Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dave Chance]

Hate to say it but having lived there and been to some of the places on the list, have to admit there is some substance amongst the bs...so long as u can find decent employment and digs.

One of the huge differences is there is an appreciation in Tokyo for the whacky and idiosyncratic, someone just cutting loose and exploring their fancy. This contrasts well with the general good level of quality expected in service and occasional all-universe-hit-it-out-of-the-park attraction, not to mention an execution of food, fashion, etc. which can often demonstrate a sophisticated awareness of Europe/America done up in a uniquely Japanese approach...and I'm sure everyone who's been has their "Fail!" example as well, but on the whole a lot of pleasant surprises.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/50-reasons-tokyo-is-the-worlds-greatest-city

7. Three words: Punk bath house

Several times every year, an otherwise unassuming little public bathhouse named Benten-yu is converted into a makeshift �live house� called Furo Rock, where musicians rock out in between the bathtubs. Fully clothed, we assure you. At 3,500 yen a pop, tickets can be on the expensive side (and it�s more than a little echo-y in there), but hey�it�s wet and wild. Minus the wet part.

Bentenyu: 2-27-13 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-shi, map

8. More Michelin stars than anywhere else

When France�s lauded Michelin Red Guide announced it would release a Tokyo edition�the first one to cover an Asian city�many scoffed at what they perceived to be a mere marketing ploy. But they awarded the area�s restaurants a total of 293 stars in the �Tokyo Yokohama Shonan 2012� edition of the guide. It�s only fair; Tokyo sports 160,000 known eateries, over 10 times the number in Paris. There are a few three-star standouts in the Tokyo Guide�Kojyu in Ginza, serving delicate traditional Japanese cuisine; Jo�l Robuchon in Ebisu, the Tokyo stronghold of the famed celebrity chef; and Quintessence in Shirokane-dai, whose young French-trained chef has finally achieved recognition in the Japanese culinary hierarchy, thanks to his inclusion in the Guide. More than anything, though, Michelin has proven something that most Tokyoites already know: this city is undoubtedly the gastronomic capital of the world.

9. The electronics stores are like theme parks

The Japanese have taken their love of the latest electronic gadgets and modern appliances to a new level with Yodobashi Akiba, the largest electronics store in a section of Tokyo known for being the center of gadget, video game, and anime culture in the city. Going into any electronics store in Akihabara is like stepping into a wonderland of flashing lights and monstrous screens, but Yodobashi ups the ante by offering six massive floors of televisions, stereos, appliances and game consoles, with three more floors dedicated to restaurants, juice bars, bookstores and music shops.

Yodobashi Akiba: 1-1 Kanda-hanaoka-cho, Chiyoda-ku. +81 (0) 3 5209 1010

10. You can commute to the mountains

When the concrete Tokyo gets to be too much, just head out to the wonderful Mount Takao in West Tokyo. Accessible by a single train from Shinjuku, the mountain is particularly famous for its easy hike to the top, stunning autumn foliage and special soba-noodle culture.

To access Takao: Take the Keio line to Takao-san-guchi Station. Takes a little less than one hour.

11. Earth�s biggest fish market is in its best sushi neighborhood

Given Japan�s penchant for seafood, it�s not surprising that the world�s largest fish market (and one of the largest wholesale markets, period) is located in Tokyo. Handling more than 2,000 tons of seafood each day, Tsukiji-shijo (�market�) is a haven for fisherman, auctioneers and buyers for Tokyo�s best restaurants. As an added bonus, here the freshest sushi and most delectable grilled fish lunches can be had at reasonable prices�assuming one can stand the mad rush of patrons.

12. Even the serious museums are weird

Edo-Tokyo Museum is the best place to relive the old traditional style of life in Tokyo, when it was called Edo in the 15th to 19th centuries. The building exterior, however, looks like a giant space cruiser on a �Buck Rogers� backlot, propped up on stilts. This is perhaps an attempt to fuse past, present and future Tokyo into one space.

Edo-Tokyo Museum: 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, +81 (0) 3 3626 9974

14. You�ll never want for expensive antique robot toys

Eight floors of heaven for anime fans, Mandarake Complex represents the flagship of the Mandarake chain of vintage anime ephemera. The seventh and eighth floors are like a museum of Japanese toy history�only everything is for sale. Although their prices are higher than you�ll find in other shops and bargaining is out of the question, you would be hard pressed to beat the selection.

Mandarake Complex: Sotokanda 3-11-12, Chiyoda-ku, +81 (0) 3 3252 7007, noon-8 p.m.

18. The K-Pop boom is old news

As the rest of the world finally gets around to discovering the glories of Korean pop culture, Tokyoites are stifling a yawn. That�s because anything worthwhile coming out of the K-Pop boom washes up in Tokyo�s Koreatown first. This enclave of souvenir shops, barbecue eateries and bars stretches over several blocks near the bustling mini-city of Shinjuku.

19. Personal service is borderline stalky

From humble grocery stores to fancy boutiques, Tokyo�s standard of service is remarkably high. Unsurprisingly, the city�s top-class restaurants strive for excellence, and Aronia de Takazawa delivers service with a personal touch. Prior to your visit, you�ll receive a number of charming, chatty emails from Akiko Takazawa, the chef�s wife. During dinner, Mrs. Takazawa will take you step-by-step through the chef�s high-tech creations and make you feel as smart and sophisticated as the food.

Aronia de Takazawa: Sanyo Akasaka Building, 2/F, 3-5-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku, +81 (0) 3 3505 5052

21. There are oodles of noodles

There are more noodle shops in Tokyo than any other city in the world. If we had to pick a current favorite, it would be Menya Goto, a tiny counter stall that serves incredibly flavorful bowls of ramen to the slurping masses lined up out the door.

Menya Goto: 3-33-7 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, +81 (0) 3 3986 9115

22. You can spend every waking hour surrounded by comics

At a manga-kissa, or �comics caf�,� a few hundred yen per hour nets you a tiny booth with a reclining chair, Internet-enabled PC, an endless supply of all-you-can-read comic books, and bottomless soft drink refills. Ostensibly created for manga freaks, these miniscule rent-a-chairs are fast becoming popular for another reason: they offer young couples and salarymen alike a super-cheap place to kill time and catch some Zs. The extensive Manboo! franchise (despite a name and logo that border on copyright infringement) is the most recognizable manga-kissa, and its flagship storefront in Kabuki-cho is perfect for hostess-club Lotharios who�ve missed the last train home.

Manboo! Comic Cafe Shinjuku: 1-17-7 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, +81 (0) 3 5287 4688

23. Bats what�s up

Tokyo calls forth an image of the glimmering city of the future, yet along the Kanda River�flowing from Inokashira Park in Kichijoji to the Sumida River�we humans have to share Tokyo with another busy inhabitant: bats. Lots of �em. Every evening, you can see them storming the skies on any pleasant stroll along the river, but since they don�t attack people, they�re considered part of the ambience.

28. Apartments are like MC Escher drawings

No city on earth is as novel in its approach to housing. Exhibit A: the rainbow-colored, multi-shaped Reversible Destiny Lofts apartment complex. Located in an otherwise boring part of the Mitaka suburbs, the complex looks like a LSD vision of a giant McDonald�s jungle gym. Architects Arakawa & Gins intentionally built the lofts with uneven floors and other unorthodoxy to constantly challenge the minds of Japan�s elderly.

Reversible Destiny Lofts: 2-2-8 Osawa, Mitaka-Shi, +81 (0) 422 26 4966

29. Religious experiences for cat lovers

The beautiful Gotokuji Buddhist temple is believed to be the birthplace of Japan�s ubiquitous beckoning cat statues. As you might expect, its display of the lucky ceramic felines, tucked tastefully behind a side building, is second to none.

Gotokuji Temple: Gotokuji 2-24-7, Setagaya-ku

1. Porn shops are like video games with increasing levels of freakiness

Like entering the 36 Chambers of Shaolin, every flight up the Ali Baba Akihabara mini-skyscraper of pornography is another level of weirdness. As with many Japanese porn shops, the first floor sells a halfhearted selection of mainstream Hollywood and Japanese films for a thin veneer of respectability. Take the stairs one flight up and the real adventure begins, with fetishes organized by floor.

Ali Baba Akihabara: 3/F, 1-18 Kanda-Sakumacho, Chiyoda-ku, +81 (0) 3 5289 0242

34. Behold the least impressive statue of a giant monster

Standing in the shadow of the film company that unleashed Godzilla on the world, this bronze effigy of the giant creature in Hibiya park towers a whopping ... half-meter high. We suppose a life-sized 70-meter version would have been prohibitive, but half a meter? At least the pedestal raises it above eye level.

Hibiya Park: map

35. The cuddliest caf�s

At cat caf� Nekorobi in Takadanobaba, you can relax after work with a cup of cocoa and a sleepy-faced Siamese, or let off some steam by tossing a toy around with a frisky tabby. Then be heartbroken when you leave.

Nekorobi: Tact T-O Building 3, 1-28-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, +81 (0) 3 6228 0646

36. The most bars per square meter

Bar hopping takes on a whole new meaning in Golden Gai: one only needs to step outside to stumble into another bar. Golden Gai packs more than 200 tiny watering holes�some so small they seat a scant five�in half the size of a Costco. Less dense, but equally tight, are the bars in Omoide Yokocho near Shinjuku station and Nonbei Yokocho, the colorfully named �Drunkard�s Alley,� in Shibuya.

Near Kabukicho, official website

37. You have to work for high-end tempura

It might take a while to find Motoyoshi among the backstreets of Minami-Aoyama, but its GPS-confounding location is part of the fun. The prize for actually arriving is perfectly crisp tempura. The chef is as picky about his ingredients�succulent scallops and tender asparagus in summer, hearty red carrots from Kyoto in winter�as he is about his technique.

Motoyoshi: 3-2-4 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, +81 (0) 3 3401 0722

39. Its red-light district is the least dangerous

Kabukicho is full of sketchy hostess clubs, airplane-themed �showtime cabarets� and �pink salons� (don�t ask), but also ... college students hanging out with acoustic guitars? Yes, the Shinjuku red-light district is not �classy,� but it�s still Tokyo. So feel free to wander through it any time of the day, maybe picking up a cone of H�agen-Dazs on the way.

Walking distance from the East exit of Shinjuku Station.

43. Onsen with the best feng shui

Strictly built according to the principles of feng shui, Yukari is a beautifully appointed hot spring in Tokyo�s western suburbs. The baths are marked with the cardinal directions for proper orientation during soaking.

Jindaiji Onsen Yukari: +81 (0) 42 499 7777, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., closed first Wednesday of every month

46. Cocktails are maniacally fresh

In cocktail-crazy Tokyo, bartenders approach their subject with the artistry and focus of Michelin-starred chefs. The mixologists at Aoyama�s swanky Bar Rage source top-quality, fresh ingredients from around the country for their seasonal drinks. They hunt down the tastiest passion fruits from Okinawa, or the sweetest kumquats from Miyazaki to give classic cocktails a Japanese twist.

Bar Rage: 3/F Aoyama Jin & IT Building, 7-13-13 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, +81 (0) 3 5467 3977

47. The most fiscally reckless, visually spectacular fireworks displays

Tokyo has a huge number of major hanabi taikai, or fireworks festivals, every summer, but the gathering at Asakusa and Mukojima along the Sumida-gawa river has got to be the most spectacular. More than 20,000 individual fireworks are launched every year on average, and in 2010 alone, a whopping 942,000 spectators flocked to the area to view the show.

48. Vegan restaurants that make even carnivores� mouths water

When it comes to excellent vegan cuisine, look no further than ... a Buddhist temple. The monks of Takao Yakuo-in monastery prepare elaborate vegan meals for visitors on a reservation-only basis. The multi-course, multi-plate spreads are a special treat for carnivore and non-carnivore alike. 2,500 to 3,500 yen per person.

Takao Yakuo-in Temple: Takao-cho 2177, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, +81 (0) 42 661 1118

50. The best riverboat entertainment

Sumida River is the most beloved river of the shitamachi Tokyo downtown and also home to the yakata-bune�a traditional Japanese boat whose interior looks a lot like a typical Japanese pub. Package deals, starting from �10,000, offer a boat and all-you-can-eat-and-drink food and alcohol for large groups, who gorge on beer and okonomiyaki as their vessel plies the river. There�s even a great view of the now-ubiquitous Sky Tree. What�s not to like?

Amisei: Kaminarimon 2-1-16, Taito-ku, +81 (0) 3 3844 1869, www.amisei.com

[happiness]

yes, yes, yes

while im in a starbucks full of students playing catch up with their neighbors...

koreans watch each other, japanese respect each other, that leads to all of that fun stuff. koreans watching each other leads up to playing very safe.

but theres no winning playing the korea vs japan game...
and koreas been good to me so....

but sigh

[Dodge7]