Going to Japan for a Year, What Should I Know?
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lastflowers
Banned
JAPANESE.
*Talking on the train is fine as long as its not too loud, just don't use a phone and do it. 
*Most stations have English written on the inside, so looking from the outside can be a bit daunting.
*If you don't have any Japanese, learning a few stock phrases will help you loads, especially when it comes for asking for things.
*People are super helpful, so don't worry about asking if you need to.
*Get a rail-card before you go (If you can) else you can get a Passmo card and top it up when you need (Done from ATM style machines near most stations)
I did it last year so I will post some more things I came across when I get some time.
*Most stations have English written on the inside, so looking from the outside can be a bit daunting.
*If you don't have any Japanese, learning a few stock phrases will help you loads, especially when it comes for asking for things.
*People are super helpful, so don't worry about asking if you need to.
*Get a rail-card before you go (If you can) else you can get a Passmo card and top it up when you need (Done from ATM style machines near most stations)
I did it last year so I will post some more things I came across when I get some time.
You sound like an expert....
Visit Roppongi for the restaurants and Outback Steakhouses excellent Happy Hour.
Avoid the place for going out.
That's if you're going to Tokyo.
wondermega
Member
phonetically
anatawa key-ray - "you are beautiful"
anatawa key-rye - "I hate you"
do not mix these up or you will be screamed at
anatawa key-ray - "you are beautiful"
anatawa key-rye - "I hate you"
do not mix these up or you will be screamed at
Aquamarine
Member
Don't be loud / obnoxious in public places. Seriously. They have a very negative stereotype of foreigners being loud and obnoxious, so please try your best to transcend that as much as possible. Make sure to take special consideration to conform to what everyone around you is doing.
Example: You're on a subway car, and it's dead silent. You probably shouldn't start talking.
Example: You're on a subway car, and it's dead silent. You probably shouldn't start talking.
I know some Japanese, I've taken two courses at uni, more than enough to say, order food or ask directions or have a very simple conversation, and I plan to attempt to greatly increase my vocabulary over the summer before going. I basically have a choice between Hirosaki, Tokyo and Kyoto, I haven't made that decision yet, but I'm leaning towards Hirosaki because I know several people going there as well.
I can't wait to use public transport that actually functions well!
I can't wait to use public transport that actually functions well!
Right, the "restaurants."
Johnny Dazzle
Member
Go to every vending machine you can.
It's really the only good reason to go. If you want to go pick up women, Shibuya is by far a better place to do it. Unless you're rich as hell then Roppongi is a good place to do it.
Cheesecakebobby
Banned
I studied for a year in Kyoto and it was fucking amazing. I now live in the outskirts of Tokyo and it's a huge 'Meh'. I want to move back there some day. Sure Tokyo has a million more identical overpriced bars and karaoke buildings but in Kyoto you can spend your day exploring ancient temples, climbing mountains, cycling along beautiful rivers and then go drinking in cheaper and more friendly bars. It's my favourite place in the world and I've also lived in London and Amsterdam. GO TO KYOTO!!
Alcotholic
Banned
You'll be alone.
And this:
http://www.cracked.com/article_20118_5-things-nobody-tells-you-about-living-in-japan.html
And this:
http://www.cracked.com/article_20118_5-things-nobody-tells-you-about-living-in-japan.html
This is true although it was an American who freaked out at me over my escalator etiquette when I was in Tokyo.
marvelharvey
Member
I've mixed these up countless times.
okosareta - I was woken up
okasareta - I was raped
Especially odd when I mistranslate "I was woken up by next door's barking dog"
Say this to passerbyers:
私にすべてのあなたのお金を与えるか、または私はあなたを刺すだろう。
Watashi ni subete no anata no okane o ataeru ka, matawa watashi wa anata o sasudarou.
私にすべてのあなたのお金を与えるか、または私はあなたを刺すだろう。
Watashi ni subete no anata no okane o ataeru ka, matawa watashi wa anata o sasudarou.
Necromanti
Member
He'd sound like a foreigner, at least.
lies.
Synth_floyd
Banned
When they say "irrashamase" in the shops, say it back to them. It's a common greeting.
This rule goes to shit when you're in Osaka.
I've never seen this happen.
In my experience it's usually stand on the right, walk on the left in Kansai, and opposite most other places. But it's pretty random it seems, just look at what most people are doing and do that.
They probably secretly snicker about you in the back when you don't say it back.
super-famicom
Member
Shop staff say it as a greeting because they have to be polite to customers, but customers are not expected to say it back.　
いらっしゃる (irassharu) is a polite way to say "to go" or "to come" or "to be (somewhere)"
They must have this secret greeting when I'm not around because no one does this when they walk into a shop in my experience lol.
Just like in Stockholm, Sweden, except people walk on the right side.
Beaniedude
Member
Don't forget that in Japanese punctuation is actually spoken. That is, "desu" is actually a full stop and "ka" is the little squiggly bit that goes on top of the full stop to make a question mark.
I have this on good authority. Or as they would say in Japanese:
"I have this on good authority desu"
I have this on good authority. Or as they would say in Japanese:
"I have this on good authority desu"
minor effort
Banned
いっらしゃいませ - Very polite and welcoming when said by your friendly neighborhood shopkeeper.
I don't find it quite as welcoming when I'm in a large supermarket or store like Yodobashi being said by dozens of clerks over-and-over in a manner that's robotic yet tinged with sadness. They're often not even saying it to anybody in particular, just repeating it as they stock the shelves. It usually makes me want to get out of there as soon as possible.
I don't find it quite as welcoming when I'm in a large supermarket or store like Yodobashi being said by dozens of clerks over-and-over in a manner that's robotic yet tinged with sadness. They're often not even saying it to anybody in particular, just repeating it as they stock the shelves. It usually makes me want to get out of there as soon as possible.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
That's the same in Vancouver, Canada, FYI!
These posts are so very overstated. The place is not so uptight. You will see plenty of obnoxious and loud people. Just have fun really. Unless your like over 30.
minor effort
Banned
These posts are so very overstated. The place is not so uptight. You will see plenty of obnoxious and loud people. Just have fun really. Unless your like over 30.
If you want to have a conversation on the train, have it. It's public transportation, not a hotel.
Synth_floyd
Banned
You can do almost anything on the train. Maybe the only thing I haven't seen been done on a train is smoking.
Is your purpose for studying in Japan for a year to learn the language? If yes then why would you want to go to a place where other foreigners you know are going? That will just make it too easy to not talk Japanese every waking moment.
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