What I have been doing.

Living in Japan is just different. For one thing, you're illiterate. And since you can't find anything in the yellow pages or on Google you must receive most information (like directions) by word of mouth. That presents another huge challenge: In Japan they don't use street names like we're accustomed to; rather, they use blocks and neighborhoods designated by numbers. I really don't know how they do it. This guy Ted explains it well. Anyway, this system is very confusing for Americans. When we lived out in town I would sometimes be adventurous and try different ways to get home, which invariably added minutes if not hours to my commute. Several times I would arrive on the right block, and I'd have the right house number, but it wouldn't be our house! Apparently, I was in the wrong chome or neighborhood or something. To make things even a bit more challenging, the neighborhoods aren't always numbered consecutively. Crazy, right? Downtown Yokosuka is a little bit better because the Americans have named the main street, Blue Street - but not much better.

Let me give you a couple examples: Laser hair removal is super cheap in Japan, and my girlfriend gave me these directions to the salon: "Go up Blue Street and turn left when you smell the Indian food. Then go a block or two and it will be on your right." No lie - this type of direction giving is very common. Another, for the French bakery: "Take old Route 16, you know the one by the water, not the new one. After the big light you make a U-turn where the palm trees start and then take your first left." It goes without saying that I didn't make it to either of these places on my the first attempt. Fortunately, some of the big streets have names, but not all. Less fortunately, sometimes the street names are written in English, but sometimes not. Even when they have English names and signs, however, sometimes the signs aren't consistent. Take for example "old Route 16." There are two main roads that parallel each other and then convene. One is called Yokosuka Kaiagan Dori (Yokosuka Beach Street). Easy enough, right? Well, at some point it becomes Route 16, but before it actually convenes with another Routhe 16. Then Route 16 becomes Route 208 (but I'm not sure exactly where). In summary: Confusing as all hell.

Way back in 2008, I started keeping a list of places - restuarants, salons, shops, free parking lots (most you have to pay, and pay dearly), and how to drive to places toll free. Eventually, I started thinking about a book. Andy why the hell not? As a designer in New York City, I worked on lots and lots of books. Not from start to finish, mind you, but I had enough experience to give me the confidence that I could do it and make it look professional. And that is how Gajin Guide Yokosuka came in being. Well, it's now two years later and the thing is finally finished (at least this edition!) and at the printers in Tokyo. I'm still working out the minor details of how and when it will hit the market, but Takusan Treasures on Fleet Activities Yokosuka will start selling it in the beginning of May. Hopefully, I'll soon have an e-book version available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. (Keep your fingers crossed for me.)

Takusan Treasures is next to Sbarro Pizza in the food court and across the street from Beny Decker Theater. It is open Tuesday & Thursday from 10am-5pm and the second Saturday of each month from 10am-3pm.

Also availabe at Amazon.com.

7 Comments

I'm so excited! My husband is a Navy doc and we are moving to Yokosuka in July. This will be a big help!

Posted by: Kimberly B. | April 01, 2012 at 07:42 AM

Kimberley, you are going to love Yokosuka. It's so much fun. If you send me your email address, I can send you the part of my book that deals with moving to Yokosuka.

[email protected]

Posted by: shannon | April 02, 2012 at 08:29 AM