Food Shopping

Foreign Buyers’ Club (FBC) You can buy almost anything from this store: salsa, olives, blueberry pie filling, lentil soup, cheese, contact lens supplies, condoms, cold medicines, vegemite…and so on. They have-mail order catalogues, and a good on-line site from which you can order, or you can journey out and visit their store on Rokko Island […]

Types of Restaurants

Sushi(寿司) Conveyer Belt Sushi (回転寿司 Kaiten Zushi) Sushi travels around the restaurant on a conveyer belt. This is a great way to eat sushi because you know what you’re getting. There will usually be color-coded plates, each color representing a different price of sushi. Average prices range from ¥100 to ¥600 per plate. Expect to […]

Recommended Restaurants

Sushi Uoshin Sushi (魚心) They serve huge pieces of fish, sometimes many times larger than the rice itself, and the staff are really friendly. There is one just north of Hankyu Sannomiya (across the street from the McDonalds, a little ways up the street towards JR Sannomiya, on the ground level). Keep in mind that […]

Domestic Airports

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 […]

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 […]

Leaving the Country

Most JETs, at some point during their stay in Japan, will want to take a break to either go back home and visit family, or explore some of Japan’s neighboring countries. Either way, if you plan on leaving the country, make sure you… Notify Your School/BOE Most Contracting Organizations require very specific itineraries when you […]

Buses

Buses are a good way to travel long-distance, especially if you want to save on cash. If you want to save on a hotel as well, you might want to consider an overnight bus (夜間バス – yakan basu). Get on the bus in the evening, and arrive at your destination bright and early the next […]

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 […]

Ferries

To China Shanghai Travel time: 48hrs Cost: ¥25,000 Company: Nitchu Kokusai Ferry Phone: 078-392-1021 Tianjin Travel time: 50hrs Cost: ¥32,000 Company: China Express Line Phone: 078-321-5791 To Korea Pusan Travel Time: 15 hrs Cost: ¥10,500 Company: Kanpu Ferry Phone: 083-24-3000 To Hokkaido Maizuru, Otaru & Tsuruga Travel Time: 29 hrs Cost: Prices vary depending on […]

Natural Disasters Abroad

When tsunamis caused by a powerful earthquake caused serious damage to south and southeast Asia in December 2004, many JETs were spending their winter vacations abroad. More than a few were actually in Thailand, Indonesia, and other countries that were seriously affected by the calamity. When a disaster like this happens, your friends and family […]