New Japan General since the old one reached the limit
Ask about:
>Yakuza
>English Teaching
>Weeaboo
>General Japan travel info
>Soaplands
>Karaoke
Also don't forget: the sticky has some good info on Japan
I'm going to be in Kyoto on the 19th and 20th. I was planning to check out the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the Golden Pavilion, and maybe Katsura Rikyu. However, there's supposed to be thunderstorms on those days.I feel like this completely fucks up my plans. What would be better to do in Kyoto with this weather? If it matters, I'm 22, male, and traveling alone.
Going to Tokyo on a limited budget for two weeks next summer. I'm there as a dumb nerd, culture and food lover and below are all of the attractions I'd like to check out. Gotta pick some off the list, as I'm not gonna be able to save up as much as I had hoped for. Recommendations appreciated. Some of these attractions are free, but they're either super out of the way or I just can't figure out myself if they're worth it (judging from photos/videos).
>Trick art museum
>Tokyo Joypolis
>Oedo Onsen Monogatari
>Comiket (Going as a cosplayer, so it'll cost some)
>Ueno Zoo
>Ghibli Museum
>Toei Animation Gallery
>Namja Town
>J-World
>Hanayashiki amusement park
>DisneySea
>Sanrio Puroland
>Fujiko F. Fujio / Doraemon museum
>Mt. Takao
>Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
>National Museum of Nature and Science
As opposed to
>National Museum
>Imperial Gardens tour (Extremely on the fence about this one)
Also if I've missed anything within Tokyo that could easily be replaced with any of these. I'm a bit torn about the national museums since time is limited and this is something that could take up many hours.
Also got around 22 shrines listed down now, and know that I definitely need to pick some off the list.
Some I've got noted down because they're famous for cultural stories or ghost stories, some for their beauty, some for the fact that they're not very well-known so you don't get tourists everywhere. How's a good way to narrow this shit down?
Anyway, just mostly looking for personal experience with any of the above places.
Ill be going to tokyo and landing on the 1st of this coming month. Can someone answer a few things.
>how expensive is the food there
>how much are hostels/where are they located
>will anyone be there that is willing to show me around/trv with me
>notable things to do there.
Will have 7 days there with about 1k budget. Hoping to buy animu/manga/LN or just nice things that I can't find stateside. (so I guess a weeb by most standards.)
>>873581
>will anyone be there that is willing to show me around/trv with me
A group of us are meeting the 2nd of August in Tokyo, if you're interested.
Without going all weeaboo on my ass, is Japan worth visiting over other Asian countries if you're not into Japanese culture?
I'm going to be living in Taiwan for a while and it's likely I'll travel around the region. I'll probably go to Japan anyways but I'm not sure how much time I would devote to visiting the country. Do you think I'd have more fun in SEA than in Japan? I guess Japan would be interesting to see just for its wiredness and the novelty factor of visiting a place that's so different from where I'm from.
Anyone know about house price away from the cities?
(reposting question from last thread)
>>873592
Sea should be cheaper. If you are not going to visit japan for the culture what will you visit it for? Landscape?
Can anyone who has been there tell me how much on average they spent on food/lodging.
>>873573
Hmm I can't really help you. I was there for 4 days last year and the weather was glorious. Literally spent everyday walking a round aimlessly looking up all the Temples and Castles.
>>873579
Who are you cosplaying?
>Uneo Zoo
Uneo Zoo is cool but if your really wanting to cut stuff from your list I'd maybe start with that. I enjoyed it but it's nothing you've never seen before (assuming you've been to other large zoos).
>Studio Ghibli
Ghibli Museum is a must IMO. The only Ghibli film I saw before going was Sprited Away so I'm not really a huge fan. If you have even the faintest interest in SG, you'll love it. Only thing is, you have to purchase your tickets outside the country and have no chance of buying them in Japan (if my memory serves me correctly).
>National Museum
I never went to the National Museum of Nature and Science but it sonds like something I'd love, however, I went to the National Museum and it's probably the most comprehensive and impressive museum I've ever been too. Going to the St. Petersburg Hermitage next month though so it might take the number 1 spot.
>Imperial Gardens Tour
I never went on the tour but just wandering the gardens was magical (yes I know I sound like a weeaboo faggot, I don't care). S weird being in such a peaceful place in the middle of the biggest cosmopolitan place on earth. Pic related
Thats my $0.02
>>873596
Landscape and architecture, food (I mostly travel for food and sports), maybe catch a baseball game. I mean, it's not like most travelers get into the depths of a culture when they visit a country anyways.
>>873610
Isn't architeture, food and the baseball experience in Japan heavily based on culture? I mean, they way they watch baseball in stadiums is different from US and this is due to cultural differences.
>>873613
I don't think he's interested in watching the crowd watch the game. I think he just wants to see some baseball.
>>873617
The whole experience is part of the culture.
Be it the style of baseball to how they sell beer in the stadiums.
I'm moving to Kawachinagano in a few months.
Anyone know anything about it?
>>873630
Most Japan is far from weird, like Germans.
My work dies down during winter (chef at a wedding hall) is this a good time to visit Nipland? i have always wanted to go travelling but i've never been out of my province and now that i have noGf i'll have more money to use to go travelling.
Is japan a good place to be my first destination? i'm not really interested in europe as canada has alot of places that are like a pseudo-europe and im tired of it . I want to see exotic things and places but i know japan is fucking expensive.
For flight + hotel + food +drinking and partying would $4000 be enough ?
I was wanting to go for 1 or 2 weeks but i dont know if 4k would last me 2 weeks.
Which japanese city is a good cheap place to sleep in but also has access to the train so i can goto tokyo and party with the nips?
>>873604
>SG
What is SG?
>>873666
Studio ghibli
Can you into reading comprehension? jk bro honest mistake
>>873658
Japan is great.
Hotels can be found for a little as $50-$60/night/person, nice ones too.
Good inexpensive food is also easy to find.
The JR Rail pass is an outstanding value if you plan to use the bullet train a lot to see lots of places.
$4000 should be plenty. My 3 week trip cost about that much or less in 2008, but the currency exchange then was in my favor.
There's a lot to see in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara on the side, and more further south, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Himeji...
A few photos from when I was staying in Osaka last year...
http://kansailife.wordpress.com/
Enjoy.
>>873674
50-60 a night ?
Godamn isn't that hostel prices? i was thinking of maybe stayin in a hostel so i could be more social but can you bring girls back to one?
Also which city would be good to find a hotel in so you can sleep but easily accessible to train to goto tokyo and such?
Thanks for the advice man i appreciate it
>>873676
Wouldn't getting currency at some exchange so you have cash be better then a travellers cheque? i have no clue what a travellers cheque is but it doesn't seem to make sense to carry around a cheque in this day and age. but im pretty unknowledgeable in this regard.
Canadian here too.
>>873682
As long as you are a couple train stops from the action, you should be able to find hostel accommodation for under $30 a night in any big city.
Easiest way I found to get cash was the JP post ATMs. At every post office and major train station, they are open business hours and take pretty much any international bank card.
7-11 and other Conbini ATMs did not accept Mastercard last year.
>>873682
That was per person, divided between 2 or 3 people, If you are alone, you'll probably be $90 and up.
>>873687
I can confirm, JP Bank ATM's are also a good way to get your money. Also ship your souvenirs home, I used sea-mail instead of air-mail, very inexpensive and saves you having to pack and transport what you pick up along the way.
>>873682
just booked five nights in a hostel in Tokyo for around 130$, though I could've had it cheaper. If you want the "room" to yourself, try a capsule hotel, those are usually cheaper than normal hotels
>>873687
>7-11 and other Conbini ATMs did not accept Mastercard last year
do they now?
>>873706
I cannot confirm,
but it looks like they may...
http://www.sevenbank.co.jp/english/
>>873701
If you really want to go cheap go to a internet cafe.
If you don't mind the light and the smell of smoke coming from the smoking section.
Friendly reminder that if you're in the Tokyo area you should absolutely not miss Kamakura. Only an hour or so away and charming as hell.
>>873691
I was planning to ship all my purchases back home(I'll be buying a lot of junk). Are the post offices pretty easy to use as a westerner?
>>873811
Yes. All of the international shipping forms are in Japanese and English. If you get a person who can't manage enough English, just remember to say the country you're shipping to and "funabin" (mail by sea) and they'll figure it out from there.
>>873710
I was in Tokyo last month, 7-11 accept foreign visa and master card.
The other conbini I came across (including Family Mart) didn't.
I don't think I checked at Lawson's
>>873773
Yeah I was there, following /trv/ advice (maybe it was you?).
Yeah it's pretty cool waking around tiny streets and temples, zen as fuck.
Except for that fucking "high" street filled with tourist stores and obnoxious touts; it's crowded as fuck too.
Avoid if possible, it starts on the left of the bus station.
>tfw you see a Turkish flag hanging above a torii
Anyway if you get there you only have to turn at the next corner and you're cool.
If you go in the direction of the beach it's way quieter and there are lots of tiny shops and food joints, really nice.
>>873604
Thanks for the tips first off!
No idea about cosplay yet, I'm a con regular and have a lot of stuff planned. So whatever outfit is done at the time that won't take up a lot of luggage space. - This is only if my group and myself decide to go to Comiket anyway.
The Ghibli museum is among one of the few things that stays on my list. It's pretty much my childhood so I wouldn't miss that for the world haha.
And I'll probably cut off Ueno Zoo for a starter.
Both National Museums are so tempting. They're open from 9 am - 5 pm, do you think, without having checked out the nature and science museum, that both would be doable in one day in that period of time? Since they're right next to each other, the thought has striked me a few times.
And that garden looks absolutely gorgeous. I had kind of forgotten that the east gardens are always open to the public, so scratching the tour right off my list and replacing it with this instead.
>>873593
bump
>>873773
I was thinking of going there during the Kamakura Matsuri in September. Anyone has any experience with that? Is it worth it? Should I visit the city another time, when there's no festival as well?
>>873877
If I'm not mistaken my gf has a maestro card, and she definitely could withdraw cash at the 7-11 ATMs.
>>873550
it's incredibly easy to commit petty crimes there. I used to steal gallons of whisky from the Seiyu supermarkets and whole baskets of groceries because everyone would be too busy to notice. Also you can go and rob the fuck out of stores in akihabara and then just go to a pawn shop down the street and sell it all if you want some cash. Don Quixote you can put a days full of shopping into a basket and just walk out the door. But my all time favorite is going to hotels and robbing the shit out of weeabos, because all whites look the same to them they will gladly give you someone elses luggage.
Best part is, because they are the sickest society on planet earth (child porn was legal until this year, child sex dolls/prostitutes, nanking massacre, torturing homeless, rape comics, killing africans at airport) you don't feel bad about robbing them blind. It's a criminal's paradise
>>873908
Why are you bragging about being a degenerate piece of shit criminal?
>>873889
ah that's good to know thanks!
Just in case though: where is she from?
Dear anons, I am going to Japan on monday!
Please list your top 10 of favorite MUST EAT dishes including the old but good sushi, or not if you don't like it. Thank you.
>>873909
man stealing from evil people makes you a hero.
>>873915
So you're delusional, too. Gotcha.
>>873908
I hope you are trolling.
>>873919
Whether or not I am, I am telling the 100% truth. Lived in chiba prefecture, by shinkemigawa and used my dirty money at Ocean Deep, where i'd poke holes in condoms and fuck the hell out of girls because all other white males were fat weeabos and I was the badass guy your dad warned you about. also the neverending supply of liquor I got from robbing seiyus and ito yokaidos, and awesome clothes I got from jacking from uniqlo and different harajuku places.
Even went into disneyland one time by going to the staff entrance and telling them I was the actor playing prince charming. Can't pull off that one with a neckbeard can ya weeabo?
The japs honestly deserve trash like this thief kid for having this weird starry-eyed notion of white people.
The women deserve trash like him because they are also trash, hence they hook up with trash.
The weebs don't really deserve it, they're just visiting a country whose culture they like. But in a way they do deserve it because they don't see how that country's culture is not what they assume it to be.
tldr, people get what they deserve.
Note to you, trash kid, you're going to suffer in this life and the next. Enjoy your living hell, faggot.
>>873658
>dat ass
>>873911
France
So this is a little off topic but I saw the post in the other thread about a Japanese Penpal and was just wondering if anyone here knows how to get a japanese penpal? All the sites that i've come across just seem to be facebook type sites that you need to sign up for.
I really could not care less about baseball, but is it worth it to catch a match just to try it?
Yuropoor of course.
>>873936
ah I see, should work then, thanks!
>>873736
I'm 6'4, do I fit?
>>873913
People on 4chan seems to like okonomiyaki.
If you find still warm freah baked melon pan buy it! Cold melon pan or supermarket melon pan can't compare to it.
>>873958
The crowd atmosphere is pretty wild, don't care for baseball but it is definetly worth it if you love sports in general
>>873947
you could use facebook and join a group and start talking with them there are plenty o language learning groups online
>>873550
If anyone is interested in a unique experience in Kyoto.
Bouzu Bar ( Monk Bar)
Microbrews and everything Japanese Run by the Head monk of a temple in the neighborhood
http://bozu-bar.jp/index.html
Really off of the (english speaking) tourist path so you might want to have at least ordering skills under your belt.
>>873658
>nips
I can smell the 4chan on you
>>874001
Is it worth visiting if I don't know a lick of Japanese? Except hello/thank you/goodbye of course.
Or will I just be a huge nuisance?
Anybody ever been to Ishigaki and has some tips on getting around the island? I don't have a drivers license so I can't get a rental car. Are bikes a good option there? I also read that they have two bus lines that run very infrequently, so that might be helpful as well.
Also if anybody's ever been on Ishigaki or the surrounding islands, I'd appreciate any tips!
>>874004
Tokyo Station is celebrating their centenary isn't it? Do they have something special there now?
http://youtu.be/b0HGHsRwNd0
>>874002
im 2 ebin 4 u m8 ;)
btw if you didn't notice this IS 4chan lmao
>RealTraveler
good beaches in Miyagi?
I've been to Matsushima (Kaigan) but I want to be able to swim with gorgeous views.
>>874008
Was that directed at me?
>>874043
Quoted you by mistake, sorry.
>>874047
No worries.
>>874008
Would also like to know this.
Friendly reminder to buy a goshuincho at the first temple you visit.
Recent college grad trying to get back to Japan (studied abroad for a year previously).
Is it a better idea to apply for an eikaiwa like Gaba, or hold out and wait for JET to roll around? I only plan on doing the English teaching thing for a year or two, but I'm afraid of getting treated like shit by potentially-shady eikaiwa.
>>874113
Is this a thing at every temple?? Never heard of this but I'm hooked already
>>873996
I meant a penpal, like we write letters and send to each other via the postal service
>>874213
Some people do, some call it snail mail.
It is not much popular nowadays.
>>874219
Yeah which sucks because I did have a few snail mail penpals back when I was in school but I was a lazy fuck and stopped replying after a few letters. My sister signed me up to some site and I just got a few letters in the post a few weeks later. I asked her what the site was but she can't remember.
>>874145
JET is more money but you will be put in the middle of fucking nowhere and have longer hours. Seems like a waste to come all the way to Japan to stay in some bumblefuck inaka with nothing to do
>>874264
True, and it's definitely something I've considered. I hear conflicting accounts on the internet, but do you know if you have a decent shot of getting put in a metro area if you pick a place that's not super-popular? (e.g. Okayama instead of Tokyo) I studied in Tokyo when I was there and I loved it, but I'd be cool with any city, really.
I'm just kinda afraid that if I do eikaiwa in Tokyo I won't have sufficient income to sustain myself, let alone to save up.
I plan on climbing Fuji about a week before official season. Will anything on the mountain be open then? Is there any chance of getting lost?
>>873852
It probably was me, I'm pretty much always posting about it somewhere or other. Missed the Turkish flag and the touts... the hell? I did make sure to get away from that touristy street ASAP, can't say I appreciate the McD's in front of the station either but hey. The rest is worth it.
>>874295
>Is there any chance of getting lost?
I didn't go, but a bunch of my friends did during our study abroad. From what I hear, there's more or less a laid-out trail for you to follow. However, a couple of my friends fell behind the rest of the group on the way down, and when they came down the mountain they took a wrong turn at a particular fork in the road. I guess each fork takes you to a completely different prefecture, so they ended up nowhere near where they were supposed to be when they got down.
So yeah, don't do that.
> PROBLEM: MOBILE INTERNET
Can I easily buy a prepaid sim card with internet when I get to Tokyo? Any suggestions?
>>874301
Well I may have slightly exaggerated about the touts, but anyway that's a large street crowded with tourists and souvenir shops. I scrammed as soon as I saw that, and indeed the rest of the town was nice.
Was hoping there'd be a thread on Japan!
>Parents booked 10 day trip to Japan
>Want me to come with if I can get time off work
My main concern, and I realise how stupid this will sound, is not speaking the language.
How is this not a problem when travelling to a place like Japan? I just can't imagine not being able to communicate with most people.
>Currently study abroad at national university in Hokkaido
>Soon it's summer holiday
>Wanted to book flight ticket to Tokyo. Never been to Tokyo before.
>Too late to book flight ticket
>As I typing this right now the price just keep soaring
Hold me /trv/ ;_;. I wanted to visit akihabara so badly.
>>874466
Still way to expensive. I wished to spend less than 20000 yen for on go and return trip if possible.
>>874470
i have an extra willer express bus pass trip. Not sure if it works for other people but at least when i was travelling they checked no id:s
>>874462
Filtered
>>874473
Oh thanks for reminding me of willer express. It's pretty cheap too.
>>874462
If it makes you feel better, the summers in Tokyo are terrible. I don't think I went a day without a mosquito bite somewhere on my body.
>>874357
Pocket Wifi is pretty useful. Pretty expensive though, for me at least.
>>874572
West Nile Virus, but I think that's pretty rare.
>>874580
So the chance of contractingtxhe virus is low, even if I contract it there is 80% of chance I cure myself without even feeling any symptom. Tiny chance of getting serious and those are more likely on very young, old or immune supressed people.
I think I should worry more about getting a cold in japan than west nile virus.
I'm about to come home after 2 years, and thinking about converting all my yen into BTC because I have a bitfinex account linked with my american bank account, so I can just withdraw it in america when I touch down.
Is this the stupidest thing I've ever considered?
Please keep in mind that I've done a lot of stupid shit.
>>874477
I hope you use gloves when handling that edge.
>>874413
I went for 16 days last year, learned "Arigato" and banged a Japanese chick in Kyoto and made a bunch of Japanese friends in Osaka. Not knowing the languaget won't be a problem.
>>873908
Thanks for contributing to the image of foreigners as degenerate criminals.
>>874730
you weeabo fucks deserve it. The only gaijin i met were either based as fuck africans working manual labour jobs, or beta males (if there isnt a rung below beta). In fact everyone was so beta that there was like a hierarchy of betas complete with betas riding around on motorcycles and trying to be the fucking fonz. They actually got laid because they are competing against men with the smallest penises on planet earth who are terrified of approaching girls. So it's kind of like a guy who plays adult houseleague soccer competing in the under-10 division. Also, just like nips look the same to us, all whites look the same to them. I got compared to robbie williams, david beckham, and sid vicious.
Also since its a heartless culture that condones pedophilia, the reasons most weeabos are even over there is suspect as fuck.
I'm glad to destroy a place where betas go to hide from their reality rather than trying to better themselves. I was basically there to get drunk for free, fuck bitches, and steal shit, but the fact that I ruined it for beta male pedophiles is a happy bonus.
>>874734
What are the best & worst companies/schools to work for teaching English
>>874734
You obviously have no fucking idea what you're talking about and trying to defend your criminal behavior with idiotic lies, so you can fuck right off and never come back to this country.
>>874734
>based as fuck
That fact to you describe anything as "based" makes everything you say suspect. I can only imagine the kind of quality pussy you're pulling, you fat, bloated fuck.
>>874738
idiotic lies, so you're telling me that the age of consent isn't 13, its not common practice for elderly businessmen to pay to go on dates with teenagers, the anime culture doesn't depict sex with children, you can't go to akihabara and get a child sized sex doll, and child porn wasn't legal until this year?
Oh, and I guess there have been no stories of children pouring boiling water on homeless peoples heads or authorities injecting lethal doses of drugs into africans at airports.
Wait, and nanking never happened right? Definitely not glorified in animes to this day.
>>874750
You seem to have a nasty habit of blowing everything out of proportion and believing that niche interests reflect common beliefs. If you have a problem with people being assholes, you should take your criminal ass to China or the US. Keep the fuck out of this country and everyone will be happier.
???????
>>874734
you sound beta yourself there, bub.
also everyone knows african nigs are scum. all they try to do is hustle and scam you, they're not after your friendship. they're niggers, like niggers anywhere else
punk ass white boi
DONT MIND ME, I'M JUST DUMPING RADIOACTIVE WASTE INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN FROM FUKUSHIMA
>>874735
>>874738
>>874739
>>874752
>>874754
>responding to this second tier bait
come on guys, just report and move along, you should know better
Is it true that it's hard to get tan in the sun in Japan?
>>874844
it's the same sun like everywhere else in the world. I don't know where you heard that
>>873585
Any contacts for the meet-up?
>>874295
Just came back from Japan, I climbed it a couple of days before the official season started. Everything was open and there was people everywhere. You have to be a retard to get lost on the trail. Once you start getting somewhere there's chains on both sides of the trail almost the whole way up to the top. Just take the same trail down again you'll be fine.
just a reminder to buy the junior train tickets, they are cheaper and don't stop you because of the language barrier
>>874920
They don't play that shit anywhere except for Kantou and even then they've started cracking down
>>874676
What kyoto like for travel?
i wanted to get a hotel in kyoto but what the fuck anything 2*'s + is like over 250 a night
i never thought staying in tokyo would be cheaper . But regardless is kyoto worth going to, what is something you NEED to see in kyoto?
>>873908
>nanking massacre
hey there chink
How late are bars open in Osaka?
Can someone recommend any onsen's that are out in the nature?
>>874942
See a bunch of temples and shrines. There are tons of them, and after a while they kinda all become indistinguishable from one another. However, the ones I think are worth checking out are kinkakuji and kiyomizu-dera.
>>874981
You'll really have to be more specific than that. What city? At a ryokan or an independent one? If the former, what's your price range? Are you interested in a specific type?
>>874942
Sounds like you're mainly finding ryokan, traditional style Japanese inns. Usually they have hot springs and extravagant meals included in the price.
Where are the closest Love Hotels to Roppongi. Are they in Shibuya?
>>873579
Walk around the Imperial gardens at your leisure. Similarly spend plenty of time in Akihabara AND DenDen town if you get a chance to go to Osaka.
>>875090
Most likely won't be leaving Tokyo, no time or money for it. A stroll around most of the districts of Tokyo is planned, excluding Ginza and Roppongi since nothing in those areas sounds like something I'd enjoy.
The list in my post is just for attractions, so that's excluding exploring Tokyo and shopping!
Also, I think I'll be going with around 5 or 6 other people. Was wondering if there's any place that rents full guests houses with multiple bedrooms for people in groups? Just trying to sort out some kind of accomodation for all of us, that'll leave each of us paying $500-600 or so for the whole stay (Something that isn't a dorm).
>>873908
amusing
So I'm going to Japan on September. I'm turning 20 in October, weeks after I return. I heard it's not uncommon for restaurants to pass in checking ID for gaijin. Will I e able to buy booze there?
>>875169
A few of Japan's, nay the world's, best art museums are in Roppongi, and the open-top view from the top of the MORI building offers the best view of Tokyo.
Ginza is just for shopping and eating but it is one of the most pristine and prosperous places you'll ever visit. Not a must-do but quite impressive.
>>875180
You'll most likely only ever be carded at clubs and even then if you're 18 they'll let you in most places. You're better off buying your liquor at grocery stores and conbinis anyway
>>875172
serves the dirty nips right
>>874970
I'm asking because I will be arriving in Osaka in the evening and will be plenty rested from the long plane ride, so i probably wont want to sleep for awile. Is there stuff to keep me occupied until the morning? Is there a cutoff time for booze? After-hours spots?
>>875036
Nah man its ugly looking hotels i found on kayak. i really don't understand why it's such a high price.
What gives?
>>875424
I'd recommend going to 7-11/Lawsons, buying some booze and loitering around the Castle park. It's so quiet and exactly the opposite of Dotonbori/downtown etc. so it's a fairly surreal way to spend your first night in Japan.
>>875434
I think that a lot of hotels in Japan have the idea that "high quality" means dated 80s style Western decor.
>>875449
It doesn't?
Has anyone got any tips on sightseeing/travelling around Kyushu?
I'm going to be in Fukuoka for a week and have about 3 or 4 days free to travel. Planning on getting the 3-day North Kyushu JR pass and heading to Nagasaki one day at least. Dazaifu looks nice, but I'm not really sure where else to go.
>>875448
Is it illegal to drink in public?
>>875433
nobody checks ID in japan dont be such a square
>>875449
1st world problems
>>875458
Dazaifu is cool, the nice thing is that the train practically goes through the temple complex. If you already visited Kyoto or Koyasan, then you may want to skip it.
Stay away from Ramen Stadium, it is lame and their are far better options out there
>>875458
Within Fukuoka; Ohori Koen and surroundings (Fukuoka Castle ruins), Nakasu and Nakasu Kawabata, leading to Canal City. The ramen stadium there is indeed lame. If you want ramen, head to Ichiran Ramen in Tenjin.
Then around Fukuoka you should go to Sasaguri, and Dazaifu really is nice.
If you have enough time left, you may want to move to Aso-san, a volcano and fuckhuge caldeira in the middle of Kyushu. Kumamoto castle is in pretty good shape if you're around, cool to see.
Nagasaki is fairly uninteresting, it's has a strong chinese and western influence. Well, you could go to the chinatown if you really want, after the bomb museum.
Hello everyone,
I'm from The Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies or (IACRNE) for short. And I've been reading on here about alot of scepticism on the condition of the Pacific Ocean's water quality due to the crisis in Japan right now.
I'd just like to start off by saying, drinking contaminated water (i.e. radioactive water from the Pacific Ocean) is completely beneficial. In fact, some studies suggest that by ingesting contaminated water, it will infact increase not only your life-span but also give you rich vitimins that your body so badly needs.
So there is completely nothing to worry about. As we continue to watch the Pacific Ocean become increasingly radioactive due to the never-ending dumping from the Fukushima Reactor, you can be rest assured that your drinking water supply is healthy for you.
I'll be here all night folks.
>>875540
>drink radioactive salt water
>it's good for you
What a load of bollocks
>>875540
>report
>hide
>sage
>move along
I'm on my own in Osaka for a day tomorrow. What would you guys recommend?
Also, where do the tourists hang out in Osaka? I'm staying in the Namba area and saw only a couple last night.
>>875555
Namba is shit, that was your mistake
>>875555
Day trip to Kyoto
>>875561
Just spent a couple days there. Going to Nara today.
>>875433
What's the punishment for it?
>>873573
I would recommend Kiyomizudera, especially if it rains. You won't regret it.
I'll be in Japan from January 27th to february 5th. What are some absolute must do's ? I'll be staying in Tokyo but have the ability to catch the bullet train if needed.
>>874413
"Sorry, About this food, I can't really...."
Sumimasen, Chotto (food) Wa nigatte de.
(Morning greeting)
Ohayougozaimasu
(Midday greeting)
Konnichiwa
(Evening greeting)
Konbanwa
(Goodbye)
Sayounara
(Apologies)
Gomennasai - More casual
Sumimasen - More formal
These are all you'll need to get around Japan for a couple weeks.
www.kyoto.travel/bonfire_viewing_in_kyoto.html
See, I wanted to see Gozan no Okuribi, and then take an overnighter bus/express train to Tokyo for day 3 of comiket, but this makes it sound like a massive tourist trap.
Don't tell me real life isn't the same as muh Tatami Galaxy?
Anyone been? Know of any better festivals between 1st of Aug/5th of Sept?
Is it better to exchange money before or after arriving in Japan? I'm from New Zealand if that helps.
>>875899
>What are some absolute must do's?
Kill yourself before boarding the plane.
>>875900
Just Ohayou is OK I think.
>>875612
Jail, picture related.
Nah, I think they usually don't ask.
>>875995
Gozaimasu I use more on arigatou.
>>874887
You bet.
Send me a mail with your Skype info and I'll add you to our convo.
>>875922
check your local first, may sound stupid but some local ones will exchange money at money market rates with little or no fees. It is by far in the minority of banks that still do this, but it is worth checking. My bank still had a fee, but it was so small and the money market exchange rate was better than anything else you can do.
>>876041
local bank. I goofed that up
I'm looking into staying a night at Koyasan. Does the experience vary much at the different temples? It seems like they all offer the same things, so I don't know if I should stress over choosing one.
Have you stayed the night there? Do you have a temple you'd recommend?
I love churches.
Will I also love shrines?
>>876055
Went once on my own, then a few more times with family and friends as they visited me. experience really is about the same. Some of them are straight up hotels with the capacity to host hundreds of guest though like http://www.fugen-in.com/ so if you can avoid the bigger ones and choose a smaller one it is a little more personal and fun.
If you put a gun to my head and told me to choose then here:
http://www.fumonin.or.jp/
>>876071
>http://www.fumonin.or.jp/
25k Yen for one night?
Or am I reading incorrectly?
I don't know japanese.
>>876073
yeah 250 bucks during high seasons (golden week etc) It aint cheap, but you definitely get an amazing experience.
http://koyasanguesthouse.com/en/guest/
If you want to go cheap I stayed here the first time on my own and it is spartan but the people more than make up for it. Still have a very good friend that we keep in touch when we are in the same neck of the woods.
do a little googling and find a happy middle ground, I would not spring for the 250 nighter on an english teacher or college student budget, because lets face it you need that money to go a lot farther.
Those two are just by personal favorites, you might have different tastes obviously
>>876073
the site is in Japanese, but if you email a request they will respond in English ( or they did with me at least)
>>876081
>http://koyasanguesthouse.com/en/guest/
Now that's my kind of jam!
Thanks a lot, I think I'll probably stay here.
>>875900
What's the correct way to say I don't understand/speak Japanese?
>>875900
>Sumimasen, Chotto (food) Wa nigatte de.
In what context is this ever used?
Anybody got a recommendation of a good guidebook to Japan?
Preferably within EU.
>>876088
"Nihongo wo wakarimasen"
You can add gomenasai before for politeness.
Dumb question, but do you guys think it's worth it to book a trip for this summer if I'll get only 6-7 days worth of travelling? I'm dying for a trip somewhere after working my ass off all summer, and Japan is so damn appealing. I've done the Tokyo/Kyoto-round once before, but I wouldn't mind climbing Fuji and checking out some of the other spots in Tokyo I wasn't able to see last time. Would I be able to make something worthwhile out of a 6/7 days-itinerary or should I just save it for later?
>>876131
How long was your trip last time?
>>876132
Only 9 days. It was kind of spontaneous..
>>876131
One week was all the time I had to travel in japan when I worked there last time. I stayed two months working and living there but had only one week to actually travel around.
Obviously I couldn't see all I wanted but it was still nice.
Does anyone have any experience snowboarding/skiing in Hokkaido?
I'll be in Tokyo from October through late January and would love to visit either Niseko (Annupuri specifically) or Rusutsu for a few days while I'm there. If anyone knows better places for trees or powder that would be great to know. I live in colorado and have been snowboarding for about 7 years so experience isn't an issue.
On a related note, are there places I can go to rent equipment? The resorts only have park board available for rent and I plan on spending 99% of my time in the trees/powder.
>>876134
If you enjoyed it last time, why wouldn't you again?
Go go go!
>>876136
I don't doubt it. 9 days was enough for me to have a really awesome experience last time.
>>876154
I would! The issue is that I wouldn't be able to cram in any more days right now due to obligations waiting for me at home. I also have a pretty long list of stuff I'd like to check out, and it seems wasteful to divide it all up for a possible third trip.. Can't deny that I'm extremely tempted though!
![IMG_0620[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/xE2sGgK.jpg "IMG_0620[1].jpg")
>>876061
Personally, I prefer the architecture of churches to shrines, but shrines emit an amazing atmosphere that really calms the soul.
>>876208
I think ? and ? are interchangeable in that case no?
>>876246
It sounds really awkward to use ? there. If you're talking about understanding a language or a broad concept, ? is better. If you're talking about understanding a particular point, ? is better.
>?????????????????? ((?)) ?????????????
Or something like that.
>>876248
Since you seem to understand Japanese pretty well what's the difference between "kimi ga suki" and "kimi wo suki"? There are songs with both versions.
>>876255
The meanings are the same. "Kimi ga suki" is more standardized and commonly appears in both literature and conversation. "Kimi wo suki" originated as part of the Tokyo dialect but has since spread through Japan, but this form rarely appears in literature and is mostly used in spoken Japanese.
>>876262
Interesting thanks!
>>876267
No problem! Studying foreign languages is always an adventure.
I've got a contract here that I'm signing for an apartment, but I have no idea where I'm supposed to sign it, would anyone mind if I posted it for some translation?
>>876292
I can do my best.
>>876295
thanks man, this is the area I was told it's in
>>876292
I can't translate but i'd love to hear the story behind how you got to live in glorious japanland
>>876296
Left green box name, right green box date
>>876300
The box says "Customer number", not name, so wouldn't the real estate company fill that in? I'd assume it was the ? line.
>>876302
>>876296
Forgot the image.
>>876304
dont forget your thumbprint anon-kun
>>875909
I went to last year's Daimonji (more common name for Gozan no Okuribi.)
Honestly, the crowds were MASSIVE and getting a good view can be difficult since not many places have sight of more than one of the characters. People were pushing like mad and I had to save a little girl from getting crushed. I had a nice time in the end because I wandered into a dance party right off the street and then met this guy who bought me shit in exchange for chatting in English awhile (quite common occurrence in Japan... personally I don't mind it once in awhile)
What I enjoyed a lot more was the Nara To-kae, which is a lantern festival that runs every night from the 5th through the 14th. It has that amazing Japanese festival atmosphere that Daimonji kind of lacks due to its overcrowdedness. Basically they light tens of thousands of candles and you walk around the city at dusk eating shaved ice and shit. Will post a pic of that next.
>>876372
Here's To-kae early in the evening
>>876375
And finally some of the lanterns. It's pretty much impossible to capture the scale of this thing since the landscape is so flat and I took all these pictures on my iPotato. Trust me, you shouldn't miss this if you're in the area. Nara is one of my favorite cities in Japan period.
>>876383
No problem. I don't want to spam but I might come post some more in future threads.
Looks like I left the month out - this takes place every August. http://www.toukae.jp/tokae_e/
>>876372
Thanks anon, this looks like a lot more fun, I'll definitely check it out, whether it's just a day trip out from Osaka or if I use Nara as a staging point to move on to Kyoto.
If Daimonji/Gozan etc still had festival stalls then maybe I'd cope with all the crowds.
Seeing people walking around in giant crowds just to point cameras at things isn't my #1 idea of fun.
>>873773
Kamakura is definitely a cool place to visit.
>>876375
And what is the location of the stalls?
Just around the shrine or what?
>>876208
> Nihongo wo wakarimasen
> Nihongo ga wakarimasen
Actually if you don't want to sound like a walking grammar book you'd just say "Nihongo wakarimasen".
>>876442
>"Nihongo wakarimasen"
To me, this just sounds like broken Japanese. I'm well aware that it's common practice to drop some particles in conversation, but it just doesn't sound right here.
So.. Should I get a fanny pack, /trv/?
>>876446
No. Japanese men carry manbags around, so if you need something for your valuables and you don't have a vagina, get a manbag.
>>876445
Doesn't matter what you think sounds right. It is how the vast majority of Japanese people say it.
"Eigo wakaranai desu"
"Eigo dekinai desu"
Is how 99% of Japanese people will tell you they can't speak English.
>>876449
Maybe if they're trying to get the point across to someone who speaks no Japanese. I've honestly never heard anyone say that in any other context.
How do you say "yes", "no" and "Do you speak English"?
Thanks!
>>876452
Then you either don't live in Japan or don't pay attention worth a shit. Particles are almost never used in short responses dealing with things people can or can't do.
>>876455
>Yes
Hai (pronounced like "high")
>No
Iie (pronounced like "ee-eh")
>Do you speak English?
Eigo wa wakarimasuka? ("ay-goh wah wah-kah-ree-mas-kah?")
>>876456
I've lived in Japan for four years and I pay very close attention. They only use the phrases you mentioned when dealing with people who obviously don't know Japanese.
Anybody here had experience with erotic massages? The first thing that came up when I googled "osaka massage" was this erotic stuff. Initially I wasn't interested, but now I am. What is it like?
Also, how many restaurants serve Umeshu?
>>876459
Pretty much any restaurant that serves alcohol will serve umeshu.
>>876458
> the way Japanese people actually talk.
> "people who obviously don't know Japanese."
Also love the notion of Japanese people NOT using super simple "correct" Japanese when speaking to a foreigner versus doing the more natural thing of dropping particles. Sorry but you've just outed yourself. The reason you hear grammar book sentences all the time and think it is the more natural way is because YOU are the one who Japanese people obviously feel would get confused with natural Japanese.
Again this isn't a fucking argument. All anyone has to do is turn on a Japanese show/movie/etc or just open their god damn ears which you obviously haven't done the 4 years you've lived there.
>>876466
I'm sorry you think that way. As I said before, I'm well aware that they often drop particles in conversation. But I have only ever heard the examples you gave in >>876449 directed at obvious foreigners with little to no Japanese ability. I've never had this phrase directed at myself, nor have I heard it in any other context. In other phrases, dropped particles appear regularly, but not the phrases you provided.
??
>>876475
Different anon here, but maybe it depends on location? I know in the inaka I'm in, it would be common to hear "???????!"
>>876475
It isn't how I think. It is the way it is. If you want to remain ignorant to this fact then I guess I can't stop you from doing so.
Q/A from a Japanese tour company to Japanese people in regards to traveling overseas without English ability. The title card of the fucking presentation is ??????? ?????????? and the presenter uses it himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocU-RmRNKA8
MEGWINTV, only one of the most popular Japanese youtubers. ”??????????”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdANlX7HlDU
>>873585
Anything on the 3rd or 4th? I am climbing fuji on the second =(
>>874963
yeah sure they used to methodically rape hundreds of thousands of women, oftentimes so violently that they die, and continue to depict it in hentai movies and have yet to apologize because rape is okay in their culture... but they are totally innocent and to be looked up to!
>>876490
Well, at least not from our group, sorry!
But you could of course start asking around in here if anybody would be interested!
>>876492
Guess pretty much all countries in the world should be purged, by your logic.
So I am going to go to Japan from the 31-11th. My friend is heading back on the 4th and I am going to get a rail pass for those 7 days. No idea what I am going to do or where I will go, any suggestions? I like hiking and scenery.
Are there any /trv/ peeps in Hokkaido that can let me crash on their couch for a bit in August? I'm finding it difficult to get accommodation, presumably this is domestic travel due to summer school holidays.
Normally in this case I'd just skip the area and go somewhere else, but Hokkaido was one of two of the places that I really wanted to visit here in Japan. I'm running out of ideas.
>>876500
Whereabouts will you be and do you want to stay in that area? You could just jump on a local train at the start of the day and jump off wherever looks nice, walk around a bit, get something to drink and eat, then jump back on the train and repeat. Once the sun has set (around 7:30pm) start heading back (start heading back a bit earlier if you're pretty far out).
You can find lots of scenery jumping off at smaller stations and just walking around the town. See a hill not too far off in the distance? Jump off at the next station and see if you can climb it. Train go over a nice looking river? Get to the next station and walk back to it.
Did this for 4 days when I got the 5-day Kintetsu Rail Pass, it paid itself off just going from Nagoya to Kyoto on the first day, then for the other 4 days I had the pass, just sat on the trains and snooped around the countryside.
>>876548
not a bad plan. I loved bashos book so I think one of my stops is going to be dewa sanzen in tohoku to hike the mountains. Ill be starting in tokyo on the 4th when my friend leaves.
I dont mind sleeping on my mat in the woods but if it rains etc what sort of instant lodging options are available in the small towns? I know the traditional inns are more of an experience than a last minute option. Also, coming from Korea, what is the local bath house scene for small towns? In Korea they have the jjimjilbang where you can steep in the bath house then spend the night for extremely cheap. I like your idea though.
Any advice on what I can do to prepare for the Sumidagawa Hanabi festival? Should I bother with reserving a viewing spot on the day-of with the blue tarps?
>>876568
Bumb for this.
>>876041
Thanks!
Has anybody here experience with climbing Mt. Fuji during the off-season? I plan to visit Japan at the beginning of October and would like to climb Mt. Fuji. I consider myself an experienced hiker.
I heard white guys get all the women in Japan. Is this true?
[spoiler]I'm not white, pretty pale brown actually because shiity India genes from my mom fugg
>>876618
I've climbed in Spring. Only 4 people were on the mountain that day. Off season is the way to go. Unfortunately, it might be difficult to hike at night and do the traditional watch the sunrise from the summit.
If you are experienced, you should be fine. Bring crampons and expect to make you own path as the the normal path may be snowed over.
>>876568
>>876610
It's pretty straight forward. Vaginal penetrative sex is illegal. Hand jobs etc are legal.
In terms of access, as a foreigner you're pretty much out of luck. Some soaps may accept you but they'll typically be shit or make you wait around in a tiny side room until no Jap customers are around and charge you a premium for the privilege. Japan is pretty poor for mongering if you have no/low Japanese language skills and can't pass for Japanese.
So I have a kind of stupid question.
I'm going to be studying in Japan this fall and I really want to drink with the yakuza.
If I found some yakuza guys at a bar and offered to buy them a round of drinks do you think they would be alright with that?
>>876692
Why would you want that?
I also don't think that Yakuza mingles with foreigners.
>>876715
I don't know how to explain it but I just really want to. It seems like an experience I could only really get one chance at.
>>876716
I can explain it. You're thinking about the foreignness of Japan, thinking it's something special and forgetting that it still works like the real world. Don't do this, you'll embarrass yourself. You wouldn't go to Bucharest and offer to by a bunch of Gypsy gangster thugs a round of drinks or search out the 'Ndrangheta in Siciliy just for a drink, so you shouldn't do it in Japan. You'll instantly be suspicious to them and either be ignored as a possible spy or just get taken for a serious ride.
Although you'd more than likely just get shouted at by a doorman and told to fuck off if you tried to enter a proper "Yakuza" bar. They'll want little to do with a whitey anyway, especially one who's mysticising their organisation and looking for an "experience".
>>873550
How expensive is getting a medium sized tatto in japan?
Anyone here with experience sleeping rough in Japan? Or know anything about vagrancy laws/how mean the cops are?
I know train stations and internet/manga cafes are a good bet, and heard fast food places won't kick you out if they're big, but I'm travelling in the height of summer, if I fuck up my accomodation I want to know if I can just find a pretty park, a nice tree, take out a book and pretend I dozed off reading and have a good sleep.
>>876448
You mean like a satchel? Like Indiana Jones?
>>876919
There are many styles.
>>876920
I lold hard at the asian lady pointing a gun at me among all the satchel pictures
>>876920
I'm glad I have my messenger bag now that you mention this. Was about to pay 50 bucks for a stupid Jansport backpack to go along with my 50L pack just to use as a casual everywhere bag. I think I'll blend in nicely. (not caucasian)
>>876926
Yeah, I wonder if I get a militar bag will be okay or it will make me look like a militar otaku.
>>876727
Secondary to this: anyone know any good studios?
Anyone here know how clean Japanese girls are? STI wise? Is condom-use prevalent?
I need to know for certain reasons.
