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I use Google Translate a lot and it's very good, but I second the recommendation to simplify sentences as much as possible. Many people don't realize how many polite filler words we use until they're in a non-English environment. For super specialized vocabulary, weblio is an excellent online JP-EN dictionary. I usually just google "(word) weblio" and use the search results than going directly to the weblio page. Google Image Search is also useful in looking up unusual words (from porn to sword-making).
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Nov 9, 2017 00:19
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Oh man, a ryokan would be super super cool. I want to do that sometime, possibly during the Kyoto/Osaka/Himeji leg of the trip. Are there any ryokan that accommodate westerners? But unfortunately, for a couple very good reasons, I'll have to hard pass on the hot springs. Mom and dad would love it, but not if they're gonna be apart from each other. I'm kind of tempted to spend a little longer in Kyoto/Osaka, just cause there's more obvious stuff to do there. It's starting to look like it would be a good idea to just go off in a random direction in Tokyo and take in the city. Joypolis and Anata no Warehouse sound loving cool as poo poo but I doubt my parents would like it and doing stuff alone makes me sad and depressed. Saiseisakaba sounds like the food I fuckin' deserve, I would love to try that poo poo out. Maybe I should take some friends with me? But that'd be difficult. That's kinda why I was hoping there'd be goon meets sometime, get some socializing going. Speaking of translation, how important is it that I speak well? I can understand and read somewhat, but I have zero experience/practice conversing.
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Nov 9, 2017 03:41
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Oh I forgot to mention, if you want top end sushi you should book it now.
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Nov 9, 2017 03:44
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Stringent posted:Oh I forgot to mention, if you want top end sushi you should book it now. Good point, poo poo, it's already November? Arghhhhghghgh I am terrible at this trip planning bullshit.
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Nov 9, 2017 03:45
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My favorite thing to do in Toyko is to spend some times in the old tiny restaurant / bar alleys called Yokocho. The easiest to stop by for a test are Omoide Yokocho just outside of Shinjuku station, or Ameyoko outside Ueno. If you like that atmosphere, there are a bunch more scattered all over town, some guides compile them like this - http://www.gotokyo.org/en/tourists/attractions/yokocho/index.html
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Nov 9, 2017 05:18
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I don't know how long it's been since you last visited Tokyo, but in the past five years the number of tourists has swelled precipitously. I wouldn't in good conscience recommend omoideyokocho or ameyokocho to anyone unless they really, really like tight packed crowds.
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Nov 9, 2017 06:03
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Quite overpriced and very touristy. Go to Kanda or Shinbashi and drink with the salarymen!
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Nov 9, 2017 06:31
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I don't get down to Tokyo much, but I did do a Friday night eating in omoideyokocho then drinking in golden gai with a couple friends about three weeks ago. But I understand it'd be tougher with a bigger group, that may have been a freak opening and there are probably plenty of better alleys to check out. Just saying they're convenient spots from Shinjuku or Ueno to do a 15 minute walk and see if you're into that scene.
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Nov 9, 2017 06:31
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For a tourist I’d say it’s fine to walk by Golden Gai etc. to see them, maybe grab a drink, but they’re almost completely full of tourists now. Probably just as well because supposedly they had been losing customers and now if it wasn’t for tourists they probably wouldn’t stay afloat, but it’s not some homey authentic Japanese thing, if that’s what you’re looking for. By far the most popular spot in Golden Gai now is a Filipino run standing Karaoke bar at the end of the street on the station side. If you’re young the nearby HUB is probably literally a better representation of what young Japanese people your age do and will have more friendly locals interested in talking.
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Nov 9, 2017 06:47
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If you’re gonna go to a Yokocho then try Ebisu yokocho; still central location but hasn’t been taken over by tourists.
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Nov 9, 2017 06:49
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LimburgLimbo posted:If you’re young the nearby HUB is probably literally a better representation of what young Japanese people your age do and will have more friendly locals interested in talking. And the best pizza in Japan.
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Nov 9, 2017 08:28
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woah street karaoke
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Nov 9, 2017 08:57
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amateur hour up in this thread, unless the ku name starts with T or K you're not drinking hard enough
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Nov 9, 2017 10:04
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LimburgLimbo posted:If you’re young the nearby HUB is probably literally a better representation of what young Japanese people your age do and will have more friendly locals interested in talking.
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Nov 9, 2017 12:06
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It's really bad but it is authentically A Thing Many People Do in Tokyo.
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Nov 9, 2017 12:07
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Question Mark Mound posted:Is HUB actually a decent place to go? Coming from the UK/Ireland, I made a point on my last trip to avoid anything that was British/Irish themed as it would probably be super touristy, but if they do a good drinks/cocktails selection and alright food I might give it a go on my next visit to Japan. Hub is not about the food, it is about the relatively cheap drinks and the people. It’s one of the few places in Japan where it’s entirely normal to start chatting with the people sitting or standing next to you, and full of a mix of foreigners, Japanese college students, and a variety of weirdos. It’s all very dependent on the branch you go to though, but the Shibuya Hubs are good fun for slumming.
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Nov 9, 2017 12:12
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LyonsLions posted:And the best pizza in Japan. What the gently caress.
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Nov 9, 2017 12:24
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LimburgLimbo posted:Hub is not about the food, it is about the relatively cheap drinks and the people. It’s one of the few places in Japan where it’s entirely normal to start chatting with the people sitting or standing next to you, and full of a mix of foreigners, Japanese college students, and a variety of weirdos.
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Nov 9, 2017 12:44
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Hub is alright but it's not really the best at anything either. Especially since not all Hubs are born equal. No matter what kind of experience you're after, you can probably do better than the Hub. But without more specific info (budget, location, atmosphere, menu, girls) it's kind of difficult to suggest much else. I'm in the process of breaking it down geographically with guides like this one, about drinking in Asakusa. Which conveniently features the Asakusa Hub. I'm trying to accommodate a wide range of preferences. I've barely scratched the surface though... Ginza alone will require three separate neighborhoods. \/\/ classic venue, that's where the porn UFO catchers were until a few years ago zmcnulty fucked around with this message at 15:59 on Nov 9, 2017 |
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Nov 9, 2017 13:05
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For me, my favorite dive into kitschy, old school Tokyo drinking spots was the New Shinbashi Building. I haven't been in ages, but there was this one 地酒 place run by a Chinese dude in the basement that was just incredible. Dude was a drat encyclopedia of sake.
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Nov 9, 2017 14:35
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I always get anxious when looking up places to eat in Toyko because there's just so many 😓
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Nov 9, 2017 21:52
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netcat posted:I always get anxious when looking up places to eat in Toyko because there's just so many 😓
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Nov 10, 2017 02:37
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In tokyo you can't walk like 5 feet without tripping over good food. I love tokyo.
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Nov 10, 2017 03:44
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Stringent posted:For me, my favorite dive into kitschy, old school Tokyo drinking spots was the New Shinbashi Building. I haven't been in ages, but there was this one 地酒 place run by a Chinese dude in the basement that was just incredible. Dude was a drat encyclopedia of sake. There is a little standing bar around the corner from there called Touch You Know Me that I go to quite often. The girl who manages it also does Gravure modeling so that part is kind of neat too. I haven't been to a Hub in months but generally they are a good place to get trashed and talk to people. In general I am not a fan of bars where the staff wear a bartender uniform, but at least with the Hub you pay up front.
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Nov 10, 2017 03:50
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has anyone had experience with working holiday visa work? i’m looking to do a 6 month/1 year break from life at home next year and was thinking that doing some resort work could be a nice way to accomplish that. i work as a chef at home anyway so i’ve got plenty of hospitality experience. worst case if i don’t like it i’ll just return home, hoping it’s doable to work and live off my earnings to get a change of scene for a while. i can speak very basic japanese, i’ll be studying and hopefully learning while there but i doubt i’ll be able to do any job that requires fluency.
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Nov 11, 2017 03:59
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I've just booked tickets for a trip to Tokyo during Hanami next spring. This will be my third time going to Tokyo, but my first since I started transition (M2F-ish). I'm genderqueer and my presentation on most days is somewhat androgynous. The gender marker on all my ID (including passport) is female, but I suspect on most days it will be fairly obvious I'm not a cis woman. My traveling partner, on the other hand, is a cis woman. Should I expect confusion/trouble/etc if I use women's restrooms when out and about in the city? I figure Tokyo is pretty cosmopolitan, but I know perception of trans folks in Japan differs a lot from the perception in the US. (On that note, are there any onsens worth visiting where I wouldn't be causing trouble for the staff and other guests? I know some onsens have private areas instead of just two sex-segregated communal areas.)
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Nov 11, 2017 04:04
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Just wear a sick mask pee wherever you want. Wherever.
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Nov 12, 2017 07:26
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keirharder posted:has anyone had experience with working holiday visa work? i’m looking to do a 6 month/1 year break from life at home next year and was thinking that doing some resort work could be a nice way to accomplish that. i work as a chef at home anyway so i’ve got plenty of hospitality experience. Yo I knew someone at a place called British Hills in Fukushima that's like an English immersion hotel, all the staff is working holiday. The pay seems low but they offer free food and dorms so your take-home is higher than a regular eikaiwa job. Peppy Kids Club and seasonal jobs like ski resorts also do working holiday.
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Nov 12, 2017 07:29
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My plans to do two weeks in Japan around CNY have been dashed. Instead, I'm looking at doing 5 days/4 nights (Fly in Monday, leave Friday) around the first week of March. Probably just going to stick to Tokyo, but I'm tempted to spend a day in Yokohama or on Mount Fuji. Outside of the normal spots of Tokyo Tower/Skytree; what are some must sees that I could squeeze into that short of a stay? What's the best area to look for a hotel? e: Also, is it worth it to do shopping for electronics in Tokyo? I've heard things are cheaper there than here in Taiwan. CovfefeCatCafe fucked around with this message at 13:15 on Nov 12, 2017 |
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Nov 12, 2017 13:13
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Japan during Chinese new years sounds terrible.
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Nov 13, 2017 08:35
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peanut posted:Yo I knew someone at a place called British Hills in Fukushima that's like an English immersion hotel, all the staff is working holiday. The pay seems low but they offer free food and dorms so your take-home is higher than a regular eikaiwa job. Thanks! I'm alright with low pay as long as accomodation is included, I've got savings so it's more about not having to dig into those while living overseas for awhile. Just had a rough couple of years so I just need a change of scene. I've looked at some ski resort stuff too with boobooski which seems alright, haven't been to hokkaido yet.
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Nov 13, 2017 11:55
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Just FYI Niseko is basically a territory of Australia during ski season. Nearly everything is owned and operated by gaijin for gaijin. Said gaijin basically saved the town from falling into obscurity, but the if you're after some authentic Japanese experience, you'll need to head out of town.
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Nov 13, 2017 23:22
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I've been to two ski resorts in Japan. I for sure heard more Australian voices in Hakuba than Japanese. Appi seemed more like where the locals go for the winter.
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Nov 13, 2017 23:32
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zmcnulty posted:Just FYI Niseko is basically a territory of Australia during ski season. Nearly everything is owned and operated by gaijin for gaijin. Said gaijin basically saved the town from falling into obscurity, but the if you're after some authentic Japanese experience, you'll need to head out of town. It's so much not Japan that the restaurant we were at didn't even have a Japanese menu available - only English.
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Nov 14, 2017 00:42
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Hi guys, I was directed here from the gbs China thread, ill spend a week in sendai after christmas and a week in tokyo after New year, any recommandations what to do and see in sendai? We will be hiking on the mountains at least and I really want to experience the onsen, thanks!
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Nov 16, 2017 18:01
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Mountain hiking in winter? Don't people tend to avoid that because, you know, it's kinda dangerous?
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Nov 16, 2017 21:12
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thanks for the tips everyone, while i’m expecting a lot of foreigners at ski resorts i would hate to try and take a break from australia only to be completely surrounded by australians in japan lol.
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Nov 16, 2017 22:06
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yeah I think sendai is normally snowing around then, there's a bunch of stuff to do but winter ends up really being skiing season, unless you are ok with renting a car with snow tires and driving around.
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Nov 17, 2017 10:22
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Stumbling Block posted:Mountain hiking in winter? Don't people tend to avoid that because, you know, it's kinda dangerous? I think theyre just normal hiking routes, which should be accessible afaik. ntan1 posted:yeah I think sendai is normally snowing around then, there's a bunch of stuff to do but winter ends up really being skiing season, unless you are ok with renting a car with snow tires and driving around. Yeah, more than okay, Im from Finland so not a stranger to driving at winter, already got my international driver's license ready too
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Nov 17, 2017 22:44
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Patrocclesiastes posted:Im from Finland Pretty sure this automatically makes you a better driver than 90% of people you'll ever meet. Edit: perkele
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Nov 18, 2017 00:19
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