Potential bad news in Japan

ThemeDesigner said:

get a JapanRail pass BEFORE you leave the US.
And, oh yeah, don't forget there's other things in Japan besides coasters. Don't fill your schedule so full with parks you never do anything else.

First off, he's right. It can save a lot of money, but it also depends on what time of year you get it. It isn't always available for cheap. Last summer, I missed the chance to get one by 3 days, as I was leaving to come back home, and the passes aren't made available till after the kids get out of school. (They go to school year around) Regardless, it's great advice, and heartily recommended.

His last sentence is even more pertinent. See the darn country, if you go. Go to the mountains north of Kyoto for some amazing sights. Imagine eating a meal sitting directly (I mean right on top) over a river! You are, like, 3 feet above the current on these bamboo planks!!! It's weird and amazing. Chicks everywhere in Kimonos!!!!:):) Go to the Golden Temple! Go to Samurai Village where all the cool Samurai movies were filmed in the 50s! Go to Hammamatsu, and visit Yamaha's factories. Go to the Namba district in Osaka, and see the crazy over the top video stuff you can buy. Visit Sony in that same district and see all the "see-through" componentry that is available to the public. Check out the widescreen TVs everywhere!!!! In the Airport, for God's sake..... check out the super clean restrooms, especially the heated toilets, right Peabody??? ;)

Japan - God lives there. :)
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Timberhawk opens in June! I'm gonna beat you to it... ;)

The BEST parts of Japan were those freaking toilets! If you want any idea on how superior their technology is, go to the crapper! :)

Wish I could have taken the train to Nagashima, but we had to make several stops, etc, and it just didn't work.

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

I really wish I could go this summer. I take Japanese at my high school and I'm in year 2 as a sophomore. When you are at year 4 though, so when I'm a senior, there is usually an opportunity to visit Japan in an exchange program. You would just live everyday life, go to school and live with an excgange family. I'm hoping our school can permit us to do this again because last year they wouldnt let the seniors go.

Are things there very English friendly? I know I even take Japanese but I just don't think if I was in a situation actually in Japan if I could speak it fluently.

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"Love can sweep you off your feet and carry you along in a way you've never known before. But the ride always ends, and you end up feeling lonely and bitter. Wait. It's not love I'm describing. I'm thinking of a monorail" -Jack Handey

coastingohio said:

Are things there very English friendly?

Yeah, I'd like to know that too. I always assumed it was, but it seems like a good thing to know before heading over. Let me second that question to those of you who frequent the area.

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www.coasterimage.com

Nasai is the one to ask. Let just say that I was glad I had a native speaker with me my whole trip! I can't imagine trying to do it on my own......but, that's just me :)

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

Yes, it is English friendly, but only in the big cities. Go to the outskirts, and you are screwed! ;) That said, I can say that all the practice won't help in real life, but you will be armed, and heck, your skills will prove you can be formal!! Some stores, and signs are in English as well as Japanese, so you won't struggle too much, and many times you will get quite a laugh! The translations are just awesome at times. Still, Japanese are taught some English in school, but as they get older, and don't use the language, they forget what is happening. Go armed with a book/translation kit. You will be fine. The Japanese are very cordial, as you can imagine, but also intensely private, so don't expect people to say excuse me or hello on the street. It just isn't done. I think I said excuse me maybe 500 times just walking through Umeda station when I first went to Japan, and not one person acknowledged me. There are just too many people, and too much "brushing" of extremeties, etc.

My mother-in-law, on our first meeting, was trying to get her dog to stop barking at me. She held her finger up to her mouth in a shhhhhhhhhhh fashion, and yelled out "Boss! (the dogs name)..... "secret!"....... ;)

I don't think I ever laughed so loud.
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Timberhawk opens in June! I'm gonna beat you to it... ;)

SO what *did* the dog know, Rob....did ya ever find out...we KNOW he wanted to tell ya...;)

English is cool, 'cause you can use even the right words and STILL have it come out all wrong...;)

Rob is right about the city/outskirts thing. Once you get to non-touristy areas you have to start using spatial relation skills, as at some point even train platforms don't have 'roman characters' anywhere, so you have to start saying 'okay, this freaky letter looks like that freaky letter, so it must be where I get off'

One thing that amazed me is that if a store or restaurant clerk couldn't understand what you wanted they were usually embarassed and apologetic. I can't imagine an American being ashamed that they can't communicate in a foreign language.
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Pun is the death of wit.

And, oh yeah, I totally wanted to buy a toilet in Akihabara to bring home with me. The one in my hotel ACTUALLY wiped your butt for you (well, okay, it really just squirted water at it, but it was nearly as good.)
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Pun is the death of wit.

That's just the tip of the iceberg with those things. SO funny, I seriously tried to buy one too! Just didn't know how I'd get it home, hook it up, etc :) :)

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

I sat in a restaurant's restroom for a good half hour, enjoying the variety of water settings! Pulse never felt so good. ;)
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Moist and delicious. Meaty and tasty. Words to live by.

The other thing I tried to buy there was their massage chairs. SO much better than the crap you can buy here at gadget stores in your mall.

I'd still take a toilet.....

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

Add me to the list of people that wanted to buy a toilet from Japan. ;)

And like people already said, if you're in the city you should be fine. A few simple tips:

1. Pointing and laughing will get you a long ways.
2. Plastic food helps you decide what do order at many restaurants.
3. Don't be afraid to ask someone if you're completely lost. At one of the train stations we were at, we became completely lost, and fortunately some nice people stopped and helped us. I don't remember any rude people the entire trip, except it's kind of bizarre how nobody talks on the trains.
4. Try to take at least one tour. You can see and learn quite a bit!
5. Go to Mt. Fuji! :)
6. Listen to Nasai, he will guide you.
*** This post was edited by PT300 5/1/2003 7:30:40 PM ***

Can I ship one of those toilets shipped to the USA? If I win the lottery my house WILL have to have one of those.

I know 2 of the 3 alphabets so far, and i dont think any normal american could master kanji. So it seems like even if they don't have the romanji then if they use either hiragana or katakana then I'm fine. Plus, I think most katakana words are just our words with a Japanese flare to it, right?

Ex: Tennis = Tennisu, Mcdonalds = Makudonado, Burger = Baagaa

It's understanding whole sentences that really screws me. I mean, do those translation books really do much good if you can't say a sentence? Will the people understand if you just tell them like one word?

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"Love can sweep you off your feet and carry you along in a way you've never known before. But the ride always ends, and you end up feeling lonely and bitter. Wait. It's not love I'm describing. I'm thinking of a monorail" -Jack Handey
*** This post was edited by coastingohio 5/1/2003 8:51:52 PM ***

nasai said:
The Japanese are very cordial, as you can imagine, but also intensely private, so don't expect people to say excuse me or hello on the street. It just isn't done. I think I said excuse me maybe 500 times just walking through Umeda station when I first went to Japan, and not one person acknowledged me. There are just too many people, and too much "brushing" of extremeties, etc.

Sounds like my personal nirvana. I'm a very nice guy. The only thing I miss about living in the south is the "southern hospitality". I also love (and fit in very well) in NYC because people just don't give a crap. I'm doing my thing, you do yours. I love that most about New York. Plus, I prefer the lack of interaction NYC offers. However if I *must* be social, I'd prefer it to be friendly.

Ignore me but be nice if you can't avoid it.

Maybe I should just move to Japan. :)

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www.coasterimage.com

The translation books give you general sentences, and information. "Where is the bathroom?"...etc. Outside, of that, no.......... in most places I have seen, there is a tremendous use of Kanji, but they usually put a subtitled "romaji" below, or even Hiragana. So, nothing is impossible, but it can get difficult at times. That, and there aren't McDonalds' in the small villages. ;)

Rob-who loathes McDonalds, but loves their service and food in Japan! Cheeseburger Value Set!!!! :)
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Timberhawk opens in June! I'm gonna beat you to it... ;)

At least it wasn't Steel Dragon 2000, I have to ride that yet.

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If you wnat to know what my name is... TOO BAD!!!

Again, the big parks aren't suffering to the point of shutting down. It's really just the smaller parks in the smaller towns, and zoos. The big 3, as it were, are doing just fine. If not, they wouldn't be building 20 million dollar rides.
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Trouble underfoot! Run, Robbie Run....