So...what's Japan like?

Augmerson

(Apoligies in advance-this thread probably doesnt belong here)

Hilo,

I've been thinking of leaving Ireland after the LC. I thought of heading to America, but I've been to Florida, and I just dont want to go back. So then I thought of Japan, and what would it be like. It's a totally different culture, one not yet dominated by Hollywood afaik.

I realise learning Japanese would be hard, I'm prepared though. I'm quite serious about it. Just wondering if anyone has gone to Japan, and if so, whats it like? Tell me all about it. Thanks


(Desire to live in Japan brought on by watching Manga films)

Neil3030

Poor, poor OJ. Since his run in with the filth, no-one will post in his forum!

lazer

japan is......

more commercialised than usa,

busier,

little room to move,

accomadition is **** expensive, or if u find accomadition that is..

taxi from airport to tokyo city centre will cost bout €90,

u will get by with the language thing, untill u get work, most speak english.

but..thats just tokyo, the actual country is amazing, some realy great scenery, like a passage from a fairytail..

lazer

i know this cause my friend had to do a year there with DCU i got a free flight cause his daddy is rich..

Augmerson

Originally posted by Neil3030
Poor, poor OJ. Since his run in with the filth, no-one will post in his forum!

Oh ****....Travel Forum....passing admin relocate thread there by any chance? I'll give ya a lollypop

chernobyl

You cant imagine how expspenive it is...not Switzeland or Monaco type rich..cus you only go there if you pi$$ money.

It cost my dad the equivalent of £3 (dont know the Euro as he told me this when we had the "old money") for an egg and a slice of bread, £1 for another slice and even more to have it toasted.

I didnt listen beyond that but thats crazy!

phobos

I have been facinated with Japan for quite a while, but have never been there. But I know I will go there sometime. Probably in the next few years knowing me. Especially since I am pretty much just back from Egypt, and going there was decided on the spur of the moment.

Anyway does anyone know why it is soooo bloody expensive over there. I have heard things like, living is expensive, but electronics are cheap, and a trip to Akihabara (in Tokyo), is a must, for people that post @ 3am and have no problems with that kind of thing

There are some great web sites out there that will give you the low down. I am not looking for them now because I'm off my head, after a half decent night out.

;-phobos-)

Tazz T

Statistically, the most expensive place in the world. A piece of land the size of a manhole cover will cost you 1/4 a million. that's why courting couples have to go to minuscule hotels at extrobitant cost just to have a shag. Having said that Japanese girls can be pretty gorgeous, never two-time you, always clean up (even when u say u will) and in bed... ummmmmmmmmmmmmm.

phobos

But in all honesty you must be on a serious wage, while working over there to keep up living costs etc. The money for all this has to come from somewhere. But from this it's pretty obvious that of you want to go to Japan, it should be for work.

The world cup supporters are in for a shock, pretty much as soon as they go to get a luggage trolley @ the airport.

;-phobos-)

wildcard

Has Tazz been testing Japanese girls?

davros

Originally posted by lazer
japan is......

With respect, lazer, I have to disagree with some of that.

taxi from airport to tokyo city centre will cost bout €90

That's because that's the nutty way to get from the airport. Normally, you would take the very swish train or, if on a budget, the bus.

u will get by with the language thing, untill u get work, most speak english.

Generally speaking, nobody speaks English. In other words, if you are in a shop, restaurant, etc., they will not be able to use English. If, on the other hand, you hang around the foreigner district of Roppongi then you are more likely to meet English-speaking Japanese.

busier, little room to move

Tokyo has many areas of profoundly different character. Some are very busy, some are not.

davros

Originally posted by Augmerson
I realise learning Japanese would be hard, I'm prepared though. I'm quite serious about it. Just wondering if anyone has gone to Japan, and if so, whats it like? Tell me all about it/QUOTE]I worked there for a while. Here are a few comments off the top of the head...

- learning Japanese is probably not as hard as you think. I recommend learning some before you go.

- Japan has a reputation for being expensive. It's true that cost of living is a bit higher but Japanese get paid more too so it evens out. Much of the reputation comes from scare stories about £10 pints of Guinness and $100 melons. Well, if you go all the way to Tokyo to sample the Guinness, good enough if they stiff you for it. As for the melons, yes, if you go to the swankiest department store in Ginza, you can find a blemish-free fruit that is exquisitely wrapped for $100. But that is not what people eat every day. If you are prepared to do what the Japanese do (and this demands learning a modicum of the language) then you can, say, eat a huge bowl of chicken and noodles at lunch time for a handful of euros. McDonald's is cheap too!

- Tokyo is a fantastic city. You can find 'Blade Runner' there with the noise, lights and massive TV screens overhead. You can also find buddhist temples and huge parks for a stroll. There are many 'centres' to Tokyo, each with a different character - one for foreigner nightclubs, one for young, trendy Japanese kids, one for salarymen, one for expensive shops and restaurants, one for electronic goods (heaven!) and so on.

- it is a different culture and you will come away with an entirely different perspective. I was amazed by their attention to detail and how everything always looked perfect. They have certainly absorbed Western music, films, etc. but somehow it's been transformed. And you can still find the traditional Japanese theatre and arts.

That's what comes to mind for now. You can't beat it as an experience. JET, for one, will set you up as an English teacher over there, if that's the way you want to go.

apiou

I agree that you should learn Japanese (or at least some) before going there - but under no circumstances use it the minute you get there - let their tones seep into you before you start - if not you may make a fool of yourself (i did it in chinese - but all is ok now). If you want to learn anything about the Japanese I sugest really strongly that you read WRITINGS FROM JAPAN from Lafcadio Hearn. Lafcadio is not just an ordinary old Irish man (half Irish half Greek) but he went to Japan when foreigners did not go and were not welcomed 1800s - He maaried into a Samurai family - got Japanese nationality (rare) and wrote and wrote about Japan - The Japanese have to read his books as we in Ireland have to read Shakespeare (The Japanese know him as KOIZUMI YAKUMO) and if you want to make it there - with the little knowledge of the lanugage and letting people know where you are from and that you know Hearn (but his Japanese name) you should not do to badly. The town where the Irish team are going is in the area where he lived - there is even a museam in his name. (Pity the Irish do not know more about him)
Enjoy Japan, A good choice and I am sure you will learn more there than in the States where everybody seems to deem necessary to go.
Good Luck, :cool:

sceptre

Originally posted by davros
If, on the other hand, you hang around the foreigner district of Roppongi then you are more likely to meet English-speaking Japanese.

(hehe) Might be a few very good reasons for that, many of them seedy. Like hanging around the streets in Shuibuya on a Saturday night.

Go to Japan dammit. You'll see commerciallisation taken to an extreme (parts of the city really do remind you of Blade Runner). Assuming you'll be in Tokyo, leave a few weeks to see the rest of the country (plonker mode on - the "real" Japan -plonker mode off)

If you have the money, take the bullet train as far south as Hiroshima, stopping in Osaka along the way. When I went, I didn't have the money so took the slow train to the south (not to be recommended over the faster options)

GF went for three months last year - I dropped over for the last two weeks.

I'll make a proper post later with a list.

Attitude

I thought of heading to America, but I've been to Florida, and I just dont want to go back.

U went to Florida and you don't wanna go back?! Maybe ye do belong in Japan!!!
Ahh well-I hear suitcases make for affordable travel accomodations...:cool:

Mossin

Ahh well-I hear suitcases make for affordable travel accomodations...

LOLZ!
I agree..maybe he could play a permanent game of hide and seek in one!!

I canent believe that he'd pick Japan over Florida....
pfftt