Learn Japanese Pod » Japan guide

JLPT Q&A

Aodh — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:19:58 +0000

I figured that we could start a discussion to help each other with questions you may have about the JLPT. Specifically grammar questions, but if there’s anything non-grammar related I’m sure someone knows an answer. Personally I find I learn as much or more when I respond to people’s questions, and sometimes the practice tests and workbooks give the right answer without a proper explanation as to why. So if anyone has any grammar questions, ask away!

You can post questions here or on the forums at http://learnjapanesepod.com/forums/japanese-language-proficiency-test/jlpt-qa/ which ever is most convenient for you.

Japan Website Links

Alex — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:14:38 +0000

Here is a list of useful websites and resources for Japan and learning Japanese. We have chosen sites that we frequently visit and use.

Podcasts For Learning Japanese

Alex — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:09:19 +0000

Here is a list of podcasts to help you learn Japanese in no particular order.

Japanese Pod 101

http://www.japanesepod101.com/
This is perhaps the most popular and professionally recorded podcast for learning Japanese. There is free and premium audio and video content which included lesson notes and other learning materials.

Japancast.net
http://japancast.net/
Our competitors! A good homegrown podcast done by Paul and Hitomi Griswold. They regularly update their site and have plenty of content for you get your teeth into. Nice format and examples of Japanese from everyday life conversations and anime. Well worth listening to.

Osaka dialect 大阪弁 Japanese lesson in English
http://mayumik.seesaa.net/
I enjoy listening to this podcast as I used to live in Osaka and I can get my fix of the Kansai dialect. The format is simple but effective. You can read the entire transcript of the podcast in Japanese with an English translation. A very good learning resource for learning real Japanese in context.

S-J-P Study Japanese Podcast
http://sjp.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/
From what I’ve heard so far it is hosted by native Japanese with no silly gaijin to mess things up. Minimal English so it’s quite a good immersion into Japanese. Perhaps good for low intermediate and above. Unfortunately they haven’t updated their website recently.

The Linguist on Language
http://thelinguist.blogs.com/how_to_learn_english_and/japanese_podcast/
Not exactly a podcast but you can see Steve Kauffman’s youtube videos explaining how to learn languages all in Japanese. Check out his blog http://thelinguist.blogs.com/ which is concerned on general language learning. Steve’s bio is here: http://thelinguist.blogs.com/about.html Steve Kauffman is the brains behind Japanese LingQ. Steve Kauffman is like El Gringo, a well traveled linguist but with suits.

Japanese LingQ
http://www.japaneselingq.com/
Podacsts are 100% ( from what I’ve heard so far) Japanese so good for total immersion if you are of an intermediate level. You have to sign up if you want to read the transcripts. It has some “revolutionary learning system” a rather questionable phrase in my humble estimation however it’s worth checking out.

Survival Phrases – Japanese
http://survivalphrases.com/japanese/guest.php
Very professional – annoyingly so. It’s so produced and corporate that it sounds like a commercial. Waaay too much English. But maybe good for complete beginners in Japanese.

Nippon Voice Blog
http://www.voiceblog.jp/nippon/
Hmm…Super zannen. I opened the page to find some long transcripts about Japanese culture. Great for reading and vocabulary BUT none of the mp3s were working. That’s probably something to do with the fact that the last entry was back in 2006.

If you know of any good podcasts for learning Japanese then feel free to post the urls in the comment section below. I’ll be sure to add it to the list here.

Kansai Fireworks Calendar 2009

Alex — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:29:00 +0000

Tweet this!

View Fireworks Festivals Japan 2009 in a larger map

25th July (Saturday)

(Osaka)

天神祭奉納花火　Tenjin Festival Fireworks display

Time: 19:00-21:00

Location: MAP/地図 5 min walk from JR Sakuranomiya station (桜ノ宮駅), Loop line (環状線)

4000 fireworks / 1.3 million spectators / TEL: 06-6353-002/ http://www.tenjinsan.com/tjm.html

Check out this Tenjin Festival Video

(Osaka)

岸和田港まつり花火大会　Kishiwada Minato Festival Fireworks
Time: 20:00 – 21:00
Location: MAP/地図 30 mins walk from Kishiwada station (岸和田駅), Nankai hon line (南海本線)
1500 fireworks / 20000 spectators / TEL: 072-423-9618/

(Hyogo)

芦屋サマーカーニバル　Ashiya Summer Carnival
Time: 20:00 start
Location: MAP/地図 Ashiya City Park 芦屋市総合公園/Nearest station -Ashiya station / 芦屋駅 /
5000 fireworks / 90000 spectators / TEL: 0797-35-0871/

(Hyogo)

姫路みなと祭海上花火大会 Himeji Port Fireworks Festival

Time: 19:30-20:45

Location: MAP/地図 25 min walk from Shikama Station on the Sanyo Dentetsu line 山陽電鉄本線飾磨駅

3300 fireworks / http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/s60/2212506/_10217/_10017.html

1st August (Saturday)

(Osaka)

教祖祭PL花火芸術　Kyoso Festival PL Fireworks Display
Time: 19:45 – 20:45
Location: MAP/地図 10 mins walk from Tondabayashi station (富田林駅), Kintetsu Nagano line (近鉄長野線)
20000 fireworks / 300000 spectators /TEL: 0721-23-6625/ http://www.perfect-liberty.or.jp/

7th August (Friday)

(Shiga)

びわ湖花火大会　Lake Biwa Fireworks display
Time: 19:30– 20:30
Location: MAP/地図 5 mins walk from Hamaotsu station (浜大津駅)
10000 fireworks / 350000 spectators / TEL: 077-511-1530 / http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/

8th August (Saturday)

(Osaka)

なにわ淀川花火大会　Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Display
Time: 19:50– 20:40
Location: MAP/地図 10 mins walk from Jyuso station (十三駅), Hankyu line (阪急線)
or Tsukamoto station (塚本駅), JR kobe line (JR神戸線)
3000 fireworks / 380000 spectators /TEL: 06-6307-5522/http://www.yodohanabi.com/

15th August (Saturday)

(Kyoto)

あやべ水無月まつり　Ayabe Festival
Time: 20:00– 20:45
Location: MAP/地図 10 mins walk east from Ayabe Station 綾部駅
４000 fireworks / 35000 spectators /TEL: 0773-42-0701

Kanto Fireworks Calendar

Alex — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:43:56 +0000

TWEET THIS!

This is the Kanto Fireworks Calendar covering the greater Tokyo area and surrounding prefectures. Be sure to check out the Kansai Fireworks Calendar here. We will be adding extra information to this calendar as the festival season progresses here in Japan. Also check out our Japan Guide Page for general event and cultural for Japan.

Every year hundreds of thousands of people gather wearing 浴衣 – Yukata – summer kimonos and try to keep themselves cool with their 扇子 – Sensu – fans during the warm humid summer. Many of these fireworks displays have long histories stretching back hundreds of years so this is a great way to experience Japanese culture at it’s most exciting.

Please leave your comments, questions and fireworks tales on the comments below. Enjoy!

View Fireworks Festivals Japan 2009 in a larger map

4th July (Saturday)

(Yamanashi)

富士山　河口湖　山開きまつり花火大会 Mount Fuji -Kawaguchi Lake – Yamaaki Fireworks Display

Time: 20:00 – 20:30

Location: 10 mins walk from Kawaguchiko station, Fuji Kyuko line

2000 fireworks / 30,000 spectators / MAP / /TEL: 0555-72-2460

11th July (Saturday)

(Kanagawa)

2009 久里浜ペリー祭 2009 Kurihama Perii Festival

Time: 19:20 – 20:10

Location: Kurihama bay -15 mins walk from JR Kurihama station or 15 mins walk from Keikyu Kurihama station

3500 fireworks / 90,000 spectators / TEL: 046-822-2500 / http://www.kurihama.com/info MAP

18th July (Saturday)

(Tokyo)

調布市花火大会　Chofu City Fireworks Display

Time: 19:20 – 20:30

Location: 15mins walk from Chofu station

12,000 fireworks / 250,000 spectators TEL: 042-481-7311 MAP

(Saitama）

小江戸川越花火大会 Ko Edo Kawagoe Fireworks Display

Time: 19:30 – 21:00

Location: 20 mins walk from Kasahata station

4000 fireworks / 140,000 spectators TEL: 049-222-5556 MAP

(Saitama)

たまむら花火大会 Tamamura Fireworks Display

Time: 19:50 – 20:50

Location: 20 mins by bus from JR Takasaki Line, Shinmachi station

10,000 fireworks / 50,000 spectators / 0270-65-7144　 MAP

(Shizuoka)

海の祭典　納涼花火大会　Umi No Saiten Nouryou Fireworks Display

Time: 20:00 – 20:30

Location: 10 min bus from Izushimoda station on Izukyukou line

2000 fireworks / 15,000 spectators / MAP / http://www.izu-shirahama.jp/event_guide.html#hanabi

19th July (Sunday)

(Saitama)

ドイツ村花火大会 Doitsu Mura Fireworks Display

Time: 20:30 – 20:50

Location: 15 min taxi ride from Ooko station (大湖駅)

5000 fireworks / 8000 spectators / MAP / http://www.doitsumura.com/index2.html

(Kanagawa)

灯籠流し＆花火大会　Floating Paper Laterns On The River and Fireworks Display

Time: Events start at 19:00 with fireworks at the end

Location: 片瀬江ノ島駅　2 min walk from Katase Enoshima station

500 fireworks / 13,000 spectators / MAP

23rd July (Thursday)

(Tokyo)

足立の花火 Adachi Fireworks Display

Time: 19:30 – 20:30

Location: 15 min walk from Kitasenju station（北千住駅）

12,000 fireworks / more than 500,000 people expected to watch from the river /http:/adachikanko.jp/fireworks/ MAP

25th July (Saturday)

(Tochigi)

真岡市夏祭り大花火大会 Moka City Festival and Fireworks Display

Time: 19:20 – 21:00

Location: 15 min walk from Moka station (真岡駅)

20,000 fireworks / 280,000 spectators / http://www.city.moka.tochigi.jp/kankou/maturi/ MAP

(Tokyo)

隅田川花火大会 Sumidagawa Fireworks Display

Time: 19:00 – 20:30 (area 1) / 19:30 – 20:30 (area 2)

Location: On the Sumida river, 15 min walk from Asakusa station (浅草駅) or five min walk from Kuramae station (蔵前駅）

21,500 fireworks / 900,000 spectators / http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html MAP

(Shizuoka)

安倍川花火大会 Abekawa Fireworks Display

Time: 19:00 – 21:00

Location: 10 min taxi or bus ride from Shizuoka station (静岡駅)

15,000 fireworks / 600,000 spectators / MAP

(Tokyo)

立川祭り国営昭和記念公園花火大会 Tachikawa Festival and Showakinen Park Fireworks Display

Time: 19:20 – 20:30

Location: 15 min walk from Tachikawa station (立川駅)

5000 fireworks / 600,000 spectators / MAP

25th and 26th July (Sunday)

(Shizuoka)

沼津夏祭り狩野川花火大会 Numazu Sumer Festival and Kanogawa Fireworks Display

Time: 19:30 – 20:45

Location: 10 min walk from Numazu station (沼津駅)

9000 fireworks / 360,000 spectators / MAP

29th July (Wednesday)

(Chiba)

船橋港親水公園花火大会　Funabashi Koshinsui Park Fireworks Festival

Time: 19:30 – 20:30

Location: 10 min walk from JR Minami Funabashi Station (南船橋駅) or 10 min walk from Keisei Daijingu-shita station (京成大神宮下駅)

6000 fireworks / 70,000 spectators / MAP

30th July (Thursday)

(Saitama)

さいたま市花火大会 Saitama City Fireworks Display

Time: 19:00 – 21:00

Location: 15 min walk from Omiya Koen station (大宮公園駅) or Owada station (大和田駅)

5000 fireworks / 130,000 spectators / MAP

AUGUST

8th August (Saturday)

(Tokyo)

東京湾大華火祭りTokyo Bay Fireworks Festival

Time: 19:00 – 20:20

Location: 15mins walk from Kachidoki station on Oedo Line(大江戸線勝どき駅) 20mins walk from Tsukishima Station on the Yurakucho line(有楽町線月島駅)

12000 fireworks / 170,000 spectators / MAP

(Kanagawa)

あつぎ鮎大花火大会　Atsugi Ayu Fireworks Festival

Time: 19:00 – 20:40

Location: 15mins walk from Honatsugi station north exit on the Odakyu line （本厚木駅北口小田急線）

5000 fireworks / 580,000 spectators / MAP

11th August (Tuesday)

(Tokyo)

せいせき多摩川花火大会 Seiseki Tamagawa Fireworks Festival

Time: 19:30 – 20:30

Location: 10mins walk from Seiseki-Sakuragaoka station on Keio Line(京王線聖蹟桜ヶ丘駅）15mins walk from Nakagawara Station on Keio line(京王線中河原駅)

5000 fireworks / 230,000 spectators / MAP

29th August (Saturday)

(Kanagawa)

相模原納涼花火大会 Sagamihara Fireworks Festival

Time: 19:00 onwards

Location: 30 min bus ride from Fuchinobe station on the JR Yokohama line (JR横浜線淵野辺駅) Car is probably best transport.

8000 fireworks / 290,000 spectators / MAP

Umenohana – Traditional Japanese Dining on the Cheap

Alex — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:49:30 +0000

Eating out in Japan should be one of the greatest experiences any travelling foreigner should ever encounter. Yet while it creates quite a lot of excitement for some (i.e. me. My mantra is “I can’t say I don’t like something if I haven’t tried it”) for many Japanese dining is cause for nerves and stress. Some worry that they may not understand the menu and end up with a plate full of sea creatures still alive enough to crawl down their throats, or that no-one in the restaurant will speak any English. Others worry about the cost too, which is definitely a concern in Tokyo – and I should know. A few months back, my boyfriend and I, on an impulse, ducked into a tiny teppanyaki restaurant in Roppongi. 2 hours and ¥70,000 yen later, we left full albeit a little dazed and confused too.

But a meal here with all the trimmings doesn’t ever need to cost you your month’s rent. An eatery in the heart of Ginza has the matters at hand covered, providing English and picture menus, the occasional bi-lingual waitress, along with a traditional Japanese dining experience.

Introducing Umenohana. Umenohana is actually a chain of restaurants found all across Japan that offers customers kaiseki style of dining within a small quiet dining area or in the privacy of your own tatami room. Kaiseki loosely translates to mean a customary multi-course meal and with Umenohana offering two set menus specializing in yuba (a tofu derivative) and tofu, this restaurant is a must-go for all foreigners in Japan.

Now for those of you unsure about tofu and yuba, let me assure you that I have taken even the most ardent “meat and potatoes” man to Umenohana and he loved it, even admitting that most of the time he could not tell it was tofu. In fact most people leave the place having learned a thing or two about tofu – firstly that it is incredibly delicious and secondly that they had no idea it could be prepared, cooked and served in such a variety of ways. I will let the photos speak for themselves…

As is customary with kaiseki dining, each portion is small, but with the courses number over 10 (I always lose count!), you will not leave hungry. The cost of the set menus are a very reasonable ¥4600 for Umenohana-zen and ¥5100 for Shiawase-zen and I recommend going at least twice as both menus are entirely different from each other. Drinks are not included in the price, but start around ¥530 for beer and shochu, going up to ¥5,500 for bottles of good quality sake.

Bookings are essential, particularly if you want to dine in a private tatami room (recommended, and at no extra cost too!) – use the opportunity to practice your Japanese over the phone. I always start off saying I do not speak Japanese very well and have my key phrases rehearsed concerning the time, day and number of people the reservation is, for and the receptionist has never been anything less than extremely helpful.

Umenohana is definitely one of those restaurants to take visiting friends and family to. The staff is warm and welcoming, and the “Japan-ness” of the encounter is second to none, with some great photo opps and interesting conversation points amongst scrumptious food and drink guaranteed.

Please check the website below for restaurant locations and booking information:
http://www.umenohana.co.jp/e/index.html

Note: Prices and menu offerings may vary slightly between restaurants. These prices have been taken from Umenohana, Ginza.

AUTHOR: ELISABETH LAMBERT

Tenjin Festival Osaka 2006

Alex — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:41:59 +0000

What: Tenji Matsuri

When: 24th – 25th July

Getting there: Rail: Osaka-Temmangu Station on JR Tozai Line Subway: Minami-mori-machi Station on Tanimachi Line or Sakaisuji Line

I took this video of the Tenji festival in Osaka in 2006. It is one of the “big three” festivals in Japan and is an incredibly crowded but fun experience. The festival is held in late July and over a million people regularly attend each year. It has everything a good Japanese festival should have, stall food, games, people in Yukata and fireworks. There is also a procession of over 100 boats on the river which is an incredible site.

It has over 1000 years of history and is one of the main cultural events in Kansai. So if you are wondering what to do on your trip to Japan this is a must.

Bicycle Tour of Japan

Alex — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:44:51 +0000

Fun Friday for May 15th 2009

[podcast]http://media.libsyn.com/media/japanese/ff20090515.mp3[/podcast]

Directly download the Fun Friday MP3

On this week’s Fun Friday Podcast, I interviewed Stone River and Goldhorn, two friends of mine who have just completed a 1200km bicycle tour of Japan. Their trip started in Tokyo and took them up the east Coast of Japan to Sendai via route 6. From there they cycled north west over the mountains, through some amazing hot springs and eventually Akita. From there they took a ferry to Sapporo their final destination.

Judging by the silly smiles on their faces they had a great time when I met up with them in Tokyo after they had completed the trip. According to them it went very smoothly and people were very supportive and helpful along the way. Although they broke a few spokes they didn’t get a single flat tire during the entire trip. When Stone handed back my bike which I had given him for the trip I managed to get a flat within five minutes of riding home. Thanks Murphy

We will be adding more detailed information about their trip soon including diary entries, equipment, things to take or not and general advice for the dos and don’ts of doing cycling tours of Japan. In the mean time, here is a partial map of their progress on the tour.

The Grand Tour

View Stone’s Tokyo to Hokkaido bike tour in a larger map

Osaka hang outs

Alex — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:23:27 +0000

Nostalgia has got the better of me so I made a map of some of my favorite hang outs in Osaka. These include bars, restaurants and possibly one of the best pizza restaurants in the whole of Osaka, well worth checking out. This is an ongoing project which I hope to be adding to regularly. If you have your own recommendations please add them to the map. Hopefully, it will end up as a resource for people looking for a fun night out in Osaka city.

View Osaka hangouts in a larger map

Stone’s Tour de Japan

Alex — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:02:35 +0000

I have two friends riding from Tokyo to Hokkaido over golden week and so I thought I would document their progress. One of them is “Stone River” from the forums and the other is “Goldhorn” as they have asked me to use their handles…bless. So I’ve made a google map to illustrate their progress with pics and information for anyone interesed and for those who might be considering a similar trip.

Here’s some information:

Equipment:

Goldhorn’s bike: Specialized rock hopper with rack mount for bags

Stone’s bike: “A piece of c### bridgestone” which he bought for not much. It has a rack mount too which is making more trouble that it is worth.

They also have a tent as they’ll be camping along the way. They started out from Akihabara on Tuesday night and have been following route 6 into Ibaraki. They’re following the coast and should be hitting south Sendai prefecture sometime tonight.

Here is the google map I have made of their progress so far.

View Stone’s Tokyo to Hokkaido bike tour in a larger map

Learn Japanese Pod » Japan guide

JLPT Q&A

Japan Website Links

Blogs From Japan (English)

Japanese Language Learning Sites

Magazines and Events

News From Japan

Jobs in Japan

Skiing and Snowboarding in Japan

Tours / Travel in Japan

Podcasts For Learning Japanese

Kansai Fireworks Calendar 2009

25th July (Saturday)

1st August (Saturday)

7th August (Friday)

8th August (Saturday)

15th August (Saturday)

Kanto Fireworks Calendar

4th July (Saturday)

11th July (Saturday)

18th July (Saturday)

19th July (Sunday)

23rd July (Thursday)

25th July (Saturday)

25th and 26th July (Sunday)

29th July (Wednesday)

30th July (Thursday)

AUGUST

8th August (Saturday)

11th August (Tuesday)

29th August (Saturday)

Umenohana – Traditional Japanese Dining on the Cheap

Tenjin Festival Osaka 2006

Bicycle Tour of Japan

Fun Friday for May 15th 2009

The Grand Tour

Osaka hang outs

Stone’s Tour de Japan