Jessica’s Travel Tips

A legendary area appears as soon as one exits the Shibuya train station from the exit known as Hachiko Square. There is a bronze statue of a certain man’s best friend waiting faithfully outside for its adopted father to return, and it has been standing this now symbolic vigil for many decades. You may already be familiar with a bronze that has essentially been an homage to its furrier likeness since 1934. this true and touching story of lovingly faithful canine companionship. A recent Hollywood movie called “Hachi” adapts much of the story surrounding this statue, although adapted for its western retelling, and features Richard Gere as the loyal pet’s loving companion.

The story goes something like this. Hachiko, the pup’s full name, was a purebred Akita dog who originated on a farm in what is now the “Akita” prefecture of Japan. Hachiko was brought to Tokyo in 1924 by his human companion, who was a professor of Agriculture at the University of Tokyo. It is said that every day Hachiko would see his friend, the professor, off to work and would be waiting to greet him at Shibuya train station at the end of every day. This continued every day until sometime in May of 1925, when the professor did not return to Shibuya station that evening. He had reportedly passed away as a result of a stroke at the university where he worked that day. Hachiko was then given to a new guardian, but was often known to escape and apparently seek out the professor at their prior home.

Soon the pup seemed to realize that the professor no longer resided there and so began what is now a legendary wait outside of Shibuya train station. Each evening, Hachiko would show up ready for when the professor’s train would have been due to arrive at the station. Countless commuters would see Hachiko day after day, but Hachiko was waiting diligently for one commuter in particular. This continued day after day, year after year, until about a decade passed. At this point, one of the professor’s students who was researching the Akita breed in general, apparently saw the dog at the station one day and followed it to its home where he learned of its story. Soon the man would produce a census of purebred Akita in Japan stating that Hachiko was one of only 30 he was able to find proof of in the entire country. He later began publishing articles about Hachiko’s amazing loyalty to his loving companion, the professor. One of these articles was published in Tokyo’s premiere newspaper in 1932 and Hachiko became something of a star in Japan. The puppy’s faithful love for the professor was regarded as a rather ideal example of loyalty that all should strive for. Hachiko was now an example for the nation to follow.

A bronze statue of Hachiko was made by a famous Japanese sculptor and was originally dedicated at Shibuya station in 1934. The legendary pup Hachiko was present for the unveiling. The original statue was rather ironically recycled during WWII, as part of the war effort, but thankfully in 1948 a new statue was sculpted by the original sculptor’s son to replace it. This statue still stands today and is a very popular tourist destination. Every year on April 8, Hachiko’s loyalty is honored with a ceremony at Shibuya train station and hundreds of people reportedly turn out to give their regards.

Now you know all about Hachiko, one of the iconic symbols of modern Tokyo. This loving story of friendship has inspired more than just Japanese society and has hopefully inspired you too.

It’s said that one of the best ways to explore a new country is to get out and live like one of the locals. This often means driving in another country. Not only is this a great way to see the countryside, the freedom of having your own mode of transportation will allow you to travel according to your own whims – not those of some preset tour schedule. With a little careful preparation, driving in another country can be fun and safe. Check out the following information for tips on how to prepare for your overseas driving adventure.

Start with the U.S. Department of State website. They have special articles about road safety and articles specific to each country you may be considering visiting. Also look at the site for the embassy of the country or countries you’re planning to visit – they’ll usually include information about driving, traffic laws, as well as general safety information. You can find a list of embassy websites at embassy.org.

Your next information gathering stop should be the national tourism office of the country or countries you plan to visit. After all, it’s their job to encourage tourists to visit and to prepare them for a wonderful visit. They’re happy to give you the information you need on driving laws in the country you’ll be visiting. In many cases, you can find the links to these groups websites on the embassy’s home page.

Once you’ve checked out these various official sites, try some unofficial sites. There are a number of travel forums where you can talk to people who can give you first hand information on their driving experiences in each country. Some forums you might want to consult include AARP, Lonely Planet, or Graffiti Wall.

Travel guidebooks also include information about traffic safety, car rentals and driving laws. Remember that other countries’ laws can be very different from ours – for example, using a cell phone while driving in another country can subject you to a serious penalty. And when it comes to drinking and driving, it’s best to just avoid that altogether.

One other important consideration you’ll need to make is whether or not the country in question requires you to obtain an International Driving Permit. This is the kind of thing best planned for in advance. In fact, when you’re making sure your passport is up to date; it’s a good idea to take care of this as well. It’s far better to have an International Driving Permit and not need it than to find you need one when it’s too late to get one.

Finally, talk to your automobile insurance agent. You may or may not be covered when driving in another country. If you aren’t, you may need to purchase special travel insurance, either here or through your car rental company in the country you’re visiting. Just be sure to find out what kind of coverage you have first to avoid any unnecessary expense.