Japan / have you ever been there?

Your Face

Never been, but I will someday to be able to boast about it.

Btw, Nepal is wonderful this time of year.

wakka12

I think your views are a little idealised. Every country is made up on very individual people with their own feelings and emotions and views which mightn't line up with the stereotypical culture of a nation. Obviously a countrys culture affects citizens to some extent, for instance I thought canadians were on average friendlier than other countries I've visted. But i still met rude canadians etc
So saying something like all japanese people are incredibly polite just sounds absurd to me

Samuri Suicide

bigar wrote: »

I traveled to most Far Eastern counties in the last few years and Japan was the biggest disappointment.

People seem to think it is the most technologically advanced country in the world, extremely modern with shiny glass and metal structures everywhere. It was in the past but now it seemed to me that the country got stuck in the 90s. It reminded me of a theme park that did not receive any upgrades or proper maintenance in the last 20 years.

The old culture is also not that in your face as you think and the Japanese politeness is the same as in all surrounding countries when you visit as a westerner.

If you want to go to a country that you believe modern Japan is to be, go to South Korea. Without a doubt the most modern country in the Far East.

You seem to think that all of Japan is Tokyo. It's a country steeped in history and culture, you just need to explore it. It's like going to temple bar and saying all Irish pubs are tacky and over priced.
Your travels to "most far eastern countries" appear to be be minimal in length and understanding....if at all.

Valentina

I lived in Japan for a year. I was in Tokyo and then Kyoto. Kyoto is a beautiful city, pretty much what I always imagined Japan would be like. I would love to go back to Japan for the 2020 Olympics.

Junkyard Tom

I've watched 'That Bridge Over the River Kwai'

No thanks.

Drumpot

I was there during the World Cup in z2002 while travelling around the world and loved it. People were ridiculous Friendly. McDonald's manager practically walked us to a pub when we asked for directions. In that pub a random punter on way home from work insisted on buying us a drink. That's just one incident.

It took me awhile to get used to how friendly they were and not think I was being conned! Would love to go back and explore the culture more.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Spent a few days in Tokyo in 2013, loved it.

Lived in South Korea for over a year, a great and underrated country. Worth visiting.

imme

bigar wrote: »

If you want to go to a country that you believe modern Japan is to be, go to South Korea. Without a doubt the most modern country in the Far East.

Korea is a funny one.
Subjugated to China for centuries now with massive American/western allegiances.

Japan has suited itself in terms of which technology/ how much technology they chose to take on.
The Koreans don't seem to know when to stop.

Richard Hillman

A wonderful place. I love the social order and politness.

I remember walking down a packed street one day and noticed that naturally everybody was walking on the left hand side of the pathway. If you walked down O'Connell street you have to slalom. These guys just realise that without social harmony and etiquette their condensed cities would be hell.

Japan isn't a massive culture shock, it's the little quirks that you see and they endear themselves to you.

Wanderer78

Richard Hillman wrote:

I remember walking down a packed street one day and noticed that naturally everybody was walking on the left hand side of the pathway. If you walked down O'Connell street you have to slalom. These guys just realise that without social harmony and etiquette their condensed cities would be hell.

I've always wondered, how does this sense of 'order' negatively impact the mental well being of a society? I'm not convinced that humans always need and should or that it is natural for us to behave like this.

RasTa

Yup.

Some dark stuff going down in Akihabara for all the praise their "culture" is getting. Queuing up to get autograph's from girls in the usual schoolgirl costumes.

It could be innocent but I found it odd and no chance it would be allowed in Europe.

Oops69

even if Tokyo becomes cheap and easy to get to , 99 % of Irish will still go miles out of the way meet up in the one Irish bar in Tokyo on their holiday.. plebs.

Winterlong

I spent about 6 weeks in tokyo a few years ago. Fascinating place but I would not be going back there.
They work too hard.

Yamanoto

RasTa wrote: »

Yup.

Some dark stuff going down in Akihabara for all the praise their "culture" is getting. Queuing up to get autograph's from girls in the usual schoolgirl costumes.

It could be innocent but I found it odd and no chance it would be allowed in Europe.

You also had child pornography DVD's openly for sale up until just a year or two ago.

I've been to Japan on three occasions and would recommend it to anyone, but there's certain aspects of Japanese society & culture that are worryingly dysfunctional. I think visitors also understandably confuse politeness with niceness, whereas social convention can often get in the way of someone being more honest & direct with you.

branie2

My favourite Bond film, You Only Live Twice is set in Japan.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

The politeness in Asian countries doesn't always translate to niceness or compassion.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

McCrack

They invented bukkake.

Great bunch of lads

Teyla Emmagan

I was there with my sister. They loved us, they thought we were only amazing. Couldn't get enough of the freckles. I had never felt like such a special example of humanity before.

And the food was absolutely out of this world.

frozenfrozen

Would like to go if it's as good as this thread makes it out to be

Butterface

I've put Japan down as my number 1 honeymoon destination choice for next year, the OH, is mad to go to South Africa. I think we're going to have to compromise on that one.

Cody montana

Yes, 1 week in Tokyo.
I hate fish so ate sandwiches for a week.

_Roz_

My friend lives there, has done for three years. He teaches English and on the side writes/produces/sells music tracks. He loves it there, but it's really interesting to hear about both the ups and downs of the culture.

Crea

I spent a year there.
There are some elements of super courtesy like the shops as you state. There are other elements of extreme rudeness like staring, pointing, talking loudly about the gaijin and unwanted touching. For such a developed country there is a certain immaturity in relation to outsiders.
Young people are expected to live at home until they marry, living together outside of marriage is virtually unknown. There are special hotels for people to have sex but it's all very secretive and hidden. Women are expected to give up work once they have children - it is considered shameful for a man to have a working wife because it suggests he can't support her. There is alot of pressure on girls to marry - there is a saying "Women are like Christmas cakes, no good after the 25th.
Some of the women I spoke to wanted a foreign husband because she could have a freer life. Foreign men get alot of positive attention from womenthere so most love it.

bigar

Samuri Suicide wrote: »

You seem to think that all of Japan is Tokyo.

Funny that as I did not visit Tokyo on my two trips there. I did visit Kyoto though, does that count? I rented a car twice and traveled around parts of the country with my Japanese friends. Travelling with locals visiting places they normally visit is much more rewarding than doing the tourist trail.

My comments still stand and I would say my friends would agree.

biko

It's on my to-do list.
I have been fascinated with the country and its culture for yonks, even to the point I took a few Japanese evening classes.

Gunmonkey

Would love to go someday, my sister has done the English teaching gig twice and raved about Japan. Sadly I am a bit too long in the tooth for that, may save and take a week or two there sometime. Really want to see the old style architecture, they large wooden houses and the like, while not the best in winter they have a lovely aesthetic.

While I would love to hit up Tokyo and Akihabara, much prefer to visit Kyoto and see the shrines and such.


Somewhat of a plug, but a friend showed me a good Youtube series called "Abroad in Japan" about life when you live there long term, the culture shock and the highs and lows. Plus the genious madness of Sake vending machines and the best robot dance show ever!

https://www.youtube.com/user/cmbroad44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLQDCOdMeB8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qol6T1ANuw

Ragnar Lothbrok

What about the elephant in the room......................GIANT GODZILLAS :eek:

_Dara_

Oops69 wrote: »

even if Tokyo becomes cheap and easy to get to , 99 % of Irish will still go miles out of the way meet up in the one Irish bar in Tokyo on their holiday.. plebs.

Hardly. The Irish bar thing is a bit of a relic at this point.

Me? I'd like to visit the country but from all I've heard of the place, there's things I like and things I would not be keen on ie. the class system of the country seems quite pronounced and the whole "honour" thing seems to fuck with people's heads there. (high levels of suicide) The teenage girl fixation is also creepy.

So to me, Japan seems as flawed as anywhere else.

Richard Hillman

One thing I noticed in Japan is that the beer is horrible. They all seem to have a Dutch Gold taste to them.