Things in Japan different for expats, er Americans

[yanpa]

Early Rising Expats Americans Struggle With Tokyo’s Timetable

TOKYO–I figured things would be hard when I moved to Tokyo almost four years ago – finding new friends, paying for life in a big city. But the biggest challenge proved to be completely unexpected: dealing with the fact that the people and stores in this great city don’t function early. I’m a morning person; Tokyo is not a morning city.

The gym near my house doesn’t open until 7 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends. Dry cleaners don’t open their doors until 10 a.m., and the closest supermarket: 9:30 a.m. (Back in Washington, D.C., the closest supermarket was open 24 hours a day.) Forget about doing anything productive before coming into the office.

Even a cup of coffee in a cafe is hard to come by early. The average weekday open time for the nearly 300 Starbucks stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area is a little before 7:30 a.m., according to my calculations and data on the Starbucks website. In Washington, where I lived before Tokyo, the average open time is 5:30 a.m. (Starbucks did not respond to requests for comment.) To be sure, convenience stores are ubiquitous in Tokyo, and most serve hot coffee 24 hours a day. The coffee there isn’t bad, but there’s often no place to sit down and relax.

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[Samurai_Jerk]

It's definitely something that struck me as an American. It doesn't generally affect me but there have been times when I was up early for some reason or another and couldn't find a place to grab breakfast or a cup of coffee and sit down. Supermarkets opening at 9 or 10 am can be pretty annoying too. I've also had to explain to some American clients here on business trips that breakfast meeting aren't a thing in Japan.

[wagyl]

In Washington, friends squeezed in workouts, blowouts and coffee before work.

At first I thought her friends had regular anal prolapses. Urban dictionary is not helping me much here either.

[Samurai_Jerk]

In Washington, friends squeezed in workouts, blowouts and coffee before work.

At first I thought her friends had regular anal prolapses. Urban dictionary is not helping me much here either.

Blow me.

[wagyl]

In Washington, friends squeezed in workouts, blowouts and coffee before work.

At first I thought her friends had regular anal prolapses. Urban dictionary is not helping me much here either.

Blow me.

Rake a tiny drop of shine serum through ends with your fingers for a superglossy movie-star finish.

I can see why we have all these anal prolapses.

[matsuki]

It's definitely something that struck me as an American. It doesn't generally affect me but there have been times when I was up early for some reason or another and couldn't find a place to grab breakfast or a cup of coffee and sit down. Supermarkets opening at 9 or 10 am can be pretty annoying too. I've also had to explain to some American clients here on business trips that breakfast meeting aren't a thing in Japan.

Trying to find a place that serves breakfast in the inaka (not at your hotel) can be quite daunting.

I hate the lack of open early/late places but recently I've seen a few places (gym for instance) that went to 24h.

[kurogane]

In the past 5 years or so the reversion to closing hours has definitely struck me. The dogfood level watery beef tendon on wet rice places claim it's staffing. It's not. Too many Japanese don't eat after 11 to make it a going thing. Until 199??? ish nothing was ever open ever, then it was, then Koizumi got elected and everybody went nuts and everything was open 24 hrs, then things went back to poop then Convenience Stores took over that niche, and besides, you can't make a living serving people that live a mechanised peasant lifestyle. The feckers are up at 5:30 feckin Am ferfucksake. Waking up before about 8:30 am in Japan with no provisions makes me go Hiroshima. Benri me that you lazy cunts. I NEeD BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vancouver only got Metro after I had been to Japan and back, but there were always 24 hr diners. And I don't mean feckin Gusto. They're Not Normal.

[yanpa]

North American with bacon supply issues in a country not renowned for its bacon.

Anyway, I note it is still difficult to stock up on essential post-transcontinental supplies when arriving after 10pm in Ottawa, Canada (and if those essential supplies include a couple of post-jetlag tallboys to be consumed while chilling out in front of Quebecoise TV, forget it).

[dimwit]

I NEeD BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a company out on Omishima, Imabari, and they actually make pretty excellent bacon.

http://www.ohara-ham.com/products/list.php

[wuchan]

I NEeD BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a company out on Omishima, Imabari, and they actually make pretty excellent bacon.

http://www.ohara-ham.com/products/list.php

１，２００円 + for 300 grams is a bit steep by american standards. Whole foods was asking $6 for 18oz (510g) free range apple wood smoked bacon three weeks ago. Whole foods is fucking expensive according to the locals. Oscar mayer was $3.50 for 16oz at stop and shop.

At the ohara price I can make my own, even here in Japan.

[dimwit]

I NEeD BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a company out on Omishima, Imabari, and they actually make pretty excellent bacon.

http://www.ohara-ham.com/products/list.php

１，２００円 + for 300 grams is a bit steep by american standards. Whole foods was asking $6 for 18oz (510g) free range apple wood smoked bacon three weeks ago. Whole foods is fucking expensive according to the locals. Oscar mayer was $3.50 for 16oz at stop and shop.

At the ohara price I can make my own, even here in Japan.

First of all, I am talking about Canadian bacon, not the American stuff. I do agree that the price is high, but it is the only Japanese bacon I have seen that actually cooks the way bacon should.

[Salty]

I NEeD BACON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a company out on Omishima, Imabari, and they actually make pretty excellent bacon.

http://www.ohara-ham.com/products/list.php

１，２００円 + for 300 grams is a bit steep by american standards. Whole foods was asking $6 for 18oz (510g) free range apple wood smoked bacon three weeks ago. Whole foods is fucking expensive according to the locals. Oscar mayer was $3.50 for 16oz at stop and shop.

At the ohara price I can make my own, even here in Japan.

First of all, I am talking about Canadian bacon, not the American stuff. I do agree that the price is high, but it is the only Japanese bacon I have seen that actually cooks the way bacon should.

COSTCO.....

[kurogane]

North American with bacon supply issues in a country not renowned for its bacon.

Anyway, I note it is still difficult to stock up on essential post-transcontinental supplies when arriving after 10pm in Ottawa, Canada (and if those essential supplies include a couple of post-jetlag tallboys to be consumed while chilling out in front of Quebecoise TV, forget it).

Fair point on the bacon, and good one about the city that always sleeps. And according to the Ashley Madison leak, with other's others. A lot

Dimwit,
By all means do talk about it, but call it what it is when you do: it's called back bacon Thanks for the tips. Strangely, in Okinawa they have big slabs of real side bacon at a good price. One of the few food things they do right.

[matsuki]

COSTCO.....

Fixes most of my problems...