bogva comments

I know there are thousands of places that worth visiting in Japan and the tourism opportunities are limitless.

But if I am visiting Japan and know I may never return I will want to see Tokyo-Kyoto-Nara, maybe Osaka. And time will be up! So what they are seeking are repeating visitors - good luck to that! Oh, and hope they don't forget to ask the locals first (even of those small villages to be discovered)!

I personally think it's interesting to sneak inside Himeji castle - it's impressive architecture and the atmosphere is interesting. But 4000 yen??? It's close to a one day passport for attraction park where the amusement facilities cost and the personal are huge.

And there are donation boxes as well. I don't remember how much it was for Vatican museum but the huge line before entry was 3 hours wait. Himeji is also at least an hour on weekends and you are breathing in the back of the man in front you most of the time on a dark stairways.

With the inflation and all I would say rise the price for all to 1500 no more!

Not MC fan but what Guardiola has done with players that eventually were not favored in other teams is mind blowing!

Despite having reputable job I was refused 3 times credit card. The last one my wife was with me at the bank (where I had account and received my salary) and she pressed them to tell us why I am rejected.

At first they refused stating security reasons but finally they gave up took out a thick book and basically the reason was I was not permanent resident at the time. After I got PR I haven't had problems obtaining cards.

Debit cards are getting off just recently - for example Post bank just started offering them a year ago or so as far as I know... And as said one can use Debit card in place of credit card without problem online or in stores.

It's nice this story continue to entertain us!

Now seriously - Blue or even better Green screen is a great idea!

Now picture takers can superimpose themselves jumping or whatever in front of any background they wish!

The biggest problem with human rights in Japan is that the majority of the population doesn't know what that mean and more importantly the mainstream media do not put light on it.

TV programs and media jumped on Johnny's case once it was viral already.

This report will also not see coverage on national media - they have time to talk 30 minutes for Othani's match when it rained and there was no match but no time to reveal the problems in the society.

There are a lot of whitish street lights close to signals in Japan. It's totally unacceptable color.

I hate when I see cosplay and stupid characters representing Japanese culture. Come on - Japan is more than that!

If you have seen the TV footage you know the truck crushed totally the car in the opposite side lane. Horrific - hope they find the real reason for the truck doing that. RIP for the lost family.

Now they have to go and sue all HardOff and second hand book shops for the kids are reading manga there without buying. And the resell price is lower on top of that.

Not saying hosting pirate site is harmless - they should make example of him I agree. But the sum asked is unrealistic.

Agree - probably Booking.com should train those establishments that have lax security guard.

For the users that were consequently targeted, hoovering over the address works on PC but not on a smartphone where you have to click and then it's too late. That might be one of the reasons why so many people fall into these scams recently. Even my wife got caught with Rakuten entering her details...

Despite no white dot where I am, I felt it quite well.

Very powerful indeed. It's a reminder we should prepare...

There is over-demand at Niseko and they can ask for whatever they think is necessary to improve the infrastructure. I wonder why they haven't done it when giving construction permits to all the foreign owned hotels! It's over built I hear and they should be sharing the burden on all the town growth!

kohakuebisu, ski gear can be much cheaper and now at Yuzawa the rentals are incredibly cheap! Some pensions include it in the price or 1000-2500 yen per day at most. Bigger resorts still keep the prices around 5-6000 yen per day but I guess coming all the away from somewhere distant this isn't the main burden!

Most commenters here generalize out of the scope of what actually is happening!

And it is the locals and businesses that own these tea houses in the old area that do not want tourists disrupting there peace!

The signs to keep quite when entering those narrow streets were there in Japanese and English from before.

Now they step up and want to ban entering or taking photos. I don't like it but if those streets are really private then they have the right to ask the authorities to help them.

It's a global thing - many places worldwide are loosing their charm. The lucky people that could go and visit some years ago will have the memories. Once the popularity grows the charm is also diminishing...

Monkey Mountain is right across Umi Tamago aquarium and it is mentioned as Takasaki mountain!

Oita beach is a nice artificial summer spot and the seacoast to the south is beautiful.

Usuki stone Budas and Beppu onsens are also in Oita and deserve a mention or maybe even separate article!

What is Osaka's rank in WTA right now?

Playing against the best like equal is not small achievement after the long break!

Pretty good analysis - bravo! The problem is we can't see a viable solution. Difficult to find either Japanese or foreign coach. And without a clear leader in the team any coach will have a tough job.

To be honest Ito was the key for the success in all those 9 wins before the Asia cup. Team played aggressively and with a hint of fantasy. Without him nothing was happening on the wing and the cautious no risk style of old failing Japanese team returned. It was painful watching those back passes and especially to the inexperienced keeper. The disaster was just waiting to happen...

Right! When state spokesman is giving his opinion on sport issues this is when it becomes political issue!

Or am I wrong, comrade Peskov?

Of course there is no evidence! The prosecutors office should have taken all lawmakers by surprise locking them indefinitely to prevent them from altering or hiding those evidence!

Great! KitKat is getting more and more Kit Mouse - becoming more and more tiny. Packages from 18-15-12, size of the bag and individual packages the same. We will be paying for the plastics only in the end...

Of course double checking is a must but phone call??? To a Japanese establishment???

That's why foreign sites are popular because Japanese are all in Japanese and translation is not always spot on. Calling a hotel can be hit and miss with even Engrish speaking staff difficult to understand.

And hotels are doing it to themselves offering big discounts to online sites while keeping their official site prices high (in most of the cases).

There are many bargains for pack tours - transportation plus lodging but that's usually only valid for the Japanese providers.

What some comment say about marketing on TV or big online shops is true but is not what dark patterns really are!

I have elder Japanese parents in law and in the last 10 years there were multiply times they (and especially my mother in law) have fallen in those patterns. They made contract for roof repair that was canceled as we accidentally learned and their daughter could fight and cancel the contract. They have changed their phones because till tomorrow there is campaign! She have changed her car insurance, because they told her it's better ... and so on and so on. Not to mention net subscriptions - it's not like it's written 'get it cheaper with subscription' - it's really a hell for the elders to navigate and read trough...

When they slam Google ... it will really be at the expense of the consumers :-)

@Rhaegar - yes, lying on the form can bring serious consequences - stripping of Japanese citizenship. But guess if you are honest what the consequences are? Same!

That's what some of the plaintiffs had done and that's why they are plaintiffs now!

And we are not guests in Japan - we call it our home, it's our kids first nationality and tongue.

My son's 20 and for a first time he is alone for longer in Europe. After the first month he confessed he thought he is more international but he realized he is Japanese. In the same time he is proud of his second nationality and is happy to explore the merits of having European passport. Gives him totally different perspective!

Yes, I wondered same thing - in the subsequent forms why telling you have another nationality? Isn't that a red lamp for the authorities.

I think I read something about one of the plaintiffs that it was when he was applying for Japanese passport after years, he was denied after confessing he has another nationality and was stripped of Japanese on the spot.

Not deliberate slip over the ball and red card? VAR officials intervened when it was judged an yellow card? Obviously they had a vision how the mach should end...

Not penalty (or at least close look up on VAR) for me either.

Keeper dives with stretched arms (not reaching for the legs), Japanese player makes deliberate contact with the keeper's hand and customary jump with bent legs. Ball was going out anyway.

And yes - quite many ill decisions in football lately (in the Premier league as well).

Nice! Now how about abolishing the pan to mix up my number card with health insurance. What is the warranty tha medical institutions can't see your personal financial and tax information and vice versa? The mishaps that have happened by now are lame compared to what we may expect ahead!!!

Car prices have risen 40% and up. Workers salaries probably no more than 5%. Even considering the troubles and higher prices of the parts the margin they make is huge. Add the weak yen as mentioned above and I'm not sure we have to be happy with this news.