Smoke Gets in Your Face (smoking in Japan)

Sorry, this is not a post on tips on smoking in Japan.

As a non-smoker in a relatively advanced society (Singapore) where smoking in public is strictly or quite rigorously controlled, it sometimes seems like a step back in time to experience second-hand smoke in Japan.

I was recently reminded of this when we were seated in the non-smoking section of a cafe, with my (not quite) 2-year-old daughter... right next to the table which was in the smoking section.

And really, there was no point complaining because a) there were no other seats/table available, and b) the cafe was really small, so there were no place in that cafe that was truly free of smoke. And this is Japan.

Not that I would have complained. If there were other seats, I might have moved, but I am not a confrontational sort.

Missing it all.

One of the reasons to visit Japan in Autumn is to catch the koyo (Autumn leaves/ autumn colours).

We left Tokyo, Japan on the 12.

Peak Koyo in Tokyo was on the 15.

We missed it by 3 days.

Japan Rail Pass - Worth it?

I wondered if there were a way to travel cheaper.

Kansai Area pass covers Kyoto-Nara-Osaka-Kobe - $80 for 4 days per adult, $55 for 2 days per adult. So for 10 days in the Kansai region - $215. per adult. If we travel by the slower Shinkansen, it would be $180. Total $400.

BUT, still need a pass in Tokyo. That 5 day pass is $241.

So total would be $640

A 14 day National Pass = $590 (when I checked in July) which includes the slower Shinkansen. Still cheaper. And more convenient.

I guess if next time we just cover Tokyo to Hokkaido, we can just use the JR East regional pass.

Travel From Haneda to Osaka by Nozomi - Green seat - 19,820 yen ($252) - $80 more than ordinary reserve seat.

Why there are no recycling bins in Nara

Recycling bins are ubiquitous in Japan.

And after you are used to them, Nara is like a wasteland for recycling bins.

But you might also have realised that trash bins are also quite scarce. Why? Here is an explanation of sorts.

But whatever the reason, the reality is, there are fewer trash bins in Japan than in most other cities.

Conversely, almost every drinks vending machine (and there are many) would have a can and bottle recycling bin right next to it for the convenience of the customer.

However, not in Nara.

Hotel Review in point form

As usual, I'll provide "+" for plus points, and "-" for negative points, and "=" for neutral points. Positive and negative points are personal and of course subjective. Review is based on one instance of stay at the hotel, so YMMV.

Features or attractions not used may not be mentioned nor rated.

Ikinari Steak House

After the extravagance of a 28,000 Yen steak dinner (Red One, Motomachi), and a 36,000 Yen Teppanyaki grill (Kagura) - both with Kobe beef - it was time to come back down to earth.

On Okubo Dori, Shinjuku, Tokyo close (within 2 min walk) to the Meiji Dori junction, there is Ikinari Steak.

It also offered "Pepper Lunch" set - beef with rice, on a sizzling hot plate, which you mix together with various sauces - which I was unable to identify because most were in Japanese.

And it offered steak by weight. Depending on the cut, the steak might be 5 yen per gram. So if you ordered a 200 gm steak, it would cost you 1000 yen.