Traveling around Japan...
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Hello! I know I haven't posted in forever, but I have a question (Many, actually.)
A friend and I are planning to travel around Japan at the end of our sophomore year, so now's the time when we're trying to figure out most of the details.
We have about a month to trek around the whole country and we're deliberating whether to start in Kagoshima/Nagasaki or in Hokkaido, so I think we'll have enough time to see what we want to see.
I know we should acquire Japan Rail Passes before we leave the country, get our vaccinations and make sure our passports and affairs are in order, but what else is useful to know on a trip like this? Are there any places you would suggest that are off the beaten path?
We did some number crunching as well and estimated that we'd need about 6-9 thousand dollars total, but had any of you had this experience? How much did you spend, roughly?
I'm planning to be learning Japanese for the next two years, so I hope to have somewhat of a grasp on the language, but what are your experiences with the language in Japan?
Any other suggestions or tips would be appreciated and thank you.
A friend and I are planning to travel around Japan at the end of our sophomore year, so now's the time when we're trying to figure out most of the details.
We have about a month to trek around the whole country and we're deliberating whether to start in Kagoshima/Nagasaki or in Hokkaido, so I think we'll have enough time to see what we want to see.
I know we should acquire Japan Rail Passes before we leave the country, get our vaccinations and make sure our passports and affairs are in order, but what else is useful to know on a trip like this? Are there any places you would suggest that are off the beaten path?
We did some number crunching as well and estimated that we'd need about 6-9 thousand dollars total, but had any of you had this experience? How much did you spend, roughly?
I'm planning to be learning Japanese for the next two years, so I hope to have somewhat of a grasp on the language, but what are your experiences with the language in Japan?
Any other suggestions or tips would be appreciated and thank you.
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Learn mannerisms too! Like proper bowing so you don't seems juvinile or like you are being arrogant and haughty. Also if you are going in the cold months, make sure you visit so of the awesome ski resorts around Hokkaido and take a dip in a hot bath while it snows ^___^.
The thing you'll spend most money on is food though IMO, items like beef and vegetables are higher in japan since they don't farm as much >___>.
But that is just an excuse to eat at buffets where you can cook your own food on a hibachi (as seen in Naruto when they go to eat "BBQ").
Also don't underestimate the beauty of the beaches (you have to find the right ones) and the hiking trails (so many mountains). I'll post more when I get the chance.
The thing you'll spend most money on is food though IMO, items like beef and vegetables are higher in japan since they don't farm as much >___>.
But that is just an excuse to eat at buffets where you can cook your own food on a hibachi (as seen in Naruto when they go to eat "BBQ").
Also don't underestimate the beauty of the beaches (you have to find the right ones) and the hiking trails (so many mountains). I'll post more when I get the chance.
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It'll probably be in the summer months, although the winter doesn't sound like such a bad idea. By the way, I'm in my freshman year of college right now, so we have about two years to get everything set.
We're debating whether to stay in hostels, camp in the wilderness, or find some alternative means of lodging as we travel about. I heard about WWOOF as a potential option, but what other thoughts do you all have? Temple lodging wouldn't be that bad either.
And the airfare will probably be 3000-3500$, so we budgeted a lot for food, lodging, and other activities.
Men bow with their hands to their side and women bow with their hands in front, right?
Thanks again! ^^
We're debating whether to stay in hostels, camp in the wilderness, or find some alternative means of lodging as we travel about. I heard about WWOOF as a potential option, but what other thoughts do you all have? Temple lodging wouldn't be that bad either.
And the airfare will probably be 3000-3500$, so we budgeted a lot for food, lodging, and other activities.
Men bow with their hands to their side and women bow with their hands in front, right?
Thanks again! ^^
0
1500 USD sounds about right. I paid 1400 USD from my country.
I went to Japan this February after finishing my degree.
I didn't plan it though. It was a spontaneous trip - but I gave myself enough time to buy the plane ticket at a discounted price (1300) and the JR Pass (500-600 USD) - as well as the first few nights worth of accommodation when I landed in Japan.
I travelled from Tokyo (4 nights) to Nara (2), Kyoto (2), Osaka (1) and then Hokkaido (3), and then back to Tokyo (2). All in two weeks (roughly).
I didn't speak the language.
But I was Asian so they gave me the look of: 'you look like us but you don't speak the language, therefore you're a retard?' But I was smiling all the time and trying my best to say 'something' rather than nothing at all, or blurt out English. They were incredibly friendly, but this is just my own experience as a pretty tall and intimidating Asian - and I did my best to show my respect in their country.
I met this guy later on this year, who also travelled to Japan for a whole year (as an English teacher) and he's a white-boy. Typical, white boy that thought he could do whatever he wanted and he said he had the worst time in Japan because they were so rude to him and didn't want to talk to him. But trust me, HE was the arrogant buffoon (because he is an arrogant buffoon); and the Japanese are like any other people, treat them right, and they'll treat you back.
I even had the oddest encounter at the public bath house where the guys there were more than happy to tell me the proper procedures for not following the proper etiquette. Kind of felt weird with all the naked guys (I would've much preferred women..) but I'm Korean. We also have public bath houses so it wasn't too out of the world for me.
The police are more than happy to assist the 'foreigners' as well.
Most 'officials' or employees in Tokyo (!) speak English to a very very very basic and rudimentary level.
Almost every train station has an English sign on it. Almost every train has English announcements. There are free maps in pretty much every station.
Tokyo is flippin' awesome in terms of being a foreigner. They're kind of used to it.
Kyoto was pretty good too. I didn't stay long enough to enjoy it, but for the time I was there I met really friendly people and the city itself is almost as good as Tokyo in terms of 'foreigner-friendliness'.
Nara was probably better than Kyoto for me. But I'm sort of the guy that likes to chilax and walk around on foot for miles on end and talking to random people. Nara also has a wicked student hostel that has English speakers as owners. Hot shower too.
Osaka... sadly I stayed at a really budget 'hotel' that was more like a 'prison'. Each room was a 2x4 tatami mat with a window just in case you want to throw yourself off the building. I was at 'south side' of Osaka, making it the cruddy red light district area... or so they say... although seeing old guys sell sex toys and porn at night on the streets was... well disturbing lol. The 'north side' is apparently where all the hotties were at, but I only stayed there a night after visiting the harbour for the whole day (which is way cleaner and metro).
Hokkaido - my sweet sweet Hokkaido. Frikkin' AWESOME. I loved it there. Too cold to move around and you need a taxi to get to places out of the CBD (central business district); but the city will let you have fun in the 'go crazy in shopping malls' way. There's lots of cool historical places to visit as well. I travelled during the snowing season and ... coming from a tropical island... goddamn how I missed the snow. I stayed at a hotel because it was the 'ski season' apparently and all the hostels were booked out. I slipped on the ice covered roads like... a bazillion times.
Tokyo-Hokkaido - that's... 6 hours of train. It's great. I loooove trains and the girls working the trains are friggin' friendly. Again, I was an Asian so maybe I got special treatment (as the retard who can't speak the language... lol) - I even got free food once lol.
Osaka-Hokkaido - 11 hours of train... omg I thought my legs were going to disintegrate and my butt implode. Mind you, this is when you thank the JR Pass - no waiting lines, no weeks long reservations... just pop in and demand first class service... ooo yeahhh...
Train employees - they're super friendly and more than ready to help a non-Japanese speaker. I was stuck in some middle of no where town in Hokkaido where the bloody train comes every few HOURS. Stupid me fell asleep lol. Anyway, the bloke that worked there spoke zero English, and he had to deal with a hoard of Chinese tourists, but he squeezed some time for me and got me sorted.
Baggage - okay, I thought I needed a big bag ... like a typical backpack, BIG OE style bag... but you don't. lol For 2 weeks honestly all you need is a backpack. Spare clothes CAN be bought in stores for cheap price (like... the x-number of malls in every other city... namely Tokyo). The big bag was pretty useful because I bought manga for the first time and I went crazy and bought the whole series for Lucky Star - I haven't seen anime until I planned to go to Japan... so... Lucky Star was the first anime I watched lol). Anyway, I met two fellas travelling for 6 months around Asia; and between the two of them, they had one big suitcase. They told me the same thing I'm telling you, buy clothes and other necessities in the country, and recycle or give them away when you're about to leave. You don't REALLY need all that... anything you want to keep just sent it via mail.
Internet - it's everywhere. Can't miss it.
Hokkaido - this island is not as developed in the ultra awesome stage as Tokyo. In fact, it's best to say that Tokyo has a public transport system that only heaven could match. The subways run... minute, and incredibly cheap for the distance you cover. But in Hokkaido... you don't get that. There's bus, taxi, JR rail, private means (car, foot etc.). Other than your own personal feet or car, the other means are very limited or expensive. Plan where you're going in Hokkaido...
Sorry I'm ranting. But yeah... I enjoyed my time there! My first serious encounter with anime and all things 'popular Japanese' in the West ... by going to Japan itself!
I went to Japan this February after finishing my degree.
I didn't plan it though. It was a spontaneous trip - but I gave myself enough time to buy the plane ticket at a discounted price (1300) and the JR Pass (500-600 USD) - as well as the first few nights worth of accommodation when I landed in Japan.
I travelled from Tokyo (4 nights) to Nara (2), Kyoto (2), Osaka (1) and then Hokkaido (3), and then back to Tokyo (2). All in two weeks (roughly).
I didn't speak the language.
But I was Asian so they gave me the look of: 'you look like us but you don't speak the language, therefore you're a retard?' But I was smiling all the time and trying my best to say 'something' rather than nothing at all, or blurt out English. They were incredibly friendly, but this is just my own experience as a pretty tall and intimidating Asian - and I did my best to show my respect in their country.
I met this guy later on this year, who also travelled to Japan for a whole year (as an English teacher) and he's a white-boy. Typical, white boy that thought he could do whatever he wanted and he said he had the worst time in Japan because they were so rude to him and didn't want to talk to him. But trust me, HE was the arrogant buffoon (because he is an arrogant buffoon); and the Japanese are like any other people, treat them right, and they'll treat you back.
I even had the oddest encounter at the public bath house where the guys there were more than happy to tell me the proper procedures for not following the proper etiquette. Kind of felt weird with all the naked guys (I would've much preferred women..) but I'm Korean. We also have public bath houses so it wasn't too out of the world for me.
The police are more than happy to assist the 'foreigners' as well.
Most 'officials' or employees in Tokyo (!) speak English to a very very very basic and rudimentary level.
Almost every train station has an English sign on it. Almost every train has English announcements. There are free maps in pretty much every station.
Tokyo is flippin' awesome in terms of being a foreigner. They're kind of used to it.
Kyoto was pretty good too. I didn't stay long enough to enjoy it, but for the time I was there I met really friendly people and the city itself is almost as good as Tokyo in terms of 'foreigner-friendliness'.
Nara was probably better than Kyoto for me. But I'm sort of the guy that likes to chilax and walk around on foot for miles on end and talking to random people. Nara also has a wicked student hostel that has English speakers as owners. Hot shower too.
Osaka... sadly I stayed at a really budget 'hotel' that was more like a 'prison'. Each room was a 2x4 tatami mat with a window just in case you want to throw yourself off the building. I was at 'south side' of Osaka, making it the cruddy red light district area... or so they say... although seeing old guys sell sex toys and porn at night on the streets was... well disturbing lol. The 'north side' is apparently where all the hotties were at, but I only stayed there a night after visiting the harbour for the whole day (which is way cleaner and metro).
Hokkaido - my sweet sweet Hokkaido. Frikkin' AWESOME. I loved it there. Too cold to move around and you need a taxi to get to places out of the CBD (central business district); but the city will let you have fun in the 'go crazy in shopping malls' way. There's lots of cool historical places to visit as well. I travelled during the snowing season and ... coming from a tropical island... goddamn how I missed the snow. I stayed at a hotel because it was the 'ski season' apparently and all the hostels were booked out. I slipped on the ice covered roads like... a bazillion times.
Tokyo-Hokkaido - that's... 6 hours of train. It's great. I loooove trains and the girls working the trains are friggin' friendly. Again, I was an Asian so maybe I got special treatment (as the retard who can't speak the language... lol) - I even got free food once lol.
Osaka-Hokkaido - 11 hours of train... omg I thought my legs were going to disintegrate and my butt implode. Mind you, this is when you thank the JR Pass - no waiting lines, no weeks long reservations... just pop in and demand first class service... ooo yeahhh...
Train employees - they're super friendly and more than ready to help a non-Japanese speaker. I was stuck in some middle of no where town in Hokkaido where the bloody train comes every few HOURS. Stupid me fell asleep lol. Anyway, the bloke that worked there spoke zero English, and he had to deal with a hoard of Chinese tourists, but he squeezed some time for me and got me sorted.
Baggage - okay, I thought I needed a big bag ... like a typical backpack, BIG OE style bag... but you don't. lol For 2 weeks honestly all you need is a backpack. Spare clothes CAN be bought in stores for cheap price (like... the x-number of malls in every other city... namely Tokyo). The big bag was pretty useful because I bought manga for the first time and I went crazy and bought the whole series for Lucky Star - I haven't seen anime until I planned to go to Japan... so... Lucky Star was the first anime I watched lol). Anyway, I met two fellas travelling for 6 months around Asia; and between the two of them, they had one big suitcase. They told me the same thing I'm telling you, buy clothes and other necessities in the country, and recycle or give them away when you're about to leave. You don't REALLY need all that... anything you want to keep just sent it via mail.
Internet - it's everywhere. Can't miss it.
Hokkaido - this island is not as developed in the ultra awesome stage as Tokyo. In fact, it's best to say that Tokyo has a public transport system that only heaven could match. The subways run... minute, and incredibly cheap for the distance you cover. But in Hokkaido... you don't get that. There's bus, taxi, JR rail, private means (car, foot etc.). Other than your own personal feet or car, the other means are very limited or expensive. Plan where you're going in Hokkaido...
Sorry I'm ranting. But yeah... I enjoyed my time there! My first serious encounter with anime and all things 'popular Japanese' in the West ... by going to Japan itself!