8-bit bars in Tokyo

Japan has a lot of theme bars: starting with maid cafes going to cat cafes (where you can play with real cats). But very interesting is the cafe theme based on 8-bit retro video games where you can actually play these games. They are all in Shinjuku and if you want to check them out, here they are:

1. 8-Bit Cafe: Q Building 5F, Shinjuku 3-8-9, Shinjuku-ku, tel. 03 2258 0407, closed Tuesdays, table charge ¥500
2. Bar Plastic Model: Kabukicho 1-1-10-1, Shinjuku-ku, tel. 03 5273 8441, 8pm-late, table charge ¥700 per person
3. Muteki Mario: Shinjuku 3-11-1, Shinjuku-ku, tel. 03 3354 2139, table charge ¥500 per person

While maybe not exactly an 8-bit bar, it's worth checking out the 16 shots. Their excellent library of videogame music alone is worth having a beer there.

16 Shots: Shinjuku 2-3-8, Shinjuku-ku, tel. 03-6379-4335, closed Sunday, table charge ¥500 per person

Flea Markets in Japan

A great tip from Steve Nagata:

Flea Markets are becoming quite popular in Japan. In Akihabara, the Mottainai Flea market takes place about once a month outside the UDX building near Akiba station.
Here you can find anything from used clothing to Gun-pura to old computers to figures. Sometimes the prices are kind of high, but usually things are reasonable.

I found more information on this website:

Charity MOTTAINAI fleamarkets, a part of the MOTTAINAI Campaign which is set into motion by Prof. Wangari Maathai who is an environmentalist and the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, focuse on recycling. Bring your old clothes, books, DVDs or videos which you no longer want, or used frying oil to MOTTAINAI station at the fleamarket site, they will recycle them!
The major sightseeing spot Akihabara has MOTTAINAI Flea market during"Golden Week"* holidays. Apprx 100 venders. Enjoy the market as well as shopping in the electronics quarter. *Consecutive holidays for nearly 10 days from the end of the Apr to the beginning of May.

Might be interesting to visit!

Picking up where I left off.

It's been 14 September since my last blogpost. I underestimated some projects among other my Japanese class. So this meant I neglected this blog for far too long. What happened?

I struggled through until my midterm exams of January. I wanted to pick up the slack during the xmas period but the flu sabotaged those plans. Luckily after cramming for 2 weekends, I still managed to get a 70% on the exams.

I'm still trying to reserve some time on a weekly basis to study Japanese but it isn't always easy. The good news is that my trip to Japan is in 2 weeks!!! And I will use this blog to keep a travel diary. We will start off in Tokyo and the surrounding area (for example Nikko) and then move on to Osaka. From there we will visit Kyoto and Nara etc....

I'm really excited about my first trip to Japan. Since we will spend some considerable time on planes and trains, I will use the time to study some of my Japanese.

So finally, this blog will finally get some updates.

(Photo under creative commons from zawtowers' photostream)

The biggest Japanese garden in Europe

Well, it's not always possible to go often to Japan. So let's let Japan come to us.

Better then a museum, a Japanese garden lets you meet with the rich culture from the land of the rising sun. Respect for nature, for the beauty of the environment, religions, philosophy, ... it's all weaven into the garden design.
With a surface of about 25.000 m², the Japanese Garden in Hasselt is the largest of its kind in Europe. It was constructed with the help of the Japanese city of Itami (sister city of Hasselt) in 1992, based on the pattern of 17th century Japanese tea gardens. A walk through the garden makes one feel like being in an entirely different atmosphere so close to the busy city center of Hasselt.
The 2.5 ha big garden has grown out of it's infancy. It was constructed in 1992. The tree and plants took their time to grow to give additional shape to the surroundings of rocks, waterfalls and buildings. The park contains some 250 Japanese cherry trees. Cherryblossom (sakura) gives a nice spectacle in the spring. This Japanse garden also celebrates this festival around beginning of April.



The garden is based on three sections:

-a transition area between the Kapermolen Western style park and the central authentic Japanese Garden
-the central garden with its ceremonial building, teahouse, splashing water features and attractive landscaping
-a park with 250 Japanese cherry trees.

Open
-from 1 April to 31 October
-Tuesday to Friday inclusive: 10.00 - 17.00 hrs
- Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 14.00 –18.00 hrs except Easter Sunday
- on Easter Monday and White Monday from 14.00 to 18.00

Entrance fee
-adults: € 5.00
-groups (of 15 people or more), discount: € 4.00
-school classes (+ 12 years old): € 1.00
-up to 12 years old: free

*Last ticket sales: 30 minutes before closing time
Every Saturday at 15:00 there is a guided tour of the garden lasting about 90 minutes. This tour is only available in Dutch.
Price: €8.50 per person (reduction price € 7.50 per person). Reservation required at Japanese Garden, no later than Friday 12 noon.

Dogs are not allowed.

Guided tours
-book via Tourism Hasselt, telephone 011 23 95 42.

Japanese Garden
Gouverneur Verwilghensingel s/n (outer ring road – opposite Grenslandhallen)
B-3500 Hasselt
-telephone 011 23 52 00 (1 April - 31 October)
-telephone 011 23 95 44 (outside this period)
-E-mail: toerisme@hasselt.be
-Internet: www.hasselt.be

Events
The programme includes a wide range of interesting events and/or evening walks.
For up to date information visit our website www.hasselt.be

Free busses to the Japanese Garden
There are two possibilities: the city bus H3 (direction Trichterheide) and line 45 (direction Maaseik). Busses depart from Hasselt's station square every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hour on Sunbdays and holidays. Get off at the stop 'Koning Boudewijnlaan' near the water tower. Cross the street and take the stairs down to the cycling path, straight ahead then a few more steps to the entrance of the garden.
Information: De Lijn Limburg, Telephone + 32 70 220 200

On Sundays and holidays you can use the municipal tram's shuttle service