Travel in Tokyo Marunouchi downtown central 6 star business financial center and shopping district

Marunouchi is right outside of Tokyo JR station north exit towards Marunouchi line (sen). It's a modern place of many restaurants shopping centers in high rises such as the Maru Building and Shin Maru Building.

Getting organized with Japanese stationery planner and schedules

Japanese websites use circle triangle and  X to denote availability. Circle means available, X or cross means sold out or unavailable, triangle means limited availability or only a few tickets left. This annotation is a great personal organization and scheduling hack to denote availability on a given day say for an executive. #lifehack

How to find the JR Hitachi-Toshiwa train from Tokyo to Chiba transportation in Japan

When traveling from Tokyo JR station to Chiba i had trouble finding the Hitachi-Tokiwa line for Ueno. Here's the kanji sign on the platform. You can show the staff at the entrance window to ask for directions. Find out which platform it is and you are in luck!

See Mt Fuji on Shinkansen Train sightseeing in Japan

You probably have seen this picture perfect Mt Fuji view or Fujimi on Shinkansen. On a sunny day, this will be visible for 2 short minutes on Hikari train from Hakone to Osaka (on the right) and Osaka to Tokyo (on the left). The mountain is so big that it will take up the entire window view and dwarf all surrounding scenery. It's unmistakable on a sunny day. On your google map you will want to look for Fuji you will soon see it after Shizuoka (Osaka to Tokyo). 

The first picture is what we took on Jan 2 2015.

Collect Japanese Amulets Mt. Fuji amulet from hakone - unique merchandise in Japan

This baby blue fabric good luck charm and amulet can be purchase in stores in Hakone hot spring region. It comes with a metal chain (not a string strap) and a baby blue bell. Its name is FujiSun Fuji Mamori

Nerpia animal nose super soft Kleenex tissue paper - Unique merchandise from Japan

These are cute tissue paper packs with pictures of cute animals and their noses - bunnies or rabbits, baby snow seals, and white mice. They are super cute. Some Japanese people also think it's super soft and easy on the nose.

A Japanese family we visited had a mega family pack box of this. And explain to us that how this is easy and soft on the nose. It's well know for that specific feature hence these beautiful snow arctic animal nozzles.

Japanese Lanterns at Festivals Matsuri

Inspired by modern Japanese design, this street food festival used a Panda lantern / balloon and a giant maneki-neko aka the hand waving cat that can bring great fortune. See pictures below.