went there when I was like 10.. and the living expenses were high. A bowl of noodle was like ard USD 10.. ended up hanging ard 7-11 eating cup noodles.. but it was fun!
*me, envious..* didnt have enough money this spring, but next year Im going back. for a longer period. I dindt find people in tokyo rude, its just a huge city, and people are little more distant. still, name one city that size that is better. there are none, its a miracle, the way that city works, without the drugs and violence and dirty looks and agression, that the others have. I havent felt unsafe at all, anywhere in japan.
^ hmm.. you probably a guy then.. considering the perverted stuff coming from there.. I wouldn't call it safe with all the pinhole cameras..
yeah, I went to Japan last July to visit one of my friends out there. I was in a slummy part of Osaka, and like someone said earlier, you really don't feel unsafe there. The slummy parts of town are still so friendly and safe. I want to go back and enjoy everything.
yea I hear women can have some problems sometimes, not so much with rapists, it does happen but very little compared to anywhere really, but mostly with drunken men who try to hit on you. its all pretty harmless though. and the fatc that strange sexual behaviour is not taboo, doesnt mean its accepted eighter. its juts not forcefully repressed by public opinion. it means that pervs have less reason to be frustrated and go nuts or try to act out their fantasies.
Been there 6 times.... proberly many more times since the wife is japanese.. great place... I love the Kansai area.. I find japan is relativily safe... but then again if you don't know the area you odn't know what to look out for
I have been in Tokyo. Great experience. But must say that it is really expensive city. And the locals don't speak English
It's not necessary! It depends on where you stay, eat and how you travel really! Stay at a small hotel/ryokan just outside the town (but close enough to a subway) as it seldom happens Japanese will offer you bad service no matter how small their business is. Don't travel by taxi but take the much cheaper -and often easier- metro. Japanese taxi drivers don't speak English and while some of them have a navigation system it usually won't help you much because your destiny is often not in the system and unless you can speak Japanese and can give them the right directions, it's not recommended to take a taxi if there are alternatives. (+Japanese cities often don't have street names...) Food: Unless you have money to burn, never go inside a restaurant without a menu price on the outside. Tiny family restaurants/noodle shops near a station are cheap and surprisingly enough of great quality. + Supermarkets will reduce their fresh food near the closing time after 6pm. Great food, nothing wrong with it! CNN Business Traveller with Richard Quest also showed the same tips for the business people going to Tokyo without a big budget. I believe he could do with about 100 US dollar a day? And he still stayed at a big hotel. (and in theory I could do with even less, but I can never save money if I see all those delicious candies, cookies, snacks and other food + Sanrio stuff...) And about the locals not speaking English: let Japanese people (maybe hotel staff or information desk at the airport) write down the address for you if there is an address or at least a location and name etc.
lol.. im not even talking abt being molested or sth.. Im talking abt becoming some star in a voyeur video.. now.. does that mean sth to you? harmless? haha.. think twice dude.. Thanks for the tip! Will come in handy.. I hope
Been to Osaka once. Can't remember whats it like. Would love to stay there for a month or so, to get the real flavor of Japanese lifestyle.
Ive been to Japan twice, both times as a 6 week exchange student cos my mum wanted me to improve my jap since i study it at school, really worked! Still keep in touch with my host family, they treat me as if i'm really a member of their family! Love japan soo much! Lovely people, best shopping venue EVER and the place with all the good food you can wish for, while most of it is healthy/low in fat at the same time!
Ofcourse they get English classes but it's another thing to speak and understand it from a foreigner. Most graduate students will understand you but they can't express themselves in a sufficient way. That's why English private lessons are very popular over there and that's how I met a Japanese friend: I wanted to go to the Fuji Rock Festival and she posted a message she has 1 ticket for a Western female to companion her so she can practice her English. I wanted that ticket as the tix for non-residents were sold out and it's much easier if you go with a local so I don't have to worry about travelling to a festival site on my own. She also told me this problem: there are quite a lot English speaking peeps on her uni, but they all speak Japanese to her so she can't really practice the language. Haha, and later on she told me she's glad it was an Asian female who reacted on her message and not a real gajin as Asians have some things in common and I can still 'teach' her the daily usage of some phrases and slang. + the Japanese mentality is that they don't want themselves nor you to 'lose face' and if you ask them the road in English, they'd rather point you to the wrong way than telling you they actually don't now! So we have been warned to be careful with the help of the Japanese, 'coz they avoid direct 'no's'/negative answers, even if you don't mind it. (it's just not done to say 'no' in Japan!!!) -shock
I've been in Japan one month and I loved it. Soooo cool and everyone was so nice. The most beautiful experience was to see sakura tree blooming in Kyoto =)
