Giant Robot Store and GR2 News

    Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, elevates the term ‘Winter Wonder Land’ to an all new standard. Tourists are already familiar with the Sapporo Snow Festival and may have even heard of the Asahikawa Winter Festival. Just a two hour bus ride away from Asahikawa, Sounkyo is renowned for its waterfalls and natural hot springs. Once winter sets in, a crew sets to work and constructs an ice castle like something fashioned from a Japanese RPG. (You can see a video showing how its built here). This, coupled alongside the ethereal lights illuminating its frosty walls, creates a feast for the senses. It’s one additional reason why Hokkaido is an ideal destination for the season.   We had a chance to visit and take photographs of the area shortly after night fall. Be aware though, the last bus returning to Asahikawa departs shortly after dusk. Unless you’ve booked a hotel nearby then you won’t have the opportunity to see the firework show that goes off on most weekends until the festival’s closing ceremony.  
Continue reading
The Japan travel tips continue. Is it peak travel time to Japan? The yen is still high and the simple travel tips are helpful but in the end, it’ll save you a few dollars out of the hundreds you’ll be spending just to get around. This tip by CNN is about the subway system. It won’t help you really get anywhere, but it’ll explain how things can work. You can also buy a PASMO card instead of the SUICA card. (CNN – Tokyo subway)
Continue reading
photo by Thomas Nakanishi Things stay true throughout the generations of blogging about Japan. Here’s what one CNN reporter says about Japan, and it falls under “travel surprises”. In a nutshell. 1) Stylish kids everywhere. Yes, those expensive haircuts are everywhere. 2) Both tech and old school together. Yes this happens when a country has been around for much longer than the USA. 3) Tokyo is big. So big, you can a little of everything. 4) Expensive but also not. Yes melons can be $100, but you can eat udon for $4. 5) Clean. Not Singapore clean, but clean. (CNN – Japan)
Continue reading
The Hello Kitty App is available to help guide you in Japan. The app is called, Visit Japan with Hello Kitty, and you can “discover the Japan you didn’t know”. The cool thing, you can shoot photos and Hello Kitty will be on the screen too. You can keep track of your trips, sort of like a FourSquare check in, and that’s about it. The magic word… it’s FREE.
Continue reading