Random Japan Trip Notes

Smeghead said:
Great thread. I'd love to go to Japan. Some of my favourite bands of all time are Japanese, so be able to see them live would be a dream. I'd probably be on my own too though, and the language issue does worry me a little, as I'm very shy and reserved as it is.

I went to Beijing last year with my family (2 of which speak good Mandarin), and that place would have been quite a struggle had they not been there, particularly when it comes to getting fleeced. I imagine Japan is not nearly as bad as China for getting conned though?
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The only sketchy place I visited would be the red light area in Shinjuku (has the robot restaurant :p) But even then the touts hassling me were not even Japanese people.

I don't think you would be a target for being fleeced in Japan.
 
Also I'm black. Will I be treated like royalty... Bobb Sapp or Rampage Jackson style lol
 
DAIR said:
Also I'm black. Will I be treated like royalty... Bobb Sapp or Rampage Jackson style lol
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Not sure if serious but :)

Expect looks but nothing other westerners don't get it in Tokyo. If you go out of Tokyo, expect it more, especially up north.

I've booked for next April / May, taking a 10 month old...blonde hair & blue eyes...should be interesting
 
I recall someone on here visiting the Nissan gallery. I take it this is in the capital too?
 
GAC said:
language is handy i guess but unless your venturing out of tokyo you can get away with the international language of pointing.

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Even knowing some Japanese I find that pointing, shrugging, smiling and holding up a number of fingers tends to work most of the time (especially the third of these used to indicate you know you are a dumb foreigner who doesn't speak their language :)). It is useful to know some words so you can be polite and say you don't understand but in Tokyo it's not really much of a problem the vast majority of the time I find.

tlrBeta said:
Not sure if serious but :)

Expect looks but nothing other westerners don't get it in Tokyo. If you go out of Tokyo, expect it more, especially up north.

I've booked for next April / May, taking a 10 month old...blonde hair & blue eyes...should be interesting
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With a 10 month old I would say expect lots of people exclaiming "kawaii!" and coming over to look ... it'll probably get a bit tiresome after a few days.

April is a good time to go, I'm there for three weeks my self then next year.
 
POB said:
I guess it depends on what you're after.

Uniqlo is not bad for some things. The flagship store in Ginza has the top floor dedicated to nice looking graphic t-shirts.
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Sod that lol. I want to learn it... Or at least try. I love the sound of their language.

Started reading up on it yesterday
 
Sorry to drag this up.

I'm currently looking up flights/holiday packages.

Who did guys fly with? Looking to go there for 10 nights.
 
I went with KLM, but mainly as the connection via my local airport Bristol to Amsterdam was less effort then driving to Heathrow.

Tempted to go back next year and visit again. :D
 
If you're looking for 'packages' - Trailfinders might fit the bill.

I'd recommend having a look at the route they plan, then planning and buying it yourself with a few alterations with what you want to see or spend more time at.

Pick up some Japan guides if you're completely unsure, this years Lonely Planet is HUGE!

Not long till I head back there now at the end of April :)
 
Oh wow! This takes me back to when I visited 8 years ago. You've been to the same locations I did when I was there and I found the whole place fascinating. I stayed at The Washington Hotel in Shinjuku and would use the underground walkways to the central station on a daily basis as we had nothing but rain when we visited.

Superb set of shots and nice little write ups, not sure if I'd want to visit again but it's an interesting place for sure. Toyota Megaweb was quite enjoyable I might add.
 
I can't recommend any hotels - I've been to Japan 4 times now but I was staying with someone so didn't have any accommodation costs.

I was based in Kyoto each time, but didn't feel I had to venture very far out. We had quite a few trips to Osaka, the national park in Nara (with all the free-roaming deer, bowing for you to feed them), and then visiting small towns all around. We had a nice boat trip in Biwa too, which had live onboard entertainment.


Absolutely fantastic country, everyone should visit if they get a chance.
 
squerble said:
I can't recommend any hotels - I've been to Japan 4 times now but I was staying with someone so didn't have any accommodation costs.

I was based in Kyoto each time, but didn't feel I had to venture very far out. We had quite a few trips to Osaka, the national park in Nara (with all the free-roaming deer, bowing for you to feed them), and then visiting small towns all around. We had a nice boat trip in Biwa too, which had live onboard entertainment.


Absolutely fantastic country, everyone should visit if they get a chance.
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I loved Nara as well, even if it was the only day I got sun burned lol
 
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