Free Wifi at Starbucks in Japan

Starbucks Japan recently started offering unlimited free wifi at all their stores in Japan for anyone who orders a food or drink item. This is great news for travelers, since wifi, particularly free wifi, is not as common in Japan as in some other developed countries (and many hotels offer only LAN cable access, which is useless for people who have devices that lack LAN ports). And, because you’ll find a branch of Starbucks in most cities in Japan (and dozens of branches in large cities), you’ll usually be able to get your internet and caffeine fix without too much difficulty.

IMPORTANT NOTE

There’s just one important thing to remember: You must register in advance to get an access code. And, you need to be online and have access to your email to be able to do so. Thus, it’s kind of like a Catch-22 situation: You need to be online to register, but you can’t get online without registering. So, the thing to do is register for the service before coming to Japan or after arrival at your hotel or any other place where you can actually get online. Here’s the URL to visit to register.

Once registered, you can use the internet for an unlimited amount of time with the same access code at any Starbucks in Japan. And, in our experience, the connections are uniformly fast and reliable.

B-Mobile Visitor SIM: The Perfect Japanese Data-Only SIM Card for Tourists

I recently tested the new B-Mobile Visitor Sim 1GB Prepaid Card. This is an excellent solution for people who want to use smartphones and tablets (including iPhones and iPads) in Japan. You don't need a long-term visa to get one: You can get one with an ordinary tourist visa. Nor do you need a fixed address: You can have the SIM card mailed to the hotel where you will spend your first night in Japan. You can also arrange to have it sent to a post office in the airport where you arrive. Finally, you don't need to call in to register the card (this step used to be necessary but is no longer). I can't give specific download speeds, but when I tested the card with a smartphone I found that it was fast enough to use Skype, YouTube and, of course, email. The card is available in both micro-SIM and regular-SIM sizes. Note that the card is for data only. You cannot use it to make phone calls, but, of course, you can make voice calls with Skype. For more information, check the B-Mobile Site. For a thorough discussion of phone and data options for Japan, check out my earlier post on this topic.

Genki Sudo's World Order in Kyoto

The incredible Genki Sudo and his World Order dance troupe visited Kyoto in the spring and recorded an incredible video (above). If you don't know Genki Sudo and World Order, you owe it to yourself to click the above video immerse yourself in an excellent new world. I was able to pick out most of the locations for the filming. They include: To-ji Temple, Hanami-koji (Gion), Shimbashi (Gion), Nijo-jo Castle, Hiean-jingu Shrine, Hirosawa-no-ike Pond, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama Togetsukyo Bridge, and Hiranoya Teahouse Saga Torimoto. Also, there's a place that looks like the Gosho (Imperial Palace) but I can't recall the exact spot. And there's a bridge that looks like something in Daitoku-ji Temple, but I have to check to be sure. If you like what you've seen, check out their newest video from Mexico City here. The last few minutes are incredible, including a mind-blowing "long arm" trick and a routine in a garden which is something utterly otherworldly - when the B-boys in the Bronx were inventing popping and locking back in the late 70s, they never imagined where their dances would lead.

Alex Kerr's Chiiori Trust Houses in Shikoku

A little while back I made the journey down to Iya Valley, in the heart of mountainous Shikoku, to visit Alex Kerr's wonderful Chiiori Trust project. As readers of Kerr's "Lost Japan" will know, Kerr owns a beautiful restored farmhouse there called Chiiori. His Chiiori Trust organization has recently expanded and now operates three other restored farmhouses in the nearby hamlet of Ochiai. All of the houses are available for overnight rental. They've been beautifully restored and modern conveniences have been added to insure that you'll be totally comfortable. To inquire about booking a stay, visit the Chiiori Trust website. Here's a picture of the original Chiiori house: Here's a picture of the Fushou house in Ochiai: Here's a picture of the view from the living room of the Fushou house: Here's a shot of the interior of the Fushou house:

Gion House Vacation Rental

A few weeks back, I inspected a beautiful vacation rental in Kyoto called The Gion House. As its name suggests, it's located in Gion, just a stone's throw from Kennin-ji Temple. It's divided into an first-floor unit and a second-floor unit. The interior has been lovingly restored and designed by a famous Kyoto architect and it's got everything you need for self-catering and a comfortable stay in Kyoto. You can find out more and make reservations at The Gion House website. Here's a picture of the exterior of the house: Here's a picture of the upper-level living room: Here's a picture of the lower-level bedroom:

Koto-Inn: A Beautiful Vacation Rental in Kyoto

I just checked out another great vacation rental in Kyoto. This one is located very close to Kyoto's "museum district," the Okazaki-koen area. It's located down a quiet pedestrian-only lane and just a stone's throw from the beautiful Shirakawa Canal, which is lined by cherry trees. The place is perfect for couples or families (but perhaps not those with small children). It's decorated with great Japanese antiques and has all the things you need to take care of yourself, including a comfortable bath and a full kitchen. You can find more information here. Here's the entrance:

Here's the foyer (genkan):

Here's the main room:

Here's the main room:

Here's the Shirakawa Canal during cherry blossom season:

Beautiful Vacation Rental House in Kyoto by Aoi Kyoto Stay

I recently checked out an incredible place to stay in Kyoto: the Ayanokoji house offered by Aoi Kyoto Stay, a company that specializes in renting refurbished Kyoto houses. You can find a link to their site here. The house is in a lovely restored kura (storehouse) right in downtown Kyoto on the quiet Takasebune Canal. It's just five minutes' walk south of Shijo, but it feels like worlds away. It would make the perfect base for exploring Kyoto.

Here's a picture of the house from across the canal:


Here's the living room, with a view of the canal:


There's a record player and a collection of great records (as well as, of course, an iPod dock):


Here's the simple kitchen: