Japan... what do I do?

[Lavabe]

What kind of apples?

I'm guessing Fuji.

Correct. Large, mostly red, semi-crisp, sweet/no tartness, loaded with juice. The Fujis here are much better than those sold in the US.

[lawgrad91]

What kind of apples?

I'm guessing Fuji.

Correct. Large, mostly red, semi-crisp, sweet/no tartness, loaded with juice. The Fujis here are much better than those sold in the US.

[Lavabe]

Another dreary, rainy day in Kyoto City.
I guess it beats the oppressive heat and humidity of earlier in the week.
Still haven't unpacked my camera.

[Lavabe]

Seriously... why no tipping in Japan?
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2942 ... uette.html
Is it because everything is so expensive already?
Paging Bob Green.

[Lavabe]

I'm half tempted to try either a French or Italian restaurant here in Japan, just for the shock value.
FWIW, I've tried curry and Chinese restaurants here.

[DukeUsul]

I'm half tempted to try either a French or Italian restaurant here in Japan, just for the shock value.
FWIW, I've tried curry and Chinese restaurants here.

Go for it. One of the fascinating culinary experiences I've had was eating at a Chinese restaurant in Venice.

[DukieInKansas]

I'm half tempted to try either a French or Italian restaurant here in Japan, just for the shock value.
FWIW, I've tried curry and Chinese restaurants here.

Go for it. One of the fascinating culinary experiences I've had was eating at a Chinese restaurant in Venice.

I had Chinese in Venice, also. And Mexican in Paris. It is fun to compare. We would go for pizza occasionally in Tokyo.

[Lavabe]

The Japanese (or Kyoto) Tourism Board gave me a survey to fill out today, asking me how much money I spent doing all sorts of tourist things during my 7 days in Kyoto. Here's the breakdown:
Airfare: $1500
Hotel: $729
Ground transport: $100
Food: $120 (so far)
Entertainment: $0
Souvenirs: $0: Can't find ANYTHING that ILJ and LL would want. SERIOUSLY. I didn't get a t-shirt at the conference. I can't even find a food item to bring home to Georgia the Wonderdog.
Other: $0

7 days, $120... that's less than Rachael Ray $20-a-day. In all honesty, I'll try to blow some money on a good meal tonight, assuming I can find a meal that is edible.

Today, I paid $6 for a pushcart bento box of a chunk of salmon, cold fried breaded pork cutlet, a few shreds of lettuce, a few shreds of pickled ginger, and four bizzaro textured things I cannot even describe, a monster portion of white rice, and a pickled astringent plum.

I ate the pork, salmon, and lettuce.

Too bad the form didn't have a place for additional comments.

Note to devild***: Found a place that does a Japanese red ale for $9 the half pint.

[Lavabe]

OOOOOOOOHHH!!!

Here's an idea for a souvenir:
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010 ... -to-ninja/

[TillyGalore]

Can't find ANYTHING that ILJ and LL would want. SERIOUSLY. I didn't get a t-shirt at the conference.

There must be some pearls you can buy for each of them that aren't too expensive.

[devildeac]

The Japanese (or Kyoto) Tourism Board gave me a survey to fill out today, asking me how much money I spent doing all sorts of tourist things during my 7 days in Kyoto. Here's the breakdown:
Airfare: $1500
Hotel: $729
Ground transport: $100
Food: $120 (so far)
Entertainment: $0
Souvenirs: $0: Can't find ANYTHING that ILJ and LL would want. SERIOUSLY. I didn't get a t-shirt at the conference. I can't even find a food item to bring home to Georgia the Wonderdog.
Other: $0

7 days, $120... that's less than Rachael Ray $20-a-day. In all honesty, I'll try to blow some money on a good meal tonight, assuming I can find a meal that is edible.

Today, I paid $6 for a pushcart bento box of a chunk of salmon, cold fried breaded pork cutlet, a few shreds of lettuce, a few shreds of pickled ginger, and four bizzaro textured things I cannot even describe, a monster portion of white rice, and a pickled astringent plum.

I ate the pork, salmon, and lettuce.

Too bad the form didn't have a place for additional comments.

Note to devild***: Found a place that does a Japanese red ale for $9 the half pint.

Hope it was about 12% ABV at that price.

[devildeac]

OOOOOOOOHHH!!!

Here's an idea for a souvenir:
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010 ... -to-ninja/

Sapphires.

Oh, wrong country.

[CathyCA]

Can't find ANYTHING that ILJ and LL would want. SERIOUSLY. I didn't get a t-shirt at the conference.

There must be some pearls you can buy for each of them that aren't too expensive.

I vote for pearls.

[lawgrad91]

Can't find ANYTHING that ILJ and LL would want. SERIOUSLY. I didn't get a t-shirt at the conference.

There must be some pearls you can buy for each of them that aren't too expensive.

I guess I need to pay better attention. I didn't catch the "LL" part, and thought it was a suggestion of pearls for Georgia the Wonder Dog.

LL would enjoy them more than the Wonder Dog, I suspect.

[Bob Green]

Seriously... why no tipping in Japan?
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2942 ... uette.html
Is it because everything is so expensive already?
Paging Bob Green.

It is a waiter or waitresses job to serve you. They are paid by their employee to do their job. Tipping is not only not required it is considered insulting as in a patron believing they have to pay extra in order to ensure the waiter/waitress does their job.

[Lavabe]

Seriously... why no tipping in Japan?
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2942 ... uette.html
Is it because everything is so expensive already?
Paging Bob Green.

It is a waiter or waitresses job to serve you. They are paid by their employee to do their job. Tipping is not only not required it is considered insulting as in a patron believing they have to pay extra in order to ensure the waiter/waitress does their job.

Thanks for the clarification. I only tipped once (bellhop). Given all the potential times I could have tipped, one mistake isn't so bad.

[Lavabe]

Dinner last night... the expensive one.
Downstairs in the hotel, I went to a place named CHICKEN. Here was the meal:
Chicken soup (broth).
Steamed chicken over onion (with dipping sauce).
Rice.
Chicken wings.
Fried chicken croquettes.

$40 dinner. Way overpriced, but at least I recognized all the major food groups (well, except for fruit, dairy, and let's face it, veggies). I think it was the only hot meal I had here (except for the soba noodles lunch) in which I ate everything. A friend posted up on FB what they had for dinner ($30) the other night at some restaurant near campus; I clearly had the more filling dinner. And the banquet for the conference... WAY out of my league.

I followed it up with perhaps the worst Guinness I have ever had. BEAUTIFUL setting, but it might as well have been billed as skunky brown dishwater with a head. Must have been from a can. The ABV, however, had to be greater than 12. NOT worth the $9.

I think the winning suggestion/tip was to go to the 7-11s. In my case, I found them and the supermarkets, so that helped out a lot. The expensive Fuji apples were godsends. After trying a few things early on, I decided to play it safe the rest of the time, so that stomach upset wouldn't affect me actually attending the conference (the real reason I came here). Nice, polite, and safe city... great for walking. Downside: Besides cost, not enough downtime to actually explore the city.

The next international conference is in Mexico in 2 years. MUCH less expensive, and I'll have better luck with the food.

[Lavabe]

I'm alive, and in Seattle SEA-TAC airport.

Just had nachos and a Shock Top brew.

[captmojo]

I'm alive, and in Seattle SEA-TAC airport.

Just had nachos and a Shock Top brew.

Welcome home!
Now, go get some REAL food.

[lawgrad91]

I'm alive, and in Seattle SEA-TAC airport.

Just had nachos and a Shock Top brew.

Welcome back to the U-S of A! I had a Shock Top in Seatac when we were coming through in July.