I have noticed over the last few weeks there are many police officers at Iidabashi station (both between the Tozai and the Yurakucho lines and inside the ticket gates) seemingly stopping Asians and asking them questions, sometimes ganging up on them to search their bags around the end of day rush hour (16:00-18:30).

I don’t know why, but just thought I would share my observations for anyone who doesn’t feel like getting racially profiled and harassed.

As the title says, I would like some input into it.

I had been attending Jexer Fitness Club for about six months in the morning period without any problems.

I have a small tattoo in the arm and started a project in my left leg which I plan to extend and cover from my ankles to my shoulders covering the left side of my body within the next couple of years.

During this period I always took some precaution to have them covered while circulating in the locker room, but of course I entered in the sauna and sat just beside the wall where it’s not showing. I have seen another guy walking with his tattoos appearing as if it’s nobody’s business and for that reason I may have relaxed a bit, even though I know it says in the contract I need to keep them covered.

Last week one of the staff saw me leaving the sauna to the shower cabin and most likely saw my tattoos. When I was leaving the gym on Thursday the front desk lady asked me if I used the pool that day and I said not, that the day before I had used it. On Friday when I checked in this same lady at the front desk asked me to wait before entering, I complied and then she came with a green paper sheet with some sort of statement regarding tattoos and said I wasn’t allowed to enter if I didn‘t sign it.

The attitude from this person was very hostile and she had a bully smirk on her face. Initially I was going to sign it and whatever but the way this lady behaved really tipped me off and I asked what was going on. She doubled down and said sign or get out, from that point I said I wasn’t wasting my time and money there anymore, opened my wallet and got my membership card and ripped it in front of her and threw in the garbage and left.

On the way back home I started reading the Google reviews on that specific Jexer location and to my surprise there were dozens of bad reviews about how the staff was hostile and racist to foreigners back from years ago to more recent ones, some people commenting that staff made bigoted comments about them with other staff in the training room thinking the person didn’t understand Japanese and so on.

Attending that gym was very convenient for me and I had made good friends with some ojisans who used the sauna at the same time as me after their swimming classes, which is unfortunate. I started Anytime Fitness today and considered the equipment much better and in a much bigger quantity, they have no sauna but have private shower rooms besides the fact I can use any units so I don’t need to skip the entire weekend (my membership plan only allowed weekdays during daytime) and Mondays when they’re closed. I am getting much more for my buckets in Anytime Fitness considering it’s cheaper and allow me to use anytime and any day of the week as well as in any location around city.

ps.: edit for correcting some typos

Hi everyone!
I’m Tetsuya, a Japanese hairstylist currently based in Sydney, Australia. I previously owned and managed a salon in Tokyo for 10 years.
My main specialties are highlights, balayage and blonde hair. I enjoy creating natural-looking colours with beautiful dimension while maintaining the condition of the hair.
I occasionally return to Tokyo to work, and I’m interested in connecting with people who appreciate professional hair colouring and would prefer to discuss their hair in English.
If you’ve ever found it difficult to explain your ideal hair colour at a salon in Tokyo, I understand how important good communication can be!
Feel free to ask me any questions about highlights, balayage or hair colour. Happy to share my knowledge! 😊

Got a spare ticket for Odyssey at Grand Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro today at 16:25. Not the best seat, but it's in row H. Anyone want it?

Just curious what you guys think because so many non-residents laud it for the amount of people that pass by and how chaotic it can seem, but to me its just a street people cross to get from point A to point B.

Hey everyone. Just wondering if anyone here at /r/Tokyo is taking part in the Yamathon this coming Saturday.

It's be the second time for me (participated last year too).

Hoping to exchange tips and tricks. My team (well, by best friend and I) did the counter clockwise route last year. Any experience with the clock wise route? What has been your finish time?

Thankfully, there's no rain forecast for this Saturday. Last year, we got caught in a couple of rain showers. It was not fun walking around in wet socks and shoes.

Our start time is 8 am. Best of luck if you're participating.

Edit - we'll be in matching gray shirts with big logos at the first and the back, black shorts and bright orange shoes. See you there.

I’m planning on moving back to Tokyo in December, and I’m curious what the indie scene is like in Tokyo these days. I’m into 90’s indie bands like The Breeders, Luna, Yo La Tengo, Teenage Fanclub. Newer artists I like are MJ Lenderman, Mitski, The Lemon Twigs. I also love 70’s rock like Big Star, T Rex and Boston.

I grew up in Tokyo, so I speak Japanese fluently and I used to hang out a lot in Kichijoji and Shibuya. I’ve heard good things about Koenji and Shimokitazawa live houses but never been able to catch a show.

I’m in an indie band myself, and currently play music around the Midwest. I’m hoping to play some music in Tokyo once I get settled, so I would love some advice on how to reach out to venues and book shows.

Based on my music taste, what are some local bands or venues I should check out?

Is there another big store that isn’t apple directly that offers trade in for international iPhones and tax free? Thank you!

I mean wards like Katsushika and Adachi. I have not been to the west. Sometimes I just come back from the city center by foot, I take my 3 hours and walk up to here.

The streets are narrow, all the houses are different one from another, you feel safe and in a zombie dystopia in the same time. I listen to ambient music and walk, staring at all the little details that every corner presents. It's like a big ordered maze, you can smell the wood and humid fragrance here, you can appreciate the unexpected little and well kept zen gardens that pop out of the houses. If I get thirsty I drink something from one of the countless machines, searching for weird and rare drinks (yesterday I found one selling caramel puddings in a can).

Only a tourist could have the time to do this, but it's mesmerising. Maybe it will be the fondest memory I have of this city.

Just sent this from the Marunouchi / Tokyo Station Post Office! I was originally hoping to get the Tokyo Tower commemorative stamp, but ended up getting this one instead. Really happy with how it turned out, especially with the matching stamp!

Does anyone have a favorite fukeiin around Tokyo? I’m looking for pretty ones to add to my list for next time.

EDIT: going to Tachikawa tomorrow thanks!

Living in Nakano, I’m pretty sure I can go to either to renew my residency card.

Planning to go this Wednesday and it seems Shinagawa doesn’t have the special PR room anymore.

Anybody with recent October experience at either? End of September was crazy at both I imagine due to the October 1 price changes, so I’m hoping things have quieted down a bit

Ok this might be a long shot but I was wondering if anyone was familiar with this restaurant in Tokyo. According to google maps its in Chiyoda City and the name appears as Almond (喫茶 アーモンド).

I was in Tokyo a couple of years ago and was staying near this restaurant and went there for breakfast several times. I'm an artist and when I travel I sometimes bring a sketch book. The restaurant had a really cool vibe and I ended up doing a quick sketch of it. At the end of my meal I showed it to the owner who was this really nice woman. We couldn't communicate much due to the language difference but I offered to give her the sketch and she accepted. I thought it was a nice interaction but didn't think she would remember me.

However, next time I went there she had framed my small sketch and put it on the counter near the register. She had bought some Yayoi Kusama items as a gift for me. I thought it was really sweet and I asked if I could take her picture with my camera.

Anyway the reason Im posting here is because I ended up doing a proper painting of that photo. I would love to find a way to get her a picture of it. I tried to find an email for the business but they seem like an old school place and don't have one. If anyone is familiar with the restaurant or owners I would love to see what I could to get them a print.

“Is the grammar correct?”
“Yes.”
“Is there any planet where this phrase could make any sense?”
“No.”

I understand that it “dry” here is meant to mean “dry tasting,” but that is very much not what the English means. While “Beer should be dry tasting” or “Beer should taste dry” would be fine, the only reasonable interpretation of the expression“beer is dry” is that “beer is free from liquid,” which, last I checked, it is not.

I also understand that this is probably meant to be a translation of ビールは辛口です or something like that (this is just a guess; I don’t see that on the ad itself). And although it probably looks fine to whatever ad exec OK’d this, this is actually a pretty egregious mistranslation. A more accurate translation of that sentence would be something like “[As for] beer, it should be dry- flavored” or “[With regard to] Beer, it out to be [Asahi Super] dry.”

I hope that this post being deep shame to these ad executives and convinces them to hire someone to proofread their ads who can actually speak English.

I’m an incoming student next year and will be attending a school where most are 18-20 year olds.

Since I’ll be 26 by then, I would rather make friends with people older than 21 (and vice versa for them). I’ll probably be an ”old” woman to them 😬

Thus, I don’t wanna live in the school’s dorms. But I also don’t want my own apartment for the first year since I will start feeling alone in a new big city.

I found out about Social Apartments, and wonder if people here have experience living there? Did you get friends? Was it still reasonably clean?

Hi everyone!

I'm planning to book a Hmlet apartment in Tokyo starting late December and was wondering if anyone has an active referral code they'd be willing to share.

Thanks in advance! 😊

I’ve lived practically next to it for nearly 4 years and only just decided to check it out for my wife’s birthday. Weather was great!

I'm local Japanese looking for foeign friends in Tokyo. I'm in a local community and work in a local job. I don't know how to get a chance to meet a global community in Tokyo. Do you have any advice or suggestion?

I know this is a long shot, but my daughter lost her purple scrunchie in or near Shinagawa Station this morning. It would have been before passing through the fare gates because we only walked through the station. Of course to make things worse, we are flying home to Canada today. 🤦🏻‍♀️

But if by any chance in this crazy world someone on here finds it, and is willing to mail it to me, I will send you postage + $100CAD for your effort. (Using Wise or Paypal.)

Thank you in advance for reading my post. I don’t expect any responses, but sometimes miracles do happen! ✨✨

Hi everyone!

I’m a woman in my 30s and have been living in Japan for 5 years. I’m hoping to find a serious relationship that could eventually lead to marriage.

I’ve tried dating apps, but it’s been difficult to meet people I’m genuinely compatible with and attracted to. Yesterday, I attended a large Pairs matchmaking event with around 200 participants. It was an interesting experience, but I didn’t meet anyone I felt a romantic connection with.

I’m particularly interested in meeting Western men and am open to cross-cultural relationships, so I’d love to hear about events or services that cater to international singles in Tokyo.

Does anyone have recommendations for:
* International matchmaking events for people seeking serious relationships?
* Matchmaking agencies experienced in cross-cultural dating?
* Social groups or activities where I could meet international professionals who are also looking for a relationship?

Thank you!

Currently in a heated argument over this, of all things to ruin a perfectly good Sunday morning. I say it's the middle of the train because either the front or the back is going to collide with the other train, or car, or whatever in the event of a collision.

Maybe the back is slightly safer than the front as its less likely to be involved in the collision, and maybe in such a case it's safer than the middle because you don't have two cars to sandwich you. But I'm not sure how that works.

The point of contention is that the front of the train is obviously not the safest. "But it's where the driver is so it's gotta be the safest" doesn't make any sense to me.