Tsukiji Fish Market is Moving in 2016

The very famous Tsukiji Fish Market is moving to a new location, the new Toyosu market, 

 in autumn of 2016. The days to visit this historic market are numbered. 

Read about this market and its 80 year history 

in a special website prepared by the Asahi Shinbun

entitled: Tsukiji, Kitchen of the Times

http://www.asahi.com/special/tsukiji/en/ 

Looking for accomodations if you're visiting the Tsukiji market?

A recommended hotel is the new capsule hotel, the First Cabin Hotel.

It's a capsule hotel that doesn't feel too much like a capsule hotel, 

its concept is based on the 1st class seat of an airplane.

The hotel is a five-minute walk from Tsukiji Market, perfect for 

sleeping and heading to the market so early in the dawn hours.

Or perhaps, you'd prefer a shared house or apartment?

Why not sign-up with AirBnb through this link here

and get FREE $20 credit that you can use anytime for your booking? :)

Japan Travel: Suzuki Car and Motorcycle History Museum in Hamamatsu

This museum is also known as Suzuki Rekishikan in Japanese.

In Hamamatsu, Suzuki has its own museum which is also similar to the Toyota commemorative museum, only more compact. However when in Hamamatsu, it's worthwhile to take a visit, too.

• visiting the museum is free but requires an online appointment
• exhibits showing the history of Suzuki (with English transcription and audio translation)
• the current production process, 
• along with its own 3D film show- that functions as a great virtual plant tour. 
• and a free souvenir Suzuki swift toy car at the exhibit portion
• Souvenir items can be purchased from the vendo machine

Similar to Toyota (see the Toyota plant tour here), Suzuki also started with looms production, transitioning to motorcycle production,
and finally to cars and other technologies.

The museum of Suzuki Manufacturing history is located in Suzuki Plaza, Hamamatsu.
You can make a reservation online (take note: Japanese-only website).

http://www.suzuki-rekishikan.jp/reserve/

Translated page (to English):
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.suzuki-rekishikan.jp%2Freserve%2F&edit-text=&act=url 

For individuals / private groups, select this button on the reservation website: 

Read more to see some photos:

Japan Travel: Toyota Factory Tour and Museum Tour in Nagoya

There are three Toyota-related attractions that are very popular in Nagoya. 

These are the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, The Toyota Kaikan Museum, and the Toyota Plant Tour.

1) Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology 

(at Nagoya city center, a short walk from Nagoya station)

Shows the history of Toyota, Toyota looms, car displays from old to new, Toyota production way exhibits and videos. Allocate at least 3 hours for this museum. Closes at 4PM. 

Open Monday to Saturday, 9:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Closed Sundays and Toyota's company holidays. 

Entrance is 400 yen.

http://www.tcmit.org/english/

Japan Travel: A Tour of Tokyo's Bookstores - Great Read from Abebooks

From: http://www.abebooks.com/books/features/tokyo-bookstores/index.shtml

A Tour of Tokyo's Bookstores by Collin Laird
from Abebooks blog.

Tokyo - the world's most populous metropolis with 35 million inhabitants - has endless attractions ranging from food to historic temples and unique architecture. To the delight of bibliophiles, Japan's capital also boasts numerous bookstores.

You can't talk about Tokyo without considering the neighborhoods. Typically centered around one of many large train stations, each district has its own special atmosphere and characteristics. Finding bookshops is exceptionally easy because an entire district is dedicated to used books and publishing. Jimbocho, also spelled Jinbōchō, is Japan's equivalent of a booktown and it is pure heaven for booklovers.

Earlier this year I travelled to Tokyo and did some "bookstore tourism" by visiting several bookshops in Jimbocho and beyond.

Surrounded by universities, Jimbocho is named after a 17th century samurai. The area was destroyed by fire in 1913 and one of the first businesses to rise from the ashes was a bookstore which eventually evolved into the Iwanami Shoten publishing house.

The author goes on to review 4 bookstores he visited. 

Read more of the original article: http://www.abebooks.com/books/features/tokyo-bookstores/index.shtml

Japan Travel: Experience the Shinkansen Ride From Tokyo Virtually

Experience riding the Shinkansen from where you are. 

From Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, a journey of 500 kilometers. 

You will pass through cityscapes and countrysides.

Relax, sit back, and re-live your experience anytime through the free 

and realistic Japan News Tokaido Window View of the Shinkansen.

It's a good stress reliever. Relax, sit back, and enjoy the ride. 

Ready? Click here to ride: http://shinkansen.the-japan-news.com/rails.html 

Travel in Japan by Train: Using the Japan Rail Pass

For stays in Japan with much use of train transport (JR lines), especially Shinkansen, 
it may be economical to use the Japan Rail Pass.

This is available for 7-day stay, 14-day stay, and 21-day stay.

This can be used only by tourists, and should be purchased BEFORE coming to Japan.

Where to purchase? In your home country.

Refer to this website for resellers in your home country: http://www.japanrailpass.net/area_02.html

Travel in Japan with Mobile Data: Renting Wifi and Phones for tourists

For short-term stays in Japan, you have two options for using Internet on the go or mobile data:

1) Data Roaming from your original country - depending on your data plan/provider may cost more or cost less than the 2nd option - see below.

For example, for the Philippines,

• SMART offers International Roaming Call and Text Flexibundle

Price for 5 days is P149. Price for 6-15 days is P299.
to avail, text ROAMCALLTX149 / ROAMCALLTX299, send to 211.

• SMART also offers Mobile Internet called ALL-DAY DATA ROAMING FLEXIBUNDLE

For Japan and Asia, the prices for this Smart All-Day Surf Abroad is:

1-day = P450
3-days = P1200 (P400/day)
7-days = P2700 (P386/day)

To avail, text SURFABROAD <Packageprice> <Start Date and Time> <End Date and Time>, and send to 211 even while still in the Philippines.
Ex. SURFABROAD1200 10/10/2014 10:00 10/17/2014 18:00

Europe, Africa, and US also has this plan, at higher rates.

2) Subscription to Japan phone , mobile WIFI router, or SIM card rental services of Softbank, Docomo, etc. 
You can pickup the phone or 3G/4G modem at the airport or you can have it sent to your hotel usually. Returning the unit is likewise easy, as they usually have stations at international airports and can also return via courier (FedEx, DHL, etc.)

A few suggestions based on a quick search turns out:

• E-Connect Japan  https://www.econnectjapan.com/products/  
• Another I've personally tried, and was good was: Telecom Square: http://www.telecomsquare.co.jp/inbound/en/ 
• There are a lot more, possibly some better deals than above if you're inclined to do more research