|
Grand Fromage posted:It will say alcohol on the package. IIRC the Family Mart ones have it in English or look for アルコール. Airlines also do not care if you bring alcohol wipes on the plane. Last time I had to throw a couple away at the airport security check (on my way to Japan) as they were 70% alcohol and marked as flammable. I guess that was not the airline itself, though, possibly just some overly strict airport fellow. Fortunately had some hydrogen peroxide ones I could still bring along. Appreciate the help 
|
#
?
Nov 21, 2023 21:23
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 26, 2024 22:51 |
|
|
Weird, no one's ever so much as looked at mine and I always bring a pack for the plane ride. No accounting for the dude at security getting a bug up his rear end I suppose.
|
|
#
?
Nov 21, 2023 21:28
|
|
|
Bofast posted:Is there some specific term one should look for when it comes to buying alcohol wet wipes? I like to keep around some just in case and airlines tend to be rather negative about letting you bring potential flammables along. Wet wipes are called "wet tissue" in Japan.
|
|
#
?
Nov 21, 2023 23:36
|
|
|
Bofast posted:Last time I had to throw a couple away at the airport security check (on my way to Japan) as they were 70% alcohol and marked as flammable. I guess that was not the airline itself, though, possibly just some overly strict airport fellow. Fortunately had some hydrogen peroxide ones I could still bring along. That's uncommon. I travel worldwide with dozens of alcohol swabs for over 20 years to every continent but Antarctica and nobody has ever cared.
|
|
#
?
Nov 23, 2023 00:09
|
|
|
go_banana posted:Made the above post earlier, got some helpful suggestions. So helpful that it sent me into frantic research into Kyushu vs Shikoku. Finally after a week of researching I decided its better to take it slow rather than try and see everything. There is 3 nights between post towns - Tokyo we could head back, but it might be easier to continue through the Kiso Valley. We've also been able to extend our stay for 3 nights, so now leave HND on 17/12. Depends what you want. Osaka's cool and I recommend the nakazakicho area near umeda - on one side of the road you've got the hipster, shimokita- style stuff and on the other you've got the old- school, downmarket area of the tenjinbashisuji arcade and its offshoots. I loving loved it and it's not a tourist hellscape like dotonbori (yet). On the other hand every extra stop is a pain in the arse so it depends on your appetite for changing cities. Btw the relay- shinkansen system from hakata to Nagasaki is kind of a hassle but Nagasaki is so worth it. Someone needs to bribe the mayor of Saga to let the complete shinkansen track be built.
|
|
#
?
Nov 24, 2023 22:00
|
|
|
I noticed a lot of maps here in Japan don't align North with up. Kinda threw me for a loop the first couple times
|
|
#
?
Nov 25, 2023 05:23
|
|
|
slinkimalinki posted:Someone needs to bribe the mayor of Saga to let the complete shinkansen track be built. Saga shall remain pristine inaka.
|
|
#
?
Nov 25, 2023 05:34
|
|
|
Revitalized posted:I noticed a lot of maps here in Japan don't align North with up. Kinda threw me for a loop the first couple times That's one of the great things about Japan. Who knows where north is? But you definitely know what is in front of you. It's nice to look at a map and know it matches the direction you are looking.
|
|
#
?
Nov 25, 2023 07:42
|
|
|
For those who exchanged their non Japanese Drivers License with a Japanese one without having to take a written / driving test, are there any restrictions with the new Japanese license such as not being able to rent a car in Japan?
|
|
#
?
Nov 25, 2023 15:15
|
|
|
no (in my experience)
|
|
#
?
Nov 25, 2023 15:21
|
|
|
Busy Bee posted:For those who exchanged their non Japanese Drivers License with a Japanese one without having to take a written / driving test, are there any restrictions with the new Japanese license such as not being able to rent a car in Japan? No, not in law. However discount rent-a-car joints like Niconico and Guts may have it on their internal regulations not to rent to anyone with a newish license (6 mo or less). Big firms like Toyota and Nissan will rent no problem.
|
|
#
?
Nov 25, 2023 15:53
|
|
|
Fuuuuuuck I forgot about the J-League until today and December 3rd is the last match day... I could have easily gone to Japan one week earlier but I suck at travelling. I really need an adult next time I go to Japan to plan things properly. Speaking of planning, the lads at the JNTO are very fun to talk with and will explain all the basics and some golden itineraries. I had no idea they had a booth close by and it was a good idea to go there, I'm redoing part of my itinerary to go to Ishikawa after Nakatsugawa and a village or two up the Nakasendo. Fun stuff.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 00:27
|
|
|
Busy Bee posted:For those who exchanged their non Japanese Drivers License with a Japanese one without having to take a written / driving test, are there any restrictions with the new Japanese license such as not being able to rent a car in Japan? Nah, doing that with or without a test just has to do with whether your home country/state matches the levels necessary to do so without the tests. I believe it’s reciprocity across countries that match a threshold, but that’s just an educated guess. You might not be able to rent bigger trucks anymore but that’s the same for anybody getting a brand new Japanese license from scratch as well. But things like Toyota Hiace vans are ok, and regular cars of course too.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 01:35
|
|
|
Unless you specify on your application, your JP license will limit you to automatic transmission cars of a small/standard size (especially if you have to do the course test).
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 04:05
|
|
|
They just assume you're going to be driving an N-BOX like everyone else
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 05:47
|
|
|
Are train tickets between cities something that I should be booking in advance? I'm travelling in Dec/Jan, in case that's relevant.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 07:43
|
|
|
Not unless it's a holiday and I don't think there are any big travel holidays in that period. Maaaybe if you're going somewhere obscure and there's only a couple trains a day but even then probably not. I have never prebooked a train ticket in Japan.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 07:52
|
|
|
Trains will be absolutely hosed with people going home/returning from home during New Year actually.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 08:29
|
|
|
We're flying from Haneda to Okayama, then taking a train to Osaka on the 2nd Jan. We got burned once trying to train from Berlin to Prague when we booked a train ticket but not an actual seat so I'm a little wary of something like that happening again 
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 08:44
|
|
|
bee posted:We're flying from Haneda to Okayama, then taking a train to Osaka on the 2nd Jan. We got burned once trying to train from Berlin to Prague when we booked a train ticket but not an actual seat so I'm a little wary of something like that happening again January 2 will probably still be pretty quiet, but people will start going back from wherever they spent the New Year around then. Hope you are ready for almost everything to be closed between about Dec. 29 to Jan. 4.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 08:58
|
|
|
It's fine, you'll be fine, buy soon after you arrive if you're worried about seats. Any JR station can sell shinkansen tickets so I recommend buying at a normal JR station (the lines at shinkansen stations can be ridiculous). Shinkansen are busiest between Osaka and Tokyo, if you're starting from Okayama I think it won't be too bad.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 09:39
|
|
|
^^ Thanks! Will definitely keep that in mind.Gabriel Grub posted:
Yeah, I've done a bit of research and apparently there's a few things that stay open in and around Hiroshima over the new years period so we'll busy ourselves with a few day trips Thanks for the heads up though!
bee fucked around with this message at 09:43 on Nov 26, 2023 |
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 09:41
|
|
|
Dec 28 - Jan 3 Likely to be closed: museums, schools, offices, city hall, small family businesses Probably open: post office, popular restaurants Definitely open: public transportation, chain restaurants, chain supermarkets, shopping malls, hotels, temples, shrines
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 10:55
|
|
|
I'm starting to get my basic Shikoku itinerary set for March 2024 and it looks like this: Day 1 to 3: Shimanami Bike Tour from Onomichi and ending in Matsuyama. Stay the night in Matsuyama Day 4: Full day in Matsuyama Day 5: Rent a car and drive to Kochi Day 6: Full day in Kochi and explore Kochi and surrounding areas Day 7: Leave Kochi to go to the Iya Valley, stay a night there Day 8: Spend the day in Iya Valley, hike up Tsurugi, drive to Takamatsu in the evening Day 9: Full day in Takamatsu Day 10: Fly back to Tokyo from Takamatsu Open for any suggestions and ideas! Also wondering if we should plan on two nights in Iya Valley and cut off a night in one of the cities. Busy Bee fucked around with this message at 20:55 on Nov 27, 2023 |
|
#
?
Nov 27, 2023 18:17
|
|
|
vacation report: not everything I ate was great but nothing was bad. It's like the base standard for food quality is a couple of notches above the united states. i did some other things besides eat, whatever
|
|
#
?
Nov 28, 2023 21:19
|
|
|
Zapf Dingbat posted:vacation report: not everything I ate was great but nothing was bad. It's like the base standard for food quality is a couple of notches above the united states. Yep. I have had a couple genuinely bad meals in Japan but unremarkable is usually the worst you'll get.
|
|
#
?
Nov 28, 2023 21:27
|
|
|
Bout to jump into my flight and I still don't have a full itinerary. Did I earn my goon badge? (though to be honest as soon as I hit Nagoya I'll be with a friend who lives there) This just came to mind but does anyone know where you'd usually find old movie posters? Used book shops? I'm not looking to adorn my apartment with Nikkatsu Roman boobies but it would be awesome to come across a poster for a movie I liked (ie. something specific like Crazy Thunder Road, or something more broad like a poster with an actor I like) even though I already know the more known movie posters won't be selling by scrap paper value.
|
|
#
?
Dec 5, 2023 21:32
|
|
|
Nakano Broadway for movie posters and Jinbocho for used book shops.
|
|
#
?
Dec 5, 2023 22:43
|
|
|
Is there any 1 day mobile data solutions? I know I could buy a week sim card but I will only be in Tokyo for a layover. I'm perfectly capable of navigating without a map but it's helpful to have data if I need to look something up at a moments notice.
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 00:16
|
|
|
Waltzing Along posted:Is there any 1 day mobile data solutions? I know I could buy a week sim card but I will only be in Tokyo for a layover. I'm perfectly capable of navigating without a map but it's helpful to have data if I need to look something up at a moments notice. Ubigi has a one day data e-sim. They call them one-offs and they are like 2.50 US
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 02:47
|
|
|
Shammypants posted:Ubigi has a one day data e-sim. They call them one-offs and they are like 2.50 US Ah, thanks. My travel phone doesn't have an esim and I am leaving my new phone at home. Seems like an interesting way to do things, though.
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 02:57
|
|
|
Waltzing Along posted:Ah, thanks. My travel phone doesn't have an esim and I am leaving my new phone at home. Seems like an interesting way to do things, though. There are some on Amazon that cost <10 for 5 days but the brands are your generic 'who the gently caress is that' kind of establishments. https://www.amazon.com/Unlimited-In...021&sr=8-9&th=1
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 03:02
|
|
|
I think I am just gonna wander HND a bit and see if I can find one for $20 or so. Or I can just go for a 20 minute walk once I get to my hotel to a DQ and see what is there. Thanks for the recs, though. Really, though. 1 day in Tokyo with no data seems kinda exciting in a way. Not planning on doing much. Train to Ginza, walk to Tsukiji to find something to eat, walk back and wander ginza for a bit, then go to Ikebukuro and do the same. Then wander Aki looking for Xmas gifts. In my 10ish trips to Japan, I still haven't been to Ginza/Ikebukuro so since I don't really have anything else to do but shop, I'll knock them off the list.
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 03:09
|
|
|
Hang out at Haneda Hub.
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 03:30
|
|
|
tbh I don't really think of Ikebukuro as a place to go and do stuff, more of a transit hub and a place where people live. I can't really think of any must-go stuff there. Ginza has the luxury good shopping street but I doubt you're going to go and buy a new Louis Vuitton bag or something. Aside from that I can't think of anything particularly crucial in Ginza. Aside from the stiflingly hot Metro station that's the start of the Ginza line with ceilings so low it makes you feel like you're in a coal mine.
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 03:51
|
|
|
There is an amazing and cheap conveyor belt sushi place in Ikebukuro called Tenka Zushi
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 04:43
|
|
|
cheese eats mouse posted:There is an amazing and cheap conveyor belt sushi place in Ikebukuro called Tenka Zushi Anyone licking the plates there?
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 04:57
|
|
|
Isn't that standard practice for Americans when they go out to eat and finish their food?
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 05:14
|
|
|
Came back from my trip (well, I left Japan about a week ago for Taiwan but finally came back today) I miss how cheap the food was. I miss the convenience stores and the easy transit. I wanna drink more hoyori. I really want to play more Arsenal Base in the arcades over there  Fukuoka and Tokyo were a blast! Revitalized fucked around with this message at 10:42 on Dec 6, 2023 |
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 08:33
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 26, 2024 22:51 |
|
|
AHH F/UGH posted:Isn't that standard practice for Americans when they go out to eat and finish their food? Before the meal
|
|
#
?
Dec 6, 2023 16:43
|
|