The Japan Trip Resource Thread!

[cHawKso]

I'm currently in Japan working right and I'm thinking of taking a holiday next February to Sapporo for the snow festival. Now I'm wondering If it's worth flying up to Sapporo, then working my way back to Tokyo from there. I'd like to visit lots of different places on the way back and see other bits of Japan that are not Tokyo.

If you do want to go to the yuki matsuri book early. I managed to get a seat on one of the last domestic flights there - and that was about a month and half in advance. Luckily I have friends there so I stayed with them, but accomodation is also likely to get totally booked up.

I think it was well worth it though, Sapporo is a great place in itself - make sure you try the miso ramen. iirc the Makomanai site is closed next year though, but the Odori and Susukino sites are open. Sapporo is like a huge grid so it's easy to find your way around - it's also got an extensive underground system.

One thing I would say is it gets very cold in february - when I was there -5 to -10 in the day, -15 to -20 some nights. It also snows alot - 30cm in a night is not unusual. So make sure you have some decent boots (they sell some snow spikes that you can attach to your boots here and there) and some warm clothes.

If there's anything in particular you need to know feel free to pm me and I'll do my best to help.

[mementoman]

Cool, so public transport is the way to go. So... what would anyone recommend for a holiday? Just stay in Tokyo or go from place to place? What is there to see or do for someone who would like a new experience but without massive effort so that I actually get to rest up too?

The first time I went was part of a Jaltour two week 'Discover Tokyo/Kyoto' package which was really good but fairly pricey. It included various day trips (Mt Fuji from Tokyo, Nara from Kyoto) plus the bullet train transfer from Tokyo to Kyoto. You could organise everything yourself and do it a bit cheaper but the whole thing was expertly orgainsed and everything ran to time.

I'd recommend going for at least 2 weeks and taking in Tokyo, Kyoto and possibly a day or two in Osaka.

3 weeks today I will be back there again

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

I'm really nervous about taking a large quantity of cash - we're there for three weeks an anticipating spending ?1000-2000 or possibly more, surely it can't be recommended to take ALL of that in yen cash before you go? But I have no confidence that my Abbey debit card or even my Visa credit card (which I don't want to use) will work anywhere.

Why so nervous?

You can see the statistics about street crime in Japan, + your debit card and visa card will certainly work in CitiBank machines.

Everytime i have been i just took all my money in cash and left it in the room/hotel safe if i was going out drinking or just took it around with me if i was shoping and whatnot during the day.

I brought up concerns carying large amounts of cash around with japanese friends and they just laughed, if 5ft1 Japanese girls feel safe carying around large amounts of cash at night, then why shouldnt a 6ft Gaijin?

But not in Shinjuku, at night that place is as rough as a bears arse, 'pongi gets a bad rep, but Shinjuku is proper seedy

[Zanza]

You really don't have to worry about being mugged or robbed in Japan. I was carrying around 2k in Japanese Yen with me last time I went, aslong as your smart and dont leave it in a rucksack or in your backpocket you will have no worries. Although if you dont have a safe at your accomodation, I could see how it might be a problem, as you don't want to have to walk around with that much money all the time, nor do you want to leave it in a draw in your room.

If you are worried, find out the locations of some Citybanks or post offices close to where you are staying, there were plenty in Osaka (pretty much one near every major station). I know for certain my debit card worked in Citybank ATM's and it was a Lloyds Visa/debit card, my credit card was also useable in most big stores, and even Superpotato \o/

[Dogg Thang]

Thanks for the advice, Mementoman. I'm going to look into this. How about getting around without Japanese? If I was doing this I'd be doing it very soon and I wouldn't have time to learn any.

[segages]

How about getting around without Japanese? If I was doing this I'd be doing it very soon and I wouldn't have time to learn any.

Just grab a phrase book to read beforehand or on your flight (or better an audio learning course like Pimsleur so you can hear the pronunciation) as there's plenty of opportunity to learn en route. Knowing 20 words is better than knowing none and pleasantries go along way - it shows you're at least trying. If you come across a difficult situation, saying "sorry I don't understand japanese" is alot better than being silent with a puzzled look on your face.

Signs in the major cities are in Japanese and English so that's not a problem. If you've got a countrywide railpass you can breeze through all the stations. Ordering food is generally OK as you can point if you get stuck (some restaurants have plastic versions in the window) but some common katakana would be good to know. Just don't go all that way and eat McD's all the time 'cos it's easier

Smaller towns don't have much English (part of the fun is getting lost) if any and neither does the subway really but it's easy to work out. And you'll be amazed how much you pick up from things like train announcers if you use them often enough. I took a Lonely Planet guide for maps. Initially it's a bit daunting but once you're there, you'll adjust and love it.

[Dogg Thang]

Cool that all sounds good. I'm still a little nervous about actually doing it seeing as I'd be on my own but I think I might pick up one of those guides tomorrow and have a browse through it to see if it all looks good. Thanks again for all the advice!

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

Thanks for the advice, Mementoman. I'm going to look into this. How about getting around without Japanese? If I was doing this I'd be doing it very soon and I wouldn't have time to learn any.

where are you going, just Tokyo?

If so, dont worry about it, most signs are in English so you shouldnt get lost, if you do need a guide hang around a Starbucks near to an English school and tell a girl how Kawaii she looks. She will gladly show you around in exchange for some English practice.

If yoo're going outside of major cities, not speaking Japanese is a major handicap, but for everone who is going to Japan, dont worry about stuff like that, just enjoy yourself.

[Darwock]

Why so nervous?

Not simply down to worrying about theft, things can get dropped/lost as well - it just seems mental to put all eggs in one basket like that.

Is that right about Shinjuku? We were wanting to go there to do karaoke with pissed salarymen :-(

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

Not simply down to worrying about theft, things can get dropped/lost as well - it just seems mental to put all eggs in one basket like that.

Is that right about Shinjuku? We were wanting to go there to do karaoke with pissed salarymen :-(

Just be a man and take it all in cash!!

Ive always found it far far far rougher that Roppongi, although people who live in Tokyo might have a better idea than me. I do tend to go to the seediest places.

However, in comparison, the crime rate in Shinjuku will be 5000% lower than even the nicest area's of the UK, seriously dont wory about Crime in Tokyo worry about STD's instead........

[Richard.John]

Shinjuku is fine just avoid Kabukicho (red light district) at night. It's like soho in London, but five times the size.

And yes, the level of petty street crime is miniscule compared to the UK, so don't worry.

[eastyy]

Two questions
Is the cost of living lower or higher in japan?
Any customs we should be wary of?

[DCharlie]

"Is the cost of living lower or higher in japan?"

the way things are going - probably about the same as in London. Prices haven't changed here in 5 years , where as prices in London are going through the roof.
Saying that, 4-5 quid a beer is normal - but you can get all the way up to 10 quid a pint in the wrong places.

"Any customs we should be wary of?"


Do not stick your chopsticks straight up into rice

Do not pass food from chopstick to chopstick - in japanese funerals you pass bones from chopstick to chop stick - this is the only time you do it.

If you go to traditional japanese places or someones home, take your shoes off

Eating on the subway is pretty frowned upon

Try not to use your phone on the subway - it pisses people off

Certain trainlines have "women only carriages" - DON'T GET IN THERE IF YOU HAVE A SCHLONG! They are denoted by large purple signs

The blue seats are for older people, pregnant people, people with small kids - please give your seat to these people if you aren't in one of these categories - don't pretend to be asleep like a lot of Japanese do *shakes fist*

If you are drinking with a japanese person , pour their drink.

Not that all of these are major customs (except the first two) but it's just nice to get a head start

[eastyy]

Handy to know thanks.Just as long as there are not anythings that we would think as ok but they dont like.

In mongolia standing on the wooden board at the entrance in gengis khan times you would be beheaded or resting your feet on the half next to the fire

[Darwock]

Was that taken from 'Rough guide to Mongolia in the dark ages'?