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Topic: Nintendo-ey Things in Japan

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Maxz
RR529

We actually had a Japan Discussion thread here at one point which may be of help to you, but it's been sooo long since the last post (and it was mostly me to be honest, lol) that I don't know how far down it is (probably not the best idea to comment on it if you find it though, just 'cause it's so old).

The main reason I bring it up is because I believe there were at least two posters (one of which I know isn't here anymore) who had been to Japan and mentioned things they had done there in that thread, so it may be worth a browsing if you can find it.

Edited on by RR529

Currently Playing:
Switch - Blade Strangers
PS4 - Kingdom Hearts III, Tetris Effect (VR)

yokokazuo

@RR529 I believe that was this thread, right?
https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/general_discussion/japan_d...
But yeah it's old so it would probably be best to start a new one if a discussion is continued (perhaps use this thread?).

@Maxz I've mainly stayed around Nagoya and I'm not really knowledgeable on most things Nintendo related... there is a Pokémon centre in Nagoya though. And then perhaps the Splatoon Koshien if you are interested in that.

As for games, I have to recommend E.X. Troopers!! Absolutely fantastic and one of my favourite games too!
Hmm, I guess I don't have a lot of exclusive 3DS games aside from VC... (but E.X. Troopers still makes my 3DS worth it ). If you like Fire Emblem then I recommend any of the past games. Famicom ones may feel a bit dated, but I have come to really enjoy them. If you have a new 3DS then there will also be the Super Famicom Fire Emblems as well.

Edited on by yokokazuo

yokokazuo

3DS Friend Code: 1418-6707-5664 | Nintendo Network ID: yokokazuo

Maxz

@yokokazuo Would you recommend Nagoya from a tourist's point of view? You'be got family there, right? I'd love to hear an intermittent local's take! Taking part in the Splatoon Tourney (or trying to) would be a laugh. I'd have to convince three people that taking some random foreigner into the team would be a good idea, which might be hard - especially as I wouldn't be in the country for the next round.

But I have a friend from Gifu, and I met a Nagoyan recently who said it was nice.

If there is any nice walking to be done around the area, I've taken my brother's expensive camera, and would like to have a go at snapping some Autumn colours (sorry for the double-Britishism.

@RR529 That does look very suitable, but also very old. If there were enough latent interest, it would probably be more useful having a general 'Japan Thread' than this self-serving 'I'm going on holiday' one. I guess it's for the mods to decide. One of the last posts in the old thread was some guy (whose profile tag line is "Creative individual with much to offer the world", sagely informing the thread that "Japan was just China with comics". Perhaps that's the comment that killed it...

Anyway, thank you both for your advice. I've actually booked accommodation now, at a reasonable price for the location (Shinjuku), and plan on buying a Mamachari and scooting around Tokyo for the first week at least. The Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony is on the first weekend of my trip, so that's one thing pinned down. Now just lots of packing to do.

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yokokazuo

@Maxz ah, I think I've seen some rather strange and racist comments from that person... pretty sure they are banned now at least.

Well my host family lives near there, but I'm not actually related to them. My family is mainly from around Yamaguchi prefecture, but I've only been there for a couple days once. I also got to see the gravesite where my great grandparents' ashes were and met with my grandfather's cousin for the first time. It was a rather small city and I didn't really go to many surrounding places.
My family is close friends with another family and while we aren't exactly related, we always meet together for reunions. They are from Gifu too so I met up with one of them to Gifu.
Gifu has some neat sites to see and is famous for its fake plastic foods. I made some myself too, this video goes over some places to go to there.

The two people in the video are called Rachel and Jun and have their own YouTube channel by the same name. They are from Nagoya and so you can probably find some places to go to that are around there. Some places that I've gone to and enjoyed are Tokugawa Gardens, Nagoya Castle (Splatoon's Rainmaker is based off of the shachi-hoko on top of the castle) and the Oasis 21 mall. It's underground, but open-air and in the winter they also put in a skating rink.
Untitled

I miss Nagoya haha
Already took a trip this year (to eastern Canada) so I probably won't go to Japan again until possibly next year or later.

Also we use British spelling a lot in Canada including colour . I actually also prefer Autumn even if Fall is used more often here haha.

Edited on by yokokazuo

yokokazuo

3DS Friend Code: 1418-6707-5664 | Nintendo Network ID: yokokazuo

Maxz

@yokokazuo Thank you for the detailed response, and I'm sorry it's taken so long to reply. I've been busy preparing for and actually being in Japan. Anyway, I made it! Off all the myriad of things that could have gone wrong, none of them have (so far). Being smacked in the face by a Shinjuku evening in full flow after 24 hours of travelling to an 8 hour different time zone was the biggest test to my sanity I've had in a while though. I stepped of the plane, hobbled through customs, tried to get myself and my plane-neighbour tickets to our respective destinations from the machines in Narita, then watched as Tokyo grew ever more supercharged in its neon glory through the window. Then I stepped off the train into Japan's busiest train station, got carried outdoors in the swarm of people and BAM! Giant TV screens blaring pop music from on high, huge buildings strung with long strips of brightly lit advertising, and throngs of young fashionable Tokyoites flowing in every direction. And I'd been too busy helping my new found plane-friend get to where he was going to bother downloading details instructions of the route from the station to the hostel while there was free WiFi at the airport. I had my first Japanese conversation in Japan with some hip guy on a street corner about... how to get free WiFi in the city. It was fun, but a bit nerve-wracking, as all the people I've been practicing speaking Japanese with in London obviously have some desire to learn and reasonable knowledge of English, so it was relatively easy to flip between the two languages to clarify things. This was obviously very much 'go Japanese or go home'. Anyway, it turns out every FamilyMart offers it, and FamilyMarts are everywhere, so that's been extremely useful.

The last two days have been largely about acclimatisation, and seeing more of the city has been a nice reminder than it is a city of many faces, not all of them as blisteringly overwrought as Shinjuku's technicolour apocalypse. The parks seemed to have retained much of their historical beauty and composure as the rest of the city has raced towards the 21st century and beyond, and have been reassuring reminders of many of the reasons I was drawn to coming back to the country. They're incredibly beautiful, and the atmosphere and even smells make a delightful change from the city's ever present combination of food and drains. Not that the drains smell all that bad - for drains - but I'm pretty sure that's a pretty major factor of Tokyo's unique smell. Anyway, yeah, it's been a great mental support going to some of the green spaces. The electric madness of the urban districts is fun and all, but man can not live on neon lights alone. I went to the Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony yesterday in Hama-Rikyu Gardens, which was the most lovely thing ever. They're really beautiful gardens, and even the surrounding city seems a bit more peaceful than my current base in Shinjuku.

Thankfully, I feel like I've gathered by bearings enough to actually enjoy Tokyo now, and while the bits of my trip I'm most looking forward to are probably based in quieter pastures, it's nice to no that there's enough variation in the capital to keep me interested, and feeling more than faintly petrified. I'm going to go to a social event in Yoyogi Park today, as most of my drawn out conversations have been with people trying to sell me stuff.

Anyway, sorry. This is a forum, not a Blogger account. Speaking of Nintendo related things, there's a fair amount more advertising here than in the U.K., which is to be expected, but still interesting to see. Colour Splash was getting some poster treatment, and I keep seeing Sun and Moon advertised on the little screens they have on the metro. Even Animal Crossing was featured - I think in some collaborations with a convenience store.

I'm not sure of the exact date I'll be leaving Tokyo - at least in a week's time, but I'll try and put your advice to good use. Nagoya is definitely looks like it's on the cards. My questions st the moment is whether to venture north of Tokyo (I've never done that before), and if so, where. I'd like to do some walking/hiking, so maybe there are some nice places up there. And then there's the obligatory Fuji Trip, which I glossed over last time too. Decisions, decisions. Anyway, lots to look forward to potentially, but I'm mainly trying to put one foot in front of the other. I might head off when I feel I've put Tokyo through its paces.

Anyway, mighty blog ramble over. Thank you for your advice and information!

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yokokazuo

@Maxz ah, nice to hear that you have arrived! Hope you continue to enjoy your trip!
I've never been north myself, but I certainly would like to go sometime too.
I will say that I've heard Nagoya called Japan's most boring city or something like that though. However there certainly can be much enjoyment to be found there.
Also my family has hosted an exchange student from Osaka when I went to Japan so I've gone there and visited him a couple times. If you haven't tried it yet, Osaka is famous for its takoyaki which is pretty good. Aside from that we went to some shrines and also took a picture in front of the glico sign.
If you are a fan of Fire Emblem, there are also Cipher cards with some decks that include a code for exclusive 3DS themes. I just ordered some myself the other day so they should arrive in a few weeks I think. If you do want the 3DS theme, one comes with the Path of Radiance 蒼炎の軌跡編 starter pack and the others are with the Fates White Night 白夜編 and Black Night 暗夜編 packs. These ones come with the Series Protagonists and Series Heroines Themes. (Protagonists in White Night/Male Corrin and Heroines in Black Night/Female Corrin).

yokokazuo

3DS Friend Code: 1418-6707-5664 | Nintendo Network ID: yokokazuo

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