Tokuyama was one of two cities (the other being Shinnanyo, Yamaguchi) that merged on April 21, 2003 to become Shunan, Yamaguchi. The city had a population of about 150,000 people. About 40 of these people are English teachers for both the JET program and various English schools. Its location along the shinkansen line make for easy access to nearby cities such as Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Hikari holds a sizable beach.

Nearby Attractions:
Popular daytrips from Tokuyama (via shinkansen, local train or highway bus) include:
Iwakuni, Hiroshima, Hagi, Fukuoka, and Okayama.

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
Dining
The city has a modest offering of entertainment and dining options. Here is a list of bars/restaurants featuring an English and/or picture menu:

-Ell’s Ditch (Irish pub serving up Irish/British food and European brews)(Downtown)
-Oghiya (yakitori-ya offering a very comprehensive English menu and plenty of drinks) (Downtown)
-WaraWara (izikaya with English/picture menu and plenty of cocktail choices)(Downtown)
-Grazie (Italian restaurant with a set menu in English)(Downtown)
-Ganesh (Indian restaurant; very popular)(Downtown)
-Fracasso (family-style Italian restaurant with unlimited soft-drink bar)(outer Tokuyama)
-Sunday’s Sun (family-style restaurant offering both the drink bar and Western breakfast)(outer Tokuyama)
-Gusto (family-style Japanese restaurant, also with soft-drink bar)(outer Tokuyama)
-Mister Donut (outer Tokuyama)
-McDonald’s (downtown and outer Tokuyama)
-Kentucky Fried Chicken (outer Tokuyama and Kudamatsu Mall)
-Baskin Robbins (outer Tokuyama)
-Dotour Coffee (outer Tokuyama and Kudamatsu Mall)

Yatai
Another dining option that is popular in Tokuyama are the yatai stands that line the sidewalks around Tokuyama Station after dark. They serve up ramen, gyoza, oden, and other Japanese appetizers as well as beer and sake. The prices are low, and the food is delicious. Just go on in and take a seat. The proprietors will understand your broken Japanese. Haha…

Convenient Stores
There’s also the ready-made food at 7-11, if you are in a hurry. The convenience stores Lawson and Poplar also serve up quick eats. They are easily accessible locations throughout Tokuyama. The stores are also handy for paying your bills. Coffee fans can enjoy two great shops to get their fix: CoffeeBoy (on PH street, downtown) and CreamCreme (just off of Old Route 2, behind Jean Paul bakery)

Shopping
Tokuyama has a fair assortment of shopping options. Daiso, the popular 100 Yen chain, has two locations (both outer Tokuyama). Uniqlo offers clothing in sizes and prices that Westerners will appreciate (outer Tokuyama). Tsutaya is a movie/CD rental place with numerous Western offerings (next to Uniqlo). Kintetsu, a modest-sized department store, provides a quality selection of clothing, food, and gift items (downtown). In Kudamatsu (along the #4-5 bus route), you can find Mr. Max (similar to WalMart), Seiyu (which IS WalMart, but more expensive), Thanada Life Create Store (Crate and Barrel-esque store), and SunLive (a modest shopping center).

Entertainment
Entertainment options are fairly limited. The city library offers a modest selection of English books. Live music can be found at a few bars, and the popular Bar Nells offers a nightclub that is very popular with foreigners and Japanese alike. Shidax is a very popular karaoke center (also offers namihodai or “all you can drink” option). There is also a very modest art museum with regularly changing special exhibits and a cafe. Movix, the largest movie theatre, is located at Kudamatsu Mall (movies cost about 1,900 yen).

Festivals
The city has a small offering of festivals throughout the year. The most popular is the Christmas Tree Festival, where the city fills the trees along Miyuki Dori with Christmas lights and plays Christmas carols from 6-10 p.m. each night. On December 23-25, food stalls fill the sidewalks, offering grilled meats, beer, cotton candy, candied fruit, and small-scale carnival games.

Mina-san, konnichiwa. This week our destination is none other than the most expensive city in the world, Tokyo. You could explore Tokyo for weeks, but for me, I usually get a bit tired after 4 or 5 days. Maybe because i spent most of my time working in Tokyo. If you can, take in Tokyo in stages so you can appreciate it. Take side trips out to the various attractions near the city for a break.

Highlights:
Electronics Stores: Tokyo’s electronics stores are a sight to see. They’re most often massive, multi-leveled, incredibly bright, and stocked with the latest in technology in every form imaginable. It can get to be a bit much - the lights and air-conditioning combine to burn out your eyes after an hour or so - but if you’re into looking at electronics, it’s hard to beat these places. Despite Japan being a very expensive country, you can often find electronics that haven’t been released yet (or will never be) in Malaysia or U.S., which, at the same time, are a couple hundred dollars cheaper than in Malaysia. My personal favorite is the Yodobashi Camera in Shinjuku.

Temples: There are ancient Shinto and Buddhist temples and shrines all over Tokyo and often in unexpected places. There are the big ones like Senso-ji and Meiji, but the best ones are usually tucked away in unexpected places. Part of the fun is coming across them, so explore as much as possible and see how many you can find.

Parks: If you can’t make it out of the city, some of the large parks around town can be a great relief from the urban chaos. Shinjuku Gyoen, a 10-minute walk from central Shinjuku, costs a few hundred yen for entry and has a lot of nicely landscaped areas where you can just chill out for a while. The greenhouse, with a number of plants from around the world, is very nice. For a free park away from the center, head out to the very pleasant Inokashira Park in Mitaka City (a 20-minute train ride).

Neon: Walk around at night in the centers of the city and marvel at how much light there is everywhere. The people reflect that energy, rushing around in all directions late into the night.

Information: If you find yourself lost or unsure about something, head for the nearest police box. Police are very helpful, though you may need to speak a bit of Japanese to communicate. Alternatively, train stations have help desks and signs in English that point them out. Try that out, and the person may be an English-speaker.

Cheap Food: For a cheap bit to eat, head for the train station. There are always cheap places serving noodles and other basic Japanese stuff. Some of them require you to buy a ticket for your food item from a vending machine and hand it to the cook, which is useful if you don’t speak the language.

Buying Train Tickets: This can be tough - though in general Tokyo has everything written in English as well as Japanese, the signs showing which stations cost which amount (up above the ticket machines) are almost always completely in Japanese (and Chinese characters no less). If you’re in doubt, just buy the cheapest ticket possible, and when you get off the train, there’ll be a window or machine for “fare adjustment,” where they’ll tell you the difference you need to pay, if any.

Best Way to Get Around:
Trains: Tokyo has a very extensive underground and commuter train network, which is efficient, clean, and fast. It can all get very confusing and expensive, however. Research this as much as possible before going. Trains during rush hour are packed and uncomfortable, but you might want to do this once to get the authentic experience.

Walking: Walking is a great way to see things, but everything is so spread out that you’ll eventually want to get on a train to get where you’re going. Walk until you’re tired of it; there’s sure to be a station somewhere nearby.

Airport: You have many options from Narita airport. The Narita Express train is your best bet, though it might hurt your budget at about YEN 3,250 (RM120). It has assigned, comfortable seats and space for luggage, and it takes an hour. Alternatively, take the Keisei Line in. It takes about the same amount of time, but is a little less comfortable and generally more packed. It’s a bargain at about YEN 1,085 (RM40). Never take a cab in, as this will run you upwards of YEN 16,300 (RM600)

Highlights:
Kyoto was full of memorable moments, thus it is extremely challenging to select a few memorable moments. Do stay in a traditional ryokan to experience the rhythm of Japanese life of old–if only the rhythm of the rich and powerful, as traditional ryokans of Kyoto are the most famous throughout Japan, and the surviving ryokans have been in business for more than 6 generations.

Of course, other great moments are visiting the Japanese temples. There are so many of them that I thought I would be bored visiting them, but I was pleasantly surprised–they were so distinctive and inviting.

Quick Tips/Suggestions:
It is true that Japan can be a very expensive place to visit, but if there is a good time to visit, it is now. Japan has been in a depression/recession for ten years now, you might find that Japan is surprisingly affordable. I had thought traveling on your own in Japan would be amazingly difficult, but people there are so hospitable.

Once you accept the inevitable fact that you will get lost in Japan, you will also find that any passer-by will try their utmost to help you. Making reservations is a bit difficult, as many of the traditional inns are not on the web, but through the Japanese Reservation Network, you should do ok.

Summers are HOT…try to visit the larger sites when they first open in the morning, as there is no air conditioning! Be aware that many of the sites are going to be filled with local tourists on weekends and holidays. Also, ask before taking photos.

Best Way to Get Around:
Cars: Driving is hopeless. Many streets are unnamed, signs are often in kanji and parking is either impossible or too expensive.

Taxis: Taxis are good for short hops and they compare well with the subway if there are three of you in the cab.

Trains: Subway and train systems are really the best way to get around once you puzzle through the schematic maps and learn the system. I found the English language Tourist Map of Kyoto-Nara, available from the JNTO office at Kyoto Tower, was invaluable!

Buses: Public buses were crowded, slow and hard for me to figure out. I only took them when accompanied by a local, then agreed that i should have got a taxi instead.