Japan

Have a word with balmain who lived there.

Funniest/creepiest thing is the maid cafes and some stores in Akihabara.

Best food I reckon I've had in Tokyo was Yakitori Alley in Yurakucho, or Ebisu (which is also near Kinfolk Lounge)

THANKS.
keep em coming.

also anyone got any idea on rough budget id need per day safe amount to get about and eat etc...

Japan is fantastic! I went for five weeks in 2008 and am planning to return in the new Year to do a teaching job in Tokyo. Here's a panoramic shot of Tokyo skyline I took with my friends camera from the Skydeck in Roppongi Hills. Immense!

And here's Tokyo Tower given the Tilt-shift treatment in Photoshop, my favourite, and some cross processing:

All I can say is Tokyo is fixed gear central with loads of places to ride and very, very flat.

Make sure you have a brake though. Even if it doesn't work. I got caught and was close to being fined, but played the ignorant foreigner card and was told to push my bike and not ride again. So I didn't. Until I got round the corner.

go to the studio ghibli museum which is a twenty/thirty min train journey away, you can buy tickets in lawson, have to buy them on the day/or the day before, you can't buy them in advance. It is amazing....

Jealous doesn't even come close.

what are the best options for using a uk mobile in japan,
i use t-mob here so does anyone know if the global sim thing work?

I used my Vodafone / HTC sensation out there with no problems (voice & data).

Except I got completely and utterly shafted on the phone bill.

i realise the handset will need to be 3g and unlocked if using a japanese sim which softbank sells but not docomo, what i really wanted to know was if anyone has had any experience using a global sim which offers free call receipt and cheaper call rates.

bump...

haven't tried the global sim and i couldn't get a sim for my iPhone form either softbank or docomo japan has lots of rules and regulations over getting them for some reason. another option is you can rent a phone from an agency at whichever airport you enter into japan.

I live in Kyoto (moved here last August for postgraduate study) and it's such an amazing place. Fell in love with the country back in 2008 but never thought I'd end up living here semi-permanently. If you have the chance, PLEASE visit!

The only thing I dislike is mandatory rear brakes, but oh well, a small price to pay. Well, that and the LARGE prices you have to pay for anything. Heh.

As a bonus there are some hilarious English hiccups...

http://i.imgur.com/BIoDT.jpg

Any other British FG riders in Kyoto or the Kansai area? I'd love to meet up with some like-minded people who, uh, speak English.

Kyoto was my favourite of all the Japanese cities I visited. Lovely place.

Coincidence! Just looked at your photo - I took a photo of that place too!

What self-respecting Englishman wouldn't take a photo?!

Kyoto was my favourite of all the Japanese cities I visited. Lovely place.

Yeah I visited Kyoto twice, again back in 2008, beautiful city. I took some shots with my friends phone but not seen them since. I remember the Gion Matsuri, very eerie all the chanting took its tool on me, as well as the endless Takoyaki stalls. Miss it, alot.
Poppa!

Bump on this, I am moving to Japan in early August for at least a year and wondering whether to ship my bike out or buy one out there? Going to be living in Hakusan-Shi in Ishikawa so hoping to get down to Osaka...I don't imagine there will be many places to buy fixed stuff where I will be!

Ship it. No matter how much it costs, it's gonna be cheaper than buying/building a nice fixed gear here!

If you get down to Osaka/Kyoto way drop me a line!

Cheers was thinking that would be a better option...will look into it. Nice one, will do!

Spotted this today - this place is a local bakery. Japan, you never cease to amaze.

So, I'm in Japan with some friends from the 7th of May for 3 weeks. We were hoping on doing some riding/touring around the place, any good rides that could be recommended?

PM me your Facebook details (if you have it) and I'll invite you into the group we have for Kyoto group rides. If you're in the Kyoto area you're most welcome to join us, and we have a few multi-day rides lined up potentially around that time, too.

Shimanami Kaido is one route that always gets recommended. Only 70km on its own so probably best rolled into something longer (that's what we're planning).

Thanks dude, will PM