Japan

[chezmax]

Oh dear. I leave for Japan a week from today.

I'm totally not ready.

Well, I have a plane ticket, and a rail ticket, and I know where my passport is.

Things I need to remember to do:
Call Visa/My Bank. Tell them I'll be in a different country, and not to disable my card when charges start showing up from really weird place. Done
Pack.
Make a list of people who want postcards (inform me if you want a postcard: my first name which is at alleged networks... even if you think I have your address, send me an email so it'll be on the list)
Check my power adapters to see if they're 100V compatible.
Look for my travel insurance information and any cards I may need to carry.

Erm... I'm sure I'm forgetting important things.... Any ideas?

Comments

[nobodyhere.livejournal.com]

If you have your passport, your ticket, any required medications, and your wallet, anything else can likely be bought. (I know it's preferable to bring more than that, but that's my anxiety-reducing list.)

Have a great time!

[chezmax]

No medications, thankfully. :)

I hope I remember to take.. clothes... or something.

Although, the idea of travelling *really* light does have it's appeals. :)

[hedgegoth.livejournal.com]

Don't eat yellow snow

[chezmax]

I don't think I'll be seeing much snow.

[cjtremlett.livejournal.com]

Where in Japan are you going and for how long?

I'd say get the Lonely Planet guide. I've had great luck with them in a wide range of places!

[chezmax]

Osaka, and anywhere reachable by train from there... for two weeks. I'm staying with a friend from college there :)

[lonita.livejournal.com]

Don't overpack.

A couple of pairs of jeans, one decent pair of pants, many t-shirts, a pair of shoes other than the ones you'll be wearing on the plane, a light rain-proof jacket, the usual unmentionables.

Don't waste suitcase space on items that you can purchase and dispose of over there.

Make sure you have enough memory cards/batteries for your camera.

Postcards are excellent for keeping a travel journal; less bulky than a notebook.

Don't eat fugu unless you're feeling exceptionally brave that day.

Don't forget travellers' medical insurance.

Easily roll-uppable/collapsable backpack of some kind, that can be stuffed into a pocket when not in use.

Japan is an expensive place.

[quatch.livejournal.com]

start building mental resistance to buying cool gadgets with an interface you can't read :) ... the temptation will be strong.

[chezmax]

nihongo was hanishimasu?

[quatch.livejournal.com]

bring something to keep a journal in. Make sure your cellphone will work, or find out about buying a disposable one. Look up japansese-english translators.

Make a quick kanji cheat sheet with the words for bathroom, man/woman, N/S/E/W, the community name you'll be in and such. All the train stuff is/was in kanji.

Look up where the neat historical stuff is near where you're staying.

Try to make a trip up into the mountains, it is so very different than the plains.

kyoto is worth seeing.

Ride a bullet train :)

Bring back some change, their change is pretty awesome.

[chezmax]

Japan doesn't have GSM networks, but I've borrowed a different kind of blackberry from work that's supposed to work there. *crosses fingers*.

Assuming it actually does work, I should still have limited internet access (and lots of time on trains to read it :P)

The Kanji cheat sheet might be useful, but I don't even know where to start. I had wanted to pull out my Japan 101 books and start going over some introductory nihongo again, but I never quite got that far.

The train is supposedly bilingual. Station names are also in Romaji for convenience of people like me.

I'll be in Osaka, which is a stones throw to Kyoto. Lots of history there.

I'm not sure how much country side I'll be able to see, other then what's out the train windows.

Will see Kyoto.

Will be taking the Shinkansen to Tokyo, and maybe Hiroshima, and some other places, likely. Not going to let the rail pass go to waste!

[fallyn-angel.livejournal.com]

HAVE FUN! (Don't forget that one)

Don't pack stupid stuff in your carry-on that will get you interrogated for hours and strip searched. Unless you feel like that might be fun...

[chezmax]

My carry on will probably be an Mp3 player, a cell phone, a game boy, identification.

And I will have fun. This is the farthest I've ever been from home (both by distance, and by culture), and I've been getting excited about it for weeks!

[dwaxman.livejournal.com]

I do not request a post card; as they cost money. What I do request is that you take pictures of the following for me:
Engrish (Horridly translated things into poor English)
American / North American chains in Japan

Sometimes nothing is more funny than something like Old Navy in Japan etc etc

[chezmax]

I was planning on sending postcards to anyone who wants one. That doesn't bother me :)

There will be lots of pictures.

I'm planning on eating at a McDonalds there just to say that I had, and what was on the menu. :)

[taldragon.livejournal.com]

i'd like a postcard please.

so very jealous :(

[chezmax]

Email me your address :)

[cgulutz.livejournal.com]

That is so awesome, share tons of pics when you return!

[chezmax]

Totally will do!

Dude, how did you fall off my friends list? *back*

[wjl.livejournal.com]

Hey, long time no talk. Japanese people are really nice, and many of them like to practice their English, so you should have no trouble getting around. The JR pass is a *huge* win -- as you probably know, only tourists can get them, and Japanese people are quite jealous of this fact :)

I highly recommend Kyoto for its bizarre juxtaposition of modern-city--wall--zen-garden. My friend and i found a secret garden there with a small table, and on the table was a button with a sign that, as nearly as i could tell, said something like, "Push button for green tea ice cream" :)

Nara is also nice, and i didn't see you mention it. Big park, lots of deer -- it was one of my favorite places when i went.

Hiroshima is also really worthwhile. Two things i'd suggest while you're there, aside from the obvious A-bomb-related stuff: (1) have some Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okonomiyaki), since it's not common anywhere else -- you should get some Kansai-style while you're in Osaka, for comparison's sake. Wikipedia has the whole story. And (2) see if you can visit Miyajima-guchi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyajimaguchi) -- it's very close, and you can use your JR pass to take the ferry to Miyajima island (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyajima%2C_Hiroshima) proper, home of the floating torii, one of the three most beautiful sights in Japan.

Most of all, have lots of fun, and don't be nervous! :) Like i said, the people are extraordinarily friendly. It's a great experience.

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

..I don't usually comment on friends-of-friends' descriptions of cities I've never been to... but this one comment makes me doubly jealous of the trip. I've filed away this advice for whenever it is that I eventually get to visit Japan. Thanks. :)

It sounds like you had some interesting adventures there- did you push the button for green tea ice cream?

[melted-snowball.livejournal.com]

Bring one book you've been planning to read forever for train rides. There's nothing as cool as watching the world go by at high speeds while you're reading a classic novel.

It might be worth getting yourself ¥10,000 to 20,000 before you leave; it's not especially hard, and once upon a time I got stuck at CDG (Worst Airport EVER) on a day when all of the ATMs decided to die. That sucked.

Don't overpack. There are probably good guidelines on this that you can find on the web, but don't. That said, bring one decent shirt and one decent pair of trousers; you never know when you'll need them.

Forget at least one toiletry. It's always fun to figure out how to buy deodorant, or shaving cream, or something like that, in a language you don't know.

[pyrop.livejournal.com]

Osaka! In the greater Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe region, the trains will all be also in English. Everything else won't be, in particular, restaurant menus.

That said, eat some Takoyaki and some Okonomiyaki. Takoyaki is breaded octopus balls and you get them in stands on the streets/in malls. Okonomiyaki is a pancakeish thing and you get it at restaurants.

[chezmax]

So, how do I know what the restaurants are serving? :)

Hey there

[whirling-woman.livejournal.com]

If you want to come down to Ise, or need a place to crash near Ise I have crash space and extra futons.
Ise is home to the Inner Shrine (Naikuu) and is the spiritual center of Japan because the Sun goddess Amaterasu makes her home here. This is the place that all Japanese people make a pilgramage to at least once in their lives.
Also nearby is Toba aquariaum, The Wedded Rocks (Futami), Iga: home of the ninja, and lots of cool stuff. Let me know if you need help.
Oh and post cards are super cheap to send - ask for a 70 en stamp.

Always have a packet of tissues and a hankerchief on hand and some hand sanitizer. In public washrooms, toilet paper is often not provided, nor hand towels, nor soap. You'll also want a hankerchief to mop up sweat, though it's cooling down a bit now.

Email me about crash space or if you need any anywhere else, in the prefecture, I might be able to hook you up.

Re: Hey there

[chezmax]

Ooh, Ise doesn't appear to be too far from Osaka! I may take you up on that! Do you have any time for playing tour guide?

What's your email address now?

[kyorei.livejournal.com]

to have fun!
Hm some phrase books might help, dress nicely since your a gaijin, make sure your electronics are compat or they can blow out (my poor camcorder battery!!!)

and again have fun!

[whirling-woman.livejournal.com]

Yeah let me add some more things here.
Japan is a cash society, ATMs close around 9:00 so you can't go get more money at all hours like you can in Canada. To taht end it is perfectly normal to carry several thousand en in your wallet on a day to day basis, stores will have no problem changing large bills.

Bring your own deodroant, the stuff here isn't that good. I cn't remember if you have any diet restrictions (vegetarian, don't eat red meat etc) but you might find it hard to be accomodated because so few people here are vegetarian etc, email me and I'll send you some useful phrases to that effect.

All train stations have English signs but once you are on the actual trains sometimes they do not have English to call out the next stop. To that end I would dig out your first two or three lessons of kanji and review the kanji for things like field, mountain, valley, river, big, small etc. Because 90% of all stations have at least two of those kanji in their name. But failing that most stations have their names in hiragana too. Try and review katakana, because most products are labelled in katakana, even if it's a Japanese word.

And you guys can say all you want how great the Kobe region of Japan is, but everyone knows it's the Kinki region that's the best!

[chezmax]

I plan on getting a little bit before I go, and then hitting up a post office a couple times to refresh my cash.

I'm a carnivore, and don't have any restrictions, so I should be ok. :)

I only took to Japan 102, I didn't take any Kanji at all. And I've completely forgotten both kana. :/

[london-bill.livejournal.com]

I'll take a Japanese Christmas ornament please...

Have a great trip, bring a book or music to listen to when you are on the plane. It's a VERY long flight.

[chezmax]

Bring a game boy, mp3s, and a book!

[equusreined.livejournal.com]

Wow man, that is exciting... How long you going for again?
Hope you have a great time, and take lots of pics to share when you come back. :)

[shlorp.livejournal.com]

You have 47 comments but here's one more because why not:

Lisa Andrews
11158 Willow Drive Apt. J
Bealeton, VA 22712



OBI WAN SUSHI HAPPY FAMILY

[chezmax]

Can you email that? (then it'll get put into my postcard folder, where I'll print out all the addresses)

And do you want me to screen this for your privacy? :)

[whirling-woman.livejournal.com]

Just a note to let you know that I don't have Internet access except at school - and it's a three day weekend coming up, so I won't be able to reach you for a few days. Please email me whatever your plans are, have a safe trip and if you do want to end up in Ise and crash at my place (cough cough) I would very much appreciate some peanut butter. (cough couch, shuffles feet)

[chezmax]

I don't know your email address.

I do think I would like to come to Ise for day or two.

I'm not sure if I can import peanut butter without having issues with customs. I'd rather not risk it. :/

My plans aren't really set yet, so I'll be pretty flexible. I'll have a blackberry, which means I should have email just about everywhere. I'll also have a phone with which I can make short calls (or I assume there's something equivalent to pay phones there... :P)

[iggabod.livejournal.com]

dont forget to get keychain. your sisters would love postcards. do you have their addresses?

dont forget a change of undies. you know you always forget something, somewhere!

[chezmax]

Yes, I know you want a keychain.

If you/and or the girls want postcards, please email me your addresses to go into my postcard file. :)