Seriously. The fear is real. New Year’s is one of those times in Japan when it’s a real liability to be thousands of miles away from people who might loan you embarrassing essentials or feed you in a pinch, because everything – and I do mean everything – shuts down from December 31 to January 3. Some shut down even longer!
And not just oh-no-how-are-we-going-to-survive-the-extended-family-visit-without museums and movies. We’re talking no supermarkets. No restaurants. No drugstores.
And (according to the panic-inducing notice I saw just yesterday in the elevator) no housekeeping or front desk services for the entire week at the place where I stay. Which means if the two rolls of mingey, single-ply in my bathroom run out, NO TOILET PAPER AND NOWHERE TO BUY IT.
Good thing I loafily took the elevator instead of the stairs yesterday, or I wouldn’t have known to stock up until it was TOO LATE. (Do you think this could be a sign from the gods that exercise is bad for you? Asking for a friend.)
•
Happy Year of the Boar, everyone! Have fun, be safe, and I’ll catch you on the other side….
•
Would you like to be whisked away to Japan, wherever you are?
“The Samurai’s Octopus…is a truly remarkable book, one that surprised and charmed me at every turn of the page. You’re in for a treat.”
—James Ziskin, Anthony, Barry, and Macavity Award-winning author of the Ellie Stone mysteries
•
If you enjoyed this, subscribe! It’s free!
•
Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Only In Japan 
Not a joke. One of the first things to disappear off the shelves during the 3/11 earthquake. You can, of course, steal rolls from hotels (cough)
Ahahahaha, I can see you are a far more gifted new year’s survivor than I