An island nation in East Asia known for many aspects of its unique culture and having one of the world's largest cities, Tokyo as its capital.
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Alternative to trains in Japan
So we all know about these pretty amazing trains they have in the "Land of the Rising Sun". They are always on time, clean, comfortable. But they are somewhat expensive for the average backpacker.
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0answers
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Arriving in Tokyo this October with my 9 year old son [closed]
Is there a web site that would give us a few ideas on a visit to Tokyo and outer areas. I have told Tokyo is busy so some good tips on where to head would be apprieciated
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1answer
259 views
Can you still buy used panties in vending machines as a souvenir from Japan?
In 1999 I came across a vending machine of used panties while hiking through Japan. Apparently it was made illegal in 1993, but still in 1999 they seem to be wide spread. Is this still the case, or ...
3
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3answers
97 views
Are there Onsen towns with both skiing and geisha?
Last year, I found out that some onsen towns had geisha (and still do!), and that other onsen towns have ski resorts (for example, Zao Onsen), and I wondered if any towns had both. As well as enjoying ...
16
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3answers
960 views
How should I wash clothes in Japan?
I'm going backpacking for a month in Japan and I plan to pack lightly. So I have couple of questions about how I can wash my clothes in Japan.
I expect laundromats to be quite common in big cities ...
3
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2answers
49 views
Do I need Japanese transit visa when arriving at Narita and departing from Haneda?
I'm arriving from New Delhi, India (Indian Passport) by JAL at Narita on 11th July 0730 hrs and departing for San Francisco by Jal Flt 2 at 0005 hrs 12th July very early morn from Haneda. Do i require ...
7
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4answers
168 views
Japan's crumbling temples and shrines — How can I find them?
I will be staying in Japan for a few weeks late this summer, and would like to find a bunch of back-woods, off-the-beaten-path temples and shrines, especially if they are dilapidated and not "new" ...
9
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1answer
234 views
Are there any ferry companies operating between Russian East ports and Japan?
I'm interested in visiting the Japan after some Russian Far East trip.
I'm searching for the sea ways to the Japan. Can you help me with that?
Update: I'm searching some extremal variants not from ...
3
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1answer
51 views
Attend Sumo match in Nagoya
I'm planning to buy tickets for a sumo match in Nagoya in July. As A tall European guy who never visited a sumo match before I'm struggling to decide which tickets to buy.
To really experience sumo ...
18
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3answers
868 views
How do you know if a Japanese person means no when they say yes?
I have come across a few situations when a Japanese person will extend themselves beyond what they probably should to help people. I am often worried when asking them to do something that they will ...
2
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1answer
128 views
Web 2.0 style tourism bucket list sites
I'm in the early stages of planning a three week trip to Japan, and I'm still working out where to go. There's a couple of things on my "to do" list, but I want to find out if there's any activities ...
7
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3answers
196 views
Suitable (and affordable) accommodation in Japan with children
Some years ago I backpacked through Japan. It is still one of the highlights of my traveling career. We are now considering going to Japan with (small) children. Based on my earlier trip I consider ...
3
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3answers
258 views
Where can I photograph fake geisha in Kyoto?
I've read about tourists who go to Kyoto to get made up to look like geisha or maiko. Over half a million a year according to Foreign correspondent, and mostly Japanese, based on some makeover houses ...
13
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1answer
151 views
Presents for Japanese couchsurfer hosts
I was evaluating doing couchsurfing during my next trip in Japan and this question: What does a couchsurfing host expect from their guests? makes me want to ask if there is a sort of "etiquette" I ...
5
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1answer
65 views
Guided tours of Japanese nuclear power plants
Do any Japanese nuclear power plants offer guided tours of their facilities? I'm aware that most nuclear plants in Japan are currently not producing electricity, but that's not a big problem.
4
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1answer
93 views
Daisetsuzan (Hokkaido, Japan) Grand Traverse, how hard?
I'm planning a trip to Japan and I'd like to spend one week immerse in Japanese nature. I've read something about the "Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse", which is a 5 days and 55km trekking on a route that ...
8
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2answers
224 views
How expensive is a vacation to Japan?
Since I am planning a vacation to Japan this fall, I'd like to have a rough overview about my expenses. I'm flying from Germany (probably Frankfurt) to Tokyo. I know that the flight alone will net me ...
30
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6answers
1k views
Japanese etiquette: Most common (and offensive) mistakes?
I am aware that Japan has many unwritten rules of etiquette. What are some of the most common (and offensive) breaches of etiquette made by visitors?
On the flip side, what behaviors show respect ...
8
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1answer
149 views
Safety [petty crimes, mostly] in Japan
I'm fully aware of the fact that Japan is considered a quite safe country in regards of petty crimes. However, I recently stumbled upon alerts about the Roppongi area where [quoting from wikitravel]
...
3
votes
1answer
65 views
Advices on how to attend the auction at the Tsukiji market in Tokyo
I'm very aware of this question What are my chances of getting into the Tsukiji fish auction if I arrive by 5:25? but I'd really like to be there in time for the auction so that I can take pictures of ...
5
votes
1answer
87 views
Is it considered “cheap” to not eat dinner at your ryokan?
I'm booking accommodation near Izu Inatori for the dontsuku matsuri (don't google it at work!) and I'm considering whether to book dinner at my ryokan.
I suspect that I'd rather be able to eat out so ...
3
votes
1answer
75 views
Ski rental for Mount Gassan
I'm visiting Japan in late May, early June, and I hope to go skiing. Mount Gassan (月山, literally "moon mountain") in Yamagata prefecture seems to be my best bet - it has a ski season of April to July, ...
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2answers
618 views
How, specifically, can I travel between Taiwan and Okinawa by sea?
This is a followup to a previous question of mine where we established that it is possible to travel between the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan.
So now that we know that it's possible, and because ...
10
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3answers
234 views
Internet in Japan
During travel in Japan I would like to have internet in my laptop and Ipad. What is not very expensive solution to do that? Is there any prepaid internet in Japan? I Think I will need 1GB
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3answers
164 views
Is it possible to go from South Korea to Hong Kong by sea?
More specifically from Busan (but other sites also possible).
My plan is to do Japan - South Korea - Hong Kong by sea.
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1answer
73 views
Universities open to public in South Korea and Japan?
In California and most other states in the USA, at public universities (and sometimes private universities), it is possible for anyone who is not affiliated with the institution to walk into a ...
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3answers
132 views
Do official health agencies recommend getting the “Japanese Brain Fever” vaccine for travel to Japan?
I will be spending four weeks in Japan, visiting all of the "main islands" except for Hokkaido. Some of the activities would be hiking across the woods and mountains as well.
The vaccine is for ...
5
votes
1answer
154 views
Where can I book rooms from others' cancellations?
I'm trying to spend a night in Iwaki, Fukushima province, but tripadvisor.com is telling me there's no rooms available there for the night I want (September 10 to 11).
I assume that most people going ...
4
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4answers
111 views
Finding cheap apartment for a month in Japan and South Korea?
In these countries, if I decide on a whim that I would like a regular apartment for one month, what's the best method to find something CHEAP (less than 300USD) no matter where I am?
Craigslist or ...
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4answers
1k views
What is wrong with eating while walking in Japan? It doesn't seem to be an issue in other Asian countries
I have seen on many etiquette questions about Japan that this is a no no, but I can't seem to find what the reason for this is. I know that in countries like Taiwan or China it doesn't seem to be an ...
5
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4answers
155 views
Kamakura, Japan: Feasibility of day trip from Tokyo?
I will be in Tokyo for a conference and was hoping to check out Kamakura for a visit.
Is it practical to travel to Kamakura for a day trip, or should I look into overnight accommodations?
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2answers
183 views
Overcoming the language barrier while experiencing traditional Japanese culture
I'd like to see live performance of traditional Japanese culture. For example, watching noh theatre or bunraku, as opposed to merely seeing artworks or pottery. Unfortunately, my Japanese is fairly ...
5
votes
1answer
66 views
Where can I find a local guide for Japan?
My friends and I are going to Japan in October. A coworker mentioned that there's a site where university students will gladly guide tourists in exchange for transportation/food costs and learning ...
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2answers
75 views
Staying on the Nakahechi route without walking
The Nakahechi route is part of the Kumano Kodo walking trail network in Honshu, Japan. I am taken with the idea of staying on this route in particular but do not want to do more than moderate ...
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5answers
766 views
Is it safe to travel in Japan considering the nuclear situation?
Are there any areas that should be avoided and are there any steps I should take to protect myself from radiation?
5
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1answer
50 views
Hard copy travel guides with information on Tohoku post-tsunami
The 12th edition of Lonely Planet Japan entirely removed Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. I ended up bringing the 11th edition (pre-earthquake) with me when visiting Japan.
Are there hard ...
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3answers
207 views
Is tourism beneficial to the economies of places affected by natural disasters?
Is tourism to regions that were hit several months ago by natural disasters (for example, the north-eastern part of Honshu, Japan) good for the local economy, and for the people of that area?
Just to ...
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4answers
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Can I use a power adapter designed for USA in Japan?
I'm about to travel to Japan (from UK) and can't seem to buy a mains adapter that specifically says it can be used in Japan. However, the internet (e.g. Wikipedia) tells me that Japanese power sockets ...
6
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2answers
285 views
Can tourists meet onsen geisha nowadays?
Japan's most famous geisha are from Kyoto, Japan's former capital and still a major cultural capital of Japan. But I've also heard of onsen geisha, far away from the big cities, who are at the bottom ...
18
votes
3answers
666 views
OK we're all nerds here, so really, how on earth should I use a Japanese toilet?
OK so for anyone that's travelled to Japan you know what I'm talking about.
They're devices that are a textbook example of excessive featuritis.
But I want to use something other than the flush knob ...
7
votes
2answers
453 views
What are the typical meals in Japan?
I'm going to Tokyo for tourism and I'm wondering what are the typical meals that one tourist may get during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also, what are their costs?
Notice that I'm a tourist staying ...
3
votes
2answers
183 views
Resources for finding concerts in Tokyo
My usual resource for finding concerts while travelling (last.fm) doesn't cut it for Japan. Are there any English resources that will help? My teenagers like J-pop so a local emphasis is required.
3
votes
2answers
644 views
Australian to Japanese power converter?
I am planning to charge my phone and camera while in Japan and am wondering if I will need to purchase a power socket converter? Also, is the wattage in Japan the same as Australian power sockets?
5
votes
1answer
73 views
ROC to TYO - how can I reduce the cost of my flight?
I'm trying to find the cheapest flight I can from ROC, Rochester, New York, to one of the airports in Tokyo for a six week study abroad in Kobe. I'm wondering what the cheapest, OR easiest routes from ...
13
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2answers
2k views
Travelling between Japan and South Korea
We are going to Japan for 3 weeks in the beginning of April and would like to spend a couple of days in Seoul. How do we get there? And how expensive is the ferry from southern japan to Busan in South ...
6
votes
1answer
159 views
Visa: How specific must the itinerary be when visiting Japan?
I am planning on visiting Japan and I am required to get a visa for entering the country.
One of the requests for me to get a visa is to specify what my itinerary is, the problem is that I don't know ...
8
votes
3answers
5k views
Layover at Narita, Japan. Do I need a transit visa?
I am travelling from Delhi to Chicago and have two stopovers in between, one at Narita, Japan, and the other at Dallas, US; so my trip looks like: DEL - NRT - DFW - ORD. I am an Indian citizen. I do ...
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3answers
3k views
Layover at Tokyo Narita airport: can I travel outside, and what kind of visa would I need?
I am traveling from Singapore to San Francisco and an airline which I am choosing has a layover of 7.5 hours at Tokyo Airport (NRT). I am wondering if I would be allowed to go out to experience the ...
3
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0answers
25 views
Do I need a transit visa at Narita airport? I am an Indian citizen travelling from South Korea to India [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Layover at Narita, Japan. Do I need a transit visa?
The flight of Japan airlines from Seoul arrives at Narita on 14th Feb 4 pm and flight for Delhi departs on 15th Feb ...
18
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2answers
1k views
Is it possible to get from the Philippines to Taiwan to Japan (or the reverse) without flying?
It's not that I have a fear of flying but it seems the best way to see Island countries is by island hopping and these three countries are all relatively close to one another if you take into account ...
