Kofu to Minami Alps City in 4K

I got myself a drone.  So I took it out and flew it around Kofu and Minami Alps City.  Enjoy the views.

The Japan Winter Rant to keep you warm.

Winter is here.....Brrrr.......

 

To put a little bit of context into this.  I love Winter.  As a proud New Yorker, winter usually brings a lot of jolly good cheer in a city that never sleeps.  A city that is usually so grumpy towards everything and anything.  New York city is great in all seasons but you still have to generally deal with....well....New Yorkers....and we are not that easy to get a long with.   Mostly because we are all on our hustles of sorts.   Whether its trying to get a promotion, a better job, or just trying to survive the city in general at a young age by having two or three jobs to afford our living situations. 

Spring brings allergy seasons and that makes anybody grumpy as you have to deal with sick people in trains and at work.  Summer brings a terrible heat that highlights not only the stinky smell of the subway, the homeless and the city trash that surrounds NYC.

    Fall is really just a tense and anxious time in NYC.  Black Friday sales makes us want to kill everybody and Thanksgiving brings family reunions that involves confrontational conversation of whatever your of topic is.      But then it arrives....WINTER IS HERE.

  

Winter in New York City is wonderful.  There are more decorations.  There are more celebratory events of sorts.  Whatever holiday you celebrate during this season.  Winter in NYC is different.  Maybe its the cold that makes us more numb to things that usually annoy us in any other occasion. 

I love Winter in NYC because it brings a sense of warmness to the New Yorkers.  In my personal opinion, it just seems that people are nicer.  

BUT THEN.......

I came to Japan and was horrified by its Winter Season.   What the fuck?!?! Seriously!?!? No central heating.  I mean WHAT THE FUCK.   So let us take the time and talk about all the things Winter in Japan brings.

1.  No Central Heating  

  So Japan has no Central heating provided in your apartment.  I probably sound like a spoiled brat complaining about it.  But I certainly did not know about it from the various Japan YouTube Videos I watched to prepare towards living in Japan.  So there it was I was left in a Leopalace in the dead of winter going from an air conditioned heated bedroom towards a dark hallway that is filled with cold cold sorrow. Need something to wake you full blast in the morning?  Just step into a narrow hallway whose temperature runs in the 10-15 degrees.  Thing is you expect that outside of your apartment and your brain automatically thinks...ok here we go...it is cold READY? SET. GO!!!   But inside your apartment?!?! You are left running to  your heated room after a hot shower just to avoid being exposed to that frigid hot..cold..hot seesaw of temperatures.  So it almost makes you trap in a heated room because it takes FOREVER to heat up the kitchen hallway (in a Leo Palace) so that you can make soup, make food.  Then there is the dishes, laundry and various other stuff you need to do in that frigid cold hallway.

2.  Gas or Electric!?!

   So you finally figured out that your air conditioner that has a heater option sucks balls.  And it also runs your electric bill higher than expected.  You are left with choosing another option.   Heaters.  Gas or Electric?   Now as a person who does not own a vehichle I have absolutely no experience with gas heaters.  I know of them.  I know the logistics of them.  But do not, in any way take this knowledge I have of it; as absolute.  I have heard great things about gas heaters.   It warms up the room or house incredibly quick.  And trust me after being exposed to the weather outside you want to warm up quick.  

 The cost of buying a gas heater ranges from about 7-15000 yen or more.   So It is not like I couldnt afford it but more so that there was just no way of me to buy one as it involves buying gas for the heater.  You basically have to go to the gas station in your neighborhood and bring your container to buy gas.   Which in itself is not that expensive.  But I am on a bike and I have terrible balance.  Heck just buying toilet paper and having it hang on my bike gives me imbalance and has me rubbing it against the bike tire.  And I really could not just risk having the gas spill on the street like that.  Gas is great because it heats up your house fairly quick, and does not use up a lot of electricity.  But there are a few other things you have to deal with.  Gas smells, and you have to figure out a way to filter out that smell out of your apartment.  So if you can get it done.  Go with Gas.

Electric.  Ah yes the heavy burden of going electric.  The thing you have to remind yourself when going electric is this...your electricity bills is going to be higher.  Sure you can set up timers on your air conditioner.  But you generally can not do that on majority of the electric heaters out there.   A lot of them are cheap.  Cost ranging from as cheap as 3000 yen to something more fancy with features of 20,000 yen.  The basic cheap ones just simply generates heat with basic left and right rotation.  But the thing with those cheap electric heaters is that they do not generally heat up the entire room.  Just that one small space you are in.  Therefore, if you sit in another part of your room; you are left feeling a bit more colder.  

The more expensive ones gives you features like an air conditioner where you can set up the temperature you want, a timer to stop and a programmed timer to turn on at a specific time.

You choose electric for its convenience.  It is more convenient to stay at home and be warm to stay at your one heated spot/area.  It can be a bit of pain in the ass to go to the gas station and buy gas for your gas heater.   So do not feel bad if you are on the electric side of things.   

3.Dude, where is my hot water?!?!

Depending on how your living situation is set up.  You may have to deal with this.  Not having hot water to use to clean and not having it to shower puts you in a foul foul foul mood.   Not having water in your shower or apartment is usually the result of your water pipes not being properly insulated.  Therefore, freezing your pipes during the harsh winter and you have to resolved to waiting it thaw out until water can pass through the pipes for it to be heated up.   When I was in my leopalace, I was all electric and I did not have to deal with this.  However, when I moved into a traditional Japanese 3LDK house and had to deal with paying a separate gas and electric bill.  I had to learn this lesson the heard way.    I usually and typically have a morning timed routine of getting up, showering, getting dressed and going to work.   But when you have no hot water and you are left with cold water shower.  Your usually proficient timed routine goes all into shit.   Your mood becomes more foul and you are left curing everyone for this debacle.    

So if you find yourself in a situation like mine, the best advice I can give is to have one or two faucets left on to run water.  Small drips will do as to not waste water and increase your water bill than usual.  The problem is fine tuning it to drip and that is always not easy.  Do not do this before you go to work.  It can be a major time consumer.  

I do not know any of the science or magic that involves in making this work.  But it personally works for me.  I have a faucet dripping  the hot water side at all times.  I generally do stop it when I know the temperature is higher than usual.  However, once you get careless with things and you forget that its going to be colder than usual on some days, then you forget to run the hot water and is left with having none to use the next day.

Kinda makes you wish there was an app that reminds you that its going to be fucking frigid some days.   * Siri, can you tell me whenever the temperature drops down to 10 degrees or less*

4. Laundry

We all know how convenient it is to do laundry in Japan.  It almost seems like every apartment has a laundry machine but no dryer.  So you get use to drying clothes outside which doesn't seem like much of a hassle until winter.   Frozen clothes.....anyone.  Here are a few things that can prove to be problematic for laundry in the winter season.   Using powdered laundry detergent sucks because during winter time the water is so cold that it does not disintegrate the powder which causes your clothes to have large chunks of hardened powdered detergent rocks.   

Drying clothes is now a lengthy process that includes you drying your clothes when the sun is at its warmest and some days indoor drying is your best option....but since there is no central heating your are left with indoor drying which usually takes a day or two to dry.

Your best option is to use liquid detergent when doing laundry and dry your clothes when there is sunlight or dry your clothes when you are using your bedroom heater, because nothing is better than a bedroom smelling like downy fresh. 

5. Staying Warm

Big shout out to Uniqlo for making heat tech and being able to make Big and Tall options on those clothes.  Seriously, thank you.     

So let us talk about how people stay warm that does not involve heaters.   Living in a small inaka area, trying to look cool in order to stay warm goes out the fucking door.   3-4 sweaters.....fuck it, just do it..... 2 gloves, one cotton and other giant snow gloves....fuck it, just do it.....  Heat tech jeans over ski pants....fuck it, gotta keep the good junk warm; just do it.   You see when you have no general desire to use the current heating options you have in your house.  Well.....you leave.   And if you were me and is to cheap to take the bus.....well you bike.  You bike to the supermarket, the mall, the movie theatre, the whichever place that provides you the best free heat.   And when you bike, you deal with mother nature whose job is to stop you from stupidly biking at those kinds of conditions.  So the next time you see a giant balloon man who looks like he just robbed a clothing store on a bike.  Well, that is probably, honestly, me.

There are also various supermarkets who have a section that sell you heat tech layered clothing.  winter socks, winter slippers, heated pads,heavy blankets and kotatsus.    Yes, I know I really should have mentioned it when I was talking about gas or electric choices.  Because a good kotatsu can keep 3-4 friends warm who chooses to slide in and play heated footsie among other things.  (heat up your bentos, dry your small laundry like socks and undies) But it just really heats up the lower half of your body.  And there are some downsides to that.   Hot farts anyone?!?  

Staying warm during the Winter in Japan usually means being a fashionista goes out the window. FUGLY Sweaters, leggings and multiple layers do occur.  You will have to do more laundry every week as those layers do pile up and take longer to dry in the winter weather.   

Winter in Japan is starting to suck for me.  It is the one season of the year where I feel truly home sick.  Sort of nostalgia because I would remember that the 14th Street Union Square Holiday Fair is there and I can haggle with sellers.  Warm Chili, Hot Sandiches, Various Ethnic Soups and Foods that warm up your body and soul.  These are just a small amount of things I miss during Winter in Japan.  The end of the year brings excitement to the city and the beginnings of a New Year reminds New Yorkers that well......shit....these bills are not going to pay themselves.  The hustle begins once again.  And that always brings a source of inspiration for me. 

This is not me bashing the entire Winter Season here in Japan.  There are some challenges but there are also opportunities for you as a foreigner to take advantage.  Netflix and chill anyone?   Japan Illuminations and various enkais of sorts are sure to keep you busy and.....well...broke during this season.  Japan is great in all seasons but winter is a challenge that can be overcome with the right mindset and proper preparation.  So stay warm brave teachers! And remember, sex does not keep you warm it just makes you sweaty in the winter. LOL JK.

    

The cost of traveling in an Inaka (Small Town)

Having spent the entire summer in Tokyo bought some perspective about what it is like living in an Inaka. 


I am a pure bred New Yorker.  The way I talk, conduct myself all came from the hard lessons I've learned in New York City.  The hustle, the slang, the swagger, the attitude are things I personally consider my strengths and also my proudest attributes of being a New Yorker.

However, there is just something about Japan that I wanted to experience.   Personally, for me living an inaka was great.  There is just great disparity among people from a small town compared to living in a big giant city.  People are nicer, there is more emphasis on tradition and family values.   It certainly was a nice change of pace for me.  I was used to having to speed walk from one place to another in New York; while here I am in a small town not having to worry about it at all. 

The years finally took its toll on me and this is a short essay on the cost of living in a Japanese Small Town.

I live in a small town here in Yamanashi.  There are no big giant public transportation.  Buses run on a short and limited schedule.  You are better off having a car to get you to places more conveniently.  Or if you are like me then biking from one place to another.  

As a New Yorker, I don't really know anyone that drives.   It was never a thing for me growing up.  I lived in Roosevelt Avenue in Queens and the 7 train can take me to the city in 30 minutes or less.   When I finally got my own place in the city I was fairly close to the A,C and E train which got me downtown conveniently enough.   So driving was something I never really considered.  I think my father always complaining about finding a parking spot in NYC always dissuaded me into learning how to drive.

Driving in Japan is a very tedious experience.  The driving lessons range from 2-4 weeks and cast from 300,000¥ or higher.  That is if you don't know how to drive.  Practicing your driving in the driving center can also cost you some hard earned cash.  The paperwork to translate your documents to Japanese for experienced drivers can also be troublesome.  If you don't have a Japanese friend there to help you or if your Japanese is non existent; it is even a bigger pain in the ass.

All that factored in my decision to just ride my bike in my small town.   Sure the hills are a pain and grocery shopping is complicated.  Weather is a bitch when it rains and snows but all in all it works for me.  It also does not help that I was severely getting underpaid by my company the first year I was here.   But with good fortune and blessings I was able to get out of their terrible terrible pay #Borderlink.  

I got a better paying job, apartment and situation.  I actually have enough money now to take the drivers test and buy a brand new car.  However, just reading and watching the horror stories online can be a bit discouraging.  Not to mention I am a bit spoiled now at my new location.  I have 2 combinis close by and the local shopping area is only a 16 minute bike ride away.  My school is really close by with no high hills to slow me down. 

However, here is the kicker.   It is painfully obvious that traveling around my area is expensive using public transportation.  Let's break it down a bit for everyone.

Local Taxi in my area start at 700¥  (More or less 7 US dollars) That is just to get in and hopefully take you somewhere fairly close.  Somewhere under 1 km.

The local bus that will take me to the capital city in Yamanashi which is Kofu will cost me 690¥ ( Again more or less than 7 US) one way.   Imagine going to a capital city where you can finally have access to trains that can get you to Tokyo but you are already 7 dollars out.

Then you find out that trains to Tokyo are insanely MORE expensive.

 

That's right folks upwards to 40 dollars or more to get you to Tokyo.  That is just Shinjuku by the way.  So if you are traveling past Shinjuku then be prepared to spend more cash.

Did I forget to mention that is only one way.   

YUP! GOING to TOKYO for a DAY will cost you up to A HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY from where I live.  That is a roundtrip train ticket and bus home.  Spending a weekend? Be prepared to spend money on a hotel as well.  

Ain't that a bitch?

Living in a small town has a sever disadvantage if you are in love with big city shenanigans.

The bus that gets me home from Kofu? Runs on a limited schedule and the last bus to get me home is actually at 8 on weekdays and 7:30 on weekends.    Which factors in on your travel time to get back home from Tokyo.

Take a taxi you say?  As mentioned earlier the one hour Taxi ride home from Kofu actually cost MORE than the train to Tokyo because of its price hike after 10 PM!   I actually took a Taxi once from a train stop closer to my home and it still cost me 4000¥!!!  My soul died a bit paying the taxi driver the fare.  And the only reason I did that was that I was coming from Narita Airport back to Kofu.

In the end, if you like your area placement and have no interest in Tokyo or big city adventures you should be fine.  There was really nothing about Tokyo that made me want to come there every weekend.  When I do I make every second and minute count.  I go all out because I usually make sure I save enough money for the travel cost, hotel, shenanigan money and other emergency funds that might occur during my visit there.  So just remember to be prepared and always have backup funds available to you at all times.

Thanks for reading! Have something to add or say? Leave a comment down below!

Tips on Traveling back home from Japan.

 

AH! Home Sweet Home!  

Living in Japan can be great, especially if you have all the right circumstances working for you.  However, right circumstances or not; you will always feel homesick.  The warm feeling of familiarity surrounding you and The Friends & The family that you wanted to get away from are people you are looking forward to seeing.  The pet that doesn't know boundaries or privacy will in no doubt leap for joy as they see you.

Traveling back home can be a bit of chore from Japan.  A country whose main form of web currency is payment in cash for delivery, convenience store payments (combini) and of course the bank transfer.  If you somehow manage to snag that rare Japanese Credit card then you are in luck as it tends to make a HUGE difference in paying for items online and for booking a ticket and hotel.

This post is dedicated to those who need to travel but needs a more concrete plan to do so.  We talk about all things from setting up travel arrangements from plane, hotel, airport travel and currency exchange.  

TIP # 1

Picking an Airline

If you are a frequent flyer then this should be no problem.  However, if you're a bit of a cheapskate and is looking for the best deals and not necessarily interested in accruing miles then you are bound to look for sites like Expedia.

An all in one site usually lets you book a plane ticket, hotel and car services all in one site.  

However,  if you are traveling using your airline that you visit their yearly calendar to look for the best deals.

Some and not all airlines do offer you a look at which specific dates are cheaper to fly and lets you decide which deal fits your budget.  Here is a typical look at Cathay Pacific ticket offers for a last minute trip to NYC.

 

Booking ahead lets you get the best deals early so if you are going home for the winter and summer it is best to visit your Airline's website 50-60 days before traveling.  

As mentioned earlier there are plenty of sites that offer combo packages that are easy on the wallet.  Sites like Expedia are a great resource but the Yamanashi Podcast recommends SkyScanner.com

Sky Scanner Best Deals for Hotel, Plane and Car Rental 

It should be noted that this is not a paid advertisement by the website.  This is a very reputable site that does exactly what a specific airline does. They give you a monthly calendar on the best prices of your desired destination.  Their search function can easily be filtered to remove unwanted or unreputable airlines, but generally lists all the prices of different airlines traveling to your desired destination.    You can also have filters for desired travel time, convert the prices to yen, find direct flights and easily check the prices for Premium Economy all the way to First Class.

Here is a look at the SkyScanner Calendar when booking 45 days in Advance from Tokyo to NYC.  They search all online listings for every Airline traveling to your desired destination and list the cheapest available price on the calendar.  Make sure to play around with the calendar as you can usually get cheaper deals from other Airlines on different dates.

We also recommend using a Travel Agency like JTB if you are confident with your Japanese.   Airlines and Hotels usually send exclusive deals to travel agencies that are not available online.  Travel agencies can also help with your tourist visas and making travel arrangements to and from the airport and everything in between.  I used a travel agency for a trip to Hong Kong and got a great deal on an Airport and Hotel.  5 Days for 47,000 yen in Hong Kong.

 
Whichever resource you use to buy your ticket home, just remember to make sure you have all the right documents when traveling to your desired destination (Tourist Visas and all)

TIP # 2

Getting to the Airport 

The Yamanashi Podcast recommends that before clicking on that PURCHASE/BUY Ticket button that you generally take about 5 minutes to assess your ticket's itenirary.  Are there any layovers?  If yes, how much more to stay at a hostel, capsule hotel or AiBnB?   

This is a very important step that should be considered carefully.  Even the cheapest ticket can provide the biggest headache.   The cheapest tickets often come because of how early the flight is.  The dreaded 7 AM flight usually require you to be in the airport atleast 2 hours before departure and that means getting an overnight hotel and then arranging a taxi or airport bus to drop you off at the airport.   These are cost that should be considered before purchasing your ticket.   What is the point in getting a cheap plane ticket when there is an added cost of an overnight hotel in order to make that flight?

The Yamanashi Podcast advises you to grab a notebook or a piece of paper to write down the travel time of your desired ticket and evaluate and see if that flight time can be manageable for yourself.  The  question you need to answer is.  If the flight leaves at ### time, when do I need to leave my apartment to make sure I make the flight on time?

TIP # 3

The ''Omiyage''

Traveling back home to see friends and family?  Well then be prepared to spend some cash on some omiyage.  You might be saying to yourself, oh I'll just get them some Japanese KitKats or whatever. Well....actually that's a good omiyage.  However, Airport souvenirs are SUPER expensive and the problem with getting to the airport for an early check in for your flight is that you are bound to look around and maybe find something that you like for someone.  So make sure to STAY AWAY FROM AIRPORT SOUVENIR SHOPS!

While it is not biggest kind of deal considering the amount of money you are spending on plane tickets.  The Yamanashi Podcast recommends visiting your local DAISO store and grabbing a few cheap trinkets that is sure to entice your family and friends.  I mean who doesn't love a nice Kendama from DAISO?

And ofcourse, there is other side of the coin which is coming back home to Japan and figuring out which Omiyage to bring your co-workers and Japanese friends.  Remember, Japanese people love food omiyages so visit the local grocery store to buy them some chocolates or snack confectionery. 

 TIP # 4

Currency

The problem with booking a ticket in Japan is that it is very difficult to get a Japanese credit card and using an international credit card tends to pose some problems.  When paying for your ticket using combini payments or bank transfer your current bank balance takes a  big hit and this affects on how much money you can bring home to spend for shopping and general things.

Once you decide on how much money to bring home, you should take the time and do some research on where is the best place to exchange your cash to its proper currency. 

The Yamanashi podcast recommends that you change your currency once you arrive at your place of destination.  So whether you change it at the airport of your destination or outside it, you will tend to get better rates at your destination as oppose to a Japanese airport.  Japanese Airport currency exchange places usually have no reason to buy their own money.

Tip # 5

Finding a  temporary ''Home''

Depending on your friends and family's current economic situation this should either be super easy or hard.   Have your parents converted your old room to a library or rented it out to someone else?

Do you mind sleeping on a friend's couch?  Or if you're feeling a little Richie Rich get yourself a hotel.

Wherever you are going you are going to need a place to rest.  A place you can have some privacy from all the people trying to grab you so that they can learn all about your Japan adventures.  And others just trying to grab a Japanese souvenir.   

This tip also refers to traveling to a place for leisure as oppose to traveling home.   Traveling overseas can pose some problems that involve cultural differences to language barriers.  What is considered good enough for that country can also be considered terrible in another.   There is also that feeling that you are not getting what you paid for.   100 dollars for a small hotel room that has an even smaller toilet/shower combo with no toilet paper.  (DAMN IT! China!!!)  

We advise that you do your due diligence and not to ruin it for everyone else by being polite and respecting the culture of the country you are traveling to.

Finally, The Yamanashi Podcast recommends that you actually take the time to not only look at the hotel reviews (It should be noted that some are SUPER FAKE) and make sure to either contact the hotel and get the latest pictures for your room and hotel.   There are a lot of instances where hotels just posts pictures of hotel toiletries to fulfill their obligation on posting pictures for their hotel and room online listings.  So make sure to know what kind of room  you are getting when booking a hotel.

    

Tip # 6

Communication

In this day and age, we are lucky that can have access to smart devices to help us with our travel.  Getting a smart sim prepaid card that allows you to use a smart device to get navigation and translation going is of a huge importance.  Especially if you are traveling to a foreign country.  

Coming back home and hoping to use your current Japan mobile device can prove difficult in some circumstances.  You would have to unlock your phone and Japanese companies are very strict with unlocking their device for use with another company.  

There are some instances where if you contact your current cell provider that they can provide you with some assistance.  Currently as of October 2016 AU KDDI lets you unlock their Iphone 6S and 7 models for use on other countries.   No information yet if they currently allow this on Android devices.   

So buying a prepaid smart device can be one more thing that you need to keep in mind when traveling.   

Yamanashi Podcasts advises you to visit your local second hand Electronic store like Hard Off and visit some other shops, legit or not that sell second hand cell phones.  Some are unlocked and can be bought for cheap.  

It should be noted that unlock your own phone can cause some problems.  You void the warranty of the phone and will not be accepted by your cell provider for a trade in once they know it was unlock by other means.   

Tip #7

Coming Back to Japan

Well the hard part is over and all the tears have been cried out at the airport.  Time to go back home.  Time to make sure that traveling back home to your apartment in Japan is as easy and convenient as possible.  Here are some things to consider when traveling back home.  What time is your flight arriving at the airport?  Do you have enough time to travel back  at your apartment?   Are you going to use a luggage delivery service like Yamato Transport?  

The latter half is usually for people who want to spend a bit more time in the city before going back home to their rural placement.   

The Yamanashi Podcast thinks that if you have the money to send your luggage back home then do it.  It certainly is as convenient as it sounds.  Less time dragging those heavy things around to get to the buses and trains and more time walking freely and possibly discovering new things to look forward to the next time you are in the big city.   

What did you think of the tips provided by the Yamanashi Podcast?

Did we miss anything?  Let us know what you think on the comments below.  

Yamanashi Podcast Episode 19 ''The Master''

Yamanashi Podcast

Episode 19

"The Master"

w. Mr. Jared Miracle

World Traveler, Educator, Anthropologist and most importantly The Leading Researcher for all things Pokemon. This episode features Mr. Jared Miracle and why he chose Yamanashi as his first and quite possibly his final love.
Looking to get more info about Mr. Miracle? Check out more info using these links below.
www.facebook.com/jaredmiraclewriter
www.jaredmiracle.com
::::::::::PRE-ORDER HIS BOOK NOW!!!!:::::::::::::: amzn.com/1476663505

Yamanashi Podcast Episode 19 ''The Master'' 

Yamanashi Podcast Episode 18 ''The Club''

Yamanashi Podcast

Episode 18

"The Club"

 w. Ms. Amber

We continue our magnificent women series as we talk to Ms. Amber;  We talk about what it is like working at a Japanese Highschool, hanging out with the kids during their club activity practices and all things Japan.  A lovely episode that is sure to bring you some useful information and entertaining content!

Happy listening! 

Yamanashi Podcast Episode 18 ''The Club w.Amber"

 

Yamanashi Podcast Episode 17 ''Animated''

Yamanashi Podcast

Episode 17

"Animated"

We all love it! We watch it! Have our crazy obsession with some of them.  Anime.  This episode we talk to someone whose fascination with Anime started at a young age and how it became her inspiration to learn Japanese and start working as a translator and her dream to turn it into a full time career.  This episode we talk to the lovely Ms. Katrina and her Tsuru adventure and how Anime shaped her future dreams and goals.      

Happy Listening!! 

Yamanashi Podcast Episode 17 "Animated"