Going to Japan on my own at 17....What advise can you give me?

Question

In the summer of 2007 (after school), I will travel to Okayama, then to Gose(Nara-prefecture)...then Kanzawa, Ishikawa. What advise can you give me about everything.

Sure, i have been to Japan before, but i wasn't alone.

I want to know how the bullet train/train/transportation systems work, how the airports work and everything there is i need to know.

PS: I will go for rouughtly 3-4 months or more...and I will on my own at 17 years old...please, any advise would be helpful.

Also I need to be in Okayama first...how do I go from Okayama to Nara to kanazawa...and maybe tokyo after...

Thank you*

I know the culture and in Okayam I have someone to see and in Gose(Nara-prefecture) I have a family to see

ARG! I know the language people!

Answer 1

Some people will stress that you must follow a tonne of customs, but don't be concerned about that - when you get there you'll realise quickly what is important and what is not. The main one is taking shoes off to enter homes, the inside of temples, and many restaurants.

The food and water are extremely safe, as is Japan in general.

You might have a bit of trouble with the train system at first (not everything is in english) but you will pick it up after a few days of using trains. There are different networks that are operated by different companies, eg. JR (Japan Rail) and the metro in Tokyo. This is important to know, and you will often find yourself walking a long way to the other end of Tokyo station to get on a different network, and maps are exclusive to each company.

There is nothing special to know about the international airports, as there are English speaking people there and it is no different to anywhere else.

At train stations however, don't expect to always find an english speaking employee. If you get really stuck, the best option is to find someone who looks school or university age and ask if they speak english.

Buses - you pay when you get off. Some are a flat rate no matter where you get off.

If you don't speak Japanese, eat at places with picture menus, where you can point at the picture.

Unless they ask you a question it is normal to purchase something from a shop without saying anything, even though the shop attendant will greet you and thank you.

It would be VERY smart to take a guidebook such as the Lonely Planet.

Try and see Kyoto as well if you can.

Answer 2

First of all, let's assume you don't need to make money or get a job. How are you going to stay 3-4 months? A tourist visa only lasts 90 days. Are you on a different visa?

First: the train system is very easy. First, figure out where the station you need to go to is. You will need a map of the train system as well. There are many different train companies: JR, Kintetsu, Hanshin, to name a few. Usually to get from large town to large town, you can just take JR. If you ask around (you will want to know some Japanese!) they can usually lead you to the closest JR station.

Once at the station, figure out which lines will lead to your destination. There is a map at each station. At the ticket machines, there is a special which has prices written on each station - this is how much it costs to get from that station to the others. Simply buy a ticket for that amount, then go through the gates and find the correct train.

There are many different kinds of trains on some lines, though. Sometimes there will be an express that only stops at larger stations. This information should be written on signs on the platform, or you can ask a conductor.

The bullet train (shinkansen) is almost the same, but you need special tickets to get on the shinkansen. You also can get reserved seats for the shinkansen. You don't have to, but only a few cars allow unreserved passengers, so you might not get a seat!

From Okayama, you should be able to take the shinkansen to Kyoto. From Kyoto, you can take a train to Nara. Then from Nara, go back to Kyoto where you can take a limited express train from Kyoto to Kanazawa. From Kanazawa, you can take the shinkansen to Tokyo.

Be prepared: that kind of travelling can get expensive!! Also, stick to train traveling - airplanes are more expensive than they need to be and they are much more of a hassle.

If you would tell us more, I could help you more, but your description is really vague. Are you sure you are ready to do this?

Edit: elovej04's thing about girls getting raped or whatever is a bunch of garbage. Japan streets are extremely safe, and even the small problem they had with old men groping girls on crowded trains is not really a problem anymore. Stop scaring people. Your friend who brought pepper spray to Japan is paranoid and stupid.

Answer 3

I'm assuming you'll be staying with a host family, so they should be able to help. Also, be extremely polite. When y ou'e eating, don't pass things to other people with your chopsticks, and don't leave them standing up in a piece of food....both have cultural significance having to do with death. Yak at a Japanese teacher and/or anyone you know who's visited Japan. Be careful of the tatami mats, and you generally want to take off your shoes when you enter a house. ALways remember to bow when you meet someone....the more respect you have for that person, the lower the bow should be. If it's a doctor or teacher, you bow really low. If you're just meeting a good friend or something, a brief nod will suffice. And do learn to use the cirrect honorifics for a person's name--- sensei is for professionals like doctors and teachers, san is Mr. or Ms., Chan is 'Miss or 'Little one' (but can also be for female friends), 'kun is for male friends---and DON'T use the honorifics when you are talking about yourself or your family. It's considered arrogant.

I can't help you with transportation issues...sorry!

Answer 4

If you haven't done so already, learn enough Japanese to be able to ask for directions, etc.

I went to Japan a few years ago and learned a little conversational Japanese. It was the best thing I've ever done. There isn't much English in Japan (signs, etc) and most people don't speak English. So be prepared to speak with them in Japanese. It'll prevent you from getting horribly lost and/or eating really disgusting food.

Trust me...you'll be glad you did.

Answer 5

I've never been to Japan, but my bf have traveled there on his own like 4 years ago, and according to him, English speaking didn't helped him at all when he was there, everything was on his own, so I guess you should really bring a translation book, if you can't speak it, at least you can show them the questions that you wanted to ask in Japanese, and it might help, and better than nothing....

AND PLEASE PAY ATTENTION IF YOU"RE A FEMALE!!!!!!
I don't know how things are in Japan right now, but according to friends' info, there're many bad people out on the street waiting for their female targets to get in their traps, and I'm serious, they're not just one or two random men, it comes like a gang of 10-12 guys all gang up on a female and rape her and video the whole thing, they have planned it out too, I thought it wasn't true, but my bro's gf just came back from Japan, and she asked my bro to buy her pepper spray to take back to Japan, that's why I believe the whole scandal is true and telling you this. Be award! I went to shop for my bro today, Big5 and sportmart sells them, so if you don't want to pay for shipping cost via online store, then you can get them local.
Good luck and god bless you~

Answer 6

Good idea to have on hand English-Japanese Translation book. You are in luck most Japanese speak English, English are taught as second language in Japan. You will not have any problems traveling even alone all you have to do is read signs its written both in English and Japanese.

Answer 7

Pick some books which teaches simple Hiragana and Katagana. That would be very helpful. Trust me, they are not difficult either.

Answer 8

WOW!!!! Lucky you! Sorry I don't have any advice. But you are so lucky to go to Japan all by yourself.

Answer 9

You're so lucky!

Just have fun and take care!

Answer 10

I would advise you to tell your parents to find a good attorney.