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in korea they have a fake DMZ too for things like that
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Apr 21, 2021 06:57
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Has any goon here tried the Tomakomai -> Oarai 18 hour MOL ferry ride? https://www.sunflower.co.jp/en/ I am considering taking the Shinkansen up to Hokkaido, checking out Sapporo and Hakodate and then spending a chill time on a ferry ride back down south (or the other way around), just so I can experience something different from the standard Tokyo+Kyoto+Osaka foreigner's first visit. Assuming it's running whenever I can actually get over to Japan, of course.
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Apr 22, 2021 23:47
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Bofast posted:Has any goon here tried the Tomakomai -> Oarai 18 hour MOL ferry ride? https://www.sunflower.co.jp/en/ calling that "Hokkaido to Tokyo" is a bit disingenuous when it returns back to Ibaraki, not gonna lie. don't feel like you have to do something or not do something because it's popular -- judge it on your own basis. Keep in mind that Tokyo Haneda <-> Sapporo Shin Chitose is the most served air route in the country, with literally tens of flights per day. Getting a flight for $200 round trip or less is very doable, possibly even for ANA/JAL, but even if you get a cheaper flight it's just about 90 minutes. 18 hours might not be the longest ferry, but getting back to where it departs and then getting from Ibaraki back to civilization is going to add time on each end as well.
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Apr 23, 2021 01:00
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Depends on your opinion of cruises since it's basically a mini-cruise. It's a cool weekend thing to do if you're in Japan for a long period of time but as someone visiting with limited time it might not be the best use of time in Japan. On the other hand if you're the type that enjoys cruises and are just using it to recharge from your Hokkaido trip then I'm sure it'll be fine.
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Apr 23, 2021 02:26
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Bofast posted:Has any goon here tried the Tomakomai -> Oarai 18 hour MOL ferry ride? https://www.sunflower.co.jp/en/ I've taken the ferry to Hokkaido, not that route but it was Maizuru to Otaru and a bit longer, close to 24 hours. It was fun, would do again. It's up to you whether it's a good use of your travel time. It's definitely very chill. I just would suggest springing for something that's not that huge room with everyone lying next to each other (listed as the "Tourist" cabin). I did that, and then I found when I got there that almost all of the people who use those rooms are men, and I spent the night sandwiched between 2 elderly gentlemen just inches away so I could smell their breathe all night (no curtains on the one I took). It would have been worth paying more to avoid that.
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Apr 23, 2021 03:41
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Bofast posted:Has any goon here tried the Tomakomai -> Oarai 18 hour MOL ferry ride? https://www.sunflower.co.jp/en/ hakodate is p boring imo. there's a mountain and not a lot else. the big draw for japanese people is all the western architecture I guess? imo get to Sapporo asap cuz theres infinitely more cool poo poo around there than Hakodate.
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Apr 23, 2021 03:50
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harperdc posted:calling that "Hokkaido to Tokyo" is a bit disingenuous when it returns back to Ibaraki, not gonna lie. True, it's not exactly straight to the Tokyo area. I would probably stay the night in Mito, see Kairakuen garden or something and then hop on a train down to Tokyo. I don't know if I can be bothered to fly more than I have to after the flight into Japan is going to take me 11 or so hours and half the travel time of the ferry I would probably be asleep anyway, but it's good to keep in mind as an option. LyonsLions posted:I've taken the ferry to Hokkaido, not that route but it was Maizuru to Otaru and a bit longer, close to 24 hours. It was fun, would do again. It's up to you whether it's a good use of your travel time. It's definitely very chill. Zettace posted:Depends on your opinion of cruises since it's basically a mini-cruise. It's a cool weekend thing to do if you're in Japan for a long period of time but as someone visiting with limited time it might not be the best use of time in Japan. On the other hand if you're the type that enjoys cruises and are just using it to recharge from your Hokkaido trip then I'm sure it'll be fine. I did a 40 hour cruise Sweden -> Finland -> Sweden a few years back to test if I would get seasick or not and that was pretty enjoyable apart from the rather tiny bathroom (which looks to be better in some of these ferry rooms). I would pay to have my own cabin, yeah. No interest in sleeping among a dozen random strangers. I would probably go for 2-3 weeks, so time isn't that big of an issue. Magna Kaser posted:hakodate is p boring imo. there's a mountain and not a lot else. the big draw for japanese people is all the western architecture I guess? Good advice, thanks 
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Apr 23, 2021 11:36
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This might be an odd one, but I'm very interested in one of the geisha/maiko makeover experiences that I've seen a few videos of. Any recommended places to go to? I know Gion Aya will not do males or male presenting people.
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May 1, 2021 17:18
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Never done it myself but google yields some places. Sounds like it's not super uncommon. Hopefully someone can make a specific recommendation though. https://yumekoubou.info/plan/mensmaiko/ https://www.jidaiisho-okamura.com/faq https://www.jalan.net/kankou/spt_guide000000188142/activity/l000012635/ https://oiran.kyoto/info/580/
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May 2, 2021 00:30
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Just got a job offer and will be moving to Saitama-ken in September. I haven't even been to Japan in six years and my Japanese is rusty as hell but let's go!
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May 20, 2021 08:17
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paperwind posted:Just got a job offer and will be moving to Saitama-ken in September. I haven't even been to Japan in six years and my Japanese is rusty as hell but let's go! Congratulations! Which side of the “Trying to claim ほぼ東京 / gently caress you we’re proud to be farmers” Saitama line is it in?
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May 20, 2021 09:39
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harperdc posted:Congratulations! Which side of the “Trying to claim ほぼ東京 / gently caress you we’re proud to be farmers” Saitama line is it in? I don't know exactly where the line is but probably more of the former than the latter. There are rice fields visible on the satellite view, so I guess that makes it inaka regardless lol.
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May 20, 2021 18:43
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Rice is nice, learn to love it!
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May 21, 2021 00:29
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Ya love to eat it, folks!!
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May 21, 2021 01:00
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harperdc posted:Congratulations! Which side of the “Trying to claim ほぼ東京 / gently caress you we’re proud to be farmers” Saitama line is it in? Urawa is better than anywhere in Tokyo, change my mind.
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May 21, 2021 03:17
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it's crowded enough as it is. more ppl need to move to urawa imo.
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May 21, 2021 03:45
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Mr. Fix It posted:Urawa is better than anywhere in Tokyo, change my mind. Define by what metrics it's "better," certainly not in J-League terms this year. also god I can't imagine going from Saitama to either Narita or Haneda.
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May 21, 2021 07:24
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As cool as it is to gently caress around in the city, for actual day-to-day living, I’d vastly prefer the inaka as long as I could still hit up doctors, grocery stores, and drive to see friends.
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May 23, 2021 02:11
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Suburban inaka is really good if you have a variety of restaurants
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May 23, 2021 13:09
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Pollyanna posted:As cool as it is to gently caress around in the city, for actual day-to-day living, I’d vastly prefer the inaka as long as I could still hit up doctors, grocery stores, and drive to see friends. I lived in a tiny town (roughly 10,000 people) on JET and there was a doctor, dentist, grocery store, town hall, and a couple convenience stores in walking distance. but yeah, the train came twice an hour. your rent goes a whole lot farther once you're into the inaka, too.
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May 23, 2021 13:20
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peanut posted:Suburban inaka is really good if you have a variety of restaurants oh yeah we got both kinds, we got udon and soba
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May 23, 2021 13:26
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Sunaba in your hood was normal good, I hope they're still open.
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May 23, 2021 13:59
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Tokyo is alright but sleeper towns loving rule Living in Fujisawa Honmachi was extremely my poo poo Not sure about Saitama though 
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May 24, 2021 03:37
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For what it's worth, I got so sick of the inaka after years of it that I ended up getting a better job just to get myself out. You have to be the right kind of person for it, I guess.
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May 24, 2021 10:50
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7 years in the inaka for me. In my 20s I wanted to escape but now I have as kid and 401k so I'm good staying out here as long as possible. Honestly the only thing I really miss is live music. Otherwise there is good food, good coffee, and takkyubin service. E: I should say my inaka has been tony sleeper towns outside Kyushu cities. When I hear people call Saitama inaka I'm like lol. I like where I'm at now but as long as I had good Internet and utilities I think I'd enjoy living somewhere super rural. Pegnose Pete fucked around with this message at 13:05 on May 24, 2021 |
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May 24, 2021 12:56
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I don’t know how to be discrete about asking this so I’ll just ask it. I know some onsen have rules against tattoos. Is there any kind of taboo about intimate body piercings? I don’t mind getting stares but I’d hate to get kicked out of somewhere for it. Yes I can remove all the metal but I’d rather not have to worry about it if it’s not necessary. I’ve been holding off on tattoos until I’ve done a few more trips specifically because I don’t want to have to search for something that will accommodate me; I’d rather just have my pick of anything that’s open.
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May 24, 2021 17:03
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There are sites directed towards tourists for tattoo friendly onsen. Could also go the private/family route.
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May 25, 2021 00:26
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Ahaha, the logistics of moving to Japan during a pandemic are is starting to dawn on me. I also wanna bring my cat. Should be easier since I'm coming from Hawaii, but I don't even know yet if I'll have pet-friendly housing yet.
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May 25, 2021 00:59
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paperwind posted:Ahaha, the logistics of moving to Japan during a pandemic are is starting to dawn on me. I also wanna bring my cat. Should be easier since I'm coming from Hawaii, but I don't even know yet if I'll have pet-friendly housing yet. (or it could have been 1 month, I dunno, it was 10 years ago) I guess Hawaii is special, yay. totalnewbie fucked around with this message at 13:34 on May 25, 2021 |
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May 25, 2021 04:58
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i brought cats over from the us and there's a long quarantine for rabies, but that might not apply for hawaii
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May 25, 2021 05:56
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Martytoof posted:I don’t know how to be discrete about asking this so I’ll just ask it. I'm not sure you'd get explicitly kicked out, or get more stares than normal (gaijin in the onsen tends to be the big reason moreso than "gaijin with tattoos" or "gaijin with piercings") but I would probably recommend looking for places that are tattoo-friendly. Some lists are cropping up of locations that are tattoo-friendly, and this site (Tattoo-friendly dot jp) looks pretty good. support businesses that are trying to get that business, so to speak. I mean, this is still the place where some people think "don't eat with foreigners" is a way to stop the spread of COVID 
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May 25, 2021 06:14
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Martytoof posted:I know some onsen have rules against tattoos. Is there any kind of taboo about intimate body piercings? I don’t mind getting stares but I’d hate to get kicked out of somewhere for it. Yes I can remove all the metal but I’d rather not have to worry about it if it’s not necessary. I've never seen rules about body piercings at onsens.
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May 25, 2021 06:15
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LyonsLions posted:I've never seen rules about body piercings at onsens. Maybe he gets to be the guy who inspires Japan's next wacky sign!
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May 25, 2021 07:13
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paperwind posted:Ahaha, the logistics of moving to Japan during a pandemic are is starting to dawn on me. I also wanna bring my cat. Should be easier since I'm coming from Hawaii, but I don't even know yet if I'll have pet-friendly housing yet. Hi, I did this at the end of last year during the narrow window where Japan was still letting new residents in, minus bringing any pets. I think you have plenty of time to look into the cat situation because at the moment you'll probably be lucky if you can get in this fall. Ever since variants started popping up everywhere Japan has been very reluctant to let anyone in that isn't already a resident. Getting in is the biggest battle but after that it's doable, the first month or so getting your new life setup is just a slightly bigger pain than it would've been during a normal year, basically. Banks and offices have reduced hours. I didn't particularly enjoy trying to find an apartment during a pandemic but once you get a place you can get lots of stuff shipped to your door easily. Midjack posted:Maybe he gets to be the guy who inspires Japan's next wacky sign! This, I doubt most places have encountered it or thought about it. skull wall fucked around with this message at 10:32 on May 25, 2021 |
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May 25, 2021 07:27
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All good points. Never considered supporting places just because they are trying to buck the tattoo tend but it makes sense. I’ll plan accordingly, thanks!
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May 25, 2021 11:19
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paperwind posted:Ahaha, the logistics of moving to Japan during a pandemic are is starting to dawn on me. I also wanna bring my cat. Should be easier since I'm coming from Hawaii, but I don't even know yet if I'll have pet-friendly housing yet. For the cat, you're fortunate that Hawaii is indeed one of the easy regions. Also this is one place where there's actually pretty thorough online documentation, and in English too. https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/index.html Japanese too; probably good to know what the Japanese copies of the forms etc look like. https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/animal/dog/import-free.html
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May 25, 2021 12:07
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Can't wait for Prince Albert-kun posters at the onsen.
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May 25, 2021 13:02
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Just put everything in your Balldo and you'll be fine
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May 26, 2021 06:06
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I think you'd be able to get away with it at pretty much any onsen since you'll have the little modesty hand towel to cover up with when walking around.
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May 26, 2021 17:14
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hey goons, my partner and I (two vaccinated Americans) want to start planning a trip to Japan (we were thinking a three week, mid December into January kind of thing), but I don't have a sense if this is/will be possible considering COVID stuff; does anyone have an insight into if this is a good/responsible idea? not tryna make anyone uncomfortable, and I know that rates have been up recently
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May 28, 2021 14:46
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