(Traveling To) Japan Thread
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im going to fukuoka in june for an academic conference. first time going to japan.
-plan on flying into tokyo since going to fukuoka directly via air is mad expensive. i'm gonna get a 7 day JR rail pass and just ride the train-- it's a 6 hour trip on the shinkansen from tokyo to fukuoka. are japanese trains as good as they say or will i be exhausted when i get to fukuoka?
-anyone have the inside track on what's cool to do in fukuoka? itineraries on tokyo/kyoto/etc seem pretty detailed but much less so for fukuoka. i'll be spending prob two days conferencing but after that i'm gonna peace that shit and explore the town.
-i realize one can get by without any japanese knowledge whatsoever in tokyo but how is it elsewhere? can i just spam 'eigo ga wakarimasu ka' and do okay?
-i'll be spending some days in tokyo after the conference, i'd love to check out some local music--anyone know of good venues?
-as a brown person, anything i should be aware of?
thanks
-plan on flying into tokyo since going to fukuoka directly via air is mad expensive. i'm gonna get a 7 day JR rail pass and just ride the train-- it's a 6 hour trip on the shinkansen from tokyo to fukuoka. are japanese trains as good as they say or will i be exhausted when i get to fukuoka?
-anyone have the inside track on what's cool to do in fukuoka? itineraries on tokyo/kyoto/etc seem pretty detailed but much less so for fukuoka. i'll be spending prob two days conferencing but after that i'm gonna peace that shit and explore the town.
-i realize one can get by without any japanese knowledge whatsoever in tokyo but how is it elsewhere? can i just spam 'eigo ga wakarimasu ka' and do okay?
-i'll be spending some days in tokyo after the conference, i'd love to check out some local music--anyone know of good venues?
-as a brown person, anything i should be aware of?
thanks
A few minor general things, Japan is a very cash country. Quite a few places don't even accept credit cards.. So make sure you have some cash on hand.
Japanese shinkansen are fairly comfortable. I prefer to airplanes but I am 6'3" and 230 lbs so your experience may vary..
Fukuoka is pretty big city.. so there should be lots to do.. Sadly I have not been there yet so can't tell you more than that.
Local music scenes... Shibuya has a few live houses, and shimo - Kitazawa (near Shibuya) when it gets closer to when you will come I can look up some showtimes.
I would suggest learning some simple things like where is ____ and so on.. Going to a another country and just asking for English doesn't always sit well with people. Most the time if you try they will SUPER try to help you.
Japan is fairly racist, but as a visitor you most likely won't feel any of it...
Japanese shinkansen are fairly comfortable. I prefer to airplanes but I am 6'3" and 230 lbs so your experience may vary..
Fukuoka is pretty big city.. so there should be lots to do.. Sadly I have not been there yet so can't tell you more than that.
Local music scenes... Shibuya has a few live houses, and shimo - Kitazawa (near Shibuya) when it gets closer to when you will come I can look up some showtimes.
I would suggest learning some simple things like where is ____ and so on.. Going to a another country and just asking for English doesn't always sit well with people. Most the time if you try they will SUPER try to help you.
Japan is fairly racist, but as a visitor you most likely won't feel any of it...
I want to try to help but some more details would make it easier.
shinkansen is comfortable and it is better more space and comfort than a cheap economy flight and charter bus in my opinion. it is just be courteous when using it like all transportation such as sitting in your reserved seating if it is reserved, letting people know before you recline, taking trash with you and knowing when to throw it away. Eat, find something to do like read or play a game. Nap.
I suggest at least learning some phrases and trying to communicate, people will appreciate you more for trying and they will help you more at least from my friend's perspective. Download an app, do your best to try I would appreciate it more.
from hokkaido mention before but Shizuoka is the farthest south I have been so I can't give you anything insider info. I can give you some tourist attractions if you want to go out of your way for it. These are probably some places I would like to see and visit.
I'm pretty sure Fukuoka uses suica and pasmo. I don't think they use something for kyushu only like hokkaido does with kitaka and sapica. If you trust yourself enough I mean you can use suica to travel by subway and some places accept it as a form of payment. both cards are used in shutoken anyway . Always keep some physical money on you though like blackace say it is easier too.
Fukuoka is very big where exactly are you there? try to keep a map of what you want to do and see and save points so it is easier to travel and understand where to go. There is a lot to do in that greater area so find out what you are more comfortable traveling, going out of your way to see landscapes or staying within the city area. What exactly do you want to check out because if you are in Fukuoka, you could try going a little outside the city and check out one of the cooler landmarks like keya no oto. It is a huge cave and it is somewhere I would love to take photos of some day. This is to the west of fukuoka
If you are able to go to Kitakyushu there is a lot to do there.
There's a pretty cool shrine in the opposite direction near Kanmon Bridge, Mekari jinja which has a really nice view of the bridge and the water view. It connects Kyushu and Honshu and it is a cool sight to see. The shrine is right by it and it looks nice at night.
There's Sarakurasan, a mountain with a cable car that you can go hiking at and it is rated as one of the best night views in Japan.
Kitakyushu has a zoo
There's Kokurajo a historic castle which has a museum and a garden
There's the shiraito waterfall in the greater area that serves a special somen as well. The one in Shizuoka is bigger but this one seems nice.
I can post more on shutoken or wherever you are in tokyo at a later time when you have a clearer idea or plan of what you are going to do.
shinkansen is comfortable and it is better more space and comfort than a cheap economy flight and charter bus in my opinion. it is just be courteous when using it like all transportation such as sitting in your reserved seating if it is reserved, letting people know before you recline, taking trash with you and knowing when to throw it away. Eat, find something to do like read or play a game. Nap.
I suggest at least learning some phrases and trying to communicate, people will appreciate you more for trying and they will help you more at least from my friend's perspective. Download an app, do your best to try I would appreciate it more.
from hokkaido mention before but Shizuoka is the farthest south I have been so I can't give you anything insider info. I can give you some tourist attractions if you want to go out of your way for it. These are probably some places I would like to see and visit.
I'm pretty sure Fukuoka uses suica and pasmo. I don't think they use something for kyushu only like hokkaido does with kitaka and sapica. If you trust yourself enough I mean you can use suica to travel by subway and some places accept it as a form of payment. both cards are used in shutoken anyway . Always keep some physical money on you though like blackace say it is easier too.
Fukuoka is very big where exactly are you there? try to keep a map of what you want to do and see and save points so it is easier to travel and understand where to go. There is a lot to do in that greater area so find out what you are more comfortable traveling, going out of your way to see landscapes or staying within the city area. What exactly do you want to check out because if you are in Fukuoka, you could try going a little outside the city and check out one of the cooler landmarks like keya no oto. It is a huge cave and it is somewhere I would love to take photos of some day. This is to the west of fukuoka
If you are able to go to Kitakyushu there is a lot to do there.
There's a pretty cool shrine in the opposite direction near Kanmon Bridge, Mekari jinja which has a really nice view of the bridge and the water view. It connects Kyushu and Honshu and it is a cool sight to see. The shrine is right by it and it looks nice at night.
There's Sarakurasan, a mountain with a cable car that you can go hiking at and it is rated as one of the best night views in Japan.
Kitakyushu has a zoo
There's Kokurajo a historic castle which has a museum and a garden
There's the shiraito waterfall in the greater area that serves a special somen as well. The one in Shizuoka is bigger but this one seems nice.
I can post more on shutoken or wherever you are in tokyo at a later time when you have a clearer idea or plan of what you are going to do.
thanks brehs i appreciate it, this is an excellent primer--i'll be posting more details in the coming weeks since it's still about 5 months away
shun, i'll be staying at the hilton sea hawk which is adjacent to the fukuoka dome so right on the bay. i wouldn't mind taking a day trip out of town (that cave looks awesome) but i'd probably err more towards city options.
shun, i'll be staying at the hilton sea hawk which is adjacent to the fukuoka dome so right on the bay. i wouldn't mind taking a day trip out of town (that cave looks awesome) but i'd probably err more towards city options.
I am more outdoors person just suggesting places I would like to visit I am unsure how long you are staying in fukuoka and wherever in shutoken but if that is the case then here are more closer suggestions.
Maizuru Park is a historical site near where you are staying in fukuoka, it had a lot of feudal castles and it is also made into a local city park with flowers and gardens and art museums. It is very big and it is mostly free so there is a lot to go see.
Oohori Park also has a really nice view from the photos I see in the photo group I am a part of. It is also right by a big shrine as well. It is higher up so you can see the city below and the water too.
You can see a nice city view from both parks if you don't want to go pay for the fukuoka tower tourist activity.
There are a lot of Taito Station game centers if that is your thing to go check out some fun arcade game like jubeat/maimai or Gundam or Wonderland Wars.
Mendouhanamokoshi ramen, Tanka yakiniku, ooishi nabe and gansomotsu nabe specialize in offal and they serve mentaiko too.
um hkt48, probably not...
I can help search more for fukuoka but can only go off reviews and word of mouth but these are places I would put on my list if or when I visit kyushu.
Maizuru Park is a historical site near where you are staying in fukuoka, it had a lot of feudal castles and it is also made into a local city park with flowers and gardens and art museums. It is very big and it is mostly free so there is a lot to go see.
Oohori Park also has a really nice view from the photos I see in the photo group I am a part of. It is also right by a big shrine as well. It is higher up so you can see the city below and the water too.
You can see a nice city view from both parks if you don't want to go pay for the fukuoka tower tourist activity.
There are a lot of Taito Station game centers if that is your thing to go check out some fun arcade game like jubeat/maimai or Gundam or Wonderland Wars.
Mendouhanamokoshi ramen, Tanka yakiniku, ooishi nabe and gansomotsu nabe specialize in offal and they serve mentaiko too.
um hkt48, probably not...
I can help search more for fukuoka but can only go off reviews and word of mouth but these are places I would put on my list if or when I visit kyushu.