Advice on hotels in Nakano Japan

buma · Post by **buma** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:32 pm

well, do like boys do - carry a wallet

all the loose change went in one pocket (on the left, where my keys usually go but as I'm on vacation, I don't carry keys) and my wallet will my bills and CC went in the other pocket (right side). If you're somewhat vigilant in your coin usage, you shouldn't have too many loose coins to weigh you down - just go buy a soda or something (there are tonnes of vending machines all over the place).

Oh, and save your first 500 yen coin you get - the Japanese do this and place it in a piggy bank for their next vacation

(and saving $5 USD at a time, guess it adds up quickly). When we got to Kyoto and decided to take a taxi to the hotel as we had way too much baggage with us, the driver, when he gave us change, said to keep the 500 yen piece he gave us, but didn't tell us why. When I got back, I talked to one of my bosses and he told me about the saving for the next trip thing.

darlingapple · Post by **darlingapple** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:18 am

That's a pretty good way of keeping all your money, I hope I will not end up with too many coins though as they are so cumbersome to carry around...

By the way, did you manage to go on a tour of any anime shops such as Mandarake? It wll be fantastic if they do bring you around their shop and you have a better idea on what stuff are kept at certain sections of the shop.

Thanks again for your advice!

buma · Post by **buma** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:59 am

the only Mandarake's I went to were at Nakano Broadway mall and at Shibuya.

Madarake in Nakano is actually a bunch of smaller 'specialty' stores broken up within the mall itself - the anime cels are on the 4th floor, and the balance of it is scattered throughout the rest of the floors (don't bother going to the basement - it's only a supermarket - that is unless you want to see a Japanese supermarket, then by all means...). They shouldn't be too hard to find as they all prominently display the company name on the doors / walls and what they specialize in can easily be seen as they all have display cases showing a selection of the 'good stuff'.

Mandarake in Shibuya is actually in the basement of the Shibuya BEAM Building (and it's pretty far down too, so might want to find the elevator if you're legs are tired). Once you get there, it's pretty huge and chock full of all the anime / manga related items you could want - figures, manga, adult items, toys, models, posters, etc etc etc. They do not have much of a cel collection to browse thru, but they do have some high end cels in cases as well as some other not-so-high enders stuffed in a box at the far end - but it is a site to see and browse thru.

There are several other Mandarake's in the nearby areas around Tokyo (I believe that Ikebukuro has one, but I never got there). Best to see the Mandarake site and see for yourself.

Now a place I didn't hear you mention going to was Akihabara - which, along with being electronic town - is also otaku central as well. There are several anime / manga stores along the main 'electric town' street (Chuo-dori) - just take the electric town exit from the station and turn right and you'll see two of them right nearby each other. One is called Animate, but I forget what the other one is called - one is bright yellow / orange and the other is sort of a blue color - you can't miss them, they're like 7 stories tall (and have basements, too for all the fun adult-type stuffs). There are also a whole bunch of other things to see too - there are even several maid cafes in the area too!

And right next to Akihabara station is the UDX building with the Tokyo Anime Center. When I was there, they had displays for the new Evangelion movies out, including a human-scale EVA-01 unit:

and yes, that's me being a total dork...

makes me want to go back again, talking about it all...

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:59 am

I know one is the smallest integer but I had no idea it was called Animate but he or she forget what the other one is called - one is bright yellow orange and the other is sort of a blue color - you can not miss them they are like 7 stories tall and have basements too for all the fun adult-type stuffs.

buma · Post by **buma** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:01 am

Cloud wrote:I know one is the smallest integer but I had no idea it was called Animate but he or she forget what the other one is called - one is bright yellow orange and the other is sort of a blue color - you can not miss them they are like 7 stories tall and have basements too for all the fun adult-type stuffs.

woo - I got 'clouded'

darlingapple · Post by **darlingapple** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:17 am

Cloud wrote:I know one is the smallest integer but I had no idea it was called Animate but he or she forget what the other one is called - one is bright yellow orange and the other is sort of a blue color - you can not miss them they are like 7 stories tall and have basements too for all the fun adult-type stuffs.

Cool! That sounds just like the place I should be heading down! Thanks for the tip, Cloud!

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:17 am

It sounds like it to me too.

darlingapple · Post by **darlingapple** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:22 am

buma wrote:the only Mandarake's I went to were at Nakano Broadway mall and at Shibuya.

Madarake in Nakano is actually a bunch of smaller 'specialty' stores broken up within the mall itself - the anime cels are on the 4th floor, and the balance of it is scattered throughout the rest of the floors (don't bother going to the basement - it's only a supermarket - that is unless you want to see a Japanese supermarket, then by all means...). They shouldn't be too hard to find as they all prominently display the company name on the doors / walls and what they specialize in can easily be seen as they all have display cases showing a selection of the 'good stuff'.

Mandarake in Shibuya is actually in the basement of the Shibuya BEAM Building (and it's pretty far down too, so might want to find the elevator if you're legs are tired). Once you get there, it's pretty huge and chock full of all the anime / manga related items you could want - figures, manga, adult items, toys, models, posters, etc etc etc. They do not have much of a cel collection to browse thru, but they do have some high end cels in cases as well as some other not-so-high enders stuffed in a box at the far end - but it is a site to see and browse thru.

There are several other Mandarake's in the nearby areas around Tokyo (I believe that Ikebukuro has one, but I never got there). Best to see the Mandarake site and see for yourself.

Now a place I didn't hear you mention going to was Akihabara - which, along with being electronic town - is also otaku central as well. There are several anime / manga stores along the main 'electric town' street (Chuo-dori) - just take the electric town exit from the station and turn right and you'll see two of them right nearby each other. One is called Animate, but I forget what the other one is called - one is bright yellow / orange and the other is sort of a blue color - you can't miss them, they're like 7 stories tall (and have basements, too for all the fun adult-type stuffs). There are also a whole bunch of other things to see too - there are even several maid cafes in the area too!

And right next to Akihabara station is the UDX building with the Tokyo Anime Center. When I was there, they had displays for the new Evangelion movies out, including a human-scale EVA-01 unit:

and yes, that's me being a total dork...

makes me want to go back again, talking about it all...

Haha... LOL Sounds like you had a really great time there and the pic looks so funny! Did you get an opportunity to cosplay over there?

Seems like I made the right decision to go Tokyo after all! I did consider going to Akihabara actually but I was only halfwaydone on my list of places to visit so it had never crossed my mind to mention it.

Thanks for reminding me though, I shall make a note in my list. I have a feeling it's one anime shop to the other I will be visiting throughout my whole trip

RX78GP02AGUNDAM · Post by **RX78GP02AGUNDAM** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:26 am

buma wrote: Oh, and save your first 500 yen coin you get - the Japanese do this and place it in a piggy bank for their next vacation (and saving $5 USD at a time, guess it adds up quickly). When we got to Kyoto and decided to take a taxi to the hotel as we had way too much baggage with us, the driver, when he gave us change, said to keep the 500 yen piece he gave us, but didn't tell us why. When I got back, I talked to one of my bosses and he told me about the saving for the next trip thing.

This was one of my 07 new years resolution that lasted pretty long.
I saved about $2,200 in 9 months. It took up space in my safe, so I converted it at the ATM.

10 YEN coins go pretty fast when you buy two drinks at the vending machine. Even more if you buy the oden cans in Akihabara.
http://flickr.com/photos/tohru/18553216 ... nese-food/

darlingapple · Post by **darlingapple** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:58 pm

RX78GP02AGUNDAM wrote:
buma wrote:
This was one of my 07 new years resolution that lasted pretty long.
I saved about $2,200 in 9 months. It took up space in my safe, so I converted it at the ATM.

10 YEN coins go pretty fast when you buy two drinks at the vending machine. Even more if you buy the oden cans in Akihabara.
http://flickr.com/photos/tohru/18553216 ... nese-food/

Thanks, that was very helpful and now I know where I can dispose my coins. I love the vending machines in Japan as they have all sorts of things coming out from the machines! I hope to find the machine that allows you to buy bento sets.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 6:58 pm

Where would you look for the machine that allows you to buy bento sets.

darlingapple · Post by **darlingapple** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:01 pm

Cloud wrote:Where would you look for the machine that allows you to buy bento sets.

Yes, this is what I will like to know, please guys, if anyone knows, please advise me on this. I will love to know on the other interesting vending machines that allows you to buy other stuff besides food. That will be nice too!

Shampoo · Post by **Shampoo** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:12 pm

darlingapple wrote: I will love to know on the other interesting vending machines that allows you to buy other stuff besides food. That will be nice too!

Well dunno what you have or havenot seen as far
as Japanese vending machines, but some arcades have
claw machines where you can win a lobster or crab for dinner
and some that have cigarettes and porno dvds as the prize
instead of a UFO plushie lol

Theres also some convenience stores that sell used
girl's panties vaccum sealed for sniffing freshness, complete
with a photo of the girl wearing the pair.

Those crazy japanese peeps

darlingapple · Post by **darlingapple** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:45 pm

Shampoo wrote:
darlingapple wrote: I will love to know on the other interesting vending machines that allows you to buy other stuff besides food. That will be nice too!
Well dunno what you have or havenot seen as far
as Japanese vending machines, but some arcades have
claw machines where you can win a lobster or crab for dinner
and some that have cigarettes and porno dvds as the prize
instead of a UFO plushie lol

Theres also some convenience stores that sell used
girl's panties vaccum sealed for sniffing freshness, complete
with a photo of the girl wearing the pair.

Those crazy japanese peeps

My my my! That sounds so fun! Imagine catching my own dinner!

Hahaha... I am not surprised with the "special" panties, I have heard that Japan are very innovative and they are always coming up with new inventions! I won't be surprised to see vending machines selling disposable undergarments!