feh, still not satisfied with that title. Too highbrow or something, but anyway, people hereabouts are likely aware that i am currently in Japan, given that i've been mentioning it quite often. Some interest (mostly from Kamal) was expressed in me making a thread about the matter, so here we go (note: ignore the dates on the camera. The internal calendar is a month off for whatever reason)

Roppongi Hills shopping district. Quite upscale

The Pokemon Center, and yes, they do play the Pokemon Center theme here.

Score.

Retro Gaming Paradise

This one i didn't buy, because i only have my 3DS with me and can't run it.

Sumo Tournament, championship bout

This Nico Robin figurine converts to roughly $250 American. Needless to say i did not buy her.

This is the Nico Robin figurine i bought.

The life-size gundam

Now to start my Pokemon Adventure!

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If anyone has any questions about daily life and such, i'll gladly share.

As far as tourism goes, how difficult would it be to visit Japan while knowing no/very little Japanese?

Very easy. They even have double or triple language signs/speakers for tourist places (japanise/english/chinese) and most guys in transport will understand at least a little english.

For shoping you don't need japanise as even if they don't know a word in english they will show you on calculator how much you have to pay etc.

Even when asking for directions you can get around by just saying name or showing on map and everyone is always very helpfull.

edit: if you are going get this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Japan-Country-Guide-Lonely-Planet/dp/1741798051/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329651711&sr=8-1

it even has bus/underground/train stations to which you need to get to see something

Zlejedi got it right. My Japanese is good enough to get from A to B and order food, though i'm painfully aware of my weak vocabulary (my grammar is quite good, but that doesn't help if they're saying words you don't know), but one hardly needs it. Lots of students with me here are 0 Japanese students, and they get around just fine

Fun part is when your railway card gets all glitchy and you have to have the station attendants reset it. That's the trickiest bit of Japanese i've found i need.

Granted, this applies only to the major cities, Tokyo and Osaka. If you venture out into the countryside, you don't get that benefit.

I see that you're enjoying your stay! Very nice!
I'm also in Japan for 3 years and 9 months now already.

And as already mentioned, you can travel (almost) everywhere without speaking Japanese. It's a very tourist-friendly country.

Nice pictures. I think it's been about 3 or 4 years since the last time I went to Tokyo.

I actually just bought Mother 3 myself about 2 weeks ago (although I'm still playing Mother 1&2 on my GB Micro).

I've never been to Tokyo yet. O.O
I got Mother 3 a few years ago when it was relatively cheap in the used game stores.

You've never been there? Seriously? I lived there for almost a year when I was an exchange student, hehe. Including my year as an exchange student, I've been in Japan over 6 years!

Wow, nice. I picked up Mother 3 for about 3,200 yen, I think. It had the box/manual and everything with it in pretty good condition and the price was comparable to what I've seen on Yahoo Auctions so I bought it.

Yes, seriously.
The opportunity just never came up. :/
But one day I'll go of course.

Including my year abroad and other visits I've spent about 5 years in Japan in total.
You sure beat me there! *waving fist*
:D

wow, it certainly looks like your enjoying your trip, I'd love to go to Japan, but it costs so much money :/