So basically my parents just told me as a graduation gift for

>>1218068
read the sticky and stop letting your parents have a say in the trip.
YOU are going there, and if YOU can't 100% decide what you want to do there, it's goping to be shit.

>>1218068
Stay in a hostel, fuck your dad. Who stays with a host family if they're over 20? kinda weird.
You have 4-6 months you should be able to do more than one class. There's plenty of resources online.
There's also a giant fucking sticky

>>1218198
totally this.
Do your own thing. Travelling is all about independence and freedom and exploring the world.
Being dependent, not free to do whatever the fuck you want and not being able to explore because you have to stay with a host family while going to classes every day is bullshit

File: ryosuke drinking tea.gif (2MB, 400x300px) Image search: [Google]

2MB, 400x300px

>>1218068
>OP begins with "So basically my parents"

>>1218199
>Independence and freedom
Parent's money
kek

>>1218225
That was the point of the post, that he can't have all the freedom and independence when he is dependent on his paremts

>>1218248
>>1218225
>>1218220
Do you faggots realize how much money it takes to travel overseas? Especially to a place like Japan? Easily $10,000 to $12,000 if not more. I don't have that kind of cash, and it's kind of nice my parents are paying for me to experience something not many people get to experience.

Also I said 2-6 months but I'm probably just planning to spend about 2 months in Japan during a Summer session, and I found a reputable company that has affordable prices and professionalism in coordinating going to Japan.

>>1218198
I wasn't aware it was weird for someone in their 20's to stay with a host family? I mean what is the average age of people who stay with host families? 18-20? Is that the average age of people who travel to Japan? I figured that was kind of young to travel overseas by yourself.

>>1218199
>>1218192
I won't have as much freedom because I'm traveling to Japan through a program, and the program kind of decides how things go. Like they say I'll get to explore and what not, but they either provide you with a host family or a dormitory.

I can see the advantages to saying with a host family though, it's more immersive and you can live with a Japanese family in a Japanese home. Seems like staying in a dorm isn't as immersive as it would be if you were staying with a native family of Japan.

>>1218331
>through a program

You may call me a faggot but at the end you are the one who is going on a trip that will be absolutely disastrous. The longer you reject the truth, the worse your trip will get.
You are a pathetic, spoilt and inexperienced kid and if you want to learn it the hard way, go ahead.


And in the future, stop asking for advice when all you want is validation

>>1218333
>Calls someone an pathetic, spoiled, and inexperienced kid
>Doesn't even know what he's talking about

I think you're being a hypocrite to elevate yourself above me, frankly we know nothing about each other but you seem to be just as much of a brat as you're claiming me to be. So from your perspective if ANYONE goes overseas it should be with their own funds, and they should plan everything themselves? I guess that has merit, but not everyone can do that.

I mean more power to you if you can afford spending tens of thousands of dollars on a trip but these programs exist to make things more affordable and organized, and I've read dozens of reviews from people who used these programs and had a great time. Stop being a negative Nancy, if and when you go overseas then you can do it your way but don't chastise me for doing it a different way then you would.

As for advice, well that's subjective since you can give me advice but it doesn't mean I have to agree with it because quite frankly I do not. Your "advice" is basically you berating me and disagreeing with my methods. And I'm not looking for validation, I accept that you have your own opinion and you don't like the way I'm approaching this trip, that's fine but likewise I don't have to agree with what you're saying either.

Agree to disagree, and I suppose I am inexperienced but so are most people when they go overseas for the first time. Sure you can study the country and learn it's customs but full on immersion is better for that, I seriously doubt people who go to another country for the first time act like they know anything and everything about it. You sound really full of yourself honestly, don't act so arrogant in the future because it makes you come off as a massive ass.

>>1218331
You can spend a month there for $3000 easily if you're not a retard

>>1218336
No, the trips exist to make a profit off of old people and the occasional stray retard like you who don't realise how much better and cheaper it is if you spend a couple days doing some research and make your own itinerary and arrangements.

>>1218350
>>1218349
Well even if that is the case, you can't dismiss the fact that there are advantages to these programs. It's more of a formal learning experience with leisure as a side objective. Also you'd be with other Americans and people like myself who aren't familiar with the country, I like to think it's nice to be around people like that so you don't feel alone in a big unfamiliar country.

Going by yourself seems really intimidating to me, you can't speak the language, you don't know anyone in Japan. I mean, you're kind of just going over there with no kind of help or guidance. At least the programs have formal orientation and people who can speak English plus Japanese and they can explain things to you and get you somewhat settled in. I just think you people are really over-looking how hard it is to travel to a foreign country for the first time, especially by yourself.

Money be damned, I don't mind forking out extra cash if my first experience could be pleasant and comfortable, compared to someone who just goes over to Japan by themselves with no knowledge of the country, culture, or language. Not saying you can't plan out your trip, but it's still comforting to know you're with other people like yourself and kind at least make some friends and have people to hang out with. What am I going to do? Just go to Japan by myself and walking around alone like a loser tourist who can't communicate with anyone?

>>1218353
Get an airbnb with a friendly host and take advantage of various ways of meeting welcoming japanese people to socialise with and get advice from, instead of following a herd of dimwitted americans around a sanitised, tacky, and overpriced guided tour

>>1218354
>Overpriced guided tour

Maybe I'm not explaining this right, go look up KCP International. That is the program I was planning to use, it's for college students and you end up taking a couple of classes for 2-3 months with dedicated instructors. Also everything is planned out, you get to enjoy tea ceremonies, travel to hot springs, see temples, kabuki theater, firework festivals, etc. And you get to experience all this while learning the language in a formal setting, plus I'd be with people my own age. The program just helps college students organize the trip, and get things situated. You talk as if I'm going on some old-folk retiree tour guide, and that's not the case. It's a program for young college students/college graduates, and I've heard nothing bad about it based off reviews from people who used that program.

Everyone had an unforgettable experience, got to learn Japanese in an immersive environment, as well as the culture of Japan through native residents and dedicated instructors.

>>1218349
You can spend a month for 1500 easily as well. 3000 is actually pretty comfortable.

>>1218357
Yeah, but this guy is seriously mentally challenged so I had to make allowances

>>1218355
The fact that you think that you will be able to speak at least 2 sentences of japanese after 2-3 months under any condition just shows that you are not only clueless about everything, bit your problem is that you refuse to get out of your comfort zone. Everyone on here told you that your plan is literally the worst thing you can do and you are protecting your plan like your life depends on it.
You are insecure and want to experience "something new" while at the same time not having to face anything new. It's not only that you are afraid to face new and unexpected challenges, you are fighting the option of something that is doomed to be working perfectly fine but being something you are not used to yet.
Fotget about the whole thing until you are even remotely ready to go abroad.
This board is full of travellers with an ungodly amount of experience and people who have yet to experience the world , but these people are at least ready for it and, this might be a hard pill for you to swallow, you are not ready AT ALL.
Forget about it, move on with your life, get drunk, get high, have sex on a strangers party while your dick won't go hard because you are too intoxicated and you end up just smoking a joint, looking at the stars and eventually puking because you have yet to grow up

>>1218331
>$10,000 to $12,000
wtf

Monitoring this thread.
Please keep on telling OP he is a stupid faggot - and please make sure to go into detail why that is.

OP you're fucking stupid.

>>1218372
>The fact that you think that you will be able to speak at least 2 sentences of japanese after 2-3 months under any condition just shows that you are not only clueless about everything,

I think it's impressive that you're essentially saying that NOBODY should go to Japan or another country unless they're ready, and yet every year MILLIONS of tourists will go these countries without any kind of experience with said country. You're the one who sounds moronic here, you expect me to believe a first time traveler to another country is expected to know everything about the country they're traveling to? Also I would be spending 2 months learning the language in a formal setting from dedicated instructors, you're fucking stupid if you think I won't learn 2 sentences of Japanese in 2-3 months in a formal educational setting from dedicated instructors.

Also your post really makes me think you're quite full of yourself, even if you have lots of experience traveling you're still being an arrogant ass about it. Your whole perspective on traveling is strange, like you just feel that nobody should travel unless they've gone through extensive training of some kind which is stupid since nobody does that. I've personally read people's accounts of traveling overseas with no experience or knowledge of that country, nor had they ever gone overseas before and they had a great time.

>>1218393
It's just a clash of perspective and opinions, and really there's only ONE guy in this thread that is adamant about telling me I'm wrong. And frankly I'm going to end up spending $6,500 to $7,500 for 8 weeks in Japan but that includes meals, room and board, travel expenses, orientation material, class materials, and other expenses. And when I looked up round trip airline tickets from US to Japan it was around $1,000 to $1,500, I mean maybe I'm just not looking in the right place but most major airlines charge around $1,000 for a roundtrip ticket to Japan.

>>1218397
>there's only ONE guy in this thread that is adamant about telling me I'm wrong


The big majority of posts so far have told you that you're wrong, some just coat it nicer than others.

>I mean maybe I'm just not looking in the right place but most major airlines charge around $1,000 for a roundtrip ticket to Japan.

Check momondo

also AMA I guess

>>1218331
I spent 4000$ for 7 weeks there

>>1218372
>Forget about it, move on with your life, get drunk, get high, have sex on a strangers party while your dick won't go hard because you are too intoxicated and you end up just smoking a joint, looking at the stars and eventually puking because you have yet to grow up

Also way to force a lifestyle onto a stranger, you don't know me, who are you to tell me I haven't grown up? Maybe from your perspective I haven't, but I could easily say the same about you. Either way we're both strangers who know nothing about each other. For instance I don't care to smoke, drink, party, get drunk, or have sex with strangers. I'm a pretty straight edge vanilla kind of guy, and lots of folks are like that, it doesn't mean I haven't "grown up" just because I don't follow a particular lifestyle that you believe represents "maturity"

"Oh yeah go get drunk, do drugs, fuck strangers, and shit like that. Now you're a mature adult."

Yeah buddy, great perception of maturity you have there. A good way to learn is from mistakes, and if you believe I'm making a mistake then I'll simply learn from making my own mistakes after this is all over. You can tell me I'm making a mistake, but I don't believe I am and it's better for me to realize it on my own. I don't care if you've been to Japan 50 times, you're not really helping with your "vast knowledge" of traveling by being an arrogant selfish dick.

>>1218402
>arrogant selfish dick

You have come off the same way - and you are the one seeking help and advice here.

Is this the level of organization skill and self-sustainability the average American college graduate has?

No wonder China and Russia are winning

>>1218405
I fail to see how I'm being worse than you (Or if you're not him) I'm arguing with someone who seems to think he knows everything about overseas travel and tourism, and even if he does he isn't really coming off as polite about it. This essentially all started because I stated my "parents" were funding my trip, and that apparently in his eyes means the trip is set to be a disaster which is stupid. Lots of people I imagine go overseas as a gift from their parents, why does it matter who is funding it? I'm sorry I don't want to blow $4000 to $6000 or how ever much it costs for 2 months in Japan, and I'm sorry I'm using programs that let students experience other countries with an organized layout.

>>1218406
And here's another one

>"Oh he doesn't plan his own trips and use his own money? Must be a moron."
>"He doesn't have the cash to go overseas on his own, ha"

You people really have a strange perception of things, you honestly think everyone plans all their trips by themselves? Because I know plenty of people who didn't do that. Also are you aware of how many Americans specifically have NEVER left the country? It's quite high actually, it's pretty rare to experience going to another country, and the majority that go to another country USUALLY go through some sort of international program like a study aboard program, or a tourism/education/business program. I can't believe you people think it's common for people to just CASUALLY go to other countries, the only people who this are people who have the money to fund their own way.

How many college graduates do you know that funded their own way to another country? I'd love to hear it, are any of you in your 20's or college graduates who just funded your own way with ZERO HELP from any outside sources? Go on and humor me, it'll be fun. Even if you say you did I'd call bullshit, but it'd be interesting to know.

>>1218410
Nah man its not about the funding at all here. At least not for me (and I doubt most posters in this thread)

You're correct. Getting this as a gift from your parents is awesome - and I think that you owe it to them that you don't waste their money on a bad program that is not only not cost-efficient but also heavily limits you in your traveling experience.

But hey maybe you have made up your mind - as it seems. You want to travel there using one of these programs. Good.
Now what else do you want us to tell you or answer for you?

>>1218406
MY SIDES MY SIDES WHY IS THIS SO TRUE HAHAHAHA

>>1218355
>>1218397
If you think programs for college students are any different from old-folk retiree guided tours, you're in for a surprise. I guess there's more drinking involved, but you'll be in just as big a bubble separating you from the actual Japan - like you've said, everything is planned out, and that's the problem. You're not learning any "real Japanese culture through native residents and dedicated instructors", you're getting the easily palatable and cherry-picked "cultural museum exhibit" version tailored to foreigners.
>$6,500 to $7,500 for 8 weeks in Japan but that includes meals, room and board, travel expenses, orientation material, class materials, and other expenses.
That's still a fuckton of money that doesn't even include what you'll spend on various whims and nightlife. You're overpaying like crazy.
>And when I looked up round trip airline tickets from US to Japan it was around $1,000 to $1,500, I mean maybe I'm just not looking in the right place but most major airlines charge around $1,000 for a roundtrip ticket to Japan.
Read the sticky and use the search engines listed + ITA Matrix. 1k is the dumb goy/"grandpa just died and I have to be there tomorrow" fee. 500 is easy and you still can go lower.

>>1218411
Well obviously I'm going to show the program to my parents and discuss it with them, it's not like I have 100% committed to this program, but I am leaning towards it because I think it has great reviews, track record, and is reputable. Honestly it seems most people on this board are against these "travel programs" and I suppose I can understand why, but for a first time traveler I don't see the harm in it if it helps you get organized and situated in a new country for a couple of months.

And I can understand planning your own trip is half the fun, but frankly it can be scary and exhausting. Some people hire travel planners to help them, or use programs that deal with all the organizing. The reason I don't just plan it myself is because I don't speak the language, I don't know anyone in Japan who can assist me, and I'd rather go with people my own age who speak English and be around people who can assist me. You people are essentially suggesting I go to a foreign country by myself with no knowledge of the language or understanding of how things work over there.

That just sounds stupid, so let's say get over there, arrive at my hotel or whatever and then what? I can go explore the city and just walk around, but I won't be able to communicate with anyone, I won't be able to really order food or ask for things, I won't be able to communicate with anyone. I suppose I can just ignore everyone and stick to my itinerary, but it sounds quite lonely spending 8 weeks in a foreign country with nobody to talk to, and be friends with.

I just think the way you people see travel is kind of morbid and depressing, I'd rather travel with someone else because in my mind traveling with friends, or making friends is a lot of fun and I can't really do that if I just go there by myself.

>>1218417
>If you think programs for college students are any different from old-folk retiree guided tours, you're in for a surprise. I guess there's more drinking involved, but you'll be in just as big a bubble separating you from the actual Japan

Well what would you suggest? Just out of curiosity, just planning the entire trip myself? Also my budget is $10,000, and I'm not saying it's hard to budget a trip and I'm also not saying it isn't hard work but one guy in this thread said he spent 7 weeks in Japan on $4,000 which is kind of impressive but I'm assuming he either knew someone, or knew what channels to go through.

>>1218400
Care to share some tips on what you did? Or how you got the cost so low? Where did you stay? What did you do? Can you speak Japanese? Did you go alone? Do you plan the trip yourself?

>>1218420
my god are you literally this sheltered?

>but for a first time traveler I don't see the harm in it if it helps you get organized and situated in a new country for a couple of months.
you're in your fucking twenties. Take some risks holy shit. I mean it's not even a risk travelling to a fucking first world country but holy shit come on man

>The reason I don't just plan it myself is because I don't speak the language, I don't know anyone in Japan who can assist me, and I'd rather go with people my own age who speak English and be around people who can assist me. You people are essentially suggesting I go to a foreign country by myself with no knowledge of the language or understanding of how things work over there.

What the fuck do you need somebody to assist you over there for? Are you 12? Did you not go to college by yourself. I'm sure you're gonna figure out how to wipe your ass alone without paying somebody thousands of dollars to do it. As for things working there, they work pretty much the same as where you are from, peoplel aren't all that different. The rest like taking off shoes in your home can be read up on quickly

>That just sounds stupid, so let's say get over there, arrive at my hotel or whatever and then what? I can go explore the city and just walk around, but I won't be able to communicate with anyone, I won't be able to really order food or ask for things, I won't be able to communicate with anyone. I suppose I can just ignore everyone and stick to my itinerary, but it sounds quite lonely spending 8 weeks in a foreign country with nobody to talk to, and be friends with.

People in Japan speak English. Yes not all of them, but most to some degree. There are TENS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of foreigners in the country right now you can speak to. Again, you're not travelling to fucking North Korea but Japan, one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world

>>1218420
>You people are essentially suggesting I go to a foreign country by myself with no knowledge of the language
Ever played charades? Congrats, you now know every language-related thing you need to get around any foreign country.
>or understanding of how things work over there.
They work like clockwork and the Japs would rather waste an hour of their lives helping your ass than see a foreigner get even the slightest bad impression of their country. You're going to one of the easiest places to travel out there.

>I can go explore the city and just walk around, but I won't be able to communicate with anyone, I won't be able to really order food or ask for things, I won't be able to communicate with anyone. I suppose I can just ignore everyone and stick to my itinerary, but it sounds quite lonely spending 8 weeks in a foreign country with nobody to talk to, and be friends with.
>making friends is a lot of fun and I can't really do that if I just go there by myself.
You have no idea just how many people are out there. Go book a bed or a private room at a hostel and you'll be praying for a moment alone.

>>1218397
Is it an american thing to misunderstand an honest advice in order to be able to flip shit around to make it seem like you are a victim?
I am ON YOUR SIDE mate.
I never even mentioned the rip off you call "program" that costs more than 10k dollars.
What i meant with the experiences and "le evil drugs n sex xd" was that you are a very young man who has always been well protected by his parents and never really got to experience the "real world".
Back to the whole " you are arrogant and i am the victim" thing. We are here to help you and we actually DO know better than you. The fact that you refuse to accept that is yet another indicator of your immaturity.
I know it's hard for an american citizen, but try to use your brain and realize that you are making a big mistake when you could have the time of your life.
And this is 4chan it would be weird if we didn't insult each other.

>>1218420
>but frankly it can be scary and exhausting

Of course it can be, but that's also what makes it so much more rewarding in the end.
You're young, you are supposed to engage situations which might seem overwhelming to you - you're going to Japan. You'd be fine even if you were on a plane to Tokyo with no preparation right now.
Not trying to say that there will be no communication barrier. There will be but you will be fine - if two people try hard enough to communicate they can (and especially when ordering something they will do their best, they want your money after all).

Have you checked out https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Japan yet? Read through the article on Japan and then on whatever major city most interests you, just to get started.

Personally I am a pretty shy guy myself, especially when I graduated some years back. I went on a backpacking trip through Laos/Cambodia for three months.
That was scary, not gonna lie and at times during the trip I would have liked to be elsewhere. But at the end of the day when all was done? It was amazing and more rewarding than any boxed trip would have been.

>>1218424
>you're in your fucking twenties. Take some risks holy shit.

Not everyone is a risk-taker, don't assume them to be. Nothing wrong with being a cautious person, sometimes it pays off.

>>1218429
>>1218427
I get the whole going by yourself and experiencing it all your own, but it's hard to just up and say "Oh yeah I'm just going to plan the whole thing out myself and go over there by myself." Maybe I am sheltered, but I'd like to think a lot of people would be afraid to go over to another country by themselves, it really makes it more relaxing if you went with someone else or at least went with people like yourself who had never been before because you're all in the same boat and have people you can relate to.

>>1218423
>Care to share some tips on what you did?
My route was 1 month Tokyo, 2 weeks in Kyushu 1 week of Okinawa
>Or how you got the cost so low?
Staying one month in one city can keep costs pretty low as I paid a total of 500-600$ for my own private room. Otherwise I just stayed in hostels, didn't go to expensive restaurants and didn't go clubbing/drinking that often. Japan really isn't THAT crazy expensive
>Where did you stay?
Share house in Tokyo (booked via Sakura House) and hostels from there on. At one point I was staying with a girl I hooked up with because all accommodation was booked out due to holidays.
>What did you do?
sightseeing, hiking, swimming, loads of photographing, weeabo stuff etc.
>Can you speak Japanese?
yes
>Did you go alone?
I always travel alone
>Do you plan the trip yourself?
Yes, I recommend this website http://www.japan-guide.com/ it makes planning a Japan trip piss easy

>>1218433
>"Oh yeah I'm just going to plan the whole thing out myself and go over there by myself."

you don't need to do the planning all by yourself. The Japan General can actually be extremely helpful, there are hundreds of websites with recommendations as far as traveling to Japan goes, you have amazing subreddits filled with people that would love to help you experience Japan - and again Voyagewiki is a great resource to start things of with.

>but I'd like to think a lot of people would be afraid to go over to another country by themselves

Definitely, I was one of them a few years back (that German guy that went backpacking through Laos/Cambodia). But its about if you well let fear dictate your life choices for you.

I asked on the other thread what you are afraid of - realistically speaking what are the worst things that could go wrong or happen to you in Japan?

>>1218420
You want to go there but planning your trip is too "exhausting", you want to be with people your age who happen to speak your language.

Have you tried joining your local soccer team yet mate? People your age who speak your language do some preplanned training exercizes twice a week and on the weekend you make a preplanned trip with all of your new friends to another soccer team where you play against them and EVEN THEY are your age and speak your language.
BUT WAIT IT GETS EVEN BETTER!! you get all if the above for only 20$ A MONTH!!!!
I know that your first instinct will be to find an organization that will charge you 150$ every month to plan and book your transportation to and from your local soccer field, but if you manage to use your bike (i don't know if this is too independent and scary for you) you might save a buck or two.

You massive fucking pleb

>>1218410
>I'm arguing with someone who seems to think he knows everything about overseas travel and tourism, and even if he does he isn't really coming off as polite about it.
You must be really new around here.

>>1218423
I did 4 weeks for 1,5k. You don't need to know anyone. Just go to various booking sites or AirBnB, sort by lowest price first, pick whatever place seems to have a nice cost/quality ratio. Always double check on different sites and the hostel's website if it has one, you don't want to overpay. Read up on rail and bus passes, Japan has tons, most of the time you shouldn't be paying as much as the natives for transport. Japan-guide.com is your friend for up to date info.
Hell, if you really want to drive the price down, you could probably Couchsurf or hitchhike, though I have no personal experience with that in Japan and I guess I wouldn't recommend that considering it's your first trip.

>>1218433
I'm in a somewhat similar situation; mid twenties, but very cautious and new to solo traveling.
Have you tried doing a "practice run" first? Like, book a short weekend in a cheap, easy-to-travel-to city in a country with a similar culture? Somewhere in Europe maybe?

That's what I'm doing. I'm planning on doing a bigger trip to China later in the year, but in April I'm doing a couple of days in Athens so I can get used to dealing with flights, transport and hostel bookings, language barriers etc. on my own.

Maybe you could try that?

>>1218441
>Can you speak Japanese?
>Yes

I like to think that helped you immensely compared to someone who doesn't speak a lick of Japanese going to the country for the first time on their own.

>>1218451
Well it's always been a dream of mine to see/visit Japan, and it's basically becoming a reality. If I had to pick a country to see once in my life it'd be Japan, so I'd rather not go to some place in Europe.

>>1218372
OP is retarded but even a retard should be able to learn 2 sentences in 2 months anon.

>>1218455
>If I had to pick a country to see once in my life it'd be Japan

But you don't have to pick one country. You can go to both. Doing a practice run trip won't prevent you from going to Japan, it'd just make you more confident when you do.

>>1218455
Is misunderstanding advice on a level the original author never even thought existed mandatory for graduating college?

Open up "the google machine" and search for a nearby hostel. Book a night in said hostel. This is it.
After that, you will go there, sleep there for a night and realize that travelling to japan will be EXACTLY!!!!!!!! the same.

I live in germany and had to do a "Sozialpraktikum" in a house for mentally handicapped people. They were all lovely and I loved the time i spent with those guys, but even the guy who ate the forks and spoons instead of the food all the time understood more than you do.

>>1218459
I bet he will just end up trying to imitate anime sounds

>>1218463
Why do you need to go back to roasting him? I think we are having him this close to at least giving, planning it himself a try.

>>1218461
Just give up.
I think we are DDOSing OPs brain trying to give advice.

>>1218463
>the guy who ate the forks and spoons instead of the food all the time
I'm glad I'm not his dentist.

File: 1455465923197.jpg (20KB, 460x259px) Image search: [Google]

20KB, 460x259px

Fucking hell, if anyone ever questions the
>american education
meme just direct them to this thread.
I can't take it.

>>1218473
>Thread spirals into "Muh country education system is superior"

Oh please, I'm sure you're just as retarded and have retarded moments like any other person on this planet, regardless of your education system.

>>1218466
>man kann ein Pferd zum Wasser treiben, aber es nicht zum trinken zwingen

Wenn OP zu blöd ist ein loch in den schnee zu pissen und dafür ne 10k $ Agentur anheuern will dann kann man nur aufgeben.

>>1218397

I'm not going to say that you're retarded anon.

I'd just like to point out that it's a shame to spend a good chunk of your time abroad in classes and courses instead of getting to know the country and exploring.

>>1218479
Sadly I don't really have a choice, my parents kind of want me to take a class or two so I can put it on my resume. It's not a pure leisure trip, it's suppose to be part leisure and part formal education.

Also my parents are so over-protective I'm not sure if they'd agree to let me travel alone in Japan by myself, even if I am 24 it's their money.

>>1218490
>Sadly I don't really have a choice, my parents kind of want me to
>Also my parents are so over-protective I'm not sure if they'd agree to let me travel alone in Japan by myself
>I am 24
Anon, you are literally old enough to have a mortgage, wife and kids.

I'll preface this by saying that I actually have next to zero travelling experience (just a moderate amount of research and imaginings). Also, this advice is for if you decide to go without a program. Since you say you have a few months before you go, I think it would be a good idea to try learning some Japanese now, rather than later. I'm learning Japanese right now in a formal setting and I honestly can't think of anything I couldn't do without if I were visiting, except some cultural things that will make people like you more, but it's always a good idea to have some knowledge of the language and writing system under your belt. I used Genki books 1 and 2 when starting off, if you're interested.

I'd also suggest finding some friends online who live in the city you intend to visit, so you can have people to meet up with. You have time to become relatively close and they'll be a great help when you go over. You also know they'll speak English, but they'll also be native Japanese speakers with cultural knowledge and, maybe even better, knowledge of great places to eat and visit that are less touristy. This (meeting friendly people online) is an ideal outcome, of course, but also a pretty safe bet.

Concerning the class thing, that probably won't look as good as you might imagine, and would be a rather large expense. Going to a university for a couple months for a single class is much different from going to Japan as a full-time student. A better impression would probably be made if you receive regular tutoring in Japanese (hopefully with some knowledge already in order to maximize the benefit) and do something vaguely beneficial for other people (also on a regular basis).

If anyone recognizes anything I said as incorrect, please reply so bad advice isn't floating around. :P

>>1218490

I'd recommend you begin by explaining this next time, you'll get much less animosity.

Just say "Hey /trv/, my parents are paying for me a trip to x place for x amount of time to take some courses and shit to add to my resume, how can I make the best of it?"

This way you'll be misunderstood less.

>>1218603
The only thing I'd be worried about is this "meeting people online" thing, like I'm not saying they're bad people but I'd be nervous to meet up with them in person though I doubt they'd have bad intentions.

>>1218604
Yeah, true. Also my mom said if I really want to just plan the whole trip myself she'd let me and just give me a budget instead of using a program if I want, but she's REALLY NERVOUS about where I'd stay and how I'd find my way since I can't communicate/speak Japanese. Also she doesn't like the fact that I'll be alone with nobody area.

>>1218068
where are you from?

>>1218731
By taking a look at OPs stupidity, the answer should be obvious

>>1218731
I live in a small rural town in Texas

>>1218331
Average age for staying in a host family is probably 15-17. Most people who stay in host families (including myself when i was 16 to 17) are doing a year as an exchange student before/after/during high school/gymnasium

Don't come off as a pompous, entitled, spoiled prick and people will be more receptive to your questions OP.

Planning everything yourself is the way to do it. I know you feel insecure about anything new but the whole point of traveling is to experience something new. If you are spending more then a few days, you have no excuse to just dip your toes in. Dive in the deep end and see how you struggle. Deal with it and grow from it. It's Japan, one of the safest countries in the world. What's the worse that can happen? You call your embassy for help and they fly you home?

Would I have been hiking alone in the Swedish wilderness alone on a tour? No. Would I have been to a music festival in Hungary of all place and make dozens of life long friends? No. Would I have crashed in a Dutch dorm and go to their uni party week cause I made Dutch friends at said music festival? No. Things happen and link together to create something really awesome. Don't waste it by wrapping yourself in a bubble.

Maybe it's me being from a relative liberal country called Australia (So sorry /trv/ euro for our drunk lads) but we generally open to everyone. We assume everyone is generally good unless proven otherwise. Even if something bad happens (I got way too drunk in Poland and lost my wallet with all my travel bank cards) you take it on the chin and move on with life. Learning a bit more from it. That unlimited drinks doesn't mean I have to smash all of it in 30mins and trying to compete with a huge Swede is a terrible idea when your a petite Asian guy.

>>1218452
what's preventing you from starting to learn japanese RIGHT NOW? You don't NEED a class (well, you probably do, it seems you're too dumb to do anything on your own.)

I don't get how people can be such fucking retards/pussies. I've never travelled intercontinentally alone before, yet I just booked a fucking flight to Japan, found a couchsurfer guy to stay with for a week, booked some "cancel until 24h before" hostels and did it.
It's not hard. What are you studying, OP? Bachelor's degree in special ed?

I went twice to Japan on my own with low budget and had an amazing time, but i would still recommend a program to someone who is blatantly anxious and socially inept. Or else there is the risk of anothet post in the jap general of someone spilling spaghetti at kombini and spending all their trip on 4chan.
Or maybe the program for one month and explore by yourself the other month

>>1219031
You are aware that learning in a formal setting from an instructor is not only more efficient by faster then learning it by yourself, just like anything you learn, it's better to learn it from a professional.

I'm not saying you can't self-teach yourself but usually people who self-teach themselves aren't as skilled as they would have been had they learned from a professional in a formal setting, dumbass.

>>1219032
>Couchsurfer guy
>Goes to a country he knows nothing about
>Can't speak the language

That might be fine for you, but not everyone is comfortable doing what you're doing. I'm glad you have enough confidence to go overseas by yourself to a foreign country, and stay with a guy you know nothing about it.

>>1218873
I didn't come off as any of those things, some jackass started arguing with me about stupid crap and it just escalated into this. Maybe you should tell that guy to not come into other people's threads and spout negative bullshit if he has nothing nice/positive to say. Nobody said he had to come into this thread and be like "OH LOL PARENT'S MONEY, CAN'T DO SHIT FOR HIMSELF LOLOLOLOL" That's the whole foundation of his argument.

He basically just didn't like that I was wanting to go through a program, even though that's not his decision to make. All he had to say was "I just don't think you should go through a program for THESE reasons, but do what you want." and then left it at that, but noooooo. He had to a BIG MAN ON THE INTERNET and turn this into some stupid internet fight over nothing.

>>1219212
I'm that guy.
You asked for advice and I gave you my advice. You started to get butthurt and I continued to explain why your plan is massively flawed.
If you need a save space, go to tumblr, 4chan is the wrong place for you.

>>1219206
I got to N3 within two years, while studying full time

>OP asks for advice about a country he has never been to
>gets a fuck ton of replies with good advice
>"No that's not how it works you guys!"

Holy shit OP do more research and listen to people who have been there. If you act like some of the posts that were made in this thread in Japan, you're going to have a dogshit time.

>>1219207
Then don't go to Japan, faggot.