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Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

You turn on the heated toilet seat.

You dig out your musty blankets from the closet.

You don't need a fan on you when you sleep. Does anyone else find it strange that in Japan there is about 4 weeks where you don't have either a fan or heater on at night?

You fill up your toyu at the gas station.

The cafeterias don't serve your favourite tsumetai udon (could just be me for this one).

Celeste · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 8:05 am Post subject:

GOt my musty blankets out last night! Will be putting away my summer things and digging out all my sweaters this weekend. I do prefer the cooler months if only because it is easier to warm up than to cool off (after you are naked there is nothing less you can wear!)

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

I actually enjoy the fall.Cooler temps and the changing leaves are always welcome after a hot summer.
I really enjoy the warmth of a toyu heater and sipping on atsukan...

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I like the Fall too, but it seems so short. It goes from summer to winter way too quickly in Japan. Low 20's is my favourite temperature.

Anyone plug in their kotatsu yet?

bshabu · Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 200 Location: Kumagaya

I was thinking about this topic this morning. Last night I got out my blankets and this morning plugged in my seat.

One more way, is when you realize that Japan has mountains. Alas, I can see mountains around me. For some reason they vanish in summer Wink

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

Speed · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Shikoku Land

You know it's getting cold when...

- you only take 2 showers a day rather than 7
- walking around naked isn't a survival tactic
- cans of hot coffee begin appearing in vending machines
- knee high boots with short skirts and trenchcoats (on girls)
- the kids skin color no longer resemble aborigines'
- you begin seeing Christmas decorations in shops (in October)
- the serene fragrance of kerosene waifting throught the air

bshabu · Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 200 Location: Kumagaya

Another one is when you wake up and half of your face is warm and the other is cold.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Yes it is nice not to make a beeline to the a/c and strip all your clothes off the second you get home. Don't know how many shows we've put on for the neighbours. Do the Japanese people walk around their apts and houses in their underwear? I know old men do becuase I've seen them take the garbage out in their undies.

You also see fewer black umbrellas around. Still haven't gotten used to seeing that in the summer.

fizayded · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 46 Location: Machida, Tokyo

i gotta question, I'm going to teach around Nagoya/Osaka region (yeah, I know that's big) in January. What kind of coat will I need for this weather? Like a wool coat, or a waterproof trenchcoat with wool lining? What about for summer when it's wet and hot? I've been pondering this one. But the kotatsu is included with my apartment. Smile

spidey · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 7:12 am Post subject:

fizayded,

This will be my second winter in Gifu City(about 30km north of Nagoya). Due to the geographical location with the mountains basically enclosing the area, the weather seems to get trapped. In the winter, it tends to be a little colder than you might expect this far south. But on the plus side, it doesn't get too windy. If memory serves, you can expect temps as low as 5C to 0C in Jan and Feb. On the flip side, in summer, the humidity tends to get trapped and with little wind, it can feel very hot indeed. But overall, weather wise, it's a pretty good place. Mountains are close for winter fun and beaches aren't too far off for summer sun. Cool

Good luck

S

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You know it's getting cold when...

you actually think of buying one of those steaming, warm bowls of ramen or sweet potatoes from a truck cruising your neighborhood.

the neighborhood fills its lawns with yuki gakoi.

someone actually sees yuki mushi.

you really need to start your car via remote keyless system 5 minutes before you get in it.

you actually stop to think about leaving the heater settings on for your car for the reasons in the previous statement.

subways and buses have their heaters on full blast, just as you have switched from short sleeves to long sleeves.

you start thinking seriously about those foam insulation strips and window plastic coverings as a good idea this year.

the tatami in your bedroom feels warm, not cool to the touch of your bare feet in the morning.

you wonder if you left the space heater on while you go to work, and you pray this isn't the day an earthquake hits or that you had enough kerosene in the tank.

you have to worry about calculating degrees C and F in terms of negative numbers now.

the mountain passes have those little snowflake symbols on the TV weather programs.

you start making chili extra spicy, and more than once a month.

people start putting those sharp metal teeth on their shoes or canes.

genkans and driveways start to sprout plastic snow shovels.

you worry about your tub of tsukemono freezing outside or in your genkan

and it is REALLY getting cold when...
(this one is for the diehard people who really don't mind cold weather too much...) when Smurfs turn flesh-colored.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

You know it's getting cold when.....

You see a girl in really short dress pedalling her mamachari up a hill and continually babbling "samui, samui" in a really whiney voice while fumbling for her keitai?

(X-reference to an exchange between TokyoLiz and Unchi pants in an old, OLD thread about Japan... :-)http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=7422&postdays=0&postorder=asc

Sorry, but I still think that's one of the funniest things I can visualize in my head....

unchi pants · Joined: 20 Dec 2003 Posts: 64

Yep... The temperature has dropped a couple of degrees and already the little whiney toned voices babbling "samui samui" can be heard everywhere.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Speaking of weather, what are you guys doing during the typhoon?

Most schools are shut up and currently Shikoku is getting pounded, I hope this is the worst of it, but we shall see. I never knew rain could come from so many directions.

Any good stories to tell? I love watching the news and seeing people try to use their umbrellas. Laughing

Right now, I am following Game 6 of the baseball ALCS on mlb.com. Go Bo Sox, sick of watching the Yankees in it every year.