We checked into our new AirBnB apartment right around the corner from Chabad. It was a large, fairly well equipped apartment, and the location for Shabbat could not be beat.
Since our return, many people have asked us about Airbnb and its network of apartments. Their main concerns were ones of security and consistency. We could say as a matter of simplification that Airbnb is the Uber of vacation apartment rentals.
Here is how it works:
People who have an extra apartment or even a person who has an extra room in their home, may decide to rent that space to people visiting. They would go to the Airbnb site and list their space with pictures and details as to location, amenities, cost, available dates etc.
What makes the system work is that both the landlord and the renter have to register on AirBnb and both sides have to write reviews of their experience. In other words, you rate the apartment as to whether the experience fulfilled your expectations based on how the apartment was represented by the landlord.
At the same time, the landlord rates you as a tenant; were you easy to deal with? did you leave the space clean? did you answer emails promptly etc.
That way, the next time you decide to rent, a prospective landlord can read the reviews on you and you can read reviews on the apartment that have been posted by many previous renters.
We used AirBnb during our recent trips to South America and to Japan. And overall, it has worked well. We have been very pleased with the value that we have received. And because we are always looking for the kitchen which allows us to deal with kashrut issues while travelling, AirBnb has become a very valuable resource for us.
Anyway, back to Japan.
Friday morning, we headed over to the Ebisu area of the city as Fran had ordered new glasses when we were in Tokyo two weeks earlier.
We ordered them from a Korean chain, Zoff. Fran has multifocals and that is the only reason it took so long. They need 10 days for multifocal; but all other lenses are ready in 30 minutes. She was very pleased with the work, and so before leaving Japan, she ordered another pair (which will be mailed to us) and I ordered one (which I picked up 30 minutes later). Amazing! Fran with her new glasses.
We had left much of our souvenir and gift shopping for our return to Tokyo. And originally we were going to spend a couple of days of rest and relaxation in Hakone, a pretty resort area not far from Tokyo. But when we looked at the weather report which screamed cold and wet, we figured that it would be a waste of time and money to go to Hakone. So we simply extended our stay in Tokyo and spent our time visiting the shopping areas of Shibuya, Shinjuku, Aeon Makuhari Mall and Kappenbashi. We also took the opportunity to eat out again at Chana's Place at Chabad.
This was our second Shabbat in Tokyo and when we walked into shul this time, we were greeted like old friends. Everyone wanted to hear about our trips to various parts of the country. There were a few new visitors as well and we spent a very pleasant Shabbat at Chabad. We also finally met the Rebbetzin Chana who had been away the first Shabbat we spent in Tokyo.
On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday we relaxed, waking up late and then choosing one new area of the city to discover each day. We also revisited Kappenbashi, the kitchen and cooking centre of Tokyo where Fran bought a new Japanese made chef knife...We have since used it and it really is great quality.
We continue to be amazed by the toilets which are the most high tech and the cleanest we have seen anywhere. And this includes washrooms in public subway stations, department stores and places where you would normally visit only if you had no other choice. Here is a urinal and sink at a level that little children
can deal with:
And how about a high chair in a public bathroom so you have a place to put your baby while you attend to "your business".
We continue to be amazed by the train and subway system in Japan. It really works!
Here is a sign in a train station indicating the times of the upcoming trains. What makes this so interesting is that these trains were all high speed trains and they were all on the same track. So five minute intervals for the train to zoom into the station, people disembark and board and the train has to get out on time as the next train is zooming in right behind!
So this brings us to the end of our trip.
Our impressions have been written extensively in another post, but if we had to sum up our trip, we would say that while Japan is not the most beautiful place we have visited, it is certainly among the most interesting. The culture is so different from any other place we have been to. It is a very safe place to visit. The people are very service minded and are very proud of their country and very pleased that you have made the decision to visit.
Among the disappointments we had was less than favourable weather (tho' we do not let that stop us), and that we were not able to attend a Sumo wrestling match, as it was off season....
If anyone wants information for an upcoming visit, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We may post one more with a link to our favourite pictures from a very memorable visit to Japan.
All the best
Fran and David
These have been great reads -- thanks for posting them! A couple of questions:
ReplyDelete1) Did you have any issues bringing food into the country? Did you declare them at customs?
2) Do men in the Jewish community wear their yarmulkes in public? Is it considered safe to do so?
Thanks for the thumbs up.
ReplyDeleteWe brought food with us; soup mixes, shelf stable TV dinners, tuna cans, snacks, nuts, etc. We also travel with a frying pan and a soup pot. We generally stay in apartments (Airbnb) so that we have cooking facilities. There was no issue bringing food into the country.
As far as wearing a yarmulke, I do not think anyone noticed and I wore it everywhere. We found Japan to be one of the safest countries we have ever visited.