Potentially visiting Japan for 3 months in September

Haruto Uzumaki · 7 Apr 2023

Also, about the sakurahouse thing, I'm confused about one thing...
According to oakhouse.jp,
A Guesthouse is a form of accommodation, while a Sharehouse is a form of residence. While both houses have private parts and shared parts, people stay daily at Guesthouses but people reside monthly at Sharehouses by paying rent.

Despite this definition, it appears that sakurahouse still lists each property with monthly payments, even though they clearly make a distinction between guest houses and share houses. I wonder what the difference is on their site?
(EDIT) The only distinction I noticed is that the share houses seem to have no gender restrictions, and they cost slightly more
(EDIT 2) After looking further, some share houses have gender restrictions, so I'm still confused...
(EDIT 3) Nevermind, I found the difference. Guest houses have shared bedrooms as well as everything else, where share houses give you your own room.
I found share houses very close in price to guest houses, so I might get one of those rather than a guest house, but I'm not sure...
I wouldn't necessarily be bothered by a guest house or anything but it's hard to weigh the value of having my own room, especially when there's a limited amount of detail on other things such as wifi speed which is probably more important to me.

mdchachi · 7 Apr 2023

Haruto Uzumaki said:
I am looking forward to the area being more accessible with transportation! In the area I'm from, except for downtown areas, a car is almost always required. Although it didn't quite stop me from traveling to other cities by bike And yes, I would hope I can get a bike which would make things a lot easier as well. I don't know how expensive they are in Japan typically, for a decent one with a few different speed setting gears. Would it make more sense to find a way to bring my bike instead? I could also leave it in the care of someone when it's time for me to leave so it could be another token of gratitude in return for someone's help! I'm just not sure if it would be more expensive to have it brought with me, or even if I should consider shipping it or something like that. At the very least I think I should at least bring it to the airport though

No, it's not worth bringing your own bike. Bikes are plentiful there and should be easy to find a used one. You should be able to buy one for less than the airline oversized luggage cost. I actually brought a bike from the U.S. with me since the company was paying for moving costs but it got stolen within six months even though I had locked it. It wasn't worth much and it was actually free since it was put together from old parts but it was an unusual type for Japan (the classic "10 speed" with curved down handlebars). The moral is that while Japan is very safe there is still crime like this and you still need to be on your guard.

Haruto Uzumaki · 7 Apr 2023

mdchachi said:
No, it's not worth bringing your own bike. Bikes are plentiful there and should be easy to find a used one. You should be able to buy one for less than the airline oversized luggage cost. I actually brought a bike from the U.S. with me since the company was paying for moving costs but it got stolen within six months even though I had locked it. It wasn't worth much and it was actually free since it was put together from old parts but it was an unusual type for Japan (the classic "10 speed" with curved down handlebars). The moral is that while Japan is very safe there is still crime like this and you still need to be on your guard.

草 ... that's ironic for something like that to happen in japan but yeah you're definitely right, gotta be careful not to trust the community too much.
I'll look into used bikes in Japan, I've seen that Japanese people still use craigslist a lot, so would that be a valid place to look for something? Of course, I'll have to look in real life as well, but just to see what's out there at the moment

mdchachi · 7 Apr 2023

Haruto Uzumaki said:
草 ... that's ironic for something like that to happen in japan but yeah you're definitely right, gotta be careful not to trust the community too much.
I'll look into used bikes in Japan, I've seen that Japanese people still use craigslist a lot, so would that be a valid place to look for something? Of course, I'll have to look in real life as well, but just to see what's out there at the moment

I think craigslist would be one way though not the cheapest. Probably after you make personal connections your newfound friends will be able to help you.
In your case, I'd probably pursue the Silver Center (resale of impounded used bikes) idea. Get somebody to go with you to help you navigate the selection and purchase. See this article:

Where to Buy and Sell Used Bicycles in Tokyo | Tokyo Cheapo

Our guide to used bicycles in Tokyo — Why you need one in Tokyo, where to buy reconditioned bikes at a significant discount & how to

tokyocheapo.com

Note: Legally, bikes need to be registered. I'm not sure how that works if you're there as a tourist not as a resident.
Or the Share House may even have some bicycles there for use. Note there's a new law requiring use of bike helmets.
I don't think there's an actual penalty for not doing so though.

Haruto Uzumaki · 8 Apr 2023

mdchachi said:
I think craigslist would be one way though not the cheapest. Probably after you make personal connections your newfound friends will be able to help you.
In your case, I'd probably pursue the Silver Center (resale of impounded used bikes) idea. Get somebody to go with you to help you navigate the selection and purchase. See this article:

Ahh okay, got it, I'll just do that then!, I'll check the article out as well, thanks!

mdchachi said:
Note: Legally, bikes need to be registered. I'm not sure how that works if you're there as a tourist not as a resident.
Or the Share House may even have some bicycles there for use. Note there's a new law requiring use of bike helmets.
I don't think there's an actual penalty for not doing so though.

Hm... I'll definitely have to figure that out, maybe I can ask the Sakura House staff how that works before getting one.
I think we have a law here too requiring the use of helmets, but it's not enforced avid bikers usually wear a helmet anyway though.
Thanks again!

Buntaro · 8 Apr 2023

Haruto Uzumaki said:
I won't be returning home once I leave, at least this house.

It sounds like you grew up in a dysfunctional family. I'm sorry to hear that.

Haruto Uzumaki · 10 Apr 2023

Buntaro said:
It sounds like you grew up in a dysfunctional family. I'm sorry to hear that.

It's okay, it's not really necessarily that, but I can't keep living here feeling imprisoned by an invisible jail cell... I'd like to be free, so it's time I take off so I can live my own way! I know that my parents only want the best for me, so I can't blame them for their decisions or any inability to understand me, since I know I'm a complex person.

Buntaro · 10 Apr 2023

But your parents are a big part of why you are a 'complex' person. I hope someday you have a chance to look at this more closely.

Haruto Uzumaki · 11 Apr 2023

Buntaro said:
But your parents are a big part of why you are a 'complex' person. I hope someday you have a chance to look at this more closely.

True, but it's alright, they did their best and I can't blame them for that :3
As someone who sits and constantly thinks uncontrollably for extended periods of time, I can assure you that I've already taken many close looks into the philosophy of it all, not even just for myself but for others as well, and I have a good understanding about my situation, but it's really not that bad compared to many others (not to say it's amazing either, but the bottom line is my parents make all their decisions out of love even if they're not the right decisions for me, and that's respectable in my eyes, since I can't expect them to always know what's right for me).

日本語 Class · 10 May 2023

Hi Haruto, I don't know in what thread to ask this but as you are experienced with Discord, have you tried any language exchange server? I want to get into one or two, maybe you know if it's worth it and all

Haruto Uzumaki · 16 May 2023

日本語 Class said:
Hi Haruto, I don't know in what thread to ask this but as you are experienced with Discord, have you tried any language exchange server? I want to get into one or two, maybe you know if it's worth it and all

Sorry for the late reply @日本語 Class !
I am technically in a few language exchange servers, but I've never really used them often. What I have tried (and enjoyed) is servers based on my general interests with Japan/Japanese, and just trying to be friends with everyone most Japanese servers don't mind foreigners and even encourage them to come, although admittedly most also don't support the use of English in the server, so if you need someone to also use English with you, it might be best to either go into a language exchange server (I can send you links to the ones I'm in), or, you can join servers catered to your interests, make friends with people who want to learn your language, and language exchange with them through direct messaging hope that helps! Let me know if you need the invites!

日本語 Class · 18 May 2023

Haruto Uzumaki said:
Sorry for the late reply @日本語 Class !
I am technically in a few language exchange servers, but I've never really used them often. What I have tried (and enjoyed) is servers based on my general interests with Japan/Japanese, and just trying to be friends with everyone most Japanese servers don't mind foreigners and even encourage them to come, although admittedly most also don't support the use of English in the server, so if you need someone to also use English with you, it might be best to either go into a language exchange server (I can send you links to the ones I'm in), or, you can join servers catered to your interests, make friends with people who want to learn your language, and language exchange with them through direct messaging hope that helps! Let me know if you need the invites!

Thanks, yes the invites would really help

Haruto Uzumaki · 20 May 2023

日本語 Class said:
Thanks, yes the invites would really help

日本語 Class · 21 May 2023

Thank you so much! I'll start by the Normal Japanese Academy

Haruto Uzumaki · 23 May 2023

日本語 Class said:
Thank you so much! I'll start by the Normal Japanese Academy

Hope it goes well for you! Feel free to update us on anything you'd like regarding your language partner search!

日本語 Class · 26 May 2023

Yes I will, first I'll use the general channels, there are many and theres one that is "Japanese Only Beginners", literally for me

Also there seems to be events like movie nights in the voice channels, and there are about 2 chatbots lol, lot of stuff

Haruto Uzumaki · 28 May 2023

日本語 Class said:
Also there seems to be events like movie nights in the voice channels, and there are about 2 chatbots lol, lot of stuff

Sounds like a lot of fun I usually never end up attending such things since I'm always out of sync with everyone else, in my own world I guess
Have fun!

日本語 Class · 29 May 2023

Im the exact same lol, I miss out on a lot of stuff or only hear about way later, I hear Im in my own world too

One exception was the Whiskers Away movie that was streamed this week in this same Discord server, which was great because I dont have Netflix right now

Haruto Uzumaki · 30 May 2023

日本語 Class said:
Im the exact same lol, I miss out on a lot of stuff or only hear about way later, I hear Im in my own world too

One exception was the Whiskers Away movie that was streamed this week in this same Discord server, which was great because I dont have Netflix right now

Dang

I'm glad you're enjoying it in there! I don't have netflix either, so it was hard to find entertaining Japanese content, but I think I've finally found my own methods.

mdchachi · 6 Sep 2023

If everything went as planned and you made it to the insertion point, you have been successfully dropped into Japan. Without blowing your cover let us know if you made it and how it's going!

Potentially visiting Japan for 3 months in September

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