RocketMan on 16/10/2009 at 04:07
Hey all :) I'm planning to go to Japan for the first time and though I've been casually learning about the culture, country, language, for a couple of years now, it's still a foreign location and I'm trying to figure out my itinerary and things I need to know to survive there.
I'd appreciate any wisdom anyone has to offer from the perspective of a traveller regarding accomadations, transportation, entertainment, nightlife, attractions, do's and don'ts, etc.
I'll be situated in the Tokyo area mostly, probably in Ginza and I'm more the type of traveller who likes to DO things and participate in interactive stuff + nightlife rather than visiting shrines, etc and taking pictures. Don't like to do much looking so I have to plan my week accordingly.
Thanks!
PeeperStorm on 16/10/2009 at 04:38
If you're planning on attending any festivals and want to buck the appearance of being a clueless tourist, pay attention to what the festival is all about and save the food stalls for later. There's a certain amount of grumbling about tourists who make a beeline for the food and ignore everything else.
Don't point. It's even ruder in Japan. It's a personal space thing.
"Moon gazing" is a euphemism for sitting outside at night and drinking.
demagogue on 16/10/2009 at 04:59
I stayed at a reasonable place in Ginza, but don't remember the name now. But it's not a bad place to be centered, lots of shops and interactive stuff.
Probably the main hub of Tokyo is Shinjuku, also lots of stuff going on there, and the Yamenote train-line from there is like a big circle around the whole city, so everything is oriented according to that, and most things that you'd want to do in Tokyo are going to be on the major stations on that line, so it's not a bad plan to just do the circuit (just the major stations, not the smaller ones).
Nightlife stuff is going to be good around Roppongi (with the clubs) and Shibuya (famous for all the neon and the crazy mass crosswalk). Ginza and Shinjuku have a lot of highend shops and the kinds of things you find around good shops. Harajuku has tons of younger people around, and stuff for younger people to do, and is famous for its fashion scene, and Omote Sando comes off of that, with a lot more shops and good stuff to see. There's also the Meiji Shrine, a huge cultural thing to see (if you see just one shrine), that's convienently right there while you're there. Akihabara is the world's otaku mecca, with all the gizmo shops, toy shops, and porn shops. The other cultural thing you probably really should see (after the Meiji shrine) is the Emperor's palace.
As for etiquette, the big things are: don't throw your credit card or cash on the table, and you usually don't hand it to them either; you place it down nicely in front of them. Don't open taxi doors to get out; they open automatically for you. Try not to eat in public. Never stick your chop-sticks into the rice and don't hand someone food with your chopsticks (both part of a funeral rite). Shoes off inside people's homes of course, but put on the slippers if you go to their bathroom. Really really try to act humble and patient, almost apologetic, and even if one of them screwed up, don't be arrogant about it, and you'll find you'll get a much better response.
Aja on 16/10/2009 at 05:47
slippers in the bathroom??
THEY'VE GONE TOO FAR
Koki on 16/10/2009 at 05:52
I'd consider "how long are you planning to stay", "do you know the language" and "how much money do you have" quite important info you should give before asking for advice about traveling anywhere.
RocketMan on 16/10/2009 at 07:38
Awesome answers so far...really appreciate it :D Esp. demagogue
Koki:
Language? From 1 to 10 I'm probably a 2.5. I've been studying it for almost 3 years and can say basic commands, ask basic questions and if i have enough time and a pad of paper I can probably put together a pretty elaborate sentence but on the fly probably a kindergarten/grade 1 level of speech.
Stay? 1 week.
Money? I have plenty but don't want to blow more than 3 g on the whole trip. Airfare and hotel will bring me to almost 2000 as it is.
1 more thing.....my taste in food is abysmal. I don't eat fish, most vegetables or anything multi-syllabic. I've been looking for something edible in the country and all i can find is a couple of restaurants (for dinner) that are affordable and have Italian and American and BBQ. Aside from that, just fast food but I'll die if I live off that for 7 days. Super Size Me anyone???
Tentative idea for hotel: Ginza Washington
Insertnamehere on 16/10/2009 at 08:31
I stayed in a youth hostel in Asakusa when I was in Tokyo. Lived in nagasaki the 10 months before. But Nagasaki is a long way from Tokyo so...
Go to Shinjuku, and walk from there to Harajuku. On the way you will see Elvis Presley-ish lookalikes, the Meiji shrine and weird Alternative-looking-Gothic-lolita-colorfoul youths.
And go to Tokyo Tower! If the weather is clear, you can see mount Fuji.
Koki on 16/10/2009 at 10:54
2 thousand bucks for a week? And that's just lodging? Goddamn.
demagogue on 16/10/2009 at 15:02
Quote Posted by Insertnamehere
Lived in nagasaki the 10 months before. But Nagasaki is a long way from Tokyo so...
I never heard this. I did JET in Nagasaki-Ken ... Although I was on an island off the coast (Tsushima), I went into Nagasaki all the time (also Fukuoka).
