Goin to Japan in a week..

[Zash]

As the title states, I am going to Japan in one week for a study tour. It lasts one month. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice they could give me before i went?

[Yoshio]

if you go into an anime store, be wary of the top floors, as i found out they were almost always filled with hentai/porn (as well as a bunch of socially challenged guys who probably haven't touched a woman since weening)

[Samurai Drifter]

GO TO AKIHABARA. That place is amazing. I especially recommend checking out Tora no Ana, every otaku should go there at least once. The basement is hentai, though.

Watch out for cars in Tokyo. I'm amazed I never got hit by one. Also, there are usually English guides available for the subway systems, so look for those. The JR lines are pretty difficult to navigate if you don't know the area.

Also check out the usual places like the Ginza and the top of the Tokyo Tower, and riding the giant ferris wheel in Odaiba. I think it's the second largest in the world. It was cloudy when I rode it, but I've heard that on a clear day you can see Mt. Fuji from the top.

[MagicianCamille]

Beware of Japanese people. They are EVERYWHERE.

You have been warned.

[Rain]

Have fun. Oh, and buy me some unagi rolls.

[MIKE123]

If you go to Harajuku make sure you carry some sort of weapon with you. Last time I went there my friends and I got jumped by some homeboys. Luckily the friends I was with called the cops before we got our ***** pounded for not buying their gangster clothing.

I hope you know atleast basic Japanese, try not to rely on English too much. Oh yeah, and don't tip..they don't tip in Japan. Just enjoy the totally different culture, you'll love it.

[Magami No ER]

I'm going there next week as well, though not for a month...I hear'll be most hot & humid. Stay cool.
Wonder when that ol' Lunar calendar Bon festival is starting there, that'd be a nice site to see as well.

[Yoshio]

i forgot for a moment how hot the summer gets, so make sure that when a store/wherever offers you a promotional fan, keep it, you have no idea how much good it will do you when you are walking the streets, also bring a towel with you if you are going to do any long walking (it's for wiping up sweat)

[mecegirl]

I hope you have fun! Take lots of pictures and post them on AN.

[LostCause]

If you are a guy, feel free to wear pink! Its ok there.

Or at least thats what my dad keeps telling me, when I question his fashion sense. -_-;

Go with an open mind and enjoy your stay.

[Ageha]

I'm going there next week as well, though not for a month...I hear'll be most hot & humid. Stay cool.
Wonder when that ol' Lunar calendar Bon festival is starting there, that'd be a nice site to see as well.

It can be absurdly hot and humid here (at least to this girl from central Illinois), so buy a hand towel (you can do that here, so don't waste luggage space) and wear it around your neck. Don't worry about looking weird, because just about everyone else does it, too. Yoshio mentioned the promotional fans (in this case the fans are uchiwa, which are round) and those are great as well. If you don't get a free one off someone, you can easily find them in 100 yen stores or convinience stores.

Obon is in mid-August, so a warning to anyone coming here: traveling will be hectic, as much of the country is on the move. It's one of the three big travel times here in Japan (the other two are Golden Week and Christmas/New Years), so be ready for heavy traffic and large crowds.

If you are a guy, feel free to wear pink! Its ok there.

Or at least thats what my dad keeps telling me, when I question his fashion sense. -_-;....

It's true, pink is perfectly acceptable on guys here. In fact, fashion tends to be on the metrosexual side. ;p

[MagicianCamille]

Pssssh, hand towel. If you can't handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

[Ageha]

Pssssh, hand towel. If you can't handle the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

I don't understand the sarcasm...plenty of people use them here. As much as I'd love to keep from sweating, it seems my body has quite a different idea about it. I realize sweat is a way to keep cool, but being covered in it isn't anymore enjoyable.

[KuroiKenshi]

im going to japan in a week too! but for a whole year

hey ageha are they sending you to JET orientation? haha

[fujyoshi]

have fun there and make sure that you go to Akihabara. I wish I could come with you >.<

[Laharu]

know eating etiquette. It's very important. You will look like a fool if you break food rules.

[Ageha]

im going to japan in a week too! but for a whole year

hey ageha are they sending you to JET orientation? haha

Sending? Nah, you apply. Didn't send a request to go.

[GokuMew2]

It'll be hot and humid. Probably more humid than hot. Take the tissues with advertisements that people hand out. They'll come in handy for wiping off sweat. Promo uchiwa's are great too, but a drag when you don't need them.

I can't remember what they're called, but they sell this ice cream that you kinda suck up/drink (as opposed to a cone). BUY THEM. You shouldn't have a problem finding them since they're in practically every conbini. They're really good for keeping cool.

ALWAYS have 100 yen coins on you. They make the world go round. You'll need quite a few of them, especially if you want to buy water from the vending machines. A bottle averages 120 yen. Oh, and it's incredibly hard to get rid of 1 yen coins....

If you go to Ikebukuro, make sure to check out the Sega place on Sunshine Street. They've got the best anime plushies and they're really easy to get since you can ask a staffer to move the one you want closer to the hole. Just catch the attention of one of the workers with a "sumimasen" and point to the one you want. They'll know what you mean. (I once got 9 plushies in one night from this place. Couldn't have cost me more than 1200 yen.)

Again, if you're in Ikebukuro, Animate's the place to go since Ikebukuro is their main store. 8 floors of anime goodness, though the 8th floor is an event floor so there may or may not be something on display there. 7th floor or somewhere up there is yaoi floor.

The JR trains are pretty easy to navigate around. Just look on the chart, see where you wanna go, and check the price that's listed there, and pay for the ticket. The Yamanote line that connects much of Tokyo is by far the most popular with a train coming on one of the two tracks about every 2 minutes. If you're gonna be using a cell phone, make sure to change it to manner mode (silent) when on trains and such places. The trains are usually well ventilated so you can cool off while getting to wherever you wanna go.

You'll most likely be doing a LOT of walking so bring some comfortable shoes. If you find a Bic Camera around, try going in and search out the floor with the massage chairs. H-E-A-V-E-N. Not sure if all the stores have 'em but the one near the Sunshine Street exit at Ikebukuro Station does.

SHOWER every day. It's amazing how gross you can get in one day in Japan during summer.

If you don't understand something, you can ask people for directions but they only understand basic English. Most of them are nice about it though and usually try to help you out. You can also try to find a kouban, which is like a tiny one-room police station. There's usually only one officer and they help people with directions and such. I'm Asian and kinda blend in with the natives so I had to put on a foreign act so the people don't use too much Japanese on me. (Though I do understand a lot of Japanese, I'm shy to actually speak it.) So if you're Asian, just really emphasize your foreign-ness.

You'll be surprised how crowded it is at shopping places every day, every TIME of the day. It's like the people don't go to work or something! Hehe.

Check out the posters in train stations. They might amuse you. Quite a few about how they don't tolerate harassment, etc.


Um, yeah, that's it for now.
Most of my knowledge comes from the Ikebukuro area since that's where I stayed the entire time I was there. Of course I did travel around, but I walked through Ikebukuro every day. Hope this helps, and have fun!


EDIT: One more thing, it's nearly impossible to find a trash can so try not to have so much stuff to throw away. And if you find a trash can, UNLOAD. It'll be a while til you find another one. Or you can go into a store or something and ask them for the "gomibako" (trash can).

It's funny cuz the place is still incredibly clean even though there are barely any trash cans around. If you go to Tokyo Disneyland, you'll find a trash can every 3 feet!

Okay, I lied, ONE more thing. There's no fee to exchange money so don't feel pressured to exchange all your money for yen all at once. The only thing is that the banks close kinda early so do it in the morning. I can't remember if they're open weekends or not. I don't think they are though.

[lord_jinnai]

listen to Gokumew.
He is a soothsayer. couldnt have said it better.

regrettably because you did not mention where you are going or what stops you will be making . we can only assume and give the best information on what we have of the most popular places.

[GokuMew2]

listen to Gokumew.
He is a soothsayer. couldnt have said it better.
Psst~ I'm a girl. .^^; Don't let the nick fool you. It's old.

[Char Aznable]

Well, I have to say since you in japan for a month, make sure to visit all of the islands. As i am currently stationed in japan, ive seen most of honshu,some of hokkaido and ive been to Iwo Jima.

I havent made it to the southern have of honshu like Nagasaki and such but im going to make my way down south when i get a chance.

And i would have to agree Akihabara rocks.

The main advice ide give to you is simple:Explore as much as you can, while you can. Because you never when you'll be back.

[Zash]

Ahh thanks for all the advice. I heard it got hot in Japan this time of year..but not this hot lol. I am pretty nervous though but I'm cramming Japanese in my head like mad lol. It's gonna be very amusing when I go to language school because they teach in Japanese lol. However, the train ride there is 1 hour long >_<

[Ageha]

Well, I have to say since you in japan for a month, make sure to visit all of the islands. As i am currently stationed in japan, ive seen most of honshu,some of hokkaido and ive been to Iwo Jima.

I havent made it to the southern have of honshu like Nagasaki and such but im going to make my way down south when i get a chance.

And i would have to agree Akihabara rocks.

The main advice ide give to you is simple:Explore as much as you can, while you can. Because you never when you'll be back.


Come down to Shikoku if you can! I realize it's not exactly on the top of anyone's list of tourist destinations, but it's quite pretty. :)

[hiroaki]

　　　　∧＿∧
　　　 （ﾟ∀ﾟ　 ）ー┐ しつこくしっこく！
　　　　しヽ　　　し′
　　　　彡 >　　彡)　
　　　　　 /　 /　/
　　　　 （＿（＿_）
　　　　∧＿∧　
　┌ー（ 　ﾟ∀ﾟ）しっこくしっこく！
　 丶Ｊ　　　/Ｊ
　　 ( ﾐ　　 <　ﾐ
　　 丶 丶　丶
　　　（_＿）＿）

Shikoku Bilingual Guidebook (http://www.kagawa-jc.ac.jp/~steve_mc/shikoku/)

[Burbster]

Come down to Shikoku if you can! I realize it's not exactly on the top of anyone's list of tourist destinations, but it's quite pretty. :)
I love shikoku. I remember my brief stay of a few days in Mishima, before it merged and changed it's name.

[Starchild]

As the title states, I am going to Japan in one week for a study tour. It lasts one month. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice they could give me before i went?When you ride Shinkansen, you must take off your shoes. That's the way of Japanese.

Kyahhoooooooo.

[KuroiKenshi]

Come down to Shikoku if you can! I realize it's not exactly on the top of anyone's list of tourist destinations, but it's quite pretty. :)

speaking of shikoku....

i was thinking of motorcycling through it (once i get my paycheck and a bike). got any suggestions for really scenic roads and/or places to check out?

[Ageha]

speaking of shikoku....

i was thinking of motorcycling through it (once i get my paycheck and a bike). got any suggestions for really scenic roads and/or places to check out?

Well, admittedly I haven't been to most of Kochi (except for the city itself and a short distance away from it) and what I've seen of Ehime was from the train on the way to Matsuyama, but I don't think it really matters. It's pretty no matter where you go, once you're in the moutains. I'm particularly fond of Iya Valley in Tokushima though, in the areas near the kazurashibashi and Tsurugisan. :)

[TheDemonSlayer]

As the title states, I am going to Japan in one week for a study tour. It lasts one month. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice they could give me before i went?
Just one phrase, " Have a great time!". I hope I'll be able to do it one day too....

[hiroaki]

speaking of shikoku....

i was thinking of motorcycling through it (once i get my paycheck and a bike). got any suggestions for really scenic roads and/or places to check out?

お遍路さんとしてお接待受ける。それか俺んち来い。lol

http://gnl.cplaza.ne.jp/walking/img_sikoku/map_all.png (http://gnl.cplaza.ne.jp/walking/sikoku.html)

I love shikoku. I remember my brief stay of a few days in Mishima, before it merged and changed it's name.

it's Shikokuchūō shi

[Ninja337]

My suggestion:

Don't focus too much on getting as much anime merchandise and stuff as you can. You can take note of things you see that you like and buy them online a little cheaper possibly. Try to expirience as much Japanese culture as you can, and don't just focus on the superficial stuff like Shibuya and Akihbarha (or however you spell that damn name). Try seeing historical sites like Osaka Castle, and temples like the ones in Kamakura. Historic sites should probubly be #1 priority because of the small ammount that are still surviving and stuff.

If you like Japan this time, go to China. People might be mad at me for saying this but China is alot more fun to visit than Japan. China is modernizing too fast and old China is disapearing very quickly. If you want to go to China and see alot of pretty old buildings, go now.

[master terrence]

different clothing companies there, take advantage.

Other than that, you know how to go through immigration and stuff right? have you traveled to a foreign country before? (but if it is a study tour, you may be safe... unless your studying alone and if your under a certain age, you can claim assistance and skip all the lines)

[KuroiKenshi]

お遍路さんとしてお接待受ける。それか俺んち来い。lol




行く行く!

introduce me to some cute girls hahaha