Japan

[Overtime_man]

Where are you? I'm in Shizuoka.

I paid a king's ransom for a cup of coffee and a muffin this morning, so I must be in Tokyo.

 

[BeamMeUpScotty]

I paid a king's ransom for a cup of coffee and a muffin this morning, so I must be in Tokyo.

Mmmmm, muffins. Can't get them here.

 

[Overtime_man]

Mmmmm, muffins. Can't get them here.

Plenty of muffin variety in Tokyo, but what I really miss are the kind of sickeningly sweet donuts that you can only get in North America. Even the double chocolate dip that "Mister Donut" sells here in Japan is just slightly sweeter than a croissant (to my taste buds, anyway). Although on further reflection, developing diabetes would be rather unpleasant, so perhaps the lack of sugar is a good thing.

 

[Breetai]

But seriously, there are ways of doing things on the cheap here, you just need to have the time and patience to search them out.

Ya, like sleeping in an internet cafe instead of a hotel.

 

[DarqRyu]

I hear that they do have internet cafe's where people stay for days without sleep.

 

[Dark_Lite]

I still plan on visiting Japan. Hopefully this summer I and two of my friends will be going. The price jumps between 1800 and 2200 dollars, depending on what hotels, plane tickets, and exchange rates I find. The hotels and travel plan are basically set in stone now. All I need is a cheap plane ticket. The cheapest one I've found (from a reliable place) is $1120 on travelocity. The only thing that might hold us back is one of my friends and his problems with saving money. He says he'll have at least $1000 by the end of January. He better get the other $1120 or so soon after that or else I'll have to postpone for another year.

I'm also going to Iceland this coming summer with my family. Heh.

The fun part is that both of these countries are places I'm scouting out to see if I could live in. I want to experience both and see if I could handle them or not.

 

[Breetai]

I hear that they do have internet cafe's where people stay for days without sleep.

You can also sleep at them. They have couches and showers sometimes.

 

[Breetai]

I still plan on visiting Japan. Hopefully this summer I and two of my friends will be going. The price jumps between 1800 and 2200 dollars, depending on what hotels, plane tickets, and exchange rates I find. The hotels and travel plan are basically set in stone now. All I need is a cheap plane ticket. The cheapest one I've found (from a reliable place) is $1120 on travelocity. The only thing that might hold us back is one of my friends and his problems with saving money. He says he'll have at least $1000 by the end of January. He better get the other $1120 or so soon after that or else I'll have to postpone for another year.

I'm also going to Iceland this coming summer with my family. Heh.

The fun part is that both of these countries are places I'm scouting out to see if I could live in. I want to experience both and see if I could handle them or not.

If you want to move to Japan, make sure that you have a good job lined up BEFORE you come. Japan is an expensive place to be jobless in...

 

[Overtime_man]

If you want to move to Japan, make sure that you have a good job lined up BEFORE you come. Japan is an expensive place to be jobless in...

Not to mention that it's illegal to look for a job with only a tourist visa. Of course people still do it, mainly those looking for jobs teaching English conversation. But if you were to happen to be reported, you'd be in deep caca, so it's best to get things in order before you leave home.

 

[BeamMeUpScotty]

I still plan on visiting Japan. Hopefully this summer I and two of my friends will be going. The price jumps between 1800 and 2200 dollars, depending on what hotels, plane tickets, and exchange rates I find. The hotels and travel plan are basically set in stone now. All I need is a cheap plane ticket. The cheapest one I've found (from a reliable place) is $1120 on travelocity. The only thing that might hold us back is one of my friends and his problems with saving money. He says he'll have at least $1000 by the end of January. He better get the other $1120 or so soon after that or else I'll have to postpone for another year.

I'm also going to Iceland this coming summer with my family. Heh.

The fun part is that both of these countries are places I'm scouting out to see if I could live in. I want to experience both and see if I could handle them or not.

Depending on where you are you could try H.I.S. Travel. They're a Japanese company and usually have great rates. You should have enough cash (I would say $50 US/day on the conservative side) because Japan is not a credit card friendly country. Also,　depending on what traveling you are planning you might want to get a JR rail pass, which allows unlimited travel on JR trains including the shinkansen (you can get reserved seats at no extra cost) and the Narita express. You can't buy the pass in Japan so get it before you go.

Also, if you're planning on climbing Mt. Fuji (July and August only), plan to do that near the end of your trip. It's not the most difficult climb, but you're walking on cinders and people do get hurt.

Also, I'd change money at Narita airport. Last year the rate at the airport was about 2 yen above the bank rate. When I got to the states the exchange rate was about 17 yen above.

Good luck.

 

[kazuya]

um. im here. haha, i really dont get onto this forum anymore since ive moved to this country, but i can tell you that its a really magnificent display of the beauty of God's creation! come see it!

 

[Breetai]

Not to mention that it's illegal to look for a job with only a tourist visa. Of course people still do it, mainly those looking for jobs teaching English conversation. But if you were to happen to be reported, you'd be in deep caca, so it's best to get things in order before you leave home.

There's always the working tourist visa, or whatever it's called. I think it's only available to those under 29 years old.

It's still a very expensive and silly idea though.

 

[Breetai]

You should have enough cash (I would say $50 US/day on the conservative side) because Japan is not a credit card friendly country. Also,　depending on what traveling you are planning you might want to get a JR rail pass, which allows unlimited travel on JR trains including the shinkansen (you can get reserved seats at no extra cost) and the Narita express. You can't buy the pass in Japan so get it before you go.

I bolded, italiced and underlined an extremely important piece of information here.

Getting the Japan Rail Pass (which you can only buy outside of Japan), is an extremely good idea too.

 

[Dark_Lite]

Depending on where you are you could try H.I.S. Travel. They're a Japanese company and usually have great rates. You should have enough cash (I would say $50 US/day on the conservative side) because Japan is not a credit card friendly country. Also,　depending on what traveling you are planning you might want to get a JR rail pass, which allows unlimited travel on JR trains including the shinkansen (you can get reserved seats at no extra cost) and the Narita express. You can't buy the pass in Japan so get it before you go.

Also, if you're planning on climbing Mt. Fuji (July and August only), plan to do that near the end of your trip. It's not the most difficult climb, but you're walking on cinders and people do get hurt.

Also, I'd change money at Narita airport. Last year the rate at the airport was about 2 yen above the bank rate. When I got to the states the exchange rate was about 17 yen above.

Good luck.

Indeed. The JR rail pass is included in the price (28,300 yen... bah). Climbing Mt. Fuji wasn't planned on and it doesn't seem like I can do it anyway since we've decided to attempt this little venture in June of 2006 . Thanks for the tip about exchange rates and money though. I'll also look into that travel agency.

 

[Aaya]

I don't know if anyone has given you a 'right' answer yet but: only 1% of Japans population is christian... sad aint it (by the way I love Japan too).

 

[Loner]

My uncle married women from Japan and ever since I wanted to learn more about it.

 

[Breetai]

I don't know if anyone has given you a 'right' answer yet but: only 1% of Japans population is christian... sad aint it (by the way I love Japan too).

I've read that it's closer to 2%...

BTW, are you Japanese? Your name is Ayame...

 

[BeamMeUpScotty]

I don't know if anyone has given you a 'right' answer yet but: only 1% of Japans population is christian... sad aint it (by the way I love Japan too).

I personally think it's less than 1%. Most of them must be out west, mainly in Kyushu, as I certainly don't think 1% of the Japanese I know are xian. I actually only know one, and he isn't practicing.

As for it being "sad", that's a judgement call that I personally disagree with (surprise considering that gray head under my name). I find Japan very accepting of any religion, in that if one wants to believe/practice that's fine. There is largely a lack of the preachy BS that goes on in the west (well, esp. the US). The Japanese, in my experience, are largely a-religious, but that doesn't mean they aren't spiritual.

I guess what I'm saying is that just because a group of people doesn't accept/practice your world view doesn't make them "sad". They are different.

Anyway, take care and akemashite omedetou gozaimasu (happy new year).

 

[Breetai]

I personally think it's less than 1%. Most of them must be out west, mainly in Kyushu, as I certainly don't think 1% of the Japanese I know are xian. I actually only know one, and he isn't practicing.

I don't know where there is a greater percentage of Christians in Japan. It might fall within certain age groups as well. Also, if there aren't any Christians in the circle of people that you interact with, you aren't as likely to come across them.

I have come across three different churches in downtown Fukuoka (which, as you probably know, is in Kyushu), if that means anything...

As for it being "sad", that's a judgement call that I personally disagree with (surprise considering that gray head under my name). I find Japan very accepting of any religion, in that if one wants to believe/practice that's fine. There is largely a lack of the preachy BS that goes on in the west (well, esp. the US). The Japanese, in my experience, are largely a-religious, but that doesn't mean they aren't spiritual.

I've found Japan to be more accepting of just about anything as well. Certainly much more so than Korea! I haven't really seen so much of that preachy stuff in the west, because my experience has mostly been limited to Canada and the northern States.

I guess what I'm saying is that just because a group of people doesn't accept/practice your world view doesn't make them "sad". They are different.

No, it's sad.

Anyway, take care and akemashite omedetou gozaimasu (happy new year).

Arigatoo gozaimasta.

Saehaebong mani paduseyo (Happy New Year; Korean)

 

[Benjamin89]

I think Japanese culture is interesting as well. I'd like to have someone answer questions about it. However, do you guys think that because of anime, manga, and video games Japan is seen by many as mystical or exotic. I think that maybe what may have given me an interest for Japanese culture is the anime and video games I used to play when I was younger, and I saw that the person who started this thread had Sonic the Hedgehog as his signature. So could it be that the anime and video games have intrigued many of us, but really Japan isn't that big of a deal and certainly not the fantasy world we see in their cartoons?