so i'm going to tokyo soon

[ghettocities]

Josh, why do YOU of all people have a phobia that white folk are invading Japan...?

It's not so much a phobia of white folk invading Japan as much as it is a "WHAT HAVE I DONE?!" I was/still am part of the electricty in Frankenstein's blood and I'd like to think I've taken part in creating the monster (invasion).

hehe ghetto...wow..okay we'll try cities.. yeah.. that's better. anyways cities how many times hav eyou been back and forth and why do you go so often?

I've been to Tokyo 7 times since I was 19 and I'm 24 now. I went often in order to show the world who I was and what I stood for: Japanese girls.

I wanted to be the only black knight on a chess board filled with white pawns.



Josh

 

[Mike Cash]

It's not so much a phobia of white folk invading Japan as much as it is a "WHAT HAVE I DONE?!" I was/still am part of the electricty in Frankenstein's blood and I'd like to think I've taken part in creating the monster (invasion).

Don't give yourself so much credit. The "invasion" started in 1985, when your most recent accomplishment was potty training.

 

[MrsAmberface]

heh. mike you know your hilarious right?
anyways i know we always always ALWAYS plan things i figured a little bit of planning won't hurt but as for just going i want to go to have fun and sort of """ be lost """ i mean i've never REALLY been outside of Alabama. this is a WHOLE new experience for me and i'm excited, and scared but i dunno i mean the runaway OBVIOUSLY iddn't work.. what part of japan are you from mike?

 

[yukio_michael]

i mean i've never REALLY been outside of Alabama.

This really isn't a strong selling point for your readiness to travel across the globe to a non-English speaking country.

But hey, keep in mind, Japan isn't going to disappear. You've already missed its halcyon period, the nineties, so there really isn't a big rush. Whatever is going on in Harajuku will probably be still going on, but slightly differently...

Perhaps take a trip to another state first... wet your toes before you jump in the deep end.

 

[MrsAmberface]

heh. i'm good thanks i've been to other states but it's only been for a short time

 

[Duo]

Hm, I understand your urge to go and see Japan, I used to have it as well when i was about 18, but I read more about it and informed myself more and got the impressiont that Japan is not quite what I thought it would be. I'd still like to go but maybe a long term goal would be better. Rushing into things in such a young age can lead to many regretts. And as many others living in JApan pointed out here at your current age and status maybe it is not such a wise idea.

 

[yukio_michael]

heh. i'm good thanks i've been to other states but it's only been for a short time

I guess I'm a little confused at the fact that you've said and I quote that [you have] "never really been outside of Alabama..."? Were you in those other states in some sort of un-reality!?

If my opinion is worth anything, I think you'll have more fun if you wait.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I don't see why everyone seems so dead set against this trip. Personally, I say go for it. In America, when you turn 18, you become an adult, and therefore responsible for your own actions. You may lack experience and a certain amount of wisdom, but discovery is part of what youth is all about.

your intentions seem to be honest, and you're trying to give it some thought. I support your trip, and hope you have a great time!

Just remember that in Japan you are not an adult until you become 20 years of age. That may or may not cause problems for you, depending on what you try to do, but at the very least, make absolutely certain that you have a place to stay BEFORE you leave. Keep in mind that in terms of Japan, you are still a minor, and you should be fine.

Good luck!

 

[Mike Cash]

heh. mike you know your hilarious right?

I have my moments. It is nice to be appreciated, so thanks for noticing.

anyways i know we always always ALWAYS plan things i figured a little bit of planning won't hurt but as for just going i want to go to have fun and sort of """ be lost """

I have never been lost. There have, however, been numerous times that I didn't know where the hell I was.

i mean i've never REALLY been outside of Alabama. this is a WHOLE new experience for me and i'm excited, and scared but i dunno i mean the runaway OBVIOUSLY iddn't work.. what part of japan are you from mike?

I am from Tennessee. I am living in Gunma.

 

[MajideSaiaku]

Sometimes I wish i hadnt went to Japan, then I wouldnt miss it.
I dont even know why really, its not that great, just another country, but fond memories nethertheless.
My advice is plan your trip big-time, I had a Japanese family to stay with for my 3 month stay so I never had to worry about a place to stay but you'll be paying for everything, so yeah, dont go until everythnig is sorted.
Ghetto's managed to go unprepared but then again, he exploits horney women to get what he needs, you and your boyfriend on the otherhand only have a budget of your own to exploit.
And remember, above all, its a foreign country, and a mega-city, very different from your current existance.
Some folk who visit Jarusalem end up with "Jarusalem syndrome", which basically means their overwhelmed by the experience and go religious nutty for a few days.
Japan and Tokyo can have that effect on the eager excited tourist, you'll go nutty in Japan syndrome, so try and keep a check on your enthusiasm, enjoy the experience, but remember first and formost your in another persons country, you might think its terribly exciting and quaint, but to them your just a wierd foreigner getting all hyper-active and wierd over what to them, is just normal day to day life.
Oh and finally, probably needs no saynig but keep on your best behaviour, I dont like that wierd look I get from Japanese because a group of horney hyper-active carefree young western tourists past by earlier maknig a racket (heh, I had an experience of a larger group of Americans/canadians making tons of noise and misbehaving in a supermarket store once, and then the Japanese customers looked at me as if I was gonna start being a retard).

 

[Wiggly]

Well are group may have just expanded, to my best friend and his girlfriend (also one of ambers best friends). That should help out with the roomcost, and make for a better experience. He's a good guy, extremely responsible and loyal so no worries there. He's just as pumped as me about it, which is surprising because he seems to always give me what alot of you have when I get big ideas... that "you're just dreaming" attitude. Anyway, just thought I would update. -kris

 

[MrsAmberface]

heh. yeah mikawa, thank you for such enthusiasm. i'm looking at this trip as..every teenager wants to go camping and go on a cruise and go get drunk. Thats not what i'm doing. it's more of an expanding my views of life outside of the seltered place i've lived for so long. i'm extreamly excited and i can't wait so mikawa your an inspiration, to say the least.

 

[tigermilk]

heh. yeah mikawa, thank you for such enthusiasm. i'm looking at this trip as..every teenager wants to go camping and go on a cruise and go get drunk. Thats not what i'm doing. it's more of an expanding my views of life outside of the seltered place i've lived for so long. i'm extreamly excited and i can't wait so mikawa your an inspiration, to say the least.

Hmm, doesn't sound consistent with your pal wiggly who said the trip is to experience the "pop culture" rather than expanding your views. If you want to expand your views, do go to the country, musuems, etc and experience the true Japanese culture and not the phony goth kids in Harajuku. Just an opinion from someone who has been to Japan over a dozen times. I'm impressed at the Japanese youth who really seem to have an appreciation for their own culture and nature.

BTW, don't know if it's still open but there's a pretty good Japanese restaurant in Huntsville. Was there over a year ago. I think it was just north of Univeristy on Old Monrovia. Owner is from Japan.

 

[Wiggly]

Hmm, doesn't sound consistent with your pal wiggly who said the trip is to experience the "pop culture" rather than expanding your views. If you want to expand your views, do go to the country, musuems, etc and experience the true Japanese culture and not the phony goth kids in Harajuku. Just an opinion from someone who has been to Japan over a dozen times. I'm impressed at the Japanese youth who really seem to have an appreciation for their own culture and nature.
BTW, don't know if it's still open but there's a pretty good Japanese restaurant in Huntsville. Was there over a year ago. I think it was just north of Univeristy on Old Monrovia. Owner is from Japan.

I agree 100%. Although I did mention earlier that we would save the countryside for later trips, when we are older, and can afford a little more luxory while there. This trip would've only happened if we could scrape by, which means not alot of traveling around while we are there. More like, stay in the city and walk as far as we can lol. Maybe take a few subs to different districts, but not diff. parts of the country.

As it has it, the trip is off until next year, when we can afford to do alot more and stay alot longer while we are there. I don't want to dish out 1500 on tickets for a week in the city ya know?

 

[godppgo]

MrsAmberface, I say go for it and enjoy your trip to your fullest. You only live young once afterall. Live hard, play hard, feel hard. You might have less "regret" in your life if you take a more stable course, however there are many things in life you can only experience at a certain age. There is no substitution for your own experience. Be there in person and see it with your own eyes.

 

[MrsAmberface]

why thank you, i think i'm going to thoroughly enjoy this trip if it were'nt for christmas being so damned close lol

 

[Broken Rose Ren]

Hey MrsAmberface. When you get there how long you gonna stay? Where you gonna stay? Where you gonna work? I'm not trying to be a mom or anything, but you can't go to another non English speaking country without setting something up first, understand?

Luckily you can set all of this up online, there are programs for things like that. HOWEVER, I would learn enough Japanese to get around before hand and continue learning when I get there. The internet is vast, look into programs that can accommodate a foreigner, new to Japan.

Good luck.

 

[Wiggly]

Hey MrsAmberface. When you get there how long you gonna stay? Where you gonna stay? Where you gonna work? I'm not trying to be a mom or anything, but you can't go to another non English speaking country without setting something up first, understand?
Luckily you can set all of this up online, there are programs for things like that. HOWEVER, I would learn enough Japanese to get around before hand and continue learning when I get there. The internet is vast, look into programs that can accommodate a foreigner, new to Japan.
Good luck.

The help is MUCH appreciated... but wow.... things have evolved SOOO much throughout this thread sooo ya know lol.

 

[MrsAmberface]

lol we're not sure how long we're staying yet. we're planning to go for awhile longer now but we've pushed it back a year now

 

[Broken Rose Ren]

Well, see what you can do with in the year or year and a half. I would try to take Japanese classes throughout the year and look into to programs online that can help foreigners who wish to travel to Japan.

Here are some great sites for living and getting jobs in Japan:
Japan Guide
Gaijin Pot

I dunno if you'll need this yet, but...renting places in Japan.
Sakura House

I'm not gonna tell you to stop, y'know? Because it's my dream to go to Japan too and I will also do anything to get there. But, you have to make sure you have a fighting chance.

 

[Riyko]

I want to ask (i doubt i'll get a reply), but do you guys even work? Not once have I read a reply by either of you two that you both work.

 

[MrsAmberface]

yes. we both work. =] thank you for asking

 

[Sparky]

The answer

Hey, this is Ambers boyfriend. I just had a few quick questions that hopefully someof you japan guru's could answer. We have a few goals that we want out of this trip, and are determined to meet them. This will probably be our only vacation for a lonnnngggg time with school and everything so we want to make the best. Anyway... Amber wants to shop for sure. We really want to experience the city, and the culture. We really need advice on which district to stay in. Or at least which ones we should take subways too. We would really like to be in the city. I heard the drinking age is 20, so we probably won't be able to get into many fun places. I also heard thats rarely inforced though . The last thing I need is to get arrested overseas though soooo, any thoughts on the subject? I guess all in all, our goals are...
-Shopping
-Experiencing city/culture
-Seeing as much as we can
-Little hastle as far as location of hotel in relation to places to go
-Seeing tokyo!!!!
-Not getting arrested lol
-Not going bankrupt
-Things to do, places to see, where to go
-Advice on what would be a decent 2 week budget (USD)
Thats all I can think of for now, but I guarantee I'll be back with more lol. Thanks again! -kris
EDIT Already thought of some more... Will we be able to even GET a hotel in my name if I'm 19? Will we be able to get around ok using the subways? What time do subs close? Do you guys know any good travel guides we could go through? What will the weather be like around June?

You will want to stay in Tokyo Its easiest and most convinent.

If you stay for 1 month you will want to stay at a Guest House it will run you about 2,500yen per night or 40,000yen+ depending on location (Usualy 60,000yen per month avg.) Here is a list of most of the good ones in Tokyo. Japanlinked.com is for sale | HugeDomains

For shopping You will want to visit Shibuya, Harajuku, Shinjuku, shimo-Kitazawa for clothes. Akihabara for electronics, and anime. Ueno for small markets. Ginza for outrageously priced high end items. All these places are on the JR Yamanote line it circles the whole Tokyo core.

You will get city culture everywhere you go each train station has a unique feel and atmosphere so just get off the train at random stations you'll have a blast.

Do a couple day trips or 3 day trips to the ocean/beach, Mountains/Hiking, goto osaka or kyoto on a 3-4 day trip. ect. I suggest a JR Rail Pass it will get you everywhere for 1 price about $300 per person info here: Japanlinked.com is for sale | HugeDomains

Drinking: You are foreigners so will rarley if ever be ID'd for your age so you can pretty much drink anywhere(SHHH don't tell anyone I said that)

Cost: you can live fairly well with 3,000 dollers each for 2 people for 1 month
Basics: Guest house 600+200 deposit you can share the room with your gf they usualy include tv, bunk bed, fridge, closet and free internet hook up (bring your own laptop)
Food: If you cook half at your guest house $600-700
JR Rail Pass $600 each
$1000 Each for a plane ticket here
$2000 for all your other wants and needs

Hope this Helps a little more. Enjoy
Contact me if you need more info.

 

[maushan3]

Your dreams are possible, don't let anyone tell you that you can't do what you want to do.

You got that right. Everyone tells me that why Japan when I could go to Europe. And I tell them, have you ever been to Japan, they respond no, then they shut up because they don't even know what they are talking about. I am getting closer and closer to my dream of going to Japan.

Mauricio

 

[maushan3]

"I am from Tennessee. I am living in Gunma."

Off-topic: Is this why your screen name is 'Cash', becuase of Johnny Cash?

Go for it, like Ghettocities said, you gotta try first or you will never know. You will be left with the doubt whether you could have done it or not. The only loss is when you don't try.

Mauricio