Miscellaneous things about Tsukuba and Japan

Today, I'm going to talk about all these little miscellaneous things that are too small to be their own posts, but are worth mentioning anyway.

Lots of parks!
In Tsukuba, there are lots of public parks and some are very popular with kids. A lot of people can also be seen walking their dogs on the "park street".

Map of Tsukuba's "park street": the green areas are the parks

Matsumi Park: one of the many parks filled with children playing on weekends

Convenience store copying/printing service
In every convenience store, there is a self-service printing/copying machine supporting a wide range of configuration. Black and white copies cost ¥10 while color copies cost ¥50.

The printing/copying machine inside the Family Mart located within AIST

Prices of printing/copying services

Crossing the road
There are 2 types of road crossing in Japan. First the one with a traffic light. There is usually a button to press and you'll have to wait until the light turns green before you can cross (if there is no button, you'll just have to wait). The other type is one without a traffic light. This is where it gets interesting. More often than not, when drivers see pedestrians waiting to across the road, they will actually stop for them to cross, as opposed to Thailand where you'll have to find the correct timing to cross the road!

Eating at food courts
When eating at food courts in Japan, you are expected to return your tray to the shop you've bought your food from. In Thailand, a cleaner would come and clean it up for you.

Discount tickets for Tsukuba Express
The best way to get from Tsukuba to Tokyo is via the Tsukuba Express which can take you to Tokyo in less than one hour. However, the prices can be quite expensive (by Thai standard anyway). If you're traveling on weekends (or certain hours of a weekday), you can by discounted ticket via a vending machine on the basement floor of Dayz Town which can save up to 25%. Also, the ticket will come in a plastic box, but you are not allowed to take the plastic box with you. There's a bin beside the machine to return the plastic box.

Another choice is using the TX Tokyo Metro Pass which is just little bit more expensive than a normal round trip ticket to Akihabara, but includes unlimited travel within Tokyo using Tokyo Metro. The TX Tokyo Metro Pass can be bought at the Tsukuba Station's ticket office.

Locking electric sockets
Some electrical sockets used here have a locking mechanism. You'll have to insert the plug and twist to lock it. Before removing the plug, you'll have to twist it back.

Electric plug (unlocked state)