First day in Tokyo: I
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I'll try to make a list of a few things once I get home tonight. Tried to do it the over day, but had to run out and am on mobile now. Glad your exploring, its the best part!
First day in Tokyo: I
/QUOTE]
Snip
I'll try to make a list of a few things once I get home tonight. Tried to do it the over day, but had to run out and am on mobile now. Glad your exploring, its the best part!
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday the Japanese government will raise the consumption tax to 10 percent from the current 8 percent in October next year as planned, after postponing the increase twice due to concerns it would dampen consumer spending and hurt the economy.
Confirming that the schedule remains unchanged in an extraordinary Cabinet meeting, Abe said he will make "all-out efforts and take all measures" to prevent the tax hike from having a negative impact on the economy, according to a summary of his remarks released by the government.
The Japanese government will introduce an electronic system for tourist visa applications in April 2020 in an effort to help achieve its goal of 40 million inbound visitors by that year, government sources said Sunday.
The online system will first be available to Chinese tourists for single-entry visa applications and then to travelers from other countries, the source said.
Questions I can't find an answer to anywhere.
- My wife and I love all sorts of Japanese food. But of course, we fully expect to get something we don't love. Is it considered rude in Japan to not finish the food on your plate? I know that sounds like a weird question, but we were told time and time and again in our European travels that it's rude to leave food. I just don't want to be disrespectful to the establishments that we eat at.
- I've read a little about places that do not welcome tourists. Is there a sign to lookout for to know so we don't go into one of these places?
- Some of these yakitori and ramen places we want to visit are really small. Are foreigners typically welcome and treated OK here? Same question for small bars or whatever in various strips?
- Is there some etiquette for shopping in various shops? Like, even a phrase that means "Just looking around" if someone comes up to us? Or are the Japanese less "stalkerish" than shops in the US?
Questions I can't find an answer to anywhere.
- Some of these yakitori and ramen places we want to visit are really small. Are foreigners typically welcome and treated OK here? Same question for small bars or whatever in various strips?
Tbh the lack of konbini might be one of the worst things about leaving Japan lol, I'm addicted
I'm trying to determine if the 7-Day JR Pass makes sense for me. We'll be travelling between 3 areas... Tokyo > Takayama > Kyoto > Tokyo
12/19: Arrive in Japan @ Narita Airport, go to Tokyo from here
12/22: Train to Takayama (Shirakawago Village/Hida Folk Village/Sake Distilleries)
12/23: Train to Kyoto
12/25: Train to Tokyo
12/26: Go to airport, fly to Bangkok
Looking at Google Maps, it seems like there are some routes that could use the JR Pass for parts of the trips between the 3 areas but there are other routes we could use. So I'm not sure if ~$255 pass would be ideal for me? Any help here or somewhere to explain this better?
The number of monthly foreign visitors to Japan dropped for the first time since 2013 in September, the fall coming after a slew of natural disasters including a large earthquake and damaging typhoon, government data showed Tuesday.
The estimated number of foreign visitors totaled 2,159,600 in September, down 5.3 percent from the year before, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.
The figure reflects the impact of a magnitude 6.7 earthquake that rocked Japan's northernmost island prefecture of Hokkaido on Sept. 6, killing more than 40 people and triggering a prefecture-wide blackout, the agency said.
A typhoon that forced the temporary closure of Kansai International Airport in Osaka, the main international gateway by air to the western Japan region, also hit the number of visitors, according to the agency.
I just came back from our 2 week trip and it was amazing! Thanks again for all the wisdom in this thread. I am editing my photos and will post some later this week.
We found the JR Pass super useful and worth it, but we did have the 14 day pass (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, back to Tokyo). We also used it a lot in Tokyo using the Yamanote line to get around. I found the Pasmo card to be also vital, as it made using all other trains, subways and buses super easy. We also got the Osaka Amazing Pass to see some great places and have unlimited trains and bus use there as well, a bargain for 3300 yen. My wife and I were surprised that we came in under budget after our trip. With airfare included, our whole trip cost us about $2800. That included a nice flight on Singapore, 3 different Air Bnbs and one hotel, JR passes, gifts etc. Japan does not have to be costly at all. We are already planning our next trip back to Japan!
I need to look into this Pasmo card. Do you have any details on it?
I need to look into this Pasmo card. Do you have any details on it?
Questions I can't find an answer to anywhere.
- My wife and I love all sorts of Japanese food. But of course, we fully expect to get something we don't love. Is it considered rude in Japan to not finish the food on your plate? I know that sounds like a weird question, but we were told time and time and again in our European travels that it's rude to leave food. I just don't want to be disrespectful to the establishments that we eat at.
- I've read a little about places that do not welcome tourists. Is there a sign to lookout for to know so we don't go into one of these places?
- Some of these yakitori and ramen places we want to visit are really small. Are foreigners typically welcome and treated OK here? Same question for small bars or whatever in various strips?
- Is there some etiquette for shopping in various shops? Like, even a phrase that means "Just looking around" if someone comes up to us? Or are the Japanese less "stalkerish" than shops in the US?
Japan is known for its ever-growing list of unique KitKat flavors, but now Nestle Japan Ltd. is taking its premium version of the chocolate bar to the next level -- a new specialty shop in downtown Osaka offering customers made-to-order creations that are chilled at the spot by liquid nitrogen.
Customers can pick from five types of chocolate and choose three toppings from a selection of nine, such as dried mango, pineapple and marshmallow. The KitKat bar is then chilled at minus 196 C by having liquid nitrogen poured over it.
Prices start from 702 yen ($6) a bar, depending on the choice of chocolate. Customers can also choose to have all nine toppings on their chocolate bar for 2,214 yen, according to Nestle.
Im in Singapore waiting for my flight to haneda. I am fucking wrecked. There was a screaming kicking kid behind me on the way here and I've been waiting here 3 hours already. I'm so desperate for sleep I tried to get an upgrade but all the business seats are full.
Also there is a returning class trip, there are like a hundred school kids in their uniforms waiting with me. I hope they are quiet.
I'll be visiting Japan during Red Dead Redemption 2's release and thought it might be neat to bring back a Japanese copy. Thing is, I can barely read kanji. So I was just wondering if Japanese PS4 games from AAA companies generally have English (voice/ subtitles) included? Also, if anyone would happen to know if RDR2 would have this specifically that would be greatly appreciated as well.
Sorry if this question is slightly better suited for another thread but I couldn't find one...
Anyways, can't wait for the trip!
BTW, I am pretty sure there is a JR train that stops right at Fushimi Inari. That place was very cool, but beware of mosquitoes, I got bitten like 50 times on my legs. Not kidding.
Roger that on both counts. I recommend the "harder" path when the trail diverges. if you're athletic at all, give it a shot. , but it IS a surprisingly sweat-inducing path. Much quieter, some cool waterfall shrines. From a friend: "If you want to try it, stay on the normal path until it forks and turns into two parallel tunnels of ⛩. That ends in a little opening, then the main train turns left. Shortly after rejoining the main trail you can turn right. You probably won't see more than a handful of people on this route until you reach the top of the mountain."
In Kyoto the bus lines should have romaji on them (English letters) as well as Kanji. Most station attendants can do very basic English skills as well to help if your lost. Not sure about the card specifically since I only used coins when there for the bus though. Some cities have different cards for buses/trains/JR line trains.
If its a global release, there is a good chance it will have English on it, either decided by the console region settings or the option for it. Some games you can buy here in Japan for modern consoles automatically use their Japanese/English version depending on the console settings. That said there isn't really a way to tell most times until it comes out and someone tries it. Unless you can get a hold of someone who worked on it. Community managers on twitter and what not rarely know details like this.
I was just there and took this photo. I am a major Godzilla fan so this was a dream come true for me! This is on the 8th floor lobby.
Golden Gai!That's awesome! We booked it because location and rates were solid, and because obviously Godzilla. Any cool stuff right around there worth checking out from your recent experience?