Visiting Japan

[ZephyrLeanne]

Originally Posted by BOFH_of_OZ

I know a Japanese who's been in Canada. She said that most of Hokkaido is like Toronto-Ottawa region in that regard.

She probably hasn't been to the fringes.

That raises another question: which is cheaper, JR hotels with the discount or regular ryokan without it? I couldn't care less about Western style rooms/amenities, but price difference for three-four weeks' could be significant. And I don't think I can use gaijin houses, since I'll be moving around a lot (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and maybe a couple more cities)

Hm. Seasonal. In peak seasons, JR is more expensive. In lull seasons, Ryokans are pricey. I think. Hokkaido tends to deviate from Japanese norms, however.

[Nerroth]

Originally Posted by ShimatheKat

OK time to attack the questions.

Gimon kuchisu kuru?

For Hokkaido (within the more central areas, at least) summers are generally hot but not humid, and winters quite cold and snowy. So, yes, like Canada. But beware of the fringes - they're more like Yukon or Alaska. *A Japanese who's been to Canada is rare indeed. At the expense on my Japanese skills.*

Duly noted, thank you.

If you're worried about that, the major cities of Sapporo and Hakodate have no lack of them. Minimally, if you intend to use trains a lot, then get yourself a JR Pass/JR Hokkaido Pass which will entitle you to discounts at JR hotels, which are usually 4-5 stars. All have creature comforts (within the big cities), last I checked. Otherwise, just look about, most hotels in Sapporo have such stuff, no worries really.

Thanks for that, but I was also wondering about the kind of rented apartments and stuff one might want to use for a longer stay.

(I had heard that relatively few homes there would be as well-insulated and outfitted with the kind of central heating you see in a house or apartment block in Toronto. Coming from Ireland, one thing that makes it easier to handle the winters here is not feeling the cold in your own home!)

It's SAPPORO, right?

In Japanese, yes - but it's Satporo in Ainu (indeed, the former is derived from the latter).

The way Montreal is also Montréal, Dublin is also Baile Átha Cliath, and so on.

Even when I'm drunk, my beer can still tells me SAPPORO.

Well, a lot of stuff you get in Dublin only says Dublin, but the place is still also known as Baile Átha Cliath...

Well Ainu stuff... Sapporo Pirka Kotan is a good place to start. But I think it's the only insitute in Sapporo on Ainu, so get your bearings from there.

Okay.

Hm. Not that I know of.

Thanks for your help!

[Umobile]

Hello, I need help in japanese languages especially basic tourist question. I will be going Japan within 5 days. SO please, don't ignore this post IF you know something.

Yes, I did some search as well. I found mostly of the stuff but not all. From Learning Japanese thread, Visiting Japan thread and so on.

But I figure it is easier and convenient to create a topic for people who is going to japan which includes every important basic question. Other topic is all mess up. So please, only basic tourist question.

So far what I got (don't laugh, thanks):
Dore Kurai - How much?
Yasuku Ageru - To be less expensive.
Yasuku yuzuru - to sell(a thing) cheap.
docchi - where/which direction.
Anata wa iego wa wakarimaska? - do you know english?
(shop) wa nan-ji kara desu ka? - From what time does a (shop) open?
chikatetsu wa doko ni arimasu ka? - Where is the subway?
Where is (the place) - (place) wa doko desu ka?

I need to know...
How to get there?
Is it good?
Can you help me?
I'm Lost.
What food do you recommend?
I'll have (food)

N OTHER RELEVANT BASIC QUESTION THAT IS BEING USED IN THE DAILY LIFE.
sorry for caps.. just trying to make sure everyone read it well.
--------------------

Regarding the time, simple.. from 1-12 just add a "ji" behind.
Gogo : P.M
Gozen: A.M

[tessa]

How to get there? - Dou yatte sokoni ikuno desuka?
Is it good? - Sore wa Good desuka?
(*All Japanese can understand the word "Good". It's easier.)
Can you help me? - Tasukete kurema senka?
I'm Lost. - Michi ni mayoi mashita.
What food do you recommend? - Naniga osusume desu ka?
I'll have (food) - (food) ni shimasu.
Do you know English? - Anata wa eigo ga wakarimasuka? (*English = eigo)


I'm happy if these sentences help your trip.
Yukkuri shite itte ne. (Please relax.)

[BOFH_of_OZ]

"Is it good" - sore wa ii desu ka? (note the double "i" as in prolonged English "e")
But it depends on the context. Like, if you're asking whether food is good, it's "oishii desu ka"

There's no "knowing" English. in the post above, "Eigo ga wakarimasu ka" actually means "do you understand English". If you need a person to explain something to you, it could be better to ask "Eigo ga hanashimasu ka", which is asking whether (s)he speaks English.

Now, about what you "already got"...
How much - oikura desu ka?
which direction is ___ - ___ wa docchira desu ka?

Have fun in Nippon ^_^

[Jan-Poo]

I suppose it's a good idea to also learn some greetings and polite sentences.

For example if you are going to stop a random person, rather than making a direct question you should first say:

"Sumimasen" which in this context is the equivalent of the english "excuse me".

and of course after that:

"Arigatou" Thank you
"Arigatou gozaimasu" <- more polite (usually used for something that still must be done)
"Arigatou gozaimashita" <- more polite (for something that has already been done)

[Umobile]

Thanks guys, each and every thing you posted really help me.

Especially tessa. Btw, tessa.. by any chance do you play luna online? because I got an online friend which has exactly name as yours.

[-KarumA-]

might be handy to know since you had the questions for directions to know the following:

left
right
straight ahead
back

also if there is a case of this sentence being different from left and right
(2nd or any number) street on the left/right
left hand side, right hand side

and one more that would be handy just for politeness:
Could you help me with something, please?
Could you help me with directions, please?

before bombarding in with excuse me and insert question here, personally I would ask them if they can help me first =<
I don't know the translations myself, but I'm sure someone else knows the answers

edit:

Maybe a tip, I had bought a tourist guide book with simple sentences in a cheap bookstore, not an official bookstore but one more settled on selling "how to draw/paint/garden" kind of books, check your bookstore maybe they have one and they're not so expensive either

also maybe you'd want to know how you ask for the toilet as well =P

[Vexx]

Perhaps if you visited the "VISITING JAPAN" thread or the "JAPANESE CULTURE" thread???

I recommend the Lonely Planet phrasebook as it has "real' phrases you might need to use instead of just the silly tourist ones.

[tessa]

Originally Posted by Umobile

Especially tessa. Btw, tessa.. by any chance do you play luna online? because I got an online friend which has exactly name as yours.

Ah.. I'm sorry I don't play luna online. (S)he is not me.
We got some anime characters who have the same name "Sakura"

TIPS:
Narita airport is very very far from exact Tokyo district. It costs $300-$400 to take to Tokyo by TAXI. I recommend to get on the BUS (called Airport Limousine), that costs about $30 (3000 yen).
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/index.html

[ZephyrLeanne]

Originally Posted by tessa

Ah.. I'm sorry I don't play luna online. (S)he is not me.
We got some anime characters who have the same name "Sakura"

TIPS:
Narita airport is very very far from exact Tokyo district. It costs $300-$400 to take to Tokyo by TAXI. I recommend to get on the BUS (called Airport Limousine), that costs about $30 (3000 yen).
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/index.html

MMM NO. Why don't you get a Japan Rail Pass?
http://www.kintetsu.com/jrpass/

Adult 7-day pass costs USD 289.00, and covers all JR DAYTIME trains except the Nozomi, on a normal seat.

[KimmyChan]

I'd love to be able to afford to visit Japan one day as a holiday

Although it may not be for quite some time yet as it's not that cheap a destination

It's always been one of my ultimate dream holiday destinations though & always will be

[tessa]

Originally Posted by ShimatheKat

MMM NO. Why don't you get a Japan Rail Pass?
http://www.kintetsu.com/jrpass/

Adult 7-day pass costs USD 289.00, and covers all JR DAYTIME trains except the Nozomi, on a normal seat.

Oh.. I don't know this reasonable and invincible pass! Is this only for foreign travellers?

So, the only advantage of Airport Limousine is "nonstop to various destinations"...
I think I lose.

[LynnieS]

Originally Posted by tessa

Oh.. I don't know this reasonable and invincible pass! Is this only for foreign travellers?

So, the only advantage of Airport Limousine is "nonstop to various destinations"...
I think I lose.

The airport limousine service drops riders off at different hotels, so if you don't want to - or can't, for some reason, locate - go to your hotel, either on foot or via taxi if far enough - once you arrive at the nearest JR station, it might be of use. For tourists, IMHO, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to spend the money if you are getting the JR pass already. You can always ask at the nearest koban for directions once you arrive at the train station closest to your hotel; the police stationed there should have a set of detailed maps to help.

A site like Yahoo Japan, if you know the kanji, is also useful for local maps when you just know the address.

[Circular Logic]

Originally Posted by tessa

Oh.. I don't know this reasonable and invincible pass! Is this only for foreign travellers?

You need to be coming to Japan on a tourist's visa, and you have to apply for it in your home country - you can't apply for it once you're in Japan.

It's not ALWAYS worth the money though, you need to take a few long shinkansen trips to make it worth the price.

[Yaoi_Daisuki]

hey guys, are those bear curry sold in japan really made out of real bears?

[Mystique]

I was gonna turn skeptical on you, until I read the kanji at the top (says, Hokkaido bear meat used) and had to go investigate.
There's a mention of 'bear meat' in that list below, but as to whether or not they use actual Hokkaido bears for it (these brands of curries derive/sold from Hokkaido btw), not sure, could be gross advertising, but then who knows what they do up over there.
(So there's also whale, seal and seal lion if you're interested)

Ingredient list is here:

カレールウ（小麦粉・牛脂・砂糖・豚脂・カレー粉・食塩・でん粉・フォン・ド・ボー・異性化液糖・香辛料・ ビーフエキス・菜種油・脱脂粉乳・トマト・チャツネ・粉末ソース・酵母エキス）・野菜（たまねぎ・にんじん ）・熊肉・カレー粉・砂糖・小麦粉・コーン油・こしょう・調味料（アミノ酸等）・カラメル色素・増粘剤（グアーガム ）・乳化剤・酸味料・香辛料・香料

If you wanna buy it, go here

[Nerroth]

I wonder how Ainu groups feel about the use of the bear - or kim-un-kamuy - in such a product...

[Mystique]

I don't think many would be too aware tbh, wouldn't be surprisd if Japanese up there haven't really heard of it either.
(this food question, should pop in the japanese culture thread tho...)

[Nerroth]

Oh, I'd think that the Ainu would be somewhat more inclined to notice...

...or, at least, those Ainu who have not adopted Russian Orthodoxy or Buddhism in place of their traditional beliefs.