I hope this is the right place to post this idk. Sorry if not, I’m just so curious… But I was walking down near kabukicho theatre after school and there was a big crowd of people, some were filming and I was hearing some lady screaming like really loudly from the top of a building…. and it sounded like a not good scream… I’ve never seen anything like this before, but I tried to look and I saw someone at the top but couldn’t tell what was happening. I left because it was really unsettling, but I still want to know what that was all about. I tried looking it up but couldn’t find anything. Did anyone else see this or hear about it? Happened probably like 6-7 hours ago…

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all doing well.

Can you please recommend one or several good used bookstores that have a ton of variety of books and also offer really good price in Tokyo? I am particularly interested in young adult books (Furigana is nice, not required if the book is worth reading) & also American and Japanese classics, including Samurai and Edo period stories. I’ve so far visited the BOOK OFF in Akihabara and I’m loving Your Name (green border version with Furigana). Additionally, I’ve been to Shosen book store (Akihabara) and Nakano Broadway and found a bookstore on the 2nd floor near Mandarake (starts with the letter “H”). I’ve found so many neat American and British classics in Japanese and Edo period novels with really interesting cover art. Sadly, I prefer not to pay the brand new book price, so I would appreciate if you can suggest some bookstores.

I have heard Jinbocho (book town) is really good for finding such books for a good price. Is that true??

Lastly, any recommendations for finding boxed (NEW) noodle stoppers or similarly smaller figures for a great price? Particularly of Miku and Rem. So far, I found a few at Nakano Broadway and some at Akihabara, but I am interested in other recommendations please. Any special store names will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!! 🙏

Hey all, I don't suppose anyone here has any recommendations for a spot, maybe a cafe, that is relaxed but also affordable around Shinjuku?

Meeting a friend that I've not seen in a couple of years so it would be good to find somewhere that's a bit more relaxed, where we can take the time to catch up however, as my friend is still a student, it would be good if it was a bit more budget friendly. Last time I tried to pay for them, it would have been easier to throw fists 😅

I visited Tokyo last month and was totally overwhelmed by the city's rail system. I don't think a more complicated interconnected system exists in the world.

https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/pdf/RouteMap_majorrailsub.pdf

Has anyone memorized the entire system who doesn't work for a rail line? Or do people just know how to get to where they need to be?

Hello everyone!

Since bouldering has become so damn popular in Tokyo, I think we need a post just to shout out to the best and the worst gym/bouldering experience here!

Fyi, I’m still a beginner and have been bouldering for 6 months. Max 3級 or 2級 on a good day. Quite introverted so I would prefer sticking one earphone in and minding my own business.

So far I have mostly been to the Noborock gyms as they are pretty cheap and easy but fun enough for a noob like me. So here are my thoughts:

Noborock Ikebukuro: staffs are friendly on the next level. I have the whole gyms on my own every morning during the weekday. People are mostly regular and they are nice to introverted people. Compared to others this gym is really small though, so it gets bored after 3rd times going. But at least they change the routes after 1 months so I keep coming back.

Noborock Takadanobaba: a lot more spacious, walls are higher and staffs are also friendly. Since it’s in Takadanobaba, it’s definitely not empty in the morning but quite comfortable enough to climb and rest in between. More chairs as well.

Noborock Shibuya: unfortunately this one was a miss for me become the staffs in two of the days I went to were pretty cold and unfriendly. Both times we were exchanging death stares while taking my money. I might have been unlucky as well because on both days I went to, it was super crowded and everyone was just climbing wherever disregarding the safe distance between other people. People were also rushing to the wall so that they could finally get to climb.

Noborock Machida: Walls are so damn high they scared me. Staffs are also friendly.

I would not suggest going in the afternoon in any of these gyms tho because they get so damn crowded. But I also want little to no interaction with people if possible so that is just my thing.

I own 2 cute little baby hamsters and I am struggling to find a store that sells high - quality hamster supplies such as wheat sprays and wooden tunnels. I would also like to buy other stuff like coconut shavings for my hamsters but I don't know any good stores. Recommendations appreciated!!!

I feel like every one i’ve seen is pretty well maintained, but there have to be a few abandoned ones out there? Have you found any while on a hike or a walk?

Of course, if I ever to ever visit, it would be respectfully.

Edit: someone has claimed the bear spray.

I'm leaving from Tokyo after a 2-month bicycle tour, with a month of it spent in Hokkaido bear country. I have a free unused large canister of counter assault bear spray for anyone who regularly travels or is planning a trip to bear territory. I can meet up in Shinjuku or Shibuya, first one to DM me with solid plans to grab it gets it.

Hello, I'm just crowdsourcing to see if anyone knows of any stores or online websites in Japan that create customized bobbleheads. I’m currently living in Tokyo and would like to get a custom bobblehead made for my aunt’s birthday, as she has been a huge support to me since the beginning of my journey in this country.

I’ve looked at some sites, but they’re based outside Japan, and I’m not very confident about ordering from them.

Hope you can give some suggestions.

-Ppotato

Hi. So, after taking some days off and traveling a bit, I am having a hard moment of realization that it is not Japan that I despise, and maybe not even Tokyo. The problem is mostly with the sad stain that Kamara is.

Been living here for 8 months, and I can not find a single good thing about it.

This refers to both nightlife/ social interactions and daytime activities like walks in the nature or through some fun places at least.

The only 1 good thing I can find is how it is pretty close to Kawasaki(also pretty lacking, in nightlife at least) and Yokohama(no clubs at least on maps), and at least not impossibly far from fun Tokyo places. And this is in no way something to praise.

I was this close to just giving up and screwing off outta here no looking back and no regrets. But I had Kyoto on my bucket list so I first went there and through Kansai.

Full of nature, history, nice buildings and presentable campuses and offices and whatnot, better trains. And clubs actually exist within walking distance unless you are really out in the fields.(and if you are, you are within walking distance from nature so no real loss)

This made me give Shibuya another shot today. And what do you know, when things got fun I hat to hop on the train because Kamata is not within walking distance even if you force it to a 1 hour walk. There is NOTHING fun within a 1 hour walk except for like 2 parks and a wild shot at a beach.

Oh but of course there is prostitution everywhere and so many girl bars that Google started giving them as "clubs". But I am not lonely enough to spend money on a female companion by the hour, sorry. Not taking shots at anyone who does that tho.

The lack of any fun nightlife or even social life in general also led to me not having a single friend, so even going clubbing would be a shot in the dark that would have me lose a whole night in a random club in shinjuku with the risk of doing it all alone.

If I would have just stayed in the dark and left hating this whole country or at least the whole of Tokyo because of a remote area that would have been fine. Ignorance is bliss after all.

But since I know what could be, I would just leave full of regrets.

So maybe anyone knows something fun here that I may have missed? (Except for the hub, I have been there and I wasn't magically picked up by a cougar like the whole internet says will happen...probably for the better)

During the day I can of course bite the bullet and take a train a bit further to a nice place with maybe some culture, history or nature. But at the age of 23 I am also pretty interested is what to do after dark. Not in the way of going out with the shallow goal of just getting laid. Socializing, having the thrill of not knowing where the night is going while also being relaxed because I can just go home if things die down at 1 or 2 am.

I would like to interact with someone outside of an old drunk man or a cuteish girl trying to scam me.

And if anyone was thinking about it, yes. At this pace I do plan on leaving by summer. Be it going back home if the economy continues the free fall that long, or be it in a better place within Japan granted I somehow find a dream job that pays well and has me in a good area.(Kanto or not)

I just don't want to let it die out like this. I am desperate to find something here and enjoy life if only for the remainder of my miserable life in Kamata. Or even better, somehow find out that kamata is actually great.

If you know any hidden gem within walking distance. Heck, even Kawasaki is walking distance if there is something there. Please let me know, maybe you can save my damn awful Japanese experience.

I know all men at some point in their older life have thought of this but I’ve not read about it on Reddit. I am too old and even though I am not having regular sex, I would like to avoid getting a woman pregnant. Has anyone had a vasectomy in Tokyo before? Can you tell me where I might go or which doctor to contact? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance

Hello, is there a guided tour? Because almost everything’s in Japanese, and its too tedious to use translate for everything. They also have audio guide but I’m not sure it encompasses everything.

What are your plans for the the weekend? Any exciting event going on? Share your tips in the comments.

Don't know what to do this weekend? Luckily you're in the biggest city in the world and there's plenty to do:

• General events: TimeOut Tokyo
• Exhibitions and art events: Tokyo Art Beat
• Gigs in livehouses: Gigs in Tokyo and Tokyo Gig Guide Calendar
• Mainstream clubbing: iFlyer
• Underground clubbing: ResidentAdvisor

Meetup mode: if you're up for people to join your shenanigans, say so! Say when you're available, and what you'd like to do. Add your age, a little about yourself, and your gender if relevant.

I'd like to crochet a few things for friends this Christmas and figured I might as well graduate from Daiso yarn, any recommendations?

Japanlife Mod removed my post there without any reason and then called me a “dipshit” for asking why (Edit: They permanently banned me now too. It was my first time posting there lol), so I am posting it here because people should know and be aware.

Thanks to previous posts (that Jlife mod didn’t remove??) I immediately knew what was happening and scared him away from the person he was bothering.

At around 9:33 pm at Ichigaya station, Chuo Line, a white man about 182 cm / 6’ with a scruffy face and shortish black hair, early-mid 30s, black face mask, grey/blue fisherman’s short brimmed hat walked up behind me toward the train doors. He was holding his phone screen up with Google Translate opened. Based on the other posts here I knew exactly who he was.

He paused awkwardly, looking at the pockets of the people around us, and then turned toward the woman leaning on the door with his phone opened to a long speech typed out on Google Translate. For those that don’t know, he says he doesn’t have money for his trip to the airport, and asks for cash.

I immediately stop him and tell the woman “泥棒” and he gets mad and says, “I just want to ask a question!” in English with a European accent (sorry the interaction was so short I couldn’t specify what type of accent). His eyes were WIDE, bloodshot (almost like he was on ❄️). And then he walks down to the next set of doors, angrily watching me until he gets off at the next station and then quickly runs away.

The woman asked me what he wanted and I told her he was a scammer.

I share this so others can be aware, and be on the lookout for a man asking people with Google Translate for money. His behavior and body language was erratic. I’m certain he was on something.

Anyways, be careful. Just two weeks ago a friend from abroad was on Oedo Line when his shopping bag with his passport inside was stolen by a group of white European tourists who sat down next to him at Kuramae station.

Other Twitter users have also encountered him. User Parsonalsecret has posted about him, DM me if you want the link.

Edit: I talked to the police just now. They said you should call 110 next time you see him and make the report there.

So I sent two packages to Belgium and in both cases my recepients were asked to pay 24€ customs fees, unless it was not from a webshop and it was a gift from someone else. Which it is. I'm talking about an A4 envelope with a postcard and small gifts like washi paper and a key chain, its weight I payed for at JP Post.

How can I make sure my recipients don't pay customs fees for a lightweight envelope coming from Japan? Or should I use another company?

For the longest time I swear everywhere I've been breast was cheaper than leg ( I preferred it this way), but maybe its because I never paid attention to chicken legs but at Gyomu super at least frozen the 2kg boneless chicken legs are cheaper than the 2kg breasts. Is this flipping or just a temporary thing? It's like 950 vs 1200 yen

Previously my wife and I lived in a large US city which had many excellent Chinese restaurants but probably our favorite kind was Hong Kong style dim sum. (i. e. the type of dim sum which is served on a small cart which waiters and waitresses push around the restaurant). We have had a lot of excellent dim sum in the Kanto area (r. i. p. Heichinrou), but we have not found any Hong Kong style. Does anyone know of a Hong Kong style dim sum place in the Kanto region?

So I saw this guy with a lot of photographers and family members last year in a park in Tokyo. I asked someone who that is and he could only tell me that he is probably Korean. Does anyone know who that is?

I'm a software engineer in my early 30s, here in Japan on a WH. I've been travelling for the past 6 months, and now looking to settle down in Tokyo for the remaining months of my WH, have some stability, work on personal projects, look for jobs, etc.

I've narrowed the room search down to Shimo vs Nakameguro. I found comparable share rooms in both and trying to decide which one based on the neighbourhood. I like both: I've wandered around shimo during the day and evening, and hear the live music scene is great. I've stayed in nakameguro before and enjoy the quiet stroll along the river, trendy cafes and nature. I work remotely, often from cafes and co-working spaces, so commute isn't really a factor I can use to determine this. Ultimately I feel I've got 2 decent choices and just need to pick 1.

Here's how I characterise the neighbourhoods:
Shimo has a perpetual mass of people flowing through it, but in a quiet way so seem lively without being overcrowded. It's packed to the brim with cafes, restaurants, bars, and clothing shops (I don't do much thrifting so it's not a big draw for me). I wonder about getting tired of that though, noise late in the night from the nightlife scene, the stimulation, crowds, lack of nature and quiet spaces.

Nakameguro, on the other hand, has peace and quiet - the trees along the river, quiet backstreets, cafes and bars tucked away. I like wandering around and checking out places, but previous times I've stayed there I've also found it a bit exclusive and lonely - there's not so much of a street culture (except around the station), people are older, usually families, more affluent. It seems like it would be harder to bump into people and make friends.

tl;dr Nakameguro for quiet/nature, Shimo for social/nightlife?

Prior to flipping a coin, I thought I'd ask for the wisdom of r/Tokyo.

• How accurate are these impressions?
• What's the co-working cafe/space situation of these neighbourhoods?
• Personal experiences living in these neighbourhoods
• Recommendations

Hello, I am moving to Tokyo in January and am wondering how I should go about starting or finding a band to join. I am 18m and play guitar, bass, and keyboard for six years. I have only played in bands with people I already knew, but seeing as I don't know any musicians in Tokyo I was hoping to use music as a way of meeting people and making friends. My Japanese is N3, but I am a lot shier in 日本語 as I have never had the opportunity to practice speaking. I have heard of live houses, but will I be laughed out for being a 馬鹿な外国人 with shoddy Japanese?

Honestly don’t know if that was posted here but let’s see what our fellow neighbors do with him 😂

https://youtu.be/XsPa9wcvlTE

I was born in hachioji and lived there until I was 5 before moving to the US. A lot of my favorite early childhood memories included it being rainy so I always had the impression that it's a pretty rainy city, I currently live in Portland which gets a grey drizzle for months, and I was wondering how the amount of rain in Tokyo compares and the winters compare

Hi all, I‘m currently in Tokyo (close to Tokyo Sky Tree). I have reddish urin. Which doctor can I go best?? Thank you so much!

When I get homesick and wanna make some European comfort food, I always have issues with the potatoes I get in the supermarkets here. No matter how I cook them, they become incredibly dry and crumble. The ones I use in my home country have a thin golden skin and are very moist but with a "bite" to them. I am now trying to search for similar kinds here. Any place in Tokyo where you can get a bigger selection from different regions?