Searching for a Japanese Friend, also help us out when we visit Japan

[secuono]

We are hoping to go to Japan in 2016 for two weeks.

I want to make a real Japanese friend, as well as someone who could possibly help us out with translation and getting around.

We are still searching for a new farm, but we will be able to offer room and board for our good friend if they ever decide to visit Virginia in America in the future.

I want to visit Kyoto , Tokyo and a couple other cities if possible. I want to visit a Koi farm, hot springs, major cities, more rural and historical towns, also a fan of some manga, so would like to visit a nice manga/anime shop, ect. I want to take many pictures and really soak up the culture and modern life as well.

I have the Rosetta Stone Japanese system and trying to learn the language, but I find it hard. =( But I'm still working at it! =) I recognize many words, but not enough to really get by on my own and would love to make a real friend who lives in Japan, speaks fluently in Japanese and a little English and could help us out. Would also be nice to make good friends and keep in touch before and after our trip, maybe help them out with English or a place to stay if they are ever in the area. I don't just want a friend for the trip, I would feel like I'd have to have a business/paid relationship for that. I rather make a more genuine friend if possible.

We (husband and I) would prefer to visit during a more temperate climate and minimal tourists.

Let me know if you guys would like more info and pictures about us, our farm and such. Happy to share. =)

 

[Mike Cash]

Rosetta Stone for Japanese is widely considered to be useless junk. At best, sell it to somebody else and get yourself a proper textbook to learn from. At worst, don't beat yourself up if you don't make the kind of progress you think you should be making; the problem may not be you.

While I don't doubt the sincerity of your future intentions regarding reciprocation, at this point you really are just essentially asking for a free tour guide and translation service. I don't know about Kyoto, but Tokyo has you covered:

TOKYO FREE GUIDE - Volunteer Tour Guide Service in Tokyo

Be sure to contact sufficiently ahead of your visit. Full info is on their website.

 

[secuono]

Yup, unfortunately, for now, it's just a guide and translator. =/
But hoping to make real friends as well, whether or not they could help with our trip.
I don't think I've filled out all the info yet on this forum, but my username is linked to my farm business, so wouldn't be good for me to lie and such.

Rosetta stone is better than dictionaries and books, at least for me, I just cannot learn like that. If anything, I've learned more with watching Japanese movies, anime and other shows with subtitles than I ever have with any book. Doesn't matter how hard I try. =/
Don't get me started on kanji and the such, I'm beyond hopeless with that...
It is possible our trip will move to another year. I am very busy saving up to send my gelding for 2-3 months of training and taking lessons every Tuesdays as well. Once he leaves, lambs will soon start being born, then shearing soon after, so cannot even think of leaving until after late May at the earliest. Oh, for those that don't know, a gelding is a castrated horse and I am a Babydoll Southdown sheep breeder. We lamb in March/April and shear in May. =)

 

[Mike Cash]

Are the lambs waiting until after the horse leaves to be born because they're bashful or something?

 

[secuono]

Haha, no. He's actually good with the little lambs, but bad with adults. The ewes like to surprise me with lambs, pretend they have a few more days to go and then I wake up to little bleats during sunrise out in pasture. ♡
But he is scheduled to leave in February and at least stay through the end of March. He may need a 3rd month of training. But he's a smarty.
We time so lambs will start eating grass when it starts growing, so they are naturally pasture raised. They grow a little slower, but it's better for their guts and over all health.

 

[Mike Cash]

Apparently Kyoto also has a free guide service:

Kyoto Free Guide

 

[mdchachi]

As Mike mentioned, there are volunteer guide services in Tokyo and all over the country. So feel free to utilize them. Japan National Tourism Organization | Plan Your Trip | > Basic Information | List of Volunteer Guides

As for other ways to meet and possibly befriend people, you could try staying at minshuku (kind of like bed/breakfast) or even private homes via AirBnB.

But I wouldn't get too caught up in trying to arrange guides for everywhere you go. You'll do fine even without knowing the language.

As for making a geniune friend in such a short time that's unlikely but you never know. I met a girl in Hiroshima once and we kept in touch for well over a decade. We only met in person two or three times. (By kept in touch I mean actual letters/Christmas cards which takes some effort, not the passive linking on Facebook that is common today.)