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Recommendations for Japan Travel

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Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#211

Post by amrocha »

wyclif wrote: post #108
barry-cotter wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I realise this is more to reinforce your self concept of contempt towards flyover country than out of any familiarity with either place but did you do five minutes research? I’d happily spend a week in Denver. Looks pretty nice. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g33388-Activities-De...

Thing is, I've spent a lot of time in Colorado and there's a lot of beautiful places in the front range of the Rockies that are a short drive from Denver. So yeah, maybe not Denver the city but you're not far from Estes Park or Golden.

Oh for sure, but I don't think most people travel for nature (with a couple exceptions like the grand canyon, Mt Fuji, etc). There's amazing natural beauty all throughout north America.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#213

Post by amrocha »

mantas wrote: post #75
amrocha wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hard disagree. Most US cities outside the coasts are awful places to visit. What's someone gonna do in Phoenix or Denver?

Experience what the US actually is? Traveling should be about experience the local reality, not cherry picking.

The coast is what the US actually is. There's more people on the coasts than not. I truly don't understand where the idea that the coasts aren't the "real" US comes from. They're more real than some city nobody moves to in a state barely anyone lives in.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#214

Post by Klonoar »

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…

I lived there for over six years and moved away because I got tired of the country - which is to say, I really get tired of reading Japan fetishism/worship/exoticism takes. The pedestal people place it on is absolutely not needed.

That said, Patrick’s takes are pretty much as bad as people in this thread are pointing out.

(Side note: take a shot for every random article about Japan that gets to the front page and you’ll start to see the tech industry’s penchant for it in a different light - this doesn’t happen with other countries)

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#215

Post by barking_biscuit »

ghaff wrote: post #188
spike021 wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Pre-Google Maps, finding specific addresses could be a bit challenging--because of the addressing scheme that I've not totally grokked to this day--but even then I don't recall the subway system being a particular challenge relative to other big systems like New York or London.

>because of the addressing scheme that I've not totally grokked to this day

The buildings are numbered in the order they were built :P

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#216

Post by Klonoar »

ehnto wrote: post #45

This is somewhat adjacent for which I apologize, but being a Japan Fan of the travelling variety I have noticed a trend on HN toward Japan related articles. My understanding is HN has no user-specific algorithmic feed changes, so is this just a natural increase in interest toward Japan in general I'm seeing since the borders opened up? Most of the articles aren't even travel related, just about Japanese culture or pe…

I’ve actually had a running joke with a friend over this, the tech industry has a fetish for the place that they don’t like to acknowledge.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#217

Post by Klonoar »

jleyank wrote: post #84

To use the physics sense, we found vacationing in Japan high friction . Yeah, it was totally different than anywhere we have been on n America or Western Europe. At times, it felt like we were looking at everything on the other side of a closed window, amazing yet inaccessible. This was ‘05 or earlier, and the lack of Roman lettering outside Kyoto was hard. Outrunning English has not been a problem elsewhere, but los…

It has gotten so significantly easier post ‘05 that I would discount your entire post and encourage you to go again if you wanted to try it.

We’re talking almost 20 years here.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#218

Post by MarkSweep »

A couple of observations from my recent trip:

* currently everyone wears masks everywhere all the the time. There are stores here and there that sell masks in a variety of styles, so you can color-coordinate with you outfit if you want.

* submit your vaccination card before arrival. Otherwise you are going to be in a long line.

* all iPhones since the 8 have native Suica support. You can add it in the wallet up. It’s the fastest way to use the train and pay for stuff in general. It has fairly wide acceptance for lower value transactions: vending machines, convince stores, restaurants, taxis.

* for faster internet, you can get an eSIM before you go. This is much easier and cheaper than buying a SIM on arrival. Having faster network access is handy for checking train schedules and using QR code ordering systems that are in some restaurants. Try not to read hacker news all the time ;-)

* bringing large luggage on trains is a pain (stairs in stations, crowded trains, limited baggage area in reserved trains (besides Narita Express)). Carry on size is ok. If you need the large luggage for a long trip to Tokyo, it’s probably easiest to take a bus from the airport to Tokyo City Air Terminal (or the Yokohama version) and then a taxi or Uber Black to your hotel. Then use a duffel bag for trips further out like to the beach or a ryokan. An advanced option is using a mail currier between hotels and the airport, but I have not personally tried that way.

Re: Recommendations for Japan Travel

#219

Post by donatj »

2008, pre-smartphone we were staying at a hotel in Osaka. We asked the English speaking concierge where we could do our laundry.

Unexpectedly they sprung up and walked us 3 solid blocks to a near by laundromat. It was the most amazing service I have ever received.

We spent 2 weeks traveling around the country and this was our experience in a nutshell. Everyone was so kind and helpful.

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