video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzGgDAVZ8HQ

Tokyo, Musashi-Koyama, april 2014

Michelle,

There are many guides for travellers but there will never be a guide for your life. You will have to figure it out by yourself, day by day. It will be the most exciting journey you will ever make.

Remember, no matter what others say, you are never too old to do something and you are never too young to do something.

The only true religion is believing in yourself, and you should never, ever, stop doing that.

Patient people see the world change but it are the impatient people who change the world.

I wish you all the best in discovering yourself and the world, and whenever you're sad and lonely just go to the beach and stand on your head.

Love,

Tanja

Sakura

Spring has come.

Not my fortune (hooray)

A present for Grandma and something equally useful for myself

Jenglish - part III

Hmm, I'll have... that one, please.

But, It's MY party :-(

Oh no, I really wanted to wash my hair before riding the rollercoaster.

I will. Promised.

"It" is also very cranky when hungry

And we are Belgium.

As in, not take out.

I will do my very best.

40 Percent of Surveyed Japanese Men Prefer Bachelorhood

I did some online research and found following disturbing survey results and quotes in online Japanese newspapers and magazines.

• A survey by the Japan Family Planning Association found that 36 percent of males between 16 and 19 had "no interest" in sex
• A survey conducted by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research revealed that 61,4% of single men aged 18-34 do not have a girlfriend.
• The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research study also showed one in four unmarried men and women in their 30s had never had sex.
• 30% of men in their 30's admit that they have no experience of dating a woman

Japanese men comment:

“To me, married men just don’t look happy, and the more time passes, the more this look of unhappiness becomes apparent.” (36, Finance).
“Being tied down creates unwanted stress. To put it simply, being on your own gives you the freedom to do what you want when you want.” (31, Machinery)
“I like drinking and gambling but tying the knot would surely mean an end to all of this.” (26, Real estate)
“Just looking at my married friends and how day by day they become more and more emaciated makes me think that I’m lucky to be single.” (25, Creative Arts)

縞三毛(関東・甲信越)：

I’ve been going out with my girlfriend for six years, and I haven’t done it for four.

黒トラ(島根県)：

Thing is, it’s easier to wank than have sex, plus it feels better.

ジャパニーズボブテイル(滋賀県)：

But you know, even if I’m told “Hey, I’ll introduce you to a girl” I end up turning them down. I mean, I want to have sex, but when I think that I’ll be sacrificing my privacy, I just think to hell with it, I’m happy to stay a virgin.

メインクーン(茸)：

I’m no good at dating, so I’m thinking of staying single for the rest of my life. When I want to ejaculate, I can just pay my money and get someone to wank me off, and I have no desire to leave these junior-high graduate with communication issues genes behind, so I don’t need any offspring.

beautiful Tokyo scenery

Children not so many, Dogs quite a few

Is here anyone who doesn't own a dog?!
Never saw any other country where people have more dogs than kids.
And these dogs live better lives than most people on this planet do.
Dog hairdressers, dog massage parlors, dog clothes stores, dog toy stores, dog bars and restaurants, dog playgrounds,...
Basically, whatever we have, they have.
As usual, I'll keep my opinion to myself. (harhar)
Here are some pics.

MUST DO IN JAPAN N°2

Like everybody else you'll probably make a daytrip to Mount Fuji. Nice. You'll have views from the train, views from the nearby cable lift, a walk around the lake. Why not. But what every foreign tourist guide forgets to mention and the one and only reason I would send you there is for the most original view on Mount Fuji (or on any other mountain or volcano really) you'll ever get...

A view from the Fujikyu Highland Rollercoasters. Yay!

I'll explain it to you.

There are 4 roller coasters.

1. Fujiyama, 79 metres tall, 130km/hr. As of 2007 it is the world's 8th tallest, 5th longest and 10th fastest roller coaster.

2. Dodonpa, 52 metres tall, 172km/hr. As of 2013 it is the 4th fastest in the world and has the highest accelaration launch time ever.

3. Eejanaika, 76 metres tall, 126km/hr. Opened in 2006 and is the second 4D roller coaster ever built! As a 4 dimension coaster its seats can rotate 360 degrees forward or backward in a controlled spin, thus allowing Eejanaika to invert 14 diiferent times, even though the actual track inverts only three times. It surpasses the first built 4D roller coaster in both height and speed.

4. Takabisha, opened on July 16th 2011, contains a 121° freefall, as well as seven major twists over 1000 metres of track and a drop of 43 metres.

And all this with a view on Mount Fuji!

Do I need to say more?

Enjoy the ride and don't forget: KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!

(photo japan-guide.com)

DAYTRIP TO MOUNT (VOLCANO) FUJI

When you go to Mt. Fuji take the train from Shinjuku station. Do not take the bus. The train will cost you more and it will take longer, but it's worth it. You'll definitely be more comfortable in the train. But also, the second part of the trip, after you've changed trains, you'll get the full Japan experience. The train itself will become one of the highlights of your trip. It's a tourist train, it stops at every station and offers you amazing views on the Japanese country side and on Mount Fuji. It slows down so you can take pictures. The inside of the train will keep you and your children entertained during the whole trip, which takes about 40 mins.

Get off at Kawaguchi-ko station and walk to Kawaguchi-ko lake. At the lake you can do a boat trip, rent a paddle boat, take the cable lift, just stroll around the lake and enjoy the many views on Mt. Fuji. Eat a typical Japanese ice cream and just enjoy the day. If you prefer riding a bicycle you can stay on the train until the last station, Fuji-Yoshida and rent bicycles at the tourist office. It's all very affordable.

Half a day should be enough to enjoy the view and the lake. The second half of your day you should spend at the Fujikyo Highland Amusement park. Make sure to bring back the bicycles first. You can walk to the Fujikyo Highland station or take one of the small tourist busses. The Fujikyo Highland Amusement park is in my personal top 3 things to do in and around Tokyo and you can read about it on this blog. Go to Mt. Fuji on a weekday when it's sunny. When it's rainy and cloudy you will not see anything. In the weekend you'll be standing in line for hours at the amusement park. I do not recommend the amusement park for families with small children.

EASY TRAVEL IN JAPAN

no matter how dumb or drunk you are, they'll make sure you won't miss your stop

MUST DO IN JAPAN N°1

If I'd have friends coming to Japan right now I would take them to two places. This is the first one.

ceci n'est pas un spaceship

http://www.jicoofloatingbar.com/

No tourist guide mentions how awesome this boat is. Why o why? No problem. I'm here for you.

Don't climb any more towers, avoid taking elevators to rooftops. I'm sure you've done it too many times. So did I. This is the one and only place to go for a view during your Tokyo trip and of course the design of this boat is worth to watch too.

Go there around 8 or 9 pm, after dark, sit back, relax, have a drink and enjoy the loungy music offered by local DJ's. Forget your worries, do a little dance and be reminded on how awesome life can be.

Note: only open until 11pm! Call the owners if you want to rent it for an all night private party.

DAYTRIP TO KAMAKURA AND ENOSHIMA

You can take a direct train to Kamakura from Shinjuku station. When you get of the station in Kamakura go to the left and take your time to stroll through the shopping street. At the end of the shopping street you go right and walk to the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine. It's one of the many temples and shrines is this area. But if I'd have to pick only one to visit I would choose this one.

After going to the shrine you can take a bus at the train station to go to the Great Buddha. If the weather is nice and you have time you can easily walk there. It's not far from Kamakura station.

Then walk down the road to Kamakura beach. After spending many days or weeks in Tokyo you'll be happy to see the ocean and the horizon.

The closest station near the beach is Hase station. Take the train to visit Enoshima island. There's plenty to see and I suggest you have dinner here, in one of the many restaurants, before heading back to Tokyo.

Jenglish part II

And what if it's NOT normal?

When and where might actually be different. Just think about it.

Seriously

This could be German though.

Oh, Thank God, they're clean. The last time I bought towels... O, no, wait.

When exactely?

TOKYO - THE CITY OF LIGHTS