UC Gift Cards/Vouchers

UC Gift Cards are what we'd call gift vouchers or certificates in the UK. It's a version of money which can only be spent in certain shops. UC's usage is pretty wide though, so if you have one, read on to see what to do with it.



This kind of card is distributed by many companies or institutions as a prize, compensation or refund. You can also buy them.

There's a site in Japanese with full details, and here are the basics in English (for the first time online).

Half a million stores and hotels across Japan accept these vouchers, including:

● Department stores Isetan Odakyu Department Store Kintetsu Seibu Sogo Daimaru Takashimaya Tokyu Department Store Hankyu Department Stores Matsuzakaya Marui Mitsukoshi ● Supermarkets Apita / Piago Ionic groups (イオン・マックスバリュ・ メガマート) Ito-Yokado Queen's Isetan JEUGIA Corporation Seiyu Daiei, Inc. Daimaru Peacock Tokyu Nagasakiya ベイシア リヴィン ● Shopping Center Ion Aeon OPA (most stores) Vivre Mitsui Outlet Park ● Home Center Kainz home セキチュー ホーマック Home Plaza Royal Home Center ● Convenience Stores Circle K Sunkus ● Drug Stores Tsuruha

● Clothes Stores Easy Order Hanabishi 英國屋 Eddie Bauer Japan F-One Ltd. ORIHICA Cabin Ginza Kane Matsu Ginza Yamagataya Sarasaya San-Ai Sun Shoes The Shoes Shiseido Ginza Ships Jun Island Shoes Shinshifuku no Konasu Diana Taka-Q Tamaya Chiyoda Shoes Take One Tokyo Delica New Steps Bingoya Mack House Mamina Marukawa Miki Mitsumine Mimatsu Women's Plaza Aoki Aoyama Right On Washinton Shoes ● Household Goods Obutsudan no Hasegawa Ondezu Kezu Denki Kojima Shimachu Juntendo Joshin Denki Sofmap DEODEO Tokyu Hands Nitori Bic 100 Man Volts Best Denki Matsuya Denki Mr Konsento Yamada Denki Yodobashi Camera Laox Co., Ltd. Loft ● Jewelry, Glasses etc Ai Megane I-PRIMO Kitamura Camera Tsutsumi Jewelry Rieju Ginza Heart-up Verite Mikimoto Megane no Store Megane no Super Megane no 愛眼  Megane Tanaka Megane Yonezawa Megane Parimiki

● Hobbies Sports Book Alpine Victoria HMV Kiddy Land James Shinseido Supersport Xebio Sports Authority Sports Depot Tarajima Ootoku Golf Futaki Himaraya Point-and-peg Honma Golf Maruzen ● Restaurants 安楽亭 Ume no Hana Kani Douraku Chain Kisoji Sapporo Kanimoto Don's Steak Denny's ● Travel Agents 一畑 Travel Services Odakyu Travel Keikyu Kankou Home Tour Smart Deal (except the OMC Smart Deal) Sun Travel Service ● Hotels Keio Plaza Hotel Hankyu Daiichi Diamond Hotel Imperial Hotel Tokyu Hotels (with some exceptions) Hyatt Regency Tokyo Hilton (with some exceptions) Four Seasons Hotel Chinzanso Prince Hotel Hotel Okura Grand Palace Hotel Hotel Nikko (with some exceptions) Hotel New Otani Mitsui Garden Hotel (with some exceptions) Miyako Hotel Washington Hotel

UC also does various other services, such as credit cards, ETC cards and all manner of other bits and pieces best tackled only if you can read Japanese well enough. You'd be better off with our guides on credit card applications and getting an ETC card.

Cheap Car Navi/GPS Units in Japan

Looking for GPS? Been put off by stories of paying 70,000+? Well, we have the cheaper options covered, just for you.

The answer is Amazon.co.jp, of course! Although you can find some cheaper units in big department, garages or electronics stores like Yamada Denki, the price will still be significantly more than 20,000. On Amazon you can find the real budget options, and better deals on what you see in the shops.

You can see the most popular Navi units here. I actually recently purchased what is currently number two. It isn't the absolute cheapest (which is this little fella at about 6,500yen), but in terms of size and positive reviews, it seemed like the best option:

This is a great unit. All the documentation is in English and the price is great at about 14,000yen.

More

• The difference between the expensive Navis and these is that this type is designed to sit on your dashboard, while the expensive ones are really a souped-up entertainment system which is installed into the dash of your car (like this beast for 93,000yen), featuring Bluetooth, CD/MD/DVD capabilities, TV etc etc.
• One problem you may come across is that map data and options are almost universally Japanese. If you have something to refer to and can read hiragana and katakana, this shouldn't be too much of a problem. Map data IS available in English, and you may get lucky with your unit - check the manufacturers website for details.
• A good feature of the newer portable GPS units is that the map data is read from an SD card, so you can update it very, very easily. Some of the in-car units require, if not a specialist, the purchase of a new data CD (very expensive).
• Other very cheap units come from manufacturer Space Machine

Wholesalers and Buying in Bulk in Japan

Our US readers are most likely familiar with the business of consumer wholesaling. For those ex-pats in Japan longing to buy kilogram loads of bagels, you aren't entirely out of luck.


For those of who don't know about the wholesale business, this is a store where you pay a monthly or annual membership in order to buy cheap, bulk quantity goods in addition to other perks. Chains such as Costco, BJs, and Sam's Club all fall under this classification. This mode of shopping may seem out of place in a place like Japan that generally eschews the American "bigger is better" shopping ethos, but in fact there are a good variety of wholesalers avaliable.

Gyoumuyo (業務用)
The most common type of Japanese wholesaler/bulk goods retailer is known as gyomu-yo supa (業務用スーパー) or gyomuyo shohin (業務用商品). This literally translates to "business-use super market" and "business goods" respectively. Basically, any product labeled gyomuyo (業務用) means "business use" or "institutional use" and in Japan that often translates to bulk quantities. If you have a lot of mouths to feed or just like eating a lot of one specific thing, these retailers can save you a bit of cash.

Many towns and cities have all sorts of gyomuyo shops, although the vast majority specialize in food and some even double as regular supermarkets. In addition to getting your hands on several kilos of coffee, gyoumuyo shops often have imported goodies that are hard to come by otherwise, in addition to an odd ball selection of alcohol, cheese, and what not. However, these shops are often located in out-of-way areas and are not as well advertised so get ready to Google.

For some odd reason, liquor stores in Japan often carry business size frozen goods, so that is often a good place to start looking.

The good news is that very few of these stores require an annual membership fee.

Orodonshi-ya (卸問屋)
An oroshidon-ya (卸問屋) is basically the equivalent of a wholesaler found in Western countries. However, this term covers a wide variety of consumer and non-consumer goods. What most of these stores have in common is that they all require an annual paid membership.


Costco has taken advantage of Japan's retail enterprise deregulation and has been busy setting up US-style bulk goods stores across Japan. Most are concentrated in and around big cities, and like the US version require an annual paid membership card. However, your Costco membership is applicable to all outlets world-wide. The Japanese outlets stock many of the same brands found in the US and just about everything is sold in bulk. 


Other big Japanese outlets include SSOK and Marudai (both located in Kansai). These wholesalers are more akin to a "consumer club" wherein your buy a membership for access to cheap, direct-from-the-manufacturer brand goods. They mainly sell clothing although they do have a smaller selection of bulk and imported goods as well. 


Other Options
So you are stuck on top of a mountain hours away from the biggest city. What is a poor foreigner to do to get his bulk frozen olive fix? Luckily some entrepreneurs have been hard at work solving this problem and have come up with The Flying Pig. Long story short, you can place an order online and the gentlemen at The Flying Pig will go and buy your stuff at Costco and ship it to you thereby saving you a long trek and a membership fee. Of course, you have to pay shipping and a bit of a mark up but its worth it if there are some bulk goods you are craving. 



There are online wholesalers as well and internet shopping portals such as Yahoo Japan Shopping and Rakuten all have gyomuyo goods for sale if you don't mind paying for shipping. Just type in 業務用 after your product of choice and you might find that it is also available in bulk.

Whey Protein in Japan

Want to buy some whey protein for maximum macho muscle madness? Or some other reason? As with so many things, AccessJ has got you covered.


The cheapest place to buy your stuff is Amazon.co.jp. There you can find 3kg of flavoured protein powder for just over 7,000yen. That's almost 5,000yen less than the same product in Xebio. It's also one of the lowest calorie choices on the market (if that is something you care about).

You can get chocolate flavour, and milk flavour.

Of course, if you have some criteria other than price and calorie content, there are choices for you, too. Here are a couple, or you can just run your own search on Amazon.

Savas Whey Protein, which is just over 8,000yen for 2.5kg.
Savas Weight Down, which is a low-cal soy protein alternative at about 4,000yen for 1.2kg
Kentai 100% Whey, which is a muscle-building higher-calorie choice (400kcal per 100g) and around 5,000yen per kg.
Big-in-Japan brand DNS has numerous 100% whey flavours at about 10,000yen per 3kg.

Don't forget your shaker bottle!

More

• AccessJ is not trying to get you to buy this protein to make money. I buy a bag of this stuff (cheapest) every month or so. It's perfect.

English Language Newspapers

There are several Japanese papers available in English, although they are often supplemented with articles from other English-speaking countries' newspapers. Some are also aimed more at Japanese people practicing English than English readers. This blog will give an overview of the most popular print and eNewspapers available.

Virtual Travel in Japan

Earlier this year, NHK unveiled their "Michishiru" interactive map site, a virtual tour guide of places and events all over Japan, introduced through streaming video segments of NHK on-location footage. The site targets a Japanese audience, as a way to find out about different destinations to visit within Japan.

However, it also makes for good intermediate-to-advanced Japanese listening practice, and even travelers who don't read or speak Japanese well will find that the intuitive interface and videos speak quite well for themselves.

Just drag and zoom the map around to any part of Japan you're interested in and click on one of the "Play" icons for a virtual tour of it!

Check out the site here: NHK映像マップみちしる

Import Duties on Taxable Goods

Thinking of buying something from abroad? There's a good chance you won't be charged any import duties if it's a small item, but if the value is declared and the object isn't a gift, be prepared to shell out some cash for the privilege.



Here's the smallprint of the customs duty arrangement, but the key point is this:

In 2007, the average applied rate for all goods is 1.8 percent. Specifically, 10.1 percent for agricultural products, 4.6 percent for fish and fish products, and 1.7 percent for wood, pulp, paper and furniture.

Also, some things (such as watersports equipment properly labelled as such) don't have to pay fees. A full list of what does and doesn't require payment is available here (current as of 2011). When I say full, I mean it. Everything from ash to spacecraft.

But anyway, if you've bought something small from eBay you won't have much to worry about. Even if you get charged it will be a pretty small amount. I recently spent 150,000 on diving products from America, and was charged 3,200yen on arrival. Not a bad percentage, despite the fact that it should have been free according to the website.

Brewing Your Own Beer in Japan

Japanese beer is very expensive in bars. Sure, you can buy cans for 200yen, but if you want to save some money (or are infuriated over the difference from the prices of your home country) then why not brew it yourself?

Got the space? And the patience? Check out below.



Brewing beer in Japan is legal if the alcohol content is 1% or below, but the government has as-good-as admitted they don't really care and couldn't police it if they did - indeed, even huge chain department store Tokyo Hands sells brewing equipment*. And the good news is, if you brew over 60,000litres a year you can apply for a brewer's licence!

Beer in Japan is a great website which we have linked to before. In researching this article I came across their guide to home brewing, which is far better than anything I could have written.

So, for more information on where to buy supplies, go straight to BeerinJapan.com's guide.

One of the major distributors of homebrew equipment in Japan is Black Rock, and they have a guide on exactly how to work your beer making machine here. Black Rock recommend leaving your beer for as long as possible, but checking the taste for satisfaction at 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months (the latter presumably being a good guideline for how long it should take).

Most online shops are listed on BeerinJapan, but here's a couple I found anyway: A shop on Rakuten, and this site.


*This doesn't mean we back your brewing enterprise.

International Supermarkets and Other Home Comforts

I have written before about getting your Japan fix in the UK. But what about getting your home comforts whilst in Japan?

I have learned to live with (and sometimes love) the Japanese alternative of most things: teabags, chocolate, shampoo etc.

But there are certain English (and presumably other nationality) products which are just better than the Japanese counterpart! Mainly toothpaste, deodorant, HobNobs and face-wash. I know there are some sites out there bent on convincing would-be ex-pats into thinking that the toothpaste and deodorant problem is just a rumour... well it's not! I have not found a single brand of toothpaste which doesn't make me gag (my students use a toothpaste in a fetching gray shade...yuck), and the deodorant is like sprinkling flavoured water on yourself.

To get these home comforts, and a few other luxuries (e.g. a good, spicy curry paste) we have mainly been relying on few and far between home visits, friends and family on holiday or other ex-pats willing to bring back things when they are on a trip back.

There are however many international supermarkets in Japan; stocking everything from English biscuits to American root beer, a range of international liquor, not to mention the hundreds of things you didn't even know you missed!

Beware: Japanese toothpaste

This informative website, exploring all the delicious things Japan has to offer also features a list of international supermarkets in the Tokyo area and beyond.

Another way to get these home comforts is by ordering online.

However this can prove difficult, if not impossible for some food items. The meat guy stocks some of the things you might be craving, such as couscous and specialities like pumpkin pie to meet your thanksgiving needs (and proper size and shape steaks).

The flying pig, and yoyomarket, also stock imported food including frozen and chilled goods,  as well as electrical items, books, and personal items, as does The Deli, which will also order in an extensive selection of American produce.

Finally, you can find shops outside of Japan who deliver here. This is slightly more difficult as there are, of course, customs regulations preventing the import of certain items (cheese for example, and certain medications). I have used Direct chemist in the past to purchase toiletries and vitamins (which can be incredibly expensive in Japan), and as noted in a previous article, Health Span UK and Nature's Best also ship vitamins and minerals.

If you can recommend anywhere else to buy food and toiletries online (and which deliver to Japan) please let us know in the comment box below.

Peach out.

Turn Your Books into eBooks for 100yen!

If you have a physical book you would prefer to have as a digital book, then we have the perfect service for you.

Read on for more details and the link!


ScaNow.jp will scan your 350 page or less book for 100 yen. Not only that, but their website is in English (sort of).

You will have to pay (a little) extra if you would like the .pdf on a disc instead of downloaded, want the cover scanned too, etc. but most people will be happy with the 100yen option.

Process

• Fill out the online form and pay (they accept PayPal, amongst other methods).
• Send the company your book, or get an online shop to deliver directly to ScaNow.
• They scan it and send you the file within 1-3 working days.

More

• If you want your book back again, you'll need to pay postage and may find that it just isn't worth it.
• Files are watermarked, presumably to prevent piracy. So watch your back if you share with friends.
• Most of the other pay-option are things you can do yourself for free, such as changing the file name, or scanning the front and back covers.

Buying Clothes and Shoes in Japan

If you are slightly larger or differently built than the average Japanese person, you will quickly find you have very limited choice when it comes to clothes and shoes. Even in Tokyo and other big cities you can have trouble.


Shoes
Japanese shoe sizes come in two forms, S,M,L,LL or cm.

Womens shoe sizes (cm)
XS - 22.5
S - 23
M - 23.5
L - 24
LL - 24.5

The largest size women's shoe you will usually find is usually 24.5cm or LL (though some places stock 3L or even 4L). That's a UK 6 or US 8.

Men's shoes tend to go up to 28 or 29cm. You'll need to search hard or be lucky to find shoes over 27cm, although they are out there (especially in big foreign brand shops like the Nike store, and outlet centres).

If you have larger feet than this, or yours are an unusual shape (wide or flat) then your best bet may be bringing/having them sent from home. Or ordering online. Jonathan pointed out in the comments the existence of a Japanese online store called Kutsu no Hikari - check it out.

Clothes
The average sized European man should be OK in Japan for clothes. Men over 5ft 11 might struggle with trousers but T-shirts, shorts and jackets should be mostly fine. One of our writers is well over 6ft but has no problem with T-shirts, and has even managed to find a few pairs of sports trousers almost long enough.

The portly gentleman, however, will have problems. Clothes are rarely above size LL (smaller than a Western XL), although there are specialist stores out there (can't comment on style or price).

Clothes for women are a little more tricky due to the different average body shape of Japanese ladies.

Those above a UK 12/14 or US 10/12 will have trouble. And those smaller ladies with ample hips, bums or boobs will also have problems.

Chain stores from the West such as H&M have started popping up, and sell the same catalogue of goods as at home, although they usually only stock a few pieces in larger sizes.

Another good thing to stock up on whilst at home, or to buy online, are bras. Those with boobs larger than a UK D will find it impossible to find bras here. And even those who can fit into Japanese bras may find them uncomfortable, which is another thing we will be looking at soon.

I say Po-tay-to... Endless Varieties of Potatoes in Japan

In language school, I learned one word for "potato" in Japanese: ジャガイモ (jagaimo). Turns out, real life isn't as simple as language school would have you believe. In Japanese supermarkets, I've rarely seen the vegetable actually labeled with the word I learned as a student, and the varieties popular in Japan look just different enough from the ones I'm used to at home that at first I had to ask someone in the shop: "Do you have any... ジャガイモ?"

So, what are potatoes called in supermarkets? What varieties are popular here? And what are the differences between them? Read on to find out!


I imagine this situation to be akin to an ESL learner proudly knowing the word "apple" only to walk into a shop and find labels like "Granny Smith" and "Red Delicious." They both look like apples, but what's the difference between them?

Well, if you pick up something that looks like a potato, your curry dinner will probably turn out all right. But, the two most popular varieties of potatoes sold in Japan have different properties that suits each of them to different dishes. Those varieties are called だんしゃくいも (男爵芋, danshakuimo) and メークイン (meekuin). Abroad, they're known as "Irish Cobbler" and "May Queen," respectively.

だんしゃく(いも) are the little round potatoes that usually come in bags of 7 or 8. They're the most common variety in Japan, and if your supermarket only sells one, it's probably this. These potatoes are considered best suited for dishes like potato salad or mashed potatoes. They have an earthy smell and a rustic, potato-ey taste, especially right after harvest. (When you make curry with fresh だんしゃく, it smells heavily of potatoes.) They're popular with farmers because they mature quickly and can be stored for long periods with little degradation in quality. On the other hand, they're tiny things and a pain to use if your dish requires peeled potatoes. Once peeled, they must be used quickly or they discolor. Also, when they sprout, the sprouts run deep inside the potato, making them harder to remove.

メークイン potatoes, on the other hand, are a larger, egg-shaped variety that may look more familiar to readers. Because of their larger size, they're often sold in packs of 3 or 4. These potatoes don't break up as easily as だんしゃく when they're boiled, and thus they're considered better for curries and stews. They have a sweet taste, and their larger size makes them easier to peel. Sprouts are also very shallow and easy to remove. Storing them increases their sweetness, but they spoil, especially if exposed to direct sunlight, more quickly than だんしゃく.

By the way, another label you are very likely to encounter in the supermarket is ばれいしょ (bareisho), usually in hiragana, but it also has kanji: 馬鈴薯. This word is not a variety of potato: It's just another word for potato coming from the dialect of Hokkaido. It's kind of like saying "spud" in US English. Because だんしゃく are often the only variety of potato sold at a small shop (under a sign reading ばれいしょ), it's easy to mistake this word as a variety name for those little round guys.

Finally, although we've introduced the two most popular varieties of potatoes here, they aren't the only types sold in Japan. If you're interested in learning more, here's a list of other potato varieties in Japan. The site is in Japanese only, but its data is arranged in handy columns, including characteristics or cooking suggestions for each type on the right.