Japan in July

Maid Cafes & Akihabara

I have previously seen articles on the Japanese propensity for dressing up like anime characters. They call this practice "cosplay" (costume play). Akihabara is one area in Tokyo where cosplay is prevalent and particularly a form of cosplay called "Maid Cafes."

Maid Cafes are themed cafes where the female waiters dress like maids and treat the customers like masters. As this article from the New York Times points out, despite the wildly sexual premise (Can I get down on my knees and put sugar in your tea, Master? Cheers.) there is no touching and the atmosphere is almost family. NYT notes the guest book contains such gold as:

I really like the new hairstyle of the manager. I will start drinking here.

There are also a few butler cafes catering to the very small minority of powerful Japanese women.

Akihabara is the high tech centre of Tokyo although successive recessions have seen it fall on hard times and be the site of a massacre in which seven people were killed and more than 20 injured by a disgruntled auto parts factory worker.

Akihabara is still known as the home of electronics and manga. H.I.S runs a tour of the area, the guy from which is actually featured in the video below about maid cafés. On an unrelated point, the kimono workshop run by H.I.S also looks good.

Japan Rail Pass

Japan rail passes are apparently quite awesome in terms of value for money getting around Japan.

They are available as either a seven, 14 or 21 day pass and let you go on all the long range trains except the “NOZOMI” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines (these are the express trains on those lines but you can take the others, which only have a few stops).

You can buy either Green - which is first class or ordinary which is economy. You just rock up to the station and say "Give me a seat allocation, sir," and they do.
 
Prices are as follows:

You can't purchase the passes in Japan - they have to be purchased outside of Japan. This site shows you the closest place you can purchase one. Once you get to Japan, you have to exchange the ticket you get outside Japan for the pass - this can be done at the airport. Happily, it includes the train from the airport (Narita) itself. The day count starts from the day you actually have it authorised.

The site also tells you:

Avoid rush hours in the morning and evening
In major cities,avoid traveling during the morning and evening rush hours(7:30-9:30and
17:00-19:00)

Wise words, my friends. Wise words.

This website also contains timetable information in English.

Free tours of Kyoto

In Kyoto, there is a group of volunteers who have been giving tours to tourists for free since 1961.

They're called the Good Samaritans but are not affiliated with any religious group.

Those wishing to take a tour can make a reservation by phoning or texting 090-6684-0167 between 12:00-13:00 and 17:00-18:00 Japan Time or you can email samaritan-reservation@h.vodafone.ne.jp - They accept reservations starting one month before the day of the tour.
Emails or texts should contain:

1. full name
2. gender of all members of the group (Bizarre. I mean are they going to matchmake? Ok, ok, probably very sensible for them not to want to send an earnest gorgeous 18 year old boy with 17 netball playing hens)
3. nationality/ties
4. age
5. name and phone number of your accommodation (in Kyoto/nearby)
6. requests, if any (eg earnest, gorgeous 18 year old boy)