Living there can be quite rewarding as teaching English there is a very cushy job. I just adore places that never sleeps or switch off their lights.
WHAT!? -shock Where did you friend went to? I've been to Japan also twice and I can't get enough of it because there's so much to see and experience. Sure, if one is afraid of getting lost and hence staying in the area where one life instead of getting around, it can be boring yeah. -unsure Any chance it's the Hong Kong travel style; drop the tourist in the shopping malls/outlets, eat Chinese in Japan, Disneyland, and drop them again in shopping malls? If yes, no wonder...
I KNOW! The tourist group travelling is SOOO boring. So I backpacked to Japan, Osaka + Nagoya + Tokyo = 15 days. Considering I don't speak/comprehend a lot of Japanese, I think it's not too difficult a place to travel. Even though they don't have English for most of the instructions & signs, it's pretty much enough if you read Chinese (the kanji characters) Plus, people are really patient when I ask for directions (since the address system in Japan is kind of complicated) -- given that you know a wee bit of Japanese of course -- since the person will tell you like 3-5 times until you understand. Really helpful Not in Tokyo though :( And it's a pretty safe place to travel, so long as you don't stay out in club areas at 2 o'clock (who does that in a foreign place anyway, plus, taxi fare back to the hostel/hotel/accommodation is so expensive!), my friend and I (2 girls) didn't have any problems around there.
Heh, one thing is for sure, the HK style group traveling is boring and shows you nothing about the country. The first time I went with a Dutch specialized travel agency with a tour leader who'd been working/living in Japan for years and who hates tourists (!) except for his own small group. He took us to places other travel agencies would skip and we've visited tiny villages where they still aren't used seeing gaijins/kwailoo's. I dare to say I've seen a bit of authentic rural Japanese life. Can't read chinese/kanji myself but when my best friend (girl and gaijin) and I got lost in Tokyo, there were different people trying to help us despite the language barrier. Eventually a perfect English speaking Japanese guy (a hotty btw) in suit+ briefcase came to us and offered to help us out when he saw us looking helplessly with the map. We're sure that he would even had paid us our taxi if we hadn't our own money and proudness... Oh yeah, our tour leader also took us to the 'dangerous' area's where there's gigolo's at work but they didn't dare to approach us, the gaijins. (+1 Chinese, me) Also, when the tour leader discretely pointed out the gigolo's for me and my friend the first time, I had to laugh out hard because they were UGLY ducks! Not exactly the creme de la creme like in the YouTube vids posted somewhere here about the hosts. Anyway, with some common sense when traveling alone you can't bump your head in Japan.
wow, backpacking is awesome! Wow! You did backpacking! I'm really full of envy and admiration to those who do backpacking!!! Wonder when I would ever get a chance to do that myself... I would lurve to visit Japan too! It's too beautiful there! But sadly there is a lot of pollution in Tokyo as well! Wahhah!
I love Nihon!!! Same, once i graduated im gonna live there. The place is beautiful and clean and the people are the most politest people you will ever meet. I really look up to them *switches on Yoda voice* Nihon lover i am, yes.
I do agree that they are fascinatingly polite and helpful people -- though my experience in Osaka had been better than uber-urban Tokyo. They somehow seems to have unlimited patience dealing with non-Japanese. And yes, seeing real Japanese on a street did burst my bubble for thinking Japan in the J-dorama way -- not everyone is handsome/cool/good-looking, but most of them seem quite content. I guess it's all that matters.
once... four years ago.... i cant believe people walking on the streets r holding an ashtray when they r smoking... ________ X3
