Okinawa's info on COVID-19 reponse. Be safe out there!
Moving to & Living in Okinawa, Japan
Showing posts with label okinawa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label okinawa. Show all posts
Monday, March 23, 2020
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
2017 Road Tax Season
However, here is the latest flier from OTS for your information, and I am going with them this year as well.
***2016 POST HERE***
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| OTS 2017 Road Tax |
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| 2017 Road Tax Collection Schedule |
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Getting JCI done on Okinawa! Part 2016...
So it is that time again…the lame JCI, but for my second car. As I wrote this up in detail in a prior post, which is linked here ( Getting JCI done on Okinawa! , I won’t get too much into it. However, I wanted to share the latest info for 2016 and what my costs were this go around…ok then, lets’ go!
So I have a 500-plate 2007 Nissan Cube that is in good shape and I have had zero issues with it for the 2 years I have had it. Knowing this, I decided to wing this JCI again, and just take it down to the JSVRO. What is the worst that can happen, right?? So my first step was to head over to the USO on Kadena and get a new JCI policy. As they typed that all up for me, they gave me a nice “how-to” while I waited with all the fees listed too, super handy! Here it is below…
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| JSVRO - JCI - Page 1 |
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| JSVRO - JCI - Page 2 |
Well luckily after I paid the lady there she told me that the JSVRO doesn’t do JCI inspections on Fridays…and it was Friday…dammit! I got up early for nothing it seems. I was trying to knock this out before we rolled into a 4-day weekend, oh well. Fast forward to next Tuesday (Monday was the holiday day off), and I headed over to the JSVRO. I drove there thinking smugly to myself that getting there at 9am I would beat the rush, and be in-and-out in less than an hour like the last time….yea not so much. My advice to you is to NOT do your JCI when everyone ELSE on the island has the time off too! Let’s just say I got there at 9am to a long line that was formed even before I got there and I didn’t get back to my front door until 2pm! Yup a complete waste of a day if you ask me, but it is freaking done now at least. Ok I am done bitching, and on with the story. In reality, the time spent on actually doing the admin stuff and the inspection was pretty quick. It was just all the waiting around that ate up my time. Funny YouTube videos on my iPhone definitely filled most of my time then.
So as far as the inspection went, I did well, except my rear license plate holder was missing a lower mounting bracket screw (no idea) and (surprise surprise!) my headlights needed an alignment. I am beginning to suspect the headlight alignment deal is a sham…I mean the inspection machine definitely showed I failed something since some of the blocks were red that I saw. It was just suspicious when almost everyone before me in the line was at the auto hobby shop for the same thing too…hmmmmm but whatever, at least it was just that and not some major repairs needed. So after I got that fixed, I went back and got the green lights and was good to go. Moral of the story, go early and on a day that NOBODY has off, since all of them are going to ALL have the same idea as you. Don’t waste a day like I did…
Here is a breakdown of my costs this go around….
1. JCI Policy: 13,230 Yen
2. Weight Tax: 15,800 yen
3. Inspection Fee: $20
4. Auto Repairs: $24.60
Total: ~ $323.614
I didn’t include my insurance cost as I renewed it back in August and I am too lazy to see how much it was at the time. But I would count that to the total cost of ownership when you do your JCI as I assume most people’s JCI and Insurance are due at the same time.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
2016 Road Tax Collection Schedule
***2017 UPDATE HERE***
So it is that time of the year again! I was gone most of 2015, so I didn't get a chance to post that schedule, but I am here this time around. I am not going to get on my soap box like last time either, but you can read about it in the 2014 post.
So it is that time of the year again! I was gone most of 2015, so I didn't get a chance to post that schedule, but I am here this time around. I am not going to get on my soap box like last time either, but you can read about it in the 2014 post.
Anyways, I have used the OTS insurance on Kadena the whole time we have been here with zero issues. They charge a 500 yen fee for their efforts, and since I am lazy, 500 yen is just fine by me. Just understand, you will have to go to Foster to pick up the road tax sticker (super easy) after you get your paperwork from them. I posted OTS's instructions if you want to go through them, and I have also posted the road tax schedule where the Japanese officials visit a base near you to collect your fee/paperwork. Since I hate crowds and waiting, I will go the OTS route.
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| OTS Insurance Road Tax Service |
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| Road Tax Collection Schedule |
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Okinawa World
Ok, here is another post I wanted to do for some time and just forgot! Okinawa World! This place is perfect of the visiting in-laws haha. It is all about Okinawa and it has plenty of shopping for “Okinawa” and “Japanese” things, local dancing, and other exhibits…basically perfect for visiting in-laws and friends to check off their Okinawa experience to-do list. You can spend almost a full day there if you wanted to to, as they have food and drinks on site too. I am not going to get too much into it, as there are plenty of reviews of this place already on the interwebs. But here is the Google map link and brochure for your use…have fun!
Google Map Link:
English Brochure
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| Okinawa World |
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| Okinawa World |
Saturday, January 16, 2016
AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom / 이온 몰 오키나와 Rycom
So it has been awhile since I have posted anything, so I thought I would dust off the keyboard and get something newish up. Well the AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom has been open since April 2015 and so it isn’t really “new” anymore, but I thought posting the shopping guides would be nice for those planning your shopping venture there. Just know it can get pretty hectic during holidays and weekends, especially if they have some type of crazy sale/campaign going on. But the new reality this mall made is that it basically made every other shopping mall on this island irrelevant. You can find just about anything you need there, especially if you don’t want to wait for Amazon…like me. When I decide I want something, I want it now! Well here it all is…the floor/shop guides, the food court guide, the tax free guide, and the Google maps link. Enjoy!
English weblink: AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom
Google Maps:
ENGLISH FLOOR GUIDE
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide |
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide |
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide |
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide |
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide |
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide |
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide |
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Floor Guide |
FOOD GUIDE
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Food Guide |
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| AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom Food Guide |
한국어 쇼핑 가이드
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
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| 이온 몰 한국어 쇼핑 가이드 |
TAX FREE SHOPPING GUIDE
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Jakkepoes Pancake House // ヤッケブース // 얏케 부스
Soooo….I had a hankering for some pancakes this past weekend
and I wanted to treat my wife to a nice “café” experience. She is really into the “café” life here on Okinawa
now, basically, loves to yap the afternoon away with all her Korean friends
over expensive lattes. Anyhow, I put her
to task to find something like that AND somewhere that had something decent to
eat while the kiddo was at daycare. Kinda
like a date I guess….jeez how long has that been for us?!?!? So yea….back to
the pancakes….so the wife got on the interwebs and found Jakkepoes Pancake
House out in Yomitan, out in the area by Torii Station. We both have not been there before, so we decided
to give it a try. Well to keep the story
short, since I am not a true “café” critic like my wife is; it was
delicious! The wife was a little
disappointed on the coffee section, but I went there for pancakes and was
content. It is really small operation
ran out of a house, in the middle of a neighborhood, with limited parking like usual
in Okinawa. So if you have a small car
you will be ok, else you are going to have to park elsewhere for the most part. The menu is not huge either, but that is ok, since
they have great pancakes and the familiar breakfast sides that will make us
Americans happy. You can just add stuff
to your order if you want too…want more pancakes? Add as many to your heart’s desire!
See my huge spread below…
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| Jakkepoes Pancake House // ヤッケブース // 얏케 부스 |
Here is the sign and front of the place for reference, as well as a Google map link too. If you zoom in on the sign, you can find the hours on there too and where you can park.
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| Jakkepoes Pancake House // ヤッケブース // 얏케 부스 |
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| Jakkepoes Pancake House // ヤッケブース // 얏케 부스 |
Address: near 431-4 Toya, Yomitan-son, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken
904-0305
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/s7V9XNcAVrT2
I would be remiss not to mention that they have an English website,
a Facebook page, and a write-up over on Okinawa Hai! too…
Friday, August 21, 2015
VPN Service and Smart DNS Service Providers for Streaming US Only Content
So...as most people know that live out here in Okinawa, and specifically in the Kadena housing areas, is that your Netflix/Hulu/DramaFever/etc. will not work out here. There are a couple of ways around this, and they are usually low cost as well. I will detail what we have ended up going with so far during our time here on Okinawa. Oh and I will be using some technical terms, with no explanation, just so I can keep this post small. However, if anyone needs more info on this technical stuff, I will have links to help you educate yourself. Just know at a high level view, these services allow you to do something you want. You don't need to know HOW they work for them to work for you. =) Anyways...
Well first, why care about all this? Well if you don't want to use Netflix/Hulu/etc. out here, then yea, who cares! BUT if you do, you have two primary methods to bypass the region restrictions most US based streaming services use. And that is use a VPN or a SmartDNS service, both are usually pretty cheap. But before I get into those services, I wanted to clarify something on using these services out here though...
1. I would try using Netflix/Hulu/HBO/etc. first, before getting these services. Why get them, when you don't need them, right? However, I live on Kadena and use Mediatti, and while it looks like a have a US based IP address, it still gets blocked by those streaming services. This may be the case for many living on-base, but that is why I say try first, before jumping the gun.
2. For those that live off-base, will I heard they get it a little better, in internet speed and services. Basically, most off-base internet providers give you a router that has a special port on it that gives anything plugged into it a real US based IP address. So super cool and convenient, but yea, I live on-base...
Ok, so VPN and SmartDNS services, what are they?
1. VPN is basically a encrypted connection between your computer/devices to another computer/server located else where. What that means for us and our streaming services is that you can use this services to make it SEEM like you are located somewhere else; like the US! It also has the added bonus of hiding all your internet traffic from your pesky ISP and shady government orgs =). It may not be the best method for non-technical type of people, but if you know how to read, you can set it up in 30 mins or so. The service I am using is linked below, but there are a lot of them out there you can use. However, I went with these guys because they are cheap, accept Bitcoin for payment, it works on iphones/ipads directly, and they allow you to use torrents on their service; oh and of course you can stream through them too. Your best bet is to find a VPN service within your budget and provides what you are looking for.
Well first, why care about all this? Well if you don't want to use Netflix/Hulu/etc. out here, then yea, who cares! BUT if you do, you have two primary methods to bypass the region restrictions most US based streaming services use. And that is use a VPN or a SmartDNS service, both are usually pretty cheap. But before I get into those services, I wanted to clarify something on using these services out here though...
1. I would try using Netflix/Hulu/HBO/etc. first, before getting these services. Why get them, when you don't need them, right? However, I live on Kadena and use Mediatti, and while it looks like a have a US based IP address, it still gets blocked by those streaming services. This may be the case for many living on-base, but that is why I say try first, before jumping the gun.
2. For those that live off-base, will I heard they get it a little better, in internet speed and services. Basically, most off-base internet providers give you a router that has a special port on it that gives anything plugged into it a real US based IP address. So super cool and convenient, but yea, I live on-base...
Ok, so VPN and SmartDNS services, what are they?
1. VPN is basically a encrypted connection between your computer/devices to another computer/server located else where. What that means for us and our streaming services is that you can use this services to make it SEEM like you are located somewhere else; like the US! It also has the added bonus of hiding all your internet traffic from your pesky ISP and shady government orgs =). It may not be the best method for non-technical type of people, but if you know how to read, you can set it up in 30 mins or so. The service I am using is linked below, but there are a lot of them out there you can use. However, I went with these guys because they are cheap, accept Bitcoin for payment, it works on iphones/ipads directly, and they allow you to use torrents on their service; oh and of course you can stream through them too. Your best bet is to find a VPN service within your budget and provides what you are looking for.
Get smart on VPN's!
2. SmartDNS service is a rather complex thing to explain, so basically just understand it will "spoof" your IP and make it seem like your computer/devices are in the US. This service does not encrypt your internet traffic, however it will be "faster" than using a VPN service, so that feature alone may be best for people that just want to stream movies/shows. I service I am using is linked below and I am using it directly on my Samsung smart TV, so now my wife can stream all the DramaFever she wants! Oh and I am using these guys just because they are cheap and accept Bitcoin too!
Get smart on SmartDNS!
So there you have it, the keys to your streaming nirvana await you! lol Enjoy!
P.S. For those that care and are technically inclined, here is my setup currently with all these services.
1. VPN service: I use OpenVPN with this service and have it loaded on my iPhone/iPad. I used this VPN service at first to get around that damn pesky "censorship" of the country I was deployed too before. Worked like a charm! I also use the VPN when I am on open public wifi hotspots, better safe than sorry! Additionally, I have dd-wrt loaded on my home router and it can set up as OpenVPN client as well. Super cool and I have it set up to only route traffic through the VPN by a list of local IPs I have set; bonus points for that!
2. SmartDNS service: I got this for my Samsung smart TV and it is set directly on the TV, no need to fuss with your router. It works great and all the TV apps think they are in the US! haha. I guess I could use it for other things, but that is all I need this service for.
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