English Days at Kidzania Koshien

Last month, I was fortunate enough to have ushered our homeroom class for the "EAP Program" (English Program) they have at Kidzania Koshien.

If you're Canadian like me and have never heard of Kidzania, since we don't have one.... (And I wish we did...) It's basically a massive indoor theme park complex for kids to try out different jobs. We decided to take our kids here since a part of our grade's special education is learning about different careers.

Think of it like a "take your kids to work day" type of thing to get kids to learn about different jobs. But you wouldn't need to actually take the kid to your job. You can take them to ALL THE JOBS.

Every time I hear about Kidzania, I always wish I had it in Canada. I've always been so uncertain about what I wanted to do growing up, and having something like this would have not only been fun but also get a light glimpse of the choices I had for my future. In a way, I suppose it can be a bit dark... like you're indoctrinating your young kid into the work culture...... eh, ok let's not think too much about this.

I know if you're traveling, you probably want to see Japan. But Kidzania Japan does have a few jobs that are uniquely only in Japan. And if you need a relax day for yourself but keep your kids busy, I really think this can be a good option to fill a day of fun. Especially too if it's raining outside and you don't want to travel in terrible weather. The Kidzania location here at Koshien is next to a huge Lalaport Shopping Mall, so you can also kill time here shopping too.

While all this is Japanese-only, Kidzania Koshien offers a day - every Wednesdays - where some jobs are offered in English. You can visit the website here for information about English Wednesdays (EAP) and it has a list of jobs available in English. When I was there, there were tons of non-Japanese workers floating around and lots of Japanese staff who can speak simple English.

So don't expect to be doing these jobs on English Wednesday with crazy good English. It's just enough so your kids will get through the activity okay, and if you're lucky - there will probably be a foreign staff to help out as they do float around quite a bit as long as they're not there with a private school group or something (like us).

You do need to make a reservation to come here these days. Make sure you check out the calendar and make a reservation before you come out here.

It's the only place where kids tickets are more expensive than adult tickets. Haha. So you can rejoice in a bit of an adult discount, for once. But you might want to skip the entry if your kids are a bit older, since there's really not much for adults to do there other than take lots of pictures of your kids. Food is also quite expensive too, so you might want to look at the options at Lalaport for something more worth your yen.

In terms of the jobs & experience: My (or my students') favourite thing at this Kidzania is the train experience and the pilot experience. I think these jobs are great if your kid loves trains and aircrafts.

Other popular ones are the ones where you can make food to take home, like sushi and the bakery and the pizza stalls. My students loved having free food, essentially.

If you're unfamiliar with the Kidzania system, the kids actually do get a salary for completing a job. They're called "kidz", I think. They can exchange the cash they make for prizes like at an arcade, or for mini games they can do. Your kids can even get their own fake driver licenses, fake credit cards and fake cash cards that are all useable within Kidzania.

Teaching your kids to be somewhat responsible with money! And learn about the banking system.

I really wish I had a Kidzania in Canada...

Deer Antler Cutting Ceremony (鹿の角きり) in Nara

This October, over the three-day long weekend, I was told about the antler cutting ceremony near Nara Park and I decided to take a look.

Having been to Nara more times than I can count with one hands now (living in Kansai has its perks, after all), I always wondered when and how the antlers of the deers get removed. Since there are times when I visit the park, I would see that the antlers are gone. So I knew there had to be some event or ceremony, it's just that I didn't know when.

Turns out this process is done dating back years. It was discontinued for some time during the early Meiji period, but eventually it was taken up again by the nearby Kasuga Taisha and now has a designated areas just outside of the approaches to the shrine.

You may have come across this area during your walk up to the shrine. And if you ever have a chance to see it yourself, this is the way you want to be heading.

Here's more information about the ceremony & access.

The ceremony happens a few times a day in the span of the weekend. When I went, I was able to get line up and get tickets there very easily without making any reservations. But I did overhear some Japanese family ask about their online reservation. However, I'm not sure if the online reservation would have opted you out of lining up, as the line and waiting began after you purchase your tickets.

At the time I went, the first show started at 11:45. We got there at 11:55, just missing the first show by 10 minutes. Their next viewing was set at 12:40, I believe.

At around 12, they allowed us to start purchasing tickets and lining up to enter.

Tickets are 1000 yen per person.

I do recommend queuing early, as you can get the front viewing spot which makes it better to see. But you might want to stop by the Bus Terminal nearby to get a Starbucks or use the toilets first before heading there. I highly recommend this spot because the restrooms are clean & there's usually no queue for the stalls unlike at the train station.

We were eventually let in to the viewing area around 12:30. Unfortunately for us, it started raining a bit. So while waiting in the front, I did use my umbrella but during the viewing, we didn't want to obstruct the view of the people in the back - so I couldn't use it. Standing in the back row would allow you to use umbrellas though.

All of the viewing area spots are standing only!

There were three deer (deers?) that were in this particular ceremony. Since the arena was quite long, they performed the cutting three times - the left side, center and the right side. So there's really no bad viewing spot if it's not too crowded.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/30182a_f88ea08371ea48f9991a391a0ff2e00c/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

I personally thought it was an interesting experience. I know some animal lovers will disagree to manhandling animals like such, but it's sort of a necessary evil. And if you are against this type of thing, I would advise against watching this ceremony altogether.

The ceremony and viewing lasts about 40 minutes or so.

I hope this helps someone looking to go to this ceremony in the future. If you come across it on your travels, do note that it only happens once or twice a year - so it might be a special event to add to your plans!

How to Get COVID19 Test in Japan and Being COVID Positive

After 3 years of successfully avoiding the 'rona, it finally caught up to me this month. I had been feeling extremely tired (more than usual) for two days leading up to me getting some flu-like symptoms, which was what prompted me to stay home from work and ultimately get tested.

Knowing the horror stories of testing from previous years and in the beginning of the pandemic, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to secure a COVID test myself. However, a coworker of mine had told me how she had gotten a test from a local pharmacy with little hassle. So I decided to take this route for testing instead of visiting a hospital and waiting for who knows how long for a test.

Please note that this is the process in OSAKA PREFECTURE. If you are in a different prefecture, the rules and how many hurdles you need to go through to do something may vary and differ.

Free Antigen Tests

In Osaka, you can visit this website that lists a bunch of pharmacies that stock the test kits that you can receive for free to Osaka prefecture residences. Here is the one for the nation. These are all rapid antigen kits, so they probably aren't as accurate as actually PCR tests. But since I already had symptoms, I figured I have enough viral load inside of me for these antigen kits to figure out if I'm positive or not.

The pharmacy only gives out these kits to people with symptoms and people who had close contact, I believe. So there's that. If you're asymptomatic, you will have to go the more traditional route.

This is also only available to those between the ages of 12-49, so if you don't meet the age requirements, you will also need to go the more traditional route.

Here's the Japanese webpage on this test kit distribution:

https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/kansenshokikaku/kensataisei/kougen-keisyo.html

Once you pinpointed your closest pharmacy, please give the place a call before you go! Most pharmacies don't just distribute these all day long - there's a time period where they accept calls and another time specific for pick up. These times are all listed on the PDF files you click into if you're using the Osaka-specific pharmacy tracker. (not quite sure if the nation-wide one has this listed)

If you don't speak Japanese, you can still try to call as essentially all you need to say is you need a kit. And they will ask you a few questions like your name, your age and what kind of symptoms you have and they'll probably tell you a time you should come to pick it up. They will also instruct you to wait outside the shop when you go to pick up, give them a call again to tell them you've arrived and they will come outside to ask for ID. After that, they will give you the kit and you'll be on your way. If this is too difficult, you may want to enlist a friend or a partner to help you complete this phone call for you.

The above photo shows the type (not the exact one) of test kit I received. My package says that the results will appear in 15-20 minutes, but the results showed up after a few minutes. It was very much like getting a flu test in Japan with the swab in your nose and all. Can be a bit uncomfortable for first-timers, especially when you have to inflict it upon yourself lol.

But this is really the easy part.

Tested Positive - Now What?

If you test positive, this is where it all begins. Since you did not go though a clinic or a hospital, you will have to self-report. In Osaka, the test kit should come with a list of instructions and a bunch of QR codes that essentially lead you to...

This information website:

https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/kansenshoshien/jitaku_ryouyou/index.html#jitakutaikisos

If you have an emergency or if you are living with someone who is high-risk, call the SOS number listed on the website. I believe if you need to isolate in a hotel, this is the number you'd call as well.

And this self-reporting online clinic:

https://osaka.doctors-station.com/top

The self-reporting online clinic is crucial if you want to receive ration boxes. THe self-reporting online will get you medication as well. In essence, you need to receive a "HER-SYS number". Which you will receive after you self-report.

The self-report requires you to enter your personal data, date of COVID test and report symptoms you currently have.

Once you've done this, enter into the chatroom and upload a photo of:

1) your health insurance card

2) results of your COVID19 test (from the home kit)

When this is all completed, a doctor from the online clinic will call you to confirm your identity, your symptoms and tell you that they will send you the medication you need (if you said you want some during your self-report). This doctor person will also tell you that you will now be spammed with SMS from your phone that will contain your HER-SYS number and more daily self-reporting shit connected to the goddamn COCOA system.

Why they can't do all of this on one website...??

Beats me. This is Japan, after all.

Oh, and yes - COCOA will also spam you with SMS every day from now on too. Fun! If you're me and you've set your phone to block all messages from unregistered phone numbers, make sure you check your block/spam box for that HER-SYS number.

Rations For Self-Isolation

Once you get the SMS with your HER-SYS number, you can apply for food rations to be delivered to your house. However, if you have asked to isolate in a hotel room, I don't believe you qualify for the rations. When I called the SOS number, the guy on the phone told me that it was not possible to get both. Which makes sense. Of course, if it's a two-person household and both of you are isolating, one of you can go to the hotel and the other can apply for food rations. And guess what? Another website. And yes, you need to make yet another login to apply. Yay.

This is the link to the box of rations:

https://lgpos.task-asp.net/cu/270008/ea/residents/procedures/apply/779e5a49-cb67-484f-b40d-fbd5d777af2a/start

I received my food rations on the 5th day of isolation. Prior to those days, I had some rice and pasta to hold me over. And my partner had gone to the supermarket when I tested positive. Since the food rations don't help on the first couple of days, I recommend getting delivery or have a friend get some groceries if possible.

In general, the food rations are mostly things you can make in a microwave or made with water. I got lots of packets of instant soups, instant rice, instant noodles, jars of condiments, canned foods, bag of baked beans, veggie juices, etc. Even powdered pocari sweat. And bagged bread (like, for emergencies). They're mostly stuff high with calories but not necessarily healthy.

So if you're a bit of a picky eater or have a strict diet, I would maybe forego the ration box.

I think it's super helpful to have a box like this if you've been hit hard with COVID and don't have the energy to cook. It have quite a heavy box and it could easily last me more than 5 days. Plus, it's free - so there's not much to complain about!

And that's pretty much it. Just navigating through a shit ton of websites... while feeling like death. Fun times, honestly. If you have a partner with Japanese skills who can help you with this, I'm sure this will be much easily for you.

I hope this helps someone out there.

Be safe and take care, everyone!

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EDIT IN AUGUST 2023

In order to get a COVID test now, you must visit a clinic with symtoms! If you're in Osaka, I recommend visiting Nakamura Clinic. The doctor speaks English and forms are in English. Please call in advance for advice and DO NOT show up at the clinic with a fever, they will not take you.