|
Definitely bring some cash just in case. Generally rates are better if you exchange in Japan. ATMs are good, or there are plenty of exchange places in Tokyo. I used one in Ueno Station that took such a tiny cut I don't know how they even stay in business.
|
#
?
Feb 19, 2024 17:59
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 27, 2024 20:56 |
|
|
Alan_Shore posted:Being stuck with no money sounds very bad so I'll just order some here, and over there I'll use Wise to pay for stuff cos you get a great exchange rate and you don't get cut off Yea I've been loading up my Wise card once or twice a month to bring with me when I show up. Figure it'd make for a nice little travel fund when I'm there and can just pull cash out of an ATM with it.
|
|
#
?
Feb 19, 2024 20:23
|
|
|
Teriyaki Koinku posted:Dai-Ichi Hotel Ryogoku I've stayed here and personally, it's my favourite place so far. I got a Skytree facing room on the highest floor, and I didn't want to go to sleep because I enjoyed the view so much. I also liked that the entrance to the Toei subway is right underneath the hotel.
|
|
#
?
Feb 19, 2024 22:56
|
|
|
Should I wear a mask around Japan?
|
|
#
?
Feb 19, 2024 23:06
|
|
|
Yo mamma so fat when she wears a mask around japan she wears a mask aroooound japan
|
|
#
?
Feb 19, 2024 23:12
|
|
|
Alan_Shore posted:Should I wear a mask around Japan? Do what the locals do. If most people are wearing on a train, then wear one. When outside you don't need them. Just be respectful of others. You are a guest, after all.
|
|
#
?
Feb 19, 2024 23:19
|
|
|
Not getting sick on vacation is cool. I masked indoors when not eating/drinking. I didn't outside. The rules about required masking ended a while ago, if that's the question.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 00:03
|
|
|
Just didn't want to upset people by not masking up! I'll wear them when indoors in that case.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 00:05
|
|
|
Masks are also nice for: pollen allergies, resting bitchface, butterface, bad teeth, yawning, zits, and sun protection.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 00:07
|
|
|
The general rule is if you're sick or coughing/sneezing from allergies then you should be wearing a mask. Otherwise you're free to do what you want unless there's a sign or something.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 00:18
|
|
|
Alan_Shore posted:Just didn't want to upset people by not masking up! I'll wear them when indoors in that case.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 00:20
|
|
|
I can't wait to see what the hell a three year renovation looks like at the Edo Tokyo museum, next year-ish. Going to laugh when I walk in and it looks identical to how I remembered it.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 00:41
|
|
|
Hope they didn't gently caress it up, that museum was cool.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 00:43
|
|
|
Hell yeah it was. If anything I hope they just expand it. It seemed perfectly fine when I went last before COVID -- not sure what needed a three year renovation, but I'll concede to not being informed about every last thing that goes on at Edo Tokyo museum :|
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 00:48
|
|
|
mask indoors or on transit right now for me still, that still feels like the safest compromise in Tokyo.some kinda jackal posted:I can't wait to see what the hell a three year renovation looks like at the Edo Tokyo museum, next year-ish. I guess we went not long before it closed, but seeing some of the more recent artifacts in the modern section -- specifically the video of the Windows 95 launch -- caused a bit of psychic damage.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 00:52
|
|
|
The vast majority of people don't care. My mother in law, however, does. When she came to Osaka a few months ago to help out after our second child was born, she mentioned several times how few people were wearing masks compared to her inaka home and how she couldn't believe it. The few people who do care about how others wear masks will almost certainly not say or do anything more than mentally tut-tut you when you pass by. That being said, I would echo the advice of other posters in the thread and personally recommend wearing a mask inside and especially on mass transit. Getting sick during a vacation sucks significantly more than normal, so why not take the precaution?
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 01:27
|
|
|
I don't wear a mask anywhere anymore and I haven't been asked to wear one in I don't know how long. Most people and businesses don't care either way. If you're a foreigner it's probably even more likely that no one would bother you about it.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 03:37
|
|
|
I never wear one however when I am on the train and someone is hacking up a lung I sure wish I had one on me. If you are a tourist I would suggest brining some since you are going to be on crowded public transportation so much.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 03:40
|
|
|
In my experience, only certain medical institutions still insist on masks. Any place a typical tourist will go should have 0 requirements.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 04:58
|
|
|
Guess who’s back, back again! Dad and I have a trip planned starting mid-late October, and this time my brother’s coming too.  They’ll be doing the Kumano Kodo for a few days, then the rest of the 2+ weeks is open for planning.Not sure what I want to do this time around. They’ll be in Wakayama for a while, but I’ll probably be elsewhere and they can just come meet me wherever I am once they’re done. I’m waffling between checking out Hokkaido, or just spending the week in Tokyo faffing about with no plans. Any recommendations? October is festival time, right? Maybe I’ll take a ferry over to Ehime and finally go see them  Also, this time I really wanna do some basic conversation/common situation practice. Last time I went, I got anxiety spikes whenever I had to order food, buy something, check in and out of a hotel, or get someone’s attention/get help with something. In the United States and in other English-speaking areas, I rely on a set of canned phrases to make common situations like those simple and predictable to handle, and that alleviates my anxiety. But I don’t have any canned phrases for Japanese, so I have to process the situation and my words on the fly and that gets me all flustered. And any canned phrases I do use, I’m not 100% confident are correct, so I’m always worried that I’m loving it up somehow and confusing everyone. Can anyone recommend a good article or video series or something that covers the usual speech patterns and flow of both common day-to-day situations and tourist-relevant situations? I learn best by example, so I’m perfectly happy to just mimic a native speaker for any given situation.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 17:36
|
|
|
Have you looked in the Japanese language learning thread? But there's also a ton of "learn Japanese" channels on YouTube and I think most of them are reasonably serious, so it's most about finding someone whose production style you can enjoy. Or go watch some Japanese live streamers to hear more natural language than you get in TV and anime shows.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 18:00
|
|
|
Not sure how far you are into learning it but, no matter what anyone anywhere tells you, do yourself a favor and learn katakana first before anything else. That's my advice.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 18:17
|
|
|
I have basic reading and listening comprehension and I was able to get by both time I’ve gone with some off-the-cuff speaking, but I’m not confident in it. Definitely past the kana stage, though I could always use more kanji practice. Really, at this point I would need immersion and/or an educational program to pit what I know against reality. I do still have those N4-N3 practice workbooks, I could pick those up again. I’ll post in the language thread, thanks!
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 18:25
|
|
|
I'll be honest, the only way you're going to get confident in speaking it is by.. speaking it. My verbal ability plummeted -- and I mean PLUMMETED -- when I switched to online-only during COVID after doing a group class for two years. If your goal is spoken, I'll let the language thread suggest better resources, but I'd definitely look at a live tutor through italki or something.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 19:14
|
|
|
My language story was when I was at a hard-off in the boonies looking for records and had to use the restroom. I knew enough set phrasing to ask where it was but then the guy frantically waved me off and politely but quickly fired off sentences I couldn't process to save my life. I went through like two minutes of like "no i need to use the shitter" in the most polite japanese I could in various ways and every time he replied with something else I wasn't getting and I was fumbling with google translate like a clown with this guy being obviously politely exasperated until finally someone walked out of the bathroom and he was like "dozo" and I just hung my head in shame and high tailed it out of the store as soon as humanly possible.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 19:19
|
|
|
Awwww yuss hope we get more Pollyanna dad stories
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 22:48
|
|
|
I got thoroughly praised in a post office for using the right counter word for stamps and I was simultaneously intensely proud of myself and felt very stupid that the rest of my ability to speak Japanese is so bad that buying stamps seemed like a great feat.
|
|
#
?
Feb 20, 2024 23:56
|
|
|
As a foreigner, is it possible to go to a hostess club in Tokyo just to see what is it like and not spend too much money? Or is it a guaranteed way to find yourself scammed out of tons of money? Also, is it even possible to attend one if you are not fluent in Japanese? Maybe not the best comparison, but I visited Bangla walking street a few times during my Thailand vacation recently and, while it was interesting to see and walk through, actually entering a club and spending money there seemed crazy to me. Like, why would you willing enter into a situation where there's a high risk of losing a ton of money for not much value or being forced into a situation where you can't leave freely? Value in this case meaning conversation with someone you know you are paying just to talk and drink with you. At the end of the day, it all would seems artificial, but I guess people like paying for fantasies like that? Again, I'd be curious just to see what it's like in person, but I feel like it could get very awkward very quickly. Teriyaki Koinku fucked around with this message at 10:03 on Feb 21, 2024 |
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 09:58
|
|
|
Seems you talked yourself out of it half way through writing your post.
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 10:06
|
|
|
Teriyaki Koinku posted:As a foreigner, is it possible to go to a hostess club in Tokyo just to see what is it like and not spend too much money? Or is it a guaranteed way to find yourself scammed out of tons of money? Also, is it even possible to attend one if you are not fluent in Japanese? I guess it depends on your definition of "too much" but it should be doable for 10000-15000 yen assuming you stay for just one or two sets and don't buy any bottles, or drinks for the girls. If you don't speak fluent Japanese, look for the information centers (無料案内所 in Japanese) and they should be able to set you up with a place that has English-speaking girls. A good rule of thumb for Ginza is the higher the chome (5chome vs 8chome etc), the more affordable the club. Edit: you're really unlikely to get scammed at any place run by Japanese people, but do keep in mind that hostess clubs can get really expensive really fast. Just keep things low-key and you'll be fine.
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 10:19
|
|
|
Keep in mind that hostess clubs are not strip clubs, and are also no-touching places, you go there to have conversation with a woman. The more money you spend, the more likely it is that your host will be sitting at your table rather than her other customers. Many places might straight up refuse service to foreigners. If some dude on the street is trying to get you to visit their club, I think it's safe to assume the place is a wringer. It probably won't be much fun if you can't hold a conversation.
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 10:26
|
|
|
If you want to do a hostess club on a budget just go to a girls bar. You'll still be paying to have a girl talk to you but the atmosphere a bit more casual and it's not as pricey (but can still get expensive).
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 10:36
|
|
|
Nah sorry talking to a girl across the counter is very different than having her sit next to you. Get the full experience.
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 10:48
|
|
|
After one of the old tokyo goonmeets, one of the tourist goons wanted to go to a hostess bar so three of us walked around shinjuku, probably, and eventually settled on one. The tourist spent his time trying to cop a feel, the other Japan goon was sitting in the corner watching, and I spent the time shooting the poo poo with the girls... in Chinese. But they mostly talked about where to get yakiniku after their shift lol. For the record, we just went to make sure the tourist goon didn't get in trouble which was probably good because I think a few days after, there was a massive post from another goon who came to the goonmeet as a tourist about being scammed for 2k+ I think it was because even though he said he was going back to the hotel, I guess he got tempted by one of the touts and welp.
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 18:22
|
|
|
Never follow a tout, in Japan or anywhere else.
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 18:50
|
|
|
Grand Fromage posted:Never follow a tout, in Japan or anywhere else. Are they common elsewhere? I've never seen one before or after I visited Kabukichō, in or outside of Japan
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 19:03
|
|
|
I followed a tout once. I was just curious why at 7am in Kabukicho a Nigerian dude was trying to get me to see "pretty ladies." I let him lead me to a building then refused to go in and walked away. I didn't feel bad about wasting his time. It was my 2nd day in town and I was pretty jet lagged so was just wandering around. I also told him no a couple times then said F it. Ever since I just ignore those guys. My advice: don't engage, don't make eye contact, just pretend they aren't there and they will usually leave you alone. E: I asked where he was from, just FYI in case you wondered how I knew.
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 19:09
|
|
|
Bofast posted:Are they common elsewhere? I've never seen one before or after I visited Kabukichō, in or outside of Japan Yep. I've run into them in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, Italy. Kabukicho/Roppongi are the highest density of them I've seen anywhere though. And the Kabukicho ones are unusually pushy.
|
|
#
?
Feb 21, 2024 19:54
|
|
|
Changing topics: what are some absolutely top-tier restaurants in Tokyo that every foodie should go to? Also, are there any Japanese food terms I should keep an ear or eye out for? For example, I've heard words like omakase, izakaya and keiseki meals. Omakase is the one where you have the chef prepare what they'd like, right? I think that sounds absolutely delightful, but I've also heard that it's rather expensive. How come? Teriyaki Koinku fucked around with this message at 01:41 on Feb 22, 2024 |
|
#
?
Feb 22, 2024 01:37
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 27, 2024 20:56 |
|
|
Teriyaki Koinku posted:Changing topics: what are some absolutely top-tier restaurants in Tokyo that every foodie should go to? Also, are there any Japanese food terms I should keep an ear or eye out for? Because it's catering to very rich people, which Tokyo still has plenty of. it'd be like asking "so New York and London have expensive restaurants, what's up with that?" Izakaya are basically Japanese pubs - the kinds of food varies, many are small, shareable, less a sit-down meal and more a lot of plates shared with a group while the drinks flow. Izakaya range from dirt cheap to expensive and are found just about everywhere. Kaiseki are traditional multi-course meals, and those will usually be fancy and expensive. there is a range (because the ones I went to as an English teacher with the school staff down in Kyushu aren't the same as nicer ones at ryokan or restaurants in the big cities) but if you're looking for those inside Tokyo, it might be spendy. There's a few I could recommend, but they're also like $100 per person for the course and might be tough to reserve.
|
|
#
?
Feb 22, 2024 01:46
|
|