Japan column:
‘Ladies Only’ at the Capsule Hotel
Brushing my teeth over a communal bathroom sink, I never thought I’d see such a distinct cross-section of Japan’s female society. To my left, a teenager adjusting the buttons on her sailor uniform…
Japan on a Shoestring Budget
Ever thought about spending a night in a coffin? That’s what most people imagine a ‘capsule’ hotel to be like. Cramped living quarters. Loud-snoring men. Communal baths. None of my friends who’d stayed ever had a particularly good review. “It’s… an experience,” they’d say. Yet, for my most recent trip to Tokyo I found myself [...]
Meet Me at the Game Center!
On one of those unexpected rainy Sunday afternoons, you could catch any fun-loving Japanese person taking refuge at the local video game arcade. Affectionately nicknamed gei-sen (short for “game center”), it carries an arsenal of digital goodies ranging from first-person shooters—gunning down an army of evil zombies and such—to purikura “print club” booths where [...]
Love Hotel: Where Couples go for Privacy
A couple years back I found myself testing out the mattress of one of Japan’s notorious love hotels. I wasn’t exactly bouncing on the bed. It was more like checking for stains, wet spots and, heaven-forbid, curly hairs. I was there with my little brother, and before you jump to conclusions, know that we were [...]
Christmas is for Cake and Commercialism
Judging by the festive commercialism, Christmas is upon us. It may not snow in Los Angeles, but when there’s a signpost at the mall heralding the arrival of “hunky Santa” you know something’s around the corner.
In Japan, Christmas is harder to figure out. There’s a fair share of reindeer and candy canes in the storefront [...]