Tips for traveling to Japan?
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From: Phoenix
One quick note: I recommend that you DON'T bow. Bowing etiquette is intricate; the depth of the bow indicates your relative rank and various degrees of respect....and you will never bow to the correct angle, nor will you be expected to do so.
IMHO, be a good, polite Westerner instead of a really awful imitation of a Japanese. Do the things that you can to show cultural respect (proper business card etiquette, good manners, etc.) and leave the stuff that requires high degrees of intimacy with the culture to the natives.
You will find a currency exchange booths just outside of customs at the Tokyo and Osaka airports, so don't bother buying yen in the USA. The exchange rate here will be much worse than you will get in Japan. I was always on an expense account, so I didn't pay that much attention to airport vs. hotel vs. bank exchange rates...I believe that the airport was the best and the hotel was the worst, though.
As far as train stations go, I haven't had a problem. Go to the booth (everyone else will be their tickets from vending machines against the wall) and say where you want to go. The booth lady will point out the number on the ticket for the track that you need, then just keep walking up to policemen or strangers, show them the ticket, and go the direction that they point.
Remember that you will need to pay a departure fee before you get on your plane to leave Japan, so have extra yen left. IIRC, it was $20-25 (paid in yen) last time that I was there.
It is nothing but one big adventure.
IMHO, be a good, polite Westerner instead of a really awful imitation of a Japanese. Do the things that you can to show cultural respect (proper business card etiquette, good manners, etc.) and leave the stuff that requires high degrees of intimacy with the culture to the natives.
You will find a currency exchange booths just outside of customs at the Tokyo and Osaka airports, so don't bother buying yen in the USA. The exchange rate here will be much worse than you will get in Japan. I was always on an expense account, so I didn't pay that much attention to airport vs. hotel vs. bank exchange rates...I believe that the airport was the best and the hotel was the worst, though.
As far as train stations go, I haven't had a problem. Go to the booth (everyone else will be their tickets from vending machines against the wall) and say where you want to go. The booth lady will point out the number on the ticket for the track that you need, then just keep walking up to policemen or strangers, show them the ticket, and go the direction that they point.
Remember that you will need to pay a departure fee before you get on your plane to leave Japan, so have extra yen left. IIRC, it was $20-25 (paid in yen) last time that I was there.
It is nothing but one big adventure.
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From: palo alto
Dear Greg-San,
As a foreigner (American) who speaks Japanese and has lived in Japan for a few years, I have only one recommendation to make. To show your gratitude and respect to a Japanese person, always slightly bow your head, without eye contact (eyes softly cast downward), and say "doomo". This is one of the most beautiful words in Japanese. It will get you through even the most difficult situation. Before you hit the streets, practice saying "Doo-mo". The vowels in Japanese are pronounced the same as in Spanish. English pronounciation is :"Dough-mo". When spoken, the "d-o-u-g-h" is stretched out and the "mo" is short. If you wish to learn one word, this is it!
If you want to expand your vocabulary say: "Doomo arigato gozaimasu" or "thank you very much".
Japanese people study written English for years but do not often have the opportunity to hear native English. Thus, they will be delighted to listen to your "alive" English!
Most of all have fun! By the way, do you have extra room in your luggage?
Mrs. DBW [Lou Ellen]
As a foreigner (American) who speaks Japanese and has lived in Japan for a few years, I have only one recommendation to make. To show your gratitude and respect to a Japanese person, always slightly bow your head, without eye contact (eyes softly cast downward), and say "doomo". This is one of the most beautiful words in Japanese. It will get you through even the most difficult situation. Before you hit the streets, practice saying "Doo-mo". The vowels in Japanese are pronounced the same as in Spanish. English pronounciation is :"Dough-mo". When spoken, the "d-o-u-g-h" is stretched out and the "mo" is short. If you wish to learn one word, this is it!
If you want to expand your vocabulary say: "Doomo arigato gozaimasu" or "thank you very much".
Japanese people study written English for years but do not often have the opportunity to hear native English. Thus, they will be delighted to listen to your "alive" English!
Most of all have fun! By the way, do you have extra room in your luggage?
Mrs. DBW [Lou Ellen]
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From: eurostar
Originally posted by dbw
i'd advise against shorts and a tee shirt....even on vacation in the hottest part of august i usually wear fairly nice stuff..always have a tie handy....this shouldn't be taken the wrong way...when you get there you'll see..you'll stick out less and people will give you more respect..
...just remember to have the name of the place you'e staying[written in japanese]to show a cabbie if needed...
i'd advise against shorts and a tee shirt....even on vacation in the hottest part of august i usually wear fairly nice stuff..always have a tie handy....this shouldn't be taken the wrong way...when you get there you'll see..you'll stick out less and people will give you more respect..
...just remember to have the name of the place you'e staying[written in japanese]to show a cabbie if needed...
Also one thing that you have to know : VERY FEW people speak english, so be prepared to let strange sounds come out of your mouth, while moving your arms and eyes frantically, cause this will be the most common form of communication you'll be able to use!
I remember being in a 4-stories high skate & snowboard shop in Shibuya, and not finding a single clerk who could speak english!!!! (those 2 sports are DOMINATED by american influence, at 98%. If you don't speak english, you can't read the mags, understand the videos, etc...)
get the toy pictured in my sig...
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From: Austin
Originally posted by mingster
you MUST try out the McDonalds there, they've got some funky foods!
you MUST try out the McDonalds there, they've got some funky foods!
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From: eurostar
Oh, I forgot, go either to the SKI DOME or to some indoor surfing facility in tokyo, it's just too hilarious.
Here is a very blurry polaroid of me in "DEEP BLUE" or something similar, in Yokohama :
[img]aaarghh!!! PHOTOPOINT IS NO LONGER FREE!!! I can't upload new photos....
Here is a very blurry polaroid of me in "DEEP BLUE" or something similar, in Yokohama :
[img]aaarghh!!! PHOTOPOINT IS NO LONGER FREE!!! I can't upload new photos....
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: SF Bay Area
Some other notes from my last trip to Japan: The best
exchange rate I got was at the Citibank branch at
Akihabara. Just took a cash advance off my Citibank visa.
Food isn't that bad... most shops have a window display
with plastic replicas of what they serve. just point and
smile.
Definitely go for some ramen though. If you're
a sushi fan, try the fish market in Tokyo.
There are no real addresses in Tokyo... apparently it's
only used for mail. So the taxi drivers might not know
where to go, even with an address. Best way to navigate is
via landmarks. Hotels are usually good for landmark
recognition, same with large department stores and train
stations. Also, the trains/subways are a lot cheaper than
taxis. I only took the taxi once with my friend (cost us $36
US) and we ended up taking the train back cuz the station
happened to be 5 min walking distance. doh hehe.
Prepare yourself for the onslaught of the crowds. Lots of
people. Taking the train during peak commute hours is...
interesting.
Oh, typically, keep to the left when going up stairs or
on an escalator. people in a hurry will pass on the right.
Finally - smile at all the lovely lasses there.
exchange rate I got was at the Citibank branch at
Akihabara. Just took a cash advance off my Citibank visa.
Food isn't that bad... most shops have a window display
with plastic replicas of what they serve. just point and
smile.
Definitely go for some ramen though. If you're a sushi fan, try the fish market in Tokyo.
There are no real addresses in Tokyo... apparently it's
only used for mail. So the taxi drivers might not know
where to go, even with an address. Best way to navigate is
via landmarks. Hotels are usually good for landmark
recognition, same with large department stores and train
stations. Also, the trains/subways are a lot cheaper than
taxis. I only took the taxi once with my friend (cost us $36
US) and we ended up taking the train back cuz the station
happened to be 5 min walking distance. doh hehe.
Prepare yourself for the onslaught of the crowds. Lots of
people. Taking the train during peak commute hours is...
interesting.
Oh, typically, keep to the left when going up stairs or
on an escalator. people in a hurry will pass on the right.
Finally - smile at all the lovely lasses there.