X-Pat Files
A Late January 2010
Your Guide to Survive in Japan!
The X-Pat Files Community E-Newsletter provides a forum for the spread of information useful for English speakers living in Aichi. You can use the newsletter as an informational resource, and of course you can send in information you would like to share.
This newsletter is a community service from The Japan Real Estate and Relocation company, H&R Consultants (www.japanhomesearch.com), and is edited by Sue Conolly (http://web.mac.com/conolly).
Happy New Year, and Akemashite Omedetou-gozaimasu! January 1st is the day for visiting the shrine, but did you know that two of the most important shrines in Japan are easily accessible from Nagoya? Atsuta Shrine, housing the holy sword, and Ise Shrine, housing the holy mirror, are both doable in a day (although during the New Year period, you wouldn't want to do them in the SAME day). Plan to take the train to either of these shrines, as parking will be extremely crowded. If you're trying to escape from crowds but still want the feeling of a tree-lined spiritual shrine, try Tado Shrine in Kuwana. Wherever you spend this New Year, have a wonderful 2010!
If you’re new to Japan, there are some variations on how Christmas and New Year’s are celebrated that might be helpful to know. This submission to Japan Info Swap by Eileen Nielsen gives you the lowdown on the season's festivities.
I regularly spend too much money on books, so when I heard that there was a second hand Englsih book shop in Nagoya I scurried there as fast as I could. My first impression of Mondo Books was however one of disappointment because it is a very small and it doesn't look as if they is much there. But as they so often are first impressions are deceiving, becasue when I perused the shelves I realised that they had a wide selection of fiction that I wanted to read. I left with three books but only because my husband refused to carry 5. And all of them were 500yen each - Bargain! Another good thing about Mondo is that they do a bookswap service, where customers can bring in books that they no longer want and swap them for something on the shelf. I'll definitely be making regular visits when I go into town and I'd recommend that all the the bookaholics out there do the same. (Thank you to Avril Haye for this submission)
Late notice, but something fun to do this coming weekend - BOUNENKAI at Bamboo Club in Osaka!
For those of you who like wine, champagne, a good time and are living in Tokyo, check out The Kimono Wine Bar for some great holiday specials.
You perhaps couldn't tell it driving down the street, but Komaki City is a great place for expats to go on a Sunday shopping expedition or afternoon out. From the heated indoor pool, to Kimble's recycle store, to really good deals on slightly bruised furniture, Komaki's a good day out!
Brazilian supermarkets are often a good place to find larger cuts of meat at good prices. Bompreco Mercado has branches in Nagoya, Komaki, Seto and Toyota. The Komaki branch has been in business under various names for some years, and has built up a reputation in the expatriate community, also with an all-you-can-eat restaurant on the 3rd floor. A must-visit for all carnivores!
If you're a skiier, snowboarder, or simply a spectator of winter sports... even if you just like making snowmen with the kids, then take a look at Snow Japan. There are articles on snow resorts, lists of places to stay, maps, tours, town guides, and even places where you can get skiing lessons in English. It's your one stop shop for the best snow of the season!
Whether you live in Tokyo, Nagoya or Osaka, here are three events to kick off 2010!