Big in Japan: Best weekend escapes from Tokyo

by Matthew Firestone on

Living in one of the world’s biggest metropolises can certainly take its toll on your health and sanity!

On a good day, Tokyo is an adrenaline-fueled hedonists’ playground where you can overwhelm your senses with fine cuisine, cutting edge fashion and some of the planet’s most beautiful people. On a bad day, Tokyo is a neon-ringed urban jungle where you can dull your senses on grey concrete, jumbled streetscapes and some of the planet’s most crowded spaces.

Indeed, the secret to living in Tokyo is to embrace the idea of being a dedicated weekend warrior. After punching out from work on Friday afternoon, race home, grab your bags and make haste to the surrounding countryside. After all, the area surrounding Tokyo is not only surprisingly green and lush, but it’s also dotted with ancient temples, sacred mountains and therapeutic hot springs.

So, without further adieu, I present to you today some of Tokyo’s best weekend escapes…

1) Mt Fuji – While the climbing season doesn’t officially open until June 1, catching an iconic glimpse of this scared mountain is one of the classic vistas of both ancient and modern Japan. The area surrounding Mt Fuji is known as the ‘Fuji Five Lakes” (富士五湖, Fujigoko), and is home to traditional country-style inns, rustic restaurants and some of the island’s best hiking. In fact, all of the lakes are connected via a network of elaborate trails, which means you can explore the area on foot while soaking up vistas of Mt. Fuji in the distance.

2) Kamakura – In the 12th century, Kamakura was the de facto capital of Japan, the fourth largest city in the world, and home to the aptly named Kamakura Shogunate. Today, the modern city is interspersed with storied shrines and temples, though most visitors hone their sights on the Great Buddha (大仏, daibutsu). Built in 1252, this huge outdoor bronze statue is a testament to the city’s former power and influence. Of course, Kamakura isn’t just all about temples and statues, especially since the city is also home to some of the region’s best beaches.

3) Hakone – Tokyoites love to spoil themselves silly, which is probably why this famous hot springs town is one of the city’s best weekend escapes. Comprised of dozens and dozens of hot springs hotels, Hakone offers therapeutic relief from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Simply choose a hotel that takes your fancy, soak your tired bones in volcanic-heated mineral water that literally seeps up from the ground, fill your gut with homemade Japanese cooking and unwind in the early evening with a bottle of fresh sake and good friends in a traditional tatami room. Bliss!

All of the above destinations are easily accessible by train from Shinjuku station. Also note that these weekend escapes are just a few of my favorites, though there are plenty of noteworthy places all within a few hours striking distance of Tokyo.

On that note, if you’d like to share a few of your own frequented spots with the rest of us, feel free to chime in and give us all some tips!

** All images courtesy of the WikiCommons Media Project **

Big in Japan: Japanese-style love hotel in New York City

by Matthew Firestone on

Earlier this week, Big in Japan brought you a how-to-guide for getting down and dirty in a love hotel (???????????????, rabu hoteru).

In case you missed the post, click here to get up to speed on the syrupy sweet yet delightfully sinful world of Japanese love hotels. Of course, if you’re reading this blog now, and thinking to yourself that Japan is awfully far away, than fear not as there may be a love hotel closer than you think!

Located at 51 Tenth Ave in Manhattan, the Liberty Inn NYC was recently voted in the Best of New York – 2008 issue of New York Magazine as the City’s BEST “by-the-hour” hotel.

Inspired by Japanese-style love hotels, the Liberty Inn NYC is home to twenty-eight uniquely designed rooms that are perfect for an old lover, a new partner or an adulterous tryst.

Can you feel the love tonight ?????(*??.??)(??.??*)?????

The history of the Liberty Inn NYC is, quite simply, awesome.

The hotel was first constructed in 1908 as the Strand Hotel, which soon become a rough and ready boarding house for sailors and prostitutes. During the Prohibition Era, the building lived several interesting lives as a speakeasy, a go-go bar and a social club. By 1969, it reverted back to its original purpose, and was renamed the aptly appropriate ‘Hide-A-Way Motel.’

Today of course, the Liberty Inn NYC is attracting a slightly more discerning clientele. Indeed, you and your better half can enjoy:

– Stylish rooms with romantic decor
– Mood lighting with adjustable setting
– Dramatic wall/ceiling mirrors and mural
– 37″ Plasma TV – Satellite TV and XM music radio
– 2 person whirlpool in “Romance Interlude Rooms”
– 6 selection in-house adult movie/video system
– Air purification system in every room

Not bad for an hourly motel!!

A two-hour ‘rest’ costs $60, though you can maximize your love-making time by shelling out the extra ten bucks for the third hour. For a more intimate escape, you can check in for night – prior to 11PM a standard room costs US$180, though you can save forty-five bucks by stopping by after hours. For an extra bit of spice, consider upgrading to the ‘Romantic Interlude’ rooms for only US$15/40 more per rest/stay.

The Liberty Inn NYC can be reached by A and E lines at 8th Ave, and the 1, 2 and 3 lines at 7th Ave. From either station, you can walk or take 14 St crosstown (M-14) bus west across 14th St to 10th Ave. Of course, if you really want to impress your near-future lover, it’s probably better to take a cab!

Note that reservations are not possible, though this shouldn’t be a problem as love and lust are always better when they’re spontaneous. Also, Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover cards are accepted, though if you’ve learned anything from the whole Eliot Spitzer affair, you’ll agree that it’s probably better to pay by cash.

For more information, you can contact the Liberty Inn NYC at (212) 741-2333 or check out their website by clicking here .

** All images were taken from the website for the Liberty Inn NYC**

Do escalators eat Crocs?

by Grant Martin on

I’ve been slow to catch on to the whole Croc trend, even though I hear that they’re crazy comfortable. Maybe it’s because I can’t seem to pull away from the Birkenstock trend or maybe it’s because I think they look kind of goofy. That’s fine. I’ve never been the pinnacle of style anyway.

Passing through the Tokyo airport the other day though, I saw this sign posted at the top of the escalator with a photo of our favorite polymer shoes on them. It says:

“Caution! There have been many reports of accidents in which people’s resin sandals have got caught in the escalators.”

I had no idea that there was an issue with Crocs and moving stairs. I guess I’m most surprised that some American hasn’t tried to sue Crocs for a million zillion dollars because their foot got stuck in an escalator or for “wrongful imprisonment.” Has anyone had a problem with Crocs on escalators? Should I call the fire marshal?

Either way, watch your step when you’re on the escalator at the mall this weekend. You could be in danger!

Big in Japan: How to get down and dirty in a Love Hotel

by Matthew Firestone on

Today’s posting is rated R for strong sexual content. Viewer discretion is advised.

There is no shortage of the weird, the wacky and the wonderful here in Japan. Indeed, you’ll find strange, strange things in the Land of the Rising Sun that have no real equivalent in the West.

For instance, Japan is world-famous for its love hotels (???????????????, rabu hoteru), a special type of short-stay hotel that puts North American hourly motels to shame. When you want to get down and dirty with a special friend, yet secrecy is of the utmost importance, head to a love hotel. Here, you’ll find that entrances are discreet, interaction with staff is minimized and cash changes hands without so much as eye contact.

And of course, while hourly motels in North America have a certain lewd stigma to them, Japanese love hotels are fanciful affairs. Both inside and out, love hotels have romantic and oh-so kitschy themes to help you set the mood, and there’s no shortage of added perks to help you enhance your love-making. Indeed, you’ll find pretty much anything your heart (and loins) desires in a love hotel, from rotating beds and mirrored ceilings to sex toys and S&M gear.

On that note, I present to you a quick and easy how-to-guide for getting down and dirty in a love hotel…

Step 1: Find the lucky Japanese girl or guy.

This is a whole separate post in itself, but might I suggest partying in any of the bars and clubs in Tokyo’s famous entertainment district of Shibuya. This is a good place to start your night of love and lust, especially since it’s close to Dōgenzaka (道玄坂), home to the aptly named ‘Love Hotel Hill.’ Which of course brings us to…

Step 2: Find the right hotel.

Love hotels are garish buildings often distinguished by tacky neon lightings, small or covered windows and occasionally bizarre shapes like castles, boats and even UFOs. Once you find one that suits your fancy, keep in mind that love hotels offer a room rate for a rest (休憩, kyūkei) as well as for an overnight stay. The period of a “rest” varies, typically ranging from one to three hours, while overnight stays only become available after 10pm.

Step 3: Get down to business.

Inside the love hotel, you’ll be prompted with a digital screen containing pictures of the various pleasure quarters . After choosing your selection, pay the proprietor behind the frosted glass, take the keys and get to it! Even if your romantic rendezvous was somewhat spontaneous, take comfort in the fact that most rooms in love hotels come stocked with condoms in all shapes, sizes and sometimes flavors. And, in case you’re feeling a bit kinky, most rooms stock ‘extras’ that can be purchased for a small fee.

Step 4: Party like a rock star.

The best part of staying in a love hotel (aside from the random sex) is enjoying all the extra perks you’ll find in the room. Feeling a bit unclean? Take a Jacuzzi with your partner in crime. Want to stretch your vocal range? Turn on the mic and belt out some karaoke. Want to ignore your date and do some gaming? Fire up the Nintendo Wii or Sony Playstation. Want to get hammered? Raid the mini-bar and pass out in drunken delight.

Step 5: Do the walk of shame.

Again, this is a whole separate post in itself, but depending on the visual quality of your date, you might want to make a quick exit in the morning. Trains in Tokyo start running around 6am, though you can always jump in a cab if your beer goggles were a bit fuzzier than usual.

On that note, feel free to post any good stories of lustful trysts you care to share with all of us in the online world! (^^>”

** Images courtesy of the WikiCommons Media Project **

Africa: How big is huge ?

by Jamie Rhein on

A few years ago, I was asked to be a guest speaker at a conference geared towards teachers. Each session had to do with either Japan, Germany and Africa. So, there you have it. A vast, diverse, complicated continent with the same billing as two countries. I narrowed my topic down to comparing Nigeria and The Gambia.

To really see Africa’s impact all one needs to do is see which of the world’s countries can fit inside it.

The statistics are staggering. Africa’s square miles are hard to wrap ones mind around. The first time I went there, I thought it would be easy to country hop from The Gambia to Kenya. Yeah, right. Going back to the U.S. was easier. What other countries could you add into the 29,843,826 of the countries represented here without going over? Singapore for sure. [via A Welsh View]