Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Recommendations for Japan Travel

kalzumeus.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

171–180 of 308 posts

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#171

Post by spike021 »

throwawaaarrgh wrote: post #118
impendia wrote: post #58

Having lived in Japan for two years, what I'd add to this is to spend a lot of time walking, if physically able. For example, in my opinion the best way to explore Tokyo is to simply leave your hotel in the morning, wander around all day, and stop anywhere and everywhere that looks interesting. The excellent mass transit system means that it won't be a problem to get back. In more rural parts of Japan, there are sign…

Tokyo is absurdly gigantic, I would not suggest randomly walking it. Also the subway system can be challenging, and the staff don't speak English, so if you get stuck they likely won't be able to help. Another random thing about the train system: there are women-only cars. I didn't realize this until I had already boarded and (as a man) I was absolutely mortified.

When was the last time you were there? I went in 2019 and 2020 and it was really easy to get around. All stations have signage in English almost everywhere. Google maps says which exit / entrance to come in or leave from, even which car of the train you're on is closest to the path you need to get off.

As for walking, you don't need to walk _everywhere_ but it really is cool to spend a few hours like OP said and just walk around your hotels neighborhood or other places.

I usually stay in Higashi Shinjuku when I visit, and if I hadn't done that I wouldn't have known about this really quiet residential area that leads to a nice quiet park. Or the little Korea town neighborhood that's about a twenty minute walk away.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#172

Post by ianpenney »

diceduckmonk wrote: post #126

I've traveled all 47 prefectures of Japan, and done all sorts of "edgy" stuff that AtlasObscura has yet to cover, such as trails where only several dozen people have crossed that season. I've also revisited tourist hotspots like Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto several dozen times. I'd recommend people follow the beaten path. Is the most touristy spots in Japan and Kyoto "overrated" (given how popular it is)? Yes. But if you t…

Yo you ever been to Nakiryu for ramen though? It’s fire. The instant stuff they have at 7 is also incredible. (Michelin rated instant noodles. Seriously.)

Also I can’t remember the name of the place (Aka something) in Shinjuku but they do a spicy AF Nabe and a chicken wing that is literally the hottest thing I’ve ever eaten. I took a tiny bite and felt like I was going to die. They give you disposable gloves to handle it. My partner was in agony the next day.

Eh. It’s a whole country. There’s something for everyone. I’ll take Ootoya or Matsuya or Pepper Lunch any day. Will never eat at Coco Curry again though. Got food poisoning there once.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#173

Post by diceduckmonk »

ianpenney wrote: post #172
diceduckmonk wrote: post #126

I've traveled all 47 prefectures of Japan, and done all sorts of "edgy" stuff that AtlasObscura has yet to cover, such as trails where only several dozen people have crossed that season. I've also revisited tourist hotspots like Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto several dozen times. I'd recommend people follow the beaten path. Is the most touristy spots in Japan and Kyoto "overrated" (given how popular it is)? Yes. But if you t…

Yo you ever been to Nakiryu for ramen though? It’s fire. The instant stuff they have at 7 is also incredible. (Michelin rated instant noodles. Seriously.) Also I can’t remember the name of the place (Aka something) in Shinjuku but they do a spicy AF Nabe and a chicken wing that is literally the hottest thing I’ve ever eaten. I took a tiny bite and felt like I was going to die. They give you disposable gloves to handl…

Yup, I swept 3 ( only 2 are current) Michelin star ramen shops in a week. I was not able to visit Tsuta because founder passed away recently and the shop is closed indefinitely.

Nakiryu is good, especially for the price, but I wouldn’t wait more than an hour for ramen. Fortunately I went when the border was closed. Nakiryu is novel because it is spicy, and it’s unique/rare for Japan, but the rest of Asia has spicy Chinese noodles (ironic cause Ramen is spelled in Katakana and literally means noodle in Chinese).

Not sure which nabe / chicken you had in Shinjuku. Sounds good, I’m interested. Are you sure it wasn’t a izakaya? There’s way too many to know. If you want chicken wings, don’t forget to try the wings in Nagoya. Furaibo is one spot. Again, surprisingly flavorful and unique for Japan, but similar stuff exist throughout Asia.

> Will never eat at Coco Curry again though. Got food poisoning there once.

It happens. You probably paid for that extra spice.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#174

Post by mynameisvlad »

throwawaaarrgh wrote: post #118
impendia wrote: post #58

Having lived in Japan for two years, what I'd add to this is to spend a lot of time walking, if physically able. For example, in my opinion the best way to explore Tokyo is to simply leave your hotel in the morning, wander around all day, and stop anywhere and everywhere that looks interesting. The excellent mass transit system means that it won't be a problem to get back. In more rural parts of Japan, there are sign…

Tokyo is absurdly gigantic, I would not suggest randomly walking it. Also the subway system can be challenging, and the staff don't speak English, so if you get stuck they likely won't be able to help. Another random thing about the train system: there are women-only cars. I didn't realize this until I had already boarded and (as a man) I was absolutely mortified.

Highly disagree.

A few years ago, I was lost in Ikebukuro trying to find the Metro station. I had already walked over half an hour but only found the JR stations. I asked one of the security guards “Tokyo metro eki…. Doko??” And even with my absurdly broken Japanese, I not only got directions in Japanese back to me, but the guard walked with me until the station was in sight to make sure I understood and could get to it.

You 100% don’t need English to get around, and, yeah, it’s going to be awkward to talk to someone in a language you don’t speak, but Japanese people will go extremely out of their way to help you if you make even the smallest gesture of trying. The little exchange above is only one of several I had throughout the country, and every time I made a small bit of effort, I got the world moved for me.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#175

Post by toastercat »

diceduckmonk wrote: post #161
toastercat wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I visited the Great Buddha in Kamakura a couple of years ago, there were dozens of foreign tourists laying down, sitting, or posing on or next to the statue in a way that our native Japanese friend remarked how disrespectful they were being. I don't think it would've been as bad before smartphones and influencer/YouTube culture, but I can't really say.

> YouTube culture As in YouTuber Logan Paul making a video of Aokigahara "suicide forest", among various other shenanigans in Japan for views? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Paul#2017%E2%80%932018:_...

Yes, unfortunately, there are loads of people who look to someone like Logan Paul as someone to emulate and attempt to film their own wacky antics for online popularity contests, at the expense of ordinary folk.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#176

Post by diceduckmonk »

toastercat wrote: post #175
diceduckmonk wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> YouTube culture As in YouTuber Logan Paul making a video of Aokigahara "suicide forest", among various other shenanigans in Japan for views? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Paul#2017%E2%80%932018:_...

Yes, unfortunately, there are loads of people who look to someone like Logan Paul as someone to emulate and attempt to film their own wacky antics for online popularity contests, at the expense of ordinary folk.

> online popularity contests

It’s more than that. People think there is a financial payoff if they win the influencer game.

And when they do make income, their taxable income is likely not going to these countries which they are profiting off of. I guess it’s a sort of negative externality.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#177

Post by mynameisvlad »

diceduckmonk wrote: post #131
paulette449 wrote: post #96

This "avoid the beaten path for tourists" but also "pick Kyoto". Hmmm. If you really do want to go (slightly) off the beaten path, try Yokohama (a short hop from Tokyo), Kobe (rebuilt and revitalized since the ruinous earthquake, Fukuoka, Nagano (Winter Olympic city) or Sapporo. Or even take a domestic flight down to Okinawa and visit Naha. To go off the beaten track in Tokyo, stay in Ikebukuro an unfashionable but I…

> This "avoid the beaten path for tourists" but also "pick Kyoto". Hmmm People conflate Kyoto with the Gion + Kinkaku-ji + Arashiyama + Fushimi Inari. Kyoto city is much wider than that, and every street, especially in the Gion, is dense with history. There's dozens of bridges crossing the Kamogawa river, but most tourists are likely crossing over the one at Gion-shijo. Most tourists don't even stray 1km away from th…

^this

But, honestly, even the tourist hotspots are nice to visit. Kyoto has so many amazing things to see, both popular and off the beaten path, that it’s absurd not to recommend if you want to learn more about Japanese culture.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#178

Post by mynameisvlad »

tannedNerd wrote: post #150
ianpenney wrote: post #146

I’ve been 18 times and I had a good chuckle at this story and the comments. All largely inaccurate. Especially the bits about APA and Kyoto. Y’all reek of FOMO and exoticism. Chill. Just go with it. You’ll be fine. Live your normal life, just in a different place. You can gaijin smash through anything if you’re a jerk. If you’re not, I’m sure you’ll find a way to be less shitty as a tourist and someone will appreciat…

Cool so we shouldn’t try to go to Japan if we don’t speak the language is what I got from this. Aka gate keeping. You are worse than the people you are trying to admonish in the beginning of your comment.

Where, exactly did you get that? By the fact that there’s a single secret item only in the Japanese menu? Oh no how exclusive!

Just don’t be an rude boisterous tourist and you’ll be fine. That’s the actual message in the parent comment.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#179

Post by sammy2255 »

distantaidenn wrote: post #132

As another long term resident of Tokyo (10 years and counting), I honestly can't understand why Patrick would recommend anyone give their business to APA Group. As others in this thread have mentioned, this hotelier group is abhorrent. They are led by an anti-Semitic, anti-Korean, anti-Chinese history revisionist. The hotel leaves its disgusting diatribe in their company issued magazines conveniently laid out in ever…

So the only reason against them is because of their ideologies? If the hotels are nice, and cheap, I couldnt care less what their ideologies are.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#180

Post by latchkey »

paulette449 wrote: post #96

This "avoid the beaten path for tourists" but also "pick Kyoto". Hmmm. If you really do want to go (slightly) off the beaten path, try Yokohama (a short hop from Tokyo), Kobe (rebuilt and revitalized since the ruinous earthquake, Fukuoka, Nagano (Winter Olympic city) or Sapporo. Or even take a domestic flight down to Okinawa and visit Naha. To go off the beaten track in Tokyo, stay in Ikebukuro an unfashionable but I…

I spent 4 years living in Vietnam, so I just had to look up Raindrop. Stainless steel tables and Hoi An lights. Definitely, legit vn. ;-)
Post reply on HN