I thought that I might as well start something a little more regular in order to keep myself motivated. So every Monday (Japan time), I'll try to put out a short little blurb on a small area of Tokyo that I think of as interesting or important. I'll try to stray from the larger ones a bit, but I'm certain that Akihabara / Shibuya articles will inevitably pop-up here and there. Also, it's worth noting that I am currently cameraless, and as such I will be unable to provide photographs. However, I intend to make it work.
Now then, to start off let's talk about one of my favorite areas in Tokyo: Jinbocho. Jinbocho is basically Japan's used bookstore Mecca, you can find most things there if you're willing to spend the time looking, and are fluent in Japanese. It's located just around Jinbocho station, which is on a few subway lines, but is also within walking distance of the JR station Suidobashi (about 10 minutes or so away). This general area is actually my old haunt from when I spent the summer at a Japanese language school, but more on that another time.
In any case, it's an interesting place for English speakers as well. There are a few shops that have quite extensive English collections (a couple on par with the Yoyogi/Shinjuku Kinokuniya), and they have that great old-and-musty used-book smell to them. I've picked up a select few books there simply because it's a location rather out of my way, but it is an interesting place to be sure, and worth spending the afternoon (as long as it's not Sunday, as many of the shops will be closed).
The next entry may be a bit more extensive. Stay tuned, or not, if you would rather.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Japanese Supermarkets
Supermarkets in Japan are interesting creatures. Local ones close early- sometimes as early as 5 or 6- and the stores are often ruled by "time sales," in which certain items are discounted for a limited amount of time. It's a fundamentally different system than its American counterpart, but one that I feel can be more easily exploited. In essence, grocery shopping here is all about timing, and as a result, I always find myself keeping a few things in mind before I go:
-What do I need, exactly? (changes the most opportune time of day).
-Is it more than I can carry? (due to my car-less-ness here, I must be able to carry all that I purchase back to my apartment. Sometimes multiple trips to different stores are in order)
-How much am I willing to spend at one given time?
etc. etc.
The main rules are quite simple: earlier in the day is better for produce, later in the day is better for premade food, which often results in purchases that I have come to regret. Honestly, this country makes me question how much self-control I have every day- the food is just so good that even my daily running and exercise doesn't quite offset it. I suppose the truth is that I just have to be more conscious.
In any case, there are some items that are exceedingly hard to find. Some of these are obvious- vegetables like, say, parsnips, aren't going to be available. But the real difficulty is with other foods that seem like they should be similar, and just aren't. Peanut butter is a good example, rather than actual peanut butter, the stuff here is more like a sickeningly sweet peanut-flavored concoction. Tomato sauce might as well be ketchup for how sweet it is. These are things best found in either import stores (at greatly enlarged prices) or shipped, or purchased at a military base if you're lucky enough to have a method of access. Or made by one's self, as I've done with salsa a few times to feed a guacamole craving.
The other real differences are simplistic- produce aisles will often not have plastic bags for the vegetables and the like, and they go directly into the basket. Items are bagged by one's self, rather than a bag boy, and smaller quantities are purchased at one time for most- after all, this is close to Tokyo, so not all that many people have cars.
In any case, that's just a short explanation. Maybe interesting for someone who stumbles along here one day, who knows? I'm just curing boredom.
-What do I need, exactly? (changes the most opportune time of day).
-Is it more than I can carry? (due to my car-less-ness here, I must be able to carry all that I purchase back to my apartment. Sometimes multiple trips to different stores are in order)
-How much am I willing to spend at one given time?
etc. etc.
The main rules are quite simple: earlier in the day is better for produce, later in the day is better for premade food, which often results in purchases that I have come to regret. Honestly, this country makes me question how much self-control I have every day- the food is just so good that even my daily running and exercise doesn't quite offset it. I suppose the truth is that I just have to be more conscious.
In any case, there are some items that are exceedingly hard to find. Some of these are obvious- vegetables like, say, parsnips, aren't going to be available. But the real difficulty is with other foods that seem like they should be similar, and just aren't. Peanut butter is a good example, rather than actual peanut butter, the stuff here is more like a sickeningly sweet peanut-flavored concoction. Tomato sauce might as well be ketchup for how sweet it is. These are things best found in either import stores (at greatly enlarged prices) or shipped, or purchased at a military base if you're lucky enough to have a method of access. Or made by one's self, as I've done with salsa a few times to feed a guacamole craving.
The other real differences are simplistic- produce aisles will often not have plastic bags for the vegetables and the like, and they go directly into the basket. Items are bagged by one's self, rather than a bag boy, and smaller quantities are purchased at one time for most- after all, this is close to Tokyo, so not all that many people have cars.
In any case, that's just a short explanation. Maybe interesting for someone who stumbles along here one day, who knows? I'm just curing boredom.
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