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Why Japan has so many ‘never travelers’

cnn.com

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Re: Why Japan has so many ‘never travelers’

#111

Post by bombcar »

LexGray wrote: post #98
bombcar wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have to get pretty far into Mexico; Tijuana and LA are more similar than different. (This may be because LA is something like 50% Hispanic)

I wandered just a bit south on a whim with no destination and as you go even a bit past the first major city the roads are empty, people just leave the highway whenever, the city streets are dirt with massive pits, and the small towns can resemble permanent homeless camps with fences cobbled together from box springs. The experience feels quite lawless (or at least significantly different enforcement) than a drive at…

I've been to places like that in the USA, and yes, Mexico is different, but it takes a decent distance to get that different.

But I'll grant that Mexico is another country, unlike Canada :D

Re: Why Japan has so many ‘never travelers’

#112

Post by trilbyglens »

traceroute66 wrote: post #96
gadilif wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know. Personal opinion follows, YMMV: I've been to Tokyo recently. The subway system is much less convenient than, let's say, NYC. There are multiple operators, you need to purchase tickets separately to each one, it's not obvious for a tourist to understand the reasoning, and you can't pay with credit card (in 2023...), You need to either purchase a special card from a desk, or pay cash. In 2023. I consider…

> you can't pay with credit card (in 2023...), You need to either purchase a special card from a desk, or pay cash. In 2023 Erm, mate "in 2023" you can ALSO put a SUICA card on your phone's electronic wallet. ;-p Frankly, give me Japan's rail system any day of the week. You can get across Tokyo, with multiple changes, and plan your arrival to the minute. Try that in NYC, London or any other city ! And as for the Shin…

I've lived in Prague for 15 years and never seen a late subway connection. Even village busses are 99% on time. NYC is a shitty yardstick.

Re: Why Japan has so many ‘never travelers’

#113

Post by thfuran »

bombcar wrote: post #30
Ekaros wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or they know that roaming is horribly expensive outside certain cases like inside EEA for EEA contracts. And hunting for working wifi might be complicated as well.

Exactly. You have to be pretty technologically inclined and have done extensive research to determine how to get a data sim in a foreign country, and not get screwed by roaming costs. Even I, an HN tech god, rely on McDonald’s Wi-Fi and the Here app, even when I do have data enabled, as it’s often painfully slow.

Can't you mostly just pick them up at the airport when you arrive? That may not be the absolute cheapest option, but SIMs are not usually hard to find.

Re: Why Japan has so many ‘never travelers’

#115

Post by flangola7 »

weberer wrote: post #99
red-iron-pine wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

15-20 days that usually included sick days, and with high levels of pressure NOT to take any of them. plus this is HN, so "every company I've ever worked for" is almost certainly a white collar STEM gig -- which ain't 90% of the country.

>that usually included sick days, and with high levels of pressure NOT to take any of them These are both also untrue based on my experience.

Your experience is an outlier then.

Re: Why Japan has so many ‘never travelers’

#116

Post by makeitdouble »

midasuni wrote: post #90
makeitdouble wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love Google Maps, and dealing with local transit is not its forte. Many countries also won't have Ubers, and/or you'll need a local credit card to use the taxi apps. Having a smartphone still helps a lot, I'd probably bet on actually reliable web resouces for standard help phrases

Most cities where intercontinental tourists go to have Uber. And while I use Apple Maps rather than google I’ve used it in dozens of cities in dozens of countries on 6 continents with limited problems. Or of course I’ve just hailed taxied and shown them the hotel business card or location I’m going to. China is probably the main tricky part, last time I went about 5 years ago I had issues paying with cash, although a…

Japan doesn't have Uber, neither does Thailand. Korea also kicked Uber in 2022.

Basically, the shenanigans they pulled to get a foothold in the local markets didn't work everywhere. You'll find local alternatives, but that means local account registration etc.

Re: Why Japan has so many ‘never travelers’

#118

Post by fuzzythinker »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #31

I had a job that had me traveling a lot . I got very used to international travel, alone. I thought I’d miss it, when I retired. That turns out not to be the case. The thought of getting onto a plane, turns my stomach. I like being other places, but the process of getting there , has become a nightmare. I’ve been traveling internationally, since I was a child. Things have changed.

Have you had much experience with trains? Would replacing flights with trains alleviate your dread (if somehow the world is connected with trains)?

Re: Why Japan has so many ‘never travelers’

#119

Post by jstarfish »

Ekaros wrote: post #67
jalapenos wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is correct, but it has settled status regarding an acceptable holiday destination. I.e. while Russia is far closer, very few Japanese have had friends visit there on holiday. Hawaii on the otherhand is in "routine" holiday status, with an established Japanese-catering industry there.

Also while Russia is close, I don't think there is anything particularly interesting there, that is the Eastern Siberia.

That's what they want you to think. KAL007 didn't down itself. They have/had military posts out there (and on Kamchatka).

Re: Why Japan has so many ‘never travelers’

#120

Post by EE84M3i »

discordance wrote: post #76
gadilif wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know. Personal opinion follows, YMMV: I've been to Tokyo recently. The subway system is much less convenient than, let's say, NYC. There are multiple operators, you need to purchase tickets separately to each one, it's not obvious for a tourist to understand the reasoning, and you can't pay with credit card (in 2023...), You need to either purchase a special card from a desk, or pay cash. In 2023. I consider…

You can use your suica/pasmo on your phone, and recharge using Apple or Google pay. Works really well.

This is only if your phone has Sony Felica hardware and a license to use it. New iPhones do worldwide but android devices, including Pixels IIRC generally only have this available phones sold in Japan.

Also, there are just in the last year or two increasing restrictions on using foreign cards for charging transit cards in Japan, presumably to prevent churning.

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