Ever since we moved to Misawa Japan, One of the best changes that we've seen is inception of two new Starbucks. One was about two years ago in Hachinohe. We thought It is much more conveniently located right by the main road. We didn't have to drive all the way down to the City Hospital which adds about 15 minutes of our trip for the taste of Washington.
Now we have a new Starbucks at Shimoda Mall which enabled us to cut the trip to Hahcinohe for a cup of coffee. We expected the second Starbucks to be busy however, we didn't really expect that we have to wait in the line outside of the sliding door to receive the ordered coffee.
We learned the fact that we have to stand the line to order then stand another line to receive the order. We have to very savvy about finding the right line that leads us to order first. Due to the high volume of the customers, baristas are often confused about the menu that customers wished to receive, so it is important to keep the receipt until we safely earned a right kind of coffee. also, We learned two very important Japanese terms related to the cup of coffee.
For my husband who can't drink hot coffee, here is a term refers "WARM" - NURUME
For myself who are willing to take a risk to burn a mouth for a hot hot coffee, here is a term refers "HOT" - ASTUME
Monday, January 2, 2017
How to order from H&M Japan
I have been ordering my clothes from H&M U.S.A while I am in Japan. They fulfill orders to Japan but It takes about a month and half from shipping to receiving packages. If you're ordering any items to wear under the current weather, It could be next year when you finally get to wear what you ordered. I sometimes even forget that I have shipment coming from H&M because it is just such a long time to remember those details.
I realized that the items are pretty much same price or lower (due to strong dollar rate per yen). H&M Japan also does blow out sales and their sizing is the same as H&M U.S.A. I highly recommend you to use "Google Chrome" which provides auto translation from Japanese to English. The only problem is that you might have to go through all of the clothing items as the items are not searchable by English. Some of their items are in English, especially jeans are often named in English. For example, I like to wear low waist jeans, so I look up "low" or search bar and It results all the low waist jeans. however, their items are pretty manageable so I don't think there will be any problems looking up the items that you wish to purchase.
Payment options include credit card or pay at the delivery. I often choose pay at the delivery option and prepare exact amount of payment before the items are delivered. It takes me only two days for my package to be delivered at the door! (Japan postal services and delivery services work on Saturdays and Sundays.)
I realized that the items are pretty much same price or lower (due to strong dollar rate per yen). H&M Japan also does blow out sales and their sizing is the same as H&M U.S.A. I highly recommend you to use "Google Chrome" which provides auto translation from Japanese to English. The only problem is that you might have to go through all of the clothing items as the items are not searchable by English. Some of their items are in English, especially jeans are often named in English. For example, I like to wear low waist jeans, so I look up "low" or search bar and It results all the low waist jeans. however, their items are pretty manageable so I don't think there will be any problems looking up the items that you wish to purchase.
Payment options include credit card or pay at the delivery. I often choose pay at the delivery option and prepare exact amount of payment before the items are delivered. It takes me only two days for my package to be delivered at the door! (Japan postal services and delivery services work on Saturdays and Sundays.)
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Happy New Year!
I can't believe that I have completely left my blog out for a full year! 2016 has been definitely full of excitement but I have had much of disappointment about things that around me. I realized that there are things that are not under my control and I can be disappointed by the results after working so hard to complish them. However, Those experiences have me realized how important it is to move forward with my dreams and to have a good faith in me.
We only have couple of months more in Misawa, JP until we move to another location. Japan definitely has been a great experience and such a wonderful country for last few years. I know It is a farm town and has nothing much for us to do as we did in Vegas. It gave me so much time to contemplate about my past, present, and future.
I am back on blogging and will blog few aspects about living in Misawa and Japan.
Thank you for viewing my blog and hope this helps you to gain some information about living in Japan. I surely am far behind of adventuring Misawa Area but have good information of living in Japan.
Happy New Year! May this year bring you and your family happiness!!
We only have couple of months more in Misawa, JP until we move to another location. Japan definitely has been a great experience and such a wonderful country for last few years. I know It is a farm town and has nothing much for us to do as we did in Vegas. It gave me so much time to contemplate about my past, present, and future.
I am back on blogging and will blog few aspects about living in Misawa and Japan.
Thank you for viewing my blog and hope this helps you to gain some information about living in Japan. I surely am far behind of adventuring Misawa Area but have good information of living in Japan.
Happy New Year! May this year bring you and your family happiness!!
How to book movie tickets via mobile phone. (Toho Cinema at Shimoda Mall)
It often becomes very busy at the movie theater especially when a new movie is first released. I like to book movie tickets ahead of the show time so I can secure my favorite seat and be ready for the movie. As we use cellphone service here in Japan, we usually don't use our credit card to purchase the movie tickets, rather, we use a simple payment system that the cell phone service offers and have the fees included to the next phone bill. It has worked wonderfully so I prepared this threads to inform the way to book movie tickets.
First, Check the show time and make sure that the movie is shown in English (Not Japanese dubbed). I attached a screenshot from Toho Cinema's official website.
https://hlo.tohotheater.jp/net/schedule/049/TNPI2000J01.do
Second, Choose the seat as you wish on the screen. If the seats are chosen properly, They'll colored in red. If you'd like to choose a different seat, simply click again the seat that you've chosen.
After you choose seats, click the button colored in red. It is translated "Agree terms and policy of movie theater, and next".
Third, In the next step, you will have to choose the type of customers. The types of customers are, general/College students/high and middle school, etc.
This top menu indicates general admission. Toho cinema offers discounts (a couple who are age 50 and up, senior with age 60 and up, Kids under the age of 3 is charged 1,000 yen)
Fourth, I usually go with non member option, however, If you have a membership with the cinema, you can use it here. You will have to provide membership number and password to include your this purchase toward free movie ticket. (members earn points by their movie purchase. After 6 times of seeing movie, they offer one free ticket)
Click next. carefully check if you choose the right movie and show time. The reservation service option strictly states that they will not refund at any circumstances.
Fifth, Write all the customer information. The picture shown below is what you will see on your screen. It requires to provide simple information such as name and email address. your physical address is not required. The option on the right hand side shown the movie that you have chosen in the previous steps. Make sure that the movie is what you wish to view as their refund policy is very strict and the refund will not be made under any circumstances.
Payment option will show the various options that you can use to purchase the tickets. I like to use one of the options with cell phone company. It will require your cell phone membership ID (the sales prep helps to gain ID and Password, ID is usually your cellphone number and password is very easy set up at the option. After I use one time to purchase the ticket, I had to set up easy 4 digit numbers for the next purchase)
And click next, If you choose credit card option, It will ask you to input your credit card number. otherwise, you will be assisted to purchase with your cell phone easy pay system. then you will earn 4 digit purchase numbers. When you get to the theater, the kiosk, where you usually purchase a movie ticket, will ask you the 4 digit numbers and phone number that you input to purchase ticket. The tickets will be printed automatically after you provide those two numbers.
You will also receive Email containing purchase number and phone number.
First, Check the show time and make sure that the movie is shown in English (Not Japanese dubbed). I attached a screenshot from Toho Cinema's official website.
https://hlo.tohotheater.jp/net/schedule/049/TNPI2000J01.do
Second, Choose the seat as you wish on the screen. If the seats are chosen properly, They'll colored in red. If you'd like to choose a different seat, simply click again the seat that you've chosen.
After you choose seats, click the button colored in red. It is translated "Agree terms and policy of movie theater, and next".
Third, In the next step, you will have to choose the type of customers. The types of customers are, general/College students/high and middle school, etc.
This top menu indicates general admission. Toho cinema offers discounts (a couple who are age 50 and up, senior with age 60 and up, Kids under the age of 3 is charged 1,000 yen)
Fourth, I usually go with non member option, however, If you have a membership with the cinema, you can use it here. You will have to provide membership number and password to include your this purchase toward free movie ticket. (members earn points by their movie purchase. After 6 times of seeing movie, they offer one free ticket)
Click next. carefully check if you choose the right movie and show time. The reservation service option strictly states that they will not refund at any circumstances.
Fifth, Write all the customer information. The picture shown below is what you will see on your screen. It requires to provide simple information such as name and email address. your physical address is not required. The option on the right hand side shown the movie that you have chosen in the previous steps. Make sure that the movie is what you wish to view as their refund policy is very strict and the refund will not be made under any circumstances.
Payment option will show the various options that you can use to purchase the tickets. I like to use one of the options with cell phone company. It will require your cell phone membership ID (the sales prep helps to gain ID and Password, ID is usually your cellphone number and password is very easy set up at the option. After I use one time to purchase the ticket, I had to set up easy 4 digit numbers for the next purchase)
And click next, If you choose credit card option, It will ask you to input your credit card number. otherwise, you will be assisted to purchase with your cell phone easy pay system. then you will earn 4 digit purchase numbers. When you get to the theater, the kiosk, where you usually purchase a movie ticket, will ask you the 4 digit numbers and phone number that you input to purchase ticket. The tickets will be printed automatically after you provide those two numbers.
You will also receive Email containing purchase number and phone number.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Living in Misawa can be tough!
Have you ever thought about buying any of your favorite chips online? Realizing such a small selection we can choose from commisary, We have thought about purchasing chips online as a bulk. I was in the states almost a year before I really started to settle down in Misawa for the 4 yeard of journey, I didn't even think about finding a chip that we like or buying fruits and vegetable can be hard thing. When we were in Vegas, We lived across from Wal-Mart and Costco. couple blocks down the street, there was Smith's and Farmers Market. We had such a nice selection of food and places that we can choose from. Here in MIsawa, We have commisary and BX then off base grocery stores such as Universe, Home mac and Asahi Drugstore. Fruit comes with a small bag and price is ridiculous. People is talking about Farm around this area and Fruits store, however it is certain that we have a very very limited selection of the food and fresh products.
Last night, I had a dream of buying 2lb strawberry, kiwi, watermelon (which is about $30 in Japan), and many of items and bringing them to home! I certainly miss all of those things..
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Tokyo trip_the Second day Dinner
We had dinner at Outback in Roppongi. Pumpkin soup was great. server was super busy so the service was slow. We realized that we need to grap anybody to get any services by calling them sumimasen. otherwise, we wouldn't be able to get the bill or to go box when the dinner was over. we might have been wait an hour to leave. Mini bbq was great.
Outback Steakhouse Roppongi
Roppongi Food Gate, "Rocmon" 2F
6-1-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032
03-5413-4870
Tokyo Trip_Takoyaki Museum
This place is a food court rather than a museum. there are stores where sells tacoyaki and related items. It was funny yo see tacoyaki standing on the ship and direct the way on the sea and small place to memorize tacoyaki.
Even though we couldn't go to Lego Land, we could visit their store at the end of Wax Museum. Dobbie key chain is the item we bought there. It costs 600 yen.
Bubble tea was the best part of takoyaki museum
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