That Japan thing

[noahgibbs]

Those of you who read the previous entry are aware that I'm going to Japan in June. For those who didn't: read the first sentence of this entry carefully, there's a hidden implication about a foreign country I'll be visiting.

For those who are curious: I've got a friend who's teaching English there for a year. She's a little over halfway done with her time there. I'm unemployed, and thus easily scheduleable. I'm certainly not going to get enough vacation to spend much time there in the next six months, at least once I'm employed again. And hey, I've only been outside the country twice, and they barely counted (England, twice, with the family, as a teenager).

I'm thinking of it kinda like Burning Man: I hadn't been camping in something like fifteen years, so I decided to camp in an alkaline desert environment with high winds, and then plan to be there for days before anybody I knew showed up. Whoo!

Well, similarly, I'm going to Otaru on Hokkaido, definitely not prime tourist territory (like, say, Tokyo). I know almost zero Japanese, and I'm going to need to take care of myself most of the time because my host has to work while I'm there, at least on weekdays.

I expect to do a lot of hiking, ride a lot of trains and eat a lot of noodles, which sounds like a pretty good way to see Japan. I've arranged for a Japan Rail pass to help support that expectation. I'm working now on how to set up my phrasebookage so I can appropriately apologize for myself at all times, including but not limited to my non-grasp of the language. Luckily, as my host pointed out, I'm instantly recognizable as foreign, so my halting "Nihongo o hanasemasen" should be redundant. That's "hello, I am a dog", or perhaps "I don't know Japanese", depending on the sense of humor of my source material.

Anybody know about customs and what I can reasonably bring there or bring back? I don't have anything I'm especially worried about planned, but I've never really done this before. Will I have no trouble getting there with basic supplies and coming back with random Japanese gadgets, or is there stuff I should worry about?

Comments

[japlady.livejournal.com]

My favorite line:

Sumimasen, Watshi no nihongo totemo hetta desu... gomen nasai

(I"m sorry, my japanese is very unskillful... forgive me)

generally rattled off at such speed that they assume I must be kidding and start telling me how good my japanese is.

Or a simple, "Wakarimasen" (I do not understand) repeated often with lots of bowing and "Sumimasen, gomen nasai" thrown in for good measure.

Japanese

[jd5p.livejournal.com]

The comment I have heard from my coworkers, people you may meet will likely want to practive their English with you.

Re: Japanese

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

Yup. Which is fine by me.

Re: Japanese

[astralagos.livejournal.com]

Especially kids. The real challenge in Japan can be getting people to speak Japanese to you. Japanese toilets rarely have their own toilet paper, so you'll have to pick some up, carry a kleenex. You can get by with visuals a lot, and most Japanese I've met are used to drawing maps.

Re: Japanese

[japlady.livejournal.com]

And you won't be able to understand a frigging word of it... the REASON they hire folks like your friend is most the english teaching is reading and writing, very little is speaking or hearing....

Re: Japanese

[bk2w.livejournal.com]

And most of the speaking/hearing training was done by Japanese that learned the language as adults, and therefore have a very thick accent.

Ah, the joys of hosting Japanese exchange students. Very good grammer, great reading skills, but really weak pronuciation.

[bk2w.livejournal.com]

US Customs has a decent site on import limitations and duty laws.

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

I really don't think there's much you can buy in Japan that you can't have in America. The laws are verry similar. Other than tracking where things are like groceries and so on, it's not that bad. Hokkaido is great. You'll be missing the snow festival, but there's still plenty to see there. Castles, shirnes, gardens, etc...

Custom wise, it's best to bring a gift for anyone you're staying with or visiting. I'd reccomend some california wine.

If you need any more help planning the trip, let me know.

Re: Japanese

[blacksheep-lj.livejournal.com]

Re toilets - they also don't have paper towels - many Japanese carry a small washcloth for drying hands after washing. I don't recall a lack of toilet paper.

Further re toilets - the Japanese electronic toilets in the hotels are SOOOOOOOO freakin' cool. Warm or cold water sprayed anywhere you like, heated seats......my favorite quote heard while I was traveling with the team - college age man comes downstairs in the morning and says to his father (also travelling with us) - "I didn't know there was so much to anal stimulation!" Yeah....... :)

Culture note - the Japanese REAAAAAAALLY don't like to say no - be very careful what you ask for and about - for example, innocently asking the chairman of lacrosse where he reccommended we go for dinner wound up with him picking us up at our hotel and taking us out to an amazing 4 level restaurant in Tokyo - his treat. If you say - "hey, this would be neat" often people feel obligated to make sure you get to do whatever it is.

Politely dropping the head and making a chopping motion in front of you while saying "sumimasen" over and over is the way to get through a crowd. And everything you've heard about merciless pushing onto trains is true - all politeness is out the window.

Shabu-shabu is delicious and tasty. As is the BBQ version I can't quite remember. Japanese curry is a cheap and yummy meal - and the word for curry is almost the same pronounced koo-ry therefore fairly easy to explain that you want it - thick stewy thing full of chunks of carrot and potato over rice - can be served with thin fried pork cutlet as an added bonus. Food is usually accompanied by pictures or models - noodle houses are sooooooo wonderful. Tea and a hearty bowl of soup sitting on tatami mats is a beautiful experience.

You will in fact have to take your shoes off fairly frequently. Make sure your socks are presentable and your feet don't reek. Nothing personal - I don't know your feet. :)

TMI TMI TMI

[selkiediver.livejournal.com]

Ok. So, once I was in Japan and I was at a restaurant. I had to use the restroom. Once I managed to convey this fact (I don't know any Japanese either), I was shown to a room that contained a urinal and a sink. So, I'm thinking one thing you might want to ask is about bathroom ettiquette....like, how do you use the urinal if you have to do more than pee...

My solution was to keep track of where all the closest McDonald's were. McDonald's had Western toilets and toilet paper in them.

Also, if you are ever invited to eat in a Japanese home, don't be surprised if they try to make you feel at home by say...feeding you hot dogs for breakfast. Just smile, bow and say, "thank you" a lot. This happened to me once and also to a couple of friends on unrelated occassions. I actually thought it was quite thoughtful in a non-Western sort of a way.

Lastly, don't forget that they drive on the other side of the street in Japan. In the big cities, "Look RIGHT" is painted on street corners to keep tourists from unintentionally dodging out into traffic. You may not get that big reminder in non-touristy areas. If you happen to drive, just remember the steering wheel goes in the middle of the road. If you happen to find yourself on a motorcycle...well, drive on the side that traffic isn't going to hit you head on.

Have fun!

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

Great idea, we did the same thing (went to Asia) when we were both unemployed a few years back. When else were we going to get 4 or 5 weeks off at the same time.

I found people in Japan to be extremely helpful, honest and friendly. When we were staring at the subway map in Tokyo (very complicated) people would often stop and ask if they could help.

Have a great time!

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

The most useful word for me was Sumimasen, "excuse me". Pronounced something like sue-me-ma-sen, very helpful for when you bump into people in crowded stores, trains, subways, etc.

Re: TMI TMI TMI

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

Heh. Very unlikely to drive while I'm there, and fairly unlikely to eat in a Japanese home (possible, but I don't know when it would happen). But yes, much thanking and apologizing is my overall plan for the trip :-)

And I've been told to carry toilet paper, too, and I plan to. S'pose I should buy it there since it's bulky, but I'm assuming it won't be that difficult to find for purchase.

[warsop.livejournal.com]

I can't help you, but my friend abraxas365 just returned from living there for a few months. I'm sure he'd be happy to give you some pointers.

[griffjon.livejournal.com]

Due respect to authorities, duty laws, etc.

Here's a very important phrase for travelling:

"I have nothing to declare"

Make sure you have a good poker face, especially when the polite customs clerk asks you to re-emphasize that everything you are carrying is for your own personal use after seeing the lingerie you're bringing back for your girl in there.

Not speaking from experience, of course.

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

Well, technically gifts for the girlfriend would work fine under the "personal use" exemption, but I suppose you'd still have to declare them. Anyway.

Not sure if Japanese lingerie is superior in some way, but perhaps I'll have a look and see.

But not planning to bring much back. Dunno, it's kinda like collecting unemployment -- I may declare appropriately just to see what it's like.

[japlady.livejournal.com]

don't bother, they won't fit... I say this from experience

Re: TMI TMI TMI

[japlady.livejournal.com]

Dude that wasn't a urinal, that WAS the toilet ...

Re: TMI TMI TMI

[selkiediver.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it was. But it looked a lot like a urinal to me and it was not at all clear how the thing worked. So, I'm just saying that it might be a good thing to find out about.

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

Heh. I thought of you guys right off when he mentioned the trip. I hope he has as much fun as you did. Do you happen to have your write ups of the trip in your memories? I'd like to point Noah to them. :-) (I love your write ups...)

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

Ah, never mind my question. Being resourceful, I found them on my own. I wish I were as organized.

For your purusal, Love. The Asia Trip memories list (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=kingchiron&keyword=Asian+trip+report&filter=all) By the wonderful kingchiron. Most of the Japan specifics were early in their trip, so scroll down a bit.

The arm chair traveler that I am, reports like this make me very happy. Thanks again, KC.

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yup, I have the entries marked in memories although I don't think they're in order.

http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=kingchiron&keyword=Asian+trip+report&filter=all

You could also try starting at the first trip entry and going forward

http://www.livejournal.com/users/kingchiron/67185.html

[dr4b]

Noah. I'm currently like 10 miles from you. We should get together for lunch while I'm here and I can tell you tons of stuff about visiting Japan. Argh. Sending you email now...

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I'm not built like you are :-P

Re: TMI TMI TMI

[japlady.livejournal.com]

LOL! When he first mentioned the trip to me on IM one of the first things I brought up (since he's going to be in the boondocks and not in Tokyo) was traditional Japanese style bathrooms... Yah I really should... uhm.... show him.... well theoretically... how to use one... GRIN

[japlady.livejournal.com]

VIVA LA DIFFERANCE!!!

my two cents

[sooperspryte.livejournal.com]

- Re: toilet paper, don't worry about carrying around a roll- your first trip to Sapporo, and possibly even in Otaru will include at least 5 tissue packs being thrust in front of you for you to take. They hand them out everywhere with advertsing flyers, likely because everyone in Japan needs a tissue pack. :) And, of course, even if you want real toilet paper, you don't have to bring it from the states... I have a roll or two :)

- Having decent socks and shoes that slip on and off easily is a really good idea. Even in many restaurants you end up taking off your shoes.

- As for stuff you can/can't bring here, the only thing I'd be leery about is some prescription drugs. There are a very few that you can get in the states that are illegal here, but I don't think you'd get into much trouble for it. Incidentally, I doubt you were going to, but don't bring any illegal drugs at all. Being caught with marijuana in Japan is punishable with six months in jail for a first offense. Drugs are *very* illegal here.


Finally, for those who haven't seen it in the previous post, the offer of free floor space is good for anyone who wants it (esp if I know you or Noah vouches for you). I'm always happy to have a visitor, especially if they bring me some peanut butter.

Re: my two cents

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I take no prescription drugs, no illegal drugs, and usually not much of anything except a bit of alcohol and caffeine.

I should see about the shoes thing. I've got decent hiking and city shoes, but they take a bit more time to get on and off than will be convenient.