Traveling to Japan eventually - Would like some advice.

[bc6]

Thanks Tony its kind of like the cabs in Japan you would think green means free but its actually the opposite. I'll remember not to press the green button for sure. 

[Kingmeow]

13 hours ago, Tony Galiani said:

One would think green means go and so you would use that button to start the machine.  However, the green button actually initiates a rinse cycle so that the machine is cleaned before you put your clothes in it.

 

Ah!  The ones in Villa Fontaine Kobe did have this pre-rinse function to clean the machine before you throw your clothes in.  BUT, it wasn't green.  Instead it was just a label.  I wonder if Tony changed the standard?  NO Green Button!  🤣🤣🤣

[cteno4]

I think we should get Tony a tee shirt that reads “DONT Press the GREEN Button!” To wear next trip to Japan.

 

jeff

[Kingmeow]

And if you gets caught in the rain without an umbrella (pretty much impossible though in Japan), you can go up to him and say "So you pressed the GREEN button!!!".

[ED75-775]

I'm rather bemused to have, like @Kingmeow, been accorded the title of 'shopping grand master' by @Tony Galiani. Yes, I do tend to get carried away... a bit... just check out my holiday threads and you'll see what I mean! Case in point, here's (part of) my haul from 2023. Before anyone asks, this was *only* what I brought in Tokyo - there was of course more purchased later!

 

 

While shopping in Japan can be fun - and I admit that's part of the reason I go so heavily overboard, it's a once-a-year thing for me! - I would question whether a bag and backpack would be enough. On my first trip, I managed with both a suitcase and backpack to start with, and then brought a neat little carryon case at IKEA in Yokohama. That's been my go-to on all trips since, and that's worked well. Given the short length of time you're looking at going, I'd recommend looking at a smaller suitcase in Japan, and keep the bag with you to hold your shopping purchases. I made the choice to take a couple of bags with me last trip for that reason, including my two Popondetta JR Freight bags, and they were really handy to have. The backpack, of course, is good for whatever you need to take with you on the day.

 

As also mentioned by @kuro68000 postage is a viable option to not have to carry everything back, though this can get rather expensive depending on weight. Go on, ask me how I know! 🤣 Really, postage is best if, like me, you're getting carried away. And you likely will as there will be lots to tempt you! Kuro mentioned Nakano Broadway which is a happy hunting spot for me and also very handily close to my preferred Tokyo base of operations in Shinjuku - and there are in fact four train shops there. Big Yard and Poppoya are the better two on Level 2; Level Upper also on Level 2 is probably a bit more niche, and then of course there's Mandarake Ryusenkeijiken on Level 4 which is where I predict you'll find lots to want to buy.

Of course I still recommend visiting Hobby Center Kato for a dive through their Assy parts section; Sakatsu Gallery near Sugamo has a great selection of scenic stuff, buildings and ideas; and of course Akihabara is a day out in and of itself, thanks to the informative videos put out by @paolo. His YouTube channel, seiya880, has a whole video series on where to find these shops. You could comfortably make a day trip out of seeing them all... again, go on, ask me how I know! 🤣  🤣   🤣 

 

Washing tends to be pretty good in Japan too I might add, most hotels will either have their own onsite laundry for guests to use, or there'll be a laundromat nearby. The machines also dispense their own detergent, so you won't need to worry about that. As for getting laundry dry... I will leave that to Tony to comment on! He did mention that story on my most recent travel thread, and I still chuckle somewhat at it even now.

 

Alastair

[bc6]

Thanks for sharing, ED75. Is it really true that the machines dispense laundry detergent automatically, Wow, my mind is blown forever lol. Nice haul by the way, That looks like a lot to schlep on a plane.

[ED75-775]

36 minutes ago, bc6 said:

Thanks for sharing, ED75. Is it really true that the machines dispense laundry detergent automatically, Wow, my mind is blown forever lol. Nice haul by the way, That looks like a lot to schlep on a plane.

Yep, it's true, or at least it has been in all of the cases I've had to deal with. Usually there will be signage in the laundry room/laundromat to the effect that the machines will do it automatically, just so someone doesn't think they need to add it themselves. Which has probably happened somewhere to someone!

 

And most of this didn't fly back with me - some did like the truss bridge (broken and therefore semi-fragile) and all the books not shown in this image - but the rest, along with a number of other items purchased later on in the trip, rode box-class back via EMS. I think it's safe to say that I have the Japan Post system well figured out by now!

 

Alastair

[chadbag]

Good thing I don't have photos of the luggage I filled with train bits and pieces a few trips ago.  Last trip I had more than a few things but not as much as we see here.  But one trip I bought a ton of track plus a ton of other things and probably filled, mostly with my stuff, 2 large suitcases.   It's been a while though.  Are  next trip I'll have to be happy with a few containers and maybe some specialty cars (like museum cars) and stuff.  We'll see.

 

 

[Tony Galiani]

18 hours ago, cteno4 said:

I think we should get Tony a tee shirt that reads “DONT Press the GREEN Button!” To wear next trip to Japan.

 

jeff

I woke up this morning I realized I had missed an opportunity!  I should have copyrighted that phrase then made a fortune selling those shirts!

I can see Paolo From Tokyo wearing one on his vlog and sales going through the roof!  Then - the sequels - first "DON'T Press the RED Button" and so on through the spectrum.

Then for the piece de resistance:  Goji appears next to the button!  And repeat!

I think I missed the boat on this one .....

Tony

 

[cteno4]

Sorry Tony, I think “Don’t press the red button” is already taken from men in black!

 

missed opportunities… years ago we had a new rescue dog that was not a good eater to start out. Oddly was not into wet dog food even, so I put some turnkey gravy on his dry food and he ate it up! So I ended up making gravy for six months and freezing them ice cube trays to thaw when when needed. I said to my wife hey they should sell this like salad dressing to sell at the pet store. She just rolled her eyes. I even asked a friend of a friend who ran a small local pet store and they just shrugged. They said all those dry food mix with water to make gravy never made it very big and went away. Like 5 years later there are like 4 different lines of pet food gravy out there! Could have been a dog food gravy millionaire!

 

jeff

[Kingmeow]

Your N-Scale addiction could have been funded by gravy!!!  😁

[brill27mcb]

The gravy trains!

 

Rich K.

[kuro68000]

So you bring back dog food from Japan? I usually bring back some some cat food/treats. I don't know much about dogs but cats seem to love something new and different so always scoff it.

[Tony Galiani]

Good thing my wife doesn't see this.  Otherwise there would be one more thing she would want to bring back for our cats.  Who are spoiled enough as it is!

Tony

[cteno4]

A cat’s usual first response is to scoff at everything!

 

jeff

[bc6]

Well, I picked up a personal bag for my trip to accompany my duffle bag. When I got home, I tested the bag to make sure it would be up to the job of bringing stuff home. As you can see, it can effortlessly store up to five train bookcases, and I don't plan on bringing that many trains back. I may have to hit up the Gatcha Gatcha for train-related items, lol.

[kuro68000]

15 hours ago, cteno4 said:

A cat’s usual first response is to scoff at everything!

 

Very true Jeff. I can't tell if it's actually delicious or they just want it because it's new and different. To be honest I'm the same.

 

 

4 hours ago, bc6 said:

Well, I picked up a personal bag for my trip to accompany my duffle bag. When I got home, I tested the bag to make sure it would be up to the job of bringing stuff home. As you can see, it can effortlessly store up to five train bookcases, and I don't plan on bringing that many trains back. I may have to hit up the Gatcha Gatcha for train-related items, lol.

 

None of us plan to 😅

[Kingmeow]

My PLAN was to get some spare parts before I left the US.  You know how the rest turned out when I returned.  🤣

[bc6]

You guys are funny, I think I have more than enough trains to keep me busy for a long time already. Unless I find a deal of a lifetime it'll be parts for the most part and a set of two hopefully. I like to make time to visit different places including train shops and actual tourist destinations.

[Tony Galiani]

You mean Poppondetta, Nakano Broadway, Kato Hobby Center, Daiso, et al aren't actual tourist destinations .....

Tony

[Kingmeow]

Remember, we stayed in 7 towns in our three week trip but I visited 12 hobby shops.  The proportion is a bit off.  🤣

[cteno4]

1 hour ago, Kingmeow said:

The proportion is a bit off.  🤣

Yes not enough hobby shops…

 

jeff