Job Discussion Forums

lavos · Joined: 22 Jan 2009 Posts: 6

So, I have nearly a month between jobs and I do not want to blow my wad in a bunch of hotels so I thought "lets camp out for a month!". The hobos do it and it seems like they get along alright. So, two questions:

1) Where can I get a good tent 'round here? I'm in Kanagawa nearest to Machida city but anywhere in central Tokyo is an option for me. Does anyone know where a good camping gear/ tent outlet store is?

2) Anyone ever tried the homeless thing in J-land? Do's and Dont's? Do cops hassle you? Is it better to keep moving or stake a claim?

Any info will be appreciated in the order it is received.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

IMHO, being "homeless" and sleeping in a tent for a month in a city sounds terrible.

The hobos might seem like they "get along all right" but I don't think they do it by choice.

With that said, the idea of taking a month-long biking trip with tent through the countryside sounds more appealing. In Shizuoka-ken and Nagano-ken simple campsites seem to be abundant: bike all day, from campground to campground, and then pitch tent at night...or do some free-lance camping in the forest.

These links may give you some more info and get you started:

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/sports/a/camping.htm
http://www.campinginjapan.com/
http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:TFFoI2SqKNoJ:www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-804.pdf+Camping+in+Japan&cd=2&hl=ja&ct=clnk&gl=jp&client=firefox-a (this is also in PDF form)

Regards,
fat_chris

crankyjiji · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 21

Years ago, I travelled around Shikoku and Kyuushu with nothing but a bag to use as a pillow. It was sometimes fun and great to practice my Japanese because in rural areas fewer people could speak English. You may use "sei shun juuhachi kippu" (sic?) to get around. They allow you to travel around on the JR trains as much as you like. You will have to check the specific restrictions, but I remember them costing about 2,000 a day.

Or as a more recent alternative, you could crash/shower at those internet cafes. I think they cost around 1,500 per night.

Noor · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 152

You could also go to Shikoku and do the pilgrimage of 88 temples. Takes about 6 weeks to walk, but there is no need to do the whole pilgrimage in one go. Many Japanese break it up into one or two weeks of walking and complete it over 5 to 10 years. There are temples and lodges along the way that offer free accommodation for walking pilgrims and the locals, especially in the rural areas, are helpful and generous to walking pilgrims. You'll meet people along the way who may become your friend for life. It's great way to learn about Japan.

http://www.shikokuhenrotrail.com/

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Hotel between jobs? Why not get a new apartment (or stay in your old one)? Are you financially that bad off?

cvmurrieta · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 209 Location: Sendai, Japan

Why not stay in a gaijin house or guest house in the area for the month? I may be in the same situation, and I am thinking of staying at one of those places. They may not be the cleanest, but it is better than not having a roof over one's head.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

I did it for two months in Tokyo. Charged my phone at the coin-laundry. Went to the public bath. Had people over for meals. One night we caught the Leonid comet shower. Also, we used to share our lavish meals with the geezer next to us. He was stoked! I say do it, unless you are a wuss.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Yeah, that was the fall of '99, before it became fashionable. Once a month you had to clear out until the evening, so the city could come around and take pictures to prove that there was no homelessness in our fair city. At that time there were over 200 people in the park. One day there were two suicides as well. Tragic that. Not nearly as tragic as our neighbor getting rolled while foraging for food at having to go to hospital. Turns out he had over 100,000 yen squirreled away. Yeah, the memories are flooding back now. One of our neighbors had a two bedroom cardboard flat with genkan. He was a carpenter. Heck of a nice guy.

cvmurrieta · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 209 Location: Sendai, Japan

My girlfriend jokingly told me she would introduce me to some of her homeless friends (she herself lives in an apartment) so that I can save money by not staying in a hotel for a couple of days when her relatives fly in from Sapporo.

If it is just for a few days, I'll just find a capsule hotel in the city and stay there.

starteacher · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 237

Stay at the airport.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:45 am Post subject:

I like to KILL CASH and SAVE TIME!! Cool

I take the BULLET TRAIN everywhere!!!!!!!!!!! Very Happy

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Find a bench.

cornishmuppet · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 642 Location: Nagano, Japan

Couch surf. There's a website for it. Put your stuff in storage somewhere and take a few weeks to see a bit of Japan on the cheap.