I'm taking a trip to Japan, I'll be there between August 1st and 15th.
I'll be in Tokyo 2nd-5th, then Kyoto 5th-10th (from there I'll take daytrips to various locations including Nara and Osaka) and then back to Tokyo 10th-15th.
Now I'll be travelling solo, for the first time, in a country where few speaks english and I know jack japanese. It's a little bit intimidating and daunting to say the least.
Thus, I'd more than love to hook up with any of you, locals or travelers. I'd like to buy you dinner or maybe hang out check out some shrines, something & anything!
On July 11 2013 20:00 Badfatpanda wrote: D: I'm leaving for Japan at the end of August, shame our paths couldn't cross but hf man! Be sure to write a follow up after you get back too :D
Yeah man I'll be posting a tripblog when I get back! You got your trip planned out yet? I'm so psyched for japan!
FYI as far as the not-knowing of Japanese goes, I think you're going to be perfectly fine. Japanese schools have English as a required and standard class, so anybody would know the most basic english. In addition, especially somewhere like tokyo, there are sure to be tons of signs and such in english as well... coming from a guy who lives in japan btw :3. I hope that you enjoy your trip!
On July 11 2013 23:25 Sir.Phalanx wrote: FYI as far as the not-knowing of Japanese goes, I think you're going to be perfectly fine. Japanese schools have English as a required and standard class, so anybody would know the most basic english. In addition, especially somewhere like tokyo, there are sure to be tons of signs and such in english as well... coming from a guy who lives in japan btw :3. I hope that you enjoy your trip!
I heard from a friend that they kind of don't want to talk to foreginer, if they are shy or just don't want to I don't know.
But yeah I think I'll be okay too. I'm sure I'll meed alot of great people!
Hey, seems like a cool trip you've got planned! I've been studying abroad in Japan for about a year now and there's lots of awesome stuff to do here.
In my opinion you don't necessarily need that long in Tokyo... I visited for 4 days and pretty much did everything I was interested in doing during that time. Unless you're really into shopping, museums, or just big cities in general I feel like you could spend some of that time other places. I kinda have a similar take on Osaka as it's not much of a tourist hotspot; mainly just nightlife and stuff like that. But like I said, just my opinion
Kyoto on the other hand is pretty amazing. It really is the quintessential Japanese city to visit. However, be warned that if you're going to be doing temple hopping the public transport is kinda inconvenient as many of the temples/shrines are spread out throughout the city far away from subway or train lines. If you have the money, taxis are the way to go or you just need to plan your travel routes well so you can make the most of your time while you're there.
If you're into outdoor activities I really recommend doing some hiking while you're there. Japan has loads of beautiful mountains and scenery once you escape the big cities, and it's always nice to get a view of rural Japan that contrasts so heavily with the craziness of Tokyo.
As for the language barrier, it can be a bit of a hindrance, but if you're in big cities there will always be signs/maps in English. And usually at major stations, hotels and tourist spots there will be at least once person with functional English that can help you, particularly in Tokyo.
Anyway, enjoy your trip! (I'd love to hang out with a fellow TLer, but I'm all the way up in Hokkaido so I'm quite far from where you'll be travelling...)
Wow that sounds really fun! Unfortunately only your top 3 images seem to be working, but Japan will definitely be exciting! If I learned anything from my trip to Europe, it's that TL is an awesome place to meet up with total strangers in foreign countries and have them show you around! I hope you make contact with some folks
I don't know a damn thing about Japan or its culture but since you're not leaving for a month, I think you should pick up a book or online training course or something and try to practice a bit of Japanese. Not really to be practical or functional, but more so that the locals will appreciate your honest effort to learn their language. It just seems like a courteous thing to do in my eyes.
Anyway, have fun and good luck! Be sure to bring back pictures and stories that you can share with TL!
On July 12 2013 00:18 zar11 wrote: Hey, seems like a cool trip you've got planned! I've been studying abroad in Japan for about a year now and there's lots of awesome stuff to do here.
In my opinion you don't necessarily need that long in Tokyo... I visited for 4 days and pretty much did everything I was interested in doing during that time. Unless you're really into shopping, museums, or just big cities in general I feel like you could spend some of that time other places. I kinda have a similar take on Osaka as it's not much of a tourist hotspot; mainly just nightlife and stuff like that. But like I said, just my opinion
Kyoto on the other hand is pretty amazing. It really is the quintessential Japanese city to visit. However, be warned that if you're going to be doing temple hopping the public transport is kinda inconvenient as many of the temples/shrines are spread out throughout the city far away from subway or train lines. If you have the money, taxis are the way to go or you just need to plan your travel routes well so you can make the most of your time while you're there.
If you're into outdoor activities I really recommend doing some hiking while you're there. Japan has loads of beautiful mountains and scenery once you escape the big cities, and it's always nice to get a view of rural Japan that contrasts so heavily with the craziness of Tokyo.
As for the language barrier, it can be a bit of a hindrance, but if you're in big cities there will always be signs/maps in English. And usually at major stations, hotels and tourist spots there will be at least once person with functional English that can help you, particularly in Tokyo.
Anyway, enjoy your trip! (I'd love to hang out with a fellow TLer, but I'm all the way up in Hokkaido so I'm quite far from where you'll be travelling...)
Completely agree, but what are you up in no-man's land for o.O Although I'm sure the summer weather is a bit more bearable up in Hokkaido lol.
On July 12 2013 00:39 neSix wrote: Wow that sounds really fun! Unfortunately only your top 3 images seem to be working, but Japan will definitely be exciting! If I learned anything from my trip to Europe, it's that TL is an awesome place to meet up with total strangers in foreign countries and have them show you around! I hope you make contact with some folks
I don't know a damn thing about Japan or its culture but since you're not leaving for a month, I think you should pick up a book or online training course or something and try to practice a bit of Japanese. Not really to be practical or functional, but more so that the locals will appreciate your honest effort to learn their language. It just seems like a courteous thing to do in my eyes.
Anyway, have fun and good luck! Be sure to bring back pictures and stories that you can share with TL!
You can't realistically learn a significant amount of Japanese in 1 month unless you do it full time. A couple of greetings and sentences. It's probably better to learn how to behave in Japan without being rude.
I'll be in Japan from July 25th through August 7th. I have nothing planned on the 5th/6th since I'm treating that as an "end of trip do whatever I missed/feel like" time. I'm just being a little biased but you should totally go to a Nana Mizuki concert while you're there on the 3rd or 4th or both. You can't really go wrong with going to a Nana concert. I mean, just look at the last guy who listened to me. Anyway, I guess 5th would be the only potential day to meet. Since I'm busy going to Nana concerts and Nana related activities from 2nd-4th. Also, I'm most worried about the heat/humidity cause I think we're going at like the worst time of the year in terms of weather lol.
You'd be totally fine in Tokyo with no knowledge of Japanese. Maybe a little less in Kyoto, but still doable. All you really need to know is how to say "Thank you". The train system in Tokyo, while intimidating, is pretty straight forward and easy to read. I spent about a week in Tokyo and there were definitely more things I wanted to see and do.
Japan-guide.com was a great website if you like to plan ahead in the areas you know you will be. Tsukiji Market is great in the early mornings for (a relatively expensive, but great) sushi breakfast.
Also, if you've seen any Miyazaki movies like Totoro/Laputa Castle in the Sky/Spirited Away/Kiki's Delivery Service/Grave of the Fireflies, you should check out the Ghibli Museum just slightly outside Tokyo. Getting tickets is a little weird as you'll have to buy them from one of the Lawson convenience stores in Tokyo, but if you ask someone for help, it shouldn't be too difficult. Tickets sell out fast though.
Completely agree, but what are you up in no-man's land for o.O Although I'm sure the summer weather is a bit more bearable up in Hokkaido lol.
My school in the states has an exchange program with Hokkaido University so I'm studying here for a year. It's actually quite nice here, but the long winter was definitely tough.
KazeHydra, I dunno what Nana is all about but I might check it out! Are there any tickets left? And where do I get them? Also, the weather won't bother me. I actually enjoy a bit more humid of a weather in contrast to the 8 months winter we have in Sweden.
Nagisama, I actually spent most of yesterday checking out destinations and trips/tips from japan-guide.com. So I got some stuff planned, but I also want some days unplanned. I do want to check out Ghibli Museum! Hopefully I can fit it into my schedule.
On July 12 2013 16:01 TOCHMY wrote: KazeHydra, I dunno what Nana is all about but I might check it out! Are there any tickets left? And where do I get them? Also, the weather won't bother me. I actually enjoy a bit more humid of a weather in contrast to the 8 months winter we have in Sweden.
Don't mind me, I'm just a huge fan of her. If you're seriously interested, I can try to help but I'm honestly not all that informed myself. First of all, it's impossible for us foreigners to order tickets online. I secured my tickets through a contact in Japan. Nana's pretty popular and her tickets normally sell out but this is one her bigger ones so it's probable it will not.
Assuming they are still available, you can purchase them in Japan at a Circle K, Pia, or 7-11 shop (idk about exact details, this is where I got the info. It also leads me to believe there are still tickets available atm). There're also on-site sales at Seibu Dome on the day of the concerts, again assuming there are still some for sale. Now if they are "sold out," you have the option of pulling a Nagisama and finding some for sale at a ticket reselling shop or potentially buy one off yahoo japan auctions. You would probably consider the latter to be too cumbersome though. As a final note, the regular price is 7,000 yen so if you choose to buy a resale, it'll be more than that.
And now I have the perfect excuse to post Nana so you have an idea of how her singing and concerts are.
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