Loading...

Apr 30, 2020

Realistic Golden Week plans?

So, well, GW is just around the corner. What do you see yourself doing?

JapanRamen

JapanRamen

Games, manga, and ramen. Those three things make up my Tri-force lol.

13 Answers



  • TonetoEdo

    on May 1

    The same thing I’ve been doing for the last 8 weeks.

    0
  • genkidesu

    on May 1

    No plans here either. I never travel during Golden Week - I made the mistake of doing it the first year I was in Japan and vowed never again. Obviously this year is such an exception and it's really forcing people to stay home, but it's no skin off my nose since I was planning that anyway. Something that's giving me hope is just planning for future travel, once things clear to a semblance of normalcy once more.

    0
  • TonetoEdo

    on May 1

    @genkidesu I'm with you on both counts. I avoid travel in Golden Week. Last year, my guy and I took a few days off after GW to drive to an onsen. The roads weren't busy, the onsen town was peacefully quiet, and local people had leisure, so we chatted with local people. I'm also building a few itineraries for trips in Japan. Because I've got time on my hands, I'm researching in Japanese, so the side benefit is my reading is improving!

    0
  • BlueButterfly

    on May 1

    Nothing special. Usually we never go somewhere during Golden week. We are using always the weekend after for a trip, but not at the current situation. Anyways my husband has to work every day, so there will be not change to all the other weeks before. Just staying at home, playing with our kid, cook and clean up..

    0
  • ReishiiTravels

    on May 1

    I will be staying at home and making something yummy.

    0
  • helloalissa

    on May 4

    I get a three day weekend, so I'll hopefully spend more time practicing Japanese calligraphy. Honestly not too different for us introverts other than one event we usually go to being canceled this year.

    0
  • Striffy

    on May 5

    I'm not planning anything special but I want to continue studying Japanese and need to prepare for some of my online lessons later this week.

    0
  • edthethe

    on May 6

    we went hiking in a very off the beaten track area, but that is it. the rest will be spent at home

    0
  • genkidesu

    on May 6

    End of week update: I've done nothing of importance at all this week and I'm not even mad about it...it's been soothing to be honest!

    0
  • TonetoEdo

    on May 7

    @genkidesu Me, too, nothing starling happened in Golden Week. I just went easy on myself - eating really well (a few takeout lunches to relieve me from cooking), hot baths, lots of chats with friends over messenger/ voice, walks in uncrowded parks in my city.

    0
  • genkidesu

    on May 7

    @TonetoEdo I think that's just what's needed in the current situation! Kindness with ourselves, doing what we can to find pockets of joy in such a weird circumstance, and connecting with folks virtually to keep an element of socializing!

    0
  • Eli

    on May 8

    We had a trip to Okinawa planned but we cancelled it after the state of emergency was declared, so I spend Golden Week with Animal Crossing and working in our small garden.

    0
  • TonetoEdo

    on May 8

    @genkidesu And going easy on others, too. Everyone copes in their way, some more resilient than others. I was mostly working on stuff to prepare for my job over Golden Week, as we’re my colleagues. It’s really rough for them. I feel rested up, so I’m ready to rock post GW.

    0

Awaiting More Answers

3 Answers

What do you most associate with Shizuoka?

Today, is also Shizuoka Citizen's Day, so - the same as Fukushima - what first comes to mind / do you most associate with Shizuoka Prefecture?

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

9 Answers

Car Essentials for a Road Trip?

I feel like this may have been asked before, but I can't find it through a search. Or maybe I thought of asking it and never did! Either way, tell us what things you like to have in your car when you are going on a road trip?

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

3 Answers

What do you MOST associate with Fukushima Prefecture?

Given that today is Fukushima Prefecture Citizen's Day; what is the FIRST thing that comes to mind when you hear Fukushima? And / or what do you most associate with the prefecture?

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

3 Answers

Throwback Thursday - Sustainability blogs

@Genkidesu posted about the desire for simpler packaging this week. This reminded me of our blog theme about sustainability back in 2022. A little sleuthing turned up the main link: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/search/tag/SustainableLife Have you kept up your good habits? In the last few years, what have you observed about how you use resources or reduced waste? Me? The photo is a takeout bento box I will reuse for lunch!

TonetoEdo

on Aug 20

5 Answers

Summer Festival Changes - Yay or Nay?

Earlier I wrote about how my neighborhood's "summer" festival has been moved to autumn. I also wrote a separate post about a summer festival in Kasukabe that has been moved indoors. I know there is a bittersweetness about these changes, but some would argue that something needs to change in the face of rising temperatures. So, I am curious, what would you vote for: 1) Leaving Summer Festivals exactly as they are - same date, same set up etc. 2) Shifting the time of day the festival is on, say for example, from afternoon until after dark 3) Moving the festival from summer to another season or at least to earlier in summer, such as June 4) Moving summer festivals indoors - not really possible for the larger festivals especially those with large floats etc. but maybe they could shift some elements indoors

BigfamJapan

on Aug 3

10 Answers

Favorite Noodles

Chilled noodles because it's summer, hot noodles are also accepted. Is it somen or chukasoba or zarusoba? Reimyun or pasta salad? Chanpon or udon or ramen? Pad Thai or Pho?! This year I made somen for the first time! I'm a soba fan. I used to love ramen and tsukemen but for some reason I'm not as into the rich and oily noodles anymore.

helloalissa

on Jul 30

11 Answers

What are the pros and cons of Japanese Citizenship for you?

Most of the people I know here are foreign residents, have foreign family members, or have foreign coworkers, friends or employees. A handful of those have become Japanese citizens. We've been chatting about things like ethnic identity and Japanese citizenship. I don't plan to become a citizen, but it made me wonder, what are the pros and cons for changing your citizenship? Is it something you've given any thought to? (What might make you consider it?)

helloalissa

on Jul 30

5 Answers

Which movie will you see this summer?

I am not a movie-goer at all, but every year I bring the kids to see a film (and they often go with their friends too) during the summer holidays. There seems to be a good choice this year, including Toy Story 5, the Chiikawa movie, the real live action adaption of Moana and the usual annual Crayon Shinchan movie among others. Which movie are you planning to see this summer? Or have you already been to see one (or more)? If so, which one?

BigfamJapan

on Jul 30

6 Answers

What's your favorite 'kushiyaki'?

Just for fun; what type of skewered food do you like best in Japan? Or, if you feel like sharing, what are your top 3?

BigfamJapan

on Apr 11

2 Answers

Movie locations near you worth visiting?

The live action version of テルマエ・ロマエ Thermae Romae (2012) was shot at Nokogiriyama, Kyonan Town, Chiba Prefecture. It's one of my favourite getaways for hiking, the temple complex, and catching sea breezes. The movie is hilarious and heartwarming. Which Japanese live-action movies do you recommend, and are the filming locations worth a visit? Tell us the original title, English title, the year, and the location.

TonetoEdo

on Mar 23

5 Answers

What are our consumer rights in Japan?

Do you know your consumer rights in Japan? And if so, would you be willing to share anything about them? For example, what is the policy on returns? I am very familiar with my consumer rights in my home country, and they are very widely publicized back home, but information doesn't seem to be as transparent or readily available here. Or is that just me?

BigfamJapan

on Mar 15

18 Answers

What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture?

Today, February 20th, is Ehime Prefecture Day. What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture, what is the very first thing that comes to mind when I say "Ehime Prefecture"!?

BigfamJapan

on Feb 20