Japan General
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You are currently reading a thread in /trv/ - Travel
You are currently reading a thread in /trv/ - Travel
New Japan General since the old one is about to die
As always, feel free to ask about:
>travelling to Japan
>living in Japan
>teaching in Japan
>how do I become a Yakuza
Also info on prostitution in Japan: http://rockitreports.com/category/sex-in-tokyo/
Please refer to the old thread while it's still up >>965372
>going to Japan whist it's winter
Is this a big no? Or will I still be able to get away with doing all the touristy things(only a bit cooler)?
>>969277
I think it is ok, I could travel there during the new year and most of the places had 0 snow.
Wi-Fi question.
Is there better deals than NTT docomo Wi-Fi for visitor? 1000 YEN is not bad at all, but I don't like to use credit card on everything.
Can you get that Wi-FI visitor password from docomo stores and pay with cash?
>>969277
So long as you stay below Tokyo you might not even see any snow.
>>969272
From the old thread
I'm going to study in Hokkaido for one year with my expenses paid by the government but I can travel to Japan 12 days before they start receiving new students in the dorms. I was planning to travel in Honshu, while that. Is there a place where I can leave my baggage all this time while I travel with the essentials?
>>969277
it's not that bad as long as you stay south of tokyo. jan and feb are the worst months anyway, not december.
Tips for places to visit in Japan during all of June? Staying there for 4th till 28th.
so far Osaka > Kyoto > Tokyo > Hakone > Sapporo > Osaka
Hey /trv/
I have flight tickets for 3 weeks in Japan. Flying into and out of Tokyo. I'm going through and making my itinerary. So far I'm starting my trip and going down to fukoaka stopping at Kyoto/Osaka/Hiroshima, etc. My stay times are:
Start may 18
2 night in Kyoto
2 night in Osaka
2 night in Fukuoka
1 night in Osaka
1 night in Nagano
Ends after 26th
I intend to spend a week in Tokyo so I can have days that aren't filled with touristy schedules. I have a friend coming the 30th-2nd and need to be in Tokyo for that, so do I start my week in Tokyo on the 27th and finish my trip by spending a few days traveling to Sapporo and back or should I spend more time in the southern tip of Japan, or maybe just fill my remaining few days by extending my stay in Tokyo? I'll have a jr pass, and about $120 a day for food/accommodation/extra travel/misc. it's my first time in the country, and I can speak very basic japanese
Tell me your favorite places in Japan /trv/
Stories help
>>969289
Seconded.
Alright, /trv/
Literally my first trip outside of my country ever, and I'm going to Japan for 2 weeks from May 1st -> May 16th. I fly into Tokyo, and after that I have no real plans.
I was thinking that I would take the JR to Kyoto for a bit, at least. Right now I have a very bare bones, subject to change itinerary
>Day1: tokyo (arrive in Tokyo, recuperate at hostel)
>Day2: Tokyo (Shinigawa Aquarium, Asakusa Shrine)
>Day 3: Buffer (Shinjuku, shrines)
>Day4: kyoto (gion, kiyomizudera, fushimi inari)
>day5: Kyoto (saga, arashiyama)
>day6: buffer (kyoto do indor museum visits, or kobe)
>Day 7: Kobe
>Day 8: Buffer (Kobe)
>day9-10: Osaka (USJ, Tennoji)
>Day 11-14: Buffer, on way back northeast to Tokyo. Climb Fuji at some point
>Day 15: Leave Tokyo
I don't have a big interest in anime or anything like that. Am I doing too much for my first ever trip? Also some other generally dumb questions
>Is stuff written using latin characters or kana, mostly? How will I not look like a bumblefuck if I know next to no Japanese
>How do phones and internet connections work over there
>I'm guessing at this point, my sleeping accommodations are mostly going to be in internet cafes or hotels, right? Hostels book up pretty early?
>Any food or nature recommendations? I really feel like getting Kobe beef at some point during the trip
>Does anyone want to hang out with a dumbo while I'm over there
>>969302
Also what should I bring for clothing, right now I have
>Four shirts
>One pair of cords
>Two pairs of shorts
>One Sweatshirt
>Socks/underwear
Is that enough or what? What kind of shoes do y'all usually travel in
from old thread
I'm going to japan for 3 weeks and I need to get advice on what size suitcase I should take. I am planning on 1 suitcase and my backpack.
Things I am taking
1 tailored suit w/ shoes
2 martial arts uniforms (hakama and gi top, takes as much space as jeans and a tshirt)
1 weeks worth of clothes (shirts, pants, socks, underwear)
1 light leather jacket
I have a 30 inch suitcase and a 25 inch, both on wheels. I feel as if the 25 inch will be full with just what im taking with no room for souvenirs. I feel as if the 30 inch might be too big to lug around. I am staying in 4 different cities during the duration, so I won't need to move it a lot.
Any suggestions or thoughts?
>>969308
Buy a measuring tape or consult your local luggage salesman
Sorry if this is a dumb question. Where in Shizuoka prefecture (or anywhere really) can I go - by train and not bus - to get a good view of Mt. Fuji?
I was thinking of taking a one day trip to Shizuoka and Fujinomiya on my way back from Osaka to Tokyo, but if there are other nearby cities that'll give me a better view then I'm up for that too/instead.
>>969308
I'm planning on the 1 backpack 1 suitcase too. I'm thinking that the bigger bag you have would be better, rather have too much room than not enough. Saves you purchasing a bag in Japan them having to lug around 2 suitcases (if you want to bring them both home). Plus you could always fill the bag by buying more clothes/shoes/ Shinto statue/ whatever you want
Since we're talking about luggage, what time of the day is the best to ride a limited exp., shinkansen and the like if you're carrying a lot of luggage with you?
I'm gonna be changing towns frequently and if there's any time of the day where you're less of a bother if you're carrying a lot of things with you, then I'll try to plan my days around that.
>>969378
As you can probably imagine, the shinkansen, like an aeroplane is busiest at mornings and evening because people are going to/from work. I'd say between 10am-3pm would be the best times to travel.
>>969294
Hakone-Sapporo is quite a big jump there. Are you going by plane?
>>969381
How late long distance trains run anyway?
>>969384
no idea.
www.hyperdia.com
>>969386
I just need schedule sheet where every single train is listed instead of route planner.
>>969390
You do realize with the amount of trains Japan has it's impossible to have a "sheet".
>>969302
if it's your first time there, I'd spend way more time in Tokyo. 3 days for one of the biggest cities in the world is nowhere near enough in my opinion, especially if you spend three days in Kyoto or Kobe. I'd just spend a week or so in Tokyo and then maybe 2-3 days in Kyoto and 2-3 days in Osaka, with a side trip to Kobe and maybe Nara there. Climbing Fuji during the offseason is possible, but it's recommended going between July-Mid September as the huts will only be open during the time
>Is stuff written using latin characters or kana, mostly? How will I not look like a bumblefuck if I know next to no Japanese
depends on what kind of stuff. Important things like train signs will have kana and romaji, other than that it's going to depend.
>How do phones and internet connections work over there
not sure if I understand the question, but I guess you'd have to get a Japanese simcard if you don't want to get fucked over by roaming fees (depends on you carrier though). You can easily use public wifi though if you have a smartphone
>I'm guessing at this point, my sleeping accommodations are mostly going to be in internet cafes or hotels, right? Hostels book up pretty early?
Not that early really. Last time I went there, I usually booked my hostel 2-3 days in advance when I was travelling around and always found a place to stay
>Any food or nature recommendations? I really feel like getting Kobe beef at some point during the trip
Get some okonomiyaki in Osaka. Also Yakitori
I'm looking for rolling tobacco in Tokyo - Gauloises or similar for preference, especially if it's something not easy to find outside of Japan. Any suggestions on where to look? I'm in the Koto area, if that makes a difference.
Also: anything noteworthy in Koto? The wikitravel page is pretty bare. About the only thing I've found hereabouts is the museum of contemporary art.
>>969391
It is possible. There is those wall lenght sheets on train stations.
There is different companies running on tracks during night, but no idea about their schedules.
>>969404
There are more than 64,000 stations in Japan. Theres atleast 2 daily schedules for each (weekdays and weekends)
>>969399
Specialist tobacconists have rolling tobacco. Not sure about what brands they have. If you go for a quick walk you'll find a tobacconist in no time.
As for what to do in Koto, I'd reccommend taking the train to kinshicho. It'll only be 2 or 3 stops. Interesting enough night spot, and there's yakuza run streets that are fun to walk around. Don't worry they're not dangerous.
>>969405
There is paper print schedule book of all the train lines. Trying to find that same thing online version.
Two weeks in Kyushu. What to do/see (outside of Fukuoka)?
Will I have enough time to travel southwards or should I just concentrate on the north half?
>>969409
I've seen those books, they are typically only for one company and they are super thick. Why the hell wouldn't you just use the internet like everyone else in the country does. The only people who buy those book are schedule otaku
Is it possible for a dirty gaijin to enjoy the new years festivals or should I just stick to the spring/summer period. I'd love to go see the fireworks etc.
>>969411
That's exactly why I want to find that ONLINE VERSION of those schedules.
It's a hell lot easier to plan visits around Japan when you could figure out how many times in hour trains run back where you came.
>>969417
Then use hyperdia to find your route and go to each individual train companies page or use navitime to find each individual last train.
Or you could just use Navitime when you actually need to know the train time like normal people do.
>>969417
use hyperdia doofus. It will give you the next 5 scheduled trains and then using your BRAIN you can determine how long it is between each of those trains. Thus telling you how many times an hour a train will run.
>>969382
Yeah, worked out to be less of a hassle if we just planed it from there and back. 10 hours on a train and the rail costs wasnt something i wanted to deal with.
From prev. thread:
I'm about to by a backpack for my month in Japan, anyone have any recommendations? I'm thinking something around 50l, looking at "abisko 55" and "friluft 55" atm. They both come with a rain-cover which is a plus since I'll be there during rain season.
Just wanted to see if anyone have any personal experience they'd like to share.
>>969526
I got a 60L backpack for 20€ from somewhere I don't remember and it was perfectly fine. Unless you are going to be camping or something, it doesn't really matter what kind of backpack you're getting as the furthest you will transfer is will be from the train to the hostel. That said, make sure that you can open it up from the bottom as well as from the top and that is has side bags to put smaller things into
Anyone have some good recommendations for Tokyo hostels that would still be available from May 2nd to the 9th?
Or am I SOL and gonna be staying in a cafe?
>>969537
3-5th is Golden Week so you might want to look outside of those dates. Khaosan's hostels usually have good service and are nicely located
I've been accepted onto the JET Programme, I'll be moving there to teach English for a year in August!
Very excited, I'm going to learn Hiragana, Katakana, and some basic conversational Japanese before going.
I want to pack as lightly as possible while still taking the necessary items. Any advice on what I should take for a year? What kind of clothes should I take?
>>969629
Congrats, m8!
Pretty much anything you can buy in your home country, you can get somewhere in Japan, too. One thing that is somewhat hard to find, though, is roll-on deodorant. So bring a ton with you or be prepared to make a trip to a Costco near you when you run out!
(http://www.costco.co.jp/p/locations?lang=en)
For clothes, your daily wardrobe will vary somewhat with the grade level you will be teaching. For elementary school, you could get away with khakis and a polo shirt, perhaps. For JHS and HS, you'd need nice slacks and a button-up collared shirt, perhaps plus a tie in the non-summer months. You ought to wear a suit during training and at special events at your school (graduation, entrance ceremony, etc.), so have at least one nice suit. Also get some indoor shoes that will act as slippers at your schools.
Other than that, just pack what you think you will need - but keep in mind that there are decent stores (uniqlo, GU, mujirushi, etc.) where you can get more clothes should you need them.
>>969692
What's the cost of nice clothes in Japan? Are Nike shoes like $20 a pair of is it similar to aus and us were it will still cost a bit?
>>969713
Nike shoes will probably be closer to 5000 yen. If you don't mind off-brand things, you can get a decent pair of sneakers for around 2000 yen.
>>969692
>Pretty much anything you can buy in your home country, you can get somewhere in Japan
If you want to pay out the ass
I always bring cheese, sauces (BBQ, steak, ranch, etc), and snacks. I also bring hair products, toothbrushes (they use baby size in Japan), and deodorant.
You can get cheap clothes, but sneakers are expensive in Japan.
>>969728
There are toothbrushes of every size in Japan... Do you have an enormous mouth or something?
I think there are a lot of nice Japanese hair products. But if you are black, it would be very much advisable to bring hair care and skin care products from home as those that cater to black consumers are non-existent in Japan.
>bringing ranch sauce with you to Japan
>multiple times
>>969737
They pretty much don't sell ranch in Japan, and the rare times you find it it taste nothing like ranch.
All that junk food and sauces may seem unimportant, but no matter how adventurous you are and especially if its your first time abroad you WILL miss the familiar brands. I never eat candy back in America, but starburst had never tasted so good my first time studying abroad when a friend offered me some.
>>969745
Personally I liked to eat Japanese snacks and candy when I was in Japan. In fact I think I enjoyed local stuff from most places I went in although I missed good fruit flavored stuff on Argentina, their dulce de leche is really good but most stuff there is dulce de leche flavored. At least I got some nice raspberry gellato.
>>969745
Ranch is definitely not a necessary item when relocating to Japan for a year. Just because you miss familiar foods doesn't mean you ought to bring a cabinet-full of sauces with you. There's plenty of good food in Japan, and you could even attempt to recreate some of your favorites from back home on your own.
>>969750
I love Japanese food and pretty much can eat everything here. I've been living in Japan for 3 years now. But whenever I go back I stock up on the familiar hard to recreate things
>>969752
I recreate most of what I can, I've made a number of sauces but somethings are just hard to recreate with what is available here. The point of my list was that you should most certainly bring any familiar brands and foods that you use atleast once every 2 months or so, because you will miss them, no matter how much you love the food of the country.
>>969755
It varies from person to person. My mother is used to eat rice in every meal and one week is enough to make her crave for rice. I can change my base diet from rice to bread to potato with no problem at all. I try all sort of stuff and in countries like japan there is always something you haven't tried yet, even if it is a new juice in the vending machine or a new instant noodle flavor.
>>969755
I hear ya anon, fucking Tabasco sauce everywhere but hardly a good Hotsauce to be found
>>969305
Vans slip ons, but I replace the insoles with gel and break them in before a trip. traveling with lace up shoes, except if you are hiking a lot, doesn't make sense.
How reliable is hostels.com? Also, why are so many of the hostels in Tokyo in Asakusa?
I'm heading there in two months, for three weeks with some mates, we've got everything booked just need to sort out expenses.
What is the best way to keep my money safe but accessible in japan without exorbitant fees. Currently sitting on either foreign exchanging 500 dollars every 2-3 days and keeping cash on me since i try to avoid everything but debit cards.
Australian if that helps with any specifics.
>>969808
>foreign exchanging 500 dollars every 2-3 days
Do this, its the cheapest way
Is a budget of $7000 AUD enough for a 2 week trip to Tokyo (with day trips to Nikko, Kamakura and Kawagoe)? The trip wouldn't be until the end of the year/start of next year, but I was roughly estimating these sort of figures for the trip:
-$2000 for flights and general transport (not going to get a Rail Pass)
-$1500 for accommodation (about $100/night)
-$3500 for every other cost (food, entertainment etc.)
Does this seem good or too much/not enough to cover the costs for 2 weeks? I'm aiming to save up about $1000/month so I could travel in November, but I'm also considering December or January if I can't save up exactly $1000/month.
What should be a reasonable budget for a 2 week vacation in Tokyo with 5 people?
>>969816
Oh I misread, I would not recommend having thousands of dollars on you, Japan is extremely safe but its still possible for you to lose your luggage or misplace it and you'd be fucked. Take out large sums from the ATM as you need it. My bank charges $5 + 1%. With the excellent exchange rate its not too bad a hit
It's one of the worst things ever when the girl you love more than anything leaves you after three years because she wants to be alone.
Dropping everything and going for a few months. I know no Japanese but the idea of being alone overseas seems appealing.
Thanks for being there for me, Japan General.
>>969828
What you need to do now is go to japan, find a qt grill and marry her.
Heading over to Nipland in early August. Does anyone have any recommendations for good ryokans in the hakone area? I'm looking for something around nature that gives off that traditional japan vibe.
Also, is it a waste to visit onsen in August? I feel like the hot water/muggy weather wouldn't be a good combination but then again I've never tried it.
Hey /trv/ I manager to rent a place in Otsuka and have over a week to spend in adventures, anyone up for drinks and/or banter ?
>>969818
That's more than enough for a two week trip unless you're living ridiculously luxuriously
You can easily do a lot of what tokyo has to offer with half that amount
>>969713
Shoes are heaps cheaper than in Australia. A $160 pair of Air Max can be had for $100 over here. Chucks are like $40. You can buy good quality cheap clothes at Uniqlo.
I've found that the weather in Tokyo is the same as it is in Melbourne, just the humidity is higher, so whatever clothes you have for winter/summer will be fine over here. Obviously if you're going further north than Tokyo make sure to take some extra warm clothing.
>>969818
I went for 3 weeks last year on $4k. You'll have no problems. Though $100 a night accommodation is a little steep
>>969868
What cities did you visit and how long did you stay in them? I have been toying with the idea of going to Japan next year and three weeks seems doable for me.
>>969828
Being with a woman you love more than she loves you is bad mojo.
Get your shit together and go to japan, youll love it, and the 'exotic' locale and people will lift your spirit and help you sort yourself out.
Not a lot of people do it here, but be sure to come back and share your experience.
>>969891
I was in Tokyo for 2 weeks, then spent the 3rd week going to nagoya, hida-takayama, kyoto and osaka.
I don't recommend going to 5 locales in one week. Takayama for 3 days was good, but the 24 hours spent in each of the other places was just a blur of alcohol and travel.
>>969913
Thanks for the reply! Do you think that a week in Tokyo would be enough to get a feel of the city? I would like to travel a bit in Japan although I am sure I could spend all of my time in Tokyo.
>>969838
If its outdoors it will still feel good if you go at night. If its indoors, it'll be fine but will be improved by exercising beforehand.
>>969866
Wow they rape you in Australia. Every single pair of sneakers that can be found in America are typically 10-50% more expensive in Japan.
Hi /jpg/ I'm going to Japan for the first time in November and while I'm a Kyoto I'd like to visit the old Nintendo HQ (the one with a green sign at the entrance not the modern grey one).
I know you can't actually enter and visit but you know just being there is enough for me. Like a sort of pilgrimage.
Anyway I can't find the address so if someone have an information about that please tell me!
>>969917
In a week you can just about visit all the regular places, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza, Akihabara etc.
Those are definitely places you should see, but still, you'll miss out on tons of cool smaller places. It really depends on what you want out of the trip. If you're going for a "normal" trip with the sights and all that then a week is adequate. But having spent a month there myself on my first Japan trip I really do recommend a longer time. Settling down for a while gets you closer to feeling like you're actually living there, but still not getting bored due to millions of things to see in Tokyo. God I love that city.
tl;dr What are you looking for?
>>969917
There's just so much to do and see in Tokyo that I really think it's a 2 week minimum kind of place. If you only have time for one week then there's a few places that are must see, although you probably won't get a feel for the city.
>Go to Japan for the first and so far only time in September 2013
>First solo travel trip
>Loved it so much and got me hooked on travel
>Can't travel long term due to work and part time college commitments
>Have since been to Russia, Netherlands, Sweden, Iceland, Italy, Ireland.
>Have loved them all but still nothing even comes close to Japan
I'm going to China this summer so I'm hoping that will rival Japan but I still get so Jelly at you all who are going whenever I see one of these threads. I don't like the thought of re-treading old ground but I can't not go back there. Not even a Weeb.
>>969302
Make sure you go to Harajuku and Yoyogi Park on a Sunday. It's fun as hell with some weird and wonderful locals.
Pic related
>>969302
>Is stuff written using latin characters or kana, mostly? How will I not look like a bumblefuck if I know next to no Japanese
Depends on what you want to do I guess. In my experience, most staff at the larger trainstations speak passable English as do the Hotel/ hostel people. All trains and subways have latin letters as do street sign If I remember correctly.
>How do phones and internet connections work over there
As far as I know, you have to rent a phone which you can do at the airport or buy a Japanese sim card. Non-Japanese networks do not work.
>I'm guessing at this point, my sleeping accommodations are mostly going to be in internet cafes or hotels, right? Hostels book up pretty early?
You might wanna book up as quick as you can. I booked up about 2 months in advance so I never encountered any problems there.
>Any food or nature recommendations? I really feel like getting Kobe beef at some point during the trip
Someone else might wanna give you food tips but the Emporers east Garden in Tokyo is well worth checking out imo. I also had day trips to Mt Fuji/ Hakone, Nikko, Kamakura and Nara which were all fantastic in their own way.
>Does anyone want to hang out with a dumbo while I'm over there
I wish but I'm fucking broke (and on the other side of the world.)
>>969302
Damn dude, 2 days in Tokyo? Not nearly enough!
Also I'm willing to show you around Tokyo in exchange for some lunch.
Hey guys, been following the last 2 threads or so, I've picked up some tips which I'm really happy about, especially the Magome-Tsumago trail so thanks for that. I'm planning a trip in the second half of May and I'm gonna be in the Kansai area for a few days, seeing the sights. Looking at a map, I thought it might be cool to do a day trip from Osaka west, maybe to check out the inland sea and some of the small islands, maybe go as far as Shikoku itself? I was wondering if any of you had any experience out there and could recommend any cool spots? I'll have to check out how doable it is a day trip and how much would be covered by the JR pass.
>>969832
hah, hopefully. I'll still be able to chat up very few cute grills with just English, right? Doubt it!
>>969894
Thanks for the positive vibes, friend. I can't wait to start a new path in life starting with overseas adventures.
Will definitely report back while I'm over there!
also, might be a dumb question, but how much do you think a cheap suitcase would be over there? I'm only taking a backpack with me but I'm thinking more for bringing bought clothes and other various items back. Allowed up to 20KG.
How easy/typical would it be for me to get a callgirl to hangout/fuck/guide me around the city for a couple of days?
I've taken in some callgirls in thailand that would pretty much show me around and help me translate and all, and also fool around
Like and all day escort or something
>>970057
>cheap suitcase
50€ and up (Donki has some cheap ones that are actually pretty good)
>>970153
I don't think these really exists in Japan. You'd have a hard enough time getting a regular escort being a foreigner speaking limited Japanese. But an escort with good passable English and willing to travel with you will be next to impossible to find, and if found, VERY expensive.
>>969843
When? Now?
>>970021
Seconding any info regarding the small islands between Shikoku and Honshu. Are they completely isolated? Is everything closed off by the military? Or are there small rural villages and cool hikes?
>>970177
4c and rain. Yeah, let's use this dudes apartment!
>>970179
You can access most of them by boat, either from Honshu or Shikoku, and that's info I got just from google.
Just go to google maps, google some of the names of the islands and you'll get the info right away.
There are all of the art islands that actually has attractions on them. I think there are 12 in total, and they're all located between Kagawa prefecture and Okayama, or something like that. You can google Setouchi Triennale for more info on that.
The islands that don't have these attractions, I can really just imagine that they consist of a rural village with little to no people living there. Sounds comfy. That's just my guess though.
I recommend you check out Japan-guide's section on the two islands, Megajima and Ogajima to get an idea. They're both big compared to some of the other islands, has some minor attractions and they still both sound and look like you'll enter rural Japan when you set foot on the islands.
There are some islands that, as far as I know are completely isolated but also completely abandoned (because they're so isolated). Most are still accessible by boat a few times a day but I remember reading somewhere recently that access is becoming more rare since very little people make use of it, so be quick if you want to visit the smallest ones.
>>970156
>Donki
Seconded.
What kind of slang, if any, do japan have for their money. For example I might say £1 is a quid and £5 is a fiver. Or 1$ a buck(?). Do they have any slang like that?
>>970245
Not really. Just the denomination of the note/coin + en.
>>970245
I've never heard any being said. They just call it what it is.
>>970177
I'm up for basically anything involving from now until Sunday.
Skype/Line = vampyrsten
>>970195
Cool, thank you so much! Sounds like just what I was looking for
>>969970
Will u show me where the weed is?
>>970280
>pretending to be someone else on the internet
fk that's sad
>>970282
What are u talking about?
>>970280
>japan
>weed
>>970284
So no one in Japan gets high?
Me and 5 of my friends are trying to find a good 3 star hotel (2 people 5 room) close to the main train stations and attractions, were keen on the e -hotel in shinjuku but lots of reviews say that its very small. Anyone suggest any good hotels and experinces of staff/atmosphere?
>>970288
Of course but you think they're going to be all lenient on it like in the west? It's pretty serious over there, you're talking about a place where bans on tattoos are very common.
>>970298
Bans from getting naked with other dudes
>>970280
I know where it is but I'm not about to get it for myself, let alone you. If you stay in a hostel, you might get lucky like I did a couple of years ago and one of the staff members will be a pothead.
>>970297
It's Japan. They're all very small. In my experience, hotels generally never have a good atmosphere about them. Hostels are where it's at. There's plenty of single room hostels in Tokyo or you could even just dorm it with your mates and save more money for booze. Unless you're 40+ who needs a hotel?
>>970300
You're missing out on one of the best aspects of Japan if you think of it as just getting naked with guys. Onsens are fucking awesome, no one gives a shit about your dick, and once you go once you realize how silly it is to be nervous about being naked. I actually disliked the mix gender ones because it was much less relaxing since you're worried about not staring somewhere too long and not getting hard. Onsens are awesome and one of the many perks of not having tats
>>970306
So assuming you might have a wandering eye at a mixed onsen, what's the view like?
>>970312
There were a couple middle aged couples and one family (a couple kids, a middle schooler, the dad and the grandma). Everyone wears a towel in the mixed bath. The women get a full size on but the guys are given a hand towel that is only long enough to cover a completely soft dick.
There was a womens only bath (that my girlfriend and her mom stuck to) and a mixed bath. Most of the women stick to the womens only. Theres absolutely nothing sexual about the experience at all and honestly I just felt a little bad for how embarrassed the middle school girl must have felt when she tripped and lost her towel.
>>970326
Sounds like a laugh riot!
I'm actually taking my first trip to a Sento next week so it's gonna be wang city for me. Are you allowed to drink sake in a Sento? Stupid question probably but there's nothing like getting blitzed in a hot bath.
Onsen suggestions near Kyoto? Looking at Kurama Onsen in Sakyo Ward, but I feel like that could be a bit touristy since it's the first one that comes up on a "Kyoto Onsen" google search.
Any hidden gems or recommendations?
Anybody knows some good second hand camera stores in Tokyo? Should I buy lenses there, I mean are they cheaper? I assumed since it's the country they are made in
>>970330
They won't let you take food or drinks into the sento with you. If you go for a private (kashikiri/kazokuburo) onsen, though, you're generally free to do as you please. Within reason, of course.
>>970357
You realize you're a tourist right
>>970447
I would assume there are a few in Akihabara
>>970357
>>970483
^This. Pretty much. It might be better if you went to a hot spring that caters to tourists because maybe they have staff that is better practiced in English or other languages. Onsen is onsen. Certainly, there can be a certain atmosphere but at the same time, it's a place to relax and just bathe and get some steam. If you stay at a ryokan that also has onsen, that would probably be a more authentic experience though.
I personally went to Hakone for my hot spring experience so I don't know much about Kyoto.
Are IT/Networking jobs something viable in Japan for a foreigner?
>>970597
If you have business level japanese, know someone on the inside or just really damn good at your job with an impressive resume, or if you got a degree in japan, sure.
How shitty is July or August to travel to Tokyo?
I was going to go in May, but I lost my job (business closed) and got a new one but I'll have to wait at least 3 months before travelling anywhere.
>>970890
蒸し暑い。
Flying to Japan in the middle/end of November, when is the best time to book flights?
Doing JET as well. Previously spent a year in Okinawa on exchange and was wondering if there were any big differences besides Okinawans being laid back as fuck compared to mainland Japaneses.
Is there some place in Tokyo I can buy tail buttplugs? Cat, fox, whatever. Alternatively, any sex/fetish stores to recommend?
>>970896
Does JET give you a sailor moon uniform before you depart?
>>970896
Japanese don't see people from Okinawa as Japanese.
Fault of the US.
>>970900
go to akihabara. there is a 5 floor one on one of the main streets.
>>970893
Uh, the answer to this question is always "literally as early as possible"
>>970896
Question about JET
Do you have to make your own lesson plans or do they give you a some? If they do, is it strict or more just a general guideline that you fill yourself
How terrible is June/July in Japan
Will I be walking around Shinjuku with sweat constantly slothing up and down my asscrack
>>970929
>Will I be walking around Shinjuku with sweat constantly slothing up and down my asscrack
Yes.
>>970920
Every school is different, and within schools every teacher is different.
You are merely an assistant who has to make some fun games related to the main teachers regular classes.
any good places to go in shinjuku and is there any english channels in a hotel?
>>970448
http://bit ly/1CAuBnI
Disclaimer: These aren't _exclusively_ second-hand shops
(sorry about the bitly-link, the google one had too many dots to make it through spam filter)
Going to be in Tokyo for a bit next month. I am thinking about hiring a guide for the first day or two, to get around to some of the tourists-must-see-me places while having somebody to show me the ropes getting a feel for moving about in a strange city.
I know many/most folks here might disdain the idea of getting a guide service -- but on the off chance that anybody has used one and liked it or, I guess, really didn't like it, I'd love to hear from you.
So I'm gonna be in Tokyo for the entire month of July. I have no obligations. I wanna do a lot of things, see a lot of stuff, etc.
Basically, recommend me ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that somebody might enjoy in Tokyo.
>>970326
Serious question here.
Are people going to give you a crazy look if you pop a boner and just walk around like it was no big deal?
>>971128
There is literally NOTHING in Tokyo that somebody, somewhere, would not enjoy.
>>970326
If you're hung/have a large cock, do all the women stare at it?
>>971136
fuck
>>971131
>>971144
>>971144
Well if you are walking around with your cock out you are going to get some stares if that's what you're asking.
>>970907
Actually the opposite, the Okinawans don't view themselves as Japanese where as everyone else considers Okinawa an island chain that is part of Kyuushuu
>>971111
Tour guides are perfectly fine, just dont spend your whole trip with one and personally I would limit it to less than a day and something focused.
>>971219
Wow, I got quads. PRAISE ME!
Anyway, thanks for the response -- do you by chance have a recommendation?
Will be with Japanese friends for part of the trip, away from Tokyo, and should have some "just poking around" time in the city as well -- I just remember being there some years back, very briefly, and not having a clue what I was doing trying to get around. A helping hand while I find my feet would be a Good Thing.
>>970986
I found that many of the hotels I went to advertised "English channels". They weren't much good to me, though, because there were only a few options (BBC, CNN, a couple others) and the English audio was drowned out by the Japanese translation they laid on top.
>>971226
Try using this button next time. Some programs offer either Japanese or English audio. This will switch between the two.
>>971218
That's not the point.
The islands belong to Japan BUT the people don't.
>>971256
Your perception is wrong
Question,
I will be travelling from Tokyo to Yufuin for about a week and then another week back to Tokyo. Anywhere I should stop by and visit?
Im the kind of guys that is into Historical sites and nature.
Second Question
I plan on getting a Rail pass for those 2 weeks, best place to buy a pass from?
>>971275
If you're super into history, you might enjoy Ganryujima in Yamaguchi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganry%C5%AB-jima
There's not much to it, but lots of fanatics go to it all the time.
Mt. Kirikabu in Kusu (right next to Yufuin) has a pretty nice view from the top, and it isn't a hard climb at all. Perfect for a picnic.
If you can stop by Usa (north of Yufuin), you ought to check out Usa Jinguu, a sprawling shrine complex.
A-anyway... W-why Yufuin?
So I just got a JR pass, how do I book seats? Going to be meeting up with a Japanese friend in Japan and trying to figure out how we can get nearby seats
Spending two days in Beppu as part of a long trip soon.
Would I have time for the following in those two days -
>Checking out all of the hell springs
>Visiting Rakutenchi theme park/the hill around the park
>Checking out Yufuin (no plans as to what I would see, some friends recommended I go there just for the comfy atmosphere)
>Checking out Usa for the above mentioned Usa Jingu
Usa is definitely low priority, cause as much as I want to check out all of these amazing shrines, there is always a chance that I'll be tired of them by the end of the trip. I've heard that Beppu is kind of a shitty town so I figured there really isn't much to see and do there?
>>971327
You usually just go to the station employee, tell them which train you want to take and then they give you a seat reservation
>>971333
not the same person, but can you ride the trains without reserved seating? Obviously I could just sit down and then move if someone have "my" seat but I'd prefer not to.
>>971332
If you're into hot springs, Beppu is the place to be. If not, there's not much to do there. However if you're interested in getting up close and personal with some Japanese macaques, you could check out Mt. Takasaki. It's only 500 yen and accessible by bus. Pretty neat if you've never seen them 'in the wild' before.
You would definitely not have time to enjoy all four of those things to the fullest in just two days.
The hells don't take much time to complete at all - you could easily visit them all within 4 hours or so if they're crowded.
There's a decent amount to see and do at Rakutenchi. You could easily spend several hours there, not including transportation to and from.
Yufuin is about an hour away from Beppu by bus. Usa is about two hours away, though I'm not sure if there's a bus that will take you directly there.
If I want to go in early April, when is the optimal time to book air tickets in advance? How many months before April do prices start to spike?
>>971268
That's not my perception. It's the general consense in Japan.
>>971336
Depends on the train. Some force you to buy a seat reservation (e.g. Narita Skyliner), others don't.
But Japanese generally make a reservation.
>>971367
all right. Is it possible to make reservations when you're all ready on board or should it be done beforehand?
Thank you
>>971281
My friend wanted to go to yufuin because of a joys spring that has the view of the mountain
how do i become a yakuza?
>>969272
Hello people, I'm thinking of different places to visit in Asia for a couple weeks and what are some of the pros and cons of Japan? I heard it's pretty expensive compared to other Asian countries, is that true? I have a budget of around 2K give or take a few hundred, would that be enough for 2 weeks to travel comfortably within Japan? or not? Thanks.
>>971415
depends where you're from, I find Japan pretty cheap, especially the food.
My budget is around $30 /night (might not do it in central or high-class hotels but is more than enough for hostels/capsules etc).
$25 for food /day (Breakfast from convenience stores, lunch/dinner sometimes but mostly at cheaper resturants or Ramen-stalls. Not so sure about this one though, would be best if someone with actual experience could confirm this sum.)
and then another $30 /day for transportation ($27.5 is for the pre-paid JR pass)
>>971437
For lunch you can get a bowl of donburi for around $4-6.
Ramen is a bit pricier usually, around $6-8 though you might find something cheaper.
As for konbini food, the lunch boxes range from 400 yen to 1500 yen. Most places knock off -10% to -30% of the price every evening so if you buy in advance you can save a few yen.
Onigiris are about 100 yen a piece.
Eating out is a bit pricier at night but you can generally survive with around 1000-1200 for a single dish, or if you go to an izakaya the small snack type portions usually eaten in them start from 100 yen a piece and go up to around 600 yen.
Incredibly unrelated, but the mod post has Dio in it. I never noticed.
>>971407
More importantly, where can I have sex with a yakuza?
I'll be staying in Akihabara for a couple weeks. I know Akiba is usually a "visit for a day if you're an otaku" kind of location, so I'm worried I'll run out of things to do. Obviously, I'll be branching out, visiting other wards, etc. but Akiba will be my homebase.
Is there any nightlife there?
Any recommendations for not getting burnt out in like 2 days?
My friend is tell me to save my currency exchange for doing it at the ATMs in Japan. Is this recommended?
>>971537
It's what I do -- but check with your bank and understand what fees they will charge and ask if there is anything you can do to reduce them, and whether there is a "sister bank" in Japan that will give you a better deal.
>>971488
Tokyo is a place where you're going to end up travelling around to get to what you want. Find a cheap area to say in, like Asakusa, and take a train everywhere you want to go.
Go to Akihabara for a day and see if you'd like visiting another day.
Roppongi is where you go for nightlife, although Shinjuku and other spots have good nightlife as well.
Hit up Shinjuku and Shibuya. For something different, go to Ikebukuro and Kitazawa.
>>971537
If you withdraw from a Post Office or 7-11, they don't charge you. But your bank can screw you over, so call them up about fees and rates and also tell them you'll be travelling.
>>971545
Alright thanks!
>>971546
>If you withdraw from a Post Office or 7-11
>>971545 here
I'm not sure I understand -- are you referring to an ATM at 7-11 or a Post Office? I'd like to be sure I understand, sounds like a good dodge.
>>971548
Either one
>>971548
Sorry to be a pest, but you are saying there are ATMs in both of those places typically in Japan. and there are no fees when you use these ATMs? If so, that's a great piece of info, thank you...
>>971545
>>971546
>>971537 here, so checked with some online info about my bank and it seems like it's a fee to use an ATM and then the conversion fee is set by the government or I guess the company behind the ATM at the 7-11 or post office. Supposedly no extra fee for conversion from my bank.
So it should be:
1) flat fee to use my card at ATM
2) currency exchange fee in japan
That's it right? Just trying to make sure I'm not missing anything.
>>971546
No, I'm not saying that I'm considering staying in Akiba because I think I'll have tons of stuff do to there. I'm saying that Akiba IS where I'm staying because it happens to be most convenient for me.
>>971561
I dunno but whenever I withdraw money i get two extra charges for $5 and 1%
>>971582
Sorry just to clarify do you have a flat fee, then another $5 and 1%? Or is $5 your flat fee and 1% possibly the conversion fee?
>>971589
Use your reading comprehension, you're cluttering the thread by asking the same question that has been answered like 4 times now.
>>971403
O-oh, th-that's nice.
H-hope you enjoy!
P.S. It's really hot in summer so if you're coming then, be prepared.
t. Someone who lives in Yufuin
>>971590
Sorry if I harshed your mellow. I got off into the mental weeds of was the post office offering some service related to exchanging money, or are there free ATMs in the posts office -- since the guy didn't use the "word" ATM, I just was trying to nail it down. That;s a potentially very useful thing for me to know, and it was worth your ire to clarify.
Enjoy your travels.
Where do I go for anime goods/hobby shops in Chiba? Or is it not worthwhile to look for them in Chiba? I'm going to Akihabara as well.
>>971619
Chiba-shi? Just go to Tokyo
>>971373
Beforehand. That's how a reservation works lol
You buy the ticket and with it the reservation.
Just go to the counter. In most cases someone speaks English.
If not, try the ticket machine (make sure to use the one of your train's company).
>>969272
what website can i go to , to find prostiutes or brothels with japanese women
Sup guys, long term traveller in Japan
Can anyone here tell me the best way to pick up young (18-24) Japanese girls? I'm 20, but to Japanese I look 25-29, beard or no, so I end up with women who are 27-32. Not a huge problem, but they usually want something long term, which I'd only be down for if they weren't already thinking about kids.
>tl;dr
how to find/appeal to younger Japanese girls
Well since it's already being discussed in this thread, might as well ask..
I'm part of some special benefits program in my bank, so it's free for me to exchange valuta.
I'm going to Japan in a year for two months and I'll have around 315.000 yen or more for food, entertainment and shopping.
Walking around with that much money in cash for two months, good idea? I know it would save me -some- money if I converted them from home instead of using ATM's over there, but how much would it really save me? If it's only like 5 bucks to use an ATM, then I might just bring my card with me.
On the other hand, 300.000+ yen in cash, it'd be nice to delude myself into thinking I'm rich just for once.
I've been living in japan for half a year now, and I still can't find a girlfriend. I've had multiple one-night stands, and some dates with people I met in nightclubs and bars, but actually getting a girlfriend is fucking impossible. I don't know any girls around my place, and since my workplace has no girls, I can't get to know any either. I tried meetups and shit, but they're not interested in relationships or friendships. they just want to learn english. I am so fucking depressed by all of this shit, I almost want to go back to my country and give up ever getting a girlfriend. Unless I get into a friendship circle that has girls, I am not going to get any luck. Should I quit my job and try an occupation that allows me to work with women?
>>971700
If someone wants to practice their English with you, they will be perfectly willing to be friends with you. You're the prick only thinking of being in a relationship and ruining any possibility of friendship.
Go meet a nice Japanese girl who isn't looking to practice their English on you--as in, they're not learning English. Oh, wait, you probably can't speak fluent Japanese and the only girls who might be interested in you only want to practice English with you... see the problem?
>>971692
Be fluent in Japanese, be a decent person worth fucking.
>>971693
Call up your bank about withdraw rates.
>>971739
>You should totally settle for being used solely for your English ability
If he can't speak any Japanese its his own damn fault, but girls who play with your feelings so they don't have to pay for their hobby/passion are pretty scummy people. Personally I don't mind trading penis for English, but I know its something they want. If they aren't giving it up or helping me with my Japanese they don't really deserve friendship and especially my English conversation.
>>971692
>how to find/appeal to younger Japanese girls
Usually 18-24 girls from any part of the world are not into 40~50 years old men but there is something that changes everything: money.
>>971700
You're an idiot, why did you go to Japan for? to get a gf? if not then shut the fuck up and enjoy your time there, there's more to life than girls, you make me sick.
>>971865
You, I like you.
>>971865
This is what lonely people say or people who have only ever dated 1 or 2 girls.
>>971700
/jp/ have the solution for you!
https://archive.moe/jp/search/subject/Onahole/type/op/
You might want to invest on a sex doll too but considering how fast robotics is advancing I would suggest you to save money for when they become more interactive.
>>971591
Since you live in Yufuin, is it even worth going there? Or is there a better place to go for hot springs
>>972022
It has some nice, quiet ones. Many people come here for the "rustic" feel. If you're in the area anyway, it's worth a brief visit, I'd say.
Would anyone be able to tell me if this is something important or not?
Got dropped through my door yesterday.
>>971959
>people who have only ever dated 1 or 2 girls.
>only ever
>1 OR 2
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
>>972046
so like a daytrip? I mean if I am going to Beppu anyways
>>969294
Go watch baseball games. Especially Tokyo dome and Koshien stadiums. Pay good coin and get yourself a good seat behind 1st base.
>>971692
Know the language, be charming, be confident, dont be ugly (or have alot of money).
You know, same as everywhere else.
Japan is a modern culture; and despite certain cultural quirks and tabboos japanese women are pretty much like every other woman in the world: They want someone to fuck, someone to pay for their shit, or a responsible man who will ensure stability.
>>970447
/p/ here. Lenses are actually slightly more expensive (new) in Japan than in the States. Secondhand might have a better market in Japan, though, I'm not sure.
>>969808
Grab a Travelex cash passport mate. Loads with the currency you want and saves carrying cash on you.
How are people in countryside toward foreigners? I am white blonde with blue eyes. Will they want to touch my hair or is it myth?
>Studying Abroad in Japan for a year starting in Sept.
>Visa application asks if I have ever been convicted of a crime.
>I have
Should I mark yes?
I've been told they have no way of finding out if I mark no.
>>972220
Customs at the airport can see your criminal records and will send you back if they see that you have the wrong Visa and/or lied on your Visa.
>>972221
I went there last year for 30 days and the year before for 10 days. If I wasn't turned away then, do I have a good chance of getting in a third time?
btw, I'm working on getting my misdemeanor expunged in the mean time.
>>972223
Now I'm curious, what did you do?
>>972232
The charge was misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking.
I gave friends employee discounts at work and returned non-existant items and pocketed the gift cards.
I was a foolish 18-year-old.
>>972216
Considering their culture, even if they want to they wouldn't do it. They try to not cause any trouble, hugging is very uncommon even among friends and touching a stranger would be unthinkable.
>>972241
I actually got hugged by an old lady because she liked my hair and thought I looked cute :3
>>972216
You'll get a lot of stares. That's about it.
>>972090
I don't have a telephone
>>972246
Too bad that I'm not into old ladies... Or have blonde hair...
>>972241
>>972216
most japanese are not suppose to show emotion so they go to forginers to show there emotion
some american guy was doing a vlog on youtube about this how in his english class he gets japanese people come to him to hug him and tell him there problems
this guy did the video
https://www.youtube.com/user/unrested
>>972233
Google it but I think it only matters if it was a felony and/or you served time in jail
So I'm going to spend one year in Japan, seems like they don't have Quechua instant tents there. Here they cost $80 for one person and $100 for two. Should I buy one here and sell there before leaving or there are better stuff for lower prices there?
>>972241
My Japanese prof (he's a white guy) told me this story and how this wasn't unheard of in the countryside.
>worked in countryside as an english teacher
>had this one kid that always caused problems
>kid would talk about the prof's penis and sometimes he would actually cup his crotch and say "oooh american size"
>eventually prof decided he had had enough so he was gonna talk to his parents
>one day, during some school event, he saw the kid's dad and thought it was the best time to complain about his son
>he went up to the dad and before he could start talking, he felt something
>the dad had cupped his crotch and just looked him in the eyes
>then he said: "oooooh american size"
>had no idea how to react so he just never mentioned the kid
After that, he just gave up and accepted his sad american fate
>>972279
They have tents in Japan.
>>972366
Yes, I know, but that is an instant tent http://youtu.be/yiE7Lba7rUQ
Seems much easier to use than a traditional tent where you have to connect the short tubes to make a long tube to set up the tent and all.
>>972386
Dude, it's NOT hard to put together a traditional tent. It takes like 3 minutes as opposed to "2 seconds".
Is your time REALLY that valuable that you can't afford to lose 2 minutes and 58 seconds of it?
Regular tents are more reliable, and have persisted as long as they have for a reason.
>>972393
The traditional tents I have set before involve metal tubes that have to be connected to become a shaft and was a bit cumbersome to set by yourself. Maybe that was a too old model but that one seem easier to carry and easier to set. Also I don't care if it can endure Himalaia conditions.
>>972398
Not a hiker/camper but to me it would matter when you want to set up your tent and rain is pouring. The time spent setting up a traditional tent will allow all the inside parts to get soaked, which means you'll sleep in the water.
>>972402
Or if you took too long to reach the camping site, it is getting dark and you can't find that fucking piece to set up the tent.
>>972410
Actually, inclement weather is one of the main reasons to NOT buy insta-tents. They are less durable, less waterproof, lighter (more susceptible to wind, etc.), and generally are not designed for use with a ground tarp or rain fly. Many don't even come with stakes.
Also, you don't set up your tent with the fucking door open. If water gets INSIDE your tent while you're setting up, you're doing it wrong (probably you packed up incorrectly last time you used it).
>>972410
If you don't have a flashlight or headlamp with you when camping, you literally deserve to die in the wilderness.
Also, nowadays most tents with poles have the poles connected by small lengths of elastic. It's impossible to lose one.
>>972399
If you don't care about harsh weather, then honestly an insta-tent is fine. If you're going to be camping in national parks on known clear-weather days, then it's no problem. If the tent is not your only source of shelter, it doesn't need to be too hardy.
However, if you are planning to make a tent your HOME for an extended period of time, do NOT go for convenience over quality.
>>972402
It's not hard at all to set up a tent by yourself, unless you are retarded. Are you retarded?
>>972402
Whether or not you get soaked depends on what type of tent you have; how fast it is set up does not factor. An instant tent might set up faster during the rain but they are not very water repellent and you will end up with water dripping off the sides the entire night and everything inside damp, not to mention when the wind blows and having to deal with your cold, wet tent walls pushing onto you and your belongings.
A regular pitch tent usually has water repellent coating and can be staked, making it much sturdier against less than optimal camping conditions. Like >>972430 said, with a pitch tent you can use a fly and tarp as well.
Also, a pitch tent is condensed and packed in a way that makes it easy to carry and hike with (cylindrical form); it can be attached to your bag, essentially making it hands-free to carry. I can't imagine how horrible it'd be trying to hike more than a couple feet with that giant insta-tent frisbee under your arm catching the wind and flopping all over the place while you're getting to the site. Unless op is camping from his car and can drive up to the site and also seek shelter in his vehicle during bad weather, getting an insta-tent is a terrible idea, especially if he plans to live in it for an entire year.
>>972455
>one of the most expensive countries
You have never been there right?
>>972430
I'm not worried about facing a typhoon while setting my tent, but if it starts raining a normal rain I can set a instant tent in seconds, if I were to set a normal tent I would get soaked before I finish it.
>>972465
I have checked that instant tent posted in person and it had a double layer the inside walls don't touch the external walls it is actually a tent inside another tent so I'm not really worried about cold wet walls.
>>972523
And by the way, I'm not gonna live in the tent. I will use it on some holidays/weekends. If the weather forecast says that there will be a storm tomorrow I won't go camping tomorrow.
>>972538
Then like I said, it'll be fine. Enjoy!
>>972523
I live in Tokyo. Its possible to live cheaply but if you've got to have this specific tent you're almost certainly going to be buying what you bought back home instead of buynig what Japanese people buy and you're gonna be spending a lot of money.
>>972638
>>972621
I just want to know if there is a quality, affordable instant tent like this in Japan. Fromt he instant tents I saw so far this brand seemed to be the best/quickest but it is not available in Japan (except on Rakuten) so my question is if there is a similar or maybe even better instant tent in Japan or should I just buy one before travelling.
Also since I don't think I will travel again for a year or two after returning from Japan I was thinking about selling it before returning.
Anyone have experience with "Tokyo cheapo"? I found the site a while back and kinda like it
I plan to travel to Japan in December soon and i was wondering if i could go clubbing and drinking and the sorts because I'm 18 and the drinking age is 20? Are the Japanese relaxed with their law or will i be asked for ID?
Going to Japan for all of Jan-Feb to snowboard in Hokkaido.
Anyone ever done it before?
i have ~$6000 after flights and accommodation for the 2 months will that do me?
id rather spend something closer to $3000 if its doable.
it will be the first time i chill at the slopes for more than 2 weeks, kinda nervous.
Whats Hokkaido like? is it worth travelling around the island if i get the chance?
it will be covered in snow though.
Also is it worth it to spend NYE in Tokyo?
anyone ever done it before/had a good time doing it?
Cheers in advance
>pic unrelated
>>972752
What do you mean "have experience with"? Like, I've read it. It seems like good advice from smart people?
>>972793
It is 18 to enter most clubs and they will inspect your ID, and unless you are Asian you will almost never be carded when buying alcohol. When I was 19 I only ever had issues at one club that was notorious for not wanting foreigners inside
>>972793
You'll probably get carded for getting in the club but I've never been cared when it comes to drinking alcohol. I was barely 20 at the time but could easily pass as a high schooler sooo yeahhh you should be fine
My universtity offers an exchange program with Kanazava university and I'm tempted to aply.
Any thoughts or information about that region and exchange studying in Japan in general?
I study computerscience/electrical engineering.
>>972799
I stayed in Tokyo for new year, I headed to Akihabara expecting some crazy stuff like news year hatsune miku or something. Nothing happened, as the hours passed the streets got desert. Close to midnight I start seeing people and they are all headed the same way, I follow them and end up in a temple with some food vending stalls. My new year had an almost naked man beating mochi and a huge bell. Maybe there are places where something more interesting happens but I didn't research beforehand so I ended up in the temple.
By the way, I will be in Hokkaido too, maybe we could meet up some day.
>>972799
Look into accommodations and travel expenses around what you want to do. I can't expect lodging near slopes and travel to and from them to be cheap. I'd expect you to eat through that $6000. I did about 3 month on the same, but I was also camping out and hitchhiking/walking everywhere while splurging a bit on food.
A for Hokkaido, it's a heavy forest area and freezing cold in winter (Oyashi hits Hokkaido head on making it cool in the summer, but frigid in the winter).
Travelling to Tokyo for NYE and getting accommodations there might eat your budget. NYE is huge in Japan and many people travel, so you'll have to book early (look around 120 days beforehand) and might need to spend more money than you'd hope.
As for if NYE is worth it, it depends on the temple/shrine you go to, the festivals around them, and what you do on New Years day.
So I have peanut and nut allergies (including coconut and all associate oils with the exception of canola, and sesame), not just a swollen face, my throat blocks and I need emergency care.
Is Japan just off limits for me? Or is there a way to eat food that isn't just whatever produce I find at the store.
>>972993
The way things are going i will be working at the slopes for free lodge.
and after flights/train/travel to Hokkaido i will have ~$6000, as my friend is organising the whole thing and has said it will be $1000 at most (his mum is a travel agent and gets the deals).
So you hiked around Hokkaido in winter?
i'd love to be able to hike, its my second favourite outdoor activity after snowboarding.
I just figured a long trek wasnt possible with all the snowing that will be happening.
Might give NYE a skip then.
>>972977
As said above i might just give NYE Tokyo a skip because it's out of budget.
I'll be at Niseko for most of the time, what about you m8?
Cheers for the advice guys.
>>973010
What about soya? I think the worst part would be no being able to read labels.
>>973010
Japanese products that contain nuts are labeled so there is some knowledge of the allergy. Its not common to put nuts in dishes where it isn't obvious
>>973014
If room and board are done fully, then yeah, like $1000 is good spending money. I was thinking $6000 for two months paying for hostels and meals and transportation.
Haven't been to Hokkaido, but probably wouldn't in winter. Summer, I'd love to. But if I had the choice, I'd head south for the winter.
For NYE, see about local stuff. Everyone and every temple/shrine celebrates it, and there's a ton of stuff before and after NYE to do and see and eat for the season.
Is there a way to get a teaching job without a bachelors?
