What was it like there?Originally Posted by shootist26
What was it like there?
I went with my college buddies.
Hot and very humid. I would not recommend going to Japan in the summer at all. I'd much prefer to go in the fall or winter. But that's me speaking as a northerner. My texas friends thought it was only slightly uncomfortable.
I think a lot of Americans have a preconceived notion that Japan (and Tokyo especially) is a super high tech place where advanced technology permeates all aspects of your life. The reality is some sort of bizarre in between. First off, it is mostly a cash based society. Many restaurants and stores do not accept plastic. I used my credit card all of three times in the two weeks we were there. Everything was done withdrawing cash from an ATM at 7-eleven. Speaking of 7-eleven, there is a huge convenience store culture in TOkyo. As in there is one every couple blocks. Unlike American convenience stores, Japanese convenience stores carry all sorts of high quality pre-made meals and bakery items, in addition to your regular convenience store items. A lot of people seem to rely on them for breakfast and lunch items. On a related note, there are drink vending machines every couple of blocks too. This I found bizarre. They contain all sorts of items, such as regular water, hot coffee, tea, energy drinks, soda, etc. You pay with cash or your subway card (tap it against the RF reader), but can't pay with credit.
The Tokyo subway/rail system is truly unbelievable. It is spotless and everybody is so well behaved. Train cars are dead quiet usually. Typically you will only hear light conversation, even late at night. There is literally zero riff-raff that we see on American public transit systems. Despite it's complexity, it is very well marked out and I found it easy to navigate (though I live in the city so I am used to public transit). Fares can be paid using an RF card that you just scan on the entry and exit gates. The confusing thing is that there are multiple entities (some government, some private companies) that operate subway and above ground rail lines in the Tokyo. So while planning can be hard, but it is actually fairly straightfoward to use. See the link to get an idea of how extensive is:
https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/com...o_and_suburbs/ (this is both Tokyo and the surrounding suburbs)
I like the restaurant culture in Japan. A lot of restaurants specialize in one thing only (e.g. a ramen place that only serves ramen, a yakitori place that only sells yakitori, etc). I think a lot of people in AMerica have realized that restaurants with bloated menus like Cheesecake Factory and APplebee's really suck at all of the items. The quality of product and attention to detail in all the restaurants we ate at in Japan was noticeable. Many restaurants actually have a ticket machine located near the entrance with individual buttons for each menu item. You put in your cash (none of the machines accepted plastic) and hit whatever buttons you want, then it spits out an order ticket that you give to your waiter. You get the food, eat, and since you've already paid, you leave whenever you feel like it. Very efficient. Definitely would not work in America as people here are picky and always want to customize their orders and whatnot.
Toilets were cool, as was expected. Even public toilets had a control panel for the bidet, and most had heated seats.
These were just some of the immediate things that jumped out at me during the trip. Tokyo is a bustling modern metropolis, so if you hate that kind of stuff, definitely go to Kyoto and further out into the countryside. Kyoto was very cool and most of the traditional temples and shrines were spared from destruction during WW2.
Last edited by shootist26; 06-29-2018 at 01:06 PM.
Thanks very much.
I have some work-related travel forecast to Japan and Okinawa starting next year, and this is very interesting to me.
How did yo get past the language barrier?
I have no idea how it is in smaller towns, but in Tokyo and Kyoto, there was zero issue with the language barrier. The vast majority of restaurants have a picture menu and you just point. Many restaurants also have highly detailed plastic models of each dish displayed out front, and you can just take a picture of what looks good and show it to the waiter (I found this very amusing). Other restaurants have ticket machines so its pretty straightforward ordering. They have really mastered the art of not having to interact with anybody while at a restaurant.
As far as navigating the rail system, google maps has a transit feature. There are also a bunch of other apps that can help you navigate or find the correct stations.
Most people have taken english in school but overall they definitely suck at it more than most Europeans. People employed in the hospitality industry generally have good enough english to get by. However, I found that I got by fine with pointing and some very basic words. In general, everybody was very polite and helpful.
Last edited by shootist26; 06-29-2018 at 02:32 PM.
In spite of being retired, effective January 2018, we are off to a slow start; several long day trips per month, but nothing overnight or longer, until a probable overnighter or two-night stay at B-I-L’s home in San Antonio, Texas, in early July.
Annoying, a significant distribution from a post-retirement account fund was not direct-deposited today, but is apparently being sent by SNAIL MAIL. After that check arrives, and clears, we may do one or more road trips to look at RVs and boats.
Thank you that’s very helpful.
I have always wanted to see Japan, but am worried about the language.
I traveled extensively around Normandy France while working in the UK. I learned a bit of French and attempted to speak it, albeit poorly. Most people I ran into winced then switched to English lol. I had a great time.
Last edited by RJ; 06-30-2018 at 06:42 AM.
Hey Newb (and anyone else for that matter)...
I *might* get a chance to go to Mexico City in December. Any tips for me?
As with every foreign country, learn some basic phrases before you go. Making an effort, even a terribly executed effort, gets you lots of points with the locals.
Hello, Thank you, please, excuse me/pardon me, where is the toilet?, good morning/afternoon/evening. If you can count to ten, that's helpful too. Download Google Translate to your smartphone. It works. Uber is in Tokyo, not sure about Okinawa. Definitely download the app and set up an account.
It's rare that any major business destination doesn't have signage in English these days. I've never been to Okinawa, but would bet it's the same.
I've only been to Japan a handful of times, but never had any real problems. First time was actually my first trip outside North America. Arrived at Shinjuku rail station at rush hour after my overseas flight and a long bus ride from Narita (never take the bus!). I had instructions to take the "orange line" from Shinjuku and of course that was the only line that didn't have English signage. I'm standing there in a sea of people and I realize for the first time in my life that I'm taller than pretty much everybody! I put my bags down and enjoyed the feeling for a few minutes, until I flagged down a guy dressed like a pharmacist. Turns out he was a grocery worker, but he was able to help me with directions.
A few nights later I was with 2 colleagues on a train platform, late at night, trying to figure out which direction would take us back to our hotel. A cute little girl walks up and in excellent English asks us if we needed help with directions. She couldn't have been 10. At midnight, on the metro. Mom and dad were there, but, still. She walked back to her parents, translated our question and told us which way to go. There were lots of drunk businessmen on our train, several of them wearing plastic garbage bags around their necks, in case they tossed their dinners. Even drunk Japanese are polite that way.
If you've never watched the movie Lost in Translation, you should. And... never say no to Karaoke!Even if you suck at it.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." - Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Constitution, Draft 1, 1776
Awesome! If I may ask, why are you going? Who are you going with?
How long will you be there?
If you don't know Spanish , learn some basic phrases. It's best if you can be with someone from there.
The traffic is insane. Watch what the locals do, they know how to survive as pedestrians in that madness.
I do not recommend driving. Unless you are experienced in driving in other countries. My girlfriend and I use uber, or she drives because she's from there.
Don't go to Iztapalapa or the black market. Iztapalapa is the most dangerous neighborhood in Mexico City. I went but I do not recommend it to the majority of people.
Mexico City is an amazing place . Lots of friendly people and even better food.
When I have access to a PC, I will respond with places you should go.
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