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Kofu, Japan

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 5 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #417 in Travel, #19604 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Kofu: Best Place in Japan

 

I've lived in Japan six times, in five cities. Without any question, my favorite place is Kofu, in Yamanashi Prefecture.

There were good times in the other places ~ Fukuoka, Kansai, Tsuchiura, and Hyogo, but Kofu is the place I lived not once, not twice, but three different times. I taught English in every place except Fukuoka, and my students were great! I got to know some of the adults as friends, spending time with them and their families, taking trips together, having barbeques.

But in Kofu, I made the strongest friendships, with people from all over the world. Every time I lived there, I had a different friend-set, but every time, those friends were the lifeblood for me. I can't stop myself from writing stories about Japan and things that happened there!

This lens is for all my people in Kofu, then and now.

Learn Japanese successfully on your own 

Learning at least a little Japanese makes your whole trip better.

If I hadn't learned Japanese, I would never have gotten to know 98% of my friends in Japan. It's not essential to living in Japan, but it sure makes that living a whole lot easier. Speaking Japanese is vital if you really want to become part of the community. Making friends, shopping at the grocery store or post office or neighborhood convenience store... all of life is so much easier in Japan if you can speak and understand the language.

Whether you're just starting out, or at a more advanced stage, you can find what you need at Amazon.com. I myself have worked through several levels of study with books and study aids I got at Amazon.
Read Real Japanese: All You Need to Enjoy Eight Contemporary Writers

Read Real Japanese: All You Need to Enjoy Eight Contemporary Writers

by Janet Ashby

If you're reading kanji pretty well, this book takes you to the next level.

Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 08/21/2008)
Used Price: $7.74

Langenscheidt's Pocket Dictionary Japanese/English English/Japanese

Langenscheidt's Pocket Dictionary Japanese/English English/Japanese

by Langenscheidt

This is my favorite dictionary. Small, but packs a TON of information that makes language connections I need. This goes with me everywhere!

Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 08/21/2008)
Used Price: $8.34

Japanese for Busy People I: Kana Version includes CD (Japanese for Busy People Series)

Japanese for Busy People I: Kana Version includes CD (Japanese for Busy People Series)

by Association For Japanese-Language Teaching (Ajalt)

The 1st in a series, the "Busy People" series gets to the point but includes lots of good practice. I highly recommend the whole set!

Amazon Price: $17.82 (as of 08/21/2008)
Used Price: $13.22

The Kodansha Kanji Learners Dictionary (Japanese for Busy People)

The Kodansha Kanji Learners Dictionary (Japanese for Busy People)

by Jack Halpern

This kanji dictionary opened up a new world of kanji confidence. Finding any kanji is a snap, and I don't ever go to Japan without it.

Amazon Price: $23.97 (as of 08/21/2008)
Used Price: $19.94

How to Sound Intelligent in Japanese: A Vocabulary Builder (Kodansha's Children's Classics)

How to Sound Intelligent in Japanese: A Vocabulary Builder (Kodansha's Children's Classics)

by Charles De Wolf

Get beyond "pidgen" Japanese. Learn to speak with authority and use the right words, not just words that "will do."

Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 08/21/2008)
Used Price: $6.46

Danni & Mu-chan's New Year's Card 2008

Just a few of my favorite people and things about Kofu and Yamanashi, Japan 

People make the place, I think. There are actually a number of destination tourist sites in and around Kofu. It's "in the shadow of Mt. Fuji", surrounded by Mt. Fuji, Mt. Yatsugatake, the Japan Southern Alps. In the winter, I never got tired of gazing upon these mountains.

In spring come the plum, cherry, and peach trees by turns, utterly breath-taking with their divine and subtle scents wafting through the air. In the summer, the grapes abound, the arbors shading the lots at family wineries. And in the fall, the beauty of Shosenkyo Gorge is unsurpassed and even the lines of cars full of fellow gazers cannot diminish the sense of lasting nature within it depths.

But it is the people of Kofu I love most. I'm including just a few snapshots here from the week of what some might call my "going away" parties, but my friends insisted, I would be back, and so we called them my "See You Later" parties. I think that's sweet, and I can't wait to go back one day and say to my friends, "Tadaimashita!"

(Just a little word I made up, but it came from an honest mistake and my friends, dear as they are, never let me forget it. I love it!)

"See you Later" (Itterashai) Party at The Rink

The Best Places in Kofu 

Restaurants, bars, hotels, coffee shops, English schools.... these are my favorites, but feel free to differ. Or add your own! All entries must be places in Kofu, Japan.

#1

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Best Restaurant

The Rink. GREAT food: Chicken dippers, chimichanga more...0 points

#2

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Best Bar

The Rink. Of course! It used to be "the" more...0 points

#3

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Best Hotel

Toyoko Inn Kofu Ekimae. There may be other hotels more...0 points

#4

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Best Coffee Shop #1

Cafe de Crie, the little shop with the orange awni more...0 points

#5

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Best Coffee Shop #2

Papas, in Okajima Department Store. Big cups with more...0 points

#6

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Best Coffee Shop #3

Dan's Coffee, south of the station several blocks more...0 points

#7

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Best Coffee Shop #4

Tully's, on the south side of the station next to more...0 points

#8

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Best English School #1... or #2

SpeakEasy. They have been around for many years, a more...0 points

#9

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Best English School #2... or #1

B.E. English. Michael & Shane are both British more...0 points

#10

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Best Grocery Store

Pax. I bought fresh fruit and vegetables there tha more...0 points

#11

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Best Cheap Grocery Store

Ogino. The one downtown where Topos used to be. Th more...0 points

Pictures of Japan to remind you of what you love about that country! 

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The story of Yu & Mi 

One night, Misaki ~ one of the staff at The Rink ~ wanted to create a new drink. She finally settled on some pear liqueur and a very fine chocolate liqueur. Sorry, I don't know what ratio of quantities. She moistened the rim of the martini glass with, I think, a lime wedge, then dipped it lightly in cocoa.

What a great-tasting drink! Danni wanted to call it "Kiss the Boys Goodbye", but Misaki had a better idea: Yu & Mi, after Yuki (her boyfriend) and herself. "Yu", and "Mi", the first syllables of their names. A very Japanese tradition, but also a great sound in English.

Misaki's Drink, "Yu & Mi", with Danni, at The Rink

With Mariko at The Rink

Still undecided about learning Japanese? 

So the items on Amazon didn't pique your interest? Maybe you're in a hurry and want to learn Japanese faster than you might with those books. How about learning to speak and converse with confidence in only a few months? It's entirely possible! Don't believe me? You can try it for free for six days, and prove to yourself that you, yes YOU, can learn Japaenese! Click here for more information.

Itterashai Party at The Rink (#2)

Japanese goods on eBay 

The only keyword on my eBay search is "Japanese." Every time I look, there are new items, from tradtional swords to kimonos to tea sets to dolls. It's fascinating to me, what comes up from just that one keyword!

Great Japanese goods for sale on eBay 

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eBay

With Yuki & Misaki (of Yu & Mi fame), my "adopted" niece & nephew!

Another "See you later" Party shot... at The Rink

A Few Other Links to Kofu, Japan 

BornPlayDie - Japan Travel Photos
Information for visitors to Kofu City, with experiences of travelling, hiking, and having fun in Japan.
Kofu, Sister City
Kofu has a long history. Since the middle of the Jyomeng Period, people began to live in this area. During the Warring States Period, Takeda Nobutora built houses and castles there in 1519 A.C. After decades of administration by his descendants Takeda Shingen and Takeda Sengoku...
Real-Life Warlord Takeda Shingen and His Kai Today
Pictures of Takeda Shingen of Kai since 1600 until last night, and his territory today in Yamanashi, Japan.

What if The Rink had its own airline?

The best way to get to Kofu 

Plane, then highway bus

I take a plane to Tokyo, and from there, the highway bus clear to Kofu. The highway bus is very comfortable and quiet, and it's a great way to see the country on the 3-hour ride to the city of Kofu.

Travel to Tokyo, Japan - Narita from...






Travelers

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Konnichiwa! Thank you for reading my lens! 

Have you been to Japan, too? I'd LOVE to hear your stories!

Are you planning a trip to Japan and have questions? Ask them here and maybe we can get others involved (because, although I like to imagine my expertise, I realize I don't have all the answers).

Rokusan

Thanks Ivo!! :-)

Posted August 17, 2008
icjackson

Glad to have this lens in The 60 Day Squidoo Challenge Group!

It's awesome :-)

Posted August 17, 2008
Rokusan

* Capybara, I love being in the Travelmania group! Get to "travel" vicariously, which is way cheaper... and no surly air stewards! :-)

* PrancingPony, if you ever do get to visit Kofu, please come back and tell me about it. I would l-o-v-e- that!

* BigGirlBlue, I'm the blond, silly! (heh heh) Yeah, I went out all the time because that's what people do there. That's where my friends were, and we just didn't go into each other's homes (it's a pretty rare thing in Japan, compared to here).

* Evelyn, do you know, I was JUST thinking my lens tomorrow would be about the best resources for learning Japanese? I'm serious, I have a little sticky-note on my computer. But you've helped me ~ I can make part of it for adults who are learning, and part of it for kids. I'll Twitter when it's done.

Posted August 17, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz

My 11 year old wants to learn Japanese. Do you have any suggestions?

Great lens! 5 Stars and favored!

Posted August 17, 2008
BigGirlBlue

Gee I wonder which one is you? It looks like you partied a lot! :) I loved Japanese culture growing up. I think I've pretty much forgotten everything. This is a good resource for people looking for a destination in Japan but who are uncertain of where to go.

Posted July 09, 2008
ThePrancingPony

This is a nice lens ! I havent visited Kofu, but would love to some day :)

Posted June 16, 2008
capybara

Great Lens! 5* and welcome to Travelmania group.
Discount Online Travel Booking

Posted May 30, 2008

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    Rokusan

    About Rokusan

    I'm a Jersey Girl who ended up in Kansas. I guess most of my peeps are here anymore. But I also have an on-going love affair with Japan, plus there's a tumble of other influences in my world. Japan, Kansas, New Jersey, Baltimore, Italy.... For me, life is one adventure after another! I can juggle books and blogs and projects, with coffee or dinner with friends nicely spaced in between it all.

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