down the street from them is a big independent music store called Takara. Actually, they sell Japanese and int'l pop music CDs, traditional music CDs, "western" and traditional instruments, and even have recording and rehersal space!! Finally, there's a big second-hand store that opened near me (called Manga Souka), they have all kinds of used vinyl and CDs. Etc., there are others but those are the retail music highlights.

If you ever do visit, this would be a good time of year...it's not sweltering like the summer, plus there's little rain (unlike most of the rest of the year).

I want to visit Japan so bad!!!!!

For both CandaceS and Stax - do a search on YouTube for 'Tokyo Rush Hour' and be glad you're not here!

stim said:

I said "visit."

stim said:

Oh, I know the traffic is terrible, but it's bad here too. 1.4 million people shoehorned onto a 460 sq. mile island...and a lot of the island is uninhabitable mountains (all the green jungle in the pic, including the part under the clouds).

Stax said:

Sorry, I meant the trains in Tokyo.
Even if you visit you'll have to ride the train - it really freaked out my parents when they came here!

A first person view of an average morning:




CandaceS said:

Wow, when I think Okinawa I think green jungle and picturesque beaches, but it sounds like it's just as crowded as the Tokyo 'burbs where I live now.
[Edited 11/11/06 18:27pm]

Yeah, it's pretty crowded here. From what I"ve seen, all land that is usable (be it for roads, buildings, or little farms) is in use! You don't see empty fields!

I came here from California, I used to take off to the deserts or the mountains on my days off...ain't no wide-open spaces like that in Japan!!

During my Sept. trip to Tokyo I used the train and subway, but fortunately I never saw it THAT crowded! Reminds me of being packed on the bus in Korea, with the driver standing up and yelling to the back trying to make room for one or two more to squeeze on!

stim said:[quote]

Stax said:

I knew you meant trains. I was just trying to point out that I can deal with traffic and congestion and mass humanity in short spurts.

Stax said:

Ah, OK. Weeell you're certainly a lot more tolerant than me! I can't stand it for even a minute. Burnout maybe? That's why I'm hatching plans to get out of Tokyo next year.

CandaceS said:

Aw, there's lots of beautiful scenery in Japan if you get away from the cities.
Plenty of mountains too if you like them.
Just off the top my head there's the Japan Alps in Nagano prefecture and some lovely countryside in Hokkaido like Biei.
You might want to check out the Lonely Planet book 'Hiking in Japan' if you haven't done so already.

I've done several hikes only 2-3 hours outside Tokyo by train and the trails were deserted. From what I've seen/heard, it may not compare to California, though. Never been there, so I can't say!

stim said:

I've seen that book, and I know there are some nice mountains in Japan (heck, they had beautiful pics of them in that book!). Unfortunately, I can't fly up there from Okinawa every weekend, or very often at all. Hopefully I will move on to Alaska or somewhere in the western U.S. after this, then I'll make up all this lost time!