There are still a few details to sort out but I am thinking that if the seller creates a web page in which the items to be sold, (pictures, prices, other details)  are displayed then I will just link to the page free of charge.  If the seller wants a page to be made up I can do so for 500Yen.  They just need to send me photos and details.  The money will be used for hosting charges of this site.

Details required would be name, rough location in Osaka, contact details and end of sale date (has to be less than 3 months).
What do you guys and gals think of the idea?

Ask for Ahmed and tell him that Ian recommended you. And yeah, if you are looking for phones with English predictive text input he can tell you which models have them. They do have a web site but it is all in Japanese which is disappointing. I’ll include the link because there is a map and contact details which might be useful even for non-Japanese speakers.

[Update]  Ahmed’s moved to the Namba Ebisubashi branch.  Although the Shinsaibashi branch may have English speakers I’ve had my fair share of problems with some Japanese staff.  Mainly they don’t explain everything, just things they think you need to know.  And another thing, they have an annoying habit of asking for my Alien Registration Card info when I am waiting in line.  What’s that all about??

There’s going to be an Information Service Day on Sunday 13th May 2007 held at the Osaka International House from 11am to 5pm

Free counseling and advice will be offered on the following subjects: legal issues, human rights, immigration, employment, careers, health insurance, national pension, everyday living information, city offices, taxation, medical and dental information, medicine, education and childcare.

Interpreters speaking 9 languages will be available. English, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese.

More information available on the Osaka International House web site including a map and directions.

Membership is free, and the staff can speak enough English to help with filling in the registration form. You can borrow loads of books at a time (20 or 30, I can’t remember) but the loan period is a little short (15 days). Other things to note, the library is closed on Fridays, and the last day of each month. They are also closed a couple of weeks for stock-taking (this year was April). Opening times are: Mon-Fri (9.15am – 8.30pm), Sat, Sun, Public Holidays (9.15am – 5pm).

So, where is the library? To get to the library, the easiest way is by subway. You can take either the Sennichimae line (pink) or the Nagahori Tsurumi Ryokuchi line (light green) to the Nishinagahori station (S13/N14). Take exit 7 to get to the library.

If you want to go by foot or bike, here a google map (unfortunately in Japanese):

Central Library in Osaka

And finally here are links to the English web site, Chinese web site and Korean web site.

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I had to renew my visa recently so I decided to take a video of how to get to the Immigration Office in Osaka. If you can’t view the videos, it is still fairly easy to explain.

First go to the Tanimachi 4-Chome station (T23/C18) which is on both the Chuo line (Dark Green) and the Tanimachi line (Purple). Go to exit 1A. Go out and you’ll see the main street. Turn right and walk up the street for about 7 minutes, passing Cafe Veloce, Coco’s Curry, Hattori Automobile, Lawson, McDonalds and Starbucks (in that order).

The video I split into two parts, the first part is from the Chuo line platform to Exit 1A, and the second one is from the exit to the Immigration Office.

Part 1

Part 2

Inside they have sections on accommodation, travel, jobs, sayonara sales (fellow gaijin selling their stuff before moving back home) and of course the obligatory personals section.

It was a great help to me when I first got here, I managed to find some short-term accommodation and met some cracking friends from that short stay.

In Umeda

Big Man (Kinokuniya Bookstore)
This is a big big tv screen that everyone knows. It is also where the kunokuniya bookstore is so if you arrive early you can browse through some of the English books available. One problem is it is an extremely popular place to meet up so on Friday and Saturday evenings it can be crowded to the point of obsurdity. It is also close to the Hankyu train station so convenient if one or more members of the party is travelling by Hankyu.

Yodobashi Camera
One of the largest electronics shops in Japan. If you are travelling by subway (Midosuji line), take exit 5 and you’ll see it. Best place to wait on someone is close to the main door on B1 or the cafe beside.

In Namba

Takashimaya Department Store
This is close to the Midosuji subway exit number 5. The best place to wait for someone is the ground floor, at the main entrance. You should see the big TV screen of Marui (1010) across the street. It will keep you entertained while you wait.

In Shinsaibashi

Sogo Department Store
Somewhere around Sogo department store is the best place to wait on someone. Either on B1 or, if you have time to kill, the roof garden. You can see a nice view of the south of Osaka from the top.

For 600 Yen you can travel all day on the subway and bus system.  But be careful as on some lines change from the Osaka municipal line to one owned by various companies.  for example, the Chuo line(Dark Green) becomes a Kintetsu owned line after Nagata (you don’t even change trains).  The other time the line changes is at Esaka on the Midosuji line (Red).  The No-My-Car-Day Ticket won’t cover travel past these stations but apart from that it is great value and if you make more than 2 one-way trips on these days you should definitely get one.

You can get the tickets at the same ticket machines as with normal tickets.   A regular day ticket costs 850 Yen.

Lot’s of useful information including a pdf map of the subway system [UPDATE: I don't know since when but the pdf now does have the codes] but it seems that they haven’t updated it to include the new number-code of each station which helps navigate the system. Also some information like timetables appear on the Japanese site but not on the English site (don’t know enough Korean or Chinese to know if the information is there) . This is disappointing but “par for the course” in Osaka.

The thing that is special about them is that 100 Yen items really are 100 Yen, as they don’t add on the 5% sales tax. I know it seems a small difference but it can add up especially if you live here any amount of time.

Plus on the following days of the month they have special offers:

• 10th: Buy eleven 100 Yen items for the price of ten
• 3rd and 20th: No tax on items from the drug store side of the shop

They also have some of the lowest prices on a lot of toiletries and drug store items.