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Monthly Archives: July 2008

Horiguchi san – a fashion faux pas

Posted on July 28, 2008 by Brian

How to buy a house in Japan. First we realized it was possible to buy a house with two western style toilets. Then we found Horiguchi-san to help us navigate seldom traversed waters: a foreigner buying a house in Japan. Continue reading

Categories: Buying a house, Tales | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to buy a house in Japan – The real estate agent

Posted on July 25, 2008 by Brian

How to buy a house in Japan. First we realized it was possible to buy a house with two western style toilets. Then we found Horiguchi-san to help us navigate seldom traversed waters: a foreigner buying a house in Japan. Continue reading

Categories: Buying a house, Tales | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The million dollar toilet

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Brian

How to buy a house in Japan. OR…What the heck were we thinking? OR…How not to buy a house in Japan. Or…Surely there is an easier way to buy a house in Japan. Regardless of the title, this is the first in a series of tales about our house buying adventure in Japan. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but we love our home, we love our neighborhood, and we love our 1% mortgage. This tale also explores the nuances of using a Asian style squat toilet. Continue reading

Categories: Buying a house, Tales, Toilets | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kamakura

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Brian

Travel in Japan is always an adventure. Kamakura is an easy day trip from Tokyo. Express trains can have you hiking, checking out the diabutsu – Giant Buddha, or lounging on the beach in about an hour.
This account is from our visit there in August 2004 while my parents were visiting. It’s an interesting examination of cultural shock and differences. Continue reading

Categories: Food, Kamakura, slide show, Tales, trains | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We’re off to see the Wizard

Posted on July 11, 2008 by Brian

small shrineToday’s post takes you on a taxi ride from Ueno station to the Thunder gate at the entrance to Sensoji Shrine in Asakusa. Even short taxi rides can be an adventure. Continue reading

Categories: Asakusa, Tales, Yochien | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment