Planning trip to Japan in Summer

[CBC Guy]

Hi, I'm new here, this is one of my first threads in this forum. I posted this on another forum (Yellowworld.org) and they referred me to this site. Anyways here goes:

I'm Chinese and I have a Canadian passport so I don't need a Japanese visa to get to Japan right? (For sure staying less than 3 months)

Is it easier to fly into Tokyo Narita or Osaka Kansai? For those living in Tokyo, is it easier to take a taxi from the airport or to take the "express train". We're hoping to travel light so I';m thinking train all the way.

I found a cheaper hotel for foreigners in Ikebukuro. How much time is required to process online reservations in Japan? Do I need to leave a deposit?

Is Japan really that expensive? We're probably thinking of one restaurant splurge and then eating onigiri and bento a lot. (with the occasional katusdon thrown in as a treat) No, no Kaiseki-ryori.

We're also planning to see Akihabara and see the otaku in action. (no offence intended to Japanese who don't like anime, I don't either but its so "famous" I want to see it.)

Is it true that you can't eat walking on the street?


Finally:

Will we (my friend and I hoping to make this trip are chinese) be mistaken for locals? That is problematic as we cannot by any means speak Japanese. Thankfully I know the kanji for english, china, and canada. (Eigo, CHugoku and Kanada right?)

(Case in point: me in Narita airport last year: "Uhh, wa iie nihonjin desu. No, I don't speak Nihongo. Sorry.") My pidgin Japanese sucks as you can see.

Also is there any resentment towards Chinese people in Japan? I'm not too worried about the Uyoku or the "Japanese only" signs. Damn it would be confusing if everyone thought we were Japanese and then they give us weird looks when we speak English and no Japanese.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance!

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

A Japanese main international airport is "Narita International Airport" "Kansai International Airport" "Chubu Centrair International Airport"


Narita International Airport
NARITA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Kansai International Airport
http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/english/index.htm

Chubu Centrair International Airport
Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya

Taxis fare from Narita Airport to Tokyo is about 20,000 yen.
Limousine buses fare from Narita Airport to Shinjuku is 3,000 yen.
リムジンバスの東京空港交通

Trains from Narita Airport to Tokyo
JRﾂ ﾂ Narita Express
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/index.html
KEISEI SKYLINER
http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/keisei_us/top.html

 

[CBC Guy]

Hmmm... Keisei Skyliner seems the cheapest. We won't be in a hurry, so time isn't an issue, cost is. We'll just take the cheapest option then.

And any cultural tips?

 

[nice gaijin]

I'm Chinese and I have a Canadian passport so I don't need a Japanese visa to get to Japan right? (For sure staying less than 3 months)

If you have a Canadian passport, you will probably have no trouble getting a
visitor visa when you go through immigration (in Japan).

Is it easier to fly into Tokyo Narita or Osaka Kansai? For those living in Tokyo, is it easier to take a taxi from the airport or to take the "express train". We're hoping to travel light so I';m thinking train all the way.

That depends on what you mean by "easier," it depends on where you'll be
spending your time. It sounds like you want to go to Tokyo, so Osaka would be way out of your way (and possibly more expensive to fly to). Take the train, Narita is NOT in Tokyo, and will cost you about 30,000 yen to get to the city.

I found a cheaper hotel for foreigners in Ikebukuro. How much time is required to process online reservations in Japan? Do I need to leave a deposit?

can't really help you there, but I dodn't remember there being a deposit. Reservations shouldn't take too long; I would think even a few days would be sufficient, but a week or more would be safe.

Is Japan really that expensive? We're probably thinking of one restaurant splurge and then eating onigiri and bento a lot. (with the occasional katusdon thrown in as a treat) No, no Kaiseki-ryori.
We're also planning to see Akihabara and see the otaku in action. (no offence intended to Japanese who don't like anime, I don't either but its so "famous" I want to see it.)

Japan is probably on par with Canada and the US in terms of food. If you are going for a short period, spend wisely, but don't live like a waif. There's no point in travelling abroad if you're not going to be able to enjoy yourself and try the local dishes.

Is it true that you can't eat walking on the street?

no one is going to stop you, but the preference seems to be to sit down to enjoy your food, no matter what it is.

Finally:
Will we (my friend and I hoping to make this trip are chinese) be mistaken for locals? That is problematic as we cannot by any means speak Japanese. Thankfully I know the kanji for english, china, and canada. (Eigo, CHugoku and Kanada right?)

Sorry, but you will likely not be mistaken for locals. Chances are, your clothes, mannerisms, and attitude will flag you as a gaijin of some sort. It could happen, but chances are slim.
Not knowing kanji will be a challenge, but tourists come through all the time without any language ability and get by just fine. Also, although there is kanji for Canada, it's used far less often than the katakana version.
good luck and enjoy your journey!

 

[CBC Guy]

Actually the point is I can at least understand (or make an educated guess at) Japanese Kanji, (I know they are different from Chinese characters but I can usually get the idea) while I have no Hiragana/Katakana skills at all. (well I do have a chart for it in my phrasebook...)

So you mean I can't just sit there and not do anything and "pretend" to be local? :sad: LoL

 

[tigermilk]

Some hotels that are booked online through websites with REALLY GOOD prices may charge you now and be non-refundable. I've stayed in the Hamamatsuchou, Shinagawa, Ikebukuro, and Shinjuku areas and enjoyed Ikebukuro quite a bit.

Assuming you don't arrive too late, you can take the Narita Express all the way to Ikebukuro Station.

Food isn't that bad in Japan. I actually find it less expensive than the US. When you consider the price is all-inclusive compared to the US where you have tax and tip to add, it evens out or sometimes is a better deal in Japan. A sit down meal may only be $1-2 more than a bento box. Near Ikebukuro there's a pretty cheap kaiten sushi place along the same road as the east side of the station. Lots of small restaurants with traditional food for 600-1000 yen in the area.

 

[ArmandV]

Since you're going in the summer, you'd best pack cotton shorts and t-shirts (and plenty of them, unless you have access to a washer and dryer) as the summers can be hot and humid. You'll also find yourself drinking a lot of water.