Going to Japan. What do I need to know?

[Nostril Cheese]

My wife and I are thinking of going to Japan for a vacation. My wife is fascinated with Japanese culture (and comic books). I figure we should finally go and check it out.

Figure we're gonna do it on the cheap, couchsurf or stay in hostels with maybe a night or two in a reasonable hotel. I realize it will be expensive, but we love the adventure of travelling.

Can anyone suggest museums, parks, etc? What's the don't miss stuff?

I'd love to see anything car-related. I'd really like to see a hobby shop in Japan. Find some cool Tamiya or Fujimi kits. I'd also like to see some guitar shops too.

Any suggestions? experiences?

[steve185]

They speak Japanese.

[masraum]

I can't offer any suggestions to your specific questions, but I did live in Japan twice when I was a kid (8-10 and 13-15). Most of my experience was in a small farming town that had grown up around a military base, but I did make a couple of trips down to Tokyo as a teen. The people everywhere were extremely friendly, and would approach you wanting to know if you were American and would talk to them for a while so they could practice their English.

I love it and I want to go back someday myself. I'd love to live there actually.

I assume you'll be going to Tokyo and Kyoto. I'd suggest hitting Harajaku (area in Tokyo) on the weekend. They close down the streets in areas. It's where all of the weird and whacky teens hang out. It is definitely something to see. Kyoto is and old city with lots of history.

Try lots of different sorts of foods.

Enjoy, I'm jealous.

You may want to try to find some small traditional ryokan, I think that's the correct name. They are like the Japanese version of a bed and breakfast.

Also make sure you try a couple of different hot baths. They are all a bit different.

[Jeff Higgins]

They are very much a cash based society, even in this modern age of the credit / debit card. All of the little things you do day to day - like eating, admission into wherever, hopping trains, buses, and cabs - demand cash for the most part. There are virtually no ATM's that will take your American cards, either, outside of the banks themselves. As a result, getting the cash you need can be frustrating at times. You have to plan for it and look ahead. Nothing worse than getting off the beaten path, away from the banks that will give cash on American cards, and running out of cash. Their ATM's also observe banking hours - they close them down when the banks close. No 24 hour access like we enjoy here, or in Europe, or the rest of Asia, or South America, of Africa... Actually, the entire rest of the goddamn world. Worst case scenario is to get caught after hours away from your hotel in some remote scenic area without the cash to either feed yourself, get back, or pay for another place to stay (who mostly will not accept your credit card either, since it's after banking hours). One must remain ever vigilant on this issue, believe me. We get kind of lazy here in the U.S....

[HardDrive]

I hate Japan. The last time I was there, these two tiny chicks followed me everywhere asking about some damn egg.

[pavulon]

Someone posted on the Honda Collection Hall recently...looked like it was the real deal! After that Hiroshima/Nagasaki ground zeros should be something to see as well?

[WPOZZZ]

You could go to Rauh Welt. They sell beer in vending machines in Japan. Panties, too. lol

[Kraftwerk]

You need someone to help you find just about anything....

Expect to get lost a lot.

Go to Tokyu Hands. A department store. Visit the tool and hardware dept. Prepare to drool.
Buy as many tools as you can.

It reminded me a bit of Switzerland, but with much better food.

And Steve is right: They speak Japanese.

[masraum]

You probably need to PM "Sapporo Guy" if he doesn't respond to this thread. He lives there, granted, at the wrong end of the island, but I suspect he's been to Tokyo a time or two.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by Kraftwerk

You need someone to help you find just about anything....

Expect to get lost a lot.

Go to Tokyu Hands. A department store. Visit the tool and hardware dept. Prepare to drool.
Buy as many tools as you can.

It reminded me a bit of Switzerland, but with much better food.

And Steve is right: They speak Japanese.

Go to the basement of those dept. stores as their free samples are awesome! And don't be shocked at the price for some fruits.

[Adam]

All of the above is good advice! Public transport is ruthlessly efficient, however most of the rail is privatized. Don't be surprised to find out there are three different train stations with the same name. Don't use your cell phone on the trains and speak in hushed whispers. Ride the Shinkansen, the Bullet Train. It's awesome!

Try not to blow your nose in public and speak quietly indoors. When meeting folks, bow from the hip and hold it as long as your new friend does. They place a lot of weight on the honorific gestures.

For example: if someone gives you a business card, don't just stuff it in your wallet - inspect it earnestly, as if appreciating the content and then put it in your shirt pocket, next to your heart. Do not write on it or fold it up, as it's considered an insult. Handle it with care and respect and they will love you for it. Maybe get some made up, as if you're given one, they will kind of be expecting you to have one for them in return. They don't generally use them the same way we would in a business sense, it's not uncommon for someone to just have a "name card" with their contact details on it.

Pretty much anything given to you is handed with two hands, carefully as if it's priceless and delicate - even when a shopkeeper hands you your change, they'll do it as if you're their first ever customer. You'll be amazed at the time they invest in what we Westerners consider a minor gesture.

At restaurants and bars, don't pour your own drinks - refill your companions' drinks and then wait for them to refill yours. It's an open invitation for them to pour yours. Likewise, be on the lookout for your own drink being topped up and see if any others need it.

Depending on the time of the year, it can be snowy and cold or quite humid.

Enjoy - have a blast! I loved living in Japan (on and off 1992/1993/1994). I bet it's changed a little since then, but hopefully not too much. The food there is awesome, but try to steer clear of Uni (it's sea urchin and one of the most disgusting things I've ever eaten). But again, their delicacies are extremely expensive and you may insult someone by not partaking.

P.S. They have a Disneyland.
P.S.S. Go to Kyoto... and to Akihabara, it's the electronics district and well worth a look.

[WPOZZZ]

Uni is kind of gross, but women seem to love it. Strangely enough, the uni served in Japan probably came from Nostril's neck of the woods.

Places to visit
- Akihabara
- Harajuku
- Okama bar
- Buddhist temples
- Tsukiji Fish Market
- Castles
- Nara deer park (you have to be fast in feeding the deer. one bit me on my ass when I wasn't fast enough)
- Kinkakuji
- Todaiji

[IROC]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Someone posted on the Honda Collection Hall recently...looked like it was the real deal! After that Hiroshima/Nagasaki ground zeros should be something to see as well?

That was me. I just got back from a week in Japan (on business, though).

Jeff brings up a good point on it being mostly a cash society. There are ATMs in Post Offices that accept US cards. Most other ATMs are hit and miss (mostly miss from what I understand). I didn't find any place that didn't accept Visa, though.

A couple of things I learned:

Don't try to tip. They will follow you out of the restaurant to give you your money back. A lot of restaurants have fake plastic examples of their dishes out front so you can see what they sell.

The craft beer industry in Japan is on the rise and they have some awesome beers. Try some Hitachino Nest beer if you see it.

The trains are awesome. Cheap, clean, efficient...and quiet. Evidently it is somewhat rude to talk loudly in a setting like a train. In the mornings it was absolutely silent. In the evenings (when the train was packed) there would be little pockets of discussion going on, but mostly everyone keeps to themselves.

The food was awesome. All of it. And I don't even like "Japanese food" here in the US.

You can buy beer in vending machines.



Everyone I met was extremely courteous and helpful.

Ohayou gozaimasu!! Learn to say "gozaimasu" a lot.

[gogriz91]

Train and subway system in Tokyo is amazingly efficient, take the Narita express to downtown and go from there. Roppongi is where alot of foreigners like to go, bars etc. I highly recommend going to Tokyo tower and going to the top, hopefully weather will cooperate, the walk there from Roppongi takes you right by the Russian embassy compound, (I always wondered what was going on in there). Ueno station is near the Ueno zoo and a museum complex similar to our own Smithsonian. It would be a long day trip but if you can do it I would recommend riding the Shinkansen to Kyoto and doing a half day tour of the temples there, beautiful architecture and really nice weather in the Spring. Shizuoka is on the way, MRC Tamiya has a multi-story building there they host model meets at once a year, a huge event.

You might see if you can't get ahold of this guy Nostalgic Hero Archives | Speedhunters He lives there and is into the vintage car scene in Japan. Hit the soba joints, one of the great things about Japan is you're rarely more than a couple of hundred feet from a vending machine or a store with awesome snacks, drinks, hot or cold, the whole nine yards.

Be prepared for your sense of personal space to be adjusted, especially on the train and the subway.

[Joe Ricard]

Lots of shrines and temples open to the public. pretty cool. We lived there fro 2 years near the naval Base in Yokosuka. Trains and busses as metioned above. Don't worry about getting lost as the people there are always willing to help you get to where you need to go. Saturdays are a great day to meet college students willing to take you all over the place on a tour in exchange for conversational english practice. They want to get better at English and talking with you is the ticket.
Summer months you can climb Mt Fuji. it's an all day affair.

Most hotels have tours

Any resteraunt is great, Don't eat Mcdonalds (why?) when you can eat Japanese cuisine at a better price right next door. Ramen shops are the bomb, as are Curry shops. Try a pack of Taco balls which is a Hush puppy like deal with octopus chunks really good!!!!!! There are still Japanese only bars but if you make a local friend they can invite you in and you will have the best time of your life. They can really party and the place will be open as the sun is rising. you have been warned.

[Seahawk]

What time of year and what part(s) of Japan interest you the most?

Also, how long are you planning on staying?

[IROC]

Originally Posted by Joe Ricard

Try a pack of Taco balls which is a Hush puppy like deal with octopus chunks really good!!!!!!

Tako yaki!!!

[Aragorn]

Hospitals only open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.? I realize it's from a humor site, but is this true?

5 Things Nobody Tells You About Living in Japan | Cracked.com

[john70t]

There are many 'Japans'....
1). Way SouthEast are the area/islands of the Rykyu: Hot, American bases, laid back like Hawaii and SE Asia.

2). SouthEast Honshu is Kinki. Liberal very artistic Kyoto. Busy Osaka ports. Mix of city and country. Home of the religious Emperor and old capitol.
There is only one bank available in Kyoto to exchange dollars for en.
They will probably want to photocopy your drivers license, passport, and any local contact information to make sure you are not an illegal immigrant.

3). NorthWest Honshu is Kanto. Crowded business Tokyo. Kyo-To vs To-Kyo, get it?. Industrial. Big city. Home of the military Shogun from 1600's on.

4). North Honshu is all county. Woods and snow. Nothing to see for an American tourist.

5). The Northern big island is Hokkaido. Besides port of Sapporo, all woods and snow and land of the Ainu. Nothing to see for an American tourist.

[john70t]

Be polite.
Never raise your voice.
Do not smell of BO, or wear stinking perfume on packed trains/buses.

Memorize:
'thank you' = (domo arigato)
'excuse/pardon me' = (sumi ma sen)
'sorry/pardon' = (gomen kudasai)
'where is?' =(doko desu ka)

Most Japanese people are very busy and in a hurry, nothing personal.
Under 'personal obligation', they will risk all to finish what they agreed upon.
It is an honorable country. Very safe for the most part.