In this part of the series we take a look at the AKB48 sister groups own take on theater distributed photographs. Unsurprisingly, the groups of SKE48, NMB48 and HKT48 derive their distribution formula from their Akihabara origin group but also add on to or modify their methods.

If you haven’t already, do take a look at the AKB48 Theater Photo Guide. Some knowledge of the AKB48 Theater Photos will help when understanding the differences between the AKB48 and sister groups’ theater distributed photographs. While HKT48 and to a certain extent SKE48 Random Photos mimic the AKB48 Theater Sets quite closely, NMB48 and SKE48 Individual sets are distributed in a different (possibly better) way.

SKE48 Random Photoset

SKE48 Random Photoset.

Release: Monthly
Quantity: Medium
Price: Medium

Where theater photos are concerned Sunshine Sakae’s branch of the 48 family differs slightly from the franchise’s formula. Rather than just one monthly theater set, SKE48 releases two types of photo sets each month; one random set that mimics the AKB48 theater photos and another to order set.

The SKE48 Random Photoset is SKE48 equivalent of AKB48 theaters. As the name suggests, just like AKB48 theater photos, the photos are sold once a month in random packs of 5 for 1,000 yen. Unlike the AKB48 theaters, there are only 3 photos to a complete SKE48 set.

The rest of the format is similar to AKB48 theaters, with the names, team and month being displayed on a bar at the bottom of each photo (though the random photoset bars are always white). Unfortunately, the quality of prints aren’t very good either, especially for the older sets. Instead of just performing costumes though, SKE48 random photoset photos occasionally feature the members in plain clothes.

SKE48 Random Photosets are not only released once a month at the SKE48 shop but also their online store. Like the AKB48 theater sets, one is limited to purchasing 5 sets at a time.

Despite having less photos per set, SKE48 random sets fetch about as much as their AKB48 counterparts on the secondary market, if not more for the popular members. This is largely due to the fact that the SKE48 can be considered rarer than their AKB48 counterpart and a rather large imbalance in the popularity of the individual members.

SKE48 Individual Photoset

SKE48 Individual Photoset.

Release: Monthly
Quantity: Low-Medium
Price: Low-Medium

Apart from the random theater photos, SKE48 also introduced “Individual” member photosets to the 48 family. These will be familiar to those who are acquainted with the Hello! Project and Johnny’s Entertainment style of distributing collectible photographs. Each of these photosets consists of a set of 5 photographs of each member and come as fixed sets that can be purchased individually for 1,000 yen.

Like the theater sets, the individual photosets are sold each month at the SKE48 shop and online. However previews of all of the photos are provided and fans can choose to purchase the pictures of their member of choice, while stocks last.

SKE48 Individual Photosets are interesting in that they usually feature the members in non-performing costumes themed after the season or specific holidays. Within a series, the costumes will also vary slightly from member to member. The 5 photographs consist of a combination of medium, far and full body shots of the individual members. Like most 48 photos, they feature a standard horizontal bar complete with the member’s name, team and month of distribution, but also add a larger SKE48 logo.

Due to the nature of their distribution, there are few SKE48 Individual Photosets being traded on the secondary market. For the most part, people usually purchase the individual photosets for personal collection, though there may still be a demand for the more popular members due to limited sets.

As far as photos are concerned, it would seem SKE48 fans are more selective of their purchases. The popularity for any given SKE48 photoset varies widely depending on the month’s costume. More popular costumes sell out quicker, while photos featuring undesirable costume rarely sell out, even for the most popular of members.

The photographs for less popular members can be purchased long after their release online, thus negating any inflated value, so take note if intending to purchase them from third parties. Do note that the quantity for photosets are not fixed, and vary per month and on a per member basis. Less photographs are printed for the less popular members.

One observation is that in the past, the individual photosets rarely sold out, or did so rather slowly, while certain members now sell out slightly faster. Whether this is a direct result of SKE48 being more popular or a lower print count, can only be speculated.

SKE48 Travel Photos

SKE48 Travel Photos.

Release: Events
Quantity: Low-High
Price: Low-Medium

There’s no real name for these, but for the sake of identifying them we’ll just go with SKE48 Travel Photos.

SKE48 travel photos are not exactly an entirely different category by itself but rather a variation of the SKE48 random and individual photosets. Previously, SKE48 would release candid styled photographs in either one of the above formats.

These are usually related to special events in the SKE48 calendar, such as field trips or video shoots. Examples include random holiday photos from SKE48′s trip to Hawaii for Pareo wa Emerald, or individual photosets for their trip to Nara some time ago.

Apart from the difference in photography style, the travel and other special one off SKE48 photographs differer in that they display a smaller bar with only the copyright information of the company. Like the other SKE48 “theater” photos, these are released in sets of 5 for 1,000 yen.

SKE48 Team Photos

SKE48 Team Photos.

Release: Events
Quantity: Low-High
Price: Low-Medium

The last type of photo released at the SKE48 theater shop and online store. These can also be identified as SKE48 Holiday or Message photos.

Like the individual photosets, these photos were non-random photographs. The difference being that they were sold as an entire team’s worth of photographs, for between 2,500 to 3,000 yen. The price varied depending on how many members were present in the team at the time.

The SKE48 Team Photos were mostly released seasonally during specific holiday events, to compliment or in place of the individual photosets. For each photo, there is also a pre-printed handwritten message from the respective member.

As fans would obtain an entire team of members with each purchase, like the other fixed sets, the availability of popular member photos are scarce. Less, or unpopular member photos tend to be traded around quite easily or sometimes even discarded. Loose copies of the unpopular members photos can be commonly found at shops reselling SKE48 namashashin.

NMB48 Individual Photoset

NMB48 Individual Photoset.

Release: Monthly
Quantity: High
Price: Low

NMB48 takes SKE48′s Individual Photoset idea and one ups it by making the individual photosets their default theater distributed photos.

Like the SKE48 photos, NMB48′s Individual Photosets are sold in fixed sets of 5 for 1,000 yen. New sets are released monthly and sold at the Official NMB48 Shop located a couple of street corners away from the NMB48 theater.

Visually, the NMB48 sets follow the SKE48 ones quite similarly. Apart from performing costumes, the photos also feature the girls in other seasonal clothing on ocassion. The older sets only display the NMB48 logo, but newer sets now include a bottom bar with the member information.

The NMB48 sets are also listed on their online store but unlike SKE48 who seem to set aside a certain number of sets for online sales, priority for the NMB48 photos seem to go toward physical sales.

Whether it’s because of a lower print count, or higher demand the NMB48 individual sets also sell out rather quickly and completely, even for the less popular members. When NMB48 was first formed, we noticed a phenomenon where the some of the more hardcore of NMB48 fans would purchase multiple copies of each member’s photo set.

We’re not sure whether this was done out of obsessiveness or a conscious effort to to deny other fans access to the photos. But regardless of the reason, this has the result of making NMB48 Individual Photosets quite a bit more uncommon. And like the SKE48 sets, since fans can choose which member’s photographs to purchase, the sets rarely change hands.

NMB48 Random Photo

Release: Monthly
Quantity: Low
Price: Medium-High

NMB48 do sell their own random photographs however, and this is where it gets interesting. Apart from the fixed 5 pieced set of each member, the NMB48 Official Shop also sells a 6th photograph to complete the set by random format.

Each month, these photos are sold in packs of 5 random photographs for 1,000 yen. These photographs are meant to “complete” the individual sets, with the members being shown in the same costumes as the rest of their photographs, in a 6th unique pose.

Apart from its distribution, the NMB48 random photos are virtually identical in format to the individual sets’, with the exception that the NMB48 leopard print logo on the picture is displayed in purple rather than yellow.

Like other random sets, fans are limited to purchasing 5 packs at a time. However the NMB48 random photos have a very low print run and sell out quickly. The actual number of random photographs available in comparison to the sets of 5 appear to be far fewer, making the 6th photograph far more expensive in value, especially for older sets.

HKT48 Theater Photos

HKT48 Theater Photos.

Release: Monthly
Quantity: Medium
Price: Medium

There’s not much to be said about HKT48 Theater Photos since it’s the one sister group to take the AKB48 photo format and use it wholesale.

The photos are released in sets of 4 and feature the HKT48 members in different manner of performing costumes each month. Just like in the AKB48 photographs, the HKT theaters feature a static bar with the information of the member and released month displayed. The color of the bar is changed liberally to match the month’s costume.

Whether it be because of a low availability, popularity of members or comparative newness of this group, HKT48 theater photos work out to be some of the most scarcely available on the secondary market and also some of the most expensive. Pictures for the more popular members can fetch a good 1,000 or more yen each, sometimes more. Even the least popular members tend to price at around the undergirls level of other groups.

It is clear that the standard format is also one of the most successful.

Unfortunately we’re missing a picture of the NMB48 Randoms. If anyone would like to contribute one do let us know!

Some time ago we looked at the Japanese SIM card rental options and deduced that if you’re visiting for a short holiday, the best thing to do would be to stick with your local carrier’s roaming plan. The situation’s changed quite a bit since then and many of the previous SIM card options are now defunct, though the previous conclusion still stands. However for those staying for a longer duration or who require internet access on the go, B-Mobile’s prepaid data cards provide an excellent alternative.

Following the rise of smart phones in Japan, B-Mobile began marketing their local 3G  enabled prepaid data SIM cards between the end of 2010 and 2011. For roughly 3,000 yen, B-Mobile’s data cards offer a month’s worth of data usage. They tap onto the existing NTT DoCoMo networks to provide speedy mobile internet access to just about any part of Japan. Recognizing the demand for data cards by foreigners visiting Japan, B-Mobile have also released special “Visitor Sim” cards last year though I wouldn’t recommend them for reasons explained below.

B-Mobile offers a wide range of different prepaid cards for sale off the shelf at most major electronic shops in Japan like Yodobashi Camera or Bic Camera. Their data cards are available in standard, Micro and Nano sized SIMs (at least for the newer SIMs). Do make sure that you get the correctly labelled package, otherwise you’d have to find some means to cut the card to the desired size.

It is important to note that all of the B-Mobile SIMs are data-only, giving you mobile internet access in Japan, but no traditional phone time or SMS. You can see the full range of B-Mobile products here, however only a few are relevant to travellers, their classic U300 and 1GB Fixed cards and their rebranded equivalents targeted at tourists.

U300. 1 month of unlimited data capped at 300kbps.

U300

The first data SIM card that was offered by B-Mobile is the U300. U300 in this case stands for Unlimited 300 as the U300 data card gives users unlimited data access for a month, which is capped at 300kbps. There are also additional limits to the U300 card in that it does not allow for Voice Over IP services like Skype or LINE or streaming videos. Sustained streaming have been disabled in the card.

The U300 card is the cheapest at 2,980 yen. Given these limitations though, there is little point for unlimited data access, but if you find yourself in Japan without any other forms of internet access this may be attractive to some visitors. The lack of phone calls may be overcoming by using a messaging application.

Since the U300 is considered an older product, you may have a little bit of trouble finding it at out of the way electronic stores. Sometimes it is not displayed prominently either, leading some to believe that they are not available in stores. In the case that you do not see it displayed, some have had luck asking the sales staff at the electronic stores as they may be tucked away with the rest of the less sellable stocks.

1GB Fixed. 1gb of uncapped data usable over a month.

1GB Fixed

The second data card introduced and the one that should interest most visitors is the B-Mobile 1GB Fixed data SIM. It costs slightly more at 3,480 yen but removes the restrictions on VoIP and streaming services. The access speed is also not capped at 300kbps, allowing for lightning fast 3G and 4G LTE access. Our experience with the 1GB Fixed card speeds was very satisfactory. Being Japan, we found the internet access to be much faster than any equivalent Singapore connections, even while traveling on the train, in the middle of the countryside. The downside to this is that data access is capped at 1GB.

With VoIP, one can use services like Skype or LINE to replace the occasional call in Japan. The 1GB data limit is sufficient for a couple hours of total calls and just about as much messaging or surfing you’d ned for a month. If you’re on holiday in Japan and using anything more than that, chances are you’re not enjoying the trip to its fullest.

Note: The one and biggest downside to the above two SIM Cards is that they were only created with the local user in mind and were meant to supplement existing lines. In order to begin using the B-Mobile data SIMs you will need to dial up a toll-free number and enter the product code into the automated systems with normal Japanese cellphone.

If you have access to a friend in Japan who can do this for you, then this is a minor issue. Picking up the U300 or a 1GB data card directly from an electronic store is the cheapest option, since you can forgo any extra shipping charges. However in our last trip, we found it extremely difficult to get anyone to help. I have heard stories where the shop assistants at certain electronic retailers would help tourists to activate their cards, but this is not the norm. In fact with the new B-Mobile Visitor cards, I might suspect some have been told not to.

Getting the SIM card to work without the help of a Japanese friend is much more troublesome. B-Mobile offers a hotline that can be accessed by landline, however to deter tourists from using this SIM activating your card this way now costs an additional 2,500 yen.

One possible solution is to get the B-Mobile data SIMs through local resellers. There are people living in Japan who have taken the opportunity to sell pre-activated B-Mobile cards albeit at a heavily marked up price. This should only be considered if you’re planning to stay in Japan for more than 14 days. Getting a reseller to activate the card and then ship it to you not only costs more, but you’d also be losing at least one day of data access in the process.

Visitor SIMs. More expensive, less days.

Visitor SIM 14-days Prepaid and Visitor SIM 1GB Prepaid

The Visitor SIM 14-days Prepaid and Visitor SIM 1GB Prepaid cards are the two B-Mobiles SIM cards targeted toward tourists and they follow the typical Japanese practice of taking foreigners for suckers.

If you’re visiting the B-Mobile website in anything other Japanese, these will be the only two cards that are displayed to visitors. Both cards are identical to the the regular U300 and 1GB Fixed cards respectively, with the exception that data access is capped to only 14 days, rather than the usual month.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the visitor SIMs also cost more than their Japanese counterparts at 3,980 yen each.

However, if you’re only planning to stay in Japan for a maximum of 14 days and want to do without the hassle of getting the SIM card activated yourself, the Visitor SIM 1GB Prepaid is still a viable alternative as the prices for the visitor cards are inclusive of delivery charges to your hotel when ordered online. All the cards come pre-activated so you can place an order in advance and have it delivered on the day in which you arrive at a hotel for maximum convenience. Airport pickups are also available but cost an additional 210 yen more.

Edit: The B-Mobile link above shows which SIM cards are available in which sizes, but for clarity do take note that only the newer Vistor cards are available as Nano size SIMs. The local versions of the U300 and 1GB Fixed are available in standard and micro sizes only.

AKB48 theater photos are are series of photographs produced directly by AKS themselves. They’re the second main type of AKB48 collectible photos and with the ceasing of B.L.T. photographs can now be considered the most popular kind to be collected. AKB48 theater photos, in their current form emerged in 2009 as a more common alternative to B.L.T. photographs.

AKB48 Theater Photos

AKB48 theater photos and their matching colored bars.

Release: Monthly (Since July 2009)
Quantity: Medium
Price: Medium

AKB48 Theater Photographs are referred to as such since they are sold at the  AKB48 shop below the theater on the 5th floor of Akihabara’s Don Quixote building. The photographs are sold on the 26th of each month. Though in recent years, the number of days where photos are sold have expanded to 2, and now 5 days. During days where the theater photos are sold, you’ll be able to see a long queue spanning outside of the Don Quixote building in the morning.

Theater photos mimic regular B.L.T. photographs somewhat in that they are a number of studio shots of the AKB48 members. It also has a bar across the bottom of the photo. The theater bar details the name of the member, her team, and month of print of the photo. Unlike B.L.T. photographs, the theater bar changes in color each month (usually to match the costume worn in the photo). Theater photos also differ from B.L.T.s in that there are 4 to a set. The photos are always taken against a plain white background and feature the members in a different theater outfit each month.

When B.L.T. photos were still available, theater photos were considered of inferior quality and less sought after. All theater photos from prior to end 2010 were printed on low quality stock paper as if they were printed from a home inkjet printer (and quite possibly so). The quality of prints improved a little in 2010, before finally adopting proper photo prints in 2011. Even then, the actual technicalities of the taken photos continue to leave much to be desired.

AKB48 theater photos are cheaper than their B.L.T. counterparts. At a time when they ran simultaneously, theater photos consistently fetched almost exactly half the price of B.L.T. photos. This was due either to the poorer quality leading to a lower demand, or (much more likely) because of the higher supply and cheaper cost.

Theater photos are released in packets that cost 1,000 yen each. Each person in queue is limited to purchasing five packets at a time. The packets are sorted by team and each packet contains 5 somewhat random photographs of members from the respective team. It is not totally random, in that each packet contains a fair spread of popular and less popular members. In 2010, approximately 600 packets of theater photos were released each month per team. Assuming that all members were given an equal print run, this means that approximately 46 sets of 4 photographs exists for each member. The figures were later increased to about 1,000 packets per team in 2011 (~78 sets per member).

Now that AKB48 B.L.T. photographs have halted, AKB48 theaters have become the generic AKB48 photos to collect. Recognizing the increased demand, AKS has increased the print of theater sets to anywhere between 650 to 1,900 sets per team, multiplied by 5 days. Here’s the statistics for their most recent set: Team A: 800 packs, Team K: 600 packs, Team B: 1,100 packs, Kenkyuusei: 500 packs per day, for 5 days.

This puts the total at 4000, 3000, 5,500 and 2,500 packs respectively, or (assuming all are released equally) about 238, 187, 312 and 156 sets of photos in existence per member for teams A, K, B and the Kenkyuusei respectively.

The number of theater photo sets in print have multiplied many fold, but more interesting is the fact that even AKS has given up any subtlety to the fact that not all of their members sell as well. Because of the probable increased demand for theater photos now that B.L.T.s have ceased production, prices of theater sets have remain relatively unfazed by the increased print run.

As theater sets are sold physically at the AKB48 theater building, this creates the opportunity for trade. I’ll go into this in greater detail in another guide, but the gist of it is that people tend to trade into complete sets, either of this favorite members or simply since complete sets will be more likely to sell on the second hand market. But whatever the reason, the result is that you’ll find a lot more consolidated theater sets than other types of AKB48 pictures. As full sets have become the norm, the demand for lose pictures seem to be low. On a per photo basis, prices for individual theater pictures tend to be lower than their completed sets.

AKB48 theater photos were originally derived from “gacha” photos (which will be explained below). One of the incentives for purchasing theater photos (that were carried over from its gacha days) are in inclusion of random “2-shot” tickets randomly included in the 1,000 yen theater photo packets. These special tickets allow one to take a 2-shot, a photograph together with any performing member at the theater. Needless to say the 2-shot tickets are extremely rare and extremely valuable. In the past, the 2-shot coupons would go for approximately $300-500 dollars, but later with the popularity of AKB48, tickets could go for as much as 2 to 3 thousand dollars.

Gacha

A gacha back from April 2008.

Release: 2007-2009
Quantity: Low
Price: Low

Gacha were the original form of AKB48 theater photos that ran all the way until 2009 and even simultaneously with modern theater photos for a while as the system was being phased out. Like theater photos, these gacha were printed on low quality paper. Gacha’s featured the members in costumes mirroring those of B.L.T. photographs of the time. However gacha photos lack any bar or markings to identify the photo’s member or month, only a “©AKS” copyright notice.

Unlike their newer derivative, gacha were 3 to a set, rather than 4, at least when they could be considered a set. There were also months where the gacha pictures followed no apparent guidelines, breaking into a different number of photos, collections of “live” photos taken from their concerts, group photo shoots or even completely different costumes in each photo. The later sets would more resemble the format of theater photo sets as fans now know them.

Gacha are known as such because they were obtained from a gacha (capsule toy) machine at the AKB48 theater. Each go at the machine used to cost 300 yen and would give you a chance at winning you a random AKB48 related goody. Some of the other things that could be obtained from the gacha machine included member autographs, 2 and 3-shot tickets, the legendary 100-chu tickets which granted you automatic admission to any theater show of your choice and even some of their personal belongings. Many of these prizes have since been retired or adapted into other AKB48 traditions. Of course most people ended up getting the consolation prizes of AKB48 button pins, stickers or the gacha photos.

The low quality and general “looseness” of gacha make them unpopular with collectors, and they are generally considered less desirable than regular theaters to all except the most hardcore fans. Complete sets of popular members gacha might be worth quite a bit, but are so rare that we almost never see them being traded.

AKB48 Singapore theater photos. Some of the pictures were slightly off color.

Localized AKB48 Theater Photos

Release: Various
Quantity: Various
Price: Various

The overseas AKB48 shops have taken to distributing their own versions of AKB48 Theater Photos. Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore each have their own versions of the photo sets, though distribution of the Singapore ones have ceased since January 2013 (for the November 2012 sets).

Like the Japanese equivalent, the localized AKB48 theater sets are produced by AKS. The photos are delivered once a month to the overseas shops for distribution. Initial sets of the photos were almost identical to the Japanese theater counterparts, the difference is that overseas theater sets always use a black color bar and are labelled with the overseas country’s 48 presence.

The newer Hong Kong and Taiwan sets now share unique poses for their pictures, but still follow the same costume for any given month. These Taiwan shop refers to them as “Let’s Exchange! AKB48 Photo Collection Oversea Version”. The photos feature the AKB48 members in the same costumes as the Japanese set for the month but in a separate 3 pose set exclusive to Hong Kong and Taiwan. The solid color bar is also noticeably absent from the new photos but the logo and names and team of the members are still printed at the bottom of the photo.

Overseas theater sets are also sold in packets of 5 random photos separated by team. Photos for Team A, K, B and 4 have been sold, at least while it existed. The research student photo sets were not sold overseas. Photo packs cost SGD$22 in Singapore, NTD$480 in Taiwan and HKD$130 in Hong Kong, approximately $20 all round.

Due to a smaller print count, overseas theater sets tend to be rarer than their Japanese counterparts, but are balanced out by their decreased demand. While I cannot give an exact number for the Taiwan based sets, we have a picture of the Hong Kong and Singapore sets.

The initial April 2011 run of the Singapore sets released less than 100 packets for exactly 3 complete photo sets per member. This stayed the same for a couple months before it was increased to 5 sets. Print numbers for teams A, K and B in the later sets were further inflated to approximately 120 packs per team each month (or about 10 complete sets per member). Due to the perceived lower demand, Team 4 photos sets were sold at about half the quantity. These were sold over the course of 3 to 4 weekends.

The AKB48 Official Shop Hong Kong is surprisingly fair, offering an equal amount of sets for all 3 teams. Currently, a total of 1,000 sets are sold each month (334 for Team A, 333 for B and 333 for K) or about 20 complete sets per member.

In the next guide, we identify the different sister group equivalents of theater photos.

In this second part of our ongoing guide on collectible AKB48 photos, we take a look at the other special photographs released by B.L.T.. Like in the previous part, we’ll run through all the different types of limited edition B.L.T. photographs, along with how they are obtained. We’ll leave the market information and price speculation to another time, but given their limited print, may be more difficult to get your hands on.

U-17

U-17s are unique for their candid shoots.

Release: Every 3 Months
Quantity: Medium
Price: Medium

U-17 is a seasonal B.L.T. gravure publication featuring idols and actresses which are under 17 years of age. The trend for it is to have front and reverse covers, featuring a small number of members from a 48 group on one side and a model, actress or other idol group on the other. Like the regular B.L.T. magazines, U-17 magazines are ordered online through the official site. At time of ordering, you can choose between receiving 48 related photographs, or those of the other featured girls. U-17s cost 1,500 yen each and come with 3 random photographs. Unlike regular B.L.T. magazines, there is usually no limit to how many U-17s one can buy.

Physically U-17 magazines are a much better buy themselves. They are usually pretty thick and are chocked full of photographs and interviews with the featured artists, provided you’re in to that sort of stuff. Though it works out to the same on a per photo basis, the additional weight and shipping costs involved, coupled with the limited number of members featured tends to limit the sales of the magazine. As such, U-17 edition photographs are pretty rare, and can be expensive when it features popular members. The price usually increases greatly when the issue mixes popular and unpopular members, since the random factor creates a greater risk.

U-17s usually feature 4-6 members of any particular group in candid photographs. U-17s always have a red bar with the current season stated but otherwise follow a similar format as regular BLTs. Traditionally, most special B.L.T.s have a red bar, though the later sets also sometimes used black bars too. Each individual girl will have 2 candid individual photographs and a 3rd photograph that is shared with another member. Finally, there is a group shot of all the members involved in the shoot. This group photo used to be pretty common but recent issues have made it rarer, causing its value to be grossly inflated.

Individual U-17s sell for anywhere between 500 to up to 2,000 yen for popular members, with the group photo going for many times more. While we cannot give an accurate estimation of how many U-17s are available, the number is low, with the number actually in circulation being negligible.

Weekly Calendar

All calendar sets feature digital “writing” from the members.

Release: Yearly
Quantity: Very-Low
Price: High

The AKB48 B.L.T. Weekly Calendar was a calendar sold once a year featuring images of the group’s members. Like many of the other AKB48 B.L.T. publications, these have ceased production (Try-X handle the AKB48′s calendars now) but as of 2012-2013 were still available for the rival and sister groups.

Each calendar costs 2,500 yen and contains 5 random photographs. While there are a total of 7 different designs per member, one for each day of the week. The members are encouraged to add in designs to the photographs (usually the names of the days of the week in a stylized manner) and these are digitally printed onto the photographs themselves. The Weekly Calendar photographs are quite typical of normal B.L.T. photographs, except that they usually feature the members in their own plain clothes.

The weekly calendars are one of the few B.L.T. products which you can purchase directly from third party stores that ship overseas like CDJapan, or certain physical book store. Pretty much every other B.L.T. type product requires you to make a pre-order directly from the B.L.T. website itself, which does not ship overseas (though you may use a deputy service). Unlike regular calendars though, the 46/48 group calendars are released at different times of the year, so you have to keep a look out.

Again the cost per photograph is strategically kept the same, and you get a nifty wall calendar too. However not as many collect the weekly calendar photographs, due to the high difficulty of completing a set of 7 photographs. The larger investment per calendar and the fact that the photos do not fall under the regular B.L.T. series also deter collectors. Weekly Calendar photographs are thus quite a bit rare than the previously mentioned B.L.T. types but as a result of their lower demand, the individual prices of calendar photos tend to be not too different from regular B.L.T.s.

T-Shirt

T-shirts come with one B.L.T. photo of the respective member.

Release: Yearly
Quantity: Low-Medium
Price: Medium-Very High

AKB48 and the sister groups used to release annual self-designed t-shirts through B.L.T. as well. Nogizaka46 still released some B.L.T. tees last year but the trend now is for the 48 groups to release the shirts themselves. The B.L.T. shirts are available on a pre-order basis only. A few months before the shirts are actually released, designs for all available members are announced on their website.

The B.L.T. shirts cost 3,000 yen each and come with one limited B.L.T. photograph (usually of the member wearing the tee). Fans are limited to purchasing 10 shirts per shipping address, this couple with the high cost, makes the B.L.T. t-shirt photos some of the rarest, especially for the less popular members. Since one gets to choose which member’s tee to purchase, and thus which photograph to receive, there is a very limited market for trade.

The trend is for popular members to see a surplus of t-shirts due to third parties ordering them in bulk in hopes of reselling them, so you can sometimes find popular members tees for sale on the secondary market. Less popular members tees and photos are especially rare and can fetch very high prices. Due to the nature of the item prices for previous years tees can reach exorbitant prices (think hundreds) when unused and with photograph intact.

Like other B.L.T. products, 1 autographed photograph and 5 autographed tees are randomly distributed to those ordering. Much like autographed jerseys, depending on the popularity of the individual member, these shirts can fetch between a few hundred, to about a thousand dollars.

Others

B.L.T. has had many other one-shot AKB48 publications with bonus photos.

Release: Various
Quantity: Various
Price: Various

While sometimes not explicitly labelled as such, there were a number of other one shot publications that can be credited to B.L.T. or their publisher Tokyo News Service. This includes Kashiwagi Yuki’s first photobook and the PHOTORE series featuring Kashiwagi as well. The bi-yearly AKB48 Visual Book is a good example in that included photographs following the existing B.L.T. format, but in sets of 9 or 16.

Prices of all these other random publications vary greatly. Depending on the size of the run and demand, some of these photographs may fetch quite a price. However many of these books tended to have a larger print runs, or stay in print for a while. As a result the value of individual photographs tended to be lower. For example, each issue of the 2,500 yen PHOTORE books came with 12 photographs out of 150 designs and are thus valued lower than regular B.L.T.s.

In the next guide, we begin exploring the expansive world of AKB48 theater photographs.

There comes a times in every AKB48 fan’s life where they they come across the expansive selection of AKB48 merchandise. While some are content with supporting their idols through the occasional CD purchases, others dive head on into the world of collectible nama shashin. If you’ve reading this, then you’re probably at least considered purchasing some some.

Here’s our long overdue guide to everything about AKB48 photos. From pre-order store bonuses that come free with every single release to theater photos that are purchased directly each month, there are a wide range of different types of AKB48 photos. With a bit of experience each of these can be neatly categorized into one of the following types. Due to length, we’d be splitting this guide into a number of still sizable chunks. Over the next few posts, we’ll first take a look at the different categories of photographs and then offer some insights into the state of the second hand photo markets.

AKB48 B.L.T. Photos

The older B.L.T. sets only consisted of 1 or 2 photos.

Release: 2007-2011
Quantity: Low
Price: High

Commonly referred to as just “BLTs”, B.L.T photos are one of the most popular and commonly collected photo types (apart from theater photos). BLTs are directly obtained from purchasing 48-branded copies of the Beautiful Lady & Television TV guide. As of December 2011, exactly 5 years after it first started, AKB48 B.L.T. photos have ceased production, though the other sister groups (and Nogizaka46) continue to have their equivalent issues. 1 random photograph is obtained with the purchase of each magazine which costs 500 yen each.

BLTs can be easily identified by their colored bars below each picture which contains the series name, product id and name of the member in the photo. There is one BLT collection for each month, in which the girls would be seen in one of their recent single outfits, or a random theater costume. At first there started with only 1, then 2 photographs per member. For the most part though these consisted of a set of 3 photographs for each of the group’s members, for a total 144 or so designs. Each set consists of the member in a medium, close up and extreme close up pose. Later, they shifted to a set of 9 photographs per member, with 3 sets of 3 photos in similar poses, except with different background colors.

AKB48 BLT photos initially came about from an exclusively photo deal with the magazine publisher which allowed B.L.T. magazine to monetize photographs of its members. It would seem that that deal has no longer been renewed. BLT photos were considered one of the highest quality and most sought out collectibles by fans since all B.L.T. published photographs (with the exception of the PHOTORE ones) tend to use an exclusive grade of high quality photo prints. Quality-wise they’re quite a bit better than the other non-B.L.T. AKB48 photographs.

Initially, copies of AKB48 version of the magazine were sold physically once a month on Akihabara, with the girls being physically present to offer handshakes to those purchasing, creating long queues to purchase the magazine. Perhaps due to complaints of littering (where fans would simply toss the magazine after taking out the photos) this was later changed to an online order system only.

The B.L.T. “bar”.

Needless to say, the physical magazines were only an excuse to sell the photographs. There are only a few pages to each booklet, making them more of brochures than actual magazines. There was a limit of 5 copies of the magazine per person, which still applies to other B.L.T. publications now but fans have found ways around this limitation, causing a small number of mass buyers to had dominated the secondary market.

During 2010 to 2011, each B.L.T. photograph sold on the second hand market for about 300, 500-800 and 1,000-2,000 yen for theater, under and senbatsu girls respectively. We’ll go into more specifics about the prices of photographs in a later post. Due to the high cost of the magazine and increasing number of members, not many were willing to take the risk on purchasing the magazines. Getting anything less than a high undergirl would result in an automatic “loss”. Further worsening the second hand situation.

To encourage sales, special versions of each photograph, autographed by hand by the members were sent out at random. There are up to 3 autographed photos per design. These “signed” photographs would fetch hundreds of dollars each. Later they also added “digital” autograph messages that were printed on the photographs themselves. These were more common and less sought after.

Considering that between 300-500 people queued up during each release when they were sold in Akihabara and there was a limit to how many you could buy, the number of photos in print for the original 2007 sets were estimated to be as low as 10 copies per picture for the earlier sets.

We can estimate the later 2010 and 2011 sets to be more plentiful but still far lower in count than theater pictures. Judging from the prices, we can estimate the total quantity in print during this time to be about 1/2 of theater photos, i.e., about 30-50 of each picture in existence. Because the photos are shipped directly to people in Japan, many of the photos are spread out, with many sets going uncompleted. It can be extremely difficult to get hold of complete sets of BLT photographs, even on the secondary market.

SKE48/NMB48/HKT48/Nogizaka46 B.L.T. Photos

The related groups B.L.T. photos follow a similar format.

Release: Monthly
Quantity: Low
Price: High

SKE48 B.L.T.s seem to have been halted too, but the rest of the other groups still continue to release B.L.T. issues and its photographs each month. And for the most part, the of the other groups’ B.L.T.s follow an almost identical format to AKB48′s (one photograph per 500 yen magazine).

The exception to this is that the newer SKE48′s B.L.T.s were sold in two alternate cover magazines each month, each which its own set of bonus B.L.T. photographs, for a total of 2 x 3 photographs per member, as opposed to just 3 for the other groups. The SKE48 sets from both versions each month contained pictures of identical costumes, but with different colored backgrounds.

Due to the more niched markets, direct sales for the other group photos are somewhat smaller in number. While unpopular member photographs may be adequate or even plentiful, the more popular members have their B.L.T. photographs driven up to even higher than AKB48 standards.

Stay tuned until our next post where we discuss the other B.L.T. published photographs.

The Arashiyama mountain west of Kyoto is home to about 130 wild monkeys. On one side of the mountain a small nature reserve has been set up to observe and feed these monkeys. During the day, the monkeys come down to the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama to greet visitors and to laze around at the clearing here. For a token entry fee, one can visit the park to meet and interact with the Japanese macaques up close.

Overview

Popularly referred to as snow monkeys by tourists, the Japanese macaques are the only species of primate native to Japan. While you will most definitely come across these Japanese monkeys in zoos, apart from the Jigokudani Monkey Park at Nakano, Arashiyama is one of the few places in Japan where you can actually come close to these monkeys in the wild. Japanese macaques are unique in that they are the species of monkey to live in the coldest environments and the most northern dwelling primates. They’re a highly intelligent and have adopted some unique behaviours such as bathing in hot springs.

View Larger Map

Getting to Arashiyama

Arashiyama is a mountain a short distance to the west of Kyoto. You can access Arashiyama via local trains from Kyoto, Osaka or any of the other nearby cities. There isn’t a single direct train there, so you’ll need to be prepared to switch lines a few times to get there.

There are three stations which you can alight from. If you insist on using a rail pass, then you’d need to alight at Saga-Arashiyama station which is the furthest. There’s also the Keifuku Arashiyama Station a local tram station, which is connected to Saga-Arashiyama. If you’re traveling from elsewhere, then most likely the most convenient station to access the monkey park will be the Hankyu Arashiyama Station.

For those interested, we got to Arashiyama from Osaka by taking the Hankyu train from Minamikata near Shin-Osaka, changing at Awaji and Katsura, before finally alighting at the Hankyu Arashiyama Station. Hankyu operates their small, classic looking trains through many of the scenic areas around the Kansai region, so the ride there was quite pleasing. The entire journey took just under an hour and cost just 360 yen (SGD$4.50).

Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is located on the Hozu (south-west) side of the iconic Togetsukyou Bridge.

Visiting the Monkey Park

The entrance to Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is located along the southern bank of the Hozu River, across from the main shopping streets. If you’re arriving via the Hankyu Station, then you should already be at the correct side. Otherwise, you’d need to cross over the Togetsukyou Bridge to get there. The entrance to the park is actually hidden beside a temple along the mountainside but there are signs pointing out the way there so it shouldn’t be difficult to find it, once you’ve made it this far.

Short trek up the mountain side.

Entry to the grounds costs 550 yen for adults and 250 yen for children (4-15), those younger may enter free. The opening hours vary slightly between the seasons but the park opens daily at 9 AM to around 5 PM with no fixed closing days, except for when it rains or snows very heavily. Chances are no one would want to visit in such weather, but in the rather case that you do, check if they’re open during the blizzard first on their website. I’m pretty sure it’d be interesting to visit during the winter when the mountain is coated in snow. There are blossoming sakura trees on the mountain during spring.

Learning boards along the way up.

The wild macaques at Arashiyama roam around freely on the mountain. The Monkey Park Iwatayama is just a minuscule portion of their entire grounds. In order to attract the monkeys over for study, the park has been set up here and they offer food to them during the day.

The halfway mark.

There is an uphill climb to the 160 meter high area of the park area where most of the sociable wild monkeys hang around. For this, you’d want to come prepared for a little trekking. Rubber sandals can be borrowed from the front counter as a last resort. Along the way up, we ran into the occasional resident scurrying past, but the majority just stick around the top. As these are wild monkeys, you are cautioned against approaching or staring directly at the macaques.

Do not stare at them in the eyes.

Free roaming.

Yet, Arashiyama’s monkeys are surprisingly well behaved, mostly going about their own business as if we weren’t even there. Quite the contrast to the the monkeys you’d find at tourist attractions in other parts of Asia.

Clearing at the top.

Nice view of the surrounding landscape.

There’s a wide clearing at the top. From here, you can not only get a nice aerial view of Kyoto, but it’s also where most of the monkeys hang out. The building here serves as a rest stop for visitors, as headquarters for the park’s observation work, and also where you can actually interact with the monkeys. The staff feed the monkeys but you can also purchase generously sized bags of treats for 100 yen. It’s a small price to pay for the experience.

Rest stop and viewing area.

Small hut where the staff stay.

Nice backdrop.

Names for the ones that hang around the hut.

Above, there’s another clearing where more monkeys hung out at, at least during this Autumn season, to bask in the afternoon sun. The staff there followed us around to make sure that the monkeys behaved themselves. Impressively, they were able to name and identify them individually and the monkeys responded to them.

Let’s you get really up close with the mountain’s inhabitants.

Popular with the monkeys.

Fighting with the little one.

If you’re visiting by Kyoto or Osaka, Arashiyama’s Monkey Park Iwatayama makes for a nice side trip. It ended up being one of the most enjoyable experiences. It’s great fun meeting the Japanese macaques, who were unbelievably civilised and intelligent. Being able to visit and observe the monkeys in their natural habitat is an experience unlike any other.

Just chilling, with a mountain view.

Grooming each other.

First few pictures are courtesy of Randy.

The Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium is one of Japan’s largest aquariums. It is both more expansive and holds a larger wider variety of sea creatures than even Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan which is popularly regarded as the second best aquarium in Japan, after Okinawa’s Churaumi Aquarium. We found Nagoya Aquarium to be competitive with Osaka Aquarium, if not better, but take a look inside and decide for yourself.

Getting to Nagoya Aquarium

As it’s name suggests Nagoya’s Aquarium is located at Nagoya Port. Unlike Osaka, Nagoya Port is pretty devoid of attractions apart from the aquarium and its related museums. Thankfully it’s pretty convenient getting to and out of Nagoya Port. It’s just 260 yen and 15-20 minutes from the city center to Nagoyako, the nearest subway station. From there, Nagoya Aquarium is just a short distance away on foot.

Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
1-3 Minatomachi
Minato Ward, Nagoya City
Aichi 455-0033

View Larger Map

Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.

Visiting Nagoya Aquarium

Entry to Nagoya Aquarium is surprisingly affordable at 2,000 yen (SGD$25). Cheaper than Osaka Aquarium and much less than what you would expect to pay for an aquarium of this size. There’s also a combination pass for 2,400 yen which bundles the aquarium with the other related attractions at the port. For just 5,000 yen, one can get unlimited access to the aquarium for a year.

Entrance.

At Osaka Aquarium

Osaka and Nagoya Aquariums are two very different experiences. While Osaka Aquarium employs a more modern design that simulates an undersea environment by surrounding visitors all round with tanks, Nagoya Aquarium contains many large, widely spaced out tanks, great for accommodating a throng of visitors. That’s not to say that Nagoya Aquarium isn’t any less beautiful that Osaka’s, but the ambiance here is more typical of a marine park.

Lots of wide open spaces.

The highlight of Nagoya Aquarium is definitely the the many bigger tanks, each holding a number of large sea creatures. Nagoya Aquarium is home to a family of orca, beluga whales and many more dolphins. Comparatively, there’s a much higher concentration of bigger inhabitants here than in Osaka.

Definitely one of the aquarium’s highlights.

Orca.

Hovering gracefully.

The orca and dolphins were extremely intelligent and very active. There are a number of interconnected viewing tanks and hidden pools at the back which the creatures could pass through freely. The majestic creatures came up to greet visitors and in the case of the dolphins, even spun around playfully in front of visitors in much the same way puppies would greet their owners.

Many dolphin tanks.

Dolphins were really active.

Overall, Nagoya Aquarium feels more traditional in terms of concept, like one expansive underwater zoo. It feels more family-centric, as compared to Osaka’s, which feels more like somewhere you’d go for dates. A good amount of space is given to educational exhibits and a couple of learning centers where younger visitors can discover more about marine ecology. The exhibits are pretty impressive though, even for older visitors.

Giant to scale models.

Kind of intimidating.

Fossil displays.

Nagoya Aquarium is split into two buildings. The first houses most of the aquariums larger animals. There’s an especially spacious central tank which is connected to the other viewing tanks which serves as a dolphinarium where the dolphins and orca can move between. Directly above this is the stadium where you can view the aquarium’s dolphin and orca shows.

Wide underwater viewing area.

The largest central tank.

Measuring 60 x 30 x 12 meters, the aquarium’s outdoor tank is the largest of its kind in the world. Unfortunately, at time of writing Nagoya’s orca shows had been temporarily put on hold but they should now be back in session. There are 3 dolphin shows (4 or 5 on weekends and public holidays) and 2 orca shows at the outdoor tank each day. The stadium built around the tank sits up to 2,500 people so getting seats shouldn’t be a problem, except in the most busy of seasons.

Dolphin show.

Each dolphin show spans 30 minutes and is very enjoyable. The whole thing is framed like a musical concert and after the stars of the show are introduced in turn, they go on to perform a continuous span of tricks. As with such shows, those sitting in front should be prepared to get wet. Prior to each show, the staff advises though sitting in the marked danger zones to store away any electronic devices.

Giant screen for closeups.

Performing tricks in time to the music.

All of the performing animals are very well trained. After the show they are lead back to their respective tanks where they continue to be rewarded by their trainers. For the rest time outside of shows, you can observe the dolphins and orca in their viewing tanks from above here as well. You may also chance upon some of the “dolphin challenge” training sessions throughout the day. One of the strengths of Nagoya Aquarium is its fairly open concept that allows you to view these and many of the other main tanks from alternate views.

Rewarding them after the show.

For example, in the man made cover beside the dolphinarium there’s a large enclosure dedicated to just a beluga whale. The aquarium’s mascot, there are daily shows for the beluga whale observable from the top floor too. Here the beluga whale and its recent offspring were introduced in detail during one of the interactive training sessions.

In a man made cover beside.

Beluga Whale.

Back downstairs, you’ll find the accessway to the aquarium’s other building. The link leads to this pitch dark “deep sea” area where you’ll find most of the aquariums smaller creatures as well as the impressive “Sardine Tornado” display. The aquarium’s next largest tank, the sardine tornado consists of hundreds of tiny sardines spiraling around the tank in unison. It’s a fantastical sight that can’t be witnessed otherwise. The large tank also houses a number of sharks and an elusive ocean sunfish to complete the illusion of an under sea experience.

Sardine Tornado.

The rest of the Deep Sea Gallery is slightly less impressive. While there is an admirable collection of small creatures, Nagoya’s display of jellyfish pales by far in comparison to Osaka’s. There are only 5 varieties of small jellyfish on display. To make up for this, the aquarium offers preserved specimens of various deep sea fishes, 3D holographic shows and a free in-house IMAX Theater to further enrich their offerings. It is worth noting that after factoring in all the other sea creatures, the overall number of actual different species of marine inhabitants still tips in favor of Nagoya Aquarium.

Small fishes.

Jellyfishes.

Jellyfish collection is meager though.

The end of the deep sea area breaks out into the main section of the south building. Entering the section, visitors past through a colorful coral reef tunnel with giant groupers and other tropical fishes. Here, the aquarium’s tropical and freshwater lifeforms are spread over the building’s three floors.

Reef fishes.

Of interest here is a tank containing loggerhead sea turtles. There are also other species of smaller sea turtles in the surrounding tanks, but with some of the loggerheads being as large as a kindergartener this particular tank looked kind of crowded. You can witness all of the sea creatures at the aquarium being fed at particular times of the day, and at least in the case of the turtles even take part in the feeding too from upstairs.

Sea turtles.

Tiny ones too.

Apart from the turtle feeding area and an adjacent restaurant where you can feed yourself, the top floor of the south wing marks the last of the aquarium’s exhibits, with its freshwater and Antarctic sections. Coming from this side of the world, the freshwater exhibit wasn’t too notable since it contained many fishes that we should already be all too familiar with but the Antarctic section is worth your time.

Australian freshwater tank.

The penguin enclosure is pretty big. It’s a little narrow but spans across a wide area. It’s built in such a way to resemble their natural habitat. Various species of penguin share the same enclosure together. Again, these were some of the most active penguins I’ve seen. A flock of them swam quickly from end to end of the pool.

Penguin enclosure.

Penguin habitat.

A bunch of them made fast laps back and forth.

More penguins.

It’s no surprise why Nagoya Aquarium had come so highly recommended to us. True to its claim, it’s one of the largest and best aquariums you’d find in Japan. If you like marine animals, especially the larger ones, a visit to Nagoya Aquarium is quite the treat. Regardless of age, it’s nice meeting the aquarium’s healthy, active and surprisingly intelligent inhabitants.

The affordable entry fee means you’ll be more tempted to spend at either of the aquarium’s two souvenir shops. There’s an assortment of original goods featuring the marine park’s mascot and popular residents.

3D goods.

The Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium is a must visit attraction for anyone headed to the city. You won’t regret it. For those who have already been there, do share with us your experiences.

TGS AR.TV is Tokyo Girls’ Style’s attempt at using augmented reality applications to engage their fanbase. Using triggers from inside their goods, it also acts as extra incentive for fans to buy goods without making it seem like a total gimmick. I had no idea that there was a new installment of AR.TV that was going on with the Yakusoku release; there are still quite a few episodes to go however, and since it’s not particularly publicized, here’s a guide on how to access it!

AR.TV started with the release of Bad Flower, the single just before the release of Yakusoku. AR.TV refreshes weekly, with content being up to date; it usually involves the girls and any upcoming gigs they have. For example, this week’s episode is about their upcoming free live at Lazona Kawasaki.

Contrary to what some think, AR.TV is not actually its own app, but rather is an addon to an existing app, junaio. The app is available for both iOS and Android operating systems, so that should keep a chunk of the fans covered. Once you’re in the app, it’s a matter of simply searching for the TGS AR.TV addon and you’re good to go.

Launching junaio.

After you launch junaio, the button at the top left with the magnifying glass will bring you to a search page. At the start, the app is a little slow, so keep an eye out for the sliver of animation that tells you it’s loading.

Searching for the TGS AR.TV addon.

While in this case I used ‘TGS’ as a search term, using their Japanese name 東京女子流 yields the same results. All you have to do now is to simply select the addon by clicking the icon. This while bring you back to the front page of the app while it loads.

What the addon looks like once it’s loaded fully.

This is perhaps the most important and somewhat confusing bit about AR.TV. What you have to do now is to point your phone camera onto a particular page in the CD liner sheets of the Yakusoku album. For the CD/DVD version of the album, this is the spread in the middle, with Nakae Yuri on the right side. While this may differ for other versions of the album, but I do not think it will veer in this case.

So simply look for the page where the booklet is divided in half (where you can see staples) and point it at that. What happens next is a small screen will pop up, and a video will play, corresponding to the week’s content. As an aside, the red button in the screenshot brings you to a page where you can answer a survey. However, if you can answer those then you probably wouldn’t need this guide in the first place.

Mei hosts this week’s edition.

Don’t close it straight away however, because double-pressing the video itself will bring you to another video. On Android phones, this plays in the phone’s media player, but it seems that it leads to a YouTube video for iOS devices instead.

Offshot with the making of this week’s AR.TV.

The show is renewed with new content every Wednesday at 10pm (Japan time), so be sure not to miss it. After the TGS AR.TV addon is loaded, there is also an option to place an icon in your home-screen. This will then allow you to use the icon to access it without having to go through the earlier steps. Simply click the AR.TV icon in junaio and select ‘Add to desktop’.

Adding a desktop icon.

All in all, it’s a pretty innovative way to deliver content, and hopefully there’s more in store with future releases.

While we do write a variety of more in-depth location centric travel guides about Japan, many of the questions that come to us are often about more basic concerns. For people traveling to Japan to the first time, simple culture differences, like paying for things in Japan, that might seem second nature to those accustomed are very valid concerns.

As part of our recent initiative, I’ll be taking a step back to cover some of these issues. Paying for purchases oversees placed number 3 in the Top 10 Worries Before Traveling, so today we feature one of the biggest worries, finance.

Contrary to what most people think, things really aren’t that expensive in Japan. The false perception of fast paced, high strung lifestyles of Japanese people is typically only meant for the metropolitan cities like Tokyo. Things are not nearly as bad as what most make it out to be, and for what you do pay, Japan offers an extremely comfortable standard of living.

Don’t let your dreams of travel remain just that.

The misconception is likely the result of an outdated perception of Japan, from when travel shows were plentiful. Many of these shows date back to the 90s when Japan was recovering from their economic bubble. These days the Japanese government seems to think it wiser to invest their money in promoting anime, manga and pop idols oversees rather than an accurate depiction of the country.

Times have changed though and with the economy in constant deflation since the 90s, traveling to Japan gets more affordable each and every day. With locals being unwilling to spend their salaries, businesses are more than happy to accomodate holidaying foreigners who are far less frugal in comparison.

Japanese Yen

Many figures will cite Japanese Yen in the rest of this article. Estimating the cost in yen isn’t too difficult if you got it the right way round. Rather than divide the value of your local currency to yen, it’s easier to understand yen by their equivalent of a dollar, the basic denomination of 100 yen. Every 100 yen is roughly equivalent to $1.60 Singapore Dollars or $1.30 US Dollars.

Genuine “Japan Hour”-esque ryokan are pricey and the equivalent of a luxury resort stay.

How Much Does It Cost?

Flight costs to Japan will vary based on your country of origin and carrier of choice, but with more budget airlines popping up, the price to physically get to Japan isn’t too bad. For Singaporeans, ticket prices can drop as low as SGD$300 for budget airlines and SGD$500 for bigger carriers whenever there is a promotion for a return trip, inclusive of taxes.

A more regular estimate would be about SGD$600-$800, the estimated year round price for carriers like Delta Airlines or ANA, so as long as you book your flight early. For flights, it’s always best to buy your tickets directly from the airline companies’ websites.

I’ll likely go into accommodation in more detail in the future but here are some estimates. Generally, lodging is a lot cheaper than say, Singapore. Though those coming from Singapore will not feel it directly. 2 star business hotels start at about SGD$60 a room per night in the Tokyo area and can reach to around $100 for a 3 star hotel. Prices are slightly cheaper outside the capital.

Plan ahead and you won’t need to spend a night here.

The government imposes a levy for all hotels per head, so sharing hotel rooms aren’t always as economic as one would think, the options are also fewer. But you might be able to get couple or triple rooms for SGD$40-$50 per person. Again, all these prices are assuming that you book in advance. Despite having as many hotels as it does, it is really difficult to find rooms at business hotels at the last minute, especially during peak periods.

For backpackers, dormitories usually cost about SGD$30-35 for a single bed in a large dorm. Prices for individual dorm rooms aren’t too different in price from business hotels, unless you’re sharing with a few friends, in which case you can expect to pay about the usual dorm range.

Capsule hotels, aren’t recommend, except for their novelty, which they use to justify charging as much as (if not more than) dormitories. The desperate have turned to “net cafes”, which is the worst option for various reasons. If you don’t mind, you can actually rest at some Love Hotels for cheaper. These are probably safer and more sanitary than the former. Another alternative in desperate times is to rent a karaoke room and spend the night there.

Budget breakfast.

Cash, Plastic and Checks

The smallest note in Japan is 1,000 yen and anything else comes in coins. Use your coins as often as possible. It’s too easy to pay in bills to avoid fumbling through the coins (some of which look pretty similar) but they will start to build up really quickly.

Many, but not all stores absorb the consumption tax so you will be stuck with 95 yen worth of coins just for 100 yen purchases. Family run or standalone stores usually absorb the tax or round it off, but larger or franchise chains prefer odd prices.

Regardless, the practice in Japan is that all prices displayed are already final and inclusive of all taxes. There’s no uncertainty of being slapped on a hefty service and goods tax after. Though you might want to check the fine print when visiting seedier places.

Certain stores, such as supermarkets in particular provide a pool of 1 yen coins and you can take a few to use with a certain minimum purchase but the practice is not common elsewhere.

Major shops and convenient stores accept payment by transport smart cards.

An alternative is to charge up your Suica and use it for all smaller purchases to almost completely avoid the hassle of dealing with coins. Tipping is not practiced at all in Japan (it can be seen as demeaning) and some vending machines have a limit to how many coins you can put in, so apart from donating the coins to shrines or temples, getting rid of them isn’t exactly easy.

Personal checks aren’t used much in Japan at all and almost never accepted anywhere. This is because Japanese banks impose a heavy handling fee on checks. Travelers checks can be used, but only at a very limited number of places.

Thankfully, it is not necessary to carry around loads of cash since the majority of shops do accept credit cards. As long as the card is an international norm like Visa and MasterCard and applicable for overseas purchases (e.g. you can use it to shop online) you should be good. There is no surcharges from purchases made directly with credit cards at stores in Japan, apart from your usual bank rates, which are actually surprisingly good.

There are a great number of free attractions throughout Japan.

Avoid exchanging yen at money changers in Japan. Instead you can actually draw money directly from ATMs in Japan. While there was an issue with MasterCard, it has since been solved and many 7-Elevens in Japan have ATM machines that can accept debit and credit cards with the Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Cirrus, Plus and American Express marks.

There are English menu options in the ATMS and from here, you will be able to withdraw your money as you do usually back home, but with a $5 surcharge per transaction imposed by your bank. Obviously you will want to withdraw more at once to counter this.

Citibank ATMs are also able to accept all of the above cards with the added bonus that there is no surcharge if it is a foreign Citibank card.

Pack your own lunch for maximum savings.

Saving in Japan

I’ve covered this in greater detail in the previous series of transport guides but some basic planning of your route and means of travel properly will result in some of the most significant savings when holidaying in Japan. I’ve heard numerous complains on how expensive the subway is for example from ill-prepared acquaintances.

Contrary to popular belief, getting a JR Rail Pass isn’t always the best choice either. But with a little bit of homework transport in Japan can be both convenient and economic.

The Ueno’s Ameyoko wholesale market is a popular tourist destination. But some things are indeed cheaper here.

A cheaper and occasionally more convenient alternative for when staying at smaller cities where transport is expensive is to rent a bike, such as when MJ and Wilson stayed in Kyoto. Some hotels offer such services for cheap (approximately 500 yen a day). Dedicated bicycle rental companies tend to be pricier but anything more and you’d be better off just taking the public transportation.

The other big money sink in Japan for those living there is in utilities. But unless you’re staying for an extended period of time and renting an apartment somewhere, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Resist the temptation to stop at every vending machine.

Japanese Drinks & Vending Machines are one of the most sinister things to one’s wallet. For tourists who spend the entire day trekking from one attraction to the next each vending machine is like a lighted beacon and gallery of “please buy me”.

While individually they don’t cost much, a harmless drink or two every few hours works out to quite a bit in the long run. Though the same can be said for Japanese Charms from shrines, at least that is money towards a good cause. For the truly thrifty, I’d recommend bottling some water before heading out each day.

There are second hand shops scattered around Tokyo for electronics, media and clothes where you can get a good bargain deal.

Note that the same rules apply to canned and bottled drinks as anywhere else, and that is if you definitely need your fix, you’ll find them cheaper at supermarkets than anywhere else.

One phenomenon is that vending drink prices are actually tuned to parts of the city. Drinks at isolated vending machines in less busy neighborhoods can go as low as 80 to 100 yen a pop while those at Shinjuku, Shibuya or other busy parts of town will sell that drinks at up to 150 yen. In these cases, it’s actually better to get them at a convenience store and one is never far away in these places.

Many food shops reduce their prices near closing time.

100 (or rather 105 yen) shops can be a godsend. Unlike some dollar shops found overseas, you can get a truly wide range goods here for cheap. Use them to stock up on basic amenities if your accommodation does not provide any. Convenient stores, while convenient, are pricier too.

Purchasing souvenir snacks as “omiyage” whilst in Japan are a given. But unless you’re never returning to a shop, or at a day trip elsewhere, it’s better to put off purchasing such items until near your return trip back. Omiyage snacks rarely keep for long. In the best cases, they can last for a week or two, others like those from Asakusa last a day max.

It’s always best to purchases the souvenir snacks before immigration. Duty free shops in the airport do carry a limited range of the most popular snacks like Tokyo Banana and Shiroi Koibito but prices are marked up considerably.

Oddly enough, the omiyage at touristy towns are often cheaper than the mass produced stuff.

Inevitably, this article represents just a small fraction of tips and information regarding money related travel matters in Japan. I’m sure our travel savvy readers will have more to add or even conflicting views on some of the points mentioned above. Do contribute by dropping us your own tips in the comments below.

Those looking to see a more diverse Japan would be happy to know that there are a variety of attractions nearby. Be it for a relaxing nature stroll or experiencing the exhilarating rides at Fuji-Q Highland and Tokyo Disney Resort, there are a great many options for day trips that can be accessed within a couple hours travel from central Tokyo. Knowing the popularity of such sites for both tourist and Tokyoites, many companies offer special discount travel options to get there on the cheap.

Tokyo Disney Resort

Despite the name, the Tokyo Disney Resort is located at the adjacent prefecture of Chiba. It’s not too far out from Tokyo and can be accessed in about half an hour. The fastest way to Disney Resort is through the JR Keiyo Line. The train starts from Tokyo Station and takes just 15 minutes and 210 yen to get to Maihama Station where Disney Resort is located.

Disneyland is just a short walk to the right of the station. DisneySea is further away in the opposite direction. If you are visiting DisneySea and are traveling with kids you will want to take the Disney Resort Line monorail to get there. Though it is a slightly pricey 250 yen, it will give you a nice view of the parks’ grounds. You need not queue to get tickets from the monorail ticketing machine here if you have a IC Card such as the Suica.

Disney Resort is just a short distance away.

Odaiba

The large manmade island of Odaiba is located just off the south east coast of Tokyo. It’s connected to the city through the iconic Rainbow Bridge, a beautiful sight when fully lighted up at night time. This makes Odaiba a popular date spot but the island has enough of a different ambiance from Tokyo to warrant a visit by anyone. It’s also a great spot for families, with its expansive children and pet friendly malls.

Unfortunately, neither JR nor Metro travel to Odaiba. To get there, one has to take either the New Transit Yurikamome or TWR’s Rinkai Line.

I would advise taking the Yurikamome which is a light transit vehicle similar to the Singapore LRT. The Yurikamome can be accessed from Shimbashi Station. It passes straight through the Rainbow Bridge and stops at the shopping areas at Odaibakaihinkoen Station. An enjoyable and convenient experience. The journey takes 15 minutes and costs 310 yen.

The Rinkai Line is a underground subway so you forego the sights along the way. Worst yet, it also stops in the center of Odaiba, quite a walk away from the relevant areas.

Dining at Odaiba.

Yokohama

The neighboring city of Yokohama is one of the easiest to access places for those looking for a change of pace. As a classical port town, Yokohama differs from Tokyo through the heavy western influences in its culture and architecture. Popular landmarks include the historically rich port area, Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel and Yokohama Chinatown.

A number of local lines run to Yokohama. The cheapest and most direct of which is the Tokyu Toyoko Line which leaves from Shibuya Station. It goes to Yokohama in 25 minutes and costs 260 yen. It is convenient since it links with the Minato Mirai Line.

The Yokohama port area uses its own train system called the Minato Mirai Line. The Minato Mirai is very pricey considering the distance traveled and single stops start at 180 yen. Yokohama Station itself is far away (about 2 kilometers) from where you’d be visiting, so unless you’re willing to brave the distance on foot you’ll just have to pay up the 180 yen to get to Minato Mirai Station.

Traveling to Yokohama by JR is a lot pricier. A direct JR train to Yokohama costs 450 yen. Note that if you’re one of those looking to visit the Yokohama Ramen Museum, it is located at the Shin-Yokohama.

Despite being closer to Tokyo than Yokohama, there is no cheap means of travel between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama (it’s a Shinkansen station). The cheapest and simplest way would be to get there from Yokohama Station, taking the JR Yokohama Line (160 yen). It’s cheaper than you return to Yokohama Station after to catch a Tokyu train back to Shibuya again.

There are more parts of Yokohama to explore if you have the time. If you foresee yourself taking the Minato Mirai Line any more than just between Yokohama and Minato Mirai you may want to consider purchasing a Minato Mirai Pass. For 500 yen, it gives you unlimited travel on the Minato Mirai and JR Negishi Line (unfortunately it doesn’t cover the areas between Tokyo or Shin-Yokohama). You can purchase the pass at Yokohama Station or at any of the covered stations within the Yokohama area.

Yokohama, famous for its ports, is a popular daytime destination.

Saitama

While many think of Saitama as mostly a suburb of Tokyo, and it is true that many residents do travel to Tokyo for work, Saitama has its fare share of cultural sights. Whether it be for the nearly 2,500 year old Hikawa Jinja Shrine, its many museums and parks or the Saitama Arena for a concert, getting to Saitama is easy.

The JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line piggybacks through other train lines to stop at popular stations in Tokyo, leading all the way to Omiya, Saitama’s central station. You can get onboard from Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu or Osaki Station on the JR Yamanote Line. Ticket cost starts at 380 yen from Ikebukuro and the journey to Saitama takes about half an hour.

Saitama Railway Museum.

Kamakura

Just an hour south of Tokyo is Enoshima island and the coastal city of Kamakura. Popular among locals for its beaches, Kamakura is better known to tourists for its giant sitting buddha statue.

The Odakyu Electric Railway company services quite a few popular tourist destinations such as Kamakura. To help eleviate costs, a number of discount day passes which includes to and fro travel to popular sightseeing spots plus unlimited travel within the area. One such pass is the Enoshima-Kamakura Freepass, which costs 1430 yen and can be purchased from the Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center in Shinjuku. It gives you a round trip to Enoshima via the Limited Express train, as well as unlimited use of the local trains within the area.

Usually a single way ticket there already cost 600 yen and local travel within the Enoshima area starts at 210 yen a stop so you actually end up saving quite a bit.

In addition to the Limited Express, Odakyu operate special “Romancecars”, luxury express trains between the touristy areas that they cover. You will need to pay an extra fee to use these (600 or more yen depending on destination). I wouldn’t recommend using one, since the Enoshima Romancecar actually takes a slower route that the Limited Express.

Fuji & Hakone

I’ve already previous written a more detailed guide about Hakone and how to get there. To breeze over the key points: Odakyu offers a similar Freepass to the Kamakura one mentioned above.

Since it is a slightly further 1.5 to 2 hours away from Tokyo, many choose to stay there overnight at the various hot spring equipped ryokans. The Hakone Freepass comes only in a 2 or 3 day variety (5,000 and 5,5000 yen respectively). Like the Kamakura Freepass, it covers a round trip to Hakone from Shinjuku and all transport at Hakone. The Hakone Freepass is exclusive to foreigners visiting Japan, so you’ll need to flash a foreign passport when purchasing it from the Odakyu Sightseeing Center.

It is especially important when visiting Hakone to get the pass even if you are only planning a one day trip, and if you are staying overnight at Hakone, the value of the pass greatly increases. Odakyu owns most of the transport there and they fully expect you to purchase the pass. Ticket prices for the many individual trams, cable cars and ropeways rides are ridiculous without it.

Getting to Hakone is not expensive. But moving about there is.

Due to the approximate closeness of Fuji to Mount Fuji. Odakyu also has the Fuji-Hakone Freepass for tourists hoping to cover both places at once. It costs 7,200 yen and lasts for 3 days, giving you unlimited travel within and between the Hakone and Fuji areas. However, unlike the Hakone Freepass which provides a two way train ride between Hakone and Shinjuku, the Fuji-Hakone pass involves a circular trip where you go to Hakone by train, travel to Fuji by bus, and then back to Shinjuku by highway bus.

This pass only makes sense if you’re planning to stay a few days in Hakone and only if you’re traveling light. Getting to Fuji from Hakone is almost as long as if you were to go to Fuji directly from Tokyo. It involves having to take a bus to Gotemba first which takes 30 minutes, and the bus ride from there to the Fuji area takes another 90 or more minutes. It requires quite carefully planning to make a Fuji and Hakone round circular trip work. Needless to say, it is impossible to cover both areas in a day.

There is actually one possible work around to visiting both Hakone and Fuji, without having to stay there, so as long as you visit both within a 3 day period. That is, to purchase the Fuji-Hakone pass and visit Hakone first with the pass, and return to Tokyo with a standard ticket. Then travel to Fuji via a standard bus or train ticket, and return to Tokyo through the pass again. You’ll still end up saving quite a bit of money if you manage to pull this off carefully.

Without the Odakyu passes, traveling between Tokyo and Hakone (Hakome Yumoto Station) costs 1150 yen each way. You can get to Kawaguchiko the main station at Fuji via bus or train, but both will set you back about 2,600 yen and 2.5 hours. Since taking the train would involve a lot of transfers, bus is the better choice here. You can take one from the Keio Building at Shinjuku.

Both Hakone and Fuji can be reached in 2-3 hours.

Nikko

Nikko to the north of Tokyo is another mountainous region for those looking to get away from the city. Like Hakone, it has its fare share of nature, ryokans, hot springs, that sort of thing. It is not as extensive as Hakone though and the main sights there are concentrated within a couple of areas, making Nikko a more feasible day trip.

Travel between Tokyo and Nikko is by Tobu Railway. The train there leaves from Asakusa Station and takes about an hour and half to get to the Tobu Nikko Station. A one way trip usually costs 1,320 yen but Tobu also offer their own discount passes for Nikko.

The two main passes are the World Heritage Pass (3,600 yen) and the All Nikko Pass (4,400 yen). Both are similar in that they include the two way trip between Asakusa and Nikko, as well as free use of the local buses within Nikko but are quite different otherwise.

Local buses around Nikko aren’t a big deal if you are only visiting the shrines here. In fact they can be reached on foot from Tobu Nikko Station. So to sweeten the deal, the World Heritage Pass adds free admission to a few popular shrines in the area. It is worth it only if you intend to visit all the shrines, but even then savings are minimal. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The All Nikko Pass on the other hand, forgoes the free temple admissions to include unlimited use of mountain buses. With this, you’ll be able to visit Chuzenji and Kegon Falls, the other key attractions at Nikko, or go as far as the adjacent hot springs town of Yumoto Osen. Without a pass, a single bus ride up the mountain would cost between 1,100 to 1,650 yen. It’s a no brainer to get this pass if you’re visiting Nikko from Tokyo. To sweeten the deal, it is even valid for 4 days.

Nikko in the north is a more feasible day trip.

On the 17th of May, Indonesia-based 48 sister group JKT48 makes their long awaited theater debut. Staging a total of 7 shows spanning 4 days, the girls will finally be able to showcase themselves properly to the local audiences in a setting that’s closer to what the fans in Japan get. With a theater of course also comes registration for tickets. Supermerlion presents a short translated guide on how to do so (mouseover the images to see translations).

Details on how to apply and a sample e-mail.

The shows will be staged at Nyi Ageng Serang, a venue in South Jakarta. Aside from the first show on the 17th, each of the subsequent days has 2 shows, with a capacity of 300 for each. Registration of tickets will be done through e-mail; should you be interested, send an e-mail to jkt48theater@gmail.com with the details required. Some might notice the low price of the performance, at only the equivalent of USD5.50.

Despite the relative newness and inexperience of JKT48, this is most certainly a steal, and shows that the JKT48 management realizes the importance of pricing to suit the demographic, instead of the other way around. Both residential and KTP addresses will be required. I don’t think this is a measure to exclude foreigners, but is rather because many do not live in the residences on their identification cards, instead living in dormitories in schools and the like.

Tables detailing the application times and windows.

Of course, as is common with e-mail (even non idol-related), subject headings are very important. They will most likely have a filter going to catch anything not related to the performances, so be sure to follow the syntax provided in the sample e-mails. It is imperative that applicants follow the e-mail registration times stipulated. And given the state of internet at times, it is best to send your application in early.

List of members performing.

Given that there are more than 20 members in JKT48 currently, the lineup is shuffled to fit the 16-member choreography and still showcase all of the girls. Many will no doubt be interested in days 1 and 4, where they will get a glimpse of the more well-known girls such as Melody, Rena and both of the Jessicas. As a side note, both days’ lineups contain the girls that came over to Singapore for a cafe visit not too long ago.

FAQ to clear any doubts.

The FAQ clears up some doubts that some fans may have, but not all of them. For example, there are no details on how seating will be done, and whether it will be assigned seating or free-seating; the latter is what is used in Japan, although there is a ballot to determine who gets to go in first. What exactly the girls will be performing is also still unclear; we’ll just have to wait for the actual performance for that.

View Gedung Nyi Ageng Serang in a larger map

The management have clarified that this ‘theater’ is a temporary arrangement, while a more permanent location for the theater is set. Nevertheless, this should be exciting times for JKT48 fans, both local and abroad. More up-to-date information can be found on their Facebook page. If you attend, do drop us a comment to let us know what it’s like!

Few people would disagree that Japan has the most sophisticated transport network in the world and no where is it more complicated than in Tokyo. With 30 different operators, 882 stations and 102 different rail lines just in the city alone, it’s no surprise that many first time visitors are overwhelmed by the train system in Tokyo. Even the locals get confused. But with a little bit of homework, traveling on Tokyo’s trains can be every bit as convenient and enjoyable as they were made to be.

Traveling by train in Tokyo is convenient, but can also be complicated, even to locals.

While it dabs upon some of the other companies, this guide focuses mostly on the two main players in Tokyo’s train network; the privately run JR East and the government owned subways.

For tourists, it is often possible to reach 90% of popular sights around Tokyo through just JR alone (if there is a nearby station) it is also the cheaper of the two. However, this is only true if you’re staying somewhere central. Otherwise, the Tokyo Metro can sometimes provide a more direct route toward your destination that can save you some time. Do take note of that when choosing an accommodation that it would be best to have at least a JR, Metro or both companies’ stations nearby.

JR, Metro & Toei

At the most basic level, you’ll need to be able to at least identify the 3 different carriers. It’ll help save a lot of trouble later on.

Tokyo's JR East Network. For reference only. Expand for larger.

JR East

Japan Railways is the simplest, since it can be easily identified by its JR logo. For JR East, the company color is green and so is its most used train line, the Yamanote Loop (and stations along the loop) but it has different colors to represent each of its different lines.

JR trains run on land and thus almost all of their stations are outdoors. Personally, it’s a lot more enjoyable to travel by JR since you’d be able to see the sights along the way. The disadvantage is that you tend to require more transfers if you want to get anywhere efficiently with JR. But again, it is a lot easier to make transfers when traveling with JR East as many lines run parallel or meet at many points.

JR Station signage.

Tokyo Metro
Apart from being the front image of Tokyo’s subways, Tokyo Metro is better known for its active PR campaigns and silly public service messages. Since a public image change in 2004, it is now easily identified by a blue and white M logo. Individual lines are marked by a colored ring, with the first letter of the line name inside. For example, the Tokyo Metro Ginza line is marked by an orange ring with the letter G within.

As a subway, the Tokyo Metro runs underground, sometimes as far as 10 stories down. This comes with the benefit of lines being laid out sometimes more efficiently allowing you to get from far ends of Tokyo quicker. There is also at least one touristy destination, Asakusa, that has a Metro station but no JR equivalent.

Metro stations can be identified from the blue M logo or colored rings for individual lines.

The main disadvantage of traveling by Tokyo Metro (and Toei) is the higher ticket prices. Expect to pay 30-40 yen more per trip when buying individual tickets. This can be gotten around with some special passes (see below).

Otherwise the only other disadvantage is that transferring trains on the Metro is a more complicated affair, there is less redundancy so lines meet only at specific stations.

Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway Map. Again for reference only. Expand for larger.

Toei Subway
While the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation is not as major a player in public transport, it is mentioned here primarily due to its affiliation with Tokyo Metro and to avoid some possible frustration.

Both the Tokyo Metro and Toei are government run subways. Take note that while the two companies do collaborate in part and share some common train stations, it is important to note that the two are very much separate entities. Further confusion arises from the fact that Toei labels its lines in an identical way and worst yet, both Toei and Metro show train maps with both companies’ lines together.

However, know that should you ever transfer between Tokyo Metro and Toei lines you will be charged for both. You will be alerted to a Toei transfer by another ticketing gate inside the subway. The price is slightly subsidized if you had come from a Metro line, but still a lot more than if you were to take a single carrier. Transport by Toei, in general is also more expensive than even Tokyo Metro.

Toei Subway can be identified by its fan icon (usually green). Both Toei and Metro also use a blue and white train logo to denote subways. Toei runs just 4 lines: Asakusa (Rose, A), Mito (Blue, I), Shinjuku (Leaf Green, S) and Oedo (Ruby, E). Avoid whenever possible.

Toei Stations have a fan sign.

IC Cards

IC Cards are prepaid smart cards that can be used to pay for your fare. If you’re from Singapore, you should be pretty familiar with using one already. Up until 2009, Singapore’s EZ-Link cards were identical to those used in Japan.

While it is theoretically possible to purchased paper tickets to travel, having to do so is infinitely more complicated and troublesome. Without one you’d need to calculate the exact fares for each trip and purchase extra tickets every time you transfer. As such, it is pretty much necessary that you get one as soon as you step down into Japan. In the previous transport guide, I mentioned an amazing Narita Express and Smart Card bundle that foreign tourists are able to purchase at Narita Airport.

Both JR and Metro have their own different IC Cards. JR East using “Suica” which is a Japanese pun on so many levels while the Tokyo subways have the “PASMO”.

The cost for Suica is 2,000 yen and contains a 1,500 yen value and 500 yen deposit. PASMO has a 500 yen deposit too but a minimum value of 1,000 yen. You can refund any remaining value and your deposit at the ticketing machines at any of the respective companies’ stations.

Suica. An indispensable tool while in Tokyo.

These days, both cards can be used interchangeably within Tokyo. Still, I’d recommend getting the Suica over the PASMO if you are traveling outside of Tokyo as well as it can be used on JR lines nationwide. Chances are if you’re traveling to say Osaka in Kansai, you’d still need to get their local equivalent (the ICOCA) to travel on non-JR networks but it’s always good to have a backup. Further good news is that starting next year, you will be able to use the Suica outside of Tokyo on non-JR lines too.

Other than on transport, the card is also accepted as a form of payment at all convenience stores and some departmental stores around the region, being interchangeable with 7-Eleven’s nanaco for example. So you don’t have to be too worried about having too much money in your card. In fact, I would recommend paying for stuff through an IC Card as much as possible, since dealing with Japanese coins is especially irritating.

Tickets and IC cards can be purchased at these machines.

For both Suica and PASMO, there is the option of purchasing a special registered version instead. They can be purchased in the same way through normal ticketing machines but you will be prompted to enter some personal identification information (your Name/Birthdate/Gender). Enter your name here as it appears on your Passport.

Should you lose a registered Suica or PASMO, you can get them replaced (for 500 yen or 210 yen respectively) and still get back your original card’s balance. Pretty neat.

Special Passes

Almost all railway companies around Japan offer a variety of different discount tickets for commuters, the most basic of which are 1-day unlimited travel passes (often called Free Tickets or Free Passes) that allow you to take as many trains from any particular network as many times as you wish in a single day. These are especially useful especially for tourists who tend to hit up a whole bunch of different destinations each day.

For JR, this is called the Tokunai Pass and costs 730 yen. It covers all JR buses and trains in the 23 wards of central Tokyo. Due to the already low price of JR tickets, a Tokunai Pass isn’t always a must get. As a rule of thumb, you’ll need to make at least 4 trips in a day to make it worthwhile. Though this isn’t that difficult if you’re touring.

If you had preplanned the day’s activities or foresee yourself doing a lot of shopping or station hopping, then it might be a good idea to purchase one in the morning before you make your first trip.

Both Metro and JR companies offer one day unlimited travel passes.

For Metro, there are 1-day and 2-day Open Tickets which cost 600 yen and 980 yen respectively. Considering how much Tokyo Metro tickets usually cost, these are a godsend. If your hotel happens to be located on a convenient Metro Station, get one. Just 3 rides is all it takes to make a 1-day ticket worthwhile. You might end up spending even less than if you traveled by JR if you keep to just Metro lines with a 1-day pass. And with a 2-day pass, you will just need to take a 2-way trip each day to cover the cost.

Both of these tickets will allow you to save quite a bit of money in the long run, and with proper use Tokyo’s transport which is thought of as being expensive ends up being cheaper even than if you were to make the same number of trips in Singapore.

Tokyo Metro also offers a combination pass with Toei Subway, that allows for unlimited travel on both companies’ trains. But given the high price of 1,000 yen, I wouldn’t recommend getting one. If you find yourself spending enough on transport to make the pass worthwhile, you are most probably doing something wrong.

In the end, don’t feel compelled that you have to stick to either carrier just to save few yen. You’ll lose much of the convenience and bring about unnecessary worry. But if you happen to know that you’ll be doing a lot of bouncing between stations or just want the luxury of not having to walk even for nearby destinations, both the JR and Metro day passes will suit you well.

Traveling By Train

Planning Your Journey

There is no stressing the importance of planning a train ride before you get on board. You can generally figure out what trains to take if you have an idea of where it is located geographically, but for new visitors it is best to plan ahead to save any future hassle.

Unfortunately, not even Google Maps does a good job of understanding Tokyo’s transport system. It is still useful to find out where places are located but the most recommended transport tool is instead Hyperdia. Key in any two stations and it will churn out the routes and trains to take.

Routes are organized by total cost and time taken, so it doesn’t necessarily always give you the smartest means of transport but it will make sure you get to your destination and on time, since it factors in train timings accurately even. It is up to you to make the best decision. Hyperdia is available in English and Japanese, since not even Tokyoites can claim to be familiar with all of the transport in Tokyo.

If you happen to have data connection in Japan, keep in bookmarked.

Some important things to pay attention to when taking down your itinerary is to not only take note of the stations but also the train lines that you will be using since there is often more than one line at each station. With that, it’s as easy as just finding the correct track for your route.

Just one of the many train networks in Tokyo.

Chances are though, you might not have an 3G connection in Japan. And it wouldn’t be very fun if you had a static plan for each day of your trip. In such cases, my advise is to have your route planned out at the station before passing through the gantry. You can’t rely on stations having a route map inside the station and many trains only show the stops for the route they are traveling on.

Still, not all stations have maps of other operators, so you won’t be able to plan out transfers between different companies easily.

Track numbers are labeled by number at each station and identified by color throughout.

It is only expected that each line runs in two directions, so make sure the train is headed in the right direction. You’d think that they’d just be at opposite sides, but because of the interconnected nature, trains on the same line traveling in opposite directions can sometimes be a few tracks away. The same can be said when transferring between trains, every station is different so keep a look out for signs.

Signs show the adjacent stops at each station.

Thankfully, signage at each track clearly show all the essential information. At JR Stations, these small little diagrams that can be found on the track’s pillars are precious. They show the stops that the trains on that track run through, as well as how long it takes.

Train maps on each platform show the exact time taken for the journey.

Train stations in Tokyo usually have an LED sign board that show you the direction the train is headed as well as the exact timing for the train. If you’re supposed to take the 7:30 train, be sure to take the 7:30 train and not the 7:29 or 7:31 train. At peak hours, the interval between trains can be as short as 90 seconds but if a train in Japan is said to come at a certain time, you can be sure it will be there on the dot, aligned perfectly to the tracks (else someone will be in trouble).

The reason why this is a concern, is because it is not uncommon for different trains to use the same platform in Japan.

Some platforms have different trains running on the same tracks.

When traveling on local lines, the most encountered alternate train on the same platform are “Rapid” (Kaisoku) trains.

These are identical to normal local trains (Futsu) but skip alternate stops to save time. If your destination is one of the missed stations, be sure not to board a Rapid train. Often, Rapid trains use a different color than normal trains. There is also usually a small sign on the train and the LED signboards along the boarding platform will also indicate if a train is Rapid. In the previous photographs, trains on the same track of the Chuo-Sobu (one of the most frequented) lines are colored Yellow and Orange for local and rapid trains respectively.

On certain tracks, there may also be “Express”, or “Limited Express” trains. These are trains that skip even more stations. As covered in the previous article, Limited Express trains are actually the faster of the two as they stop at a more “limited” number of stations.

Getting To The Destination

When transferring between trains or leaving the station for your destination, simply heading to the nearest exit is a great way to get lost.

This is especially true for expansive stations like Shinjuku where your track is just one of many dozen, or better yet the 200 different exits to choose from. As such getting out the correct exit is top priority. The wrong one could be quite a distance away and completely throw off your bearing.

Exiting through the correct exit is of top importance.

Thankfully, signs throughout the station will point you in the right direction.

Boarding platforms can have multiple exits too and it is especially important to pay attention to them when making transfers. Signs located along, beside or above an exit show the correct exit to take for transfers. There is often no way around this except to take the correct one. The sign above points passengers to the exit for those transferring to the Tokyo Metro’s Marunouchi Line.

Exits are either labeled by direction or numbered when there are simply too many.

Usually, exits are labeled by direction (e.g. North Exit, South Exit) but when they are simply too many, they will be numbered instead. Every train station in central Tokyo should have a map of the station, as well as of the surrounding area beside the control station. JR Stations may also have boards on the platforms itself that show the correct exit to take for a list of nearby landmarks.

Note that maps in Japan are almost always oriented by facing so it can be confusing sometimes, even when you know where you’re going. It’s handy to have a compass on hand just in case. Thankfully, Smartphones should have one built in. Though I have had trouble with the accuracy of the iPhone’s.

When meeting someone at a station in Japan, be sure to determine not only the time and station, but also which of the many exits you’d be waiting at.

There will be a detailed map at each station of the surrounding area.

End

If all else fails, do not be shy about asking for help. Popular stations have counters dedicated just for this with staff that are happy to help. You can also ask the ticketing conductors at every other station, and though they might not be as friendly about it, are obliged to help too.

The Japanese are usually rather forgiving if you make it clear that you are a tourist and can refund wrongly purchased tickets, or Smart Card credit should you enter the wrong terminal. In the end, do not be afraid to get lost or to make mistakes. It is surely part of the fun when traveling for the first time.

Share with us your tips and experiences for traveling in Tokyo!

Tokyo city is notorious among foreigners for having one of the most complex transport systems in the world. But even before we step into Tokyo proper and begin worrying about railways, subways and shinkansen, just getting from Narita Airport in the adjacent prefecture of Chiba to Tokyo can be a confusing venture for first time travelers, especially with the plethora of options available.

Before the nearer Haneda Airport was opened up for international travel late in 2010, Narita Airport would had been the only gateway for those coming to Tokyo. These days, it still remains the busiest airport in Japan thanks to its existing infrastructure, despite being 60 kilometers away.

This is just the first part of a duo of guides hoping to introduce some basic aspects of Tokyo’s transport systems. I’ve decided to split it up into more manageable bites to make it easier on both readers and myself alike.

This first part is particularly meant as an overview for first time visitors, or those looking for an alternate way to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo. We present an overview of the some of the smart transport options used by tourists and locals alike based on personal experiences.

Outside Narita Airport.

I Want Convenience

Limousine Bus
Cost: 3,000 yen
Time: 120+ minutes
+ Comfort
+ Stops directly at Hotels
- Possibly Most Expensive
- Slowest

Not quite a train, but I’ll write a bit about it anyways. The first option that is presented to you when stepping out of arrival are the various bus services in Narita, the biggest of which is the Airport Limousine Bus. Located at a counter immediately across the entrance and with actual buses stopping just outside, booking a Limousine Bus couldn’t be more convenient.

But the convenience doesn’t stop there. The Limousine Bus’s biggest plus is that it operates a great number of services to take you directly to major hotels all around Tokyo. And with so many hotels all around, even if you’re hotel is not on the list, chances are there might be one located a street or two from where you are staying.

Limousine Buses are large coach buses with comfortable heated seats and on board toilets. Add this to the fact that your luggage is taken care off by the staff and you have perhaps the most convenient transport option available.

Unfortunately, there is really no single perfect means of transport from Narita to Tokyo. Each featured in this guide have their own plus and minuses (though we’ve already filtered through those too ridiculous to consider). Limousine Buses come with some flaws, as they are the slowest and possibly most expensive option on this list.

Single trips on a Limousine Bus cost 3,000 yen. The most expensive choice here, though if it takes you directly to your hotel, may end up slightly cheaper than somewhere with multiple transfers.

Limousine Bus.

As a special discount to foreigners, you can get a Limousine and Metro Pass combination for 3,100 yen which includes a 1-day Metro Pass when purchasing your ticket at the airport. There is also a two way pass for 6,000 yen, with a 2-day Metro Pass.

Metro Passes a.k.a. Tokyo Metro 1-Day Open Tickets usually cost 710 yen when purchased on their own. So if you really do have a use for them, then this essentially cuts bus prices to about 2,390 yen. Still, expensive. Try not to factor this too much into your decision. As depending on hotel location and with the exception of one or two places, it may be completely possible to travel around Tokyo without ever using the Tokyo Metro Subway.

Note that even if you haven’t purchased a Limousine Bus ticket at the airport, you can get a return ticket at the hotel lobby of any serviced destination (otherwise, you’d need to visit the main center in Shinjuku).

The biggest issue with taking a Limousine Bus though is how long it takes. Even before factoring in traffic conditions, it will take approximately 2 hours to get to anywhere in Tokyo by the buses. Throw in a traffic jam somewhere and this can drag longer.

This is not to say that the journey isn’t pleasant, with Limousine Buses having some of the most comfortable heated seats ever (I almost always fall asleep immediately when taking the Limousine Buses) and also many more interesting sights along the way than if you were to take the train.

Overall, if you’re staying at a hotel serviced by Limousine Buses the convenience may outweigh the costs. This is particularly true for those traveling with heavy luggage and children. Just be sure that you can afford the long traveling times.

A nice tour through Tokyo streets.

I Want Speed

Keisei Skyliner
Cost: 2,400 yen
Time: 40 minutes
+ Possibly Fastest
- Expensive
- Stops at Nippori / Ueno Stations
- 20-40 Minute Interval

Perhaps through extensive marketing or because its name just clicks, the Keisei Skyliner remains the default option for most tourists arriving in Japan. That is not to say that it isn’t a bad choice as the Skyliner is perhaps the fastest means of traveling from Narita Airport to Tokyo in general.

The Keisei Stations are located right in the basement of Narita Airport. Getting there is simple. However, due to the variety of transport options available, purchasing the right tickets and getting on board the correct train can be confusing for local travelers, much less first time visitors. There is no good solution to this, except to pay attention to signs and muster up the courage to ask for assistance if genuinely lost. The alternative, getting onboard the wrong train can be disastrous.

Keisei has always operated the most used train routes from Narita to Tokyo. And since 2010, the Keisei Skyliner had undergone a facelift to ensure that it stays in the lead. The new Skyliner boasts that it takes commuters from Narita Airport to Tokyo in just 36 minutes.

Keisei Skyliner.

While this is true, the data is slightly twisted for stats. The 36 minute timing is from Airport Terminal 2, up to Nippori in northern Tokyo, which is kind of like boasting that the MRT can take you from Singapore Airport to Tanah Merah in just 10 minutes.

2,400 yen is a fair price to pay considering that you get reserved seats on a train zipping to Tokyo in such little time. You’ll want to add 5 minutes to the time though, since in truth, appart from China Airlines and JAL, Terminal 2 mostly operates domestic flights.

The biggest issue you will want to consider here when taking the Skyliner or any Keisei train for that matter, is that the Skyliner terminus is in Ueno. The two main stops that you’ll be dropping off at are either Nippori or Keisei Ueno, both are in the north of Tokyo.

As the name suggests, the Keisei Ueno station is a separate Keisei-only station that is a short distance on foot from the JR Ueno Station. So if you’re staying anywhere other than Ueno, I’d recommend getting off first at Nippori Station which is shared with train lines from other companies, such as the convenient JR Yamanote Line. Thanks to this, you’d be able to take a train to most central areas in Tokyo from Nippori. Note, that you will need to pay the separate ticket cost of this, usually 130 yen or more.

Another thing to consider is that Skyliner trains operate at a 20 or 40 minute interval (depending on the time of the day). So unless your flight happens to coincide nicely, chances are you’re going to spend a lot of time waiting for that train to arrive anyways.

Personally, unless you are in a great hurry where a few minutes would affect an important business meeting (or are desperately trying to catch a plane), high speed transportation like the Skyliner is hardly necessary. If you are in a hurry though, I would recommend making sure that the next train is scheduled to arrive soon before purchasing your Skyliner ticket, if not, you may want to consider the Narita Express as a better option.

Note, do not mistake Keisei City Liner trains for the Skyliner. I’ve seen bloggers humorously mix up the two. They run from the same stations but at the opposite track. It doesn’t help that the City Liner uses phased out Skyliner trains. Basically, City Liners are older luxury trains that now run on the normal local train tracks. They cost 1,920 yen and have reserved seats, but since they’re running on the same tracks as the Keisei Limited Express so the journey takes much longer.

Spacious Skyliner seats.

JR Narita Express (NEX)
Cost: 2,940 +/- yen
Time: 50 minutes
+ Stops at Many Central Stations
+ Fast
+ Free with JR Rail Pass
+ 1,500 yen for Foreigners!
- Expensive (But, See Above)

The newest travel option from Narita to Tokyo, the Narita Express has been operating for a while now but had more recently been upgraded to match the level of comfort and speed of the Skyliner. It is a special Limited Express train operated by the Japan Railway (JR) Company.

Unlike the Skyliner, the Narita Express stops directly at Tokyo Station as well as a number of other ideal stations like Shibuya, Shinjuku, all the way until Yokohama. It takes 53 minutes to get from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station by NEX and Narita Express trains operate at a 30 minute interval. This means that it is not only more convenient, but also possibly faster than the Skyliner in some cases.

The Narita Express excels at comfort. Seats in the Narita Express tend to be more luxurious than the Skyliner. Like in JR Shinkasen, there are even special “Green Car” seats for those with deep pockets (1,500 yen more). Since it is operated by the JR Company, the Narita Express offers easy transfer between the NEX trains and Shinkansen at Tokyo Station.

The Narita Express.

To Tokyo Station, the NEX costs 2,940 yen. Ticket to Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Shinagawa cost 3,110 yen. The prices actually fluctuate slightly based on the time of the year.

While the basic tickets for NEX might seem kind of pricey when compared to the other choices on this list, there are actually some secrets that make the Narita Express the best option on this list for the majority readers. Pay attention here.

Being a JR Train, the Narita Express is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. So if you’re carrying one and intend to activate it on day one, the decision is already made for you.

For everyone else, take note, that there is actually a special discount offered to foreigners only available at Narita Airport. This special promotion lets you purchase a Narita Express-Suica Package for only 1,500 yen more than what a Suica would usually cost.

To get this discount, you will need to visit the JR East Travel Service Center at Narita Airport and present your passport. For 3,500 yen, you will get a 1,500 yen Suica IC Card with another 500 yen refundable deposit, as well as a NEX ticket for only 1,500 yen. If you’re visiting Tokyo, a Suica is something that you will need to get anyways and this offer will let you get a NEX ticket for half the price!

Except for a few fringe cases, the Narita Express is a very good fit for those who want the best balance of speed, affordability and convenience.

Lush interior.

I Want Affordability

Keisei Limited Express
Cost: 1000 yen
Time: 80 minutes
+ Cheapest Option
- Slow
- Stops at Nippori Station / Ueno Station
- Free Seating

At just 1,000 yen, the Keisei Limited Express is the cheapest option on this list. It is the most popular choice among locals and those running on a tight budget.

In addition to the Skyliner, the Keisei Electric Railway company also own the normal railway lines between Narita and Tokyo. The Limited Express trains are express trains that run on these local lines. It may be slightly confusing at first, but word “Limited” from Limited Express trains in Japan comes from the fact that they skip certain stops and are thus faster than regular “Express” trains.

If you’re living in any of the residential areas between Narita and Tokyo, then the Keisei Limited Express would be the default means of travel there. Like the Skyliner, the Limited Express stop at Nippori and eventually terminate at Keisei Ueno, giving it all the same benefits or rather disadvantages of the Skyliner.

Keisei Cityliner.

However, if you’re staying near Ueno (as we did in our past two trips), the fact that it stops here becomes a rare plus point for the Limited Express. For example, in our past two trips, we stayed at a hotel in Uguisudani (one stop away from Ueno). It wouldn’t had made sense to take the NEX down to Tokyo and backtrack, since it would had taken the same amount of time (and a few hundred yen more).

One thing to take note about the Keisei Limited Express, is that like all local trains, seats are not reserved and during rush hours, you may have difficulty finding a seat. This can be a hassle if your carrying heavy luggage. However, in practice, I’ve never had trouble getting a seat on the train, except in one case but there would had been seats then too if not for a family of discourteous tourists taking up an entire row to themselves.

Typical train interior.

If I were to recommend just one temple or shrine to visit in Japan, it would be Nara’s Todaiji. As the head temple of the region, Todaiji makes for the Japanese equivalent of the Vatican and quite possible the single most impressive place of worship in Japan.

Overview

Translated as the Great Eastern Temple, Todaiji was founded in 728 and is one of Japan’s oldest temples. In its original incarnation, Todaiji could had been easily considered one of the greatest wonders of its time. Sadly, the original temple and many of its structures had been lost by natural disasters over the years.

However, the current rebuilt Todaiji still dates back to 1709, making it one of the oldest surviving temples in Japan. Despite being smaller than the original, the main Daibutsuden building of Todaiji is actually the largest wooden building in the world and also houses the largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan.

Visiting Todaiji

Todaiji occupies a huge temple grounds in the former capital city of Nara. It is surrounded by Nara Park, which contains a number of other significant temples. It is said that the Japanese emperor at the time had to relocate the capital in fear of the growing influence of the temples in Nara.

Todaiji is 2.5 kilometers and approximately 30 to 40 minutes from Nara Station on foot. There are clear signs pointing you in the right direction all the way. While a rather lengthy walk, there are enough interesting sights along the way to be enjoyable.

View Larger Map

At Todaiji

Apart from its cultural value, Nara is also better known among travelers for the great many free roaming deer. We’ve previously highlighted the Nara Deer in an article of their own but I’ve included some pictures for reference.

Perhaps due to the cracker stands outside the temple, the largest concentration of deer in Nara call Todaiji home. Most of them hang around on the outside. The deer seem to have evolved to be rather intelligent at Nara and they know better than to disturb the gift shops here. Tourists are free game though.

Many a deer.

Harassing visitors.

Cute but dangerous.

Most of the deer are nice enough to keep out of the main temple grounds.

There is a donation box outside and you’ll be able to sneak a peek at the Daibutsuden through the gate but to get into Todaiji proper you’ll need to purchase a ticket. Think of it as a donation. The entrance can be found at the far left end of the gate (just beside the park’s toilet).

Entry to the main temple grounds costs 500 yen.

Majestic temple.

Also the largest wooden building in the world.

Even from a distance, Todaiji’s Daibutsuden is dwarfing. Moving in closer, the discolored, dust coated building clearly shows its age. However, this lends itself to Todaiji’s charm and it felt like we were genuinely experiencing a piece of living history.

The temple's age shows.

The size of the hall makes Todaiji feel a lot more open than other temples. It is perhaps for this reason that photography is not prohibited inside the Daibutsuden. Though the same signs that say that it is alright plead for visitors not to use any flash.

Immediately at the front of the hall you’ll find the 15 meter tall bronze statue of the Vairocana Buddha. For reference, the average height of one floor in a building is 3 meters, so you can imagine how huge it is. It is larger than even Kamakura’s popular statue that stands at 11 meters.

It houses the largest bronze Buddha.

Aged interior.

Smaller Kanon statue beside.

Immediately beside you’ll find a slightly smaller statue of Kanon. There are a number of other objects inside the temple, some of which were preserved from the original. There is also a model of the original Todaiji temple, with a comparison to the current version.

As customary of all Japanese temples, you’ll also find a stall selling Japanese Charms and other souvenir goods. Proceeds go toward the upkeep and preservation of the temple so it’s always nice to show one’s support.

Other statues and remnants of the old temple are stored inside.

For a more detailed first hand look at Todaiji, check out the previous photo tour of Nara here.

Images by Wilson.

As one of the region’s most prominent castles, Osaka Castle looks like just one of those mandatory sightseeing spots for vistors. Its claim to fame comes from being the seat of power of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of three famous Daimyo (beside Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu) of the Sengoku period and is regarded as the most formidable castle ever in Japan. While little of the original castle building remains in this age (it has seen heavy restoration), the wonderful surroundings do make Osaka Castle a worthwhile visit.

The beauty of Osaka Castle lies in the fact that the entirety of its original grounds has been converted into a park. This is especially impressive when you consider that it covers approximately 60,000 acres. It wouldn’t be possible to explain without this photo by 663h-san. Isolated from the rest of the city by its gigantic moat and with the lush greenery sprouting out of the walls, Osaka Castle looks like something out of one of Studio Ghibli’s animations.

Osaka Castle Grounds.

The remainder of the photos here were taken by Wilson during our previous Winter trip to Kansai.

Getting to Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle can be found at the appropriately named Morinomiya (Castle of the Forest) Station. The most likely means of transport to the castle is by the Osaka Subway’s Chuo Line. If you’re coming from central Namba or such, you will need to transfer from the Midosuji Line. For those holding a JR Pass though, there are also a number of stations on the JR Osaka Loop Line surrounding the castle. The trip here will take less than 15 minutes.

View Larger Map

While located just beside the station, it takes a 20 minute walk to navigate through the castle defenses to get to the main castle building. There are some great sights to be seen on the way though and we stopped to appreciate the view numerous times, despite being ill prepared for the snow.

Off in the distance.

Moat separates the castle grounds from the rest of Osaka.

Prepare for a walk.

Visiting Osaka Castle

Both the transport and entry to Osaka Castle can be covered by the Osaka Unlimited Pass. Otherwise, entry to the castle costs 600 yen. There is also a combination ticket with the nearby Osaka Museum of History for 900 yen. It is open from 9 AM to 7 PM daily.

I would point you toward the castle’s English site, but unfortunately (like the English versions of most Japanese sites) it is horribly outdated and information there is terribly sparse. Instead, you’d be better off trying to make sense of Osaka Castle’s Japanese homepage.

Osaka Castle.

Golden ornaments.

At Osaka Castle

All of the castle’s interior has been modernized and converted into a museum. A lift on the inside takes you up to the top which features an open air observation deck. Though only 8 floors high, the castle is elevated sufficiently enough to get a nice overview of the grounds and part of the surrounding Osaka city.

View from above.

For safety, the deck is grilled up. There were surprisingly strongs winds at this time of the year and the grills are there to prevent visitor’s stuff from flying off.

From here, you can also get a closer look at some of the golden ornaments adorning Osaka Castle. The ones at Osaka Castle are only coated in gold (the ones at Nagoya Castle use solid gold), but still decorations within reach had to be covered to deter vandals/theft.

Gold...fish.

They’ve managed to squeeze in a small souvenir shop here at the top and another on the ground floor. While floors 2 to 7 make up the Osaka Castle’s Museum. There are actually a great many things to see here are some rather interesting exhibits.

Photography is generally allowed except on the indicated floors, which house an impressive collection of menuscripts and correspondence between important figures of the time which would be otherwise damaged by the irresponsible use of flash.

Just one of the exhibits.

A famous painting recreated in figure form.

While not everyone will be interested, the things on display add some good value to the 600 yen ticket price. And history buffs will no doubt want to spend some time looking through the exhibits.

Kind of touristy.

The first and second floors do look kind of gimmicky though, with its souvenir shop and displays aimed toward tourists. But you can’t blame the castle for trying. Ignore it and it should be fine, unless you are of course interested in that sort of thing. For example, for a price, you can don a Samurai outfit to take a photograph with some of the castle’s golden ornaments.

Photos by Wilson.

In this second guide on how to get theater tickets for everything 48, we cover Osaka based sister group NMB48. NMB48′s ticketing system bears an uncanny resemblance to AKB48′s current online system so before anything, you’ll want to read up on How to see AKB48 in Japan first. This article will omit most of what has already been mentioned before, instead focusing on the differences when it comes to visiting the NMB48 Theater.

Ticketing Mechanics

Fans will need to register for a separate NMB48 ticketing account which is used to apply for the group’s tickets only. NMB48 offers most of the same ticketing options as AKB48 with the exception of Super Enpou/Super Long Distance and Couple/Family seats.

Instead, NMB48 has a dedicated sitting area and ticket type for Groups (グループ) that can be used by couples, families or friends alike. A minimum of 2 people are required when applying for/collecting Group tickets. Beyond this, there are just some slight (mostly positive) differences between how both sites work which is covered below.

Registration

First up, you will need to visit this site. Key in your email address and submit. You should receive an automated email to the specified address which contains a link to create a new account.

You will need to agree to a list of terms and conditions first, scroll all the way to the bottom and click on the right option (同意する). Next, fill up your details as follows.

User Information.

After clicking through, you will be ask to confirm. Click on the orange button to submit. You should get an email stating that your accounts has been created. The email will generate a password, like AKB48′s this password cannot be changed so you will want to keep a note of it somewhere.

Using the System

With the password, you can now return to the ticketing front page to log into the NMB48 ticketing system.

Personal Ticketing Page.

Once logged in, the NMB48 ticketing page is pretty similar to AKB48′s. The main difference is that the NMB48 system keeps track of all of your past ticket ballots which you can view at any time. You can also select an favorite member to mark as your “Oshimen” here, which is optional in this case.

Also unlike the AKB48 page, the Ticket Application option is always shown (it is hidden when there are no AKB48 shows to apply for). On the downside, you will need to click through one additional step to see the list.

List of available shows.

Unlike the AKB48 ticketing site, a list of performing members for the show is not shown within. Instead, you will need to check the main page for this information prior to logging into the system. When you have decided which stage to apply for go ahead and click the yellow selection button.

Application Page.

Here you will notice the biggest plus point for NMB48 ticketing. Unlike AKB48′s which restricts you to a specific time frame, you are able to apply for all the different ticket types as soon as they are put up (7 days before the show). For NMB48 shows, you are only able to apply for a maximum of 4 persons at the same time.

Unlike AKB48 shows, you will only be able to apply for 1 type of ticket. You cannot apply for both Enpou and General tickets. Even after submitting, you are allowed to modify your application at any time before the deadline but it will replace the existing bid.

Some important things to take note of. The deadline for all applications is 4 days before the show (until midnight). Results for all tickets are sent 3 days before the actual performance. Like with AKB48, NMB48′s own fanclub members get an extra draw the day before.

Should you win a show, you will get an email in your inbox that looks something like the one below. Another plus point for NMB48′s ticketing is that even if you do not get an email, you will be able to log onto the website on the day of the results to check the results as lost applications are reflected in the Ticketing History too. For AKB48 ballots, you are simply left guessing.

Example winning notification.

There is a chance that you will get a Cancel Machi (Cancel Waiting) opportunity in your email instead. Additionally, NMB48 allows you to apply for Cancel Machi from 8 PM on the day before a concert all the way until 8.59 AM on the day itself.

Cancel Machi applied for in this way are also given out at random and you will only be made known by 1 PM on the concert day. Needless to say, this is a pretty unreliable method of getting tickets. But in the case of NMB48, it seems that a lot more people do not turn up for shows (sometimes as many as nearly 50) and thus a lot more Cancel Machi are given out.

YES Namba.

Winning (and collecting) a Ticket

While the Donki building is one of Akihabara’s most prominent landmarks, the NMB48 theater is easily missed. It is located along a side street at Nanbasennichimae where the only indication of the theater is literally a hole in the ground.

View Larger Map

These days, NMB48 should be a lot more known in Osaka but back in February last year, the locals and even some working around the area could not point me in the right direction. That’s because YES Namba building which basement NMB48 rents to hold its theater shows is better known for its Junkudo Bookshop.

My best advice is to look out for the more prominent NGK Building. You’ll find the NMB48 Theater in a hole just opposite. Most of the time if you’re entering from the main entrance to the Nankaitori (南海通) area, you will just need to turn right at the first major junction.

The NMB48 Theater is sealed off to the public at most times. There will be a barrier and security staff next to the staircase leading down to the theater. You will need to flash your winning email to pass. Ticket collection is from 2 hours up until half an hour before the start of a show. Bring along identification (your passport) as well.

I am told by Michael that the NMB48 Theater now holds live streams outside of the theater. It seems viewing is normally restricted to those holding Cancel Machi only. To view, you will need to wait until everyone else has entered the performance hall and then ask the security for permission (and show your Cancel Machi email) to go down to the theater. You will be asked to leave before the hi-touch session.

Seating Arrangements

The hall in which NMB48 performs their stages in is more spacious that AKB48′s. It is also much better equipped. The stage is higher than AKB48′s. However, it holds a smaller number of customers, about 238 as opposed to AKB48′s maximum of 250.

Of this, 100 seats are given to General Tickets, another 90 to NMB48 Fanclub members and the remaining 48 spots are filled up by Enpou, Group, Women and Students. Note, these numbers differ for each show but as a rough guideline, the 6th to 9th rows are reserved for those with Group, Women and Students/Children tickets. Enpou seats are pretty far back and occupy the 10th and 11th rows of the theater (2nd and 3rd last rows).

General Tickets and Mobile Fanclub members get to occupy the first 5 rows. All tickets are numbered and you will be guided into the theater by the staff in order.

Those holding special tickets actually enter the hall first but sitting is limited to the restricted sections. If you arrive late and General entry has already started, you will have to settle for seats at the back.

Inside, all of AKB48′s theater rules apply. Such as not being allowed to stand up during the performance. It’s best to simply behave.

Finally, a note that quite a bit of the stuff mentioned here differs from that mentioned in our own NMB48 Live Impressions post. As some of the ticketing mechanics and sitting arrangements have changed from when theater shows first began last year.

Photos by Melkul.

Since we started writing about AKB48, one of the most asked questions we’ve been getting is how to get tickets for the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara. Unfortunately, the official site has no instructions in English for regular tickets but I’m sure others have answered this question before.

In response to those who have requested for this information though, here it is, part one of a series of guides on how to buy tickets for AKB48, SKE48 and NMB48 theater shows. This guide focuses on the first, applying for tickets for the AKB48 theater in Akihabara, which also happens to be the most difficult of the three due to a rather complicated ticketing system.

First up, for those looking to get tickets to non-theater AKB48 concerts check out this guide instead. Unfortunately, due to health reasons Toshio no longers provides ticket pre-ordering services but the rest of the information there still applies.

Ticketing Mechanics

First up a brief explanation on how the AKB48 Theater ticketing system works. You’ll need to understand this to make sense of the rest of the information. If you already know about this and just want instructions on how to operate their website, skip below.

The AKB48 Ticketing site keeps a schedules a list “stages” that will be performed and the members performing on that given day. These used to be put up up to a month earlier but with the girls busy schedules, they are only now put up a few days in advance now. You can decide which shows you would like to apply for here.

Each show accommodates up to 250 people. Tickets are obtained by random lottery which you will have to apply for at their ticketing page.

For each ticket, there is only a short 1 day window when you can send in your application. Applications for General Tickets open up 2 days before the concert date (starting from midnight until 8 PM Japan time). These bookings are then consolidated and you will be made known of whether you win the tickets one day before the actual concert date (usually at 3 PM).

For example, if the concert is on Friday, applications would be between Wednesday 12 AM (the night of Tuesday) until Wednesday 8 PM when the window closes. You would then be sent an email on Thursday at 3 PM if successful.

No emails will be sent if you do not win. A listing of what shows you are applying from can be seen in your main screen (after logging in) but will simply disappear if unsuccessful.

This bulky system is a testament to when theater applications were sent by mail and sorted through manually. AKB48 may have introduced a spiffy new interface for users but the backend is still remains the same.

Note, the odds of actually winning any seats are horribly not in your favor. There are only 250 places in each show. Previous data provided states that the ratio of seats in the Akihabara theater to hopeful fans is between 1:50 up to 1:200 for special shows.

Registration

Before you can apply for tickets, you will need to register online at the AKB48 ticketing page. Below is a step by step process on how to do that.

To register for an account, send a blank email to regist@akb48.co.jp. You can leave the subject and contents of the email blank. You should receive an email giving you a link to the registration page shortly after that.

Registration Confirmation.

Click the link and you will be brought to a page of sorts asking if you would really like to register. The top option is for those who are part of the mobile fanclub already, the bottom option is for non-fanclub members. Chances are you’ll be choosing the second.

Next up, you’ll be required to enter in your details.

Details.

Once done, you will need to go through a couple of confirmation screens. If everything is fine, you will be sent another email with your AKB48 login password. This automatically generated series of gibberish will forever be used to log into your AKB48 ticketing account. It cannot be changed, so keep a record of it somewhere.

Using the System

Now, you can visit the AKB48 ticketing page and login by entering your username and password at the top right hand corner. Doing so will bring you to your user page that looks something like this.

Main Screen.

When there are shows that can be booked, you will be able to click on the first option here. Doing so will give you a list of currently available shows and ticket types you can currently apply for. In this example there is an Enpou show available.

Available shows.

The details of the show are displayed, in particular the members who will be performing. Click on the link to begin the application process. In the following application screen you will be able to enter the names of up to 9 other people accompanying yourself. You will need to put their names as it appears in their identification documents. You aren’t allowed to have duplicate applications by the other people attending the concert and those caught doing so will be banned from the theater.

Booking Screen.

You will be asked to confirm your details before sending in the application. And just like this, you have successfully submitted your ballot. You will receive an email immediately which is a receipt of your ballot. Do not get too excited yet. Should you actually win a ticket to the show, you will receive an email that looks like this the next day.

Successful ballot.

If there is no notice by 3 PM the next day, it means that you have not won a ticket. It is possible that you may win a “Cancel Machi” (Cancel Waiting) ticket instead as well. Which is not an actual ticket for the show but rather a chance at getting a ticket. See below.

Ticket Types

There are actually various ticket types available at the AKB48 theater. Fans are actually allowed to apply for all the types which they are eligible for. Except for Family, Female and Normal tickets which are all alternate versions of the same thing. You will usually know the results in time to apply for the next bracket.

Apart from throwing money at every temple or shrine you come across, the best way to increase your odds of getting a ticket for an AKB48 show while in Japan is to apply for as many ticket types as possible.

Note, that for all tickets other than family/couple seats, it is possible to apply tickets for 1 to 10 persons at once (6 for Super Enpou). As far as I can tell, applying for tickets as a group does not affect your odds of winning negatively (in fact it is better than applying separately). Also, by applying as a group, you will be able to sit together.

An important thing to take note of is, if for some reason any of the members in your winning group cannot make it, do not cancel your ticket reservation. As long as the person applying is able to make it, the rest will still be admitted normally (the remaining tickets will be given out to those holding Cancel Machi, more on this below).

If all of those applying are unable to make it though, you are required to cancel your tickets in advance of the show. Failing to do so will result in a bad strike.

The basic ticket types to look out for are 遠方 (Enpou), ファミリー・カップル (Family / Couples), 女性・小学生・中学生 (Women / Children) and 一般 (Ippan).

Super Long Distance (Super Enpou) (up to 6 seats) (from 1 month)

Super Long Distance or Super Enpou as most people call it is a new type of arrangement specially for foreign fans. Non-Japanese may apply for Super Enpou up to 1 month in advance of their visit to the theater in hopes of getting a show. Super Enpou tickets are not available through the normal ticketing methods, instead you will need to send them a direct email to sfar@akb48.co.jp.

Note, they do not always open up the Super Enpou seats for shows and based on feedback from fans few are lucky enough to actually with Super Enpou tickets too. Applying in advance doesn’t help either, since they often lose your application in the flood of other emails. In fact it may be counter productive.

My best advice for those seeking Super Enpou is to apply for the least popular shows (Team K and formerly Kenkyuusei/SDN48 shows). Also, it may seem strange but the odds of you getting Super Enpou when applying in a large group (at least 3) seems to be higher, possibly since they would recognize the demand then.

The biggest plus for Super Enpou is that you will always be given the 6 front most seats of the left block.

Long Distance (Enpou) (up to 15 seats) (5 days)
15 seats in the last middle row of the theater are reserved for Enpou or Long Distance ticketing at each show. Anyone from outside of Tokyo can apply for Enpou, making it one of the most sought after tickets. The odds of winning Enpou are low but you will want to apply for it anyways.

Provided you have selected your place of residence as somewhere other than Tokyo, Enpou tickets are available for ballot exactly 5 days before a given show. If successful, you will be given notice on the next day (4 days before the show). If not, you will still be able to apply for one of the other ticket types when the window opens.

Mobile Fanclub (up to 100 seats) (3 days)
Fans who belong to the Mobile Fanclub are given one extra chance to apply for seats 3 days in advance of the show. If you are reading this, chances are you would not be eligible. But for reference, Mobile Fanclub seats are identical to normal seats and is purely an extra chance for members.

Family & Couples (10 seats) (2 days)
In each show, 10 seats in the 5th middle row are dedicated to family and couple seats. To be eligible, you will need to have at least a male-female couple (Japanese aren’t the most progressive when it comes to some things) and up to 2 children or elders. Should your children be unable to make it after apply, it is still possible to enter without them as long as a couple remains.

Family, Couple, Women and Children tickets all replace the standard tickets as they have to be applied for on the same day instead of General tickets. The odds of you winning aren’t that much different from normal tickets due to the scarcity of seats and there is no clear way of calculating the probability. Such seats are recommended for when you require special seating arrangements.

Women & Children (10 seats) (2 days)
Another 10 seats on the 6th middle row are given out to a combination of female patrons, as well as grade and middle school children (6 to 15 years old). This is another alternative to general tickets.

General (all the remaining seats) (2 days)
What remains of the theater’s 250 seats sans all of the above are given out to the rest of the public. This is your last chance to get tickets when both Super Enpou and Enpou fails. Entry into the theater for General tickets are explained below.

Due to the fact that you are only notified of General tickets 1 day before the show it is nearly impossible to plan a trip to Japan around General Tickets. In fact, with number of people applying for AKB48 theater shows, it is never a wise chance to depend on winning a ticket at all.

Akihabara's Donki (Don Quijote) Building.

Cancel Waiting

This special ticket type is kept separate as it is not actually applied for. Instead, when you apply for a normal show ticket there is a chance that you will receive an email stating that you have won a “Cancel Machi” instead.

A different number of Cancel Machi emails are given out at each show. When you win a Cancel Machi, what you actually win is a spot on the waiting list to get a ticket should someone else not show up.

Sometimes people have conflicting schedules or applying from outside of Tokyo to try their luck only for their employers to deny them leave. But whatever the reason, there is always a certain number of people who will not be able to turn up for each show so a Cancel Machi is not a completely lost cause.

Thankfully, each Cancel Machi comes with a stated number too. In the case of Cancel Machi, this number is your position in line to get a ticket. If this is a small number like 10 or less, there is actually a pretty good chance that you will be able to snag a ticket at the last minute. It is up to you if you would like to try your luck.

Unlike regular tickets, it is not necessary to cancel Cancel Machi if you do not wish to turn up. But if you do decide to, you will need to come to the Akihabara theater half an hour before the show during the Bingo draw to get any unsold tickets.

The Cancel Machi also serves as a special ticket in certain cases. While fans who have not won any tickets are usually allowed to view the performance from a life stream just outside the theater’s doors, during very popular or special shows the 8th floor of the building is completely sealed off from the public. When this happens a greater number of Cancel Machi are given out to act as “tickets” to visit the floor and see the show from outside.

Winning (and collecting) a Ticket

Should you win a ticket, you will be sent an email that looks like this 1 to 4 days in advance of the show.　You will need to print it out or have it on your cellphone to flash when collecting your tickets at the AKB48 theater counter.

You will need to visit the theater between 2 to 1.5 hours in advance of the show to collect your tickets. For certain shows, you may be required to present your email to the security staff guarding the escalator downstairs to let you up into the theater too.

When collecting the tickets, you will need to bring along identification (your passport) bearing the same names you have entered into the ticket applications and cash for the tickets. If everything checks out, they will slap on a Gigaband, a kind of security wristband on you, to prevent tickets from being resold. Be careful not to take this off/damage it between the collecting the tickets up until after the show or they might not let you into the theater later.

Seating Arrangements

During entry those holding any special tickets (Super Enpou, Enpou e.t.c) will be escorted into the theater first. For everyone else holding General tickets, you would have gotten a ticket number in the email sent to you.

The ticket number does not represent your actual sitting position. Instead, it represent the block in which you will be entering as. Fans will begin queuing up outside the theater entrance in their respective blocks in advance of the show. There are markings on the theater floor indicating where you should stand.

About half hour before the show begins, the staff will hold a ballot via bingo to determine in which random order the blocks will be entering the theater. You are free to choose from any of the remaining seats when you enter except those marked for staff. An important thing to take note of, switching seats at any point is strictly prohibited as it may be considered a sign of some sort of seat selling. You are able to leave the theater, but only after everyone else has entered.

The AKB48 Theater has become quite well known for their “pillars of death”, a set of two wide foundation pillars that split the stage up into 3 parts. The first two rows in the center block are the best and most sought after seats. Due to how small the Akihabara theater is, those on the first row are less than 3 meters away from the stage!

The first row at either of the side blocks are fine too but avoid sitting anywhere near the pillars at all costs in any of the first 4 rows. Pillar-side seats on rows 2-4 are usually the last to fill up. The pillars are really a lot more disruptive than one would think, you will be completely blocked from seeing the other 2/3rds of the stage. Also, the camera crew film from in front of the pillars so those to the side are not spared.

The only time you will want to sit here is if you are absolutely sure a favorite member spends most of her time hugging the side stage, however the choreography of newer performances have the side members switching sides about halfway into the stage. Also, it makes for a terrible experience if this is your first time seeing AKB48 live.

If you cannot get into the first two rows, the next best choice is actually to get the first standing places. There are only 7 closely packed rows of seats in the theater and those on seats will have to remain seated throughout the show so those standing will get a surprisingly clear overview. Also, you can generally be a lot more excited without getting kicked out.

Behaving

Anyone who has ever seen any AKB48 Live On Demand (LOD) video can attest to how boring the audience in attendance look. This is hardly their fault though with the AKB48 Theater in Japan enforcing a ridiculous list of restrictions. Rub the staff there the wrong way and you’ll find how easy it is to win yourself a lifetime ban.

Instead of providing a list of offenses, the best advice is to simply, behave. If you’ve been to any AKB48 concerts outside of Japan, know that pretty much everyone who has attended such a concert would already be banned by theater standards (myself included, if only for using UO Light Sticks). The theater staff can be especially accommodating once they learn that you are a foreigner but it is best not to take advantage of their courtesy. Stay in line, follow the example of the other fans and avoid causing any trouble and you should be safe.

Best of luck to your applications and to those who have successfully won tickets to the theater, congratulations and have fun.

As the first and oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, Osaka’s Shitennoji (四天王寺) is an expected stop on most visitors’ itineraries. Regarded as the chief Buddhist temple in Osaka, the Asakusa of Osaka if you wish, Shitenno translates to the four heavenly kings, to which this temple is dedicated to.

Getting to Shitennoji

Shitennoji is located in the south east central area of Osaka. The nearest station on the map would be the explicitly named Tennoji Station from which it is a 10 to 15 minute (1 kilometer) walk away from.

Entrance to Shitennoji costs 300 yen for the temple grounds (pictured here) and another 300 yen for the temple’s private nature gardens. There is also an onsite treasure museum showing off various collected relics, but is under renovation for earthquake proofing until next year. Entrance to the main temple grounds is covered by the Osaka Unlimited Pass.

At Shitennoji

As Japan’s first Buddhist temple, Shitennoji draws many influences from classic Shinto Shrines. In fact, they have a torii gate at the entrance to the street in which Shitennoji is located.

Big gate ride next to the main road.

The actual grounds on which Shitennoji stands is pretty huge. There are a great number of buildings here, most of which are open to the public for free. The temple also boasts excellent facilities for its visitors and I was surprised to find an air-conditioned waiting room and various seats all over the grounds. It is also completely wheelchair friendly. It’s nice how much thought has been put into for its older visitors.

Another large gate.

For this article, I’ll be looking mostly at Shitenno Temple proper as most people know it, its iconic red pagoda and zen gardens. Like most other Japanese places of worship photography is not frowned upon, but out of respect, keep your cameras when indoors.

Dharma Wheel.

The original Shitennoji temple dates back to 593 A.D. But those looking to be floored by a visit to Shitennoji may be disappointed to learn that the current buildings standing are from the 1960s. Still, for a “must-visit site”, Shitennoji does make for a pretty sight.

Zen Garden.

Sheltered off from the surroundings by the red walls, there isn’t as much a sense of awe as when visiting some of the country’s more impressive monuments. Rather than a great peacefulness to be found at Shitennoji, at least on this morning when the temple was devoid of any other visitors.

Geometric patterns.

Tiny pebbles.

Shitennoji’s entrance, courtyard shelter and the Shitennoji Temple Tower are coated in a bright orange-red lacquer. Needless to say, beautifully coordinated. All of these buildings seem to stand on top of a sea of pebbles as the buildings in the courtyard are fully surrounded by the zen garden. This was unlikely to have existed in the original temple but rather a more modern addition. Still it can be a worthwhile visit for those who appreciate such experiences.

Pagoda.

Images by Wilson.

Kinkakuji is just one of the many famous temples and shrines in Kyoto. Literally translated as the Golden Pavilion Temple, Kinkakuji gets its name from being coated almost entirely in paint containing real gold flakes.

Kinkakuji is the second most visited temple in Kyoto after the extravagant Kiyomizudera. Unlike Kiyomizudera though, Kinkakuji is located quite far north to the border of the city. Thankfully, it is also situated beside Ryoanji, another famous temple.

Getting to Kinkakuji

Kyoto isn’t as well connected by train as other cities. Instead, there is a complicated network of buses. The cheapest and most direct means to get to Kinkakuji is to take bus #101 from Kyoto station. Getting there takes 40 minutes and costs 220 yen.

Note: Be sure to leave early if you plan on visiting other sights in Kyoto. Most temples close between 4 to 5 PM.

View Larger Map

At Kinkakuji

Entrance to Kinkakuji costs 400 yen. One of the highest I have encountered. It is not possible to see the temple from outside otherwise as a large wooden gate has been constructed. Still, that doesn’t deter visitors both local and overseas who flock here in throngs to see the famous golden temple. If you’ve already come this far, then the fee will be a necessary evil.

Kinkakuji greens.

To be honest, there isn’t much to do at Kinkakuji other than to witness the famous landmark itself. Such is the case that many who had expecting more from the hype have left disappointed. The temple is surrounded by a beautiful amount of nature though, which you view from an allocated viewing spot in front of the pond.

Postcard shot of Kinkakuji.

The temple grounds isn’t very large and most of it is taken up by the greenery. There is a short route for you to follow that starts at the front of Kinkakuji and brings you to two different omamori (Japanese Charms) stands before ending at another souvenir shop at the exit. While I appreciated the historic value of the site, this was perhaps the part I liked the least about Kinkakuji, since it was by far the most commercialized out of the many temples and shrines I have visited. The path does lead you up the side of a hill though, which gives you a nice elevated view of Kinkakuji.

Closeup.

Overall, Kinkakuji makes for a nice side trip in Kyoto provided you have the time or are in the city already. But if you’re making it a highlight in Kyoto, it might come off as a disappointment, especially when compared to some of the other historic sites. It also certainly helps if you have an interest in temples and shrines in general. But I’m sure one wouldn’t be visiting Kyoto otherwise.

Gold leaf coating.

Images by Wilson.

While Akihabara will probably be the first place in Japan that springs to mind when talking about all things geeky, Nakano Broadway is as important a landmark to the dedicated otaku. Located in the western outskirts of the city, Nakano is home to Tokyo’s true, less publicized Otaku Heaven.

Getting to Nakano

Nakano can be found three stops away from Shinjuku on the JR Sobu line. The trip is conveniently covered by the JR Tokunai Pass. At Nakano, exit the station from the North Exit (turn right when you leave the gantry) and you’ll see the Nakano Shopping Mall in broad daylight. Follow this opening air shopping arcade which will lead you straight to Nakano Broadway.

View Larger Map

Note: Most of the shops at Nakano Broadway are pretty against photo-taking and unless it is obvious you are a foreigner some even get pretty unfriendly about it, thus the scarcity of pictures.

At Nakano Broadway

Due to their widespread portrayal in media or perhaps through their own perpetruation of the stereotype, otaku tend to be pictured as bespectacled anime, manga and figure collectors. But in its original form, the word otaku seems to carry the meaning of enthusiasts and otaku interests cover a far wider spectrum in practice. This is especially true in Japan, where people are provided the content necessary to become otaku for all sorts of interests, like train, vintage camera or Disney otaku. While Akihabara may satisfy the need for the stereotypical otaku, Nakano does the same for a wider audience. If someone is collecting it, you’ll find it in Nakano Broadway.

Nakano.

Nakano Broadway is most famous as a market of sorts for otaku to peddle items from their personal collections. This is mostly through capsule box stores that provide the chance to rent cases for the otaku to display their wares (more on this later) but in recent times Nakano Broadway seems to have been overtaken mostly by a certain chain called Mandarake and to a lesser extent TRIO.

Mandarake
Starting as a used manga shop in 1987, Mandarake has now expanded to own a total of 23 stores inside the 3 floors of Nakano Broadway alone. There are another 4 shops around Tokyo and more spread around the rest of Japan. Mandarake even calls themselves the “Rulers of Time” now.

Each of the Mandarake shops in Nakano specialize in a different sub-genre of second hand otaku products. Many of these shops still sell items related to anime or manga, such as one shop specializing in soundtracks or another solely dedicated to boys love and otome products. But with 23 shops, most of the other imaginable obsessions are covered. There are Mandarake’s for classic video games, vintage toys, cosplay and card games among others.

Patrons can trade in their old goods at the Mandarake Buy Back Stand on the 3rd floor. It’s a shop space larger than most stores in Nakano that is constantly filled with people pawning old toys and comics for money to purchase newer attractions. A somewhat depressing sight. However Mandarake is well known for offering reasonable prices for old items and the shop advertises a transparent list of items that they purchase and the prices popular items would fetch.

One of the Mandarake-owned Shops.

TRIO
Next on the list is TRIO. Though it started as a second hand poster and magazine shop TRIO has evolved into the idol equivalent of Mandarake. Though not nearly as large a presence as Mandarake, TRIO carries a rather extensive collection of second hand idol goods spread over three shops in Nakano.

You’ll find the first TRIO branch on the third floor. This shop is dedicated entirely to male idols such as those from Johnny’s Entertainment. The first TRIO that you will likely run into though is TRIO 2, the largest branch.

Located just beside the main escalator into Nakano Broadway and along the same corridor as TRIO, TRIO 2 carries all of their magazines, photobooks, as well as movie and idol related posters. TRIO 2 also has an entire section dedicated to AKB48 goods and a rather large collection of collectible photos. TRIO 2 used to have the most affordable and popular place to get these photos and customers would come early each day to see what new items were being put up. Unfortunately, the prices aren’t as reasonable anymore and they display most of the stock at the new branch at Akiba Culture Zone now.

You’ll have to take the stairs down one floor for the third TRIO 3, which contains what little Hello! Project, Idoling!!! and SUPER☆GiRLS merchandise they have. About half of the shop holds the remainder of their Johnny’s goods.

Old toys for sale.

Capsule Boxes
Until recently, the biggest draw for Nakano Broadway comes from having more capsule box shops than anywhere else. One such example is Cube Style. For about 3000 yen a month, one can rent a display case here to put whatever items you would like to sell. The shop will then help take care of any money transfers and you can come back any time to collect your earnings or add and replace the items sold inside the rented case.

Capsule shops are rather popular at Nakano, since it allows one to eliminate the middle man, as unlike in Singapore the shops do not take a commission off your sales. The high traffic of otaku coming to Nakano Broadway for the explicit purpose of purchasing such goods also helps. The capsule boxes at Nakano are always fully booked.

The recent boom in demand for capsule boxes (largely due to the market for AKB48 photos) has prompted many other capsule shops to spawn in Akihabara too. Unfortunately, the supply now exceeds the demand and many of the boxes at the newer shops now remain empty. Also, if you’re looking for a bargain for AKB48 photos, you’ll be disappointed. Read more about there here.

Figure or toy collectors will benefit the most from capsule boxes. As the prices for those are already transparent, second half figures will almost always sell for less their original price (unless it is particularly rare, or the seller especially delusional). If you don’t mind getting your toys second hand, do spend some time looking around the shops here. I personally recommend checking out BOW WOW at the far corner on the second floor, as I have consistently managed to chance upon good finds there.

Other Shops
Many of the small shops around Nakano Broadway cover all manner of other interests, there are shops selling old enka records, ball jointed dolls, yo-yos, stamps, vintage books and expensive sound equipment and many more niched products. You can find a listing of shops at the Official Nakano Broadway website’s Floor Map.

It may be a little forward of me to tout one of our sponsors so directly like this. But with the NATAS Travel Fair going on right now at the Singapore Expo, many are taking this opportunity to sneak in less than honest travel “deals”. It’s a similar situation to computer fairs in Singapore.

Below is a short collection of knowledge acquired from my previous trips and through the fortune of having friends who have worked in the travel industry both in Singapore and Japan. Perhaps it might look like common sense to the more experienced travellers.

First off, if you’re looking for short guided tour packages, NATAS does offer some attractive options. You can see some of the deals they are offering online at the NATAS Travel site. This once a year fair brings together travel agents around Singapore to help plan your holiday for the upcoming April peak season. There’s another NATAS fair, NATAS Holidays in August, which focuses on the end year period instead.

If you’re going down this weekend beware of hard sells and those claiming limited deals. We learned the hard way during our last trip, that feeling rushed to book a hotel or flight can lead to devastating results.

Not the cheapest. But ANA comes with many perks.

With the internet at everyone’s disposal, you’re not going to find flights cheaper than at the source directly. I really advise readers to book their flights directly from the respective airlines and look out for their offers. Going through a 3rd party source will almost always be more expensive. The only thing you’re really saving on in tour packages is on accommodation, when the travel agencies negotiate for group prices.

But if you’re planning to go free and easy, NATAS offers little choice. And the only offers available for free and easy tours are far too limiting. Before you go jumping onto decisions, take some time to do some homework and compare the prices elsewhere. A little slacking off could cost you potentially hundreds and there is no excuse with the convenience of the internet. Evidence shows that 91% of travelers book their flights and hotels online now. It’s the smart thing to do.

Those were different times.

I’m going to plug Agoda a little bit since it’s our sponsor. Agoda pioneered online hotel bookings back in the 90s when it was called Planet Holiday. These days, it’s owned by Priceline.com one is one of the world’s largest hotel booking sites. They have offices in ever part of the world, including Singapore. The reason why you don’t hear nearly as much about Agoda as other bookings sites is because Agoda doesn’t have a public affiliate program. There is a strict process to become an Agoda Partner and membership is limited to quality sites and big names like PayPal or Google only.

The secret is, that instead, as one of the oldest travel sites on the internet, Agoda’s tightly controlled reseller system is actually adopted by the other newer hotel booking sites. I’m not excusing Agoda’s clunky user interface (they’d get a lot more bookings if it wasn’t so unintuitive) but they’re main focus is selling a platform rather than direct sales.

Agoda provides a content management system to hotels for them to manage their hotel rooms themselves. And in turn, Agoda also provides their hotel booking API for other hotel sites to adopt. Truth is, many of the other travel sites utilize Agoda’s API to resell hotel booking services, adding a few dollars on top as “service fees”. Which is why chances are, if you’re willing to go to the source directly and brave Agoda’s non-Web 2.0 interface, you’ll end up saving a noticeable amount of money, which can be better spent on other things.

I’m going to provide a comparison here between Agoda and other sites. We’ve put in identical dates. You can see the differences. Note, both prices are before taxes (these are imposed by the Japanese government on hotels).

Candeo Hotel Uenokoen on Booking.com. Average of $164.50 a night.

On Agoda. $140 a night. This is higher than usual though.

This is not to say that Agoda is for everyone. The Agoda system provides a convenient means for medium sized hotels (most 2-3 star) to manage their bookings. If this is what you’re looking for, then Agoda is a fine match. It still benefits you to look around a few places though. Sometimes certain hotels forget to update one of the platforms, or prefer to focus on a single one. When this happens, you’ll might be able to get the same room cheaper. I recommend checking out Expedia directly as well, which is another popular platform. Lonely Planet, Trip Advisor and Hotels.com are all resellers of Expedia.

Chisun Inn Hommachi on Expedia.

The same hotel on Agoda.

However, smaller establishments such as home stay and dormitories see little use for this system and are under represented. You are also better off booking larger hotels in the 4-5 star range directly, as they often have their own independent websites and systems to manage their bookings already.

Agoda is also not a very good place to turn to if you’re looking for last minute hotel bookings (few are). Hotels only set aside a certain number of rooms to be sold by the system and they tend to sell out about 2 months before the check-in date. Agoda does not mark up the prices of hotels at the last minute but you’re not going to find any discounts, or many choices if you’re going to book your hotel at the last minute.

Instead, Agoda specializes in “early bird” styled specials. Rewarding users who book at least a couple of months in advance. This is only a natural thing when it comes to traditional travel agencies, but is not implemented by more online sites for some reason. This of course is where Agoda truly shines. You won’t find a cheaper option whenever a hotel goes on offer on Agoda.

A final tip. Though it may sound selfish, if you’re traveling in a group be the one to do the booking. Between 4-7% of the hotel fees is turned into credits which you can use to offset subsequent bookings when you book from Agoda directly instead of resellers. You also get cash credits for reviewing the hotel after your stay.