IN November, Jennie Perkins, a Los Angeles-based employee of a concert promotion company, was booking a 10-day vacation to Thailand when she realized she would face a 10-hour layover at the New Tokyo International Airport in Narita City on the return flight."I resigned myself to sitting and reading, eating sushi and experiencing Japan from inside an airport," Ms. Perkins said., where she read about a Web site devoted to those facing long layovers in Narita. /narita/index.html), helped her navigate through customs and out to the city for six hours -- long enough to visit the Narita Temple.Web sites like the Narita page offer a wide range of information for people who are anticipating long airport waits, but are close enough to an Internet connection to do some quick research. Airports' own Web sites are frequently worth a look as well. , Mr. Newman's site does not try to offer objective information. Mr. Newman, who first posted the Narita page in 1996, after experiencing multiple layovers at the airport there during his business and personal travels, sprinkles in his opinions, and those of fellow Narita travelers.

In the What Can I Do in Narita section, for instance, Mr. Newman writes of "several rather uninspired places" to dine in front of the bus station, then yields to recommended restaurants from other travelers. For example, one contributor recommends Edokko Sushi near the Keisei station. is worth a visit. Its editors and writers contact or visit each of its 204 listed airports quarterly to update the site's information.The site includes news, driving directions, contact information and the Web address for each airport. sushi grade fish fullertonThe airport's location, relative to the nearest city, is noted, with brief directions given from the city to the airport. sushi calgary nw crowfoot advises:"From the city center and M30, go on the A2 (road to Barcelona) and exit at km 12." sushi reis kaufen frankfurt

For those trying to get into the city and back during a layover, WorldAirportGuide's public transport section offers advice on the various options available and how long each will take. The only information lacking is the frequency with which buses and trains run, and the cost. While the writing is both direct and brief, it does not lack the occasional subjective voice.'s section on Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris calls its facilities for disabled passengers "excellent." where to buy sushi grade salmon montrealWhen it comes to scoring the restaurants, bars or other attractions, though, the site provides few, if any details. where to buy smoked eel in amsterdam("There are plenty of bars and restaurants in all terminals," it says.)sushi conveyor belt atlanta

, which covers about 50 big airports, takes a more in-depth approach, including what flights are served by each terminal, places to eat near each gate, and a logistical overview. For Barajas airport, for example, it tells readers that the terminal layout "presents its own challenges even to those who enjoy physical exercise and, sensibly, there is a transfer bus service for those passengers changing flights and terminals." Like WorldAirportGuide, it gives some basic information about transportation to and from the airport.The overview pages on Airwise are also helpful. For instance, it notes that O'Hare Airport's "new policy of franchising has led to a better selection of shops, restaurants and bar facilities."Of course, a major concern of those considering a trip outside the airport during a layover is the length of time it might take to clear security on the way back. None of the more established unofficial airline guides offer much help in that regard.The United States government is far ahead of the private sector on this topic.

The Transportation Security Administration site, waittime.tsa.dhs.gov, lists wait times at hundreds of American airports., in particular, as having one of the more advanced airport-owned sites, with lists of shops, restaurants, and suggested play areas for children.The official Web sites for American airports are also worth a look. ) offers an alphabetical list of services within the terminal, like the chapel and the children's play area, as well as maps and directions to and from the airport. However, the better foreign airport sites, like that of Munich Airport (www.munich-airport.de), are more generous with photographs and information.For the time being, though, Internet users are well served visiting various sources before their journey. , which, Mr. Heinz said, will tell you "how to get into the city, grab a taxi, check out the sights, go back to the airport and be gone You are hereHomeHandbooksJapanese grocery store list Japanese grocery store list Looking for a shopping list to start your Japanese cooking adventures?

Bento fans should also check Where and how to buy bento boxes and equipment on our sister site, Just Bento. A frequently heard lament: Help! I can't find [insert Japanese ingredient] at an Asian store! A general Asian grocery store/supermarket is not the same as a Japanese grocery store. Most large general Asian stores are Chinese-focused (e.g. Paristore in France), or Korean-focused (e.g. H-Mart in the U.S.). This means that they only have limited shelf space for Japanese food. Yes, there is a difference between the cuisines! For the best selection of Japanese groceries, go to the stores that are specified as being Japanese. (Two chains with supermarket-level stores are Mitsuwa and Marukai in the U.S. Seattle-area mini-chain Uwajimaya also has supermarket-sized stores.) Your second choice is Korean stores, who usually stock a large selection of Japanese foods. Chinese focused groceries generally only carry a small selection of Japanese food, and may even carry pretending-to-be-Japanese-but-really not food (such as snacks with odd Japanese on them).

See this article about where to get Japanese foodstuffs for more. This is a rapidly growing set of lists of Japanese grocery stores around the world. Ambitious yes, but with the help of Just Hungry readers, we hope to put together a definitive collection of lists. This is definitely a work in progress - please bookmark it and check back often. Note that Korean and Chinese groceries are also noted sometimes, since they often carry a lot of Japanese ingredients. This is a list put together by you, the reader We need your help! Tell us about your local Japanese grocery stores! Please include the following information if possible - and please add the comment to the appropriate geographical region. The basic information needed is: General comments about the size of store, selection, etc. I've added an additional category for stores in Japan that visitors shouldn't miss - for selection, uniqueness, etc. Additional comments, corrections etc. for already listed stores are always welcome.