JR East announced a new version of their rather perplexing Welcome Suica card for foreign visitors to Japan coming in early 2025: Welcome Suica Mobile for iPhone and Apple Watch. Inbound Android users will have to wait until Google Pixel gets its global NFC act together. How does the new […]
Japan Journal
Farewell Osawa-kan
My partner loves onsen ryokan, famous onsen ryokan or the special ones that give you great value for the money, wonderful food, wonder service with the personal touch and personality of an Okami-san or family run ryokans that are sometimes passed down for generations. They can be gigantic and gorgeous […]
Apple
Japan inbound visitors don’t use Apple Maps
With the cheap yen and visitors flooding Japan, social media sites are overflowing with itinerary and transit questions. Should I get a JR PASS or not, how much cash do I need, and most of all: where can I get a Suica? The ongoing Suica • PASMO shortage, coming up […]
Mobile Transit
Disability fare Suica and Eki-Net Services
I have been wanting to write about Disability Fare Suica/PASMO ever since the service started in March 2023. When I lived in Osaka my deaf friends always used the staffed gate as they had to show the half-fare ticket (child’s fare) with their Osaka city issue disability ID. Disability fare […]
Japan Journal
When did we stop reading album credits?
The “How the Collapse of CD Sales Crashed the Music Industry” YouTube hosts make a good point that nobody bothers with band member names anymore. When did we stop taking the time to remember them? I don’t know about anybody else but I stopped reading album credits or remembering band […]