Useful Links

Here are some links that I have collected that may be of some interest to you.

For up to date currency exchanges
Currency Converter

Transportation/maps
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/e/

Comprehensive directory
www.wisedir.com

Great areas in Tokyo

Shinagawa
http://www.bento.com/rev/atreshinagawa.html
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/hot/mustsee/must_0204_5/mustsee_4_5.html
Only five to ten minutes from Bureau Shinagawa, Bureau Takanawa, Bureau
Takanawa 2 and Bureau Takanawadai

Ebisu
http://www.gardenplace.co.jp/english/
Yebisu Garden Place, only five minutes from Bureau Ebisu

Osaki
http://www.tbany.com/projects_page.php?projectid=181&categoryid=13
Gate City Osaki, five minutes' walk from B-site Osaki

Shiodome
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/hot/sizzling/0212/Caretta1.htm
Shiodome Shio Site, only 10 minutes' walk from Bureau Toranomon West and Bureau Shinbashi
Akarenga dori

Nihonbashi
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/RTG/RI/kanto/tokyo/ginza_nihonbasi/ginza_nihonbasi.html (close to Bureau Nihonbashi East, B-site Nihonbashi Ningyocho)

Ginza
http://www.artisandevelopers.com/web/tokyo/ginza.htm (near B-site Ginza East
and the newest building Bureau Ginza)

Marunouchi
http://www.tcvb.or.jp/en/hot/mustsee/mustsee_top.html (near B-site Ginza
East, B-site Hakozaki, Bureau Hakozaki)

Getting out of the City

Yokohama
http://www.kristi.net/japan/4pics.htm ( a cute page made by another visitor)
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2156.html (an overall guide to Yokohama, just
20 minutes away from Tokyo)

Western Tokyo
http://www.coasterforce.com/parkguides/yomiuri/yomiuri.shtml (Yomiuri Land
for an amazing roller coaster ride)

Kamakura
http://www.kamakuratoday.com/e/

Nobeyama
http://www.982097.com/index.html
This is where my family and I went for Summer Vacation. A lovely, Japanese "Pension" house in the mountains near Kiosato.
If you are looking fo a quiet get-away not far from Tokyo, Nobeyama is the place for you.

Beaches
http://www.torii.army.mil/archives/archives/2000/jul/28/cultural/story01.htm

Living support

Joining the Loop and opportunities to network
http://www.being-a-broad.com/
http://www2.gol.com/users/progress/network.html#kaisha (various networking
opportunities)

Favorite restaurants
Indian http://www.gnavi.co.jp/gn/en/g198201h.htm
NOBU Tokyo http://www.soho-s.co.jp/english/nobu/tokyo.html
New York Grill, Park Hyatt Shinjuku http://tokyo.park.hyatt.com/tyoph/dining_03.html
TY Harbor, Shinagawa Tennozu Aisle http://www.tyharborbrewing.co.jp/eng/index.html
Roy's Aoyama Bar and Grill http://www.gnavi.co.jp/gn/en/g062707h.htm
Great action while dining in Roppongi http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tokyo/D39024.html

Schools
http://www.yica.co.jp
Yokohama International Christian Academy is an excellent international school in the heart of Yokohama. Ruth's kids go here and they come home every day happy and challenged. Many Japanese children go to this school too. If you are looking for an alternative to the larger (pretty pricey) schools in Tokyo, check this one out.

http://www.commongrace.org/cg/page.aspx
This is an organization Ruth's father started called Common Grace. It aims to bring public school children together with mentors from community churches. Jay Jarman found there were churches in Hawaii with public schools right nearby full of children that need some extra love, encouragement and help with studies. While maintaining a careful line between church and state, Common Grace brings generous and helpful adults into the lives of neighborhood children.

Apartments around the World

Relocation Apartments: The largest apartment database on the Internet, find apartment's corporate housing and relocation services world-wide (Ruth recommends this site when searching for apartments around the world.)