Korean Job Discussion Forums

[saharzie]

Heading to Osaka for the visa run in 2 weeks..will be there over the weekend...will be on my own and basically want to know where are any good clubs/bars where I might be able to meet some Japanese women who would be up for meeting westerners...
Also is there a big difference between Korean and Japanese women?
Never been to Japan before so any advice appreciated


cheers

s

[Bulsajo]

The following is a couple of years old so the prices are probably off. Since you're planning on staying the weekend you can ignore the time-sensative advice but the directions will still be useful.
Lorne Oliver's One Day visa Run to Osaka:

[crazylemongirl]

#1 Remember how you got to the consulate from the train station so you don't run around the rabbit warren that is namba station to find your line

#2 while it is way cheaper to take the suburban train that you took on your way from the station, you may want to pay for the express to get you their on time. On my visa run I almost missed my flight due to taking the 'cheap train' which turned out to take 2 hours from namba station.

CLG

[rapier]

judging by all reports japanese women adore westerners- to a far greater extent than koreans. They'll be all over you. My cousin taught in Japan and said he just could'nt avoid having a girlfriend it was like trying to hold back the tide. Go for it mate. In one day? - at least a high chance of an intimate conversation. Let us know how it goes- I'm heading there at about the same time, not sure what date yet.

[Tiger Beer]

Japanese women.. they do like foreigners.. but.. its expensive to try to 'pick one up'... first a hostel room alone is going to cost you $30.. and if you even think of bringing someone home.. it'll be a $100 hotel room i guess.. plus if u want to meet someone.. u have to spend who knows how much trying to get into discos and drinking beers to compete with a barrage of other foreigners who half seem to already know japanese.. so anyhow.. in short.. the 'illusion' of hitting japan shores and having a sex-scapade isn't all that reality-based..

from my 3 different japan runs.. i find myself in some cheap hostel with tons of teachers there cooking ramyen.. i look at restaurent menus endlessly until i ultimately find a 7-11 to get affordable food.. then i wander around back alleys drinking beer out of vending machines.. and wonder how and where i'm even going to think about meeting one of these hotties.. in the end.. well.. empty-handed and empty pockets..

one other thing.. japanese girls have 100-foot walls around them.. you just can't seem to approach them without their facing turning red and them giggling endlessly..

all that being said.. japan is very aesthetically-pleasing.. its kind of a disneyland all over.. an isolating disneyland..

however if u have some friends there.. someone to stay with and someone to drink with and they can take you out to some clubs or something.. you'd be better off..

honestly.. get hooked up to some personal ads or chat rooms or something.. try to meet a few girls.. and tell them u wanna visit them.. that would be your best bet..

difference between japanese and korean women.. korean women are taller, thicker hair, more direct, honest, speak english slightly better, have more sex appeal..

japanese girls aren't sexy.. they can be termed 'cute' if anything.. noticeably alot shorter.. and hide their emotions and thoughts.. hard to know what they are thinking.. and.. well, many have crooked teeth which really stands out compared to koreans.. but.. anyhow, like anywhere there are some really cute ones out there as well.. oh, and japanese are always really polite..

[sid]

[matthews_world]

This is my first visa run.

Couple questions:

Is this the US Embassy referred to that's near Shin Saibashi??? Or can one go to any embassy?

What are the current costs for the E-2 issuance and how much yen should one bring these days??



TIA!!!

[sickboy]

Well, you will need to go to the Korean embassy for the Visa run yeah?

Thats in Shinsaibashi, near Namba station.

Bring lots of fucking Yen shits will kill ya..

Check out my Osaka thread in the OT forum... Im rollin with a lot of yen this weekend baby!

-sick

[matthews_world]

Ah, thanx for clarifying Sickboy.

I just plan on doing the thing in a day. Would be nice to stay a couple nights.

But anyway, what are the costs to process the visa these days?

Anyone know how much the train ride is round trip?

Are these the things we need to bring?:
Contract
Passport photo
Yen

Anything else?

[sickboy]

Visa is either 5 or 6,000 yen, so multiply that by ten for the won amount. Round trip on the express train to Namba is about 1200 yen, so round trip plus visa expenses should be 80 - 90,000 won. Step yeah. At least the Korean embassy is easy to find!

[lyn204]

I'll be going to Osaka on Tuesday,,just wondering if anyone else will be going the same day? I'll be there til Wednesday nite. If you want to meet up or something pm me please!

[Nemesis]

Just came back from a visa run last week. Note the changes for 2006:

1. No more one day visas there. You MUST allow 2 days for the processing.

2. They accept visas until 3:30. No exceptions!

Cheap places to stay:

The cheapest of the cheap is the Hotel Escargot . Sennichimae Line (pink), Dobutsuenmae Station exit #6. Go straight, cross the railway tracks, and make your first left. Walk for about 500 meters and you'll see it on the right. ��2,500/day (W25,000 or so). Small room, shared toilet and bath, in the heart of Osaka's homeless district. That said, they cater to foreigners, and it's just 3 subway stops from Namba. Cool bars in the area as well. Call them at 06-6641-0225 if you get lost. Some English OK. They used a have a site, but it seems to be down. Do a Google search on "hotel escargot osaka" and you can still read the basic info in the Google cache, though.

A better option, IMO, is the Arrow Hotel in America-Mura (right in the heart of the action and 5 mins. from the Korean consulate). I don't have the number, and they don't have a site. But it's ��6,000/day, with private bathroom, cable TV, and very comfortable. Best directions I can give is that it's near a Family Mart that's attached to a large Hotel called Hotel Dormy in the heart of America-mura. If you can't find that, look for the Tower Records (can't miss it). It's 200 meters from there.

If you find the Hotel Dormy (quite prominent), start from the exit of the Family Mart, turn right and walk straight 200 meters. Look for a purple sign on your right that says ARROW HOTEL. Awesome spot!

Things to do:

The bar scene in Osaka is AMAZING, if you know where to go. Tons of foreigners, hot chicks, the works.

Coolest bar in Osaka if you are in town by yourself is the BLARNEY STONE in Umeda: http://www.the-blarney-stone.com . Highly stimulating 7 days a week. One of the centers of the Osaka foreign universe. Even if you go alone, you'll have an awesome time. Sit at the bar, meet some chicks, shoot some pool, and so on and so on.

Best source of nightlife info: http://www.bikeclubosaka.com/

I lived in Osaka for many years, and can tell you the foreigners there are a friendly, welcoming, and helpful bunch. The Bike Club dudes (and dudettes) are at the center of it all. Check out the site, register and post queries, or just drop them an email. I'm certain you'll find out what you need to know.

There's stuff beyond bars, of course, Do a web search and you can find out everything you need to know.

Any more Q's about Osaka, just drop me a PM. (Don't know any more about the visa stuff than I've posted, though.)

Basic Japanese

Sumi-masen = "Excuse me". Any Q you have to a local, start with this.

Ikura-des-ka? "How much is this?" So you should say Sumi-masen, ikura-des-ka?.

Sumi-masen, ____ wa, dochira-des-ka? "Excuse me, where is _____?" (ie "Sumi-masen, TOWER RECORDS wa, dochira-des-ka?")

**************

So, now, if you're going to Osaka, you have no excuse for not having a cheap, awesome, and highly memorable mini-vacation!

[quilter]

Thanks for that info.

Just a small correction

[Nemesis]

No worries. Help is good.

[Tiger Beer]