Goodbye Days ~Itsumo Arigatou~

It has been 3 awesome weeks since we left our hometown in pursuit for a unexpecting incredible journey to a magicfull world we always wanted to go.

But before we go all sentimental about our days in Japan, still a little guide/review on Japan.

JAPAN's GUIDE or How to strive to be a Nihon-Jin in Japan.
(Short summarized version. since I still need to pack my luggage, and get up at 05.00)

Time: Go any time you like, it's fun at every season in Japan.
We went during August, which was supposed to be pretty hot. And well it was. But I'm used to it. And I think you'll get used to it. There's enough airco for you to cool down and rest out. And we had our days of moderate temperatures. The most days it was around 30 Celsius. It differs though from region to region, but for Osaka and Tokyo is fairly the same. Although I felt that Tokyo was less hot, and more bearable to live in.

Festivals: There are (cultural) festivals every month in Japan. So you won't get bored. On music festivals: well ofcourse in Summertime you'll get the most Summer Music Live Festivals like Fuji Rock Festival, Rock In Japan, SummerSonic etc. If you want to see your beloved artists/bands, plan your holiday well! ( Don't be like me...missed my chance to see YUI "-___- )

Tickets: Tickets are very easy to get in Japan, you can get to the usual Ticket Offices like PIA or you can call some tickets-servicelines for tickets. But what's more convenient is to get it a (suprisingly well-named) convience store. Family Mart & Lawson most likely will have a machine for you to buy tickets (ask the staff if you need help).

Transport: We got a JR-Railpass for 21days. (You can get them for 7days or 14days too). This pass is a pretty convenient one if you would travel from city to city, for example like us from Tokyo to Osaka (when we landed at Narita Airport) and back from Osaka to Tokyo. Especially if you plan to see a lot of touristspots in different cities a JR-pass is a must, on you got the pass you can travel for free in the 3 weeks on most of the JR-trains. And importantly, if you stay in Tokyo, the Yamanote line will bring you to the most places and with the JRpass it's free.

Subways: Really convenient ( I guess Japan is a country of convience). If you can't use the JRpass, then get a ICOCA, PASMO or SUICA. cards you can use for the subways. We used to ICOCA, so I don't know what the others are for. If you don't wanna buy a card, you can also pay for each trip, buy a ticket for the amount of yen you would travel (check the fare-table).

Bus: I took the bus once, but that was for free, but you pay by cash or card (If I'm not mistaken). Cash should be put in the box near the driver.

Eating: Eating is really really cheap in Japan compare to western countries. Ofcourse you can go expensive if you want, but for 380 yens you can get a bowl of Soba/Udon or ramen.
Eating varies from Japanese local food to western food which can be prett expensive compares to the Japanese food.
Fruit are expensive in Japan.
If you like to go to a fastfood-chain: there's enough: Japanese got except the usual Mcdonalds, Burgerking also: Mos Burger/ Freshnes Burger/ Wendy's/ City Convience Restaurant First Kitchen/ Lotteria. A lot.

Clothing: A lot. Western style to Asian style. Whatever you like. Too many fashion streets.
Price: ranging from cheap to expensive. Same story search for a good bargain.

I'm running out of time =P I'm sorry I need to pack my luggage. So I'll continue this for sure, or just ask me. This will be my last post here on Nihongo Wakarimasen. My personal blog "Strive Again" will, ofcourse, still continue. I'll write everything there, so if you're interested, don't hesitate to come by.

So time to get emotional now!! Put up some sentimental goodbye-music!

Before we came to Japan, we had some certain expectations, and now after 3 weeks, I must say, Japan was totally like I had expected...And More!! We've seen a lot, eat a alot, did alot, went out a lot, walked a lot, took the subway a lot, heard Japanese a lot (Irashaimaseeee!!)(.........Gozaimashitaaaa). It was all fun. It really was. I'm gonna miss this country for sure. All the nice people (whether real or not), all the different kinds of people, all the ways of living here in Japan, I'll miss it. Japan really is a special country. We've seen shrines and tempels just right inbetween buildings and traffic ways. Yukata girls in arcade game halls. Guys dressing up like girls cosplay. It was a crazy time. It was a fun time. Shopping, walking, searching, eating. We had a hectic life these past few weeks. It wasn't all fun and laughter, we had our down sides too.

Anyway So much to say, so less time. So much to see, so less time. There's still a lot of things we couldn't see, so much places to go to. But you'll wear yourself out if you go all out 21 days long. So we took our time and set our pace for the last few days.

I would like to thank all of you who've supported us for the past few weeks. Thanks to you all who kept on following our blogs, and also all those who ever came by to check it out. Thanks.
Also thanks for all the comments and replies. We really appreciate it, we really do.
We had some good time, also with msn, all of you who kept in touched during this period.

I would also like to thank all the kind Japanese people who helped us out during this period. Still with little to no english they kept on trying to help us. Special thanks to the ramen-shop-guy on the first day whom I had a pretty long conversation! He helped us in Osaka. Also thanks to my funny-guy hairdresser! He was really caring =P And also special thanks to the Livehouse staff guy who helped me out for buying tickets giving me all the info. And all those others kind people! Arigatou Gozamashita!
Also Thanks again to Kana & Aki -san!

And if I forgot anyone...well I didn't forgot you. I just can't mention everyone.

Thanks to everyone!! Thank you Japan.
Thank you Life!

Itsumo Arigatou!

`Kingman Lam