Kobe Airport (神戸空港) Kobe Airport was completed February 2006. With an estimated cost of over 1 trillion yen ($8.7 billion US), this project has been extremely controversial, considering that Kobe is already one of the most indebted regions of the country due to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The airport was built as an extension off […]
Tag: living in japan
International Airports
Kansai International Airport 関西国際空港 Kansai International Airport (KIX), pronounced Kansai Kokusai Kuko or Kanku for short, is the main international airport for western Japan. Extensive train, bus and ferry links provide access to Kansai Airport’s artificial island. Below is an overview of to get to the airport. Phone: 0724-55-2500 URL: http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp Getting to KIX By […]
Travel Agents
Note: One of the best ways to get a good deal is to reserve directly on a travel company website: HIS for international travel and NTA or JTB for domestic travel. Or book your transportation directly through the bus company, JR, or airline, and book your hotel through Jalan.net, which is available in English and […]
Sports Opportunities
Sports are a great way to make the most of your JET experience, to feel active and genki, and to avoid gaining too-many-onigiri pounds. If you want to be involved in a sport, the obvious first choice is to participate with the sport team at your school. However, if you would rather join a team […]
Trains: Lines, Times, and Fares
With numerous different train companies in Japan, hundreds of train lines and heaps of people all trying to cram on the same train, public transit can be a little overwhelming at times. The following information should hopefully help make traveling on trains a little easier. There are three major train lines for travel in the […]
Trains: Vocab and Tips
Useful Train Vocabulary General Vocab Ticket Gate – 改札口 (kai-satsu-guchi) One way – 片道 (kata-michi) Round Trip – 往復 (ou-fuku) First Class Car – グリーン車 (green-sha) Non-smoking Car – 禁煙車 (kin-en-sha)Smoking Car – 喫煙車 (kitsu-en-sha) Non-reserved Seat – 自由席 (ji-yuu-seki) Reserved Seat – 指定席 (shi-tei-seki) Window (Seat) – 窓側 (mado-gawa) Aisle (Seat) – 通路側 (tsuu-ro-gawa) […]
Dealing with Bugs
The hot weather brings out some monstrous bugs. There are some pretty big bees, cockroaches, and centipedes, as well as the usual annoying ants, spiders, mosquitoes, and small flies. The best way to avoid an encounter with insects is to keep your house clean. Try not to leave dirty dishes around and clean up food […]
Hyogo Summers
Your Home And School In The Summer Summers are hot and humid. If you don’t have air-conditioning, make sure that at least have a functioning fan, preferably one with a timer & remote control. If you don’t have air-conditioning, the best way to spend the summer is to open all of the windows and place […]
Typhoons
The typhoon season in Japan runs from May through October, with most activity from July to September. Typhoons are tropical cyclones or giant hurricane-like whirlwinds. These storms, accompanied by heavy rainfall, can cover areas of up to 500 miles in diameter and generate winds up to 180 miles an hour. Typhoons that hit Japan are […]
Useful Everyday Items
Keeping Cool Fans: uchiwa and sensu Shaved Ice Maker Cold Patches and Ice Pillows: 熱さま (Atsu-sama) in sheet and pillow variety Dealing with Bugs Mosquito Incense and Refills: アースノーマット and 水性 are two brands Roach Motels: ゴキブリホイホイ (gokubuiri hoihoi), and ゴキブリ取り (gokiburitori) Tick Spray for ticks that live in tatami: ダニアース (dani aasu) “Cockroach JET” コックローチジェット Fly Spray […]