We were shocked to discover that Universal Studios Japan were closing down the ET ride in May after 20 or so years!
Guess he was finally going home (ahem)

Well we had to check it out one more time – mainly for the bit near the end when he says your name (you have to tell it to an assistant at the beginning of the ride, who stores it in some barcodey card thing).

I wanted him to say “Terry Swails” – a character from A Bit of Fry and Laurie – although I’ve just found out he also does weather on the internet at TerrySwails.com.
Neat.

Anyway, back to USJ…so I said “Terry Swails” to the Japanese girl at the counter, but the poor girl had no idea what I was saying so we ended up with “Te—reee”.

Which was nice to hear EeeeeTeeee say.

The weather wasn’t too good so the park was fairly empty, just 15minutes queue time for Spiderman and the Hollywood Dream roller coaster (where you get to listen to The Beatles as you roller coaster along), but everyone was also saying goodbye to ET so that queue was about an hour.

No idea what they’re going to replace it with but hope it’s as much fun as the Munchkin Merry-Go-Round in the Land of Oz

The Munchkin Merry Go Round

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Post tags: USJ

At the end of last year Japan set up a new immigration system where all foreigners (even those with permanent residency in Japan) get photographed and fingerprinted when entering Japanese airports. Similar to the American system.

Obviously most foreigners are a bit upset about this (me in particular as having a work visa, last time I came through immigration I could skip the “Alien” queue and go straight through with the Japanese people, it took about 2 minutes to get through as opposed to the hour long wait I had before – now I have to go back to the long queue).

This system is put in place to stop terrorists, undesirables and previously deported people coming back (I believe they’ve stopped about 30 since it’s been in place). (As an aside the only terrorist attacks in Japan so far have been by Japanese people).

I think only Japan and America have this system in place, although I was amused to hear Brazil’s reaction after America set this scheme up. They only fingerprint American’s coming into Brazil. hehe.

I was even more surprised when, recently we went to Universal Studios in Osaka, and now everyone is photographed (not just foreigners, thankfully) going in at the turnstiles. I guess this is to stop terrorists or other unwanted people too, although there was no explanation given for it.

I wonder how many other places are going to set up similar systems in the future. Going to the local library or supermarket might become a slower process.

It’s not as bad as England though, where I read that some pubs and clubs fingerprint people going on a night out!

Related posts:

1. Green Tea and the Model Room

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Post tags: Japanese Immigration, Living in Japan, USJ

Happy New Year everyone!

So, someone asked about Christmas in Japan, so here we go…

It is celebrated here, but really only in the Christmas decorations, santa and eating Christmas cake way. Not much religion involved (bit like Britain these days I guess).

They really seem to enjoy it and have fun, where else would you get pizza’s delivered by Santa! (It’s true, saw loads of them).

We went to Universal Studios Japan at the beginning of November and it was all Christmassy-fied.

Universal Studios Japan

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Post tags: Christmas, Universal Studios Japan, USJ

Well we have a year pass, so it would be wrong to waste it. A couple of weeks ago we went to USJ, which is only about an hour or so from here by train. V. convenient.

They have a new rollercoaster, Hollywood Dream, where there are speakers in the seats and you can choose from 5 songs (Eminem, 2 Jpop, Bon Jovi and the Beatles). I went for “Get Back”, by the Beatles. Aki screamed her way through Bon Jovi.

Hollywood Dream USJ

Jurassic Park log flume has a bigger and steeper drop! And more water.
The best ride was probably Spiderman (still), with it’s 4D effects and crazy CGI. Although it also had the longest wait, at 90minutes. The other rides averaged at 30-40.

My other favourite ride was strangely, Peppermint Pattys Water Chute – you sit in a little 2 man dingy and race down a water slide.

Finished the day off in a really nice but a bit expensive izakaya.

Can you see the join?

Didn't buy them by the way

Some nice sushi

Related posts:

1. Christmas in Japan
2. USJ and ET
3. Eating Live Fish

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Post tags: Sushi, Universal Studios Japan, USJ