http://www.city-cost.comFri, 06 Mar 2026 21:35:26 +0900A 20 something year old sailor with a penchant for deep and silly thoughts. I try to be as honest as possible when writing, and am currently living in Zushi, Japan!enCopyright © 2015 - 2026 City-Cost All Rights Reserved.webmaster@city-cost.com (CC Team)http://img.city-cost.com/static/blog_campaign_icon.pnghttp://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MvqNw-living_food_shopping_fashion_gunma_ueno-muraAs with many other expats in Japan, I happen to live in here because of my job. While my normal daily routine involves going to work and returning to the house for a daily walk around the neighborhood and sometimes a visit to the restaurants nearby. It's a pretty simple life for a simple man like myself, but it's what I do during the weekends that garners the most interest. However, since this is an article for my daily life I will discuss my weekly routine in Japan and we might the secrets of the man who created the newly christened International Association for Fancy Tea Parties.I am Dash The Bomber founder and creator of The International Association for Fancy Tea Parties. I am a regular man whose day starts at 5am in order to catch a bus to work which is the cheapest way to travel to work. I live in Zushi by Ikego Hills near the Jimmuji Train Station. The bus leaves stops near my home at 5:25 and that gives me 20 minutes to prepare and be at the bus stop. The drive is 30 minutes to my job, and once at work I'm there for about 9 hours. Returning to my house is usually a different story, I exit the work place and walk the streets of Yokosuka stopping by at the nearby confectionery or even the local "Vie de France" which is about 10 minutes away. After this, I quickly head on over to the local Mikasa Mall to see what items are on sale and window shop while walking the long hallway that takes me nearby to the Yokosuka Chuo Train Station from which I catch an express train to Kanazawa and later Jimmuji.Seeing the sights from Yokosuka makes you feel like you're truly in the city. Which is why I'm happy to live in Zushi since it's more remote and laid back and feels like you're actually in Japan. I have hiked beautiful trails and explored ancient remnants of a war that has long since ended. By virtue of venturing in locations which are remote. I have even see the carvings of generations past in the walls of a mountain by taking a road less traveled. I also managed to find a shrine just before the top of the big Buddha statue that was at the top of the trail! But, this is only part of my daily life since the weekend is definitely where it is at and as a leader of troupe of fashionistas and cosplayers plus the added fact that I am a dad my life can get very interesting.You see I love doing new and exciting things in here and there are a lot of new experiences you can enjoy while living your daily life. I for example love taking my son out to Cosmo World in Yokohama during the weekends. He and I love the Ferris Wheel and also the Pokemon Center store which happen to be in extremely close proximity. Sometimes we even sneak off to the arcades and win some of the plush kittens from Neko Atsume at the arcades! We spend this time together and my wife can have her own time to be herself. During Saturday and Sunday anything goes for us. You see during those two days is when I organize events from the group to promote ourselves out in Japan. The International association for Fancy Tea Parties goes out around different parts of Tokyo to promote cheer and good spirits for all. My group has done all sorts of things from visited cat café's to fashion shoots and we always do it for fun! I have incorporated them into part of my daily routines, I almost never do anything without the group at this point. There is actually a really good reason for this too. You see in Japan a grand majority of the people who dress up for events are women, and I truly love being surrounded by beautiful ones.Whether it be at Cosplay Studio Crown or Kyu-Iwasaki-Tei Garden or even parading the streets of Akihabara. I am constantly surrounded by these beautiful ladies. They make my life special as a regular guy. My wife is featured prominently next to me clad in all black, But, my daily activities also involve actual cosplay models such as the beautiful Naomi and the exotic belly-dancing Sandra! But, it's not just girls we also have guys in my group who are exceptional people. During these two days of my week I like living them to the fullest and I make sure to do everything and anything that I can within one day.I know this might seem like a lot to do in one day and nearly impossible for one man to achieve, but I wake up everyday even on the weekends at 6 in the morning. I take advantage of every minute I can to do something and to organize these events takes a lot of effort in my part. Japan is a huge playground for those who have the imagination to take advantage of it, and I like to fancy myself one of those people. However, if you don't feel like starting your own organization, then come find us and we will welcome you to the world of tea parties and steampunk.I welcome everyone to join The International Association for Fancy Tea Parties in Facebook. The group can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheInternationalAssociationForFancyTeaParties/?ref=br_tfYou can also communicate with me directly through this website. I will be gone for a little bit, but there will be a new leader in the group ensuring that we stay alive and strong during my absence. If you're ever feeling like you want to be fancy in Japan come and find us! We welcome everyone from all corners of the world! To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MvqNw-living_food_shopping_fashion_gunma_ueno-muraFri, 06 May 2016 17:39:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MvqNw-living_food_shopping_fashion_gunma_ueno-murahttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wZ9aG-living_food_tokyo_shibuya-kuAh, hanami an experience shared by many tourist who literally just want to watch flowers. I was no different in my journey through Japan as a representative and head honcho of The U.S. Association for Fancy Tea Parties. When I first heard of Hanami I was heading over with my good friend Janglish Jerry and his lovely wife Hiromi towards Yoyogi park located in Shibuya. I was rather confused seeing as there was a party of creators/bloggers/photographers who were gathering to celebrate the watching of the cherry blossoms. The sky was gray and the weather was pleasant, a perfect opportunity as ever to witness the constant falling of the petals, the beautiful women, and even a chance to meet Thomas Shuttleworth from this very website (you are awesome Tom!!!).Not being one to miss an opportunity to show off the Association I went all pimped out in my latest gear and it shows in the fact that people offered to take pictures of me quite a bit! I even had a random Japanese guy come up to me and offer me a piece of Japanese candy because I was dressed up in Steampunk!According to Hiromi it is customary to make your own bento box or buy one from the stores nearby in order to watch and eat while spending time with friends and loved ones sitting in a tarp or blanket underneath a cherry blossom tree. Of course, if things had actually gone according to what I was informed this would have been a lot better, but literally the group we were with did not sit under a cherry blossom at all. We could see them from where we were, but I was slightly underwhelmed since no bento boxes were bought by my particular group either (the takoyaki stands were great though). As with most loud foreigners though, we danced, sang, and celebrated with copious amounts of alcohol the visit to Yoyogi park as best as we could. I'm guessing that part of the event was largely an excuse to go out and get drunk during the day with a bunch of like minded individuals. The creators in the party were extremely nice people who just wanted to have a good time, and I think that's truly the spirit of Hanami. A lot of the Japanese folk which I saw there were mostly playing games and chatting with friends and family, they were all having a good time together, but were definitely quieter than we were. We even had musicians and singers who were throwing some sick lyrics while instrumentally Japanese/Hispanic beats were playing in the background.We took videos and took the occasion to make new friends and alliances that would benefit all of us greatly for the event that were about to transpire. There was beauty all around us, from the nature that surrounded the group down to the cherry blossoms that were in full bloom. It was a gorgeous experience. But, as with all good things that must come to an end my group and I had to partake in our ways and move on to our respective locations. Jerry, Hiromi and I loved our hanami watching experience and are certain to visit again next year. Perhaps even sit under an actual cherry blossom tree this time?But, if you want to know more about what I was doing there. I was meeting some of the following people:If you notice I was certainly not the only fancy person in that event, and while I was the most dapper, I am glad to see that it was a great event all around.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wZ9aG-living_food_tokyo_shibuya-kuThu, 14 Apr 2016 17:50:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wZ9aG-living_food_tokyo_shibuya-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/Mgnlw-living_food_tokyo_shinjuku-kuRecently the United States Association for Fancy Tea Parties had its first official meeting at a restaurant called Alice In Wonderland Restaurant. These restaurants are a franchise throughout Tokyo known for having a distinct theme depending on the location you visit. For example the one located in Akihabara is called Alice in the Labyrinth, the one in Shibuya is known as Alice in the Mirror, and the one we visited in Shinjuku is called Alice in a Book. While they are all technically the same, the way you enter each one is supposedly different, and accordingly we entered through a door fashioned after a book cover. What we discovered about this place is that it is not only gorgeous, but also terrifyingly expensive. However, let us discuss things in the correct order and analyze the spacing available.If I were to describe this restaurant in one word it would be cozy. It is compact and the first thing you notice as you walk through the hallway is that there are at least 3 large tables designed to accommodate groups such as ours. The rest of them are booths and smaller tables designed to fit 3 to 4 people per group. The limited space is also the reason why you have to make reservations before arriving. But, once you actually make reservations and arrive at this place it is easy to indulge in the beautiful environment located in this fabulous location. I repeat do not visit this place unannounced making reservations can be difficult, but with copious amounts of Google Translate anyone can get through to them. I know I did and I wear bunny ears on top of a hat:You see when they said taking the theme of Alice in Wonderland seriously, the Japanese meant exactly what it said. From wearing bunny ear hoods to seeing card guards watching the entrance this place screams of Disney and Alice in Wonderland (the original book of course). Why Disney you might ask? Because the entire time we were there the background was playing songs which we all grew up with from Under the Sea to Hakuna Matata. The tables were all lovingly decorated and walls had murals with the characters of the series. Alice in Wonderland Restaurant is a gorgeous display of art in the form of a café. Even the food is themed accordingly and in fact let us take a look at some of the dish that were ordered that day.From the Caterpillar Sushi Roll to the Cheshire Cat alcoholic beverage this place was brimming with its namesake. The menu was nearly entirely designed around the characters of the book and it shows how much care went into designing such things. The Association partook in a three course meal, which is not something I advice anyone to do when visiting this place. You see this restaurant is not only pleasing to the eye; it's also a wallet murderer.While it is true that I'm exaggerating a bit for the sake of comedy, it's not a joke when I say that we spent over 250 USD in this place between 5 adults and one child. It is ridiculously priced for the small portions you are served and our large American stomachs. We did eat a lot, but was it worth it? Probably not, I never advocate spending too much in Restaurants unless you're celebrating for a special occasion. In this case we were, but if you need a little bit more convincing allow me to show you some of the pictures we took of the menu:Now you see what I mean! This place killed my wallet, and our friends also felt the pain. This place is an amazing spot if you're every going on a date don't get me wrong on that detail. But, keep it at that. Special Celebrations because if you go for the full course meal then you will spend over a hundred dollars between two people. It is a nice experience to have while you are in Japan, but don't visit this place if you are strapped for cash. It's not worth it.So how much does it cost to visit this place? A lot! It's as simple as that, the place is wonderful if you're going on a quiet date, but otherwise if you're just looking for a meal this is not the place to go. I mean my wallet literally cried the entire way home that night and the only thing that made it better was the look from girls I received. If it wasn't for that (and my good friends) the day would have been considered overly expensive. But, disregarding all of that because this place is amazing is still a valid option. Visit Alice in Wonderland Restaurant for the beauty and aesthetic that only these restaurants can offer. Otherwise, avoid the trip.To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/Mgnlw-living_food_tokyo_shinjuku-kuTue, 05 Apr 2016 00:56:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/Mgnlw-living_food_tokyo_shinjuku-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/z3m8w-living_fashion_tokyoAnime japan Happened recently in Odaiba. By the time you see this article it would have been over. But, that's not to say that you will have missed the event forever. Next year it will be here once again and perhaps you will even get to see the Association there.Anime Japan is one of the biggest conventions in Odaiba for anything that is for lack of a better word anime related. It had booths with dancers (which by the way were slightly off sync), beautifully dressed scantily clad women. Advertisements by the dozen, water bottles with anime characters on their labels, and plenty of gear to buy for those who love cosplaying and or anime stuffed animals. The place was packed with booths for the Yu-Gi-Oh movies down to a new anime about girls who happen to also be race horses... I am seriously worried Japan. Sony even had a booth there with VR technology on full display. They had interviews and commercials playing on full blast and the place was saturated with fans from all over the world. I of course went there for completely different reasons. It turns out that cosplaying was going to be a major event there. I could not resist the opportunity to show off the Association thus I sent out an announcement, but due to life getting in the way. I only managed to secure my own spot on the event. Regardless of this setback I managed to have a blast at the event with women complimenting my fashion sense while I returned the favor. Ranging anywhere from good to amazing the Japanese take their cosplaying seriously and they do it fantastically. I was utterly impressed with the care and love that went into these costumes, and I even got to see Fat Goku! There was a man walking around in a fat bear suit with sunglasses and a few others who weren't too friendly. But, I was charming enough to get my own little photo shoot which should be appearing somewhere in the world soon enough. But, we're all here for the pictures and here they are.All right, you made it to the end! But, before you go there is one last thing I'd like to mention!I have created a fantastic children's book designed for kids in the military! It is called "Father Is Always With Me", and it is the story of my little one Leonardo and his journey throughout my PCS and Deployment. The focus is always kept on him as he witnesses the many changes that happen throughout the adventures of being a "military brat". It is a gorgeous book with extremely adorable illustrations that can be applicable to any branch in the military! I spent a lot of time working on this book and now it can be bough on Amazon!Not sold on it yet? Take a look at this beautiful illustration that was lovingly made with hard work and dedication!You can buy it on Kindle on this link and if you do buy and enjoy it, please rate and review.http://www.amazon.com/Father-Always-Me-Emmanuel-Barbosa-ebook/dp/B01DFY08G8?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/z3m8w-living_fashion_tokyoSun, 27 Mar 2016 19:20:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/z3m8w-living_fashion_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MgNlw-living_shopping_kanagawa_yokohama-shiDuring my travels with the members of USAFTP we encountered Dr. Kiss Fish in the Yokohama Chinatown. Now, the association and I had only heard of this location from friends and or family members who had previously been there. We instantly knew that we had to get a pedicure by having hundreds of tiny little fish devour your dead skin. Little did we know that this would be extremely ticklish.Now for those unfamiliar with the concept of a fish pedicure allow me to give you a brief run-down. In Dr. Kiss Fish for a thousand Yen you will be given 10-15 minutes of little tiny fish nibbling at your feet in order to make them feel fresh and soft. It's that simple.But, the reality is much weirder, you see back in the olden days of prehistory our ancestors did not have such utensils like for example: • Epsom Salt• Pumice Stone or foot scrub• Towel• Moisturizer• Nail File• Buffer Block• Nail Clippers• Cuticle Oil• Base and top coat• Your favorite polishSo they had to rely on more rustic methods to ensure that their feet would be as smooth and sharp as possible. This is where tiny little fish came into play you see if a big fish could eat you whole then little fishes could simply eat small parts of you. Thus an idea was born, if you wanted fleek feet and nice healthy looking toe nails could be utilized to eat the dead skin in your feet and in between your toes. China being the capitalist (lies) nation that it is, go into the idea and started implementing different methods to utilize fish that would be used for money. Thus they started charging people to use the ponds in their neighborhoods to give out pedicures.It wasn't until years later when the French caught on to the idea and started trying to appropriate their secrets and thus the French Pedicure was born. For me it was an extremely surprising experience. I had no idea how much this tickled and if you're a person who has a hard time with tickles. You're going to love this place. I couldn't stop smiling and laughing at the moment when I put my feet in the water and they suddenly vanished. All I could see were the fish trying to get at me and the farther you dip your legs in the more tickles you will receive. This place is fantastic. When you first get in and pay the bill they will ask you to remove your shoes and clean your feet inside a small shower located in the back. The water is cold when you first open it so watch out! Afterwards they will place you in one of the 4 small pools they have in the store. There are enough fish in there for several people, but it's typically 2 to 3 person per pool.But, this location also has a museum and the way you will know you found the right location is the following.This poster is on the side of the building that houses the Dr. Kiss Fish, it's museum of tricks and while we've all probably seen enough hentai to know where this is going. It's probably going to be one of the next places I visit. Chinatown in Yokohama has a lot of stuff you can do and you can even get some especially good food in the area. I visited the arcade there, but it wasn't particularly special.I recommend at least going there once and witness the cannibalism of fish eating people in person. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MgNlw-living_shopping_kanagawa_yokohama-shiThu, 17 Mar 2016 08:45:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MgNlw-living_shopping_kanagawa_yokohama-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/w5qow-living_food_shopping_tokyoWhile exploring Harajuku the other day with 2 members of The U.S. Association for Fancy Tea Parties we reached a point when we were all starving. Now, this was no ordinary hunger, this was advanced hunger! Mostly because we were all famished and didn't feel like eating Ramen, Noodles, Sushi, or any of the other great foods that Japan had to offer, thus we kept passing restaurants.As a group, we had agreed that when we found the spot we wanted to eat in, a shining beacon of light would point us in the right direction and suddenly...we would all know where we wanted to partake in delicious food. Just before we reached an overpass for the Shinkansen there it was in all of its glory! Burger's Base. Now we had never heard of this place before, but it was simply amazing.You see when you eat Burger's Base you don't only partake in a burger and a drink with some fries. No, you actively indulge in a plethora of wonderful smells which are all artery clogging deliciousness. You can watch the young men in the back cook you an amazing treat for a decent price and still eat enough to be full for an entire evening of exploring the park in Harajuku and stores. I came home after eating here and did not even bother asking for dinner! This was my lunch people.You see the face in that picture above? That is the reaction to the Sasebo Burger a mighty burger that grants you eternal life! My face is the expression you make when a burger is so delicious that you died and went to heaven as you bit into the juicy flowing mouth-watering beef that was carefully placed into the two buns in front of my face!That is the face that is naturally evoked when, after your first bite, you literally see The Lord All Mighty up in the heavens giving you a high-five as you die and go to heaven while simultaneously resurrecting only to finish this delicatessen that was made in a simple burger joint located HARAMOTHEREFFINJUKU. You don't simply eat at Burger's Base you become a part of it. This burger has ruined me because I will never be able to face another burger like a man, for it has shown me the light. I was merely a boy when I entered, but when I left, it was as a man.For those of you whose palette is tired of the same old things in Japan I have added the menu because I know you're going to go to Burger's Base it's simply unavoidable. It is your destiny to go visit this spot and partake in history in the making. I rate Burger Base a 100/100 in delicious anda Yummy/10 in everything else.Get there and witness the majestic Burger's Base burger especially my favorite:The Sasebo Burger!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/w5qow-living_food_shopping_tokyoWed, 16 Mar 2016 15:51:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/w5qow-living_food_shopping_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/z8EbG-living_shopping_fashion_tokyoDuring my travels in Japan I started indulging in the art of cosplay. While cosplay isn't as popular as it once was in Japan, there are still stores out there that cater to the whims of those who love to play dress-up. These stores cater to many different types of fans whether they be anime, goth or even historical. But, rarer still is finding ones that cater to the fans of steampunk genre.For those of you who are unaware this is how it's defined in Wikipedia: Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or American "Wild West", in a post-apocalyptic future during which steam power has maintained mainstream usage, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. Steampunk may, therefore, be described as neo-Victorian. Now that you have been acquainted with the genre, allow me to introduce you to Mantam the owner of A Story the Steampunk store in Harajuku! This man is what happened when the mind of Tim Burton and Tim Schafer came together to have a baby. He is a mad genius of creativity and an extremely artistic individual who melds everything he touches into the obscure and macabre. Managing to turn anything he sees into a terrifying, yet alluring masterpiece. When I first arrived at A Story I was greeted by a young lady who noticed our fascination with the artistic fashion of the locale. We had heard it existed, but weren't aware that they had moved locations and a such spent nearly an hour trying to find it. Once we located it though we were instantly hooked. My friends and I could not believe the amount of items that pertained to our fashion style in this store, despite it's small location the space is utilized to its maximum capacity in order to illustrate the majestic flair of steampunk. You see everything in this store is essentially hand made by the workers including Mantam himself. Who was polite enough to give us pictures of him and his items as well as his business card. He let us explore the store despite knowing we weren't there to buy anything, but rather indulge in the scenery. This store is basically eye candy for those with fancy towards the obscure and dark. The imagery feeding into the feelings of despair and darkness that embrace our souls. He clearly knows which audience he caters for in his workshop. Now if you want to know everything in this store is priced accordingly and a such it can be expensive. If I had the money though I would have bought everything I could pocket. A Story is truly amazing, and if you're ever in the area it is a definitive must stop.Located in the fifth floor of a building in the main street of Harajuku don't be fooled by the multiple locales which Google map tells you to visit.For those of you who want to see more please share and go take a look at my IMGUR here at this link http://imgur.com/gallery/9sXHr/newTo view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/z8EbG-living_shopping_fashion_tokyoTue, 15 Mar 2016 14:04:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/z8EbG-living_shopping_fashion_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wmQQw-living_shopping_fashion_tokyoVenus Fort is located Odaiba right next to the Toyota car show building. It is a mall whose inside is styled after the ancient Greco-Roman art style and it is beautiful. The U.S. Association of Fancy Tea Parties recently visited this place while stopping at the Ferris wheel in Palette town.If you want to go shopping with class this is definitely the place to visit and inside you can always feel as if it's daytime even during the night. You see the roof of this mall is a giant projector screen. While you shop the atmosphere is a moody lighting with a semi-cloudy sky above you at all times. There are a lot of high-end stores and while wearing our steampunk and gothic costumes we felt right at home. The ambient is quiet, and the people are friendly with many individuals waving at us and enjoying their day.Once you enter the main hall you will find statues and other figures which again follow the same style. As with any mall you will find restaurants inside, and there was an arcade there at one point which I'm not certain if it still remains. It is definitely a place to go and take a look if just to look at the scenery.but, this location is extremely classy. The restaurants feel classy the are tables and yogurt places to eat and even ice cream and crepes. You will enjoy seeing the decor as you walk through the streets of Venus Fort all while waking under a beautiful blue sky.But, the reason I've been here multiple times is because this is where the sun, the moon, the planets, and the stars come to visit my son.Venus Fort's projector sky above the fountain in the pictures has a show that runs every 20 minute. During Christmas it is an amazing show of snowflakes and crystals with the sound of chiming rolling over every speaker and music playing in the background. It finishes with a view of the planets revolving and a mechanical roof with gears and cogs (which would not look out of place at a steampunk convention). It is a beautiful spectacle and my child loves it. He asks me to take him and see the planets at least once a month. This time when we visited instead it showed a space whale along with constellations and the zodiac clock. My son was enraptured by the music and visions that were displayed above the fountain of Venus. While I carefully sat with him in my lap he quietly enjoyed the magical show that was playing before us. We walked around for a bit and took a few pictures, but overall it was a very satisfying ending to a great day.It's one of those places that you can bring your date with and still feel classy, but if you want to enjoy a cheaper mall, but the same level of enjoyment. We will explore the Diver City Mall next!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wmQQw-living_shopping_fashion_tokyoFri, 11 Mar 2016 17:31:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wmQQw-living_shopping_fashion_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wZa5G-living_shopping_fashion_tokyoRecently, I stumbled upon a magical place in Japan called Odaiba. Located an exit away from the Tokyo Teleport Station it is a certifiably amazing spot to go on a date with your significant other. Recently the newly founded U.S. Association of Fancy Tea Parties founded by yours truly decided that we would visit this place and take our very first picture as a group. The results were nothing short of amazing.You see not only is this the town where Red from Pokémon started his journey. It is also a fantastic place to take your significant others because of the variety of things you can do. I'm not going to bother you with all of them. So let's get to the ones we could cover during the visit.Palette town is located directly in front of the escalator exit of Tokyo Teleport Station, once you exit you will see the giant Ferris wheel called Daikanransha (it was the largest one at the time of its opening). This is the same Ferris wheel seen during the ending credits of the first season of Inuyasha and if you take a look at the surrounding area it is identical to the one displayed in the anime!!! If you ever wanted to experience something straight out of an anime then you should stop at Odaiba and ride this amazing machine.You can ride it for about 10 dollars a person, but if you have six people the group will only have to pay for four instead. Just before you get on the ride they will ask to take a picture of you and your group which can be later bought for 10 dollars as well. The view from this ride is amazing at night time. The sights surrounding it are the Tokyo Convention Center which look like upside down pyramids from the ride. The Rainbow Bridge (for those fans of Mario Kart). Diver City Mall and the giant Gundam statue. The Rainbow Heart. Venus Fort Mall, and some strange bridge from across the water that also has colored lights.My wife and I rode this with our son and she started crying with joy. She said that "she finally realizes how big the world truly is" (it was her first time outside of the U.S.) Directly after you leave the ride, you will find an arcade and a burger joint which serves decent food at a good price. The arcade contains one of the strangest games I've seen so far in Japan. You sit down and fish koi inside a small rectangle filled with water. It's actually a fairly big arcade and I've actually won a few toys from it. We left the arcade and walked straight into a glass building which housed the Toyota Megaweb.Now for all you car lovers out there this is the place you want to visit. It has an assortment of beautiful cars on display, arcade games and other entertainment things you can do when you visit. It's within a giant glass building and can be utilized to travel to Daikanransha. It's also a spot that deserves it's own article, but needless to say if you love cars you will want to visit.On the other side of the spectrum if you head towards the rainbow bridge you will find a boardwalk type area with a lot of other entertainment facilities. You will find a lot of restaurants including the takoyaki museum which has samples of all types of octopus flavored items (we bought a bag of potato chips and it was awesome). In here is probably where you will want to take your dates. The boardwalk has lots of different restaurants and the night view is amazing. You can see a statue of liberty, the rainbow bridge, windsurfers, trees that are illuminated. You could walk by the boardwalk stop for some ravioli, take your lovers to buy some clothing at the nearby mall, experience history at the takoyaki museum, explore science at the technology center for those more scientifically inclined. Even visit the infamous Joyopolis a Sega indoor theme-park. Finish the night by riding the Ferris Wheel and you're almost guaranteed to get lucky that night. Needless to say this place requires a few more visits to explain the joys of Odaiba. But, if you are ever in Tokyo it's a must visit. The U.S. Association of Fancy Tea Parties will certainly visit many more times.P.S.For all of those who are interestedThis is the first few members of the group, we're dedicated to spreading the joys of cosplay along with visiting different hot spots in Japan. We're going to be doing this more often and this is probably the best time to introduce the group since you might even get to see us on our travels. Be sure to say hello and take a picture! To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wZa5G-living_shopping_fashion_tokyoTue, 08 Mar 2016 18:06:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wZa5G-living_shopping_fashion_tokyohttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MAb6z-living_shopping_tokyo_chiyoda-kuI finally did it, I got a chance to visit the famous "cat cafe" in Akihabara! I don't think it needs to be said how awesome this place was, but I'll tell you anyway. The cats in this location are gorgeous and super lazy. I'm not really surprised about this since we are talking about cats, but the workers here take amazing care of these little guys and they all have some of the grumpiest looking cats in the place! I Even had a staring match with a cat who kept staring into my soul.Located in scenic:middle of Akihabara (3 Chome-5-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyō-to 101-0021, Japan), it was decided from early on that the Fancy Costume Troupe would visit this location. First things you have to know, the prices here can be expensive especially if you want to actually spend time with the cats! During the weekends you can only get the trial package if you stop by the locale and it's on an availability basis. The cost for that one is pretty cheap, but the drinks and everything can accumulate so just be mindful. Inside you can only enter two at a time and as is customary shoes are not allowed (wear SOCKS!). Once inside you are made to order a drink and read the rules which are your standard:Don't take pictures with flashNo runningDon't rub the cats in their very sensitive tummies unless you're risk averse (some cat's don't like this and will scratch)If you bring your own toys for the cats please show them to the workers firstNo loud noisesWe will kick you out if you violate any of these rulesBut, since none of these rules violate the laws of common sense it wasn't very hard to comply. It's a very relaxed environment and the cats spend a lot of the time asleep inside little boxes and cubby holes. If you need a moment to escape the realities of life and just go spend time with cats in Japan, this is a top notch spot to do it. But, there is a lot more to Neko Ja La LaBut, back on topic. The cats here are gorgeous and it's a shame we could only spend so little time with them, but the time was completely worth it. I was so happy being surrounded by all these kitties! They even have a small little employee only room which they can sneak into if they feel overwhelmed. Neko Ja La La really loves their cats, and I imagine working there can be really demanding (cat's can be moody creatures), but the girls who work there are super sweet and friendly. Most of the cats spent their entire visit sleeping, super peacefully and there was a really cute one who spent his time on the cashiers desk just sort of hanging around her. The place is packed with toys for cats and you can even have a lint roller in case you get too much cat hair on you. You can buy little trinkets that you can bring home with you and view books with the names of all the cats inside. When we went there were 17 cats actively in there. A few of them had memorials since they had passed away (I imagine they take cats that had been abandoned by their owners for various reasons since they all seemed pretty domesticated). But that is just speculation on my part. I love the fact that some of these cats have really grumpy faces and all seem so mean, but are just shy. In essence this is a must visit spot for anyone in Japan. Especially if you're going in costume. Before I left there was a girl who stopped me and asked for pictures of us in the costumes. This happened a few more times afterwards too!For the convenience of everyone I have included the prices of all of the drinks and also for anyone who feels robbed that I did not show pictures of cats can visit my page in IMGUR (http://imgur.com/a/UpG8r) to see all the cats that I took pictures of and also some small videos that my wife took (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTQj5jogbxE) <- that is the evil cat who had a staring contest with me. (Don't kill me!)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MAb6z-living_shopping_tokyo_chiyoda-kuSun, 06 Mar 2016 10:24:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MAb6z-living_shopping_tokyo_chiyoda-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MgOjM-living_shopping_tokyo_minato-kuNot a lot of people can disagree with the fact that One Piece is an extremely popular work of art. It's been going very strong for over a decade and it's popularity does not seem to be going out of style any time soon. I have not personally been a hardcore fan of the series, but if you were to ask me if I liked it, then I can honestly say it's very enjoyable. This brings us to the Tokyo Tower located in scenic 4 Chome-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato, Tokyo 105-0011. While the tower itself has a fantastic view of the area, the most interesting spots of the location are inside the first few floors. These are stores, stages, and restaurants themed with One Piece. As soon as you enter the first floor if you look towards the left you will find the One Piece store, a definitive visit if you want anything One Piece related, apparel, art, sweets, and toys! This place is awesome. The music playing in the background is the theme of very first anime season which is an epic song and the statues around the store are incredible. I was tempted to buy a JPY 5000 drawing of Ace which looked amazing, just to frame it in my man-cave. It's easy to get caught up in all of the scenery especially if you do consider yourself a hardcore fanatic. I want to stress that the prices here are a bit high and while it wouldn't be as simple to find them elsewhere, they would possibly be cheaper to buy online. Behind the store is a restaurant that servers a sea food buffet style menu. It is called Sanji No Oresama No Restaurant, and frankly it's not that good for the price. But, if you're here you might as well partake in the festivities since you will not find another restaurant like this nearby. Finally to the right of the restaurant there is a cafe with you guessed it... A One Piece theme, and as with many cafe's they sell sweets and other treats there. We didn't stay too long there, but I did manage to take a picture of the menu (which if anyone has any questions please comment and I will post them). This is about it for the first floor and then comes the amazing part!I'm standing in front of a little picture spot that sits besides the entrance to the Tokyo Tower One Piece live-action show! The show utilizes screens and shadows along with a sleuth of special effects to portray the powers of the characters in the show. It was extremely fun despite not being able to understand a bit of what they were saying I was thoroughly entertained by the actors and the lengths they went to make it as faithful to the show as possible. It was fun, simple, and very quirky (just like the series itself). It was a joy to have been present and I do recommend that people go see it. If you're a fan of One Piece then the Tokyo Tower is a must visit for you! Don't miss out on this experience of a lifetime and go visit the Tokyo Tower!!!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MgOjM-living_shopping_tokyo_minato-kuSat, 05 Mar 2016 09:25:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MgOjM-living_shopping_tokyo_minato-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/Gb4BM-living_shopping_kanagawa_yokohama-shiI was 12 years old when Pokémon Centers became a real thing. I was super excited to hear that one was coming to New York, but since I lived in Puerto Rico it would be impossible to ever be in one. It seemed so exciting, to be able to visit a place which I had been taking my little pocket monsters to since 1998... But, alas the dream never happened, and I never got to visit that store in New York City until it had finally become the Nintendo Store.Fifteen years later and as I'm walking to Cosmo World in Yokohama, this store shows up without any warning. I ecstatic, almost like a child in a candy store. The dream had become a reality and I was living in it. However, despite a name as epic as the Pokémon Center, they were missing the one constant present in each one: Nurse Joy! This is not to say that it a disappointing visit for me because the rush of nostalgia that I was overwhelmed by made it all worthwhile. The first thing I noticed after entering the store was that I was greeted by these three fellows. I still remember choosing Bulbasaur as my first Pokémon and they were all there because of the 20th anniversary. The store had every sort of Pokémon related memorabilia, keychains, stuffed toys, clothing, games, amiibo, posters, even Splatoon Splatfest shirts! If it was Pokémon related you will probably find it in this store. You can also participate in Pokkén the latest and only Pokémon fighting tournament game (where you can be a chandelier fighting a karate chicken in the street)! You can also view trailers for all of the new Pokémon series and games that are coming out soon in a giant television screen in the back. However, if you're anything like I am, then you will spend your time contemplating what sort of adorable item you could purchase while in the store. I almost went for the Charizard cape which was so adorable it gave me a serious case of sugar poisoning, or perhaps a stuffed black and white pillow of the first sprites utilized in Pokémon Red and Blue for using surf! This store environment is amazing and anyone who was ever a fan of the games will certainly feel like you're visiting an old friend, I certainly did.But, while the nostalgic feelings are great, it's definitely the games that bring in the crowds. According to my sources this place has so many events and tournaments in this locale that it would be a shame to not bring them up. When you come here you will usually find teenagers and children fighting with the 3DS's in small contest, or even exchanging information or trading Pokémon. It's cute to see how the generations have passed and kids/teenagers/adults can still come together to have competitions with their fiercely raised monsters. The Pokémon Center in Yokohama was a terrific pit stop before the grand event for my family and despite that elusive hottie Nurse Joy not being present, I will certainly visit again in the hopes of finding her in the future (hint hint cosplayers)To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/Gb4BM-living_shopping_kanagawa_yokohama-shiSat, 05 Mar 2016 07:43:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/Gb4BM-living_shopping_kanagawa_yokohama-shihttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MYa2M-living_food_fashion_tokyo_chiyoda-kuOn December 16 2015, a young couple and their small child decided it would be a good idea to visit Akihabra. During their tour they stumbled upon a locale known as a Maid Cafe with the name Maidreaming. After their visit, their lives were forever altered, no longer the innocent tourist they once were, the sheer terror that was experienced during their visit ensured that they will avoid those places for a long time.This was their experience!If you were ever a fan of Japanese culture at some point in your life, then visiting a maid cafe must have been in your plans for the future at some point in your life. But, if you aren't as savvy with the culture, allow me to explain:Maid cafe's were originally established in Akihabara to cater to the Otaku (a term with very negative connotations in Japan). In these locales the maid's pretend you're the master, and they are your loyal servants, they play games, perform cute dances, gestures, and overall do a great job at catering to their loyal fan-base. The maids are also extremely beautiful/youthful looking girls which brings a certain appeal to the male Japanese men who seek innocence in their "prey". It's important to note that they are a very big part of the cosplay culture in Japan, which I am a huge fanatic of as can be seen in my profile picture. The different cafes have various themes and can include anime characters and even video-game ones. One important thing to note is that almost everything you do with these maids cost money, for a fee they will play games with youMy family and friends are planning to all get dressed up and visit these various hot spots in Japan at some point. But, enough about that, let's get to what we're all here for, the sheer terror that was the maid cafe.I was extremely surprised when my wife asked to go visit one since she justified it with the advertisement made the food seem cute and our son might have liked it. Boy, if only we had known how this would become a... nightmare. We arrived a few minutes apart from each other. Now normally any man would think that they would be extremely happy to be greeted by 5 or 6 Japanese women in maid costumes, but in actuality this caught me completely off guard and the look on my face must have been of extreme fear since they actually gave me some space to move as I unsuccessfully tried to explain that I was there with my wife. It's not that that the girls are scary it's just the fact that it's all so unexpected, I had never been greeted as such at any event I've been in and because of that it was merely surprising. But, once I finally located my wife and pointed at her, I was allowed to sit down and join my family. This wasn't as easy as I thought because the only other patrons there were fat pimpled faced middle aged men wearing plaid shirts and for a minute thought that it was the wrong place. My first reaction was to ask my wife (who had the same look of terror and awkwardness in her face) what she thought of the place. Her response was "Dash, I think these girls are secretly psychopaths", I laughed nervously while looking around and asked what we should do? My wife suggested we run, but these girls are smart. They make you pay an entrance fee of 500 Yen to enter! They had us trapped from the beginning we realized that we were getting to the point of no return. Yet, we didn't cross that line until they brought the wife and me a cat and rabbit headband respectively (of course I chose the cat!).At that point it dawned on me that we were already losing in a battle that I didn't even know had started, afterwards we settled in our table to order. My wife said she had already picked something out from the menu, but was too afraid to order anything. When I asked her why, she said they make you meow (Nyan-Nyan) every time you want to place an order. My dignity and manliness already in question at this point, I did the only rational thing that could be done. I ran outside that store faster than a speeding bullet... and I lied. Nah, I gave up the last shreds of dignity I had and looked at the one maid who spoke English, put my hands up like a kitty cat and Nyaned like my life depended on it (which it probably did because I could tell these girls were getting annoyed at us). When my hostess arrived I ordered a burger and my wife ordered a curry, and some pancakes which actually had a little kitty cat face drawn on it (seeing a pattern here? Yes we love cats) after it arrived.When I finally had a chance to sit down and speak to my hostess, it turned out that she was a really sweet girl, so sweet she probably gave me diabetes. But, the best part came when our eyes locked and I peered into the seething darkness that was her soul. She was wearing some strange contact lenses and for some reason when our eyes met we couldn't stop staring gazing at each other (for different reasons I'm certain, mine was a deep sense of dread, hers was probably looking at this hottie *sizzle* and realizing that I was good looking). But, thankfully our order was ready and she went to grab it for us. My wife asked me what I saw in those Japanese eyes of hers. I said... the darkness within... I'm not the man I used to be Elba... Not anymore.I was also informed that our hostess had tricked our wife into a package deal which came with a picture and the headbands we were given to wear during the visit. After, I asked for the check came the worst surprise. These places are expensive and we spent 55 dollars on a meal that was tiny. But, I justified it in my head by telling myself that it was all worth it for the experience, but we'll never come back. The honest verdict for this place? I think it's scary as hell. I feel awful for the things that these girls have to endure and part of me believes that when they get to their houses one of three things happen:A) They drop the facade and admit to themselves how much they hate their jobs and lives while drinking themselves into a drunken stupor.B) They hurt small animals to release the tension from dealing with annoying and stupid customers (like us dumb foreigners).C) Or they perform acts of sadomasochism to ease the pain they feel on the inside. They're not for everyone especially those who don't enjoy being pandered to and treated like a 7 year old girl. Honestly, nobody needs to pay so much for the company of women who are literally getting paid to patronize you. They're certainly not for us here. While I understand this might be an unpopular opinion it seems fairly common among the members of the military community. The Japanese love them though and if you ever pass by Akihabara and want to experience true terror, please visit Maidreaming and see what a real living nightmare is. To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MYa2M-living_food_fashion_tokyo_chiyoda-kuWed, 02 Mar 2016 20:14:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/MYa2M-living_food_fashion_tokyo_chiyoda-kuhttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wZe5G-living_transportationAh Tokyo a beautiful city, but nowhere is it more pleasant to view than when you are wearing a Bowser costume. While racing with your friends in Mario Kart costumes as the soundtrack for MK 8 is blasting in the background.Yes, you've heard me correctly. This last Saturday I decided to tour through 3 different spots in Tokyo while pretending to be the friendliest iteration of the king of all koopas and you can do so as well. Simply by reserving a spot in this website. The Maricar tours are the definitive way to tour through the city of Tokyo and feel like a celebrity.It's hard not to smile when people from all over the city are taking pictures and waving at your from the streets, sidewalks, cars, and buildings and giving you compliments about your appearance (according to my tour guide I kept being told I was cute by the locals).I'm going to go into spoilers for a bit, but the trip began in 1-23-15 Kitashinagawa Shinagawa ward Tokyo Met 140-0001 JAPAN. From here you head on over to Tokyo tower where you will stop for a few minutes to stretch your legs and let people take pictures with you. Trust me people will be going nuts over your appearance and the go-karts thus providing great publicity for the service and yourself if you're prepared to be pasted all over individuals Facebook accounts for a day or two. You will next be headed to Roppongi, which is a very short stop, and it was probably the least popular hot spot throughout the entire tour. This is where the least amount of pictures we had were taken, but people are friendly and you will be waving your hands at so many people throughout the entire journey. You will see beautiful parts of the city go underneath highways see statues and mini-shrines, parks and many beautiful Japanese girls while you're on the tour. People always seemed so surprised to see you and especially when the music blasting from the speakers are such familiar tunes to anyone who ever played Mario Kart (this was courtesy of yours truly since I figured it wasn't MK without an awesome BGM soundtrack). Finally your last destination is the infamous Shibuya street crossing, and it is here where you will feel like a star from Hollywood. 10,000 people cross this walkway a minimum a day I believe perhaps even more, and you will feel in heaven if you love attention like I do. It was amazing I keep throwing kisses and flexing my very muscular body in comparison to that overweight plumber who was ahead of me. People will always applaud the king of all Koopas and in Shibuya it was no different. The crowds go wild for characters racing throughout the crowded streets of Tokyo and so many people came up to our group to pose for pictures. Teenagers with their selfie sticks, tourist, and even locals who just happened to be in the area were excited to see us. It was hard not to smile during the entire tour especially when small children would wave at you from their parents car as you passed by them. It was a magical journey and one which was made extremely special by our tour guide Yuta. He was a great guy and very fun individual. He was the one who encouraged us to blast the soundtrack and overall we would definitely do this again.It cost about 45 American dollars to do the whole tour with the basic set, and it was amazing.I loved every minute of it. I will do this again very soon with my friends who all plan to go and this time I will bring my wife. Maricar tours are the way to go if your ever want to tour around Tokyo. In Maricar tours you are truly the celebrity!To view the full contents of this page visit www.city-cost.comPostshttps://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wZe5G-living_transportationMon, 29 Feb 2016 19:19:00 +0900https://www.city-cost.comhttps://www.city-cost.com/blogs/DashTheBomber/wZe5G-living_transportation