Job Discussion Forums

[Travel Zen]

Is there a reason to spend a million dollars to visit?

I'm thinking about buying a pass ($600US) to go to Tokyo by train from Seoul, Korea.

This pass is only for 7 days!! Round trip. Not iincluding hotel, food per day, or anything else. If I go by plane, it would be hundreds more. To move around by bus or train costs an arm and leg.

Being used to China and Korea, Japan comes as a shock on the wallet.

My question? What in Japan is worth the expenditure? Is Japan like Korea? Like China? Am I missing any interesting things there?

[JimDunlop2]

That's a rather negatively posed question, especially given the fact that at least half of the people you will probably encounter on this forum live and work in Japan...

If you must justify whether or not visitng Japan is worth the money, I would say "no, it isn't." Save your money. Choose a country that you actually WANT to visit... Japan is no more or no less special IMO, than any other country. It has it's charms... But so does the Grand Canyon. Either you wish to experience a new country and culture or you don't. I can't see how you can expect someone to make that decision for you.

[Travel Zen]

Good point.

Maybe I'm just cheezed at the expenses that I see there. It's an expensive country, but if I want to go, then I'll have to swallow the 'sushi'.

Thanks for your imput.

[JimDunlop2]

Living in Japan, collecting a paycheque in yen, and spending it here, versus visiting Japan as a tourist are two completely different things.

Back home I never wouldn't ever DREAM of dropping $60 to $100 for a night out at the bar with friends. Here it happens all the time.

On the other hand, if you want to "swallow the sushi" there's a great place in Tokyo near Ueno station that offers "sen-yen tabe hodai" (a.k.a. all-you-can-eat sushi for 1000 yen). There ARE ways to save money in Japan and do things cheaply -- but they generally take a lot of time and research to figure out...

[Glenski]

Travel Zen,

Why are you even considering coming in the first place? That's what puzzles me. I see lots of people posting on the Lonely Planet web site with messages like, "Hey, I'm going to be visiting Japan for 3 weeks next month... what's there to do and see?" and I have to wonder why they even booked their flights in the first place.

Since you are coming from Korea, I would also like to ask a related follow-up question. Why Korea? Are you merely passing through? Do you live there? If the answer to either question is yes, what do you find interesting about Korea?

And, what interests you in general? If you are into culture, you might find visiting some of the thousands of shrines and temples interesting. If you are into sports, take in a sumo match or baseball game. Depending on the time of year and your interests, you could attend any of a million festivals. Are you into architecture? Music? Natural scenery? Pearl diving? Handmade paper making? J-pop? Art? Kabuki? History?

[Speed]

I'm not sure what kind of things you'd find interesting Travel Zen, but I'll mention things that might leave an impression on you.

I found the infrastucture and crowds in in the lively parts of Tokyo (Shinjuku and Shibuya) and Osaka (Umeda and Namba) to be quite startling when I first came to Japan. Just the liveliness and the excitement of these areas were fascinating.

The roads, expressways, train lines, walkways, stations, the enormous buildings all intertwined and on top of each other are engineering marvels used to move people in one of the most densly populated places on earth.



If you're a nature boy, travelling up in the mountains of Shikoku (Mt. Ishizuchi - Ehime Prefecture and Mt. Tsurugi - Tokushima Prefecture) was quite beautiful. Same goes for Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture and the Japan Alps near Nagano.

The temples and shrines of Kyoto and Nara should move your cultural bone if you're into those kind of things.


Yeah, travelling in Japan is quite expensive. Whether you like it or not will be entirely up to you.

If you've done the trek through China and Korea, then Japan probably won't be such a shock to your system. But Japan does have it's own "flavor" and experiencing that at least once is worth the trip here I think.

Some people fall in love with Japanese culture and its people. Some people don't. It IS different from China's and Korea's (and any other country's for that matter).

But I'm sure that's why you're a traveller Mr. Travel Zen. You travel to taste and experience a bit of "the other".

If I were you, I'd check it out. Happy travelling and may the force be with you.

[Sweetsee]

I have never heard of taking a train to Japan from Korea, though I wouldn't be surprised. What does surprise me is that you can fly to Korea from Japan round trip for less than 1/2 of what you propose to pay for the train. Hmmm...the super train?

Also, I really enjoyed the previous post, so positive!

[Mike L.]

[PAULH]

[Lister100]

Hello, barely been in Japan a month but my bias level is low. Here's my two cents: if you're going to spend a small fortune to see a country just to try their food, spend half that money on the best Japanese restaurant in Seoul and you will probably come close to real thing.

If you're asking what marvels does Japan have that you will forever regret missing the chance to see, I would also like to know. It seems to me that Japan is for special interest groups. You can see baseball in Canada and the USA, but a Japanese baseball game will be a different style. Mountains are in many countries and from what I've heard Korea has some of the most picturesque around. Big cities, there again a big city is a big city. Unless you study cities you will probably find that its just another variation of something you already know. Sumo? Would you travel to India to watch a cricket match? Unless you're into Sumo its probably not worth it. Japan has also made the mistake of destroying much of its original castles to make way for the new. WWII also made its contribution. But hey, if you feel like a good cry there is always Nagasaki and Hiroshima to visit. The people here will love you for going. They have replicas of castles, but you can see replicas in Walt Disney World. Its not very warm right now so you're not getting a tropical party either. There's Cherry blossoms if you like plants. Does Korea have cherry blossoms? Mt. Fuji and bullet trains are their equivalent of the Great Wall.

I know I am ignorant, but for the traveler passing through I think there are better places to go, especially since the natural beauty here probably is not so far off from Korea's.

I haven't been to Tokyo yet (I have been to Osaka and Nagoya) and that city is suppose to rock pretty hard. If you go that will buy bragging rights with all your friends for a lifetime. Is that a good enough reason? Also if you want to dodge the rats and sludge of China and Korea, Japan is a pretty clean environment in a government office building kind of way.

[homersimpson]

I guess it all depends on what you're looking for. I have travelled extensively in my time in Japan, and while I've liked many places, the only one I'd say that had a profound impact on me was Hiroshima. The Peace Park and A-bomb museum were both eye-opening and sickening. Add to that, I've met many people from Hiroshima Prefecture and found that many of them are rather kind-natured.

[VanKen]

If you are just looking for some sight-seeing or outdoor recreation, there are probably other less-expensive places to go.

However, if there are (as others have mentioned here) particular places you want to see or things to do, of course, make the trip.

If you are like me and just want to absorb the Japan experience and immerse yourself in a very unique culture that is soooo different from China or Korea is spite of their proximity, spend the money and make the trip.

You will regret it if you have the opportunity but never experience Japan.

[cha muir]

Salut Zen,

With a name like that, why are you even asking the question?
I had a chance to spend a weekend in Fukuoka and it was one of the most memorable experiences in my life. Now I am looking for job in Japan because I just loved "the flavor".

Its kind of like asking "should I try eating a peach? Can you tell me what its like eating a peach?"

Respectfully,

cha

[cha muir]

I didn't mention, but there is also a book by Will Fergusen called "The Hitchhikers Guide to Japan" which is one way to save money. He hitchhiked the whole length of the island. Also you could check out WWOOF Japan.

much luck,

cha\

[sethness]

I've lived in Japan for 3 or 4 years, Philippines for half a year, and Taiwan for half a year. I think Japan's OK, but not exciting enough to merit the incredible expense of visiting. Mind you, it's possibly the best for WORKING and LIVING here, but not for visiting. Everything's as expensive as in America, or more so. Prices of hotels, coffee bars, taxis and movie houses will absolutely make your jaw drop.

Compare that to, say, the Philippines where your money goes SO much further, and folks speak your language (English). Well, sort-of speak English, if you don't mind a miles-different accent. People in the Philippines are a whole lot friendlier, too... I recall distinctly that when I lived in the Philippines, everybody on the street smiled at me and I often got invited to join complete strangers' picnics as I walked around the park on weekends. In Japan, on the other hand, people on the street treat you like you're invisible.

Philippines: Movie 50 cents, taxi $1.50, fiiine hotel $25 a day.
Japan: Movie $12~18, taxi $40, fiiine hotel $100 to 200 a day.

Do the math.