Japan General

>>1272562
How do I join the Yakuza?

Here on my third day and I fuckong hate the subway system here. What the fuck nips

>>1272583
What do you hate about it?

Can you find the XS size (so XXS in US/EU) in Uniqlo stores in Japan or is it only available online?

>>1272585
It very confusing to me personally. I've ridden around 10 metros some of which had much less English than this one and all of them were much easier.

>>1272593
I've only seen it in certain products every now and then, but I've never been in a Uniqlo in any big cities - those may offer more sizes.

>>1272595
I can see what you're saying. There's like 3 different train/subway systems in Tokyo and each have their own station entrance and such

Anybody down for a Comiket meetup? I'll be there on day 2 and 3 (maybe 1 as well)

>>1272595
I'd recommend using Google Maps beforehand to plan out the route from A to B and take a screenshot.

>>1272593
Sometimes you can find the XS size in city Uniqlos. S is pretty easy to find too. In store they usually have the item on display near the clothing for sale so you can hold up a shirt and realize which size you need. Or just go try it on in the dressing room. Only undergarments are when I can only find M, L, and LL, but as small as I am I fit their M for those items well enough.

I'm taking a gap year next year and me and a mate want to possibly teach in Japan, as I want to get some teaching experience under my belt while learning an eastern language. We will both have our bachelors by then.

Looking around online I can see a number of companies, can anyone recommend which ones are supposedly good?

>>1272583
>>1272595
No idea what you're talking about. I've used the metro system in maybe a dozen cities across countries and continents, third- and first-world, and Japan's is definitely the best. New York, London, DC, Shanghai, etc. are all either average or shit in comparison. What part of it is confusing? Can you be more specific?

Is it save to bring back doujins from Japan to Europe (Germany) or will I go to jail if they pull me out and make me open my baggage?

Anyone know a good hostel to stay at in Osaka? I'm familiar with Tokyo, not so much Osaka, any reccomendations /trv/ friends?

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>>1272562
>>Getting your weeb fantasies crushed
Any of you living the meme of making games in Japan?

I'm seriously considering it.

How likely is it to be denied on airbnb as a first time booker? Especially in Japan?

>>1272689
The wehrmacht is pretty lenient with hentai

>>1272724
What if it's a genderswapped loli Hitler?

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Best bars in Tokyo for singles? I have Dry Penis Syndrome.

>>1272601
Yes, but you use the same passcard for all of them, transfers (even above-ground) are clearly marked, and if you plug your destination into hyperdia beforehand it's pretty obvious what you need to do at all times.

>>1272723
Unlikely. As long as you have your profile filled out you should be fine.

Anyone want to meet up next month? I'll be in tokyo July 29th- august 20st


Going to comiket as well

>>1272603
will be going with my own mates for my first comiket , any tips senpai?

>>1272870
different guy here

I have a porno buying arch-weeb friend who says pack tons of 100 and 500 yen bills. There's so many people that they won't make change, so pay with exact change. She also said a lot of vendors weren't very comfortable or wouldn't sell to her b/c the language barrier. I think she may have made that point again with the nudie book vendors. Also the entire thing is just totally fucked so make sure you grab the tome full of vendors and where their tables are and get your route planned by priority. Top selling stuff will be gone instantly.

She also said that you won't have much luck if you try to buy up entire runs of stuff, so hopefully you just wanted to buy one book of any given release.

Enjoy yourself at Linecon.

>>1272873
thanks for the info, didn't knew i had to bring exact change, but i can speak some conversational level Japanese so i think i can get by. Anyway thanks for the info man , kinda safe our asses there , i don't really know much about the "trends" at comiket since its our first time.

>>1272870
d/a, but this anon >>1272873 is right about the 100/500 yen coins and bring some 1000y bills as well. Charging your suica is good for the 1000 bills (plug in a 10,000 bill, charge 1000 to card, get change, repeat) and also serves the purpose of making sure your suica is well-stocked -- you don't want to have to charge it at any of the stations en route.

I don't agree about the language barrier, I've never had trouble with that (ero or non-ero). I do speak passable JP but I usually just point to what I want since it's loud and hectic. I HAVE been asked if I'm old enough once or twice in recent years (this is a new thing).

Don't buy the physical catalog if you can help it, I use https://webcatalog.circle.ms/ -- don't remember how usable the free tier is. I like having a physical map too, and I'm not sure the free tier will let you print one. I guess you could buy a physical catalog and just use the map from it.

Remember to hydrate!! But not too much because the bathroom lineups can get long. I usually bring about 1.5L of liquid, which is a bit of overkill for me. I freeze one 500mL bottle of water and pack it in an insulated bag with another 500mL bottle of water and one of pocari sweat. There are vending machines but why stop if you don't have to? Bring a small snack if you want to avoid lines at the convenience stores and vendors in the buildings (the aren't *that* bad though). Make sure this stuff can be separated from your books, since it will sweat.

Remember to wear a hat and sunscreen, you'll be lining up outside a lot. I also like to bring one of those small towels that are popular in Japan (they sell them in some convenience stores in the summer); it's good for shading your neck from sun and wiping sweat.

If you're riding the Yurikamome, go back via Ariake station. It's not that much further to walk and a lot less crowded than the actual Big Sight stop.

>>1272890
yeap im using the web catalog now, looks like the summer comiket is one tough battle to fight , thanks for the tips

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>>1272562
I kind of ironically told my brother we should visit there and now I'm going there for two weeks what to do for that period of time. I'm not even joking and a bit scared of how the place where staying g at might have naked old man at the bath.(capsule hotel/motel) So what to do interests are mostly technology, video games, aquatic life, art. I watch some anime bit older stuff and read a bit of manga. This isn't my first time visiting foreign countries, but my first time visiting an Asian country so any info helps.

I'm in Sapporo and the humidity is killing me. How do Japanese people deal with it?

Just booked for February, first time going. Can't wait !

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>>1272738 #
I recommend you Bar Sugahara in Shibuya,Tokyo. This is a bar that is a renovated old, Japanese-style home.

>>1272906
>I'm in Sapporo

PMF?

>>How do Japanese people deal with it?

The same way they deal with anything unpleasant -- by either ignoring or denying reality.

I'm looking to buy an old Sony Walkman (or equivalent) in the future, but they're way overpriced here on ebay and other places. Would Akiba be a good place to find them at a somewhat reasonable price? I know that it's been transformed into weebtown mostly, but there's still some of the old-style electronic markets around too.

>>1272834
I'm >>1272603 I'd be down to meetup for comiket, already went once with /trv/ anons two years ago. Do you have any way of contact?

>>1272890
ymmv on the language thing. she looks super pinay which doesn't do her any favors in the grorious nihons, vis a vis something that isn't that

Are you allow to get take out boxes for the food you don't finish in the restaurant? Also are the soda drinks refillable in there?
My usual experience in restaurant is the waitress/waiter will notice I have unfinished food and offer to box up the unfinished food for me to take it home. And if you leave your empty glass near edge of table, they usually come refill it.
I was too awkward to said anything in the Japanese restaurant so I tried to stuff everything and pretty thirsty. Their glasses for drinks are so tiny, it's like 3 sips and it's gone.

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>>1272943
>Are you allow to get take out boxes for the food you don't finish in the restaurant?
Not usually. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen that happen.

>are the soda drinks refillable in there?
Depends on the restaurant, but most of the time, no. If they are, there will be a "drink bar" that is readily accessible by customers.

>>1272933
Definitely you could find one in Akiba. You could also check the closest Book Off/Hard Off. They're usually fairly well stocked with old electronics.

>>1272948
Are there any common etiquette when in Japanese Restaurant? Or any other contrast between American ones i should know like you already mentioned 2, no take out on unfinished food and waiter/waitress doesn't come around table to check on drinks.
I was also waiting for them to bringing the bill for me to pay. In the end I had to walk up to counter to pay.
Is it okay to ask for a booth if you are a party of 1? I was ask to be seated in the middle, I would have prefer one of the booth on the edge.

>>1272951
>waiter/waitress doesn't come around table to check on drinks.
This depends on the restaurant. Some waiters check on you, others don't. It can also depend on how busy the restaurant is at the time.

>I was also waiting for them to bringing the bill for me to pay. In the end I had to walk up to counter to pay.
This also depends on the restaurant. However, a decent rule of thumb is this: if they leave the check at the table, you probably have to take it to the register. If you have to ask for the check, you can probably pay at your seat.

>Is it okay to ask for a booth if you are a party of 1?
Sure. Just take note of how busy it is. If you go at a prime meal time and ask for a booth for just one person, you can probably imagine how that could inconvenience them. If it's not a particularly busy time, though, it should be fine.

Between Osaka, Tokyo, waseda, and keio, which Japanese University would you go to for at year to study abroad? (And why) Asking for myself.

Posted in old thread (Didn't see new)

Anyone can recommend hostels in Tokyo with single bed and private bathroom? all i can seem to find is hotels or double room with private bathroom

I really dont like having communal showers all lined up together or having to share with other people in my room.

I have coeliac disease and am expecting stomach issues and dont want to hog the bathroom when I have to share.

>>1272691
Bump. Also interested in this.

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Anyone know of the underground [electronic] music scene in Tokyo or Osaka?

Also, with the JR pass, do you have to reserve your seats in advance with the ordinary pass or do you just rock up to the station when you want to go somewhere?

I've bought a fair bit of stuff here in Japan, am I going to have any trouble with customs when I reenter the UK?

How does tax free shopping work exactly? I want to buy a camera and the store offers tax free service. Do I basically just pay the price without consumption tax and that's it?

>>1272977
You buy the item with the consumption tax, take the receipt to a special counter in the store (tell the cashier first that you want a tax refund), fill out a form, and get your tax money back.

>>1272979
oh I see, thanks!

>>1272975

Does the total value add up to 10k Pounds? Otherwise it should be fine.

>>1272977
Some stores will do it right at the normal checkout. Remember to have your passport with you as you will need it.

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Kobe is underrated.

>>1272985
I'm going to spend an afternoon/night there in August, what do you recommend seeing?

>>1272951
A lot of Japanese restaurants are ok with people just yelling "Sumimasen" when you need something. Most chain restaurants will also have a small bell you can push whenever you need something. Just watch what others are doing.

Boxes for left overs are not common in Japan, but it wouldn't be rude to ask for one. I've never had a problem getting food to go, but most of the time it's just plastic wrapped and put in a bag.

>>1272988
Different anon, but I recomend seeing some of the sake brewery tours. The one I went to had a small museum and then a free sake tasting.
A lot of people recommend the old foreign merchant quarter, but I haven't been there. The China town is alright though.

If you're going in August you might be there during Obon holiday, in which case a lot of places might be closed.

>>1272974
>with the JR pass, do you have to reserve your seats in advance with the ordinary pass or do you just rock up to the station when you want to go somewhere?
The trains have reserved and unreserved cars. You can travel in the unreserved cars on eligible trains without any prior booking. However those cars can get quite crowded on popular routes during holiday times.

Dunno about you guys but it was pouring so hard in Nagoya tonight that there were literally waves on the street.

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>>1272988
I was only there for a day, so I didn't get to see too much. There are some nice views from a fairly short walk uphill from the main station (pic related). There's also a lot of cool old European houses and European restaurants in the area.

If you have the money, go for some Kobe beef, easily the best meat I've ever had.

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>>1272996

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>>1272997

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>>1272998

>>1272897
Good luck!

>>1272942
Interesting. I look pretty white so it's not like I'd be mistaken for Japanese, but maybe less subject to assumptions about reselling/piracy.

>>1272730
Just put your hentai in between non-human, I've had Canadian/Australian friends get by fine so Germany should be easy Modo

>>1272691
Hotel Toyota, best hostel I've stayed at by far.

A bit gritty but amazing staff and a friendly atmosphere, always people walking into the common room sharing beer etc. Be sure to sign the walls alongside my old /jp/ scribble

>>1273012
Hotel toyo*

>>1272981
Doesn't come close to that, no. So I don't have to declare anything if it's just a knife from kappabashi, a few volumes of manga, a set of chopsticks, some suntory whisky, relatively minor stuff like that?

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I've been to Tokyo, thinking of having another week long trip to Japan, but might head to Osaka this time. I've read conflicting things about how much there is do to in the area. I'll likely make day trips to Nara and Kyoto, but stay Osaka in.
I'm quite content with late bars (~5 a.m.) for nightlife, so clubbing isn't an issue. Live music or rock bars would be good. Would you guys recommend staying there for 5-6 nights, or is that overkill?

>>1272698
I'm making games in the US
could probably switch over to an international bank account, get a cultural visa and become a literal meme
does that count

>>1273024

I think there's also a restriction on alcohol amounts, but I think it has to be something akin to 5 liters of spirits.

>>1273005
It was my impression from speaking to her that they're just racist shits. They see themselves at the top of the Asian racial hierarchy, philipinos and viets and malays and stuff are basically just there to be their maids. Sort of like the American-Mexican relationship, or Mexico-literally any other Latin American country

>>1273137
>>1273024
The alcohol allowance trends generous, since glass takes up a lot of volume. You probably won't bring back as much as you can unless you pay for and check another bag. Wine has its own allowance too, if you're into wine.

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Well I learned a bit of a lesson today, Ghibli tickets sell fast, so don't procrastinate, however JBT said I could try getting tickets from Lawson, however this is all I can see when I go to the "exclusive website for visitors from overseas", could anyone tell me what it means? Or many I'm doing something wrong? Thanks bros.

Is it true that Japanese universities aren't all that hard? I was really preparing myself to step my game up for my next semester and I read somewhere that it's basically an easy ride. Is this true?

>>1272958
Personally I'm going to Waseda because it's an exchange-student friendly uni. They have a lot of English classes you can take, a lot of choice. I should also add that it's easier to get into Waseda than Tokyo Uni, lol. If you have a good GPA, go for it. But you can't go wrong with Waseda. It's a good location too, it's pretty central in Tokyo so you don't have to worry too much about your accommodation being too far away. Overall, it's a good private uni. When are you planning on going and which faculty are you interested in?

I have no idea about the other ones.

>>1273171
Site is under maintenance, should be back ~2 hours from now.

>>1273024
I had no issues bringing back manga, figures, three 1-liter bottles of sake, and several bottles of whiskey.

>>1273171
Within an hour most days were sold out, it didn't help that the site kept crashing. I also didn't realize that I would need my passport number for booking so I had to rush home as soon as I got off work, barely managed to get the tickets I needed.

>>1273092
I stayed there for a month

get some japanese grill contacts ready before you go (facebook, pen pal sites). Spend few weeks banging a japanese xmas cake while she shows you neat stuff around th city, go to punk bars and for god sake learn some conversational japanese before you visit

>>1273177
I've only got the most basic Japanese greetings and ordering down but working on expanding that. Which pen pal sites would you recommend? And which punk bars are you into in Osaka? Anywhere I could jam with some locals?

>>1272997
>>1272996
>>1272985
Is that Fate stay night?
I thought the city there was fictional.

>>1273173
Thank you anon, I'm not expecting anything now, but who knows, maybe I'll get lucky.

>>1273176
Damn, well that just gives me another reason to go back to Japan, and be better prepared this time.

>>1273181
You could try a travel agency

>>1273172
Thanks for the insight. I was actually leaning towards waseda for the same reason. Only reservation I had is that I think I might prefer somewhere less urban than Tokyo. I'm probably not going for another 1 or 2 years. I'm a CS student at a large public uni, so I'm bumrushing most of my major reqs to be able to study abroad. Haven't really looked into faculty, I was just going to go for general language/cultural enrichment and a different experience. My school is super strong in STEM relative to humanities, so I was craving some balance. What are you looking to get out of it? And which faculty?

>>1272988
Check out the Kobe Spice Gardens, especially if you're travelling with a girl, because they're incredibly romantic. I don't know if there's much to see in Summer though, check the website.

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>>1273180
Fuyuki is based on Kobe, that's one of the reasons I visited.

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>>1273246

>>1272998
>>1273000
what's the name of that restaurant?

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How late in the year are beaches still a viable option? I'm headed to Osaka and Tokyo around October and I'm wondering how the water will be.

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>>1273362

>>1272948
If it's all you can drink self serving, i usually grab multiple cups and fill them up so i don't have to keep going back.

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Where should I go if I'm a big Super Sentai/tokusatsu nerd?

Visiting Tokyo for about two weeks in October.

I understand that the Toei Hero World closed down earlier this year, which is a shame. People say that Bandai Museum would be a place to go, but from their website it looks like they only have toys on display there, which is not a bad thing but I'd love to see some suits. Anyone know when or where they do live shows?

>>1273387
Well, if you don't mind Kamen Rider it has a restaurant, and one of the previous actors owns and runs a steak house.

On the Sentai side, all the bars I remember in Tokyo are permanently shut down but Crystal Sky's Twitter seems to be used to promote events relating to older Sentai stuff so keep an eye on that.
https://twitter.com/barcrystalsky

If you want to visit any locations from a particular show then you can look it up on here http://loca.ash.jp/indexname.htm and see if it was filmed near Tokyo

And obviously the most important place of all is the quarry where most fights happen. That's located somewhere at Mt. Iwafune.

>>1273092
Osaka is worth it just for the food. Get a place to stay in/near Namba and go to Doutonbori for dinner every night.

>>1273137
>>1273142
5 litres isn't a problem, I'd be surprised if I even exceed 2.

>>1273172
From what I've been told by a Japanese man I talked to, they have very high entrance requirements (for native applicants at least) and then it's all trivially easy from there. The hardest part of getting a prestigious degree is the entrance examination.

>>1273172
pretty much. They study like crazy during High School to get into a college but then it's retardedly easy (kind of the opposite of how it works in the west)

If you're an English teacher in Japan and know Japanese, can you teach people other than children?

>>1273410
Most people with any kind of drive do this, but its also illegal.

>>1273414
Why is it illegal? Are only Japanese teachers allowed to teach high schoolers or adults English?

>>1273435
The visas are very specific. You can switch jobs (despite the lies the English schools will tell you) but you aren't allowed to work for anyone (including yourself) that isn't a company capable of sponsoring your visa.

You can do part time jobs, once again through a legitimate business, but legally you're supposed to submit that information to the immigration office and be approved before you're allowed to work for them. I applied more than once one of the shittier English schools (GABA) strictly part time for some extra cash and there was always some bullshit hoop they were trying to make me jump through before even doing an interview.

FYI scoring with japanese chicks isnt as easy as you may think. The vast majority of them are hot, but they are also most likely married, have a boyfriend, or are waiting in that bar for a friend.
If you manage to get a girl back to your flat, more often than not, expect bad sex. I find the older women are pretty good, but the younger sexier girls are flat-out shit.
Good luck finding a 20 year old something who is down for normal sex. I'm going out with a 25 year old girl who i met a few monthes ago. She's sexy, got one hell of a nice ass, and is all round good to me. But sex with her is so unexciting it hardly seems worth it.
The worst part is, there are so many girls here who are jaw-droppingly good looking. And a broad majority dress unintentionally provocative. On my way home tonight, the girl in front of me had such an incredible ass, but i imagine she would be frigid as fuck.
I'm certain there are exceptions to my experience, and i'm expecting to get hoardes of replies saying otherwise. But for what it's worth, allow me to lower your expectations somewhat.
Yes, Japanese girls are blessed with incredible bodies, but imo they are fucking shite when it comes to the bedroom.

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>>1273437
That's a bit confusing but I think I get it

Good places for used old Japanese Pokemon cards in Tokyo?

>trip is 2 weeks away

I am excite

>>1273507
same senpai

Would it be better to grab some yen prior to landing or is there a 711/decent ATM to use in NRT's airport. Landing around noon

>>1273095
No, not really. Looking for any contact info to recruiters or networking.

I'm already senior level and did expat both EU and Asia. Curious if there is any industry people in Japan that aren't natives.

So me and my cousin are going to Japan. We're both Asian but not Japanese. She wants to invite her black coworker along.

Will our experience be the same in Thailand and Japan with her friend?

>>1273532
>Will our experience be the same in Thailand and Japan with her friend?

No one knows what you are talking about

>>1273546

Will the locals care at all?

General advice request.

I am planning to travel to Japan for 3 months in the Autumn next year.

Im travelling alone as I want to get the most out of it by myself. The rough idea is to spend a month in Tokyo and then two months travelling the length and breadth of the mainland via rental car.

Is there a website or place where I can build up some kind of itinerary and create some sort of structure that could span 3 months?

>>1273560
Odigo

>>1273550
Probably no in Tokyo and other major cities, in the countries people may care but doubt anyone will say anything

>>1273560
Just use Google Calendar, that's basically what I use for traveling. Syncs into my phone makes it fairly easy.

I am planning to go from tokyo to nagoya and visit mt fuji inbetween. I am with a group of 7 people and we all have our luggage with us. Where can we store this while climbing mt fuji? Some stations have lockers but I want to have something that is for sure not full, maybe something that can be reserved before we go.

Anyone who knows?

So I am doing a Tokyo and Osaka trip, and I've been seeing some ads that have those pocket wifi routers for rent. Is there a place that I could rent from Tokyo and return from Osaka or do I have to do it seperately. Also where in Osaka is good to visit? I'm into some nightly drinking ala Golden Gai and some music bars. Any reccomendations?

>>1273585
you can forward your luggage to where you will be staying in Nagoya
>>1273588
usually when you rent a pocket WiFi, it comes with a pre-paid envelope that you can just drop into any mailbox

>>1273595
I looked at forwarding, but that is really expensive, over 3000 yen for a suitcase what I found until now.

It is just for a day so I hoped to find a storage place close to mt fuji that is not too expensive.

Anyone have experience with Imano Tokyo hostel? Been looking into it and the area seems to be nice and cheap. Is there any hostel like that in osaka near the more populated district?

What would be the shinjuku of Osaka be?

>>1273601
A good amount of hostels will generally let you keep your bags there. Unless you are staying overnight at the top, you can do the fuji climb in one day, IIRC it is a 5 hour walk to the top and a 3 hour one down.

>>1273522
just get yen when you land

I'd sort out a pocket wifi rental before you go though, not doing that really fucked me over

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Anyone ever been to Fukushima prefecture and can give me some advices what to see? I'm going to rent a car with a friend and we plan to go to Ebisu Circuit there. But I don't think we gonna stay the whole day.

>>1273637
Think I am going to take 500USD worth of Yen(enough to cover my full hostel stay and then some), probably not going to do pocket wifi since my phone will do unlimited 3G+ and the place(s) I am staying all have free wifi

>>1273642
Are you absolutely sure you get unlimited 3G in Japan? You've double checked that?

>>1273643
Yeah my carrier gives it in 140 countries, unlimited 3G at least and texting, calling(not on wifi) is .02c/minute. Found some other anons talking about it, looked it up and it is true

>>1273645
alright then, good for you, mine doesn't and I've had my entire trip without any mobile internet

>>1273645
If you're talking about Tmobile, just be careful going to the countryside. I was stuck with 2G speeds when traveling on some small towns.

>>1273648
Yeah I was, not going too far in the countryside most remote place I am going is Takayama but aside from that I don't mind not having mobile data while going from A->B

>>1273650
That's good. I had no issues using Tmobile in all the big cities, so you should be fine. Tmobile is such a bargain when you consider all the freebies and free international data they provide.

Looking for places to grab breakfast in the mornings, looking through google maps and most either seem to be mcdonalds, 711's or full sit down restaurants. Any localish fast food places to look forward to in and around Taito.


Mostly just looking for grab and go items, so I can spend the most of the day out and about.

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>>1273640
I recommend you Oze. There are Japanese rare plants and beautiful nature. The only drawback is that it is inconvenient to get to.

>>1272974
also interested in the underground electronic scene. going for 2 weeks or 3 this august.

>>1273699
I am not sure about what is underground electronic music scene, but Contact and Womb in Shibuya, Tokyo are good clubs.

>>1273718
womb is a normie bar, cover is too expensive. Underground electronic is big in tokyo, you just need to be aware of events and go to the venue. These things dont just happen everynight.

>>1273688
Breakfast isnt really a thing. If you want to eat something on the go go to a conveience store and eat onigiri, then eat lunch somewhere later.

Most japanese people just have some miso soup in the morning, or natto.

If you want some breakfast similar to like english or american breakfast go to a family resturant like gusto and you can get something kinda similar for about 350 yen

>>1273611
There sint really a shinjuku of osaka. Osaka and Tokyo are fundamentally different, think newyork and LA. Namba city is probably what you are looking for, shopping streets, clubs and neon signage, gritty in some area. you can find good airbnbs on the periphery for cheap

>>1273692
That looks great. Have to figure out the way and if we can make it time wise. Thanks

Is it worth getting a pocket WiFi if I'm just staying in Tokyo for 2 weeks? I get the feeling I'd barely use it if I can just use the free WiFi from nearby shops instead.

>>1273787
Yes.

>>1273787
If not pocket WiFi, go for a data sim. Might be cheaper and I'd definitely recommend it if you're not with a partner or group.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/NEOBK-1808853

Will I be able to find one of these in Toyko? I haven't seen one in my visits to Akihabara and Den Den Town but I probably haven't been looking in the right places.

>>1273787
Yes, get pocket wifi, don't fuck yourself over like I did

Heading back in April, though this time taking my parents along. Are the ryokan in miyajima, arashiyama, or hakone(wide range, I know, just trying to find one on our route) just going to generally be overprices tourist traps? I'd love to treat them to the experience at least once but would prefer not to be paying extra and getting a superficial experience.

I've been learning Japanese by myself for three weeks now, here is an example:
https://youtu.be/ntlnEpnciYU
I know I have room for improvement, but any advice or tips other than to go kill myself?

>>1273825
stop shilling your fucking videos in every thread

reported

>>1273809
I know you didn't ask for brutal honesty, but you'll get it anyway.
A full-fledged ryokan is a rather formal experience that, by definition, requires a lot of knowledge about Japanese etiquette, culture and language to enjoy, to the level that many Japanese people feel it's too stiff.
Tourist-oriented ones break with this in order to give tourists something they can enjoy even in spite of not speaking Japanese, in environments where no one will have to seriously embarrass themselves - and that means that by definition, any ryokan you can stay in by booking it off the Internet is a tourist trap.
Of course, native Japanese people go there too, but by definition the commercial ryokan is a diluted recent spin on a traditional cultural institution that's nowadays used more for business meetings, company vacations and honeymoons.
You would only be able to get a booking for an "actual" ryokan through knowing someone above middle management in a fair-sized Japanese corporation, and that'd be by phone or even in person - what you can get as a Westerner is inherently a different kind of hotel with a lot of little diluted versions of Japanese traditional food and entertainment that causes tourists to gasp, laugh at the natives' expense and then race straight back to their McDonalds' at home.
As much as it might piss some people off, cultural experiences by definition stop being valuable cultural experiences if changes are made so that tourists can enjoy it. There are things in the world that are shaped by and defined by a single culture to the degree where no one who hasn't grown up only in that culture from birth can enjoy them the way they were meant to, and once in a while you just have to suck it up.

>>1273831
I'm very thankful for the insightful writeup, it was an angle I'd never viewed ryokan from. Seems like they're mostly all foreigner facing operations, then. On my last trip I stayed at one way out in the rural mountain area of Miyama, and even all the way out there it very much felt as you described, more of a foreigner/tourist crafted experience for locals to show their home.

That said, it was very pleasant and quite memorable, with it being run by a small family, and I suppose that's what I would be looking to recreate, the warmth and hospitality. It sounds as though that may simply be an accepted element/part of the marketing of all ryokan?

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/fa/ is no help so I thought I'd ask here.

I'm doing my spring semester as an exchange student in Japan, and I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out what sort of clothes I would bring with me, especially for the summer. Last time I was there, I brang 5 T-shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, and my only pair of shoes, but I like to think that I'm beyond that by now.

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>>1273442
>tfw your fetish is cold, disinterested sex

Japan, here I come.

>>1273805
Anyone? would appreciate it a lot if someone pointed me to the right place for this sort of thing

>>1273442
Asian in a nutshell, have to go south to get the interesting ones. But it costs the looks..

Best I had was Chinese and one nerdy Korean. Took about six month training to get it though.

>>1273831
>all this

da fuck? A ryokan is literally a Japanese bed and breakfast, and yes you can find them without knowing Japanese corporate executives. You sound like that Japan autist from earlier this year.

>>1273809
I've stayed at a couple, including one on Miyajima, but make note: not all ryokan have a an onsen, by which I mean a natural hot springs bath. All ryokan will have a big shared public bath, some will also have private baths in some rooms.

Ryokan usually include half-board in the room rate, but some will show rates with only one meal, or no meal. Make sure to book with half-board included. Dinner will be traditional kaiseki dining, with a lot of local delicacies. Miyajima for example served us giant steamed oysters from Hiroshima bay.

Ryokan will charge the room rate per person. This can add up, especially in areas like Nikko and Miyajima. Those were where I stayed, and both charged around $250 per person per night. We actually paid around $380 each for the Miyajima stay, since we had a private building and room attendant apart from the main building. You can find much cheaper, but this requires you to stay outside of touristy areas like Hakone, Nikko, and Miyajima.

Regarding language barrier, it isn't terribly bad so long as you have wifi and google translate. Most of the staff during my two stays spoke little english. Both owners spoke it decently well though, and our room attendant at the Miyajima ryokan did speak English decently as well.

As far as finding and booking, a lot of ryokan aren't listed on most travel sites. Many have their own websites, and some can be found on rakuten travel or agoda.

>>1273906
How'd you end up deciding on yours? Was your plan to for sure do one on Miyajima or did it just end up working well that way? I'm not really sure what to look for, my friend chose the first one.

I'm planning my first trip for next year. It will be three weeks in Tokyo and some other cities toward Kyushu. It has to be between mid May, when my semester ends, and late September. When would be an ideal time? I originally thought late May to mid June, but after mid June would be better since my lease ends then and rent is expensive.

>>1273907
My plan was for sure to do one on Miyajima. We got there around 6 PM from Kyoto and a stop at Himeji to see the castle, and spent the night on Miyajima. Saw Itsukushima Shrine and hiked up Mt Misen the next day, then went into Hiroshima city for one night.

I need help. Feeling slightly overwhelmed.

I desperately want to travel to Japan and do some proper sightseeing. I have the resources to be able to fund most things to a decent level and time off next year amounting to 3 months.

How long would be best to travel? The full 3 months or would this be overdoing it?

>>1272562
Hey guys I would like to go study Japanese in Japan. Anything I need to know? Any advice?

>>1273919
Anything you need to know? Yeah.

Japanese people are fucking weird.

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>>1273919
>tfw moving to Nagoya in October for 2 years to do exactly this
Ask anything you want to know. Just a heads up though, I got accepted for it back in February and I'm still coordinating with the school and the government for my visa and application forms. It is an extremely long process. Also, the program I'm going through works with multiple employers to set you up with a job when you get there, I'm willing to answer any questions I can.

>>1273927
Thanks a million dude and congrats, glad you made it.
How hard is it in actuality to get a student visa? What's the process really like? How important are school diploma grades?

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>>1273931
thanks man! Keep in mind I'm poor as fuck, this program is the only one that I found where you can work and earn money while paying monthly for room and board, plus anything else you need. At the very least you would expect to make the equivalent of $9 USD an hour
>How hard is it in actuality to get a student visa?
Not that hard in all honesty. The main problem I had with it was the fuckton of paperwork that was required, full family history, full school history and financial stuff as well. I moved around a lot as a kid so my school history was like 3 pages long.
>What's the process really like?
For the program I went through there was an initial interview with their office in the states, it was just an informal skype interview with this older Japanese woman that consisted of the requirements for the course and what not, plus why I wanted to study over there. She was super down to earth and really fun to talk to. After that I had another informal interview with the office in Tokyo, basically the same stuff I talked about with the other lady. After that they find a school that works with their quota and placement requirements and let you know which city and school you will be staying in, I got placed in Nagoya in a small neighborhood outside of the main city center. After that the paperwork started, as of right now I've sent and filed over 30 documents for the visa, school, and dormitory. Just 2 weeks ago my visa started being processed, this was 4 months after the start of everything. Once your visa is granted you go to the closest consulate and get your passport stamped. Once that is done they grant the COE (certificate of eligibility) and you pay for the first months rent, first month for the school, and filing costs (around 240,000 yen). Then you book a plane ticket and your in anime land for an extended stay on a visa that can last a couple years.

>>1273939
>field to long

>How important are school diploma grades?
For the program I am in, they aren't. They only wanted proof that I graduated, they required my transcript and diploma to be sent with the visa documents to their office in Tokyo. They are extremely strict with dates, as in if ANY of the dates on any of your documents don't match then you have to fix it to show that everything is in order.
I'm probably forgetting a few things since it's been such a long process so feel free to ask anymore questions, I'd be happy to answer.

one more important thing, with a student visa you can only work 28 hours per week unless there is a school vacation or holiday, such as golden week or new years. So you really want to make sure that you save as much money as possible prior to going.

>>1273940

Do you need to do this right after uni? I'm 26 now and already finished uni 3 years ago.

>>1273982
Nope. I only finished highschool. When I was still in school I made the mistake of being lazy rather than actually doing the piss easy work so my GPA wasn't the best, plus my family was poor as shit so I wasn't accepted to a uni anywhere. They only require you to have graduated highschool and be at least 18, I'm 21 now fwiw. Also, I'm from the US but anyone in any country can apply and most likely get accepted as long as your not some turbo neckbeard and want to actually go for the culture and language. As far as I know the US and some European countries get their visas accepted no problem, some countries have a thing where you have to prove beyond a doubt that you have the financial backing to go through the course. I make just enough money where I can pay the initial stuff and have a couple hundred dollarydoos left over but if you were to do that in say, some South American country or somewhere that's not considered 'first world' you probably wouldn't be granted a visa since they go through a more thorough process to make sure you're able to go.
I don't mean to be nosy and what not but if you've already graduated uni why don't you apply for a work visa? That's what I would've personally done if I was able to.

>>1273982
Hey I'm >>1273919 and according to what I read uni is not a prerequisite and Japanese schools accept students of all ages

>>1273983
here, >>1273984 is correct. I personally haven't read anything to show that a school will deny you if you haven't graduated uni.

>>1273983

I've got work here in Germany, but I was thinking of quitting. I want to spend 6 months to a year doing something new and this sounds quite interesting.

>>1273990
ah gotcha, being from Germany you shouldn't have a problem with being accepted to a school. If you want some more info check out JWAVE on google. The website looks super sketchy and kinda fake but that is the program I am going through. If I'm remembering correctly they offer 6 months, or 1,5 years for the course. Plus, they are awesome if you don't really have the financial means to pay outright for a full course. If you have any more questions feel free to ask!

>>1273787
No. Plenty of places have free wifi, including all the hotels ofc, so unless you're really shit with directions and have to stick your nose into google maps whenever you leave the hotel I wouldn't bother.

>>1273787
Is your phone dual sim?
>No
then yes get one
>Yes
Just get a sim and hotspot

Not sure why people abhor Japan around this time of the year. I mean, it's warm and fairly humid but me and my buddy have been taking fairly long walks around each day in Tokyo and it hasn't been nearly as terrible as everyone has said.

>>1273835
>brang

>>1274027
bunch of people off from school/finished other breaks. Comiket is coming up, flights were fairly cheap in the US.


Honestly it's not that bad compared to the american south/mid Atlantic with swamp lands and such. If you are from a northern state/country like europe I could see you having a hard time with the humidity and heat.

>>1272562
How do i join the Yakuza?

My friend claims that "depending on where you go at night, you'll see half as many niggers as Japanese" in Tokyo. Is that true outside of shitholes like roppongi hills?

>>1272562
So I'm going to Japan for a month in may with my family (baby included). What do you guys recommend with that in mind? We were thinking of going around Kanto, Kansai, Shikoku and Kyushu areas. Is this a good idea? Are there any cool festivals in those regions in may?

>>1274079
Golden Week is pretty rough travel-wise since it's a major vacation time for people within Japan. But on the other hand, you may be able to catch some Children's Day festivities. Once that's passed, though, there isn't too much happening nationally in May.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Week_(Japan)

>>1274027
Most people are just little bitches is all.

I'm i Osaka having a slow day right now, Have already been to kyoto and now Im bored and poor as fuck. Anyone know anything good around here to eat? Dotonbori area are always full of ques.

>>1274027
Because most people can't deal with a little bit of heat

>>1273831
What is an "actual" ryokan?

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>>1273442
>And a broad majority dress unintentionally provocative

confirmed for not knowing shit about far east asian women, try harder man

I'm not being an ass I'm trying to help you out here. It's all up to you.

>>1273910
Bumping this. I am planning on walking a lot each day, but I don't mind some heat/humidity. I mainly want to avoid rainy days as much as I can.

>>1273506
Boosting for interest

Just got back from a 2 week trip to Japan. It was my second time to the country and all I read online and on /trv/ was that Summer is a bad time to travel to Japan. I can say that the 35 degree and 85% humidity weather was fine and actually pleasant at times. I travelled from Tokyo all the way down to Hiroshima and the weather was not oppressive at all, except I got caught in a typhoon whilst climbing Fuji.

I think larger people might have trouble travelling Japan in Summer but I loved the weather.

>>1274131
Thanks for your input. It's nice to hear since I'm planning on going down to Hiroshima and Fukuoka. It is more the rainfall than the heat I want to avoid, but it sounds like I should just pick any time that suits me best.

>>1274121
he's right though. Sure, they don't generally show cleavage or shoulders but their skirts are so short, in other countries you'd only find that at brothels

>>1274027
How hot is the average day?

I'm a white grill. What are the odds of me hooking up with any Japanese qtbois? or am I limited to other tourists? I heard Japanese men are scared of Western women.

I may or may not have had unprotected sex with a girl from roppongi last night who knows nothing about me other than my full name and city of residence in america. If she were to get pregnant, what are the odds I end up getting a paternity letter in the mail a year from now?

I will be in Kyoto for the next 4 days.
I'm not sure what to do in the evening/night other than wander around.
If anybody have suggestions or want to meet in Kyoto.
>inb4 Kyoto is shit, go to Osaka

>>1274154
A lot of Japanese men fetishise white women the same way white guys fetishise Japanese women. So I think your chances are pretty high.

>>1274131
Where are you from? I'm from a fairly cold country in Europe and going early September. I'm pretty skinny so this is settling. I've never experienced high humidity and temperature to that extent before so this will be a new experience.

>>1274158
You'd rather worry about STDs, amerilard.

>>1274158
Child support isn't a thing in Japan. But it also goes the other way. You have no right to see the kid at all, even if you were married. Theres been multiple cases of Japanese women taking the kid "on vacation" to Japan after living married life abroad and basically kidnapping the kid and the dad has no recourse

is solo traveling japan with barely any japanese knowledge a good idea? is going to bars or clubs alone laughed on in japan or a common thing ?

>>1274154
I agree with >>1274161
I've had plenty of conversations with drunk japanese guys who have waxed on about their preferences for white girls over asian ones.

>>1274162
Australia, I get very hot summers 45-50 degree C heat, but it's very very dry so I'm not used to the humidity.
September will be cooler than what I experienced too.

>>1274166
Yes, you will be fine in not knowing any Japanese and nobody cares if you go out alone.

>>1274166
I'm currently solo traveling with no Japanese skills. Just go out and try to meet people or look up events on couchsurfing if your too much of an introvert.

I'm tentatively planning to head over to Hakone from tokyo in the afternoon tomorrow for an onsen daytrip. Can anyone say if that'll work timewise, if I'll need to book the onsen in advance, and if there are any in particular you'd recommend there?

>>1272562
Japan!!!
https://youtu.be/1F1R2yDloDg

>>1274154
They are scared of Western women in everyday settings, but if you go to a large foreign-friendly bar or use Tinder you'll be sure to see a few Japanese guys who prefer one night stands with white women. I think larger cities will work in your favor, like Tokyo.

All I ask is you be considerate of your intentions in public. That's fine if that's what you're going for, but you don't need to kiss every Japanese guy at the bar. Some white women have to live and work in Japan and we could use a little less sexual harassment.

>>1274217
>>1274154
Sorry I need to add, don't be fat. That sounds shallow, but a lot of guys prefer short, petite figures, and slim builds. If you have any of that going for you, you'll have some options.

What's wrong with these nips, /trv/ they are like childish robot people. The police look like little toy soldiers playing dressup games. There doesn't seem to be any variation in their language whatsoever. They all just kind of... exist... like they have no profound desires???? What's up with these japanese niggers!?

>>1274295
Centuries of being told what to do and how to do it by successive emperors and shoguns. "Democracy," was only introduced in the middle/late 1800s and it wasn't taken very seriously by the army or navy.

MacArthur and SCAP basically ran it like a personal fief and took them to Dougie's School of Democracy which has paid some dividends but on the whole it's very much a population that does as they're told by a handful of select, educated tastemakers with initiative (zaibatsu/keiretsu types, forward thinking military types, etc).

tl;dr: muh conformity

>>1274147
It's been like mid to late 80s. Then again I haven't been constantly checking so it may have fluctuated a but more than that.

>>1274295
>nips
>niggers
>obviously can't speak Japanese

Fuck off back to /pol/

If I fly from SFO to LAX and then LAX to Narita do I have to go through security twice?

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thinking about doing a homestay in Japan somewhere, what am i in for lads?

>>1272562
Would J.A.pan be a good place for my parents to visit? They're old and looking to go on a few trips. They've never been out of Australia accept for a trip last year to N.Z. which is pretty much just the eastern state of Aus. I feel like japan would be a good place as its easy enough to travel and safe and clean. My father wants to go to South America to see the jungles but I know my Mum would die of panic every step of the way with things not being safe enough.

>>1274484
Only if you leave the airport or the big signs that say "NO REENTRY PAST THIS POINT"

>>1274484
If: A) your destination is Narita/Tokyo, B) you're connecting from Narita international terminal to Narita domestic terminal

Then you're fine. Otherwise if you leave the security cordon obviously you will be screened again, but sometimes that's not such a bad thing. I left the cordon for a 8h00 layover in Oslo. My bag was being forwarded direct to Helsinki so I was just walking around with my backpack for the day and it was pleasant.

So basically >>1274516

>>1274505
Sign them up on a buss tour trip and mount fuji visit and they will never shut up about how amazing it is.

Seriously there are some stupid cheap prepackaged things in japan, no foreign language needed

>>1274154
TOKYO
O
K
Y
O

>>1274484
LAX is the only airport where I've had to go through security twice. Its a shit airport

>>1274538
>東京
>京

>>1274549
The only way this could happen is if you were inbound from an international flight.

>>1274549
Yeah LAX sucks. Shame because California is a great state, especially outside the LA area.

PHX is best airport, Heathrow is also very good although was sad to see the sheer amount of muslims coming into the country. You can literally see them flock in at the airport, it's really weird.

>>1272562
https://youtu.be/AmqG_G_8eqs

>>1274578
could you stop shilling your shitty videos multiple times in every thread?

>>1272562
What gift/sourvenirs/mechadashing should my sister brought me from japan?

Seh is staying in tokio, hiroshima, kyto and two cities more

I want a weekly shone jump, japan traditioanl masks and stuff like that.

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How do I make this machine dry my clothes? I see an option for do-ra-i, but when I press start, water pours in anyway.

Best season to visit Japan?
http://www.strawpoll.me/13447491

so how do you deal with dirty clothes on a longer trip to japan ? can you wash your shit at a hotel/hostel or are there washing salon around

>>1274585
風乾燥
The bit above is for 1 or 3 hours.
I think it's really supposed to be for just drying out the drum after cleaning, but it's the best you'll get.
It's a cold drying function, so it'll take a while.

>>1273805
This book is from 2015, so you'd have to look hard for it at second hand stores like Book-Off. Not just in Akiba, but you can find stores that sell used manga all over Japan

>>1273910
I have to ask, why 3 weeks in Tokyo? And why Kyushu after that? What about The rest of Japan, like Kyoto or perhaps Dewa Sanzan up north?

>>1274048
>depending on where you go at night

Only true if you go to Kabukicho or something, and the niggers are only the bouncers or there to drag you into someplace sketch.

>>1274164
>basically kidnapping the kid and the dad has no recourse
That seems to be a human rights violation.

Currently at the ANA business class lounge in Haneda. Its been an amazing 2 weeks, thanks to all the helpful anons in these threads who answered my questions. Looking forward to my next trip to Japan.

>>1274594
Alright, I'll just order it off a website, buying it in person would be nice but not worth the huge hassle.

>>1273013
Oh sweet. In Osaka now if any /trv/lers want to grab a beer. At the Charin Hostel. Pretty new but neat.

im struggling to imagine what sorts of esssential japanese ill need for my trip to japan, can anyone add to this list

>how to ask for directions
>how to order food/buy things generally
>how to order a taxi

surely ill need more than this, but my brain is drawing a blank, what obvious things have i missed?

>>1273915
3 months is quite a while, especially if you show up and realize you don't like it as much as you thought you did (not that you'd hate it or anything; just that you might not be in love). 1 month or 6 weeks should be enough to see a nice chunk of the major cities and small towns, and you can save the rest of your money for if you decide to take a second trip in the future (at which point you'd have even greater knowledge of the country and what you'd want to see specifically, or if you wanted to go somewhere else).

>>1274716

You're very unlikely to need it, but how about something like:
Call the police, I've been robbed.

>>1273809
Me again. As far as seeing the cherry blossoms and all that(main reason my parents picked this time of year, I'm indifferent), is it going to be something where they're all over the place so we don't really need to make seeing them an out of the way stop, or would it be best to attend a festival dedicated to it? Anyone here with any experience regarding that?

>>1272580
By cutting off your fingers, duh

Guess it's more airfare than Japan related but I prefer not making threads about it.

Are there ever good deals on business class from leafland to Japan or do deals only apply to economy or premium economy usually?
I'm claustrophobic as shit and I sure as fuck ain't spending 30 hours total in sardine class.

>>1274716
>im struggling to imagine what sorts of esssential japanese ill need for my trip to japan

This question gets asked all the time and the answer is always the same. You don't need to know japanese to go to japan, especially if you are staying in/around Tokyo. So long as you can speak clear english and speak it slowly most people will understand you or at least understand what you are trying to say.


Is it polite to speak japanese? Sure, but also keep in mind that the vast majority of japan has had interaction with English and went through it in school if they are under 30. People might appreciate it if you know and are confident in speaking japanese, but that's about all they will give a shit about.

Tips for Japane
>download google translate
It will translate pictures, you can draw symbols, and even get it to say the words translated. It's pretty good at Japanese.
>Look at the menu online before going to eat
Most websites will have an english/japanese version for you to examine prior to sitting down. Helps to look it up before heading out.
>Download offline google maps of the places you want to go
You can easily download tokyo in google maps at like 80MBs, prior to getting there and navigation is as easy as using it at your home country

The only time I would actually consider needed to know a good chunk of japanese is if I was going to very small rural towns in northern/central japan.

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>>1272562

Going to Tokyo in 2 weeks

Any recommended prepaid data sim cards to use whilst there?

>>1273092
Osaka is fucking great, easy to get to Kobe and Nara from there too.
For serious Kyoto touristing I'd recommend staying in Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Himeji are easily good day trips but you need more than one day for Kyoto

>>1274867
http://willmyphonework.net/

b mobile and NTT(sakuramobile), are some of the best

>>1274865
>You can easily download tokyo in google maps at like 80MBs, prior to getting there and navigation is as easy as using it at your home country
Let's stop spreading this misinformation. Japanese law does not allow this. Just go and try to save an offline version of Tokyo and report back with the results.

>>1274898
idk about google maps, but I've used maps.me to download a map of tokyo and used it pretty extensively while travelling there. It was extremely useful.

>>1274905
>>1274898
Yeah, I was wrong, it's not the law but that google does not own the map data, therefore does not allow downloading it for offline. Nevertheless, it does not work with Google.

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>>1272562
What is this island like?

I want to buy a school uniform and bring it home as proof of the trip. How do I get the kind of uniform that Usagi Tsukino was based on?

Also, how much would that school uniform cost?

>>1274906
I just downloaded it and google translate though?

>>1274917
less hot
more cold

>>1274917
Don't quote me on it 100% but in the past I've heard anons talk about relatively nothing happening worth going for touristy wise that you can't get on the main island.

>>1274917
less south
more north

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So I'm thinking about a 15-20 day trip.
Not even sure if that's even worth mentioning but I'm gonna visit Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka for sure, maybe Kobe.

I know better than to plan too much especially since I know for a fact that I get pretty bad anxiety if I have too much shit on my plate at one time.
Thing is I think I'd like to add a ferry trip farther out, thinking about either Fukuoka-Busan or Kagoshima-Okinawa and maybe stopping a day or two in some cities along the way.

Do you think it's worth it or would that be too rushed?

>>1274995
Depends what you are most interested in

Just going to assume 15 days since it is the lowest you posted:
10 days in and around tokyo
1 night over in Okinawa
3 days in Osaka with Day trips to Nara, Kyoto, and Kobe. All are fairly close and by train are 1 hour or less.

Fill in extra days if you do 20 with travel/extra stuff you might have missed.

People I have talked to that spent the day in Kobe seemed to regret it and always wished they just spent the night in Osaka. Kyoto mostly the same way anons seem to always post as well, for the most part you can knock it out in a day.

Personally for my next trip I am doing Day trip in kyoto, catching a later train to Osaka, then spending 2 days in and around Nara/Osaka, then a bit of time in Kobe before catching a late train again to Hiroshima.

>>1275001
I'm surprised you said that much for Tokyo and that little for Kansai but you seem way more informed than me, I'm still in the very early stages of planning (I'd be surprised if it happens in less than two years).
I had that feeling about Kobe though.

What would you anons recommend for places to visit west of Kobe?

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Going to Japan for the first time in 2 days and I have some stupid questions
Should I shave my beard before going?
Should I wear those white masks so I dont spread my 3rd world germs?
Will I have trouble getting alcohol if Im under 21?

>>1275002
Didn't mean just tokyo, but the bus system is really good and can get you to nearby cities very quick. No idea what you are into so I said Tokyo as it generally has the most to offer for most anons posting here.

Outside cities that hug the southern coast and some of the islands, I don't know too much. Really would have to know what you are interested in to recommend anything outside Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Battleship Island, etc.

>Should I shave my beard before going?
It's pretty humid in Japan, and hot around 80-90F(if you call that hot), I would say yes.
>Should I wear those white masks so I dont spread my 3rd world germs?
Are you sick? If so yes
>Will I have trouble getting alcohol if Im under 21?
If you go to a store most of the time it only says "are you this age?" If you hit yes they won't care, if you don't look Asian they will care even less.

>>1275006
I know a little bit about Tokyo itself, but I know pretty much about the neighboring cities, I thought they were mostly relatively uninteresting suburbs for Tokyo workers.
Could you elaborate a bit if you don't mind or just giving out a link or two?

>>1275002
Here's my two cents.

>Kobe: approx. 30 minutes from Osaka
>Kyoto: anywhere from 30-60 minutes from Osaka depending on where you want to go. Kyoto is big.
>Nara: approx. 60 minutes from Osaka

I think 4-5 days is enough since traveling will eat up some time, unless you add on more westward sites like Himeji Castle (which has a nice garden and museums nearby) or Kinsosaki (farther north west, but has a nice onsen town).

>>1275008
>but I know pretty much nothing about the neighboring cities*
Whoops

>>1275006
So no shaving, no mask and easy booze
Thanks

>>1275008
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3051.html
https://tokyocheapo.com/

Toyko is a huge city, just click around on google maps a bit and you'll find out how suprisingly quick the public transportation can get you around. If you like anime there are tons of sites that list places anime was based off of and locations to visit. Really don't know what you are into so going around google maps and trip advisor might be a good start.

>>1275014
Forgot to mention that I'm really into Edo-era stuff of all natures, but mostly music, architecture and decorative arts.
I do like animu and pop culture too.
Thanks anon, you're a gentleman and a scholar

>>1275005
>Should I shave my beard before going?
Not unless you want to
>Should I wear those white masks so I dont spread my 3rd world germs?
Don't do this unless you have asian ethnicity
>Will I have trouble getting alcohol if Im under 21?
Japan's drinking age is 20

>>1275017

Spend less time in Tokyo there is an Edo musem right around tokyo, I think a few actually. And admission is cheap like 5 USD or something

Look up stuff in and around Nagano, Matsumoto, Takayama(big time), Gifu, Kyoto, and Osaka. You'll find tons of cool history things around then. If you get a JR pass and plan it right you can hit all of them by train saving you tons of time and money. I'm hitting up a few of those places in a few weeks might post a pic or two.

>>1275005
>>1275019
The legal drinking age is 20 but from what i know no one takes it seriously and you can even find vending machines selling beer in some places

>>1275063
Most of those are gone in tokyo, they are in clubs I believe though

>>1274917
such mountain
much snow

w o w !

>>1275005
I bought a litre+ of whisky from a family mart this morning. The guy at the till pointed to a screen asking "are you 20?" I produced my passport to show him and he didn't even want to see it, waved it away. All he needed was me to nod.

>>1275063
Yeah nobody really takes it seriously unless you go to a non-Nigerian nightclub.

When you buy alcohol from a convenience store they will usually ask you to tap the screen agreeing that you are 20 or older but it is unlikely that they will ever actually card you. I've never been carded this way and I have been to Japan twice, the first time being 21 last year. Also, I was never carded at a restaurant or Izakaya/pub.

>>1275064
The only one I've seen was on my floor at the Shiba Park Hotel.

>>1274927
Show it

>>1274995
my friend took the Kagoshima-Okinawa ferry recently with her family and she said it wasn't that great. Took way too long, especially with a limited time frame. If you want to go to Okinawa, I would recommend flying with an LCC such as Peach or something

>>1275014
Where can I find more information about bus transportation in Japan?

>>1275019
>Don't do this unless you have asian ethnicity
Why?

>>1275081
>Why?
Not the same anon you replied to but there is actually little proof that wearing surgical masks prevent the spread of airborne disease or flu to begin with. They make people more aware of germs, but does very little to stop them spreading.

And you will look like an autistic weeb.

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What outside of Tokyo should I see with a JR East pass? It's already obligatory that I'm seeing the northern cat island since I'm bringing a female with me

>>1272996
>be me
>have money for kobe beef
>pretty much only go to kobe to eat kobe beef
>phone dies while i'm in kobe
>can't speak a lick of jap
>take train back to kyoto
>feel embarrassed

>>1275097
personally I'd go to Hirosaki to see the castle, especially in spring

>>1275100
We're going in a few days for the Fuji Rock festival so unfortunately we'll get the summer version. Humidity will suck but it'll be nice to escape the 110~ Northern California weather.

We'll check it out thanks

I'm a chink going to Tokyo but I don't speak Japanese. Will they think I'm Japanese and start speaking to me? I don't want that.

I was thinking of wearing a surgical mask that would muffle my voice, so I could just sperg it out and won't speak, just point and grunt.

how much money do I need for a 2/3 weeks trip in Japan if I want to reside in tokyo and have a fairly good time as a college student. Also can I finally get laid at the age of 22?

>>1274219
>>1274217
>>1274171
>>1274161

Thx for the advice anons. I'm not fat so it should be alright.

>Japanese use Tinder
learn something new everyday

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I have tattoos on my for arms so if I was to wear compression sleeves that covered them, would I be allowed in the gym?

>>1275121
When will the myth that it's the tattoos that are forbidden die?
The rule is in effect to keep out yakuza and gang members without being too straightforward (you really wouldn't want to tell the yakuza "your kind aren't welcome here" straight away).
If you look like someone who'll cause trouble, chances are you have tattoos and they can kick you for that. If you don't look like a goon, it's an incredibly rare place that will refuse free money and publicity.

>>1275109
most likely yes. Just say 中国人 (chuugokujin) and they'll understand though

>I was thinking of wearing a surgical mask that would muffle my voice, so I could just sperg it out and won't speak, just point and grunt.

that doesn't make any sense
>>1275110
>how much money do I need for a 2/3 weeks trip in Japan if I want to reside in tokyo and have a fairly good time as a college student.

depends on how much you want to spend on stuff. i'd say $3k including airfare (depending from where) is a good bet

>Also can I finally get laid at the age of 22?

you can do whatever you want, it's a free country

>>1275109
Yea they're gonna speak Japanese to you. You don't have to reply though, most store clerks just leave you alone.

hey Anons

Im going Japan shorty, and I planning to climb on mt Fuji. Already booked a night at 8th station, but I'm little worried about the gear i should take with me. I know about the temperature difference, and that weather can be tricky and better be prepared for everything but the thing is i dont want to bring all kind of trekking stuff with me on 2weeks holiday, just to use it 2days.
What are your "must have" to climb it? I got proper shoes and light raincoat, about to get thermal underwear too and a headlamp. Am i missing any essentials? thanks

What are my options for dealing with money on a long term trip? I don't really want to be carrying around 6 months worth of cash around with me, no matter how safe Japan is. But I don't want to be constantly paying my bank fees to use my debit card either. Are there any alternatives?

>>1275141
Take out a fortnight's worth of money at a time and keep that on you.

>>1275141
check banks in Your country. some have an option for master cards credit cards. i got one from bank in UK and its best thing ever for travelling. no charges for withrawing money and its using master card rate, not the bank one, so in bigger amounts you can save some on it. had it for my 2weeks in thailand, and all i paid was 200baht per withraw, which is nothing you can really do about

>>1275141
Get a Charles Schwab checking account. There are no fees on the account. Their debit card has no foreign transaction fees and Schwab charges no fees for using any ATM. Any fees charged by the ATM are refunded at the end of each month. I believe Ally bank does a similar checking/debit card product as well.

>>1275138
bring more than a light rain coat, it's below freezing with cold winds near the top. A proper jacket is needed. Honestly, I wouldn't take hiking boots, a lot of the climb is stepping on huge stones like steps and you don't want to have to drag the extra weight of your shoes up there. Otherwise a headlamp, gloves (!), a warm hat, a lot of water/drinks and food.

>>1275152
thank You for response. I know that at the top is around 0, plus winds. I plan to take more layers rather than one proper winter jacket that i will have to carry all 2weeks in the middle of the summer in Japan ;)

I will consider more layers. I have low Gore tex shoes for that, the are lightweight and comfy so i don't think i will regret bringing them.
Gloves noted and yea, i forgot to mention a hat too. I can't wait to do that, i hope weather will be great

>>1275154
what I did, I just shipped all my hiking gear home after the climb. Cost me 5000 Yen but better than carrying it around

>>1275156
thats not bad price. do You remember with what u sended it? was it regural post service or some courier offer?

>>1275164
just the regular JP Post. Went in, bought a box, filled out a form and shipped it home (to Europe). My trip continued for two weeks and by the time I was home, the package was already there for 3 days or so

>>1275138
>What are your "must have" to climb it? I got proper shoes and light raincoat, about to get thermal underwear too and a headlamp. Am i missing any essentials? thanks

For August this is completely overkill, the hike isn't that bad and really easy. The bases are warmed on the inside and the sleeping area's stay warm. It's really not that cold unless you are planning going up in shorts.

>>1272603
>>1272937
I'll also be at Comiket one of the days. As far as I know, some people from other boards meet by the big red saw after its over.

>>1275191
I'll be there for comiket as well, I think jp does a ongoing meetup/thread about it moreso than trv does.

Somewhat related note, my friends keep telling me I need more than about 150,000 yen for 2 weeks. Hotel, Flight, JR pass all paid for. I'm sure I've fine not doing too much outside buying a few trinkets here and there, meh is food and a few pints with the lads occasionally. Staying mostly around Tokyo for the first half, and traveling around the southern coast to hiroshima before heading out. Am I being paranoid?

What kind of things do you like to buy when in Japan? The only stuff I come back with is food. Tons of instant ramen, candies, etc. No idea what else to buy in Tokyo.

>>1275217
You are fine and your friends are dumb.

Can you use the JR Pass to get to Niigata and Kanazawa?

>>1275229
According to google there appears to be a way, includes a bus part tough

>>1275229
jr kure line to mihara. then hikari to shinosaka
thenthunderbird to kanazawa

>>1275240
seems like it
>>1275245
wait, can you use JRPass on the Thunderbird...?

Average cost I should be looking to at for meals?

Guestimating around 600-900 yen is about average yeah?

Has anybody here successfully managed to gain long term entry and stay in Japan without a four-year Bachelor's degree or ten years of work experience?

I'm taking a TEFL accredited course and should have my certification in a couple months. Would that be enough to possibly find work as an ALT in Japan? I have heard of some people managing to get into the country without a B.A.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Plan B is China
Plan C is Spain/Portugal

>>1275282
Where are you talking about here? Tokyo? Was around 700 yen for a decent bowl of ramen, 900 for kastu kare, sushi can be cheap but for a "full" meal will cost about the same as those. 350-500 yen for a beer. Obviously these prices vary heavily from place to place, but yeah your price range is about right if you're not hitting anywhere high end.

I'm a black guy that'll be going to Japan for two weeks in November. I'll be spending most of the time in Tokyo, but I'll also spend a few days in Osaka. I was wondering where the best place to get a simple haircut would be. I've got a thin patch on my head where the hair stops growing after a week, so I just usually trim everything super low.

getting ready to go on plane to gookland, any sites like craigslist where i can find old jap women to bone

>>1275355
roppongi, tinder, or craigslist in japan.

>>1275217
They are probably weebs blowing their load on shit in akihabara or refuse to walk places, or drunks who order everything at the bar as much as they can every night. That would be close to 100 dollars a day, do you spend 100 dollars a day normally? if not you're fine.

hi /trv/, im a cute boy in Japan for the next month and I'm finding it really hard to meet up with new people, most of the time I just don't know where to go and feel kinda lost.
I went with a group of people from my uni but they're extremely boring people and I've done enough sightseeing for now, but I don't know how to actually find japs around my age to spend time/be friend with.
I'm fairly good at social interaction and good looking so this isn't the issue here, it's just that I have not a single idea about where to go, can someone give some insight about how to meet people/students in Yokohama/tokyo? I'm more or less entirely free for the next 2 weeks.
If someone is interested, I'd be up to meet up with some of you guys if you want.

>>1275335
Bring some clippers with you man. You're not going to have much luck with your predicament in Tokyo, trust me.

>>1275369
Is this bait?

How long before travel should I buy plane tickets and book hotels?

>>1275371
No its not, no homo if that was the answer you were looking for
Why would it be bait?

>>1275372
60-90 days usually

>>1275372
Don't book hotels when going to Japan.

>>1275380
Then what should I do? Book AirBNB or what?

>>1275381
Airbnb or Hostels

>>1275381
>>1275383
Also couchsurfing, overnight Internet coffee, and many other options to stay the night for cheap, be sure to try a large variety of way to spend the night, you can even find capsules to stay the night for 2000 yen without even having to book them them beforehand in the middle of Tokyo.

>>1275386
Yeah I like hostels though personally, same shit as a hotel for 2200-2600 yen a night. Some cool people as well. Not always Japanese people but they sure are nice to hang with

Speaking of japan, is there recommended /trv/ related anime?

>>1272603
I'll be there, probably all three days. I'll keep an eye in the threads in case you guys want to meet up.

Also, no promises, but I'll be there with my company on an industry credential and might be able to hook you guys up in one way or another. That's totally dependent on my boss and any industry contacts in question, though.

>>1274027
My friends/colleagues over there have been telling me that this has been a pretty mild year compared to some. I was in Kyoto back in '09 and that was brutal, especially as a tourist who spent most of the time outside and constantly walking around. I'll be in Tokyo in a little over a week, so we'll see how it compares to that year.

>>1274567
Not at LAX. LAX is broken up into multiple terminals and you have to exit the secure area and reenter a new one when changing between terminals. (Which can even be an issue when both flights are on the same airline if they use different terminals for domestic and international.)

The bright side is that, at least in my experience, the Bradley terminal or whatever they're calling it now is easier to deal with than most of the domestic ones, but I haven't flown out of it since Trump came into office and changed everything up, so it may have changed.

Any other similar site like Sakura House? For 3 month stay, Sakura House or something similar would be best for your bucks right?

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Look up some airbnb places. Found a cheap advertise as new building and have everything I need. Only 1 review. $355 per month. Should I take it /trv/? Location don't really matter. I don't mind the extra long train ride or walk to places.

>>1275440
I don't like to thing of LAX as the standard for anything other than a class A shitshow.

>>1275445
Dunno, really not that hard to get paid reviews for airbnb

>hey overseas guy please book here for 15/night I pay you 20 if you right good review
>host says checked in
>5 star review
>little or no review given

My advise with new listings is that if it is too good to be true it probably is. 10.50 USD a night sounds low even if they were throwing in a 5-10% discount for a long book. Maybe if it is a hostel, that is 2x4's and ply wood supports(yes those exist).

>>1275451
Looks very nice and legit though.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17518072?guests=1&location=Tokyo%2C%20Japan&check_in=2017-09-12&check_out=2017-12-12&s=WGKPZiFe&adults=1

The location has a few openings.

>>1275453
Oh hey, I was just looking at places in that area myself and saw that one. I'm looking for a private apartment and not just a room though, and prices sadly seem to have skyrocketed in the last week. (I was seeing stuff for like $25 a night, now it's all close to $50, maybe because I'm going there next week.)

>>1275453
yeah your post didn't have enough info so it sounded sketchy. Looks like someone just bought out a complex and renovated it for tourists.

Not saying it is a scam, airbnb's usually aren't, but your post didn't shed much light on it.

Has anybody here done the Kiso valley area?

Heading to Japan for two weeks in October and have zero interest in visiting a bunch of identical Buddhist temples in Kyoto, so looking for something else to do outside of Tokyo.

There's a nice little AirBnB house available smack in the middle of Kiso; So I'm thinking of taking a few days there to hike through the valley area, Atera Valley and some of the close mountains.
Really interested in old forest trails and Shinto shrines, but I'm honestly not sure how to find them, so any other suggestions would be very appreciated!

Doing my first 30+ day stay in japan coming up and never been in a lawson before. Anyone mind giving me the rundown of it vs. 711? Airplane/TSA obviously won't let me bring enough to last the whole time.

Just looking for a cheap place to get some shampoo, hair spray, deodorant, maybe pair of socks or something, misc items like that. 711 has a most of those, but looking for a more economical approach and save some yen when possible. Doesn't have to be lawson, just know they are frequent around tokyo/greater japan.

>>1275462
Go to literally any pharmacy or dollar store. You can get all of that at a Daiso for 280y.

>>1275435
what do you mean /trv/ related? I think the unofficial anime of /trv/ is Kino's Journey. There are a lot of Chinese cartoons set in Japan so seeing the real places of those is also kind of cool
>>1275441
There's Oak house or something I recall but I was quite satisfied with sakura house

Flying home tomorrow, will the currency exchange people accept my pile of leftover coins or do they only take notes?

>>1272562
https://youtu.be/ZsIineWjehM

I'm going from Osaka to Okinawa (Naha) tomorrow and I'm afraid there's not that much to do out there (Eurofag).

How can I get around on the island when there's no trains? Is there a good diving school out there?

I will be out there for 4 nights and I only found some caves that should be worth the effort of trying to get some transportation. And the beach of course... I'm glad I am going to Kyoto and Tokyo later. I had an awesome time in Tokyo, especially Akihabara, crazy! Hope it will get even better, booked a hotel in Shinjuku so I can stay out past the JR bedtime.

>>1275099
Why didn't you just buy a phone charger from 7/11 for a couple bucks?

>>1275126
>publicity
lmao ok

>>1275121
That's not a bad idea. Myself and a friend (both clean-cut, pleasant-looking white guys) nearly got turned away from a couple gyms for having various arm tattoos. They eventually agreed but asked us to cover them. Those look like some shit an edgy FF protagonist would wear, but it's better than not getting your workout.

>>1275544
They took enough coins to get me to an even dollar amount in exhange. I still had a 10, a 5, and a few yennies left over.

New bread >>1275640

How much are escorts in Japan ?

I WANT TO GO TO JAPAN