How long does Japan take to ship items to California?

Question:

BTW I just ordered a beyblade from Amazon & I chose Standard shipping can some help me?

Answer:

As far as I know, Amazon Japan only has one shipping option (FedEx, I think) and it takes about 3-5 days. Other shipping options other companies might use include EMS (also 3-5 days), SAL (7-14 days), and sea mail (several weeks-several months). All of these shipping times are estimates and there is no guarantee that your item will actually arrive within that time limit, especially if there are things like holidays to get in the way.

Should I teach in Japan or Korea? Public or Private school?

Question:

Hi. I am considering teaching English in Japan or Korea. I have already made very good comparisons and have already researched a lot of information for both Japan and Korea. I wanted to get some personal experiences if possible, either teaching in Japan and/or Korea.

I already know the requirements to work abroad in Korea and Japan, so no need for answers that tell me that I need a degree and such.

Also, which is better? Obtaining a job at a public school (which are run/funded by the government) and being an ALT (in Japan) or GET (in S. Korea), or working at private English schools in either country?

I really want to save up money that I earn over there. I am already considering the JET and EPIK programs, as well as many other private schools in both Korea and Japan. Of course, I am probably going to end up going both to Japan and S. Korea eventually, but which one should I go first, since I have just graduated from college. I graduated with Japanese as my major, so it makes sense to go to Japan, but S. Korea is also very attractive to me too.

Thanks.

Answer:

There are so many people trying to go to Japan to teach English so it might be hard to get an ATL job but I'd say, go for Japan - I've been to both Korea and Japan several times but cities are SO dirty and people are rude/rough in Korea.

Going to japan with me ?

Question:

If i were to go to japan who'd come

Answer:

My guess? Someone who likes silly questions. You really think you're going to find someone to go with you with a post like that? Even better, you would actually GO with someone who would answer such a post?

Good luck on that. My answer stands, someone who enjoys silliness.

China vs. Japan (living) ?

Question:

I love both of these cultures and i would love to learn both but i can only learn one.
So I'd like to know which is better to live.
(no offense intended)

Answer:

In terms of quality of life, Japan is x100 better. Only bad about Japan is the high prices of apartment and houses. But other than that, almost everything is reasonable and easy to reach.
In China, real estate is also a bit over priced and expensive especially in Shanghai. And poverty is really rampant.

What is your favorite Japanese goods?

Question:

What is your favorite Japanese goods? and do you have something you're looking for Japanese goods which you can't get in your country? How come you want it or looking for? Thank you(^-^)v

Answer:

I like Japanese foods rather than goods.

Help with 博多弁? What sounds OK for guys?

Question:

I live around 博多 and have heard a lot of different 博多弁 during my time here.

ーと?
ーっちゃけど
ーったい
ーしんちゃった
Changing ーない endings to ーん ... (ーくれんと?)
やけん
etc.

I know there are a lot of variations/etc. I want to know what 博多弁 guys use, though. Is any of it GIRLS ONLY?

What 博多弁 is most commonly used by GUYS?

Thank you.

Answer:

The expressions you gave are all used by both guys and girls.
But there are gender differences in spoken Hakata-ben.
The differnces are becoming little with the course of time though.

How do you say this expressions in japanese?

Question:

I'm going to put my translation too

Thinking about erasing this profile for a new one in any time soon... but in order to not loose my relationship with my friends I'll send the link of the new one.

そのうち新たのプロファイルの代わりに
このプロファイルを削除するかを思ってるよ…
しかし友達との関係を失わないように必ず新たの
リンクを送っとく。

Answer:

新しいプロフィールの代わりに、
このプロフィールを、そのうちに削除しようかなと思ってます。
でも、友達との関係を失わない様に、
必ず新しいプロフィールへのリンクを送っとく。

プロファイル and プロフィール are same, but プロフィール is more commonly used.

I don't have a lot of money, but I would love to see Mt Fuji, What can you recomend me?

Question:

Should I go to one of the lakes? to the 5th station? what do you suggest?

Answer:

I just climbed Fuji exactly a month ago and loved it!
If you just wanna see it go to Kawaguchiko, if you want to climb, go from the 5th station.

Love Hotel With an Airplane Theme?

Question:

I'm going on a trip to Japan soon, and I was wondering if anyone knew of a Love hotel with a Airplane themed room, or anything like that? My boyfriend loves airplanes and I thought it would be a goofy surprise to spend one night there. Anyone know? :D

Answer:

Looking for a strange love hotel? that can be arranged.

lonelee planet has a good list but I couldn't find your specific request. I searched in Japanese, but I actually got better responses in English so who knows. Foreigners are usually the people staying in them because they are not having affairs and thus are more likely to like wacky themes, where as the Japanese language page boasts things like "instant ramen available upon request and dry cleaning out lipstick stains) Check out this link

http://www.loneleeplanet.com/2010/03/top…

Has anyone ever vacationed to Japan?

Question:

I want to plan a trip to Japan in the next year or so. I want to go somewhere that I can really learn about the culture, first hand and have the best experiences. So any of you who know Japan, or have been somewhere, please inform me!! I also would prefer somewhere that has more English speaking natives. I would like to be able to communicate so i can really learn from them. Any help would be much appreciated!! thanks!

Answer:

>I also would prefer somewhere that has more English speaking natives.

There is no place where English speaking natives gather.

Usually, those people are busy for working and do not have time to talk to a tourist. You better to order a tour guide if you want to talk to an English speaking native.

What are some fall trends for japanese girls clothing?

Question:

Like for teens or young adult

Answer:

http://www.selecsonic.com/nbb/special/11…

Which is Better Suica & N'EX or JR EAST Pass?

Question:

Is it better to buy a Suica & N'EX pass or to just buy the JR East Rail pass for traveling around Tokyo?

What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?

Answer:

JR East Pass is good if you take a long distance train several times, if you stay within Tokyo, Suica is much better.

Question About Japanese Cell Phones/Sim Cards?

Question:

Okay, so I just bought a Japanese cell phone (I'm going to be going to Japan soon) and there wasn't a sims card. How much would it cost to get one in Japan? Prepaid or whatever...? My phone is a Vodafone 803T. Thanks!

Answer:

Your phone is a 3G phone, and still works in Japan but only with Softbank's SIM.
Vodafone Japan was sold to Softbank several years ago, as others mentioned.

Since 2006, you can not "buy" a Japanese SIM if you don't have a permanent address in Japan.
I don't know how long you're going to stay in Japan. But, if you have a visa to stay in Japan for more than 90 days, you need to get the Japanese alien registration card, then show your passport AND the alien registration card AND a Softbank/Vodaphone phone to "get" the prepaid SIM from Softbank for free. In addition, the charge card costs 3000 Yen or 5000 Yen per a card.

If your stay in Japan is short-term, the local law prevents you from "buying" a SIM card.

You can "rent" the SIM card at international airports.
http://www.softbank-rental.jp/en/phones/…


>Where can I get this?

You neeed to register your address with the municipal office where you live. Ask your host family where to go.

I don't know how long it will take for you to get the actual alien registration card, or if the proof of alien registration is sufficient enough for Softbank to give you a SIM.

And, you must be legally adult by Japanese law to get a SIM under your name. I think the legal age under this context is 20 years old.
When you have everything needed, go to a Softbank shop.

If you're younger, you need the proof of consent by your guardian. I am not sure if your host family can be a legal guardian under this context.

If you can not meet the conditions, you may want to ask your host family to "get" the SIM under his/her name, and let you use it.

Once you get the SIM, you can buy a top-up card of 3000 yen or 5000 yen at any softbank shop or convinience store without showing any documents. All you need to buy it is money.

BTW, I do have a couple of Softbank prepaid cell phones and, my family and I have been using them when we visit Japan several times a year. But, I am a Japanese citizen who permanently live in USA. So, I don't know some of the things specific to non-Japanese citizens on this matter. For example, how to actually get a Japanese alien registration card.

What the name of the obsticle that ony 3 people out of 2,000 ppl passed in japan?

Question:

Answer:

The Ninja Warrior Course from Ninja Warrior which is also known as "Sasuke"

Kazuhiko Akiyama, Makoto Nagano and, Yugi Urisihara are the only ones who have completed the course.

the course resides at Midoriyama, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, and is filmed on TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting Station)

Can you tell me some places away from the city noise and surrounded by Nature in Japan?

Question:

1) Not too much population!
2) Surronded by nature!
3) Far away or just from any city!

Don't mind the location!

Answer:

Japan has abundant nature. Just go far away from a city and you will see much nature.

Is anyone from Japan?

Question:

If you are,then tell me how it is like over there. With details!

Answer:

We have a new Prime Minister Noda just today.

Do you think that immigration to Japan will become easier due to the declining birth rate?

Question:

In the early 1900's France's population was declining, so they made immigration easier. Now France has the highest natural growth rate in Europe.

Do you think Japan should learn from this?

Answer:

I don't understand the fixation with a declining birth rate. So, less people are born and the populations decreases. And?...

That would be great. Look at how congested Japan is. I've always thought it would be a nicer place if there wasn't such a huge population. And of course, natural shrinkage is the best way to go.

Immigration to Japan is a fairly easy thing as long as you're educated. In fact the government spends billions every year on recruiting "Assistant Language Teachers" from around the world, hoping these people will love Japan and either stay or go back home with a love of Japan.

Being an English-speaking university grad and not being able to find initial employment in Japan is sort of impossible. You'd have to not really have the will to find a job for that to happen. Once you're in Japan, you can look for other work as your Japanese gets better.

I´m going to stay at hostels in Japan, what do you recommend me to pack?

Question:

Answer:

I stayed in one hostel in Tokyo and it turned out to actually be a hotel that had contracted with Youth Hostels. So, like Homer said, just pack what you would normally need. Though a towel is never a bad idea just in case.

Japanese food for extremely picky eater?

Question:

I live in the uk and today at a wagamama resteraunt I tried chicken ramen....the chicken was nice but the soup it involved was slightly unpleasant tasting XD. I also saw yakitori on the menu, should I try this next time? Anyway are there any other foods for an extremely picky eater?

Answer:

Go to the store and buy things to cook yourself. that way you can pick out things that look good.
but keep in mind that some japanese foods are acquired tastes that you might learn to like.

How do you say this in Japanese in informal male?

Question:

"wow, that's very cool. Does Eiffel tower look like Tokyo tower?

Answer:

hee, sore kakko-ii-yone. efferu-tou-tte, Tokyo-tawaa to niteru no?
(when you're talking about Eiffel Tower)

hee, sore maji sugee (kakko-ii). tokyo-tawaa-tte efferu-tou mitai-na wake? <-- more informal
(whan you're talking about Tokyo Tower)
-

What's the general personality of average Japanese girls?

Question:

hello, I am just curious about the personality of young Japanese girls.... I know their appearance very clearly because I have seen them on the streets pretty often. I guess most of the young japanese girls are eager to care about how they look to others. so I am just wondering whether one's appearance is the only factor they consider to be important when they estimate the person. and are they afraid of making friends who are not Japanese? I haven't seen any Japanese girls who's hanging out with foreigners. including answers to these questions, I hope you guys would let me know some general but specific characteristics of Japanese girls. : ) THANKS!

Answer:

All the ones I see just seem to giggle and look stupid all the time

General advice when traveling to Japan?

Question:

Tips?
Do's and Don'ts?
What laws to look out for?
How to dress??

Answer:

Do pay attention and take your shoes off when expected. Watch for others' shoes in a shoe case as a sign that you should take off yours.

Do wait for others to get off a train before you try to get on.

Don't mess with the door of a taxi. The driver will open and shut it for you.

Don't talk loudly in public places, most especially on trains.

Laws? Don't have any drugs. Big problem with that. Other than that, common sense. Pretty much anything that is illegal in your own country will be illegal here.

Dress how you want. You could dress up as Mr. Spock and not look out of place in some areas of Japan.

EDIT: Just noticed where you posted this same question just a bit earlier. Always thought that was a silly thing to do. Use the YA database and see what others said. Got me once. I'll try to avoid you next time.

Japanese DS games for kids (e.g. Pokemon) - Kana, Kanji, or a mix?

Question:

Hi!

I have been studying Japanese for a little while and would like to buy some video games (particularly PC or Nintendo DS) in Japanese so I can practice and have fun at the same time. Does anyone know if games for kids such as Pokemon are written mostly in Kanji or Kana or a mix? What grade level (Japanese grade level, that is) are those types of games?

Also, if they are written with a lot of Kanji, about how big do you think your vocabulary would need to be (300 characters? 600 characters?)

Thank you!

Answer:

Firstly Japanese language is written either in Kanji Kana mix or in Kana only, but it can not be written in Kanji only.
So the possible options are Kanji Kana mix or Kana only.

Pokemon series is mainly dedicated for children, so when you first play in DS you have an option; option 1 Kanji Kana mix mode, option 2 Kana only mode. Apparently the option 2 is for the children. And you can change the option while you play, of course.
Also when you opt Kana only mode, the message is written in relatively easier Japanese so that the children can understand easily.
This option was first applied in Black and White versions, the latest of the series. The earlier versions such as Diamond / Pearl / Platinum etc have the Kana mode option only.

My kid in the 3rd grade opted Kanji Kana mix mode and he does not have serious difficulty in understanding what the messages say. So I guess 400 Kanjis should be enough.

About these Tokyo Neighborhoods?

Question:

Koenji, Kichijoji or Shimokitazawa?

I understand that these three are popular among the young for its many cafes, boutiques and restaurants, but which area would be the best to live in? Also, how far are they from each other if I start from, let's say, Koenji? I'd really appreciate detailed descriptions on each, and even suggestions on other residential districts in Tokyo that give the same quaint, creative feel.

Answer:

Welcome to Chuosen :)　I live in neighbor of Kichijoji, Nishiogi.

It is really difficult to decide one from those three towns.
I guess, these towns are a little noisy, crowded and not so beautiful.
A lot of young people who want to be musician or actor are living and coming there. It make more attractive those towns.
To live, I recommend you Koenji. Kichijoji is too big, Shimokita is too crowded.
Anyway, visiting those towns and deciding by yourself is the best way, I think.

Cafes are increasing lately.
In Koenji, HATTIFNATT is the most famous cafe, and I recommend you "茶房 高円寺書林"(sabou koenjishorin).
http://www.cafe-master.com/cafes/koenji/…
http://www.cafe-master.com/cafes/koenji/…

There are a lot cafes around there. This is a list of cafes.
Koenji.
http://www.cafe-master.com/cafes/categor…
Kichijoji
http://www.cafe-master.com/cafes/station…
Shimokitazawa
http://www.cafe-master.com/cafes/station…

EDIT:
wuzaracer, are you sure?
From Shinjuku to Shimokita, there are 6 stations and it takes about 10 mins.
(Shinjuku, Minami-Shinjuku, Sangubashi, Yoyogi-Hachiman, Yoyogo-Uehara, Higashikitazawa, Shimokitazawa) And Odakyu runs local lines not so many.

From Shinjuku to Koenji, there are 4 stations and it takes about 8 mins.
(Shinjuku, Okubo, Higashi-Nakano, Nakano, Koenji)
We usually use Sobu-line. It comes about every 3 to 5 min and is less crowded than Chuo-line.

About the advantage of Shimokita, I can say it is near from Shibuya.
And Honda(本多) (not car maker) has a lot of good theaters around there.

Making Japanese friends/ Learning Japanese?

Question:

Does anyone know of site where we can chat with people living in Japan. Me and my husband love Japan but would love to have people to hang out with when we go again. Not really looking for those hosting sites where you live with someone as we make our own accommodations, just somewhere we can make a few friends. Also, our Japanese is....well bad. Has anyone tried Rosetta Stone for Japanese? Is it really as easy as they make it sound? Me and my husband know enough Japanese to get ourselves around and not need assistance but truth be told, we can't really have a casual conversation with anyone in Japanese. So this is really a two part questions. Sorry for the extra work! Domo arigatou gozaimasu!

Answer:

I'll be your partner if you like me to be yours.
My first language was english and I switch to japanese when I was 10.
I can speak both languages well but to be honest its easier for me to speak Japanese now, since I've been living here for about 20 yrs.
So I'm thinking I might be able to help with your Japanese...
If your intrested please respone

I am considering a homestay in Japan. What is the most reliable website/service to find one?

Question:

In November I'm hoping to take my trip to Japan (although I have yet to decide on the area). I'm wanting to do this through a homestay program, and was wondering what website or service is the best to go about this. Any suggestions/websites/tips/help?

Answer:

All the ones I have heard about are sponsored by schools. Not saying that other sources don't exist, just that those are the ones I've heard about. Have you tried talking to your school counselor about any programs? If you aren't in school, I don't know of, and haven't heard of, adult programs.

EDIT: Not saying that such doesn't exist, just that I have never heard of them. I've seen homestay websites with listings for the U.S. and they always involve money. I would be surprised if there were Japanese people willing to open up their homes to a stranger simply for some extra cash. We took in a homestay student but the girl came from a school in Australia that is the sister-school for my daughter's high school. Thus the exchange program. I think the cheapest way for you to go is either stay in a hostel or a gaijin house where you have your own private bedroom but share a common living area with other guests. If you are interested in the latter, Google "Sakura House in Tokyo" for a start.

Where else can I go in Japan?

Question:

I'm planning to go to Japan this year. But I don't know where to go. I've been to Shinjuku, Ginza, Harajuku, Yokohama, Nikko, Shibuya, Akihabara, Odaiba, Mount Fuji, Hakone, and Shinasaibashi. Can you please recommend to me a blogger that talks about Japan as a whole? like fashion, pop culture, sight seeing, and food destinations. A blog andlinks will really help:) Thanks!

Answer:

Leave the Tokyo area and go to Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. Or go somewhere like Hokkaido, Aomori, or Hiroshima. It might help you to figure out what time of year you will be going and then see what is going on in different areas to help you decide where to go.