Communication in Japan

[xiaoekin]

bt i think even they give directions, i oso wont understand wad they say..

 

[darkmatt]

bt i think even they give directions, i oso wont understand wad they say..

hidari, migi, sh!ta, mae.

this should be enough

 

[k0sm0s]

hidari, migi, sh!ta, mae.

this should be enough

Actually not really... they will tell you "go there then take escalator up then turn left in front of the..."

After first few sentence you lose grasp liao, walk to there abit and ask again haha

I remember got one time I asking about the location of the bus stop to go back to Tokyo, they all tell me in front of a certain building but I cannot find, in the end go Police Post and he literally drag us there, and I realised it's the place I've been hanging around the past hour but I didn't realise the stand is the bus stop haha

So scary, if never ask we may never get back to Tokyo that night haha

 

[xiaoekin]

Take train lor.

 

[evilerniex]

bt i think even they give directions, i oso wont understand wad they say..

i also dun understand wat they say. but usually they will be able to point u in the general direction.

i ever asked the staff in lawson for directions, and they drew a simple map for me. i can understand from their hand signal where we were on the map, and the road to take. so cant understand jap not really that problematic

 

[k0sm0s]

Random, that time I went to Harajuku, was near the train station there, then this guy with luggage was asking people around in english how to buy ticket to go to airport. The people around didn't really know what he was trying to ask. Luckily I was there so I help him ask the station conductor in japanese haha

 

[toshiro_sg]

Go Japan, i feel if language is a barrier, it still boils down to how much preparation and homework you have done. I still remember my 1st trip to Japan, i really want to be self reliant, so i really study maps, print out maps, rehearse in my mind the way. I'm pretty much not gonna put anything to chances and try not have to resort to my broken japanese. Well that was like 6-7 years ago and i did remember very hard to get japanese who understand even simple english, i did try my luck on those younger generations but they all pretty shy when i try to speak english to them.

Its much better now and during my recent trips i even encounter PRC who speak chinese working in soba restaurants lol

 

[samtcy]

Yeah, I really did alot of homework and research online before all of my Japan trips so as to minimise the chances of me having to ask for directions when I'm at Japan.

I will print out train schedules, train directions (like where to transit, which train line, journey duration, fares..etc), maps, check attraction's operation schedule...and bring on every trip. Some of the more ulu train lines are much more infrequent, with only 1 train every few hours, so it's best to plan your train journeys before you go, or else you might end up wasting hours waiting for next train.

I even have backup train schedules (for Ltd Exp/Shinkansen/infrequent train lines), just in case my 1st choice options were fully booked.

For my itinerary planning, I also have a few options...wet weather plans...
I usually try to plan for themeparks (and other attractions where it's best to visit on a good weather day) to go there on the first couple of days of the trip, so that in case of bad weather, I can just postpone them to the next day or so.

Some places (like disneyland/disneysea/universal studios), I try to schedule to go on weekdays to avoid crowds. For ryokan stays, I try to avoid staying on fri and sats since it's usually more pricey.

Sorry, think I got kinda off topic...hehe...

Anyway, moral of the story...just try to be more self-reliant to minimise the stress of having to ask for directions when you are in a country with language barrier. There's so much info available online for Japan travel, so you can pretty much plan the bulk of your trip before you leave for Japan.

 

[mazatsushi]

Yeah, I really did alot of homework and research online before all of my Japan trips so as to minimise the chances of me having to ask for directions when I'm at Japan.

I will print out train schedules, train directions (like where to transit, which train line, journey duration, fares..etc), maps, check attraction's operation schedule...and bring on every trip. Some of the more ulu train lines are much more infrequent, with only 1 train every few hours, so it's best to plan your train journeys before you go, or else you might end up wasting hours waiting for next train.

I even have backup train schedules (for Ltd Exp/Shinkansen/infrequent train lines), just in case my 1st choice options were fully booked.

For my itinerary planning, I also have a few options...wet weather plans...
I usually try to plan for themeparks (and other attractions where it's best to visit on a good weather day) to go there on the first couple of days of the trip, so that in case of bad weather, I can just postpone them to the next day or so.

Some places (like disneyland/disneysea/universal studios), I try to schedule to go on weekdays to avoid crowds. For ryokan stays, I try to avoid staying on fri and sats since it's usually more pricey.

Sorry, think I got kinda off topic...hehe...

Anyway, moral of the story...just try to be more self-reliant to minimise the stress of having to ask for directions when you are in a country with language barrier. There's so much info available online for Japan travel, so you can pretty much plan the bulk of your trip before you leave for Japan.

Let me teach you a trick.

Prepare for the trip like someone with OCD. Once you are there, pretend to not know anything and ask any of the cute ladies for help.

You know what to do next

 

[samtcy]

Let me teach you a trick.

Prepare for the trip like someone with OCD. Once you are there, pretend to not know anything and ask any of the cute ladies for help.

You know what to do next

Since I'm a female, so I'd probably ask a cute guy instead...heh.

 

[mazatsushi]

Since I'm a female, so I'd probably ask a cute guy instead...heh.

Hahahah my bad

The guys here are.........for the lack of a better word feminine. Wear makeup go out plus style until look very nice. But if look at the facial features then

 

[xiaoekin]

so anyone have any nice place to recommend???

i planning to go this few location in tokyo for my 5 days trip with my dad


1. Ueno Park (for cherry blossom.. 1st time in japan and get to see this is awesome and i can do some photography)
2. shinbuya
3. shinjuku
4. Akihabara (will be shopping there 1 whole day to wipe off all Hatsune Miku's Nendroid and Figma Figurines and some cute stuffs of Hatsune Miku)
5. Asakusa Temple
6. Imperial Palace
7. Square Enix Museum
8. Tokyo tower (Photography)
9. Tokyo Skytree (Photography)


I would like to ask any nice things to shop at shinbuya and shinjuku???? Should i add in Harajuku in because i know sunday is the most happening period as alot of cosplayers and youngsters..

 

[k0sm0s]

4. Akihabara (will be shopping there 1 whole day to wipe off all Hatsune Miku's Nendroid and Figma Figurines and some cute stuffs of Hatsune Miku)

Nakano Broadway! Nakano Broadway!
Go Akihabara, see see once. Then go Nakano Broadway to buy. Anything you are missing, go back Akihabara to buy

Nakano Broadway mainly sells 2nd hand stuff, but the 2nd stuff are so new so it doesn't feel like it. Depending on what you buy, the stuff there can be so much cheaper than buying from Akihabara.

Especially CDs, bought like 10 of them which cannot be found due to too old for $50.

Should i add in Harajuku in because i know sunday is the most happening period as alot of cosplayers and youngsters..

I think Harajuku is a good walk if you plan to buy clothing... Yeah it's pretty crowded on sunday

 

[xiaoekin]

Nakano Broadway! Nakano Broadway!
Go Akihabara, see see once. Then go Nakano Broadway to buy. Anything you are missing, go back Akihabara to buy

Nakano Broadway mainly sells 2nd hand stuff, but the 2nd stuff are so new so it doesn't feel like it. Depending on what you buy, the stuff there can be so much cheaper than buying from Akihabara.

Especially CDs, bought like 10 of them which cannot be found due to too old for $50.


I think Harajuku is a good walk if you plan to buy clothing... Yeah it's pretty crowded on sunday

Nakano Broadway is at where??? Which is the nearest Station??

Hmm..Can find limited edition Hatsune Miku figurines there??? (Sorrie im crazy over miku.haha)

The price at Akihabara for figurines is cheaper then those shops selling in singapore or more expensive???

how is the price rate for clothings at harajuku??

 

[darkmatt]

Nakano Broadway is at where??? Which is the nearest Station??

Hmm..Can find limited edition Hatsune Miku figurines there??? (Sorrie im crazy over miku.haha)

The price at Akihabara for figurines is cheaper then those shops selling in singapore or more expensive???

how is the price rate for clothings at harajuku??

nakano station lor...

that broadway need 1 whole day one

 

[xiaoekin]

Nakano Broadway! Nakano Broadway!
Go Akihabara, see see once. Then go Nakano Broadway to buy. Anything you are missing, go back Akihabara to buy

Nakano Broadway mainly sells 2nd hand stuff, but the 2nd stuff are so new so it doesn't feel like it. Depending on what you buy, the stuff there can be so much cheaper than buying from Akihabara.

Especially CDs, bought like 10 of them which cannot be found due to too old for $50.


I think Harajuku is a good walk if you plan to buy clothing... Yeah it's pretty crowded on sunday

nakano station lor...

that broadway need 1 whole day one

Okie Thanks you.. is oso very big like Akihabara???

 

[k0sm0s]

xiaoekin: Yeah it's at Nakano station. It's just a single building compared to a whole town in Akihabara. However, Nakano Broadway's shops opens in the afternoon and closes around 5pm.

It's a single building where 2 stories are packed with all otaku's requirements (anime, idol, toy, cd, manga). Majority of the shops sell 2nd stuff stuff. Some examples of 2nd hands are UFO catcher toys that people sell after catching, and lottery figures that people do not want or sell for very expensive. People also sell rare stuff as it can fetch better price there.

You can also find 1st hand official goods there that won't any price difference to Akihabara. It's just much easier to shop there since it's just a single building.


Despite this, you can easily spend 3+ hours revisiting shops because there is just too many things to see and ponder. So dedicate an afternoon there.

If you are STILL in the shopping mood after going there, go back to Akihabara in the evening to buy lo, hahaha.


Harajuku is like a massive Bugis Street.

 

[xiaoekin]

okie.. So desu ka.

Arigato.


is the things at Harajuku consider affordable or expensive??


i will try to find rare nendroid and figma at Nakano Broadway and the rest at akihabara since i will be spending almost 1 whole day at there.

 

[huntergal]

hi, may i know where is the Square Enix Museum ? is it the square enix showcase shop? cos i just checked their website and it says that it is closed alrdy

SQUARE ENIX CHARACTER GOODS SHOP SHOW CASE

 

[xiaoekin]

Huntergal, Thanks for the info. i now then noe is closed.... sad sad..

Their showcase is like a museum that showcase their history..