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.
30
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5answers
764 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?
12
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2answers
475 views
Cell phones in Japan
What are the options for getting a smart phone up and running when travelling for a couple of weeks in Japan?
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 ...
18
votes
3answers
665 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 ...
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
598 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 ...
6
votes
2answers
626 views
Subway, train or both when travelling around Tokyo
We will spend a week in Tokyo in april and I am now looking into the best way to get around the city. The subway seems to go everywhere but there are also normal trains connecting most places. How ...
24
votes
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 ...
28
votes
3answers
2k views
I have a tattoo. Can I visit a public swimming pool in Japan?
A friend of mine is currently traveling in Japan. She has a small tattoo on her neck. Now she wanted to visit a public swimming pool but was denied entry.
It was difficult to understand the reason ...
18
votes
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 ...
9
votes
1answer
231 views
Exchanging business cards in Japan
In Hong Kong (and I believe other parts of China as well), one offers his business card by holding it with both hands with the text unobscured and oriented so that the other person can read it. After ...
6
votes
1answer
247 views
Internet access in Japan
What options are there in terms of prepaid Internet services? Are the charges reasonable? I will be there for no more than two weeks so prepaid seems to be the sensible option.
17
votes
3answers
812 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 ...
16
votes
3answers
942 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 ...
10
votes
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
348 views
Can you receive mail at hotels weeks before you arrive?
Do hotels accept mail for guests that haven't arrived yet? Even weeks in advance?
I am buying tickets for an event (see this question), but the vendor can only mail tickets to a Japanese address. I ...
14
votes
9answers
1k views
Can I side-step discrimination against foreigners in Japan?
I've heard that there can be discrimination against foreigners, and even naturalized citizens born in other countries, in Japan, and that it happens in onsen, bars, and adult entertainment ...
13
votes
3answers
206 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 ...
13
votes
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 ...
11
votes
1answer
550 views
Are there high crime areas in Japan that I should avoid?
According to the this link (in the "Crime" section), I should avoid the areas of "Roppongi, Shinjuku (especially the area of Kabuki-cho), Shibuya, and Ikebukuro" in Tokyo, due to them being high crime ...
10
votes
1answer
114 views
Can I learn ski jumping in Japan?
Since visiting Calgary Olympic Park and seeing their exhibit on ski jumping within the ski jumping tower, I've wanted to have a go at the sport, and Japan is the closest country to me (along with ...
9
votes
1answer
232 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
301 views
How to avoid having my drink spiked in a bar
How do I avoid being the victim of drink spiking in a bar? (As in spiking to steal money or commit credit card fraud, not for sexual assualt)
Presumably I should avoid places promoted by touts from ...
6
votes
2answers
284 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
261 views
Male nerd here, how on earth can I listen to an “otohime” / “sound princess”?
The other day, I read about "otohime", also known as "sound princess":
Many Japanese women are embarrassed at the thought of being heard by
others during urination (see paruresis). To cover the ...
4
votes
1answer
195 views
Best connection Tokyo - Kyoto
I'll travel to Tokyo during the first 2 weeks of November.
What's the fastest and not too much expensive way to reach Kyoto from Tokyo?
As reported here: a Shinkansen ticket form Tokyo to Kyoto is ...
4
votes
2answers
371 views
How to buy Japanese baseball tickets from the US?
What's a good way to buy Japanese baseball tickets from the US?
I'm trying to get tickets to the 4/13 Tigers game at Koshien stadium in Osaka. I can read Japanese, and would love to buy from the ...
3
votes
1answer
73 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, ...
