Are there places in Japan that openly prohibit foreigners from entering?

Question:

Answer:

Many onsen? Not hardly. I've been to a LOT of them, all over Japan, and never had problem one. So at best that's an exaggeration, at worst, simply ignorant as to what is being spoken of.

The only signs I have ever seen have been on hostess clubs. These do NOT have to be run by the yakuza to exclude foreigners, it's just their decision. I've seen a lot of pics of such signs, but then Japan has a lot of such clubs. Contrary to popular belief, these are not all seedy places. Have taken quite a few foreign clients to them for the experience and have been taken to them myself by customers I have visited.

But, yes, they exist. Rare, at least in my opinion, but they exist.

What do the Japanese think of Americans?

Question:

Not the weaboo Americans, I mean the Americans that actually know fluent Japanese and won't run up to a random Japanese person and hug them.
I've heard they even have signs in some places saying "No Americans allowed". Is that true?
It's like my life's dream to go to Japan, so do you think I'd be welcomed or what?

Answer:

Well, i'm Japanese and i find Americans very cool :O

I would love to welcome them here. My daddy would also love to see his own type here as well :P
Just so you know, i'm half american (thanks a lot dad).

Can I buy a cheap phone card in the Kansai Airport?

Question:

If so, where? Vending machine, store, etc?

Answer:

Phone cards can usually be purchased at machines located near the payphones. In addition stores, hotels etc sell phone cards as well.

Monthly pass: Suica vs. Pasmo?

Question:

I visited Japan last year and i am visiting again this december...I will be there for 5 weeks and i am trying to figure out if they have a monthly pass or a cheaper alternative that the prepaid card.

when i was there i used a Pasmo card but i had to keep on reloading money to it after a couple of days or so.... i was only there for 2 weeks but probobly spent $400-$500 just commuting back and forth places.

Just like before i will be mostly going to:
-yokosuka
-yokohama
-and ALL of tokyo :D

i went on numerous websites already but they really don't touch the specifics of monthly passes how much it is, it is is pro-rated to the end of the month or if its an actual 30 day thing :/

please help...

Answer:

Suica and Pasmo aside from name differences, are essentially the exact same thing for the Tokyo area.

Monthly passes are generally designed if you are traveling for a specific route everyday. For people living there like myself they help. Essentially the pass lets you ride from say, home to work/school and back and it allows unlimited rides on that specific route rather then just everywhere.

For tourists who travel to different locations a monthly pass isn't really useful unless you plan on traveling say between the same locations almost everyday.

As I mentioned passes depend on the route you take:

For example:
A one month pass between Tokyo Station and Yokosuka Station is 27240yen (roughly $350 usd). This is if you go via the most direct routing of using the Tokaido Line to Ofuna then changing to the Yokosuka Line at Ofuna. If you go this route, you can get on and off at any Station on the Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Ofuna, then any station between Ofuna and Yokosuka on the Yokosuka Line. All of that is with JR trains.

Another option costs slightly more at 28880 yen (about $370 usd), this route involves taking the JR Keihin Tohoku Line from Tokyo Station to Ofuna and then changing to the Yokosuka Line to Ofuna. This route allows you to get on/off at any Keihin Tohoku line station between Tokyo and Ofuna. The advantage to this line is that it includes additional stops in Tokyo and Yokohama you can get off at.

There are other options as well. Just depends on which route you select.

However as I noted, these will cover from Tokyo Station. If you want to travel around from other stations in Tokyo then you have to pay as you go from there.

Also this depends on how much traveling do you plan to do between Tokyo and Yokosuka.
The reason things are adding up is you know Yokosuka is over 1 hour from Tokyo so it's a distance that costs money.

One way from Tokyo to Yokosuka is 1050yen using JR trains. So for the monthly pass to pay off, you'd need to make at least 27 one way trips / 13 roundtrips between Tokyo and Yokosuka in those 4 weeks. So if you plan on making 13 roundtrips or more between Tokyo and Yokosuka, then the pass will probably make sense to get. In addition you'll have to pay for any places you go off the commuter pass route.

Commuter passes run for about 30 days from purchase (when you purchase it, the final date is printed on the front, along with the start/end stations and the route you can take).

If you have any more questions, please edit and I'll see what I can do to assist.

---

Edit, I assume you are visiting Yokosuska navy base, in which case using the Keikyu line is the best at Yokosuka-cho Station (instead of Yokosuka Station, which is a JR Station)

A commuter pass between Yokohama Station and Yokosuka-Cho Station is 12690yen.
A commuter pass between Shinagawa Station in Tokyo and Yokosuka-Cho Station is 18850yen.

Again all on the Keikyu Line.

If you get the Pasmo version of the Commuter Pass (500yen extra) you can load extra cash onto the card, this cash will only be deducted if you go off the commuter route.

*Note that you need to specify the pasmo version, if not, you'll get a regular magnetic ticket pass*
So I highly suggest getting the Pasmo version of the commuter pass.

With the Keikyu commuter pass you can get on/off at any station on the route on the Keikyu line.

(Suica is sold at JR stations, Pasmo is sold at Keikyu Stations and all other non-JR stations).

Commuter pass in Japanese is called "TE-I-KEN" 定期券.
They are sold at offices at stations or at the vending machines.

What is the most effective bleach brand?

Question:

What is the best bleach brand here in Japan or rather effective? I'm planning to bleach my hair but i don't want to spend money in the salon. Doing it by myself is cheaper. So what brand should I use? My hair is black with a bit of maroon color when expose to sunlight. I want to fully change it's color to golden brown. Some bleach products is just not good enough that's why I'm asking for the best :)

Answer:

The girls who did it themselves in my dorm used Palty, which is sold in almost any drug store. It worked on one girl and made the other girl's hair frizz out. I, on the other hand, dye my hair red and had kind of a similar experience to threeday. It took at first, but not the color it was supposed to, then all the color faded in about a week and I was left with this weird orange color. Definitely not what I had planned.

Honestly, there are less expensive salons in Japan. The one I went to in downtown Nagoya was 5,000 yen for cut and color (which is much less than it would be in the U.S.) Pick up a hotpepper beauty edition at the train station or ask your friends where the cheap places are and just go in and get it done. If nothing else, do it for the experience of going to a Japanese salon.

Can Japanese students work part time?

Question:

I'm watching this Japanese drama and this girl got in trouble for working part time at a convenience store. Apparently she could get suspended from school for it. This really confused me, are japanese students not allowed to work or something?

Answer:

Some high schools do not allow its students to work part-time. So I think that is the case.

What is this resaurant in Tokyo called?

Question:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/vi…

Answer:

There is a board with its name.

Tsukiji Kassen Ichiba
http://www.kassenichiba.com/

What is Japan like foreigners living there?

Question:

I was accepted into an American university in Tokyo, but besides what I know from practicing Judo for most of my life, I know next to nothing about what it is like. My brother who was a marine stationed in Okinawa said they don't like foreigners and try to avoid them. Many other things I have read say that Japanese can be down right racist and outside of Tokyo you will be basically shunned.

I'm very worried that it will be hellish if that's the case but it will also be a great experience. I'll be living there for up to 6 years well I work on my degree, as a very white American what can I expect, will I be ostracized my entire time there?

Answer:

Okinawa isn't Tokyo. Okinawans have in many cases different experiences with the US military then say people who live in Tokyo.

>>"Many other things I have read say that Japanese can be down right racist and outside of Tokyo you will be basically shunned" <<

I've traveled around to many places in Japan, in all my years, everyone has been nothing but helpful. No one has spit at my face, or attempted to kill me. There is no "KKK" group of Japan out to kill foreigners. I saw on the news the other day in America, there was a group of white teenagers who's goal was to go out and kill black people, they found one guy and killed him in the hotel parking lot, that's racism in America!. Groups like that do not exist in Japan.

If you want to walk around on a high horse thinking you are a superior white american acting like a fool, yeah Japanese people and other Americans and foreigners in Japan are not going to like you. Act respectfully, respect the culture and more people are generally going to be ok to you.

What's the age requirement to get into clubs/drink in Japan?

Question:

I am going to be a Senior this fall in High School. I have decided not to have a graduation party, and instead take 2-4 weeks in the summer to travel somewhere. I have decided on Tokyo, Japan as a possible destination. What is the legal clubbing/drinking age in Japan? I will be 18 when i take the trip if I decide to go there. Would it be possible for an 18 year old to go clubbing/drinking in Japan? I want to have a good time there, and I plan on visiting many historical spots and structures as well as touring the city of Tokyo. I will be staying a little bit outside of Tokyo if i go. So aside from having fun in the tourist way, i want to go clubbing and/or drink. What's the age for clubbing/drinking in Japan?

Answer:

1- As has been said the legal age is 20 for drinking. I've never seen anyone getting carded and have seen Japanese who I would bet were underage drinking in bars.

2- That being said, get caught and see what happens. You aren't likely to get caught, but you never know. Get a bit drunk, get stupid and get caught. NOW the police step in. This can totally screw up your vacation.

What does hanazono mean in japanese?

Question:

the EXACT phrase is

Toki wo kizamu yo hanazono
時を刻むよ花園

explain each word please
im tryin to learn

Answer:

Hi, I'm Japanese.

The flower garden ticks the times.

Toki wo 時を - time
kizamu yo 刻むよ - tick
hanazono 花園 - a flower garden

What does fude de mean in japanese?

Question:

the EXACT phrase is


Fushigi na fude de mata hitotsu egaite mimashita
不思議な筆でまた一つ描いて見ました

explain every word you can please
im really tryin to learn

Answer:

Hi, I' m Japanese.

Fude
Kanji - 筆
Hiragana - ふで
Katakana - フデ

"Fude" means "a writing brush, a paint brush".
"de" means "by"

Fushigi na 不思議な - marvelous, mysterious, miraculous

fude de 筆で - by a writing brush

mata hitotsu また一つ - once again,once more

egaite mimashita 描いて見ました - I tried to write, I wrote


I tried to write (something) by a marvelous writing brush once again.

Can someone help me translate this Japanese sentence?

Question:

こちらの商品は販売しておりますので、ご検討宜しくお願い致します。

Google translate gives me "this item is not sold. Thank you for consider." Can someone give me a little more of an accurate translation? Does it mean the item hasn't sold and is still available, or that the item isn't being sold (any longer)? Thanks.

Answer:

This item is for sale. Please think about (buying).

I need some Japanese TV shows! I want to watch some Japanese TV! can someone help?

Question:

Are there any good Japanese shows based off of anime? like using Real actors? Or just plain old Fantasy TV shows With real actors? Doesn't have to be based off of an anime. I mostly see Japanese dramas.which I'm not into really...I also like comedy, I also like the prank shows and stuff! And if you know some cool prank shows please name whatever you know! If you know of any Japanese Reality tv, Sitcoms, or Fantasy besides drama, I would really appreciate it if you gave me some names! :D

I love Japan! ^^

Answer:

Try these:

Cartoon Kat-Tun (Loooved it)
D no Arashi
G no Arashi
VS Arashi
Arashi no Shukudai-kun
Arashi ni Shiyagare
Arashi no Waza-Ari
Himitsu no Arashi-chan
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge (based off anime)
Ouran High School Host Club (based off anime)

Also, you can always go to dramacrazy.net and rummage through the alphabet or the search box for things you may like to watch, be it Japanese or Korean. They have all the best stuff there! <3

Are there any chat programs like QQ that are for japan ?

Question:

QQ is like skype except its people from china i use it to meet people from around the world. are there any chat sights or programs i can use to meet people from japan?

Answer:

Japanese people are using Skype, Y!M, MSN, etc.

Where can a smoker go, in Tokyo?

Question:

I've heard that smoking isn't allowed in the streets of Tokyo, anymore. Is that only in certain parts of town? Also, what about smoking at Narita airport?

Answer:

Smoking is allowed in many places. Only certain designated areas around the main train station is where you can't smoke, instead there are "smoking areas" in the main train station areas, clearly marked. Other areas you are free to smoke outside all the live long day if you want.

Just be civil about it.

At Narita Airport there are "smoking rooms" where you are allowed to smoke in.

I am USA citizen I was flighing japan to USA ?

Question:

Am not criminal I don't have anything with me time I was land for transiting in vancover bc my next flight will be Seattle canada immigration they make to sighn same peper they told me leave voluntarily two year ago so I like to vist my family in canada so going vist them now ?

Answer:

You may be a US citizen but you sure lack the ability to express yourself in English. You're gonna' have to try this question again but I'm not sure what you are talking about. As it is, your dog don't hunt.

What are some inexpensive homemade sushi options?

Question:

I know this isn't travel related but there isn't a specific japanese foods category and I figured people browsing this area would be more familiar with sushi.

I've recently gotten into making sushi at home, and its great! I'm surprised at how easy, and how high the quality is.

Anyways, I was wondering what are some "cheap" rolls? I can't afford to eat expensive fillets all the time so I've been making spicy tuna rolls with cucumbers but I'm kind of sick of those. If its meat based it has to be under 6 dollars a pound for me to be able to afford it.

Answer:

Stick to making easy sushi rolls like Hoso-maki for a starting point until you get the hang of it. Suggested Ingredients include fresh fish such as salmon or tuna; smoked salmon; canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise; tempura; vegetables such as steamed asparagus; cucumber; carrot sticks; avocado; cheese or ham.

Whats the best way to learn Japanese?

Question:

I wanted to move to Japan once I get older, and I wanted to know whats the best way to learn how to speak Japanese. I've done lots of lessons online but most of them just lead me no where. But others do work.

Answer:

The best way to learn Japanese is through a variety of methods. You need to work on your grammar, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Its best to think of these as separate categories and focus on each specific category as these require different methods and techniques.

Start by learning the basics through grammar. These books will help get you started

• Shin Nihongo no Kiso I & II
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2011…

• An Introduction to Modern Japanese by Osamu Mizutani & Nobuko Mizutani
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2011…

• Japanese Demystified by Eriko Sato a self-teaching guide
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2011…

I also recommend trying to learn a certain amount of vocab or kanji each day as this helps you build up your vocab and kanji ability. I tried to learn 5 kanji per day or about 20 a week and did the same with vocab.

Watching Japanese anime or any Japanese TV program is a good idea for improving your listening skills and also your vocabulary. Keep a notebook and jot down any new words you hear. Then look them up and find out the meaning.

How to Learn Japanese
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…

Im looking for a t shirt with disney princesses fighting on it, from japan/tokyo?

Question:

Answer:

How times have changed. In my day princesses just wanted to find a handsome prince to marry and live happily ever after. Guess I'm just an old fogey stuck in my old ways, Damn.

Where is the Hello Kitty power plant in Toyko?

Question:

Do they really use real cats for some of there products?

Answer:

They have several factories all over Asia, not just in Tokyo. And no I don't think they use real cats in their toys lol.

Is it easy live in japan or bring someone to the uk?

Question:

well more to the question im getting married to a japanese boy :)
(i meet him through him studying in the uk) but he finishes studying and going back to japan after we have our wedding sorted, we wont to live together but we don't no which one is harder to get in to , i live in the uk and he lives in japan both of us don't really mind where we live (as long as we live together XD ) but i know for both countries its very difficult. but will that change because where married?

Answer:

Maze May, Hello, I live in the UK and am married to a Japanese national.

I can't begin to tell you the difficulties and frustrations you and your future husband are about to encounter with the UK home office and border agencies. Expect a long hard slog. It's not going to be easy.
Forget the media hype of how easy it is for foreigners to settle in the UK.once married. You are about to find out that it takes years, and years. and just when you think it's safe to travel on holiday, you will find that on your return to the UK, the inadequate border agency will try to find discrepancies in your documentation in spite of all your pleadings that everything is in order.
You may think I'm going over the top here, but believe me I could go on and on with details of this or details of that but there isn't the space here. It truly is a nightmare.

It took five years just for my wife to get her permanent residence.

Please go to the Home office web page, study the British immigration laws, make certain you read and understand every scrap of information and be honest in your answer to any questions as this might just be the excuse they need to deny your husband entrance for the purpose of marriage.

I have no idea if the above applies to Japan.

I'm sorry I seam so down beat.

Good luck.

Addition; Not sure if the rules have changed but I had to inform the Home office of our engagement. ( Intention to marry ) You wouldn't think that much of a problem would you, Think again.

@area52; Go back to sleep.

What are good japanese songs?

Question:

Answer:

First love- utada hikaru
kimi ga inai mirai-do as infinity
god knows that
ai no melody

Is it normal if http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/ shipping takes longer then the time it says for what you order?

Question:

i want know because my mom ordered 2 cds from there for my birthday and one of them said for the shipping time that it usually ships with 1-2 days n its been more then 2 days already..

Answer:

If you ordered it just 2 days ago, better to know that Japan is in Bon holiday. Many businesses are in holiday now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Festiva…

So this is special time.

Piercings in Japan, are they OK?

Question:

I'm going to Japan as an exchange student from next year through YFU (2012~2013!)
I'm thinking about getting snake bite piercings the end of the month, do you think it would be okay to be in Japan with facial piercings?

Answer:

There are dark people in Japan as is, that won't bring much staring. Piercings in your face will. Especially if you're a student. It's not even allowed in most schools.

People aren't going to treat you radically different because your skin color. They will however treat you a lot different if you have those piercings. That's when you get the whispers behind your back and nobody wants to approach or talk to you.

Plus as the other person said, when representing a country you want to not only act on your best behaivhor but look it as well.

Just wait until you come back.

Fastest Way to Learn Japanese?

Question:

Hello everyone, I'm planning on moving to Japan to attend College, but I would like to be able to reach at least JPL2 by the time I go there (2013), so which learning method would be the best? I've been using an Application called Human Japanese for almost two weeks, and so far I've memorised the entire Hiragana Syllabary, and started forming some basic sentences (e.g. "Konichi ha[wa], watashi ha[wa] America-jin deshita," "Anata ha[wa] sensei desu ka?," etc.), but I want to know which method would allow to become as fluent as possible within the next two years. Is it a realistic goal to expect to reach JPL2 by the time of graduation? Thank you for your time.

Answer:

Josh:

The best method for learning Japanese must be based on interacting with the language as often as you can everyday. I encourage you not to rely on educational software like Human Japanese or Rosetta Stone, but on real, native, RAW Japanese media. Everyday watch YouTube or Nico Nico Douga videos in Japanese. Watch also news in Japanese, TV shows and anime (WITHOUT English subs). Listen to music and podcasts in Japanese. Visit Japanese websites from time to time and skim their content. Read (skim at first) Japanese manga and even books/novels if you can get your hands on some. In short: For everything you do, see how you can inject Japanese into it.

"...become as fluent as possible within the next two years. Is it a realistic goal...?"

Contrary to what most people will tell you, if you are willing to be persistent, put in the time each day, and just give your life to the Japanese language for the next two years, you will not only become fluent... you will become native-like. If you want more in depth information on how to achieve this I recommend you check out this resource:

http://www.squidoo.com/learn-japanese-la…

As for the JLPT2 thing... tell me something: Would it be necessary to waste money on some standardized test if you fill all your papers and applications in full Japanese and conduct your College interviews in full Japanese? JLPT scores don't really reflect if you are proficient or not... they only reflect if you are proficient in taking the test itself.

Finally, I recommend you watch the "Extra Credits" series on The Escapist magazine. They'll give you some very nifty tips and insight about the videogame industry: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/v…

I hope these resources are of help. Wish you success Josh! :D

Any Model Agency in japan that allows foreigners?

Question:

Answer:

There are many modeling agencies for foreigners.

This is one.
http://www.f-w.co.jp/e/index.html

But most of them accept only those who already have a visa for Japan and live in Japan.

Is Fukushima safe now?

Question:

Answer:

That's questionable. There's still a 20km no go zone around the area of the nuke plant. I was just told there's a problem with food being contaminated outside of this area. Some foods have been found to have 9 times the radiation they should.
In some areas kids aren't allowed to play outside at school, and windows are kept shut.
There's also the problem with the Japanese government withholding what's really going on. They've done this since day one. Even videos of the tsunami have been censored.
I'd stay out of that area myself.

What would be two good scenarios for interpersonal conflict member traveling to Japan are likely to encounter.?

Question:

•Two scenarios illustrating sources of interpersonal conflict members of the traveling team are likely to encounter and at least three effective strategies for handling each conflict.

Please give me ideas NOT answers (:

Answer:

For example;

group A: having basic knowledge of Japanese (language)
group B: having no knowledge of Japanese
--> 1. A is likely to have initiative/leadership during their stay in Japan, which B members might find unhappy. 2. A will discover a lot more about Japan while B will have limitation and might get frustrated. 3. On their way back, their impression of Japan would be totally different.
(they're supposed to travel together.)

Now it's your turn....

What was the japanese Ninja police series where they rode motorbikes?

Question:

and wore really bad string vests ?

late 60s or 70s probably

Answer:

I've never heard of "Ninja police".
I know "忍者部隊" Ninja butai, but they were military men, not police.
http://image.search.yahoo.co.jp/search?e…

Or "Wild7".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_7

But Suzuki supported most TV series. Honda was also used, but not so many.

Can someone give a full summary on koizora? why is it sad?

Question:

everyone says it's very sad, i've read the plot but..well let's just say it looks like any other romance drama
i'm not going to watch it i'm just curious so feel free to spoilt it for me

Answer:

In Koizora, the protagonist, Mika, loses her phone in the library. She goes back to look for it and someone had put it on an obvious spot for her to find. This person took her number and started making frequent calls to her. She gets to know the person through the phone but it is still unclear to who it is. I believe her friend (?) had a crush on a guy named 'Nozomu'. One of Nozomu's friends, Hiro later reveils himself as the unknown caller, and it goes on as a normal love story, until Mika finds out she's pregnant. The couple decide to keep the baby and tries to get families approval.Nozomu and Hiro are really popular so after Mika starts hanging out with Hiro, she frequently gets bullied by his ex girlfriend who once pushed (kicked? I dont remember) Mika leading to a miscarriege. After that, she spent a party(?) at Hiro's house and caught Hiro kissing another girl. She deccided to forget about him and move on, meeting a new man named Yuu who she trusts and falls in love once again. Every year on the day of her childs death, she goes and puts flowers at her most memoriable spot, accidentally meeting Hiro every year. One year she sees Nozomu instead of Hiro, and finds out that Hira has a disease and will die very soon. She goes and stays with him at the hospital etc until he dies. The End(?) i missed out some details but thats the main stuff, also i only watched the movie NOT the drama because the movie seems better(jve started the drama but changed my mind.) ive also read the manga with a slightly different starting plot but yes thats what happens, btw it is very sad. I cried alot when the baby was miscarried and when Hiro died. Hope this helps!

Also, most people wont be able to fully understand whats sad unless they watch it. I recomend you watch the movie version.

I can change my name into japanese?

Question:

Answer:

What exactly do you mean?

You mean writing your name in Japanese katakana?